For one afternoon each fall, downtown Boulder Creek fills up with live music, food, local beer and wine, and the work of area artists and makers. The Santa Cruz Mountains 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 runs it to raise money for local nonprofits.
This year it lands on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., at Junction Park, with kids' activities at the Downtown Rec Center just up Middleton Avenue. 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, and the Downtown Rec Center, 13333 Middleton Avenue
- Admission: free
- Kids' wristband: $15 per child, buy ahead online
Music
The Junction Park stage runs all afternoon:
- 1 to 2 p.m.: Sweeter Still
- 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Billy Reese Trio
- 4 to 5 p.m.: Floratura
- 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.: JAM and the Buttered Biscuits
Between sets, Rachel and her giant bubbles perform on the Junction Park beach, from 2 to 2:30 and 3:30 to 4 p.m.
For the kids
The $15 wristband covers:
- Bounce houses and craft tables at both locations
- The petting zoo at the Rec Center playground, 1 to 5 p.m., with chickens, ducks, goats and more
- One Happily Ever Laughter magic show at the Rec Center, 3 to 3:45 or 4 to 4:30 p.m.
- Kids' axe throwing (the Velcro kind) at the Rec Center
Also around the festival: hay rides through downtown, Brenda's Face Painting, henna and woodworking from Mahanahula Creations, and an open house at Little Explorers, the district's license-exempt early childhood enrichment program, for ages 5 and under.
Food and drink
Food vendors this year:
- Rollin Snack Shack: ice cream truck and treats
- S.C. Eatery: flautas, fried chicken and udon noodles
- High End Comida: Hawaiian food and smash burgers
Pouring for the adults: Discretion Brewing, Balefire Brewing, Laughing Monk Brewing, Joe's, Hallcrest Vineyards, Kissed By An Angel Wines and Big Basin Vineyards. A Harvest Festival glass with your first drink is $16, and refills are $10 for beer or wine. The glasses are limited, so come early if you want one.
Artists and makers
Local makers this year include Woodland Floral (wood flower bouquets and wood-burned designs), Free Little Birds (dreamcatchers, resin pieces and a button-making table kids can try for about a dollar), Blooms Botanical (botanically dyed textiles), Amberlee Pottery, The Kween's Bauble (earrings from vintage and upcycled beads), Mazzuca Made (upcycled textiles), Hemphill Gems (gemstone jewelry) and Santa Cruz Mountains Clothing.
Community tables
Stop by KBCZ community radio for stickers, shirts and a chance to get on the air, along with the Boulder Creek Business Association, Santa Cruz Public Libraries and the Long Term Recovery Group of Santa Cruz County.
Parking and getting there
Downtown parking is tight, and Highway 9 runs right through the middle of it all. The organizers recommend the Post Office and Liberty Bank lots across Highway 9 on Middleton Avenue. Please don't park across anyone's driveway, and 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, which operates Junction Park and much of the town's recreation. The full lineup, vendor list and volunteer sign-ups are on the festival's site.
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 festival site or the Recreation and Park District before you go. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
