Downtown Los Gatos will become a pedestrian-only culinary and cultural destination on Saturday, Sept. 19, when the Taste of Los Gatos returns from noon to 5pm.
The Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce’s signature festival is expected to welcome approximately 4,000 attendees for an afternoon of restaurant tastings, local wine, live music, shopping, family activities and community experiences.
Now in its third year, Taste of Los Gatos has become one of the Bay Area’s premier culinary festivals, attracting visitors from throughout the region to experience the restaurants, wineries, boutiques and locally-owned businesses that define the town.
More than 90% of attendees travel from outside Los Gatos, demonstrating the festival’s growing regional reach and its role in introducing thousands of visitors to the community, Chamber of Commerce CEO Jennifer Lin said in a release.
“Taste of Los Gatos is about more than great food and wine. It’s about bringing people together,” she said in a release. “We discover new flavors together, reconnect with friends and create the shared experiences that bring us closer as a community. I’m especially excited that this year’s festival gives guests even more ways to explore downtown, including our new Vintage on Village experience.”
The festival’s signature experience is the Taste of Los Gatos Tasting Wristband, which invites guests to stroll through the closed downtown streets while sampling signature bites from approximately 30 participating Los Gatos restaurants.
This wristband provides one tasting per guest at each participating restaurant.
The Bites & Wine Tasting Wristband adds tastings from approximately 20 wineries, hosted inside downtown businesses.
Among this year’s featured experiences, David Bruce Winery will offer a rare vertical barrel tasting of pinot noir featuring three vintages tasted directly from the cask.
This wristband also includes a complimentary beverage ticket redeemable at the Chamber Tap Truck or Tap Wall, along with a commemorative wine glass and Taste of Los Gatos tote.
Experiences throughout downtown
A major addition to this year’s festival, Vintage on Village will transform Village Lane into a lively destination celebrating the intersection of food, wine, music, and automotive culture.
The pedestrian-only street will feature live jazz, restaurant and wine tastings, the Chamber Tap Wall. Ofelia Ferere, the owner of Beauté Bar, told the Los Gatan she’s excited there will be Porsches parked outside the location she founded in 2024.
“I would love to manifest that I’m going to get one soon,” she said with a laugh, after emerging from a meeting of Taste of Los Gatos organizers. “We have really powered through and honed in on making this happen.”
Taste of Los Gatos will feature live performances on multiple stages, including from The Freshmakers (Main Stage) and Daze on the Green (North Santa Cruz Avenue and Main Street).
Families can enjoy free carnival games, the El Camino Health “Togethering Heals” Outdoor Climbing Wall and interactive activities in the Family Fun Zone.
New this year, the Chamber Cafe, featuring grab-and-go sandwiches and snacks from Blvd Coffee, will offer an easy option for families looking for a quick bite.
The festival also features a shaded Good Samaritan Hospital “Feel the Beat of Better Health” Lounge with comfortable seating, DJ music and family-friendly activities; a complimentary editorial-style photo experience by Auré Photobooth; and community and business booths featuring hands-on activities, giveaways, and opportunities to connect with local organizations.
Guests can also shop, dine, and explore throughout downtown, with boutiques, galleries, tasting rooms, cafés, and specialty retailers contributing to the festival experience.
Celebrating local culinary excellence
The Los Gatos Chamber will also honor two local restaurants with the 2026 Golden Spoon Distinction on the Main Stage. The distinction recognizes outstanding culinary excellence, community engagement, and a longstanding commitment to Taste of Los Gatos.
For the festival, Village Lane and North Santa Cruz Avenue between Main Street and Bachman Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic, creating a walkable environment for guests to explore the festival.
Guests 21 and older may enjoy wine tastings included with the Bites & Wine Tasting Wristband, as well as craft beer and hard cider purchased separately from the Chamber Tap Truck or Tap Wall while strolling within the closed festival streets.
Alcohol purchased directly from participating restaurants must be consumed on the restaurant’s premises.
Tasting Wristbands Bites Wristband ($80 Advance | $100 Festival Day)
● One signature tasting at each participating restaurant
● Taste of Los Gatos souvenir tote
Bites & Wine Tasting Wristband ($100 Advance | $120 Festival Day)
● One signature tasting at each participating restaurant
● Wine tastings from approximately 20 participating wineries
● One complimentary beverage ticket for craft beer, hard cider, or a sparkling non-alcoholic refresher
● Commemorative stemless wine glass
● Taste of Los Gatos souvenir tote
Advance purchase is strongly encouraged.
Admission to Taste of Los Gatos is free. Guests do not need a wristband to enjoy the live music, Family Fun Zone including our El Camino Health Togethering Heals Climbing Wall, Vintage on Village, photo booth experience, Good Sam’s Feel the Beat of Better Health Lounge, interactive activities with our community and business booths, shopping, and downtown atmosphere.
Guests without a Tasting Wristband can purchase craft beer, hard cider, and sparkling non-alcoholic refreshers from the Chamber Tap Truck and Tap Wall, as well as food and beverages à la carte from the Chamber Cafe and participating restaurants.
Event Information
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tasting Wristband Check-In: Begins at 11:30 a.m.
Location: Downtown Los Gatos
Admission: Free
Age Requirement: Guests must be 21 or older with valid government-issued photo identification to purchase alcohol or participate in wine tastings.
Vehicle Closures: Village Lane and North Santa Cruz Avenue between Main Street and Bachman Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic.
Tasting Wristband check-in locations:
● Automobuild Breezeway, 100 N. Santa Cruz Avenue
● Old Town Los Gatos, 50 University Avenue
● Beyond Text Bookstore, 318 N. Santa Cruz Avenue
Taste of Los Gatos is presented by Linda Lester of Lester Square and made possible through the support of Good Samaritan Hospital, Netflix, El Camino Health, De Mattei Construction, West Valley College, Lynx Community Events, Star One Credit Union, the Von Kaenel Family and many additional businesses and community partners.
