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Santa Cruz Scene: What's happening in Santa Cruz County

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

Santa Cruz Scene (santacruzscene.com) is a free daily calendar of in-person events across Santa Cruz County, California.

See what's on this weekend β†’

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In-person only, on purpose. Everything here is something you can actually show up to. No screens, no streams.

β˜… Featured this season

Grateful Sunday at The Crepe Place, Nov 15 β˜… Featured
Sun, Nov 15, 2026 Β· The Crepe Place

Grateful Sunday

Grateful Sundays at the Crepe Place take place in the beautiful garden. Full meals are available, and the Garden Bar is open for service! For…

Music πŸ“ Midtown
Art Lounge ~ Sip Local Beer & Wine and Make Art! at The Painted Cork, Nov 18 β˜… Featured
Wed, Nov 18, 2026 Β· The Painted Cork

Art Lounge ~ Sip Local Beer & Wine and Make Art!

Welcome to the Art Lounge! Welcome to the Art Lounge, your creative haven for Arts, Crafts, and Drafts. Think of it like a restaurant, but…

Art & Culture πŸ“ Westside
New Play Festival at Second Stage, Nov 20 β˜… Featured
Fri, Nov 20, 2026 Β· Second Stage

New Play Festival

New Play Festival is an annual student-run showcase of experimental, short stage readings that focuses on nurturing and showcasing new playwrights in the UC Santa…

Art & Culture πŸ“ UCSC
UCSC Orchestra at Recital Hall, Nov 24 β˜… Featured
Tue, Nov 24, 2026 Β· Recital Hall

UCSC Orchestra

UCSC Orchestra, Copland's Billy the Kid and Tchaikovsky's Symphomy No. 5 in E minor, Op 64 Information about this event is available at https://events.ucsc.edu/event/orchestra-fall-2026-27/, QUESTIONS?…

Family πŸ“ UCSC

β˜€οΈ Happening today

Sunday, November 15

Start the day at Temple Beth El's Hanukkah Fair in Aptos, then wander over to Natural Bridges for the Monarch Butterfly Viewing, bring a layer, it's breezy out there. Soquel is the music spot today: Hot club Soquel plays The Ugly Mug at 11, and The Jade Trio takes over Discretion Brewing by 3. If drag and loud guitars are more your speed, Moe's Alley has Drag The River marking thirty years on the road.

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

9:00 AM
$65
Bio-Vibe Table: Sound & Vibration Wellness Sessions
Where: Soulcare Studios
Wellness
9:00 AM
FREE
Live Oak: Farmers Market
Where: Live Oak Farmers' Market
Markets
9:00 AM
Drop-in Meditation
Where: Land of Medicine Buddha
Community
9:30 AM
FREE
Hanukkah Fair
Where: Temple Beth El gift shop
Festivals
9:30 AM
FREE
Volunteer in the cool, quiet beauty of The Forest of Nisene Marks
Where: Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
Outdoors
10:00 AM
FREE
Downtown Santa Cruz: Makers Market
Where: Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market
Markets
10:00 AM
$245
Youth Robot Series - Santa Cruz Maker Studios
Where: Santa Cruz Maker Studios
Family
10:00 AM
SUNDAY SERENITY: RESTORATIVE EXPRESSIVE ART
Where: Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center
Art & Culture
10:00 AM
FREE
Elkhorn Slough: Free Tour of the Preserve
Where: Elkhorn Slough Reserve
Outdoors

What's happening

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

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Showing 30 of 34 upcoming events Β· Cultural Event Β· from 2026-11-15 Β· to 2026-11-22

Sun
Nov
15

Hanukkah Fair

Where: Temple Beth El gift shop
When: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

The County's best selection of menorahs, candles, dreidles, affordable gifts for everyone. Your one-stop shop for Hanukkah. Decorations, paper plates, novelty items, books, chocolate gelt…

Festivals Cultural Event πŸ“ Aptos & Seacliff
Sun
Nov
15

Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train

Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
When: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Β· Price: $26.45

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…

Cultural Event Outdoors πŸ“ San Lorenzo Valley
Sun
Nov
15

UCSC: Victor β€œMarka27” Exhibition

Where: UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
When: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

β€œNi de aquΓ­, ni de allÑ” (β€œneither from here, nor there”), is a phrase commonly used by bilingual, bicultural communities. In the exhibition the phrase…

Art & Culture Cultural Event πŸ“ Westside
Sun
Nov
15

Wilder Ranch: Historic Grounds Tours

Where: Wilder Ranch State Park
When: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Β· Price: FREE

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…

Cultural Event Free πŸ“ North Coast
Sun
Nov
15

Quail Hollow Ranch: Ranch House Tour

Where: Quail Hollow Ranch County Park
When: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

As a volunteer docent for the County of Santa Cruz Park system, Richard James has researched the colorful history of Quail Hollow Ranch for years…

Cultural Event Free πŸ“ San Lorenzo Valley
Mon
Nov
16

Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train

Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
When: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Β· Price: $26.45

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…

Cultural Event Outdoors πŸ“ San Lorenzo Valley
Mon
Nov
16

Las Migas

Where: Kuumbwa Jazz
When: 7:00 PM

With a career spanning more than twenty years and six studio albums, Las Migas have become one of the most internationally acclaimed Spanish bands. They…

Music Cultural Event πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz
Tue
Nov
17

Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train

Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
When: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Β· Price: $26.45

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…

Cultural Event Outdoors πŸ“ San Lorenzo Valley
Wed
Nov
18

Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train

Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
When: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Β· Price: $26.45

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…

Cultural Event Outdoors πŸ“ San Lorenzo Valley
Wed
Nov
18

UCSC: Victor β€œMarka27” Exhibition

Where: UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
When: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

β€œNi de aquΓ­, ni de allÑ” (β€œneither from here, nor there”), is a phrase commonly used by bilingual, bicultural communities. In the exhibition the phrase…

Art & Culture Cultural Event πŸ“ Westside
Wed
Nov
18

Entre Nosotras

Where: Watsonville
When: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

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…

Wellness Cultural Event En espaΓ±ol πŸ“ Watsonville
Wed
Nov
18

Tango class Aaron

Where: The 418 Project
When: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

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

Dance Cultural Event πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz
Wed
Nov
18

TCB-The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing

Where: Rio Theatre for the Performing Arts
When: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

Screening and Conversation Join Visualizing Abolition at the Rio Theatre for a screening of TCB, The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing, followed by a…

Music Cultural Event πŸ“ Midtown
Thu
Nov
19

Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train

Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
When: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Β· Price: $26.45

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…

Cultural Event Outdoors πŸ“ San Lorenzo Valley
Thu
Nov
19

UCSC: Victor β€œMarka27” Exhibition

Where: UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
When: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

β€œNi de aquΓ­, ni de allÑ” (β€œneither from here, nor there”), is a phrase commonly used by bilingual, bicultural communities. In the exhibition the phrase…

Art & Culture Cultural Event πŸ“ Westside
Thu
Nov
19

Letters to Home

Where: Mary Holmes Fireside Lounge
When: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Learn about the Pasifika student experience in higher education on Thursday, November 19th from 4:30-6:30pm at the Mary Holmes Fireside Lounge (Cowell), as we reflect…

Education Cultural Event πŸ“ UCSC
Thu
Nov
19

Congo Dance Class

Where: The 418 Project
When: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

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

Dance Cultural Event πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz
Thu
Nov
19

Congolese

Where: The 418 Project
When: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

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…

Community Cultural Event πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz
Thu
Nov
19

Lee Herrick – Morton Marcus Poetry Reading

Where: Merrill College Office
When: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

The Humanities Institute is proud to present The Seventeenth Annual Morton Marcus Poetry Reading featuring California Poet Laureate, Lee Herrick. Lee Herrick is the first…

Education Cultural Event πŸ“ UCSC
Fri
Nov
20

Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train

Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
When: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Β· Price: $26.45

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…

Cultural Event Family πŸ“ San Lorenzo Valley
Fri
Nov
20

TWDCC’s Deep Roots Dance Fest Nov 20-21

Where: Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center
When: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM Β· Price: $25

Deep Roots Dance Fest is a celebration of heritage, innovation, and artistic evolution. Each year, artists of the African Diaspora draw inspiration from traditional dance…

Dance Cultural Event πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz
Sat
Nov
21

Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train

Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
When: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Β· Price: $26.45

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…

Cultural Event Family πŸ“ San Lorenzo Valley
Sat
Nov
21

UCSC: Victor β€œMarka27” Exhibition

Where: UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
When: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

β€œNi de aquΓ­, ni de allÑ” (β€œneither from here, nor there”), is a phrase commonly used by bilingual, bicultural communities. In the exhibition the phrase…

Art & Culture Cultural Event πŸ“ Westside
Sat
Nov
21

Wilder Ranch: Historic Grounds Tours

Where: Wilder Ranch State Park
When: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Β· Price: FREE

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…

Cultural Event Free πŸ“ North Coast

4 more events further out

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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†’