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 →
Filter by category, date, or area. Everything listed is in person, county-wide.
Showing 30 of 41 upcoming events · Cultural Event · from 2026-10-06 · to 2026-10-13
Travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
Weekly kids' classes in traditional hula and Tahitian dance, led by Te Hau Nui School at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz.
A hula and Tahitian dance class offering instruction in traditional Polynesian movement and culture.
Advanced hula and Tahitian dance class for experienced dancers. Part of Te Hau Nui School's curriculum.
Travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
“Ni de aquí, ni de allá” (“neither from here, nor there”), is a phrase commonly used by bilingual, bicultural communities. In the exhibition the phrase becomes a bold declaration of dual belonging against a violent notion of nationalism and identity. Through paintings, immersive installations, sculptural works, and a curated soundscape, Marka27 invites gallery goers into a vibrant, layered world where street culture meets Indigenous tradition, and personal memory collides with collective truth and activism. Curated by internationally recognized curator Kate Fowle, this exhibition is organized in partnership with The Center for Art & Advocacy and as part of 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. ABOUT THE ARTIST: Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez is a renowned visual artist working at the intersections of contemporary art, graffiti, vinyl toys, fashion and design, and art activism.
Entre Nosotras: Open to Spanish-speaking women with cancer at all stages, from diagnosis through treatment and the healing process. Groups are led in Spanish and meet at Pajaro Community Health Trust Kathleen A. King Community Room : 85 Nielson St, Watsonville, CA 95076 . Please call 831-761-3973 for details. Led by Chila Correa. Meets the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, 5 to 7 pm.
A regular tango class in Downtown Santa Cruz, offering a way to learn Latin dance in a social, cultural setting.
Travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
“Ni de aquí, ni de allá” (“neither from here, nor there”), is a phrase commonly used by bilingual, bicultural communities. In the exhibition the phrase becomes a bold declaration of dual belonging against a violent notion of nationalism and identity. Through paintings, immersive installations, sculptural works, and a curated soundscape, Marka27 invites gallery goers into a vibrant, layered world where street culture meets Indigenous tradition, and personal memory collides with collective truth and activism. Curated by internationally recognized curator Kate Fowle, this exhibition is organized in partnership with The Center for Art & Advocacy and as part of 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. ABOUT THE ARTIST: Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez is a renowned visual artist working at the intersections of contemporary art, graffiti, vinyl toys, fashion and design, and art activism.
Join the City of Santa Cruz Sister Cities for an afternoon celebrating traditional Japanese and Japanese-inspired arts, crafts, and culture! A special delegation of artists and art enthusiasts from our Sister City, Shingu, Japan are visiting and want to share and engage with you. Whether you want to get your hands messy or simply admire beautiful craftsmanship, there is something for everyone. Come discover the rich cultural connection and find information on Shingu as well!
A weekly Congo dance class in Santa Cruz. Participants learn traditional African dance movements in a group setting at The 418 Project.
A dance session centered on Congolese movement, held at a Santa Cruz arts space. For dancers curious to explore rhythm, style, and cultural tradition through the body.
Hatch into your next chapter on Thursday, October 8th from 6-8:30pm at the College 9 and John R. Lewis College Multipurpose Room (MPR) ⋆.˚⟡ ࣪ ˖ Connect with students, staff, and faculty from various Asian American, Pacific Islander, and/or Southwest Asian & North African (AA/PI/SWANA) student organizations and campus departments over food, activities, tabling, and more! Hosted by the Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center (AA/PIRC) at UCSC, this event is FREE and open to all UCSC affiliates (students, staff, and faculty). AA/PIRC is one of the six resource centers at UCSC, offering events and other opportunities to connect with the AA/PI/SWANA diaspora. For questions or accommodation requests, please email [email protected]. RSVP at: bit.ly/cw26-rsvp You Belong Here: The programs and services described here are open to all, consistent with state and federal law, as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service, faculty program, or community event—is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and respectful of all identities. To learn more, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications .
Travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
Friday, October 09 2026 11:30am - 12:00pm To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we are hosting a special story time with stories and songs in English and Spanish!
“Ni de aquí, ni de allá” (“neither from here, nor there”), is a phrase commonly used by bilingual, bicultural communities. In the exhibition the phrase becomes a bold declaration of dual belonging against a violent notion of nationalism and identity. Through paintings, immersive installations, sculptural works, and a curated soundscape, Marka27 invites gallery goers into a vibrant, layered world where street culture meets Indigenous tradition, and personal memory collides with collective truth and activism. Curated by internationally recognized curator Kate Fowle, this exhibition is organized in partnership with The Center for Art & Advocacy and as part of 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.
“Ni de aquí, ni de allá” (“neither from here, nor there”), is a phrase commonly used by bilingual, bicultural communities. In the exhibition the phrase becomes a bold declaration of dual belonging against a violent notion of nationalism and identity. Through paintings, immersive installations, sculptural works, and a curated soundscape, Marka27 invites gallery goers into a vibrant, layered world where street culture meets Indigenous tradition, and personal memory collides with collective truth and activism. Curated by internationally recognized curator Kate Fowle, this exhibition is organized in partnership with The Center for Art & Advocacy and as part of 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. ABOUT THE ARTIST: Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez is a renowned visual artist working at the intersections of contemporary art, graffiti, vinyl toys, fashion and design, and art activism.
Belew Vai Levin BozzioQuarry Ampitheater at UC Santa CruzCarved from a former limestone quarry in the 1960s, the historic Quarry Amphitheater located at the heart of the UC Santa Cruz campus reopened after a major renovation in October 2017, welcoming its first ever night time concert with LA based rockers Chicano Batman. With a deep history of hosting legendary artists, activists and authors including Angela Davis, Ravi Shankar, Alfred Hitchcock and Cesar Chavez, the Quarry has reopened as a critical gathering space to celebrate live music and community.Referred to as the Red Rocks in the Redwoods, The Quarry is the largest outdoor venue with an existing stage and seating in the greater Santa Cruz community. The Quarry Amphitheaters unique terraced asymmetrical design allows for amazing sight-lines and multiple venue configurations from open floor to reserved seating layouts. At a maximum capacity of 2600, The Quarry now holds the opportunity to become the regions premiere outdoor destination concert venue while also retaining its value as a natural open space.More information: https://www.quarryamphitheater.comOn-Site Parking: $20 per car which includes Shuttle to the Venue. Parking Tickets are not sold in advance. ______On-Stage ExperienceOne premium reserved ticket Watch the show from an exclusive on-stage VIP viewing areaEarly entry into the venueExclusive preshow meet & greet with Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, Tony Levin & Terry BozzioGroup photograph with Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, Tony Levin & Terry BozzioAccess to a pre-show soundcheck Limited edition BEAT tour poster; autographedCommemorative BEAT ticket magnet Specially designed BEAT record bagExclusive VIP merchandise itemOfficial side stage laminate & lanyardVery Limited availabilityMeet & Greet / Soundcheck ExperienceOne premium reserved ticket located in the first 5 rowsEarly entry into the venueExclusive preshow meet & greet with Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, Tony Levin & Terry BozzioGroup photograph with Adrian
Learn to extract vibrant colors from cochineal, marigold, and indigo to create a range of hues for dyeing natural fiber yarns used throughout the workshop. Felise teaches not only the technical steps of the process, but also encourages a deep-rooted connection with nature, transforming the ancient alchemy of the art into a practice of presence. Explore frame loom tapestry weaving with naturally dyed yarns from Oaxaca. Samuel is a wisdom keeper who teaches through storytelling, connecting the art form to indigenous cosmology. This is a special opportunity to weave your own tapestry while learning about the ancient symbols encoding the oral history and beliefs of the Zapotec people.
Travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
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.
“Ni de aquí, ni de allá” (“neither from here, nor there”), is a phrase commonly used by bilingual, bicultural communities. In the exhibition the phrase becomes a bold declaration of dual belonging against a violent notion of nationalism and identity. Through paintings, immersive installations, sculptural works, and a curated soundscape, Marka27 invites gallery goers into a vibrant, layered world where street culture meets Indigenous tradition, and personal memory collides with collective truth and activism. Curated by internationally recognized curator Kate Fowle, this exhibition is organized in partnership with The Center for Art & Advocacy and as part of 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. ABOUT THE ARTIST: Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez is a renowned visual artist working at the intersections of contemporary art, graffiti, vinyl toys, fashion and design, and art activism.
Discover what life was like a century ago on this innovative dairy ranch. This hour-long tour includes the 1896 water-powered machine shop, horse barn, uniquely constructed 1860’s cow barn, 1858 farmhouse, and 1897 Queen Anne Victorian home. Meet at the visitor’s center. This tour is free. Parking in Day-use lot is $10. Hold on to that receipt! Once you have paid for parking at one state park or beach, you have paid for the day at all of them! There are over 14 in Santa Cruz County alone. For more information, email [email protected] or call (669)758-1963. Click the link in the orange button above to reserve your spot!
Sitar maestro Nishat Khan returns to UC Santa Cruz with tabla maestro Nitin Mitta in an Indian classical music concert. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation for his unique and inspiring work, Khan’s masterful collaborations truly connect music globally. With the strike of a single, unmistakable note, the sound of Khan’s sitar instantly captivates and transforms one’s mood. Listeners are transported to another realm by a sight and sound unlike any other. As a torchbearer of the most recorded musical family in the world, the Imdad Khani Gharana, seven generations of wisdom reside in his fingertips. While grounded in centuries of tradition, Khan forges his own signature sound with a refreshing twist: familiar yet challenging, unfolding with emotional contrasts and surprises at every turn. Touring and performing throughout the world since age 13, Nishat Khan’s unique cosmopolitan perspective has inspired a great sensitivity and connection to the cultures of music of the world. He gave his first public concert at age 7, and was the youngest performer on an All India Radio national programme at age 15. In more recent years, Khan created history in summer 2025 by composing and creating the first ever traditional (Western) opera from the Indian subcontinent, the Taj Mahal Opera. The opera had its premiere at the Grange Park Opera in the UK to sold-out performances and wide critical acclaim. His recent performances in 2026 include a sold-out concert at the Freight in Berkeley, California. The press calls Kahn: “Profound and electrifying…pure exhilaration, taking tradition as a blueprint for ecstasy” (New York Times); “Etherial, compelling, sensual, Nishat Khan master of the sitar” (Los Angeles Times); “Freewheeling virtuosity inflected with infinite imaginative variety” (BBC Proms, The Guardian); and “Ferociously gifted…no conceivable limitations…his sitar roars, cries, and exults” (Times of India). CHECK EVENTBRITE.COM FOR UPDATED TICKET INFOR
Sitar maestro Nishat Khan returns to UC Santa Cruz with tabla maestro Nitin Mitta in an Indian classical music concert. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation for his unique and inspiring work, Khan’s masterful collaborations truly connect music globally. With the strike of a single, unmistakable note, the sound of Khan’s sitar instantly captivates and transforms one’s mood. Listeners are transported to another realm by a sight and sound unlike any other. As a torchbearer of the most recorded musical family in the world, the Imdad Khani Gharana, seven generations of wisdom reside in his fingertips. While grounded in centuries of tradition, Khan forges his own signature sound with a refreshing twist: familiar yet challenging, unfolding with emotional contrasts and surprises at every turn. Touring and performing throughout the world since age 13, Nishat Khan’s unique cosmopolitan perspective has inspired a great sensitivity and connection to the cultures of music of the world. He gave his first public concert at age 7, and was the youngest performer on an All India Radio national programme at age 15. In more recent years, Khan created history in summer 2025 by composing and creating the first ever traditional (Western) opera from the Indian subcontinent, the Taj Mahal Opera . The opera had its premiere at the Grange Park Opera in the UK to sold-out performances and wide critical acclaim. His recent performances in 2026 include a sold-out concert at the Freight in Berkeley, California. The press calls Khan: “Profound and electrifying…pure exhilaration, taking tradition as a blueprint for ecstasy” ( The New York Times ); “Etherial, compelling, sensual, Nishat Khan master of the sitar” ( Los Angeles Times ); “Freewheeling virtuosity inflected with infinite imaginative variety” (BBC Proms, The Guardian ); and “Ferociously gifted…no conceivable limitations…his sitar roars, cries, and exults” ( Times of India ). Nitin Mitta is regarded as one of
Bongo Sidibe is a Traditional Drummer and Vocalist from Conakry Guinea, in West Africa. Bongo Sidibe uses his Traditional background as an Artist to create a unique style of music (Traditional, Funk, Reggae Mandingue, Ragga Murfing and Dancehall). He uses his style of music to send a message to the world about Peace and Community Building
Travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
“Ni de aquí, ni de allá” (“neither from here, nor there”), is a phrase commonly used by bilingual, bicultural communities. In the exhibition the phrase becomes a bold declaration of dual belonging against a violent notion of nationalism and identity. Through paintings, immersive installations, sculptural works, and a curated soundscape, Marka27 invites gallery goers into a vibrant, layered world where street culture meets Indigenous tradition, and personal memory collides with collective truth and activism. Curated by internationally recognized curator Kate Fowle, this exhibition is organized in partnership with The Center for Art & Advocacy and as part of 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. ABOUT THE ARTIST: Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez is a renowned visual artist working at the intersections of contemporary art, graffiti, vinyl toys, fashion and design, and art activism.
Through music, arts, food, storytelling, and intentional relationship-building, Bienvenida cultivates comunidad while honoring El Centro’s mission of affirming Chicanx and Latine communities. Open to all UCSC students, Bienvenida is sponsored by El Centro : Chicanx Latinx Resource Center, Kresge and Porter Colleges, and the Center for Leadership and Involvement. RSVP: bit.ly/BIENVENIDA-26 You Belong Here: The programs and services described here are open to all, consistent with state and federal law, as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service, faculty program, or community event—is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and respectful of all identities. To learn more, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications .
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.
Submit your event →