EVENTS

This is for event reservations. To make a reservation for a tasting, please click here.

EVENT RESERVATION & Attendance Policy

1. Ticketing & Seating Guests must purchase one ticket per seat needed. Seats are allocated based on earliest reservations.

Early reservations will be close to the stage, and later reservations will likely be farther away, unless a specific request is made. Earlier requests receive priority, we may not be able to fill all seating requests.
12 and under are free, but must be included in the notes so that we know to provide a seat for them. Meaning if you have a group of 3 and 1 child, please pay for 3 and in the notes write (One child under 12). Additionally, children may not be left unattended.
All ticketed guests (including children) must be listed to ensure accurate seating.
- Typical Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door, Special Event Tickets will have varied rates and will be published online

2. Cancellations & Refunds made 48 hours or more before the event will receive a full refund.

- Example: For a Saturday event, cancellations must be made on Thursday.
No refunds will be issued for cancellations made within 48 hours of the event.. Refunds can be issued via our online site using your confirmation link.

3. Day-Of Reservations are not accepted through the online system. A timer or lock will restrict online booking on the day of the event.

Guests who still wish to attend may do so by paying the applicable cover at the door (subject to availability).

4. Reservation Changes

No additional seats may be added to a reservation on the day of the event without prior approval. Same-day additions require contacting us directly (via text).
Same-day reductions to party size (e.g., "We now have 3 instead of 8") are not eligible for refunds. The reservation holder is responsible for filling their reserved seats.

5. Reservation Notes and Seating Requests

Reservation notes are the best way to communicate preferences with us, where we may not always be able to meet your preferences, adding notes can enhance your experience
Reservation notes can be used for:
- Identifying any children in your party
- Requesting a specific area in the winery (Close to stage/ far away)
- Requesting ADA accessibility
- If you are coming with a group but have separate reservations, you MUST put the name of the reservation you wish to sit with in the notes OR WE WILL NOT KNOW TO SIT YOU TOGETHER!

6. Confirmations

Please check if your email is correct! Please check your phone number!
If you do not have an email confirmation at the door, and we do not have your payment confirmed, your reservation will not be honored.
Please contact us if you do not receive a confirmation within 20 minutes of booking!
- Email: Elvaquerowinery@gmail.com Text: 831-607-8118

We advertise our events extensively on Instagram and Facebook so like and follow us on those apps to stay up to date!

You may also sign up to receive our weekly email with a description of events for the next 2 weeks. Just click here!

Every Thursday

Trivia Night!

Free to Play

Every Thursday we play trivia at El Vaquero Winery! No reservations are required to play and it's free! Teams can be groups of 2-6 and have the opportunity to win a free bottle of wine. We kick things off at around 7 PM and the game runs until about 8:30 or 9 PM. Wine is always available by the glass or bottle and we have the local favorite food truck, Chubby's Tacos, providing amazing Quesabirria, burritos, tacos, and more!

Food by:

Chubby's Tacos

Friday, June 26th 6-9pm

Rosebud

Rock, Grateful Dead

Rosebud is a band of veteran musicians from the Bay Area and California Central Coast. The band plays a mix of original music as well as interpreting songs from the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, the Beatles, Van Morrison, David Lindley, and many more. The band typically mixes all these into their set, but has been known to play shows of all Grateful Dead or shows of all original music.

Rosebud features rhythm guitarist Scott Cooper, whose music can regularly be heard on KPIG radio and other stations. His debut CD reached #5 on the national jam band charts. The band is grounded by the drumming of Mark Corsolini, formerly of Dark Star Orchestra and Melvin Seals' JGB. Lead guitarist Fred Rodriguez is an in-demand soloist whose tone and taste are reminiscent of Jerry Garcia and Dickie Betts, while maintaining an identifiable and individual voice of his own. Fred played in the popular trio Three-Legged Dawg along with bassist Andy Birchett. Lastly, keyboard player Lachlan "Citizen" Kane rounds out the band with his stellar vocal harmonies, honky tonk piano and signature plaid attire.

We’ll have award winning wines and delicious food by a quality local food truck. Reservations are $10 prepaid (via El Vaquero reservation system at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com). Tickets day of the show (if available) are $15.

Food by:

Taco House

Friday June 26th 6-9pm

Rosebud

Rock, Grateful Dead

Food by:

California Pizza Kitchen

Saturday, June 27th 5-8pm

Ancestree

Reggae Originals

We’re thrilled to welcome back Ancestree to El Vaquero Winery.

Ancestree is not only a favorite in the local reggae scene, but also a Santa Cruz icon. Stickers bearing the band’s name can be found throughout town. At the heart of the band’s music is the reggae tradition of spiritual guidance and learned consciousness. “Our music is [meant] to let your inner peace and happiness override, to provide the inner spiritual source.”
We’ll have award winning wines and delicious food by a quality local food truck. Reservations are $10 prepaid (via El Vaquero reservation system at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com). Tickets day of the show (if available) are $15.

Food by:

Corralitos Pizza

Saturday, July 4th 12-5pm

4th of July Special: Alex Lucero and El Brick Double Header!

Fun!

Lounge Seating is SOLD OUT for this event.

El Vaquero is celebrating our nation’s 250th Birthday on July 4th by bringing you 2 count’em 2! Shooting Star Bands. Most of us have experienced the brilliance of the band that we lovingly refer to as our “house band”, The Alex Lucero Band. I’m sure we’re all thrilled for their success with the release of their recent album “Heavy & Unkind”, their successful west coast tours and we all wish them tremendous continued success. Besides being amazingly talented folks they are super sincere and genuine people. We love them!

I love doubling them up on July 4th with a relatively new band that many of our regulars are super excited about, El Brick. I think Neil Pearlburg, Off the LipRadio /KSCP Santa Cruz hosts put it well with “Vaulting to the top of my list of Santa Cruz dance bands, go to see them,you won’t need a chair!” Don’t worry, we’ll have a chair for you. If you’ve seen them or seen videos from their shows at El Vaquero, you probably agree.

El Brick is a Santa Cruz-based band known for their high-energy shows and infectious dance music, rendered with rockabilly flair. Delivering a distinctive spin on classics from a diverse array of eras and genres (even the Ramones!), El Brick appeals to all ages and keeps the floor perpetually rockin, no matter the venue or occasion.

- Mariah Martel captivates audiences with her powerhouse vocals and retro charm, blending classic rockabilly rhythms with a modern twist.
- Donny Campion shines on lead guitar, his sick riffs and vibrant solos captures the spirit of rockabilly legends.
- Patio Golliher on bass, whose rhythmic lines lay a solid foundation for the band's infectious energy.
- Zack Olsen on drums, who's driving beats are reminiscent of the rockabilly greats.

They also have one of my favorite tag lines of all times: “El Brick is on a mission to bring the rockabilly revival to new heights, one dive bar at a time.”

So join us for a 4th of July you are soon not to forget. Details include:

-$20 prepaid ticket
-$25 day of the show ticket if it’s not sold out yet (unlikely scenario)

The schedule is early enough to catch hours of great music and still enjoy your July 4th night plan, whatever that may include.

-Noon to 2 pm - El Brick Band
-2:30 to 5:00 pm -The Alex Lucero Band

As always we’ll have our San Francisco Chronicle Award winning wines and a quality local food truck.

Tickets for this and all EVW July shows available Monday June 8th at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com starting at 5 pm pst.

Food by:

TBD

Sunday, July 5th 4-7pm

Rivetts and Rust & Ken Margolis & Friends

Americana

Special Doubleheader: Rivets & Rust and Ken Margolis & Friends. Rivets and Rust are a Rock-Folk-Americana band from Santa Cruz that play singer-songwriter originals and classic covers. The band includes Tim Bennett (guitar, vocals), Angela Bennett (keys, harmony vocals)and Glenn MacPherson (lead guitar, harmony vocals), Mark Hull (guitar, back up vocals).

Ken Margolis and Friends is a performing and recording project
from Santa Cruz, CA focusing on the original compositions of
Ken Margolis and a variety of unusual and complex songs by
many of the great keyboard-oriented singer-songwriters of the
60’s, 70’s and beyond. Artists covered by the band include
Bruce Cockburn, Elton John, Leon Russell, Bill Withers, Joe
Cocker, Traffic, Procol Harum, The Beatles, James Taylor and
others.

The heart of the project is the trio consisting of Ken
Margolis, lead vocals and keyboards, Dave Handloff, backing
vocals and bass and Bruce Handloff, backing vocals and drums.
The Friends are often joined by other stellar musicians who
have included Dan Frechette on guitar, Dave Burns on
keyboards and Charlie Joe Wallace on pedal steel guitar.

The music covers a wide range of genres including piano blues,
piano-oriented rock (hard, soft and pop), folk, country, and
smooth jazz, and Ken’s vocals are heavily influenced by blues,
R&B and soul.

We’ll have award winning wines and delicious food by a quality local food truck. Reservations are $10 prepaid (via El Vaquero reservation system at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com). Tickets day of the show (if available) are $15.

Food by:

TBD

Friday, July 10th 6-9pm

Flor De Cana

Salsa & Originals

Brace yourself for dance floor liberation with the salsa shaking Flor De Cana~

Prepaid tickets at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com are $10, if available, day of the show are $15. We’ll have award winning wine and food from a quality local food truck.

Food by:

TBD

Saturday, July 11th 5-8pm

LOVE DOGS

Pop Punk, Rockabilly

The Love Dogs are a classic "party band." Instead of playing original music, their setlist heavily focuses on crowd-pleasing dance anthems and rock covers. Their live sets feature everything from 50s rock-and-roll to 90s favorites like Weezer's "Hash Pipe".
Reviewers and local fans note their high-energy, fun-loving dynamic. With decades of live gigs under their belt, the core trio knows exactly how to read a crowd and keep the venue rocking.
The Love Dogs sold out a summer gig and a New Years Eve Party last year. You’ll love their music selection and even get a dose of the Ramones.
Prepaid tickets at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com are $10, if available, day of the show are $15. We’ll have award winning wine and food from a quality local food truck.

Food by:

TBD

Sunday, July 12th 4-7pm

Joint Chiefs

Funk, Soul

The Joint Chiefs Band is the premier dance band in the Santa Cruz area, captivating audiences with electrifying performances and infectious grooves. Element of Classic R&B, Funk and Soul, creating a signature sound that keeps the dance floor alive and pulsating.

As one of the most versatile and exciting dance bands the band’s enchanting music resonates throughout Santa Cruz County and beyond!

We’ll have award winning wines and delicious food by a quality local food truck. Tickets are $10 prepaid (via El Vaquero reservation system at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com). Tickets day of the show (if available) are $15.

Food by:

TBD

Friday, July 17th 6-9pm

Alex LuceroBand

Americana

Make your reservations for the Alex Lucero Band at El Vaquero Winery starring the winner of the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Good Times Best Local Band Award.

Alex Lucero might have grown up in “The Cowboy Capital of The World”, but don’t let that fool you. Despite being brought up in a very “country” esque environment in small town Oakdale, Ca, Alex actually grew up listening almost exclusively to the soulful music of the 60’s & 70’s. Artists such as Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Van Morrison and Stevie Wonder have played a huge part in his musical influences and overall feel. The Alex Lucero Band has received incredible response across Northern California being played regularly on multiple radio stations and on permanent rotation on the well known KPIG 107 “oink” 5.

Prepaid reservations are $10 (goes 100% to the band) via the El Vaquero ticketing system at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com seats, if available, day of the show are $15 at the door. We’ll have award winning wines and food by a quality local food truck.

$10 Cover (goes 100% to the band), reservations are required at http://reservations.elvaquerowinery.com We’ll have award winning wines and a quality local food truck.

Food by:

TBD

Friday, July 24th 6-9pm

Big Bad Wolf

Rock

Hailing from Aptos, in Santa Cruz County, California, Big Bad Wolf howls with a special off-the-beaten-path brand of tasty and danceable blues-based classic rock from groups and artists like Creedence, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Steely Dan, Jon Hiatt, John Don’t Fogerty, The Hollies, and many more. A party with The Big Bad Wolf is always a high octane, rip-roaring good time.

From Bob: Jefferson's John Fogerty vocals are spot on! Big Bad Wolf’s “One Headlight” rendition is as good as the Wallflowers! They are one of the most popular rock cover dance bands at El Vaquiero Winery.

Prepaid reservations are $10 (via El Vaquero ticketing system at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com). Seats, if available, day of the show are $15. We’ll have award winning wine and food from a quality local food truck.

Food by:

TBD

Sunday, July 26th 4-7pm

Triana Feruza & the Heavy Hitters

Rock

Blending deep-pocket grooves, rich R&B soul, and fearless lyrical storytelling, Triana Feruza & the Heavy Hitters sound has been described as “Amy Winehouse meets Anderson Paak. jammin' at a Sly and the Family Stone party.” Their live shows are a full-body experience—soulful, high-energy, and deeply interactive.

We’ll have award winning wines and delicious food by a quality local food truck. Tickets are $10 prepaid (via El Vaquero reservation system at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com). Tickets day of the show (if available) are $15.

Food by:

YBD

Friday, July 31st 6-9pm

Vinny Johnson Band with Special Guest Mick Adams

Rhythm& Blues

Ladies and gentlemen,we are stoked to have the Vinny Johnson Band back at El Vaquero Winery Friday! Spencer Ellison will be Rockin the Drums, Les Blues Buddha Rosenthal on Harmonica and Leroy on the Bass! and oh yeah, Vinny Johnson on guitar! Join us for an evening of Rockin Rhythm and Blues playing hits from Otis Redding, BB King, Ben Harper, Al Green and more.

Vinny will have Mick Adams of the Alex Lucero Band as his SPECIAL GUEST.

Gonna be a Funky good time! tickets are $10 in advance at reservations.elvaquerowinery.com (100% to the band) and $15 at the Door. We’ll have award winning wines and food from a quality local food truck.

Food by:

TBD