by Mary Pope-Handy, Clair Handy | Sep 13, 2026 | Uncategorized
Check out the Taste of Los Gatos food festival this Saturday, September 19, 2026, and get to know some amazing Los Gatos eateries, enjoy live music, and join in the activities at this end of summer street festival!
Tasting Options
Bites and Wine Tasting Wristband ($100 advance, $120 day of the event): Bites from approximately 30 Los Gatos restaurants and pours from about 20 local wineries. Upon check-in you will receive a wristband, stemless keepsake wine glass, and a map to all of the tasting sites. Please taste responsibly — Wine tasting includes a single one-ounce pour from each winery.
OR:
Bites Only Wristband ($80 advannce pricing, $100 day of the event): Bites from approximately 30 Los Gatos restaurants. Upon check-in you will receive a wristband and a map to all of the tasting sites.
* If your kids are interested in sampling restaurant bites, a Bites Only Wristband is required. Note that a la carte food items may also be purchased from our wonderful restaurants.
More Taste of Los Gatos details
The details for the 2026 Taste of Los Gatos are as follows:
- Date Saturday, September 19, 2026
- Time 12 noon – 5 p.m.
- Check-in for the event will open at 11:30 am. Check-in will be at 3 locations:
- Automobuild Breezeway | 100 N. Santa Cruz Avenue
- Old Town Los Gatos | 50 University Avenue
- near Beyond Text Bookstore | 318 N. Santa Cruz Avenue
- Location is downtown Los Gatos North Santa Cruz Avenue, Main Street & Old Town (University Avenue), Los Gatos, CA 95030
- Cost is FREE to enjoy the games, shopping, and activities.
- For those who wish to indulge in the food and drink offered by a number of LG establishments, see tasting options paragraph above
- Wine and beer tokens can also be purchased separately at their respective booths
- Family friendly gig with kid activities, too.
- Please note that N. Santa Cruz will be closed from Main Street to Bachman Avenue and open to pedestrians only. Come early and park in one of the public lots!
- Put on by the Los Chamber of Commerce and its Food & Wine Group.
Get ALL of the details and buy tickets:
Buy tickets in advance here: Eventbrite page
Do come back to downtown the following weekend for the wonderful Fiesta de Artes art & wine festival!
by Clair Handy, Mary Pope-Handy | Jul 25, 2026 | Events, Irrelevant Fun, Kids, LG Lifestyle, Los Gatos Art & Entertainment, Los Gatos Events, Los Gatos History, Parks, Visiting Los Gatos
This weekend enjoy some family-friendly fun and local history at Oak Meadow Park with back-to-back celebrations for National Carousel Day and Billy Jones Day!
National Carousel Day: July 25th
Today, Saturday July 25th 2026, is National Carousel Day! To celebrate, take a ride on the historic (and beautifully restored) W.E. “Bill” Mason Carousel. Come learn about the history of this centenarian ride from carousel volunteers, or just enjoy the music of the band organ, the lights, the art, and festivities. Did you know that each horse has a name? Not only that, you can learn a little about each horse (or even adopt one) by visiting the Carousel Horses page on the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad website.
Hear a little more about what to expect from Will Whitney here: https://fb.watch/IAOlcNzb5Z/ And adults and older kids may enjoy reading about the preservation project, covered in this Los Gatan article by Amanda Senior earlier this year: In the workshop with carousel restorer Cheryl Stuermer.
Billy Jones Day: Last Sunday in July
The last Sunday of July is Billy Jones Day, also this weekend on July 26th! This annual celebration “honor[s] the man who started it all by doing things the way he did on his ranch.” (BJWWR) That means all rides (on both the train and carousel) are an open donation instead of their usual fee – donate as much or as little as you like to support the nonprofit, Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, Inc., that is keeping these rides running and open to the public, and preserving them and their history for the next generation.
This year they’re going full-steam ahead and firing up all the locomotives plus one guest steam enegine for the event!
Both days, the train and carousel will be on their usual summer weekend hours, running from 10:30am – 4:30pm. The Snack Shack will be open both days from 11:00am – 3:30pm. There may be a fee of $6 to park at the Oak Meadow Parking lot if there is an attendant at the booth, however the lot can fill up early on summer weekends, so plan accordingly!
by Clair Handy, Mary Pope-Handy | Jul 15, 2026 | Downtown Los Gatos, Events, LG Lifestyle, Los Gatos Art & Entertainment, Los Gatos Events
Summer 2026 is flying by, and Los Gatos is having a season of music to remember! The last couple of years have transformed Los Gatos’ free music scene, with some favorites returning and new events to look forward to, while others have taken their last bow.
The staples of Los Gatos’ summer music scene, Jazz on the Plazz and Music in the Park, are back with performances from long-time favorites. Knowing that you are as excited about these as I am, I have compiled a calendar of free outdoor music events for us all! (Not all artists and schedules have been announced, so please check the official event websites for the latest news).
Below please find a compilation of the 2 different Los Gatos free musical concert series, 2 festivals with live performances, and a few one-day events featuring local bands. As always, the information below is believed to be reliable, but as with any concert or outdoors event it may be subject to change, so double check the website (and the weather) prior to going and always read the rules, especially if you plan to picnic. Hope to see you there!
Note: This post is often updated twice in the season, once before all bands are announced, and again with the complete lineups for all of the events mid-season. Some events have now passed, but there’s still plenty more coming. We’ll see you there!
2026 Summer Concert Series: Free Music and Fun in Los Gatos
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by Mary Pope-Handy, Clair Handy | May 5, 2026 | Events
©Sketchify via Canva.com
The annual Girls on the Run 5k Celebration event will take place on May 16th, 2026, at Vasona Lake County Park in Los Gatos.
About Girls on the Run
If you are unfamiliar with Girls on the Run, you might enjoy checking out their website’s page on their programs for girls:
Instilling Life Skills in Every Girl
The Girls on the Run researched-based curriculum is structured around understanding ourselves, valuing relationships and teamwork, and recognizing how we can shape the world at large. Participants gain critical life skills that strengthen their potential at a time when societal pressures and conflicting messages about how to feel and act can cause doubt and uncertainty.
That same page dives into the different elements that they explore and nourish – it is very impressive sounding!
Event Info
Vasona Lake County Park is located at 333 Blossom Hill Rd, Los Gatos, CA 95032.
On-site registration and pre-race festivities will begin at 6:00 am
Runners should arrive by 7 a.m., first wave is at 8 a.m.
Register and learn more about this 5k celebration at the event’s webpage.
Clair’s and my office, Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno, has a tent and will give out tickets for a raffle. We have this year’s American Girl Doll of the Year for a prize. Stop by and get a raffle ticket while there!
Related Reading
Vasona and Oak Meadow Parks
Charter Oaks Townhome Community
by Clair Handy, Mary Pope-Handy | May 1, 2026 | Downtown Los Gatos, Events, Food & Drink, LG Lifestyle, Los Gatos Art & Entertainment, Los Gatos Events
If you enjoyed The Promenade of previous years, check out the newest event in town!
This year the Town of Los Gatos adopted a new ordinance to establish an Entertainment Zone, and your first opportunity to enjoy it is at the first ever GOLD Thursday on May 7, 2026!
The Entertainment Zone allows businesses operating in the C-2 Downtown Zone with appropriate permits to sell alcohol to patrons who may carry their beverage out within the Entertainment Zone during Town approved and permitted Special Events. So 21+ adults can grab a sip and wander the event to enjoy shopping, dining, music and more!
GOLD Thursday
GOLD Thursday (#GOLDThursday) is the latest addition to the lineup of summer entertainment here in beautiful Los Gatos, and will continue on the first Thursday of the month from now through October. In addition to extended hours and Entertainment Zone drinks, there will be live music and entertainment and special promotions.
Event-specific offers, as well as year-round promotions, can be accessed through the Los Gatos Perks Pass on your phone, no app required.
The Chamber of Commerce calendar details state the event runs from noon to 10pm, but some businesses may offer all-day perks. Live music and entertainment are scheduled from 5pm to 8pm. See you there!
