From the waves to the redwoods, it's all happening here.

There’s a thin line between love and hate and sometimes, it’s the barrier between balconies. That’s the premise of Noel Coward’s Private Lives. Two divorced lovers find themselves spending their new honeymoons next door to one another at the same hotel. Both are egotistical, passionate, and selfish, so how are they going to manage to live next to each other at a hotel? Better yet, how are they going to live without each other? This laugh-out-loud comedy is rich, witty and as sharp as Cupid’s arrow. See the play on Friday, September 4th for a matinee preview or check out one of the multiple showings through October 4th. -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz

Come join a community of readers who meet the 4th Monday of each month to hear poetry and discuss its curious powers. Come join a community of readers who meet the 4th Monday of each month to hear poetry and discuss its curious powers. Discussions facilitated by Paola Bruni, Elaine Fletcher Chapman, and Jessica Cohn. Registration encouraged. Walk-ins welcome. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/14321587 Poets in 2026 January 26 Joy Harjo February 23 Billy Collins March 23 Eavan Boland April 27 Arthur Sze May 18 * Emily Dickinson June 22 Gary Snyder July 27 Dean Young August 24 Lucille Clifton September 28 Sharon Olds October 26 Juan Felipe Herrera November 23 Ada Limon December 28 Jericho Brown *Note: Third Monday in May because of Memorial Day

Monday, September 28th, The Spoken Experience meets at a new time: 1 p.m. This community of readers gathers on the fourth Monday in the Capitola library to read a featured poet’s work. For September, the focus will be on the poems of the incomparable Sharon Olds. Local poets Paola Bruni, Elaine Fletcher Chapman, and Jessica Cohn facilitate the conversation, and you'll enjoy the company of the nicest bunch of people you could meet on any Monday. Join us!

This is Motion Pacific's Beginning Jazz Fusion class for adult dancers.

A weekly Afro-Brazilian dance class focusing on rhythm and movement.

0 booked, 6 available Chris Finnie

2 Mondays of Latin Social Dance in September, Salsa, level1 and Cha Cha level 2, at the Mid County Social Center in Capitola with Becky Adams. 6:15-7:15 - Salsa social dance for the absolute beginner. If you love the music, come join us to learn the basics of this fun dance. 7:30-8:30 - ChaCha 2, will move you into fun, useable Intermediate combinations to add to your social dance repertoire. If you know Cha Cha basics, or have taken Salsa 2 and know the 'triple step' come and join us. Singles or couples all ages welcome.

This is Motion Pacific's intermediate level contemporary jazz dance class.

FREE IN-STORE EVENT: Bookshop Santa Cruz welcomes New York Times bestselling author Joseph Fink (Welcome to Night Vale, Alice Isn't Dead) for a reading and signing of The Nudge, a new horror novell...

Soft Pastel Painting runs in six week intervals taught by instructor Sarah Orre. A short demo will be taught the first class meeting with reference photos that will teach color theory, underpainting, texture, layering, and movement. Students are encouraged to bring additional reference photos for inspiration. Participants bring their own soft pastels (not oils), and sanded paper. The remainder of the class meetings are used for studio time. The last day we have a group peer review to discuss our work and give and receive feedback.

0 booked, 4 available Glazing

Youth Bloom Studio Art with Sarah Orre, nurtures creativity, confidence, and curiosity through hands-on learning. Each class encourages young artists to explore new materials, techniques, and ideas while building foundational art skills in a supportive studio environment. From painting and drawing to air dry clay and mixed media, students learn to see like artists and express their own unique voice. Enroll in as many sessions as you like!

A weekly hula and Tahitian dance class with the Te Hau Nui school, exploring Polynesian movement and tradition.

Advanced hula and Tahitian dance class for experienced dancers. Part of Te Hau Nui School's curriculum.

Beginning adult ceramics with instructor Nora Sarkissian. Learn the basics of hand building, pinch, and coil. Nora will provide demos and projects as well as time for independent clay creation. Class is held at Redwood and Ranunculus downtown Felton. Tuesdays, 6-8:30 PM $234 for 6 weeks (7% service fee due at checkout) plus a $20 material fee due to instructor at first class Clay, glazes, and tools provided. Session I: August 18, 25, Sept 1, 8, 15, 22 Session II: Sept 29, October 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov 3

0 booked, 7 available

Aldous Harding comes to Santa Cruz for a special performance at Rio Theatre.

Busy

A free weekly dance jam for babies and their caregivers at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, with movement, music, and play in a joyful environment.

A 12 week series on Wednesdays from 10:30AM-12PM that introduces foundational digital literacy concepts and teaches useful digital skills. August 19: What is a VPN and Do You Need One? August 26: Smartwatches Made Simple September 2: AI Powered Art September 9: Music Streaming Made Simple September 16: Podcasts Made Easy: Listen to Your Favorite Topics Anytime September 23: Your Story, Your Legacy: Preserving Memories with Spoken Records September 30: Tech Settings That Help With Accessibility October 7: Using Emergency Features on Your Phone October 14: Intro to Facebook October 21: Intro to Instagram Registration required. Must register for each class individually. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/events?term=cyber+seniors&d=2026-07-30&r=range&start=2026-08-01&end=2026-11-01 Come join Dara Brady, a local instructor with the digital literacy organization Cyber-Seniors, for a weekly digital literacy course! Each class includes a lesson on the topics below, Q&A time, and one-on-one tech support. Participants are encouraged to bring a notebook, pen/pencil, and whatever tech device they want to learn on: (a laptop, tablet, and/or smart phone) and the charger for that device. If they don't have a device, they can still participate and Dara can get them one to use for the class. All classes run on Wednesday mornings from 10:30AM to 12PM in the Fireside Room except for the first and last sessions, which will take place in Study Room A.

A regular tango class in Downtown Santa Cruz, offering a way to learn Latin dance in a social, cultural setting.

Join Nurture Santa Cruz & Points for Wellness for an evening of supportive conversations about endometriosis and the challenges of it.

There’s a thin line between love and hate and sometimes, it’s the barrier between balconies. That’s the premise of Noel Coward’s Private Lives. Two divorced lovers find themselves spending their new honeymoons next door to one another at the same hotel. Both are egotistical, passionate, and selfish, so how are they going to manage to live next to each other at a hotel? Better yet, how are they going to live without each other? This laugh-out-loud comedy is rich, witty and as sharp as Cupid’s arrow. See the play on Friday, September 4th for a matinee preview or check out one of the multiple showings through October 4th. -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz

0 booked, 4 available Glazing

We will be hosting the Open Studios Preview Exhibition, showcasing the work of all the 330+ Santa Cruz County Open Studios Artists who are participating in the program

A weekly Congo dance class in Santa Cruz. Participants learn traditional African dance movements in a group setting at The 418 Project.

This is Motion Pacific's Adult Intermediate Modern class for adult dancers.

Ever been inspired to drop everything and create when visiting an exhibition at the MAH? Join us for a Drop-In Drawing session in the gallery from 6-8pm on the first Thursday of every month. This is not a formal lesson, but an opportunity to bring in your own art supplies and sketch what you see. Dry media only (no markers or paint). All ages welcome. Free with admission. The museum will provide stools, feel free to bring a cushion or folding chair if space allows. Groups of 5+ please give advanced notice by emailing [email protected] . Drop-In Drawing Calendar 2025 September 4 - Art Forum Gallery / Ed Penniman: Landscapes of Home October 2 - Art Forum Gallery / Ed Penniman: Landscapes of Home November 6 - Art Forum Gallery / Ed Penniman: Landscapes of Home December 4 - Art Forum Gallery / Ed Penniman: Landscapes of Home 2026 January 1 - NONE (New Years Day) February 5 - Solari Gallery / Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship March 5 - Solari Gallery / Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship Comment end

If you love big band music, traditional or contemporary, then East Coast Swing is for you (7:00 Mondays starting Sept 17th). This is the basic Swing dance and is universal generally recommended for beginning swing dancers. It can be smooth or fast and is a circular swing dance. Jump in this fall with Becky Adams through Capitola Recreation, and get ready for your next event, big or small.

Relationships are beautiful and complex things. They all have a beginning and an ending. Jason Roberts explores the complexities of relationships in his emotional musical, The Last Five Years. Cathy and Jamie are romantically involved for five years, and the audience watches it unfold from each perspective. Cathy’s view of the relationship will begin at the end and work its way back to the beginning, while Jamie’s perspective starts at the beginning of the relationship and moves to the end. The story features beautiful and clever music that explores the sacrifices and costs of relationships. Audiences will contemplate how relationships affect how we define ourselves. Goes until Oct 3. -Isabella Marie Sangaline

FREE IN-STORE EVENT: Bookshop Santa Cruz welcomes Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Miriam Pawel for a reading and signing of her new book California Dreams: The Making and Remaking of the Universi...

A documentary screening exploring the history of the Theatre of Horrors and the Grand Guignol style of theatrical horror.

Santa Cruz Theatrical Premiere – New Documentary! THEATRE OF HORRORS: THE SORDID STORY OF PARIS’ GRAND GUIGNOL (2025, Severin Films, 89 min. Dir. David Gregory.) In 1897, in a back alley in the seedy Pigalle district of Paris, a former chapel turned small performance space became a theatrical institution forged in naturalism, controversy and grisly spectacle. Over the next 65 years, it would actively provoke revulsion, celebration and begrudging global esteem. More than a half century after its final performance, the Grand Guignol remains one of the most wildly misunderstood and profoundly influential traditions in entertainment history. From horror films to tabloid journalism, avant-garde theater to the true-crime genre, France’s ‘Theater of Death’ is still slicing, gouging, and spurting its pervasive way through culture both high and low. Or as the BBC recently declared, “Even if there were no ghosts onstage, this unusual little Parisian theater continues to haunt us today.” In the new documentary by award-winning producer/director/editor David Gregory – whose previous explorations of transgressive entertainment include LOST SOUL: THE DOOMED JOURNEY OF RICHARD STANLEY’S ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU, BLOOD & FLESH: THE REEL LIFE & GHASTLY DEATH OF AL ADAMSON, ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE and SUZZANNA: THE QUEEN OF BLACK MAGIC – and narrated by international genre icon Barbara Steele – legendary star of BLACK SUNDAY, THE PIT & THE PENDULUM, THE GHOST and more – discover the history, mystery, and ongoing socio-cultural impact of what may be France’s most infamous export. “I’ve been fascinated by The Grand Guignol since childhood,” says Gregory. “But despite brief mentions in horror history books and deep scholarly studies, my search for a cinematic exploration of the subject had consistently proved unrewarding. Even my interactions with French genre filmmakers revealed their own superficial knowledge of the Theater’s significance. It’s all led me to dig deeper and discover the

We will be hosting the Open Studios Preview Exhibition, showcasing the work of all the 330+ Santa Cruz County Open Studios Artists who are participating in the program

Calling all Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, and Seniors—this exciting overnight adventure is just for you! Includes: • Camping Under the Stars on the Boardwalk • Exclusive Free Play in the Arcade • Dinner & Breakfast • Outdoor Movie • Exclusive time on the Looff Carousel & Pirate Ship Friday night • Sand Sculpture Competition • Event Patch • Ride Wristband for Saturday • Discounted Parking Package Price: $99.95 per person Deadline September 27, 2026, or until full. Register today! bit.ly/Fall-Girl-Scout-Overnight

Join us at The Green Spot Santa Cruz on Friday, October 2, from 4–8 PM for our final First Friday event of the year! We’re excited to welcome back Nico from Zardi Creations as our featured artist. Come shop their unique handmade creations and support local art. Enjoy live music by Billy Reese from 5–7 PM while you browse, shop, and enjoy the evening. We’ll also have live stained glass happening on site, giving you a chance to watch this beautiful craft being created right in front of you. And, of course, our charcuterie cups will be available to enjoy throughout the evening. Bring your friends and come celebrate our last Friday Friday of the year with local art, live music, creativity, and good food. We’d love to see you there! Friday, October 2 | 4–8 PM The Green Spot Santa Cruz

Join the Santa Cruz Museum for a free public Zine-Making activity, with access to our ongoing exhibitions! Presented in connection with a pop-up project on Oaxacan Languages of the Transnational Central Coast with the UC Santa Cruz Humanities Institute , this interactive activity will invite museum visitors to share personal stories or reflections on language, identity, and belonging. *More information on the Oaxacan Languages Pop-Up will be available soon

Renown graphic artist Jim Phillips is presenting his first-ever solo show of new works, unveiling 15 new large scale art prints in addition to 30 hand-dipped pen and ink drawings produced from 1983 until 2023. Exhibit runs through October 31. Gallery Hours: Thursday – Saturday 1-4 pm or by appointment (831) 234-6813.

This group show presents paintings, textile art, scientific images and a tour of the historic sanctuary and labyrinth garden. Artists presented are Dana Schmidt, Jessica Puccinelli, Hanife Esengil, Quinton Brail and Savannah Smith. Please join us for an evening of art and community. On Saturday, join us for the first annual Porchfest and art exhibit.

Santa Cruz First Friday at Gallery 125 at The Tannery from 5pm to 7pm. Paintings, prints, sculpture, pastels, cards, at all sizes, styles, and price ranges. Come see us!

Join us Friday October 2, 5-6 pm, for a performance by internationally renowned vocal artist and composer Samita Sinha followed by an opening celebration from 6-8 pm of our fall exhibitions: Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still and Victor ‘Marka27’ Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá (Not From Here, Not From There), with the artists in attendance. 5-6pm Performance Samita Sinha will draw on her Indian vocal training to respond to new and recent artworks by Colombian-born artist Carlos Motta on view in When Time Stands Still, including a video in which the vocalist is featured. This and other works, including sculpture, installation, and endurance-based performance video, poetically—and powerfully— manifest the historical and aesthetic productions of difference and marginalization that inform current anti-immigration politics and climate injustices. Performing within the exhibition, Sinha will offer an embodied response through the multivalent and experiential language of vibration. 6-8pm Celebration Following the performance will be a celebration for the opening of Victor ‘Marka27’ Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá (Not From Here, Not From There), a multimedia exhibition with paintings, sculpture, and installation exploring issues of migration and belonging— and which gained national attention after it was abruptly censored by the University of North Texas. These opening events are free and open to the public. Samita Sinha‘s performances and compositions have been commissioned by Asia Society, Performance Space, Danspace, Rubin Museum, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Queens Museum, Gibney Dance, and Western Front, and presented by The Kitchen, Wexner Center for the Arts, REDCAT, PICA, National Sawdust and others. She has received awards from National Endowment for the Arts, Fulbright Foundation, National Performance Network, and New York State Council on the Arts. Carlos Motta (b. 1978, Colombia) is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice documents the social condit

Featuring local photographer Daniel Nader photography and music by Free Elements. 5-7:30 at Santa Cruz Hostel on Beach Hill, 321 Main Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Beverages and lite appetizers provided.

Join us Friday, October 2, from 5:00–8:00 pm for the opening party of “Far Out,” Santa Cruz Art League’s Open Studios Satellite Preview Exhibit! Celebrate the artists participating in the 41st annual Open Studios Art Tour and get an early look at work from the North Coast and Santa Cruz Mountains before those “Far Out” studio doors open on October 10. Browse original artwork, meet fellow art lovers, and discover artists and studios to visit during the countywide tour. All work is for sale, and everyone is welcome. Free admission. Exhibit On View: Friday, October 2 at 5pm - Sunday, October 18 at 5pm First Friday Opening Reception: Friday October 2, 5 - 8pm

We’re open early and late! Catch us on either side of your evening or make a reservation (https://www.bigbasinvineyards.com/) and stay awhile… We have a lovely patio with fire-pit tables, and well behaved creatures are welcome! Suzy Radonsky is a self-taught Santa Cruz based acrylic painter specializing in neo-realistic wildlife and pet portraits that explore the spirit and presence of animals. Her work is driven by a deep fascination with the emotional and energetic connection between humans and the animal world. Suzy seeks to reveal their individuality, intelligence and soul. Her distinctive technique layers bold, unexpected color beneath intricate fur, feathers and scales, creating luminous depth and vibrancy. Using a distinctive layering technique she gradually builds fur, feathers and scales over bright colors, allowing light and energy to radiate to the surface. Recently diagnosed as Autistic, Suzy recognizes how her heightened sensory perception informs her work, allowing her to see and translate vivid color relationships with unusual intensity and nuance. Her paintings move beyond traditional realism toward a more intuitive representation of the natural world. https://www.suzyradarts.com/

Sept 4 -Oct 30 13 artists from all over the state create unique interpretations of giant insects in a wide variety of media Artists include Ken Kalman Ruth Santee Alea Bone Stephanie Brockway Keith Millar Adon Valenziano ,Cynthia Siegel,Tara de la Garza ,Cheryl Moreno, Sarah Brothers Bot ,Beth Purcell, Helen Cole and Mary Tartaro- Curator Felix Kulpa Gallery Hours : thurs-sun 11 to 0

Rocky Wagers and Jack Howe bring together two distinctly different approaches to assemblage and the art of the found object. Through antique fragments, cast-offs, curious finds, and objects marked by time and use, each creates work with an unmistakably individual point of view. ROCKY WAGERS Rocky is set to bring some of the most unique creations to this September and October art show. He originally began his artistic career as a weaver, but his path shifted dramatically when he realized the artistic potential in worn-out items that most people simply labeled as “junk.” Turning his attention to antique assemblage, he began collecting broken parts and cast-offs from the Victorian era through the 1920s, transforming forgotten relics into striking, imaginative works of art. His creations are wildly eclectic, ranging from a demonic skull to a goblet made of women’s legs. For the September and October art show, Rocky’s work will prominently feature a wealth of beads and seashells. This specific aesthetic harks back to a 19th-century practice among sailors, who traditionally crafted pictures and notes framed in seashells to bring home to their loved ones. Rocky describes his creative process as something of a dream sequence. He hunts down individual components, often keeping them around for years with the steady confidence that they will eventually find a purpose. Because he works primarily with historical fragments, he ensures that the legacy of his materials is preserved. JACK HOWE Santa Cruz artist Jack Howe creates assemblages from the accumulated evidence of everyday life—old photographs, antique objects, broken pieces, curious finds, and things that have acquired character through age and use. A longtime collector of antiques, Jack began making assemblage in the late 1980s, finding new possibilities in objects and fragments that might otherwise have been discarded. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which damaged much of his collection, further shaped this direction in

Join us on First Friday, October 2nd, from 5-7 pm at the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center in downtown Ben Lomond for the opening reception of our latest exhibit: Dreaming in Color. This two-woman show featuring Tina Masciocchi (painter) and Kathryn Pierno (ceramicist) translates internal emotions into a vivid external reality. Their artwork invites viewers to lose themselves in a rich, non-linear narrative where color serves as the primary language of the soul.