Festival

In 1879, only 4% of fruit and vegetable crops originated in Santa Cruz county.  Thirteen years later, the first Japanese immigrants arrived in Watsonville.  Just a couple decades later, Santa Cruz County was responsible for over half of the nations’ produce, largely thanks to the Japanese immigrant community! There’s so much more to the story and so much more to the culture.  You can experience it all at the annual Japanese Cultural Fair!  Enjoy culture, crafts, music, food and more. Free parking will be available at the Santa Cruz Government Center located in the designated parking area for the fair where you may access a free shuttle to the fair at the historical Mission Plaza.