Santa Cruz Mountains 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 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 and its foundation run it to raise money for community nonprofits.
This year it lands on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 1 to 6 p.m., at Junction Park and the Downtown Rec Center. Here's what to know before you go.
The essentials
- When: Saturday, September 26, 2026, 1 to 6 p.m.
- Where: downtown Boulder Creek, at Junction Park (13264 Middleton Avenue) and the Downtown Rec Center (13333 Middleton Avenue)
- 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, and the whole thing is built on small-town harvest tradition. The proceeds go to local nonprofits and organizations.
It's an all-ages event in and around 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 Spot something out of date?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. Last reviewed July 21, 2026.
