Enjoy live music from location musicians every Friday and Saturday. Venue is 21+ with wine, beer, and non-alcoholic options.
From the waves to the redwoods, it's all happening here.
Live music, festivals, art walks, surf contests, trail days and everything in between.
In-person only, on purpose. Everything here is something you can actually show up to. No screens, no streams.
β Featured this season
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Featured Event
Phamily Time!
Phamily Time, presented by Phreeborn is back with a summer edition you wonβt want to miss. There will be something for everyone, so bring the whole phamily! Get tickets for the whole day celebration here: TICKETS
Chamber Choir Now Auditioning
Beati Quorum, a new and growing Ensemble, is seeking new local members. Beati Quorum is a small, hybrid professional / volunteer ensemble based in Santa Cruz. We focus on a cappella singing, Renaissance through contemporary works, and collaborations with artists from our local network to international groups. Visit www.beatiquorum.org to set up an audition today.
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Featured
WRECKAGE: A Musical Tragicomedy
The Tony Award-Winning San Francisco Mime Troupe Opens their 67th Season with: WRECKAGE: A Musical Tragicomedy July 3 β Sept. 7, 2026
Coming up
Aloha Music & Arts Festival Santa Cruz
The first annual Aloha Music & Arts Festival Santa Cruz will take place Friday, July 31, and Saturday, Aug. 1, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, bringing together local musicians, hula schools, artists, food vendors, and community organizations for a weekend celebrating Hawaiian, Polynesian, and Pacific cultures. Gates open daily at 11 a.m. Admission to the festival is free. Donations are welcome. Parking will be available for $20 per vehicle. No in-and-out privileges will be allowed, and re-entry fees will be enforced. Produced by Victor Ohana Productions LLC, the festival aims to celebrate the Spirit of Aloha while creating a new cultural tradition for the Central Coast community. Organizers say the event was created to strengthen connections among local Polynesian communities, while offering residents and visitors a new summer cultural experience in Santa Cruz County. βThis festival is about bringing people together through music, dance, food, art, and community,β said Marie Victor, founder of Victor Ohana Productions. βSanta Cruz has deep cultural and historical connections to HawaiΚ»i through surf culture and the ocean lifestyle. We wanted to create an event that celebrates those shared influences while showcasing the incredible local talent we have here in Northern California.β Rather than featuring a national headliner, the festival will spotlight local bands and performers from throughout Santa Cruz County and the surrounding region. Organizers said the focus of the event is community participation and cultural authenticity. Festival attendees can expect: β Food vendors featuring Pacific-inspired cuisine β Local arts, crafts, and merchandise vendors β Information booths from community nonprofits and organizations β Family-friendly cultural activities and entertainment Local Live Music β Victor Ohana 3 Generations β Ho' Omana β Hunawai β Kanalu β Laule'a Hawaiian Band β Ka La'i O Mele β George Kahumoku Jr (Grammy Award Winner in
Coming up
County Fairgrounds: Aloha Music and Arts Festival
Feel the rhythm of Hawaiian Music with live performances both Friday and Saturday. Enjoy Polynesian inspired dance and vibrant performances throughout the festival. Savor a curated selection of local food vendors serving up dishes and community favorites. Browse a vibrant marketplace of local artisans, handcrafted goods, and unique finds from vendors across the county. Open from noon to 6pm both Friday and Saturday. Although the event entry is free, parking at the venue is $20 per vehicle.
βοΈ Happening today
Friday, July 3163 events on today. No plans required, just go.
What's happening
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4 upcoming events Β· Adults 21+ Β· from 2026-07-31 Β· to 2026-07-31
Join us for The Turveydrop Gala on July 31, 2026, as we celebrate the 46th Annual Dickens Universe Conference! Now open to the public, this enchanting evening invites community members to don their finest Victorian attire and enjoy a night of lively entertainmentβincluding Victorian dance lessons, casino tables, a raffle, postprandial potations, and a live auction! Hosted by the Dickens Project, the Dickens Universe is a unique cultural event that brings together scholars, teachers, students, and members of the general public for a week of stimulating discussion and festive social activity on the beautiful Santa Cruz campus of the University of Californiaβall focused on one or two Victorian novels, with this yearβs novel being Charles Dickensβs Bleak House. The week-long conference culminates in The Turveydrop Galaβa festive celebration that brings together conference attendees and community members. Purchases from the eveningβs activities will support the Dickens Projectβs educational programs. Gala Details: 6:30 PM: Doors Open 7:00-8:00 PM: Live Auction Bid on Dickens-related items, including a first-edition of Bleak House by Charles Dickens 8:00 PM: Announcement of the 2027 Dickens Universe Novel Purchase a copy from local bookseller Liz Pollock of the Cook's Bookcase 8:15-11:00 PM: Victorian Ball and Gaming Dance to nineteenth-century music performed by the Great Expectations Orchestra, with dances led by dance instructor Annie Laskey (This event is 21+) Questions about The Turveydrop Gala? Email: [email protected].
Ashez is an Auckland, New Zealand-based producer working in the bass genre and debuting in the late 2010s. On record, his primary mΓ©tier is the single. His two albumsβ2021βs Digital Human and the new-for-2026 Headwayβare both remix collections. Named after Brazilian folkloreβs protector of the rainforest, Kaipora is a Santa Clarita duo trafficking in bass and rhythmic soundscapes with processed vocals (both sung and rapped), deep grooves and glitchy synthesizer textures that are heavy and hypnotic. Regular fixtures on the festival circuit, both acts cultivate a musical atmosphere designed for dancing and other forms of communal celebration. -Bill Kopp; Good Times Santa Cruz
Moes Alley presents Prezident Brown with none other than Jamaican reggae legends Chalice! Friday, July 31, 2026Doors: 8pm / Show: 9pm$35 in advance / $40 day of show21+ * No Refunds | All sales are final* Avoid scammers! Only purchase tickets from moesalley.com or ticketweb.com* Tickets requested by email will be delivered 3 days prior to the event* Will Call tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event====PREZIDENT BROWNPrezident Brown, born Fitz Albert Cotterell, has been called, one of the most interesting cultural dee-jays since U Roy. Emphasizing positive messages, Prezident Brown has continued to pioneer his own direction, developing his own approach to dee-jaying that he calls, The chanting stylee. Born to a Seventh Day Adventist family in Colonel Ridge, Clarendon, Prezident Brown grew up in the small town of Oracabessa in the Parish of St. Mary, Jamaica.He was forced to leave school at a young age when his father died leaving him with his mother and three sisters. Prezident Brown launched his musical career at the age of fourteen, when he began dee-jaying for the Sound King Stereo Mix at the Bamboo Lounge. Initially known as Junior Ranking, Prezident Brown was dubbed, Slim Brown, by dee-jay Nicodemus. When he recorded his debut single in 1988 Prezident Brown was named, Dancehall Doctor. The late Jack Ruby, producer of Burning Spears albums, Marcus Garvey, and, Man In The Hills, bestowed the title, Prezident, upon him.In 1989, he joined Courtney Coles label, Roof International, and began performing and dee-jaying at the Rooftop Club in Ocho Rios. In 1990, Prezident Brown became involved with producers Barry OHare and Steven Stewart at Grove Music in Ocho Rios. It was Barry OHares X-Rated Record label that became Prezident Browns home base and it was X-Rated Records with Runn Records that launched his career in Europe. In Jamaica the X-Rated label took off as a massive roots revival swept across the country paving the way for Prezident Browns
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If it's happening in person anywhere in Santa Cruz County, whether it's a show, a market, a paddle-out, or a gallery night, we want it on the calendar. Submissions are free and reviewed by our editors.
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