Jazz with an island touch

Catalina Island

Sept. 30-Oct. 16: The JazzTrax Festival returns for its 19th season in the top-floor ballroom of the landmark Avalon Casino. More than 30 artists are scheduled on three consecutive weekends starting Friday, including the Rippingtons, Hiroshima, Eric Darius and Kirk Whalum. Some seats even have an ocean view.

JazzTrax, Avalon Casino, Catalina Island; (760) 323-1171, www.jazztrax.com. Performances 7:30 p.m. Fridays, noon and 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. $18-$70; weekend pass $119.50-$315.

San Luis Obispo County

Oct. 14-16: At the Paso Robles Harvest Wine Tour, about 75 area wineries celebrate the harvest with barrel samples, tastings of new releases, winemaker dinners, seminars, barbecues and wine discounts.

Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, 744 Oak St., Paso Robles; (800) 549-9463, www.pasowine.com. Most tastings free-$5; charges for other events vary. See website for area map and individual winery events.

Oct. 15-16, 22-23: About 250 artisans (south county the first weekend, north the second), in media including oil, watercolor, sculpture, wood, ceramics, glass and jewelry, open their studios to visitors.

Contact San Luis Obispo County Arts Council, P.O. Box 1710, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406; (805) 544-9251, www.sloartscouncil.org. A 52-page color catalog ($25, plus $2.50 postage) serves as an admission ticket for two for all studios, both weekends.

Austin, Texas

Oct. 21-23: The Lance Armstrong Foundation’s Ride for the Roses is a weekend-long event that includes kids’ events, stories from cancer survivors, a festival-like party and a chance to ride with Armstrong. The event climaxes on Oct. 23 with a 7:15 a.m. program with Armstrong followed by bike rides along seven- to 100-mile courses. Thousands are expected to participate in the event, which funds education and advocacy programs for those living with cancer.

Information from Lance Armstrong Foundation, P.O. Box 161150, Austin, TX 78716-1150; (512) 236-8820, www.livestrong.org. Advance registration, $150, is required. Go to the website to register and for information about planned events.

-- Patricia Connell