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๐Ÿ“ 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.

โ˜… Featured this season

Promotional image for Phamily Time! โ˜… Featured Event
Sat, Aug 8, 2026 ยท 4:00 PM

Phamily Time!

๐Ÿ“ Woodhouse Blending & Brewing ยท Downtown Santa Cruz ยท See listing

Phamily Time, presented by Phreeborn is back with a summer edition you wonโ€™t want to miss. There will be something for everyone, so bring the whole phamily! Get tickets for the whole day celebration here: TICKETS

Music Festivals ๐Ÿ“ Downtown Santa Cruz Details โ†’
Music
โ˜… Featured
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 ยท Westside Locations

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.

Music ๐Ÿ“ Westside
Promotional image for WRECKAGE: A Musical Tragicomedy โ˜… Featured
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 ยท London Nelson Community Center

WRECKAGE: A Musical Tragicomedy

The Tony Award-Winning San Francisco Mime Troupe Opens their 67th Season with: WRECKAGE: A Musical Tragicomedy July 3 โ€“ Sept. 7, 2026

Art & Culture
Promotional image for Zen Buddhist Meditation Coming up
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 ยท Santa Cruz Zen Center

Zen Buddhist Meditation

Zen Meditation. Open to all. Free of charge.

Music ๐Ÿ“ Downtown Santa Cruz
Promotional image for Aloha Music & Arts Festival Santa Cruz Coming up
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 ยท Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds

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. โ€œThis festival is about bringing people together through music, dance, food, art, and community,โ€ said Marie Victor, founder of Victor Ohana Productions. โ€œSanta Cruz has deep cultural and historical connections to Hawaiสปi 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.โ€ 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: โ— Food vendors featuring Pacific-inspired cuisine โ— Local arts, crafts, and merchandise vendors โ— Information booths from community nonprofits and organizations โ— Family-friendly cultural activities and entertainment Local Live Music โ— Victor Ohana 3 Generations โ— Ho' Omana โ— Hunawai โ— Kanalu โ— Laule'a Hawaiian Band โ— Ka La'i O Mele โ— George Kahumoku Jr (Grammy Award Winner in

Music ๐Ÿ“ Watsonville

โ˜€๏ธ Happening today

Saturday, August 1

84 events on today. No plans required, just go.

1:00 AM
$500
The Dickens Universe featuring โ€˜Bleak Houseโ€™
๐Ÿ“ Humanities and Social Sciences Facility
Education
7:45 AM
See listing
Strawberry Jam 1K and 5K Fun Run and Walk
๐Ÿ“ Landmark Elementary School
Wellness
8:00 AM
FREE
Scotts Valley Farmers' Market
๐Ÿ“ Joe and Linda Aliberti Boys and Girls Club
Markets
8:00 AM
See listing
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Birdwatching
๐Ÿ“ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
Outdoors
8:00 AM
FREE
Cabrillo Farmers Market
๐Ÿ“ Cabrillo College
Markets
8:30 AM
FREE
Zen Buddhist Meditation
๐Ÿ“ Santa Cruz Zen Center
Music
8:39 AM
FREE
Chamber Choir Now Auditioning
๐Ÿ“ Westside Locations
Music
9:00 AM
$59
Dynomite Farm: Private Dahlia U-Cut Experience
๐Ÿ“ Dynomite Farm
Community
9:00 AM
FREE
UC Santa Cruz Farm U-Pick
๐Ÿ“ UC Santa Cruz
Food & Drink

What's happening

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21 upcoming events ยท Art & Culture ยท from 2026-08-01 ยท to 2026-08-01

Aug
1

Soul Collage

๐Ÿ“ Santa Cruz
๐Ÿ•’ 10:00 AM โ€“ 1:00 PM ยท See listing

Call to register or if you have questions: 457-2273 Location will vary so call for details The facilitator will bring photos. You are responsible for purchasing materials (see below). Discover your Wisdom with SoulCollageยฎ Let's explore our inner selves. Using images, imagination and intuition, you will begin to create your own personal deck of collaged cards. Part art project, part spiritual practice, SoulCollageยฎ allows you to deepen your understanding of yourself and tap into your inner wisdom that can guide you on important life decisions. In a fun, creative, and relaxed environment, you will create cards that will reveal parts of your personality, your archetypes, and other guides, allies, and challengers. We will talk about the ways you can use your personal deck of collaged cards to tap into your inner wisdom. No art experience necessary. Anyone can create SoulCollageยฎ cards! We use scissors, glue, and images cut from magazines to create our cards. Youโ€™ll take home several finished cardsโ€”and no doubt a love for this creative process! Please bring with you : * Scissors * Glue stick (best kind is Pioneer glue stick) * 8 x 5 mat board * Pen & Notebook

Art & Culture Wellness Details โ†’
Aug
1

Emerging Concepts in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy

๐Ÿ“ Cabrillo College
๐Ÿ•’ 10:00 AM โ€“ 11:30 AM ยท $38

Join Dr. Michelle Bean, Dr. Leta Jussila, and Cindy Hill-Ford for an introductory exploration of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Learn about ketamine-assisted therapy, preparation and integration practices, safety considerations, clinical applications, and current research shaping this evolving field of healing and mental health.

Art & Culture Education ๐Ÿ“ Soquel Details โ†’
Aug
1

Spring Exhibitions at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences

๐Ÿ“ Institute of the Arts and Sciences
๐Ÿ•’ 12:00 PM โ€“ 5:00 PM ยท See listing

Visit the IAS, UCSCโ€™s premier art galleries, for our spring exhibitions. On view April 10โ€“August 16, 2026 are three diverse and interdisciplinary shows: Libia Posada: Everything is Going Right , the first US solo exhibition by the Colombia-based artist and medical doctor; Gina Athena Ulysse: A Redwoods Rasanblaj , a site-specific and immersive exploration of the Haitian kreyol conception of rasanblaj; and Ronaldo V. Wilson: There Are No Words, But Melodies , a mixed-media exhibition emerging at the intersections of Black poetics, performance, and visual art. The IAS Galleries are open Wednesday-Sunday, 12 pm โ€“ 5 pm. Admission is free to the public. Libia Posada: Everything is Going Right Libia Posadaโ€™s first solo exhibition in the United States features installations, sculptures, and drawings meticulously constructed from surgical instruments, gauze bandages, crutches, used books, and domestic picture frames. The new and existing works in the exhibition powerfully stitch together the personal, social, and political disorders and afflictions that currently trouble the world, from the wars that resonate across the globe to the violences of aging in US prisons. Gina Athena Ulysse: A Redwoods Rasanblaj: Origins & Disentanglements The internationally-lauded work of humanities professor Gina Athena Ulysse is on view as a premier Faculty Spotlight Exhibition. The site-specific installation, produced in community from things collected, found, purchased and donated, centers on the Haitian concept of rasanblaj, a form of assembly and collage that transcends the formal use of materials to draw together people, spirits, and ideas. Ronaldo V. Wilson: There Are No Words, But Melodies Collage is both a material practice and a structural interrogation in the Faculty Spotlight Exhibition artworks by literature professor Ronaldo V. Wilson. In video, painting, and installation, layers and folds conceal and reveal, delving into the experience, both bodily and emotive, of living in time

Education Art & Culture ๐Ÿ“ Westside Details โ†’
Aug
1

Nicholson Vineyards: Summer Series

๐Ÿ“ Nicholson Vineyards
๐Ÿ•’ 1:00 PM โ€“ 4:00 PM ยท $25

Enjoy summer weekend afternoons at the beautiful Nicholson Vineyards! Saturdays from noon to 5pm โ€“ Enjoy perusing art from local artists Sundays from 1pm to 4pm โ€“ Enjoy listening to local musicians Pack a picnic spread, gather your friends and family, and sip on their refreshing summer wine flight, featuring the best of our warm-weather selections. Book your reservation today! July 11 & 12: The Clay Chalet and music by Dos Bros July 18 & 19: Indigo and Vine and music by Jo Coleman July 25 & 26: Sour Sammy Sourdough and music by Six String Mixtape August 1 & 2: Scout and Sea and music by Half Pass August 8 & 9: Lili Arnold Studios and music by Eden Edell August 15 & 16: Desert Moon Design and music by Kip Allert August 22 & 23: Papelline Jewelry and music by Zach Bailey August 29 & 30: Anna Gail Designs and music by Jeff Smith September 5 & 6: All You Knead and music by Cake Party!

Food & Drink Art & Culture ๐Ÿ“ Aptos & Seacliff Details โ†’
Aug
1

Annieglass Craftbar: Glass Coasters Workshop

๐Ÿ“ Annieglass
๐Ÿ•’ 1:00 PM โ€“ 3:00 PM ยท $85

Make your own beautiful set of four glass coasters with Smithsonian artist, Annie Morhauser. Everything you need will be providedโ€”glass, stencils, colorful glass enamels, adhesive feet, and expert guidance throughout the process. Youโ€™ll design and decorate 4โ€ณ glass squares, then load them into the kilns (donโ€™t worryโ€”theyโ€™ll be off!). Annieglass will fire your pieces for you, and you can have them shipped to your home. Want a full set of eight? Book two workshops! Youโ€™ll also receive 15% off Annieglass first-quality pieces on the day of the event. Sparkling waters provided. Half bottles & bottles of wine available for purchase.

Community Art & Culture ๐Ÿ“ Watsonville Details โ†’
Aug
1

Around the World with Color Photography

๐Ÿ“ Aptos Branch Library
๐Ÿ•’ 1:30 PM โ€“ 4:30 PM ยท FREE

The exhibition of Mary Altier's photography includes 60 images taken in Papua New Guinea, China, Italy, India, several countries in Africa, and more. The library is open every day except Sunday from 10:00 AM until 7 PM, M-Th and 5 PM Fri. and Sat. The reception will feature refreshments and an on going slide show of recent work. Free and open to the public.

Art & Culture Free ๐Ÿ“ Soquel Details โ†’
Aug
1

Audrey Stanley Grove: Much Ado About Nothing

๐Ÿ“ Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park
๐Ÿ•’ 2:00 PM โ€“ 5:00 PM ยท $25

Santa Cruz Shakespeare invites you to experience Shakespeareโ€™s Much Ado About Nothing, un-der the trees and stars of the Audrey Stanley Grove in Santa Cruzโ€™s DeLaveaga Park this summer. Much Ado About Nothing By William Shakespeare Directed by Charles Pasternak One of Shakespeareโ€™s wittiest and most beloved comedies, the 2026 season will open with Shakespeareโ€™s Much Ado About Nothing. Of all the couples in Shakespeare, perhaps none is more widely loved than Beatrice and Benedick. Their battle of wits; their antagonism turned to eroticism; their history. Before the play begins, they already seem to define each other. The audience, like the other characters in the play, wait with excitement as their wits clash, and eventually, as their love blossoms. Much Ado About Nothing runs July 11 โ€“ August 30. More information or to purchase tickets, follow the link in the orange above, or contact the box office Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4pm at the number listed above.

Outdoors Art & Culture ๐Ÿ“ Midtown Details โ†’
Aug
1
โ˜… Featured

WRECKAGE: A Musical Tragicomedy

๐Ÿ“ London Nelson Community Center
๐Ÿ•’ 3:00 PM โ€“ 4:30 PM ยท FREE

The Tony Award-Winning San Francisco Mime Troupe Opens their 67th Season with: WRECKAGE: A Musical Tragicomedy July 3 โ€“ Sept. 7, 2026

Art & Culture Free Details โ†’
Aug
1

Joe Russo's Almost Dead

๐Ÿ“ Quarry Amphitheater
๐Ÿ•’ 6:30 PM ยท See listing

They may be Joe Russoโ€™s Almost Dead, but their covers are breathing life into the Grateful Deadโ€™s discography. Instead of note-for-note covers, the band delivers fresh improvisational reinterpretations of the legendary jam bandโ€™s songs. Led by Joe Russo, drummer and longtime apprentice of the Grateful Dead, is an impeccable drummer and born leader. Flanked by his longtime collaborators, Marco Benevento, Dave Dreiwitz, Scott Metzger, and Tom Hamilton, thereโ€™s an overflow of rock prowess in their performance. Delivering high energy, boundless creativity, and face-melting riffs, JRAD is for the rock fans and the music nerds alike. -Shelly Novo; Good Times Santa Cruz

Music Art & Culture ๐Ÿ“ UCSC Details โ†’
Aug
1

DEFIANT DREAMS - 2026 CABRILLO FESTIVAL

๐Ÿ“ Civic Auditorium
๐Ÿ•’ 7:00 PM โ€“ 9:00 PM ยท $26

Conducted by Cristian Mฤƒcelaru Leilehua Lanzilotti: of light and stone (West Coast premiere) James Lee III: Shades of Unbroken Dreams (Alexandra Dariescu, Piano) (West Coast premiere) Sarah Hennies: The Grain House (Festival Creative Lab Commission & world premiere) Centering voices of resistance and cultural continuity, this program explores the act of dreaming as a form of defiance. Leilehua Lanzilottiโ€˜s of light and stone (West Coast premiere) draws on the legacy of Nฤ Lani สปEhฤโ€”the โ€œHeavenly Fourโ€ of Hawaiian royaltyโ€”to honor Indigenous Hawaiian identity, gathering, and the enduring power of cultural lineage. James Lee IIIโ€˜s Shades of Unbroken Dreams (West Coast premiere), featuring pianist Alexandra Dariescu, channels the cadence and moral force of Martin Luther King Jr.โ€™s โ€œI Have a Dreamโ€ speech, reflecting on justice, equality, and perseverance. Sarah Henniesโ€˜s Festival Creative Lab Commission (world premiere) will use the large-scale forces of the orchestra to evoke the complexities of human brain activity, drawing on psychological and musical studies related to existence, identity, and memory. The Creative Lab, now in its third year, empowers composers to reimagine the orchestral experience with wide curatorial latitude.

Aug
1

Escaping Queens

๐Ÿ“ Santa Cruz Actors' Theatre
๐Ÿ•’ 7:00 PM โ€“ 10:00 PM ยท $16

A story written by Capitolaโ€™s very own, Joe Ortiz, comes to life at The SC Actors Theatre. Escaping Queens follows an immigrant family as they navigate the challenges of poverty and a fatherโ€™s problems with gambling, alcohol, and women. This funny, edgy, ultimately hopeful musical paints a cast of colorful characters, from neighborhood bookies to a doo wop group to all the shades and personalities in a mixed Italian and Puerto Rican family. Based on Oritzโ€™s own memoir, Pastinaโ€”My Fatherโ€™s Misfortune, My Motherโ€™s Good Soup, the emotional turbulence of navigating an escape from New York is presented as a compelling and sophisticated story that asks if children are fated to repeat their parentsโ€™ mistakes. -Shelly Novo; Good Times Santa Cruz

Aug
1

Sister Act, The Musical

๐Ÿ“ Cabrillo Crocker Theater
๐Ÿ•’ 7:30 PM โ€“ 10:00 PM ยท $25

The Cabrillo Theater is preparing for a dazzling production of Sister Act. This uplifting story follows Deloris, a bold and loving nightclub singer, as she is sent to a convent for her own protection. While there, Deloris teaches the nuns to sing with passion and joy. The nuns and Deloris learn how to step into their own power. Promising mischief and friendship, the fun never stops during Sister Act. The audience will glow with laughter throughout the comedic production. The infectious and high-energy songs will light up attendees long after the curtain falls. Goes until August 2nd. -Isabella Marie Sangaline

Art & Culture Music ๐Ÿ“ Soquel Details โ†’
Aug
1

Sequoias At Night

๐Ÿ“ Roaring Camp Railroads
๐Ÿ•’ 8:00 PM โ€“ 10:30 PM ยท See listing

Fridays & Saturdays 8pm-10pm through October. Opening weekend July 10-11! Experience the magic once again as this beloved art and light installation returns to the Santa Cruz Mountains for its second year. Lighted lanterns hang high overhead surrounded by thousand year old redwoods that are uplit to create a unique and awe-inspiring retreat back to nature.

Aug
1

The Rocky Horror Show

๐Ÿ“ Santa Cruz Veteran's Hall
๐Ÿ•’ 8:00 PM โ€“ 10:30 PM ยท $15

A young, wholesome, and seemingly normal couple, Brad and Jan, set out to visit their old professor, but their plans change when a large storm causes their car to go flat. Desperate to get out of the rain, they find an old castle that is home to Dr. Frank-N-Furter. From there, the night only becomes weirder. That night will be one they and the audience will not forget. This cult classic continues to entertain crowds, and this run is no different. Audience members can purchase interactive goodie bags with their tickets and participate in a costume contest. Goes until August 22.

Aug
1

Macbeth, presented by Santa Cruz Shakespeare

๐Ÿ“ The Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park
๐Ÿ•’ 8:00 PM ยท See listing

Something wicked this way comes, indeed. Starting this weekend and running through August 30th, Santa Cruz Shakespeare presents one of The Bardโ€™s most infamous plays, Macbeth. Coincidentally the playโ€™s first ever performance is believed to have been in 1606 marking this as the 420th anniversary, which is very Santa Cruz. And for anyone familiar with Macbeth, itโ€™s easy to see why itโ€™s lasted throughout the ages. Witches, murder, moral failings and tons of tragedy are beautifully sewn throughout the acts, stitched together with lines such as โ€œBlood will have blood,โ€ and โ€œthe wine of life is drawn.โ€ -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz

Aug
1

Roaring Camp: Sequoia Lights

๐Ÿ“ Roaring Camp Railroads
๐Ÿ•’ 8:30 PM โ€“ 10:00 PM ยท $15.9

This nighttime experience will bring you a magical and immersive perspective on the ancient forest at Roaring Camp. During the 0.8-mile loop walk, you will view 26 unique, lighted lanterns, hung approximately 50 feet above the ground. The lanterns were crafted by local artists including Anna Bobisuthi, Roaring Campโ€™s resident blacksmith, and Chris Butler, who also created the lighting design for Sequoias at Night. Tickets are available at the link in the orange button above. Kids under two enter for free. Roaring Campโ€™s food services and gift shop will be open.

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