by Mary Pope-Handy | Sep 26, 2026 | Events
The Santa Clara Valley Wineries are hosting a passport weekend again Oct 24 & 24, 2026 from 12 noon to 4 p.m.. For $55, it’s a great reason to stop by a number of local, fine wine tasting rooms, including Cinnabar and Cooper-Garrod, both in Saratoga. The rest are in South County (Morgan Hill, San Martin, or Gilroy).
What’s offered?
Your passport is valid Saturday and Sunday, October 24–25, and includes ten winery stops.
Each participating winery will offer at least tastings of two wine. Some wineries may include their own special experiences such as new releases, harvest activities, food, live music, bottle specials and more.
The 2026 Passport Weekend wineries include:
~ Cinnabar Winery: 408-867-1012
~ Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards: 408-867-8441
~ CordeValle Winery: 408-686-1050
~ Cottage Creek Vineyards: 408-318-2355
~ Lion Ranch Vineyards & Winery: 408-713-8501
~ Miramar Vineyards: 408-686-0280
~ Sarah’s Vineyard: 408-847-1947
~ Satori Cellars: 408-848-5823
~ Twice Tyger: 408-659-6719
~ Verde Vineyards: 408-728-1793
Details can be found and passports purchased online here: SCVW Fall Passport
Related Reading: More Local Events
Los Gatos Halloween Pets and Kids Parade (on this site)
Magical Glass Pumpkin Patch (on this site)
by Clair Handy | Aug 25, 2022 | Events
If you’ve been enjoying any of Los Gatos’ many free musical series this summer, consider taking a trip next door to Saratoga this weekend! This Sunday, August 27th is the annual Saratoga Summer Music Series from 1pm – 7pm at Wildwood Park, just off the downtown strip.
Featuring live performances by local bands Aly & Friends, The Complications, and The Megatones. Kick back and relax on the lawn or dance through the day! Food, wine, and beer will be available for purchase in the park, and picnics are also welcome. This is a free event for the community, but registration is requested so there will be enough food and fun for everyone. Find more invormation on the event page linked above.
by Mary Pope-Handy | Oct 7, 2019 | Los Gatos Events
It’s time to decorate some pumpkins! Sereno Group is hosting its 11th annual pumpkin decorating contest and invites kids to transform a small pumpkin into a work of art! This is not a carving contest and there should be no punctures of any kind as these works of art will need to last, and any cuts will cause rotting.
Every child who enters will get a small gift. Voting on the best work of art will take place during office meetings for each of the four age groups, with the winner of each getting a prize.
The age groups for this contest are:
- 2 to 3 years
- 4 to 6
- 7 to 11
- 12 to 14
Small pumpkins are being given away at the Sereno Group office locations in Los Gatos (2 locations), Saratoga, Willow Glen, Aptos, Santa Cruz, Los Altos and Palo Alto. Optionally, entrants may bring their own small pumpkin.
The deadline is Wednesday, October 30th, 2019 (voting in the offices will be the next day). Have fun – we cannot wait to see the decorated pumpkins!
Here are the Los Gatos locations, but feel free to use the others listed on the Pumpkin decorating contest poster:
Los Gatos (open M – F, 9 – 5)
214 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road, Los Gatos
Los Gatos Northpoint (open M – F, 9 – 5)
634 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Suite 100, Los Gatos
Please click on image to see poster in full size (link to my dropbox file)
by Mary Pope-Handy | Apr 15, 2019 | Los Gatos Real Estate
Silicon Valley real estate market comparison: Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino and Los Altos on the Valley of Heart’s Delight blog, SanJoseRealEstateLosGatosHomes.com
Today we’re looking at the real estate market for houses in some of the “west valley” communities along the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains – areas where schools are good, crime is low, residents enjoy scenic views of the hills (or of the valley from the hills, depending on the location) and overall, a highly educated population not too far from Highway 85.
Please hop on over to my Valley of Heart’s Delight blog to check out how the Los Gatos market is doing as compared to Saratoga, Cupertino, and Los Altos.
https://sanjoserealestatelosgatoshomes.com/market-comparison-los-gatos-saratoga-cupertino-and-los-altos/
See also:
Cupertino real estate market trends and statistics
by Mary Pope-Handy | Apr 24, 2018 | Exercise in Los Gatos
This Sunday, April 29th, will be the 41st “Great Race” between Saratoga and Los Gatos. The scenic four mile run draws thousands of runners who will traverse the scenic highway between these two towns, ending up on North Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos. Runners who can’t get enough are welcome to try the 8 mile version, called the Gr8er Race, and run the route both ways.
The Rotary club offers this fun event each year with the help of a number of sponsors. For many years in a row, Sereno Group, where I work, has been a major sponsor for years. Many other local business back this great fundraiser too. See the list of sponsors, a map of the route, and run information at the Rotory Club link below.
http://www.losgatosrotary.org/stories/the-great-race
Register for the Great or Gr8er Race at Race Roster:
https://raceroster.com/events/2018/15930/the-great-and-gr8er-race
Online registration closes at noon on Friday, but runners can also register in-person the morning of. Good luck, racers!
