FELTON

Pumpkin decorating at farmers market Tuesday

The Felton farmers market offers its annual Pumpkin Decorating Bonanza from 1:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday during normal market hours. Attendees can select a free Rodoni Farms pumpkin and dress it up with vegetables, string, pipe cleaners, buttons and googly eyes. There will be face painting, live music and an art station. The last Felton market of this season will be Oct. 29; the market returns in May 2025.

WATSONVILLE

Martinelli’s offers sparkling juice cans

S. Martinelli & Co., makers of sparkling cider and apple juice for more than 155 years, has created new 250ml sparkling cans that come in four-packs. The cans launch on Oct. 15, halfway through National Cider Month. Made from recyclable and sustainable packaging, the cans come in three flavors: apple cranberry, apple and apple mango. They will be immediately available at grocery stores, including Nob Hill, as well as the Martinelli’s Company Store and Tasting Room (345 Harvest Dr., 831-768-3938, martinellis.com), with plans to expand to more retailers in early 2025.

CAPITOLA

Gayle’s accepting Thanksgiving orders

Customers can now place Thanksgiving pre-orders at Gayle’s Bakery (504 Bay Ave., 831-462-1200, gaylesbakery.com) Selections include traditional turkey dinners, holiday sides and seasonal desserts. Quantities are limited so early ordering is recommended. The bakery closes at 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Also, Halloween goodies including themed cupcakes and iced bat cookies will be available Oct. 17-31. Jack-o’-lantern princess cakes are for sale Oct. 25-31.

WATSONVILLE

Tickets available for El Pajaro benefit

To celebrate 45 years of helping local entrepreneurs, El Pajaro Community Development Corporation is throwing a Tacos and Tapas party with live music from 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 17. The event, at El Pajaro CDC’s Kitchen Incubator (412 E. Riverside Drive), will feature approximately 20 local businesses that got their start via the incubator program. Tacos, tapas, beer, wine and cider will be served. Tickets are $75, which includes five tickets for food and/or drinks. Get tickets and more information at eventbrite.com/e/tacos-and-tapas-tickets-991388869797.

SANTA CRUZ

Menu changes at Tramonti

Tramonti (528 Seabright Ave., 831-426-7248, tramontisantacruz.com) recently announced fall/winter specials including four cheese and coppa pizza and rigatoni carbonara. A new entrée is cod Portuguese, where fish is roasted with potatoes, lemon and thyme, and served with sautéed leeks. The popular lamb shank is returning to the menu for the season, is slowly braised in burgundy wine and accompanied by roasted polenta. Hours are noon to 3 p.m. and 4:30-9:30 p.m. from Monday-Friday, noon to 9:30 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays.APTOS

Mentone offers wine class

Mentone (174 Aptos Village Way, 831-708-4040, mentonerestaurant.com) is hosting an afternoon wine class Oct. 20 focused on the region of Champagne with Emma Bavera, Mentone’s wine director. The two-hour session costs $125 and includes wine tastings, paired cheeses, small bites prepared by chef David Kinch and more. Seating is limited. Get tickets and more details at exploretock.com/mentone/event/private/9fd713d8-bc41-456b-af3f-ebb3ac06baf3.

Last day coming up for New Leaf on Pacific

New Leaf Community Markets’ doors are permanently closing at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at the 1134 Pacific Ave. location. Hours until then are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The new downtown Santa Cruz store, in the Gateway Plaza on River Street, opens in 2025.

Halloween-themed specials at Kianti’s

Kianti’s Pizza and Pasta Bar (1100 Pacific Ave., 831-469-4400, kiantis.com) is offering specials through the end of October. Two options are available for curbside pickup, takeout or delivery, which customers can order online: a family dinner special with cocktails and a family dinner without cocktails. There are also dine-in-only specials: a “kids’ spider pizza” with black olives or “spooky cocktails” like Put the Fright in the Coconut.

SCOTTS VALLEY

Upcoming popups at wineries

There are a few popups in front of Inversion Wines and Kissed by an Angel (75 Mount Hermon Road). The wineries are open from 1-7 p.m. The food trucks arrive around 2 p.m., with live music from 3-5:30 p.m. Cali Caracas Food Truck will pop up Saturday. Parker Presents: Bill Oysterman appears Oct. 26. An Inversion Harvest Party occurs Oct. 19 with food from The Griddler, music and local vendors. For details, visit inversionwines.com.

APTOS

Olive curing classes, u-picks open to public

Dos Aguilas Olive Oil is offering hour-long olive curing classes for $35 each at its olive grove (1855 Pleasant Valley Road). The sessions to choose from are Oct. 26, Nov. 2, 9 or 16. Olive grower Roger Wolfe will teach several olive curing techniques; advance registration is required. Also, olive u-picks will start on Nov. 1 for $4 per pound. Customers purchase the number of pounds they wish to pick at the online store and are contacted to arrange a visit. Visit dosaguilasoliveoil.com/events for either option.

Tickets available for Agri-Culture benefit

Tickets are on sale for the 28th annual Agri-Culture (agri-culture.us) farm dinner, Oct. 18 at the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County’s “Little Bee Barn” (560 Harkins Slough Road). The event supports agricultural education in Santa Cruz County and the Pajaro Valley. Tickets are $150 plus fees at eventbrite.com/e/28th-annual-farm-dinner-tickets-1013927072167 and attendance is limited to 100 people.

Trail stewardship, Sante Adairius collaborate

Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship is partnering with Sante Adairius at the Rio Theatre Saturday for the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour. When doors open at 6 p.m., Sante Adairius beer will be available. A portion of beer and ticket proceeds benefits Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship. “Traveling to remote vistas … with adrenaline-packed action sports, the World Tour is an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world,” say event organizers. Visit riotheatre.com for details or to buy tickets.

Quick Bites, compiled by Tara Fatemi Walker, is your weekly helping of Santa Cruz County restaurant, food, and drink news. Send items to sentinelfood@gmail.com (Sunday 7 p.m. deadline for that week’s column). Want local food & drink news as it happens? Follow the Sentinel’s food crew on Twitter @santacruzfood.