Capitola Art & Wine Festival

The Capitola Art & Wine Festival is a free-admission grand tasting festival held annually in Capitola Village, California — a two-day event that has been running since 1982 and draws thousands of attendees to the beachside village each September. The 2026 edition is scheduled for September 12 and 13, with Saturday hours from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Organized by the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, the festival also serves as a major fundraiser supporting local schools and community groups.

The Capitola Art & Wine Festival features over 150 fine artists, wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, live music, local dance groups, and street performers — all set along Capitola Village's Esplanade steps from Monterey Bay. The festival was founded in 1982 with 50 artists lining the Esplanade; wine tasting was added in 1983, giving the event its current identity. More than 400 volunteers help produce the weekend each year. A commissioned poster artist is selected annually — the 2025 poster was created by Capitola-area collage artist Cristina Sayers, who has participated in the festival since 2016. The festival has now marked over 42 years of continuous programming.

General admission to the Capitola Art & Wine Festival is free. Wine tasting requires purchasing a festival glass for $20, plus tasting tokens available at Glass & Token booths throughout the grounds. Wine tasting is restricted to guests 21 and older; ID is required. Pets are not permitted due to crowd volume. Free parking and a handicap-accessible shuttle are available at the Capitola Mall on 41st Avenue, with shuttles running approximately every 20 minutes. Free Bike Valet Parking is hosted by Harbor High Leadership at the corner of Capitola and Stockton Avenues.

Capitola sits at the edge of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, a coastal appellation known for cool-climate growing conditions shaped by Pacific fog and breezes off Monterey Bay. The region produces Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah from vineyards at varying elevations, and the festival's wine program draws directly from this appellation — giving attendees direct access to wines made within a short distance of the tasting grounds.