Some weekends call for a reservation. Others call for a coffee, a little browsing, and seeing where the afternoon takes you.
This October 17–18, there is room for both. Taste wine above Monterey Bay, introduce the kids to something creative, make a night of live comedy, or spend Sunday discovering local Santa Cruz artists.
For anyone wondering what it looks like to live in Aptos, weekends offer a good place to start. The Aptos lifestyle can mean keeping plans close to home or heading into Santa Cruz, California, for an afternoon out. This week’s Strock Team Weekend Edit includes three Santa Cruz stops, plus two options worth planning a day around in Silicon Valley and Carmel.
1. SCM Wine Passport Celebration Day at Chaminade
Saturday, October 17 | Noon–4 p.m.
Chaminade Resort & Spa, The View Restaurant & Bar
1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95065
Make Saturday afternoon a reason to slow down. Chaminade’s Wine Passport event pairs a Santa Cruz setting with an opportunity to explore the region’s wine scene.
Bring a friend, leave room in the schedule, and enjoy an afternoon away from the usual errands. As part of the Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Passport celebration, this is a chance to make local wine discovery part of your weekend.
Event details and Wine Passport information
2. Hands on the Arts Festival in Sunnyvale
Saturday, October 17 | 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Sunnyvale Community Center
550 East Remington Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Admission: Free
If your ideal family outing includes something the kids can create, put this one on the calendar. Sunnyvale’s Hands on the Arts Festival celebrates art and cultures from around the world through guided workshops, with supplies included.
Roaming performers and food trucks round out the day. It is a thoughtful option for families spending Saturday in Silicon Valley, with plenty of opportunities to try something new and bring a little creativity home.
3. Santa Cruz Comedy Festival: All-Star Comedy Show
Saturday, October 17 | 7 p.m.
Doors open: 6:15 p.m.
Kuumbwa Jazz Center
320-2 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Tickets required | Ages 16+
Dinner, a show, and a Saturday evening that breaks up the routine. The 13th annual Santa Cruz Comedy Festival brings all 13 headliners together at Kuumbwa for two hours of stand-up.
The café and bar will be open, making it easy to settle in before the performance. For a night out with friends or a date night in downtown Santa Cruz, this is a good reason to book ahead.
4. Appalachian Spring + Alexi Kenney in Carmel
Saturday, October 17 | 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 18 | 3 p.m.
Sunset Center
San Carlos Street at Ninth Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921
Tickets required
Build a Carmel outing around live orchestral music. Monterey Symphony welcomes violinist Alexi Kenney for a program featuring Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite and Prokofiev’s First Violin Concerto, alongside works by Berwald and Barber.
Choose Saturday evening and plan dinner beforehand, or make Sunday’s matinee the centerpiece of an afternoon in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Either way, it is an opportunity to put something different on the weekend calendar.
5. Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market
Sunday, October 18 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
1100 block of Pacific Avenue
Between Lincoln and Cathcart Streets, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Admission: Free
Start with coffee, browse without a strict agenda, and find something you would never discover in a big-box store. The Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market brings more than 40 local artisan vendors to Pacific Avenue.
Shop handmade goods, meet the people behind them, and get an early start on thoughtful gifts. It is a simple way to spend a Sunday while supporting the creativity that gives downtown Santa Cruz its character.
Living in Aptos: Make Room for the Weekend You Want
A home search is also a chance to think about how you want to spend your time. Coffee before a local market. A creative outing with the kids. Dinner followed by a show.
If you are exploring Aptos real estate or Santa Cruz real estate, spend time getting to know the communities beyond the homes themselves. Notice where you return, what fits your routine, and which places make you want to stay a little longer.
Whether you are looking for an Aptos Realtor or a Santa Cruz Realtor, the Strock Team can help connect your home search with the life you want to build here.
Curious what the market looks like for you? Let’s start the conversation. Call or text 831-688-9800.
Strock Team | eXp Luxury
Where Remarkable Real Estate Lives in California
Santa Cruz County · Monterey Bay · Silicon Valley
strockteam.com
Confirm event details and ticket availability with the organizers before heading out.