Santa Cruz Mountain Harvest Festival: What to Know

For one afternoon each fall, downtown Boulder Creek fills up with live music, food, local beer and wine, and the work of dozens of area artists and makers. The Santa Cruz Mountain Harvest Festival is one of the town's signature gatherings, and it's as much a fundraiser as a party: the Recreation and Park District and its foundation run it to raise money for community nonprofits.

This year it lands on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., at Junction Park. A few things before you go.

The essentials

• When: Saturday, September 26, 2026, 12:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Where: Junction Park, 13264 Middleton Avenue, downtown Boulder Creek
• Cost: see the festival's admission page

The Recreation and Park District posts the current schedule. The festival's own site can lag a season behind, so treat the district's page as the more current source if the two disagree.

What to expect

Music runs across the whole afternoon, alongside food vendors, beer and wine, and a wide showing of local artists and their work. Activities are scattered around the park, in the shape a small-town harvest festival has always taken. The proceeds go to local nonprofits and organizations.

It's an all-ages event in Junction Park, so bring the kids and plan for a warm early-fall afternoon. There's beer and wine on hand for the adults.

Tickets

Check the festival site for admission, and for whether tickets sell ahead of time or at the gate.

Parking and getting there

Downtown parking is tight, and Highway 9 runs right through the middle of it all. Arrive early, follow the event parking directions, or walk in if you're close enough.

What to bring

• Sun protection and water: it's an early-fall afternoon in the sun.
• Cash: handy for vendors.
• A light layer: for when the afternoon cools off.
• A little patience: for the parking.

Who's behind it

The festival runs through the Boulder Creek Recreation and Park District and its foundation, which operate Junction Park and much of the town's recreation.

Make an afternoon of it

Already downtown? See where to eat in Boulder Creek and what else is open in town, and check the Boulder Creek events calendar for what's on before and after the festival.

Dates and details are set by the organizers, so confirm with the Recreation and Park District before you go. Spot something out of date? Tell us.