Carmel International Film Festival
October 1-4, 2026 Carmel-by-the-Sea Monterey County Film Festival
A four-day film festival in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Monterey & Santa Cruz counties
Central Coast events in
October 2026
15 public events across both counties in October 2026 — 6 in Monterey County, 9 in Santa Cruz County. Dates are the organizer's; check the official page before you travel.
Laguna Seca SpeedTour (Trans-Am)
October 2-4, 2026 Salinas Monterey County Motorsports
A three-day Trans-Am SpeedTour race meeting at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Official site ↗Open Studios Satellite Preview Exhibit (Santa Cruz Art League)
October 2-18, 2026 Santa Cruz Santa Cruz County Art Exhibition
A two-and-a-half-week preview exhibition of Open Studios artists at the Santa Cruz Art League.
Official site ↗Butterfly Days Sunset Celebration at Point Pinos Lighthouse
October 3, 2026 Pacific Grove Monterey County Community / Heritage
A one-evening community and heritage event at Point Pinos Lighthouse, on the same day as the Butterfly Parade.
Downtown Santa Cruz Harvest Festival
October 3, 2026 Santa Cruz Santa Cruz County Seasonal / Community Festival
A one-day seasonal community festival in downtown Santa Cruz.
Pacific Grove Butterfly Parade & Bazaar
October 3, 2026 Pacific Grove Monterey County Parade / Community
Pacific Grove's annual butterfly parade and community bazaar, held on a single Saturday in early October.
Poodle Day
October 3, 2026 Carmel-by-the-Sea Monterey County Community / Pet Event
A one-day community pet event held at The Crossroads and on Carmel Beach.
Official site ↗Meet the Makers Art & Wine Walk (7th Annual)
October 10, 2026 Carmel-by-the-Sea Monterey County Art / Wine Walk
The 7th annual art and wine walk in Carmel-by-the-Sea, centred on Devendorf Park.
Official site ↗Santa Cruz Film Festival 2026
October 14-18, 2026 Santa Cruz Santa Cruz County Film Festival
Five days of screenings across several Santa Cruz theaters.
Downtown Santa Cruz Halloween Mask Making Festival
October 17, 2026 Santa Cruz Santa Cruz County Halloween / Family
A one-day Halloween mask-making event for families at the London Nelson Community Center.
Santa Cruz Comedy Festival
October 17, 2026 Santa Cruz Santa Cruz County Comedy Festival
A one-day comedy festival at 939 Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Halloween
October 31, 2026 Santa Cruz Santa Cruz County Halloween / Family
Halloween day at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, a family event on October 31.
Official site ↗Santa Cruz Harbor Trick-Or-Treat (Haunted Harbor)
October 31, 2026 Santa Cruz Santa Cruz County Halloween / Family
Halloween trick-or-treating at Santa Cruz Harbor, billed as Haunted Harbor.
Vampire Ball at Chaminade Resort & Spa
October 31, 2026 Santa Cruz Santa Cruz County Halloween / Nightlife (21+)
A 21-and-over Halloween night event at the Chaminade Resort and Spa in Santa Cruz.
Open Studios Art Tour (41st Annual)
Date not yet announced Countywide Santa Cruz County Art Tour
The 41st annual countywide artist studio tour, spanning Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Felton, Scotts Valley, Bonny Doon and Aptos. The 2026 dates have not been announced.
Official site ↗Every month, August through December 2026: August 2026 · September 2026 · October 2026 · November 2026 · December 2026
Racing at Laguna Seca this month
Camping at Laguna Seca →
All ten camping areas, which entrance to use, the 40-foot RV limit — and the camping and parking prices the raceway does not publish.