Take a landmark in the San Lorenzo Valley like Roaring Camp Railroads, add some beer, bluegrass music, Thomas the Train and fabulous fall fun, and you’ve got a month to remember in Felton.
This weekend, sounds of the fourth annual Brewgrass Festival will fill the air Saturday at Roaring Camp, complete with popular local bands, brews from local suds purveyors and eats from area food trucks. The entertainment lineup includes Wolf Jett, The Goat Hill Girls, False Bottom Band, Hot Buttered Rum and more.
Joanne Hirasaki, director of sales and marketing for Roaring Camp, is thrilled to bring this fall fixture back to the area.
“This rain-or-shine, family-friendly event features live music, about 12 different breweries and activities for the kids,” Hirasaki said. “We’ll have music playing on both the Meadow and Schoolhouse stages from 1pm-8pm. Admission also includes a number of tasting tickets, so guests can sip on the beer of their choice—food truck items are not included.”
Money made from beer sales is distributed to local fire departments to create college scholarships for students in need, said Hirasaki. Participating breweries include Humble Sea, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing, Santa Cruz Scrumpy Cider, Hop Dogma, Dust Bowl and more.
For the kids, there will be bounce houses, craft tables, tractors, a blacksmith, face painting, panning for gold and, of course, dancing. Although a ride on the train costs extra, kids who present their train tickets at the festival can take home a free pumpkin.
Tickets for the Brewgrass Festival are $65 in advance, and $75 at the door for adults; kids 11-17 are $25 and little ones under 11 get in for free.
Speaking of trains, Hirasaki notes there is a special train Saturday that is being offered for those interested in attending the Brewgrass Festival from Santa Cruz.
“We’re offering a special VIP Tasting Train for adults ($125) and kids 11-17 ($50) that runs from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to the Roaring Camp site in Felton. It departs Santa Cruz at 12pm, arrives at Roaring Camp at 1pm, and returns to Santa Cruz at 9:30pm,” she said.
The Marin County Breakdown will offer live music for the ride, and there will be tastings from Shanty Shack and Woodhouse Brewing available for adults. Interested in a ticket on the Tasting Train? It includes admission to the festival and is sure to be a fun, entertaining ride.
Roaring Camp’s Harvest Faire is also this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Oct.7-8, with the Saturday event happening concurrently with the Brewgrass Festival, so the park will be packed with folks celebrating the beginning of fall, said Hirasaki.
Live music will be featured at this event as well; the Brewgrass Festival will be cordoned off from Faire attendees, and beer won’t be available at the Harvest Faire event.
The Harvest Faire will feature the same activities for the little ones, including corn husk doll making and scarecrow building, and food will be available on the main grounds at Georgie’s Cook House.
While admission to the Harvest Faire is free, the $10 parking fee applies to all Roaring Camp visitors. Gates open at 9am for the Harvest Faire; the Brewgrass Festival kicks off at 1pm.
Finally, Thomas & Percy’s Halloween Party comes chugging back to town over three weekends in October: 14-15, 21-22 and 28-29.
In addition to riding on the iconic Thomas and Percy trains, kids of all ages can enjoy play tables, pick-a-pumpkin, live music, Mr. Miraculous the Magician, pumpkin decorating, a costume contest and more. Of course, Sir Topham Hatt will be available for pictures.
The event runs from 9am-5pm, with peak pricing (11am-2pm) $27 per person, and off-peak pricing (before 11am and after 2pm) $25 per person. Tickets at the door are $27/each. Kids one and under are free, and parking is $10/vehicle.
For information and to purchase tickets for the October events at Roaring Camp, visit roaringcamp.com.
