Thursday, October 1, 2026

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Calendar at a Glance

10/1 - GOLD Thursday

10/5 - Ribbon Cutting: Reveal Aesthetics

10/7 - Town Council Candidate Forum

10/12-10/18 - InduLGe Los Gatos Restaurant Week

10/13 - ADA Compliance/Business Safety Seminar

10/14 - Women's Networking Group Meeting

10/25 - Halloween PAWlooza

View Community & Chamber Calendar Here

Scroll down for more news and events!

Dear Friends and Members of the Chamber,

As the hillsides glow in gold and amber and pumpkins begin to appear on doorsteps and storefronts, autumn in Los Gatos invites us to gather around the table and savor the season together.

Next Wednesday, October 7, the Chamber will host a free, nonpartisan Town Council Candidate Forum at CineLux Los Gatos Theatre, with check-in at 5:15 p.m. and the forum from 6 to 8 p.m. With all six candidates participating, this is an important opportunity to hear directly from those seeking to serve our community. Please register in advance.

I'm excited to invite you to our inaugural Indu LG e L os Gatos Restaurant Week , taking place Monday, October 12 through Sunday, October 18. Taste of Los Gatos was just the beginning! All week long, our local restaurants will offer special menus, tastings, and other dining experiences. Whether you return to a favorite or find a new gem, every meal is a delicious way to support the restaurants that make Los Gatos a dining destination.

Finally, please save the date for our Halloween Kid + Pet PAWlooza on Sunday, October 25. NEW this year, we are collaborating with the Los Gatos Farmers Market for a morning of Halloween fun at Town Plaza Park from 9 AM to 12 PM, featuring face painting, balloon art, activities, and a spirited costume promenade and contest for the whole family, including your four-legged babies. From 12 PM to 2 PM, the festivities continue with trick-or-treating at downtown businesses. Be sure to also vote for your Favorite Pumpkin in our NEW Pumpkin Decorating Contest, with pumpkins generously provided by Chamber member Patchen Pumpkin Patch/ Tree Farm.

Finally, thank you for making Taste of Los Gatos on September 19 our best festival to date! I was so thrilled to see more than 4,000 guests enjoying the event, and I'm deeply grateful to our sponsors, volunteers and participating businesses. Relive the day through the beautiful photos captured by The Wright Visuals.

Here's to good food, great company, and a festive fall in Los Gatos!

Warmly,

Jennifer Lin

CEO, Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce

Advocacy Alert

State: New Laws Extend To-Go Cocktails and Speed Up Small Business Permits

Governor Newsom signed a package of small business bills on September 30. AB 2663 takes effect right away and lets restaurants keep selling to-go cocktails through 2029. The old permission was set to end this December. Cocktails must be sold with a meal, are limited to two per meal, and must be picked up by the customer, not delivered. Starting January 1, other new laws aim to shorten permit waits when businesses build out office and retail spaces, and require cities to allow pop-up shops in existing commercial spaces, such as empty storefronts, for up to 120 days. Restaurants, retailers and commercial property owners should watch for how the Town carries out the new permit rules. Click here for more information.

State: New Law Requires Human Review Before AI-Driven Firings

Governor Newsom signed SB 947, the "No Robo Bosses Act," on September 30. Starting July 1, 2027, California employers of all sizes may not rely only on automated software, such as AI tools that score or rank workers, to discipline or fire an employee. When an employer relies mainly on such a tool, a person must review other information, such as manager evaluations or personnel files, to confirm the decision. The employee must also get a written notice when told of the decision. The Governor vetoed a broader version last year. Employers that use software to track performance should follow how the state Labor Commissioner, which enforces the law, applies it. Click here and here for more information.

Town Council Candidate Forum

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7 | FORUM 6:00–8:00 PM | CINELUX LOS GATOS THEATRE

CHECK-IN & MINGLING 5:15 PM

Hear directly from the candidates for Los Gatos Town Council ahead of the November 3 election. The Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce will host a nonpartisan Candidate Forum, giving Chamber members and the community-at-large an opportunity to hear candidates discuss the issues shaping Los Gatos.

The moderated forum will focus on Town budget and fiscal priorities, housing and development, and business and economic vitality, followed by audience Q&A. All participating candidates will receive the same questions and an equal opportunity to respond.

Chamber members receive priority consideration for questions submitted during registration to be posed by the moderator.

Click Here to RSVP for the Forum

GOLD Thursday - Last One of the Season!

Let’s make our final GOLD Thursday of the season shine!

Come down to Grays Lane and enjoy Antoine’s cookies, compliments of the Chamber, from 5:30–7:00 PM (or while supplies last), along with face painting provided by Fairytale Endings Entertainment, and music from Little Black Book on Grays and Jerry Sauceda in front of First Born.

NEW: Downtown "Entertainment Zone"

Adults 21+ with an official wristband may purchase an alcoholic beverage from participating businesses and stroll within the designated Entertainment Zone from 5:00–9:00 PM.

The Entertainment Zone boundary is marked in yellow on the map below.

• Click Our Digital Map to View Libations To-Go, Live Entertainment, Activations & Offers •

Halloween PAWlooza

Businesses, Enter the NEW Pumpkin Decorating Contest!

Decorate a pumpkin and display it in your business window beginning Friday, October 9. The community will stroll downtown and vote by QR code for their Favorite Pumpkin.

Thanks to Chamber member Patchen Pumpkin Patch / Tree Farm, participating businesses can pick up a complimentary pumpkin from the Chamber office, while supplies last.

The contest culminates at Halloween PAWlooza on Sunday, October 25, with families trick-or-treating downtown beginning at noon.

Fill out the form below by Thursday, October 8 to participate in the contest.

Businesses: Sign Up to Participate

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25 | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM + DOWNTOWN TRICK-OR-TREATING

A morning of Halloween fun for kids, families and four-legged friends at Town Plaza Park from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM. Then the fun continues throughout downtown with business-hosted Trick-or-Treating and our NEW Pumpkin Decorating Contest!

Businesses, Engage with the community, promote your business and be part of one of Los Gatos' favorite family events. Respond by Friday, October 16.

Host a Trick-or-Treat Stop and welcome families at your business from 12:00 to 2:00 PM. Participating businesses will be featured on the official event map.
Kid- or Pet-Focused Chamber Business? Host an Interactive Booth at Town Plaza Park. Create a fun, hands-on experience that showcases your business
Donate a Drawing Prize to help make the community drawing even more fun.
Mark Your Stop with a Coordinated Balloon Bundle (must preorder and pick up from Affordable Treasures) so families can easily spot participating businesses.

Businesses: Sign Up to Participate

InduLGe Restaurant Week

MONDAY OCT 12–SUNDAY OCT 18

Get ready to InduLGe! Taste of Los Gatos was just the beginning. We invite you to discover even more of Los Gatos’ incredible dining scene during our inaugural Restaurant Week, with special menus, prix fixe offerings, tastings and other dining experiences all week long.

RESTAURANTS: Join the excitement and let us know what you’re offering so we can help promote your participation.

Submit Your Restaurant Offering

Los Gatos Perks Pass

Second Edition Is Live!

Enjoy exclusive perks, promotions, and offers as you shop and dine locally. It takes just one minute to add this free pass to your phone - no app required.

Click here to add to your mobile phone.

Consumer-facing businesses: Submit a special offer for the second edition of the Los Gatos Perks Pass: a free digital collection of offers from local businesses that consumers can access on their phones. Chamber members participate at no cost.

The first edition attracted 1,190 passholders, with complimentary restaurant desserts among the most popular offers.

Previously participated? Simply log in to your merchant portal to upload your latest promo. If your previous offer didn't generate significant engagement, consider a new promotion this time.

New to the Perks Pass? Email merchants@bandwango.com with “Los Gatos Chamber & [Your Biz Name]” in the subject line. Our partner, Bandwango, will contact you with next steps.

Chamber Member Events

An Evening of Connection at Telefèric Barcelona!

It was wonderful seeing so many new faces and reconnecting with familiar ones. A special thank you to Telefèric Barcelona for graciously hosting us for our Chamber Networking Event on September 29.

We hope you’ll join us again later this month for our Multi-Chamber Mixer at West Valley College.

Photos by The Wright Visuals

Ribbon Cutting: Reveal Aesthetics

October 5

Women's Networking Group

October 14

Click Here to Register

ADA Compliance/Business Safety Seminar

Join us at the Chamber for an ADA Compliance and Business Safety Seminar with local law firm Sweeney Mason, LGMS Police, and Town of Los Gatos on Tuesday, October 13 at 9 AM. Click here to register.

ADA-related lawsuits against small businesses are increasing across California, with website accessibility now the fastest-growing basis for ADA-related claims. We encourage every member to review accessibility both in person and online before an issue becomes a lawsuit.

Our ADA Compliance Guide includes a getting-started checklist, common trouble spots, and links to CASp inspectors and financing options.

ADA Compliance Guide

Chamber Job Shadow Day

Business Host Interest Form

Los Gatos Gift Card

One gift card. Countless ways to enjoy Los Gatos.

Purchase a Los Gatos Gift Card

Business Resources

Grow faster with free advising and workshops in strategy, capital, and workforce from our trusted partners. Learn more here and see workshop highlights below.

SEO 101: How to Rank on Google & AI ChatGPT Platforms

What You Will Learn in This Workshop:

How SEO works and why it is one of the most powerful marketing channels available
The strategies used to rank websites on Google and AI search platforms
How to generate a steady pipeline of leads, calls, and sales from organic traffic
How to ethically capture traffic that is currently going to your competitors
The exact framework used to turn websites into 24/7 lead generation machines
How to evaluate and hire a trustworthy SEO company if you choose not to do it yourself

Date & Time: October 8, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Event Registration

Access valuable information at no cost.

Video Marketing & Reels: Create Content That Connect

What You’ll Learn:

Explore AI tools to help generate images and video for your marketing
Discover simple and affordable techniques for shooting quality video with the device you already have
Master basic editing skills for fast, polished results
Write captions to boost visibility and engagement
When to use B-roll and talking-head videos to keep your content dynamic
How before/after content can showcase real results and build trust with potential customers

Date & Time: October 8, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Event Registration