What to Do in Capitola This Weekend: Shopping, Art & Wine, Food & Beach Vibes
Spending the Weekend in Capitola? You're in the Right Place
If you're wondering what to do in Capitola this weekend, you picked a pretty amazing weekend to visit.
The Capitola Art & Wine Festival is happening September 12–13, 2026, bringing art, local wine, food, live music and plenty of energy to Capitola Village.
But Art & Wine is only part of what makes a weekend in Capitola so special.
Between the beach, colorful Capitola Village, local restaurants, shopping and beautiful Monterey Bay views, you can easily spend an entire day — or weekend — exploring.
Here's our Katalina's guide to making the most of your weekend in Capitola.
Start Your Morning in Capitola Village
One of our favorite ways to experience Capitola is simply to start early and wander.
Grab a coffee, walk through Capitola Village and enjoy the ocean air before the day gets busy.
You'll find colorful buildings, local shops and restaurants all within walking distance of Capitola Beach.
If you're visiting during Art & Wine weekend, getting into the Village earlier also gives you a chance to explore before the festival crowds really get moving.
Explore the Capitola Art & Wine Festival
This weekend's main event is, of course, the Capitola Art & Wine Festival.
The festival runs:
Saturday, September 12: 10 AM–6 PM
Sunday, September 13: 10 AM–5 PM
Admission is free, so you can wander through the festival, browse work from more than 150 artists, enjoy live entertainment and explore wines from participating wineries.
If you're wine tasting, remember that you'll be walking around quite a bit — comfortable shoes and a hands-free bag are your friends.
Shop the Boutiques in Capitola Village
Don't come to Capitola and skip the local shopping.
Part of what makes the Village so much fun is discovering businesses you won't find everywhere else.
And yes, we're a little biased about this part.
Come visit us at Katalina's Boutique while you're exploring!
We're a locally owned women's boutique in Capitola Village filled with pieces we've personally selected because we love them.
You'll find:
Made in Italy fashion
Cozy sweaters and fall layers
Dresses
Denim and bottoms
Matching sets
Hammitt handbags
Tanline Designs jewelry
Accessories and gifts
New arrivals
Whether you're shopping for something to wear that night or just happen to discover your new favorite outfit while walking around Capitola, we'd love to see you.
Take a Walk Down to Capitola Beach
One of the best parts about shopping and exploring Capitola Village is that you're only steps away from the beach.
Take a break from Art & Wine, walk toward the water and enjoy the view of Monterey Bay.
September can be absolutely beautiful on the California coast, and there's something about having the beach right next to the shops, restaurants and festival that makes Capitola feel completely different from a typical shopping district.
And yes, it's also the perfect place for a few pictures.
What Should You Wear in Capitola This Weekend?
Layers.
Always layers.
You might be perfectly comfortable during a sunny afternoon and reaching for a sweater later when the coastal air rolls in.
For Art & Wine weekend, we love an outfit that's cute enough for pictures but comfortable enough for walking.
Try:
A lightweight sweater with denim.
A Made in Italy top with flowy pants.
A dress with a cardigan you can throw on later.
A matching set with comfortable shoes.
And finish it with a crossbody bag so your hands are free for shopping, food and — obviously — your wine glass.
Now we're connecting THREE articles together:
Art & Wine Guide → Saturday blog
Fall Fashion Guide → Saturday blog
Hammitt Guide → Saturday blog
That's exactly the internal SEO structure I want us building.
Grab Lunch or Dinner in Capitola
Make time to eat while you're here.
Capitola Village has plenty of places to stop for lunch, dinner or a drink, and Art & Wine weekend is a great excuse to turn your festival visit into an entire day.
Because the Village will be busy this weekend, expect crowds and give yourself a little extra time.
Our advice?
Don't rush.
Art & Wine is more fun when you make a day of it.
Don't Forget the Local Businesses
Big events like Art & Wine bring thousands of people into our little Village, and they're an amazing opportunity to discover the independent businesses that are here throughout the year.
When you shop locally in Capitola, you're supporting the people who help make this community what it is.
Pop into the boutiques.
Explore the galleries.
Grab something from a local restaurant.
Discover somewhere you've never been before.
That's part of the fun.
Come Say Hi at Katalina's Boutique
If you're in Capitola for Art & Wine this weekend, come see us at Katalina's Boutique while you're exploring the Village.
Whether you're looking for a last-minute Art & Wine outfit, a cozy sweater for later in the evening, a Hammitt crossbody, Made in Italy fashion, jewelry or you just want to browse what's new — come in and say hi.
We're so excited to welcome everyone to Capitola for one of our favorite weekends of the year.
Have an amazing Art & Wine weekend, and we'll see you in the Village!