Thursday Night Music at Bargetto | Sept. 20 (6-8 p.m.)

Bargetto Winery Courtyard
3535 North Main Street, Soquel
800-422-7438, www.bargetto.com

Monterey Bay Birding Festival | Sept. 21-23

Fall is a magical time of year for birding along the Monterey Bay. Over 400 species of shorebirds, ducks, geese, seabirds and songbirds gather along this beautiful coast to over-winter among our wetlands, sloughs, shores and woodlands. Participate with Central Coast birding enthusiasts in a full weekend of activities centered in the Pajaro Valley, heart of the Monterey Bay's world-renowned birding area. Sign up for guided outings. This year's schedule includes a trip to the Big Sur Condor Project, and a special presentation on the Snowy Plover. Other outings are to Watsonville Wetlands, Elkhorn Slough National, Estuarine Research Reserve, Pajaro Dunes, Pajaro River, Moss Landing State Beach, Ventana Wildlife Society Big Sur Ornithology Lab, Sunset Beach, and locations along the Santa Cruz Coast.

Watsonville (various locations)
831-763-5600, www.montereybirdfestival.org

Garden Days at Gilroy Gardens | Sept. 21 (11 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Attention all gardeners... the Garden's Docents are on hand to inform visitors about the parks elaborate gardens and educational exhibits. Special horticultural seminars are presented by experts who are also available to answer your gardening questions. No rides will be in operation during the event hours. Garden Day tickets are $12 and available at the gate.

3050 Hecker Pass/Hwy 152, Gilroy
408-840-7100, www.gilroygardens.org

Movies at the Beach | Sept. 21 (6:30 - 9p.m.)

Seating begins at 6:30 p.m.; Movie starts at 7:30 p.m.; Free popcorn from 7-7:30 p.m. This is a great chance to watch a movie on an Indian Summer evening. Come early, have dinner in the village, bring the family, bring friends, flashlights, low-back beach chairs, blankets and warm clothes just in case it's a cool night.

Esplanade Park and Beach, Capitola
www.ci.capitola.ca.us

Octoberfest at the Tyrolean Inn | Sept 21-23

In true Bavarian fashion, the Tyrolean Inn celebrates Octoberfest with traditional foods, music, songs, plus beers and wines from the homeland.

9600 Hwy. 9, Ben Lomond
831-336-5188, www.tyroleaninn.com

Poetry Readings | Sept. 21 (8-10 p.m.)

Local poets read their works in an atmosphere of warmth and encouragement surrounded by visual arts in the art center gallery. Suggested donation $3.

Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center
9341 Mill Rd. Ben Lomond
831-336-3513, www.mountainartcenter.org

Car Races at Ocean Speedway | Sep. 21 (Gate 4:30 p.m. Race 6 p.m.)

American Stock, 4 Bangers (final point night), Ocean Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Dwarf Cars.

Santa Cruz Country Fairgrounds
2601 E. Lake Ave, Watsonville
831-476-9466, www.oceanspeedway.com

Moonlight Dinner Train | Sept. 22 (6-11 p.m.)

Moonlight dinner, dancing, and train ride through a redwood forest lit by flashlight. Reservations recommended. For tickets contact Roaring Camp at 1-831-335-4484.

Roaring Camp Railroad, Felton
Tickets/Info: 831-335-4484, www.roaringcamp.com

Seaside Crafts at the Seymour Center | Sept. 23 (1-3 p.m.)

Create fun crafts that feature the cool creatures of the tidepools. Make a seastar suncatcher, or create your own sea anemone! There are activity sheets, scavenger hunts, and a take home souvenir of your day.

Seymour Marine Discovery Center
End of Delaware Avenue, Santa Cruz
831-459-3800, seymourcenter.ucsc.edu

Monterey Sea Canyon Birdwatching Tour | Sept. 23 (7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.)

Travel just a few miles off the coast to the Monterey Bay's 6,000 foot deep canyon where more than 70 bird species travel from both hemispheres to feed on these rich waters. Monterey Seabird Tours are available during peak migration seasons, limits the number of travelers on a tour, and are led by expert naturalists and birders.

Monterey Boat Charters, Monterey Wharf
831-375-4658, www.montereyseabirds.com