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.
★ Featured Event
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 — 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 “Fundraiser” in the note. You can also donate at the door. Come through and help us bring the lounge to life.
★ Featured
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 “Marka27” Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá 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 “Monk” 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.
★ Featured
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.
Coming up
(((folkYEAH!))) presents KISHI BASHI Rio Theatre Santa Cruz, CA October 6, 2026 Doors 7pm / Show 8pm All Ages
Coming up
A recurring dance class in Santa Cruz. Check with the venue for specific style and level.
55 events on today. No plans required, just go. See the full day →
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Showing 30 of 41 upcoming events · Community · from 2026-10-10 · to 2026-10-11
Classic cars and coffee every Saturday morning, in East Lake Village Shopping Center. It doesn't get much better. Come walk around the expansive parking lot, look at some beautifully restored cars, drink delicious coffee, and visit with your community. Stay awhile and enjoy one of the many great eateries in the shopping center!
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:00am - 3:00pm Gently used books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, puzzles and games will be sold. Proceeds support the programs and activities at the Scotts Valley Branch Library.
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm Join us each Saturday morning for a relaxing time crafting with your neighbors.
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:00am - 1:00pm Join us each Saturday morning for a relaxing time crafting with your neighbors.
A 4-act journey to heal our colonialist history through story, community singing and grief practices
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm In partnership with the Volunteer Center Literacy Program
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:15am - 12:30pm Join Saturday Shakespeare at Aptos Library for five lively sessions with guest experts, group readings, and discussions, ending with a shared play viewing. Attend in person or on Zoom!
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:15am - 12:15pm A joint meeting between the League of Women Voters and AAUW to discuss the initiatives on the November ballot.
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:30am - 11:30am Step into a world of imagination with stories, rhymes, and songs for children ages 0?8, shared with families and caregivers in a warm, welcoming space.
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:30am - 11:30am Celebrate different ways of learning and experiencing the world with a special storytime focused on dyslexia awareness.
Write Queer, a creative writing group Date: May 9, and the Second and Fourth Saturdays Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 Noon Cost: Free Location: The Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Ages: 18+ Join Jesse and Peggy for all or part of this series, running from March through May. Unleash your creativity at Write Queer, an 18+ group for writers of all levels. Respond to provided prompts, or bring your own projects. Meetings include writing time, optional sharing and positive feedback. Please bring a pen and paper or a laptop. .
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm The Zentangle Method is a fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Join Certified Zentangle Teacher Lisa Hoesing for an introductory workshop and monthly meetup.
Saturday, October 10 2026 11:00am - 6:00pm Visit the Santa Cruz Public Libraries booth at The Japanese Cultural Fair, an event dedicated to the presentation and preservation of the cultural traditions of Japan.
Saturday, October 10 2026 11:00am - 4:00pm Visit the Santa Cruz Public Libraries booth in the kids' corner at the Seacliff Street Fair!
Free Skool tea party
Join Ecology Action's EVs for Everyone team for a fun community event in collaboration with Pajaro Valley Arts Second Saturday (October 10th, 12pm-4pm)! Many fun activities will include Electric Vehicle test drives, static EVs on display, mariachi music, a resource fair, delicious food, an e-bike demo, and a bike raffle! This will be a great chance for the community to learn about electric vehicles and the incentives/rebates that are available. We hope to see you there! ¡Únase a nosotros para un divertido evento comunitario en colaboración con Pajaro Valley Arts Second Saturday el 10 de octubre, de 12:00 p.m. a 4:00 p.m.! Habrá muchas actividades emocionantes, incluyendo pruebas de manejo de vehículos eléctricos, exhibición de vehículos eléctricos, música de mariachi, una feria de recursos comunitarios, deliciosa comida, una demostración de bicicletas eléctricas y un sorteo de bicicletas. Esta será una excelente oportunidad para que la comunidad aprenda más sobre los vehículos eléctricos y los incentivos o reembolsos que podrían estar disponibles para ellos. ¡Esperamos verlos allí!
Saturday, October 10 2026 12:00pm - 5:00pm Adults need playtime, too! Come play some new or old favorite tabletop games. Bring your own or play some of the library's games. No prior gaming experience is necessary. 18+. Every 2nd Saturday.
We are hosting a Fall Market at Woodhouse Brewery on October 10th. I have a flyer I can send you
Saturday, October 10 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm Write a poem in a creative and supportive environment.
Come learn about the tiny aquatic life in the slough and use microscopes!
Saturday, October 10 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm Downtown Library Youth Chess Club. Open to players ages 6 to 18. Instructor is Chess Master Gjon Feinstein.
Saturday, October 10 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm Join us for a teen poetry workshop and free pizza!
Saturday, October 10 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm Get ready for a frightfully fun afternoon of creativity and sweet treats at the Branciforte Branch!
Saturday, October 10 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm Learn about volunteer opportunities and how teens like you can create change in your library! Followed by a chill activity and free snacks (and get your volunteer hours just for showing up)! ACT now!
Saturday, October 10 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm Explore the fascinating history of clocks and watches, from railroad time zones to Captain Cook's voyages. See historic Aptos timepieces and bring your own clock or watch to discuss.
3:00-5:00pm High energy covers of favorites from all genres and eras
Madson is celebrating our ten-year anniversary, and we'd love to celebrate with all of you who have made Madson Wines what it is today!
Etiquette, Poppyfield, Adam and the Sandlers Show! Alex Backlining
The Institute of the Arts and Sciences (IAS) is pleased to announce its Fall/Winter season of exhibitions. On view are exhibitions highlighting two artists whose explorations in video, installation, painting, and sculpture examine some of the most enduring and challenging issues of our time: Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still, a poetic and aesthetically rich exploration of the historical and aesthetic manifestations of difference and marginalization that inform current anti-immigration politics and climate injustices; and Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá (Not From Here, Not From There), which grapples with issues of migration and belonging—and gained national attention after it was abruptly censored by the University of North Texas. Also as part of IAS programming, an outdoor installation of Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez: Elevar la Cultura, a public sculpture project, will be at Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos November 7, 2026–March 5, 2027. An opening celebration for the exhibitions open on October 2, 2026, 5–8 p.m., with a performance by vocal artist and composer Samita Sinha, celebrations with the artists, and more. Elevar la Cultura opens at Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos on November 7, 2026, 2–6 p.m., with a celebration with the artist, featuring lowriders, free food, live entertainment, vendors, and more. The exhibitions and opening events are free and open to the public.
On October 10th, we cordially invite you to join Community Alliance with Family Farmers at Pajaro Pastures, an ecological ranch in the beautiful Pajaro Valley in Corralitos, CA. Enjoy dinner on the farm by renowned Chef Jessica Yarr, featuring locally-grown products by the farmers of our region, locally crafted libations, and a farm tour with the farmer himself—all in support of those who nourish us.
11 more events further out
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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