October 2026 in Santa Clarita: Community Events Worth Your Time

Walk to End Alzheimer's: Santa Clarita Valley

On Saturday, October 3, 2026, the Alzheimer's Association brings its signature fundraiser to Bridgeport Park (23670 Newhall Ranch Road) with an 8 a.m. start. The Walk to End Alzheimer's is free to participate in with no registration fee, though participants are asked to register and fundraise to support care, support, and research. It is the world's largest event fighting Alzheimer's, and every step supports families facing the disease.

This one matters to me personally. I have walked alongside families caring for aging parents and loved ones with memory loss, and the support network this event funds is real. You can register and join a team at act.alz.org/scv.

36th Annual Art Classic at The Centre

The weekend of October 3-4, 2026 also brings the 36th Annual Art Classic, presented by the Santa Clarita Artists Association at The Centre (20880 Centre Point Parkway). This professionally judged fine-art competition and exhibit is the association's largest annual fundraiser, benefiting student scholarships. Expect works in every medium, ribbon awards, Best in Show, the City's Excellence in Art award, a silent auction, and an awards celebration. It is a free community event and a wonderful way to see the creative talent our valley is known for.

Gilchrist Farm Harvest Festival & Pumpkin Patch

Fall traditions return at Gilchrist Farm with the Harvest Festival and Pumpkin Patch on the weekends of September 26-27 and October 3-4, 2026, continuing through October 31. It is the kind of family-friendly outing that creates the memories people remember for years, and it is a great way to show kids what a real farm looks like this close to home.

Swing for Student Success Golf Tournament

On Monday, October 19, 2026, the College of the Canyons Foundation hosts its Swing for Student Success golf tournament at Valencia Country Club, presented with support from BMO. Proceeds support student scholarships, emergency aid, and critical student-support resources at College of the Canyons. Registration is open for sponsors and single players through the COC Foundation at canyons.edu.

Education changes lives, and I have seen what scholarship support means to students who would otherwise struggle to stay in school. If you golf, this is a day on the course that puts money directly into the hands of local students.

October 10: A Full Day of Community and Service

Saturday, October 10, 2026 is one of the busiest community days on the calendar, with three fundraisers running across the valley. If your family can only pick one, here is how to choose; if you can make more than one stop, you are in for a wonderful day.

Boots & Badges Chili Cook-Off: Special Olympics Southern California

The 2026 Boots & Badges Chili Cook-Off takes place Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Jack Bones Equestrian Center (26983 Tapia Canyon Road) in Castaic. Hosted with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, it benefits Special Olympics Southern California athletes from Santa Clarita and the Tri-Valley. Expect chili from local teams, family activities, and a friendly competition between the people who keep our community safe.

This one is personal for me. I have served as a Special Olympics coach for years, and I have written about why I coach: Special Olympics Bowling Tournament: Why I Coach and Why It Matters. Every dollar raised here puts an athlete on the field, the court, or the lane. You can see details and buy tickets at sosc.org/chilicookoff.

Strides for CJD at Duane R. Harte Park

Also on Saturday, October 10, the Strides for CJD 2026 walk raises awareness and funds for the CJD Foundation, supporting families affected by Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. at Duane R. Harte Park (26401 Riverrock Way) with the walk stepping off at 9:30 a.m. It runs rain or shine. Rare-disease families are some of the most isolated in any community, and this event is how Santa Clarita tells them they are not alone.

Purple Walk / Walk for Hope 5K

The Child & Family Center hosts its Purple Walk / Walk for Hope 5K on the same Saturday morning, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 21545 Centre Pointe Parkway, with the walk at 9:15 a.m. The event raises awareness of domestic violence and funds services for survivors. If you know someone who has needed those services, this is a quiet, powerful way to show up for them.

Veterans: A New Art Exhibition at the Valencia Library

A "Veterans Day" solo art exhibition by Mark Micchio is on display beginning this month at the Santa Clarita Public Library Valencia Branch (23743 Valencia Boulevard), announced by the City of Santa Clarita on October 2. It is a free way to honor those who served, and a reminder that the city's annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Veterans Historical Plaza in Newhall follows on November 11. Add the library exhibit to your October list, and mark the November ceremony now.

Veterans and Families: Mark Your Calendar

Before October gets going, the SCV Veterans Job Fair returns on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at College of the Canyons' Valencia campus, East Gym, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with more than 40 employers recruiting veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. I wrote about it in detail here: Santa Clarita Veterans Job Fair: September 29, 2026. Whether you are job hunting or know a veteran who is, sharing this event is one of the easiest ways to serve someone this month.

Why Community Events Matter

Here is what I have learned in 22 years of real estate: the neighborhoods people love are the ones where residents show up. Events like these are how neighbors become friends, how families find their people, and how Santa Clarita keeps its small-town heart. My mission is simple: Service Before Self. That starts with showing up for the community I am privileged to serve.

If you are thinking about buying or selling in the Santa Clarita Valley and want a guide who knows both the market and the community, I would be honored to help. How can I serve you?