Skip to content
πŸ“ Santa Cruz County, CA

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

Promotional image for The Kick Off - Sonivore Listening Lounge β˜… Featured Event
Fri, Oct 9, 2026 Β· 7:00 PM

The Kick Off - Sonivore Listening Lounge

πŸ“ Sonivore Β· Downtown Santa Cruz Β· $25

THE KICK OFF is a one-night fundraiser for the Sonivore Listening Lounge at 701 Front Street. DJs, live performances, visual art by Made Fresh Crew, and a first taste of Sonivore β€” just days before our Kickstarter closes. Donation-based entry. To RSVP in advance, pledge at least the minimum tier on Kickstarter, or Venmo a donation to @sonivoremusic with β€œFundraiser” in the note. You can also donate at the door. Come through and help us bring the lounge to life.

Art & Culture Music πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz Details β†’
Promotional image for Afrobeats Nite at the IAS β˜… Featured
Thu, Oct 8, 2026 Β· Institute of the Arts and Sciences

Afrobeats Nite at the IAS

Join us for a night of dancing, joy, and community organized by Afrobeats Nite Santa Cruz featuring DJ Mai Girl and DJ Monk Earl. In addition to music, there will be vendors, food trucks, and late night showings of the exhibitions Victor β€œMarka27” QuiΓ±onez: Ni de AquΓ­, Ni de AllΓ‘ and Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still . This event is FREE and open to the public. Afrobeats Nite at the IAS is a collaboration with Visualizing Abolition , an arts-based initiative that reaches across prison borders to contribute to the unfolding collective story and alternative imagining underway to create a future free of prisons. Jase β€œMonk” Earl is a Santa Cruz–based DJ, curator, cultural producer, educator, and writer whose understanding of community is rooted in Hip Hop culture and shaped by his upbringing in the immigrant-rich neighborhood of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. As the founder of Afroscope Promotions and founder, curator, and resident DJ of Afrobeats Nite Santa Cruz, he creates public spaces where African and diasporic music become catalysts for connection, cultural exchange, and collective celebration. DJ Mai Girl plays festivals, clubs, shows, and private events all over the West Coast and beyond. Her unique blend of genres and hand-picked selections– whether it be hip hop, soul, house, jazzy vibes, old school jams, Afro, Caribbean or Latin rhythms– keep people moving all night. She consistently plays one Stevie or Prince song every set to remind herself of why she started DJing in the first place.

Education πŸ“ Westside
Promotional image for Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Adventure Night β˜… Featured
Sat, Oct 10, 2026 Β· Rio Theatre

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Adventure Night

Rio Theatre & Sante Adairius Midtown Portal team up to support Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship Join us for the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Adventure Night October 10th at 7 pm, Rio Theatre Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world! Join us when we screen this all new Adventure line up of films featuring BEST DAY EVER, the Audience Choice Award Winner and Best Film: Mountain Sports along with five other audience favorites. This year’s films are bound to showcase an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world. The Rio Theatre has been hosting the annual adventure night since 2013. Guaranteed to sell out! Visit https://www.riotheatre.com/events-2/2026/10/10/banffcentremountain for a complete list of films and tickets.

Art & Culture πŸ“ Midtown
Promotional image for Kishi Bashi:: Rio Theatre Santa Cruz 10/6 Coming up
Tue, Oct 6, 2026 Β· Rio Theatre for the Performing Arts

Kishi Bashi:: Rio Theatre Santa Cruz 10/6

(((folkYEAH!))) presents KISHI BASHI Rio Theatre Santa Cruz, CA October 6, 2026 Doors 7pm / Show 8pm All Ages

Music πŸ“ Midtown
Promotional image for Dual Demons - CLASS Coming up
Tue, Oct 6, 2026 Β· The 418 Project

Dual Demons - CLASS

A recurring dance class in Santa Cruz. Check with the venue for specific style and level.

Education πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz

β˜€οΈ Happening today

Tuesday, October 6

55 events on today. No plans required, just go. See the full day β†’

7:00 AM
$48.84
Kishi Bashi:: Rio Theatre Santa Cruz 10/6
πŸ“ Rio Theatre for the Performing Arts
Music
8:30 AM
FREE
Advancing Urban Forest Management Through Technology
πŸ“ Clubhouse at Harvey West Park
Outdoors
9:00 AM
$198
Pastel Painting Class
πŸ“ Community Through Art
Art & Culture
9:00 AM
See listing
Mobile Health Clinic
πŸ“ Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Community
9:00 AM
See listing
Community Tuesday at the UCSC Arboretum
πŸ“ Arboretum
Education
9:00 AM
FREE
Community Day at the UCSC Arboretum
πŸ“ UCSC Arboretum
Community
10:00 AM
See listing
Wisdom Workshops @ TDC: Frames for TDOR with Zoey
πŸ“ 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
LGBTQ+
10:00 AM
See listing
Quilting with Friends
πŸ“ Boulder Creek Branch Library
Community
10:00 AM
See listing
In-person Tech Help @ Garfield Park
πŸ“ Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Community

What's happening

Filter by category, date, or area. Everything listed is in person, county-wide.

Quick: Today This weekend Next 7 days Area Clear all

1 upcoming event Β· Adults 21+ Β· from 2026-10-06 Β· to 2026-10-06

Oct
6

Moe's Alley Presents: The Animeros

πŸ“ Moe's Alley
πŸ•’ 8:00 PM Β· See listing

Moes Alley Presents Austins psychedelic Latin groove-makers, The Animeros! Tuesday, October 6, 2026Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm$20 in advance / $25 Day of the show21+* Tickets on sale Friday, July 24th at 10am PT ** 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====THE ANIMEROSWith musical notes that span well beyond genres like bolero, psychedelic, and cumbia, The Animeros not only make their audience hit the dance floor, but they also invite their listeners and tastemakers alike to a glimpse of their rich cultural upbringing. The group who is made up of Nick Tozzo (drummer and percussionist), Nicolas Sanchez (bassist), and Mauro Lopez (guitarist) craft a genre-blending sound that drifts between the lush jungles of Colombia, the palm-lined streets of 1960s coastal Mexico, and the dusty cantinas of West Texas.Sanchezs Colombian roots, growing up listening to his parents beloved salsa and cumbia; Lopezs parents Mexican and American discography, which spanned from traditional Tejano to improvised jazz; and Tozzos love for jazz and salsa music, the latter stemming from his college years, leading him to study and live in Colombia to experience music greats first-handedly. All of this, paired with their undeniable chemistry and meshed with their now hometown Austins innovative creative sounds has led them to create the unique sonic movement that is The Animeros, a name inspired by Colombian shamans who would usher lost souls to their peace.Their journey took an unexpected turn when their music reached the ears of Dan Auerbach, the Grammy Award winning producer, songwriter, and frontman of The Black Keys. Auerbach first heard them by chance, music floating from an open hotel window that stopped him in his tracks. Captivated, he made a note to track them down, and within a yea

Music Adults 21+ πŸ“ Midtown Details β†’

Never miss a beach day, show, or street fair.

Join the Santa Cruz Scene newsletter for local discounts, community highlights, and the best curated events delivered to your inbox each month.

We use your email only to send the newsletter. How we handle your info

No spam, just the Scene. Curious who we are? Read our story.

Hosting something rad?

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.

Submit your event β†’