Fun and flavorful fall festivities are happening in Morgan Hill
Fall is here and Morgan Hill’s schedule of events is full of Halloween fun, fall flavors, and things to do with visiting friends and relatives. Here’s a rundown of seasonal happenings to mark on your calendar.
Get spooky with the Morgan Hill Wine Trolley’s Halloween Haunt Trolley Tours, benefiting Morgan Hill Parks & Recreation, on Oct. 30. Book a 15-minute trolley ride to see the best-decorated homes. If you have little ones younger than two, they ride for free as long as they sit on your lap. Word is, there will also be a Holiday Lights trolley tour, so keep that in mind when the in laws or grandkids visit for the holidays!
Halloween is all about family fun downtown. From 5 to 7 p.m., Oct. 31, enjoy a car-free Monterey Road for the Downtown Association’s Safe Trick or Treat event for kids younger than 12. Throw on some costumes and head downtown to collect candy from local shops and non-profits.
The Spina Farms Pumpkin Patch, which is open through Nov. 2, has gained national attention as one of the most unique fall pumpkin patches thanks to animatronic life size dinosaurs. This temporary theme park in mid-Coyote Valley is a must see, and an incredible example of partnership between ag land and open space.
Looking for an adult night out? From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m ., Nov. 2, The Granada Theater is throwing a Día de los Muertos bash for the 21-and-older crowd. It’s going to be a glitzy party celebrating cultural traditions with a DJ, dancing, and a best-dressed contest — so get your tickets and wear your best group, duo, or single costumes!
A plethora of happenings are planned at local wineries, such as Guglielmo Winery’s “Bottle Your Own” event Nov. 2. In the early days, neighbors would flock to the winery with empty jugs, eager to socialize and refill with flavorful red wine. Today, guests are invited to relive this tradition, whether with their own empty wine bottles or new ones.
The last two Sidewalk Saturdays of the year take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 9 and Dec. 14 at the corner of Depot and Third streets. This is a perfect opportunity to conveniently pick up locally made gifts for the upcoming holiday season.
The highly anticipated grand opening of Cura Contemporary, the new fine art gallery downtown, takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 16. The day will feature the opening exhibition by printmaker Laura Crehuet, artist demonstrations, light refreshments, and special surprises for all ages. Can’t make the opening? Cura will be open regular hours and offer workshops for all ages and skill levels.
Soon all the fixings for Thanksgiving will show up in grocery stores, which is your reminder to encourage friends and family to stop in Morgan Hill during their holiday travels. In lieu of Black Friday shopping, schedule your spot on the Morgan Hill Wine Trolley for a “Thanksgiving Recovery” wine tasting tour. On Small Business Saturday, Nov. 30, visit the Makers on the Farm event at Thorson’s Arena complete with vendor shopping, live music by Asher Stern and Ryan Scripps, and Cochi’s Kitchen’s famous chicken sandos. There will also be a special “Sip Local, Shop Local” trolley tour that day, starting and ending downtown Morgan Hill, with stops for the makers event and wine tasting.
With so many ways to celebrate the season, Morgan Hill is the place to be this fall.
Krista Rupp is the executive director of Visit Morgan Hill. She wrote this column for Morgan Hill Life.
