Summer is quickly winding down and the thrills of the widely publicized "staycation" are waning for most families.

However, Santa Clarita offers the ideal antidote to the end of summer blues. Just a few days after Labor Day through the start of the holiday season, the Santa Clarita Valley hosts some of Southern California's best events.

Whether your pleasure is wine tasting, enjoying street painting, dancing to live jazz and blues bands, indulging on distinctive cuisine or thrilling and chilling at a theme park haunt, Santa Clarita is your ticket to fun this fall.

Santa Clarita's fall fun kicks off the first weekend in September with the Santa Clarita Jazz Festival on Saturday, Sept. 6 at the prestigious Valenica Country Club.

This year's event includes a variety of culinary offerings and showcases nearly 10 hours of live music, including smooth jazz artists Kim Waters, Jeff Lorber, Urban Jazz Coalition and Joyce Cooling, among others.

Ticket prices range from $50 for general lawn seats to $150 for the VIP experience. F

or more information or tickets, visit www.TheRussGroupInc.com or call 661-297-9118.

The fourth annual City of Santa Clarita Street Art Festival, presented by Lockheed Federal Credit Union, will take place on Sept. 27 and 28 in Old Town Newhall on Main Street.

This family-friendly, free event is a Santa Clarita signature! Stroll Main Street and enjoy live entertainment, watch the fine art of street painting, experience the beauty of international dance, listen to the rhythmic sounds of featured musicians, and browse scores of fine art and craft vendors for unique wares.

For more information about the event, visit www.StreetArtFest.com or call 661- 286-4018.

The Loose Goose Wine Festival, Southern California's largest wine encounter, presents four days of unforgettable wine experiences throughout Santa Clarita Valley, beginning on Thursday, Oct. 2 and continuing through Sunday, Oct. 5.

Pre-event wine-pairing dinners, a lively wine-and-cigar-themed golf tournament, the glamorous Golden Goose Gala and the amazing Festival at Bridgeport Park combine to create a truly spectacular celebration of the simple pleasures of wine!

The fourth annual Loose Goose Wine Festival features more than 100 wineries, luxury-related vendors, fantastic food, brilliant entertainment, and a terrific assortment of wine-focused demonstrations.

Tickets are limited. For more information about the festival or to reserve tickets, visit www.LooseGooseWineFestival.com or call 661-799-9463 (WINE).

Six Flags Magic Mountain hosts the annual Fright Fest event every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October, excluding Oct. 3.

During Fright Fest, the theme park is transformed into a haunted scream park, making it Southern California's ultimate Halloween experience. Six Flags Magic Mountain offers 13 days of terrifying haunted mazes, roaming zombies and extreme rides in the dark!

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.SixFlags.com or call 661-255-4100.

Then, just in time to combat the holiday culinary indulgences, Santa Clarita hosts the annual Santa Clarita Marathon, presented by Parkway Supercenter, on Sunday, Nov. 2.

This annual event is an official qualifying race for the Boston Marathon, and includes a 5K Run/Walk, Half Marathon, and Kid K run, making it a fun, fit event for all audiences.

For more information about the Santa Clarita Marathon or to register for an event, visit www.SCMarathon.org.

Located 25 minutes from Burbank Airport in North Los Angeles County, Santa Clarita rests in a valley created by the confluence of the Santa Susana, San Gabriel and Tehachapi mountains.

Comprising an area of 55 square miles at an average elevation of 1,200 feet, the City enjoys a mild temperate climate with an average high of 77 degrees. Home to Six Flags Magic Mountain, Santa Clarita also boasts several world-class golf courses, the beautiful Town Center Drive, complete with specialty boutiques and eateries, and historic points of interest like the William S. Hart Museum, Melody Ranch Motion Picture Museum and Mentryville.

The destination is comprised of four distinctive communities, which include Canyon Country, Newhall, Saugus and Valencia, and is only minutes from nearby Castaic, Fillmore, Oxnard, San Fernando and Ventura.

For additional information about Santa Clarita, including details about annual events and year-round attractions, please visit www.VisitSantaClarita.com or contact the tourism office at 661-286-4084.