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πŸ“ 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.

β˜… Featured this season

Promotional image for Naturalist Night: Plankton 101 β˜… Featured
Wed, Aug 19, 2026 Β· Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Naturalist Night: Plankton 101

Did you know that every other breath we take comes from phytoplankton? Dive into the hidden world of plankton and discover the tiny organisms that form the foundation of Monterey Bay’s rich marine ecosystem. Join marine scientist and educator Jane Silberstein for an engaging introduction to phytoplankton, zooplankton, and the remarkable roles they play in supporting ocean life. After the talk, you’ll have the opportunity to observe live plankton under a microscope and get an up-close look at these incredible microscopic organisms. Whether you’re a curious beachgoer, an aspiring naturalist, or simply fascinated by the ocean, this lecture will leave you with a new appreciation for the life drifting just beneath the surface. These amazing organisms form the base of the marine food web, produce much of the oxygen we breathe, influence the color of the ocean, and support countless species throughout Monterey Bay and beyond. REGISTER HERE Location: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History Ticket Price: $12 Discounts: $5 member discount About the Speaker : Jane Silberstein brings more than 40 years of experience studying and teaching about the marine life of Monterey Bay. She earned her undergraduate degree in science with an emphasis in marine science from UC Santa Cruz and her graduate degree in Invertebrate Marine Ecology from Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. During her 33 years at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Jane worked on all three plankton guide stations, sharing the fascinating world of plankton with visitors from around the globe. She has also taught plankton through Cabrillo College’s Pacific Plankton Program for nearly six years, inspiring students to explore the remarkable microscopic organisms that support life in the ocean. Jane is passionate about making the microscopic world accessible to audiences of all ages and helping others discover the incredible diversity of life drifting just beneath the surface. Accessibility and Logistics : This program will take place

Education πŸ“ Seabright & Harbor
Promotional image for Steve Hawk β˜… Featured
Wed, Aug 19, 2026 Β· Bookshop Santa Cruz

Steve Hawk

Bookshop Santa Cruz welcomes Steve Hawk, the longest serving editor of Surfer (1991-1998), who will share his thrilling new novel Nearshore , a mix of literary suspense and coastal noir which follows an unlikely trio on the California coast who investigate a nuclear terrorist act. Hawk will be in conversation with Charles Duhigg at this event.

Family πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz
Music
Coming up
Mon, Aug 10, 2026 Β· Ugly Mug CoffeeHouse, 4640 Soquel Dr, Soquel, CA 95073, United States

Open Mic w/ SteveV, every Monday

It's Monday Open Mic at the Ugly Mug! Sign ups at 5p Beer, Espresso Drinks and Desserts available

Music πŸ“ Soquel
Promotional image for Abbott Square: Comedy Night Coming up
Mon, Aug 10, 2026 Β· Abbott Square Market

Abbott Square: Comedy Night

Come hang out in the secret garden and have some laughs, EVERY MONDAY NIGHT. Featuring comedians from all over the area and beyond.

Comedy πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz

β˜€οΈ Happening today

Monday, August 10

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

9:00 AM
$59
Dynomite Farm: Private Dahlia U-Cut Experience
πŸ“ Dynomite Farm
Community
10:00 AM
FREE
Natural Bridges Little Rangers Program
πŸ“ Natural Bridges State Beach
Family
11:30 AM
See listing
Aptos Bridge Club
πŸ“ Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Community
11:30 AM
See listing
Monthly Monday Meditation
πŸ“ Scotts Valley Branch Library
Community
11:30 AM
See listing
Mahjong Club @ Branciforte
πŸ“ Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Community
11:30 AM
See listing
Seniors Share @ Felton Library
πŸ“ Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Community
12:00 PM
FREE
Latte's and Learn
πŸ“ California Coffee
Education
12:30 PM
See listing
Monthly Monday Meditation
πŸ“ Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Community
1:00 PM
See listing
Loops at the Library - Knit/Crochet @ Garfield Park Branch
πŸ“ Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Community

What's happening

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Showing 60 of 350 upcoming events Β· Education

Aug
10

Latte's and Learn

πŸ“ California Coffee
πŸ•’ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Β· FREE

Join us Wednesday, May 21st from 12:00 PM- 1:00 PM at California Coffee for an informative and uplifting workshop you won't want tfor suo miss! Our featured guest speaker, Manas S. Kshirsagar, AD, MS a NAMA Board Certified Ayurvedic Doctor with years of experience in holistic wellness and healing, will be presenting "Tools for Stress and Anxiety". With today's fast-paced world and the stress levels many of us are unduring, this workshop will offer valuable insight, practical tools and wellness strategies to help bring more balance, peace and calm into our daily lives. Lunch Special Available: Half Sandwich + Chips just $9.99 California Coffee, 9105 Soquel Dr., Aptos, CA 95003 cacoffeeaptos.com Thank you from myself Sylvia Reyes, and my amazing team for supporting our small business and community events!

Education Wellness πŸ“ Soquel Details β†’
Aug
10

August Slugs and Steins with Professor Barbara Rogoff

πŸ“ UC Santa Cruz
πŸ•’ 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Β· See listing

Learning to be Community-Minded How do children learn to be part of a community, attentive to what’s going on around them and pitching in to help out? Barbara Rogoff builds on her 50+ years researching and participating with a Mayan community in Guatemala to make the case that people everywhere can learn from Indigenous cultural values of relationality and responsibility, which are commonly enacted in everyday family and community life. An important practice in many Indigenous-heritage communities of the Americas is including children collaboratively in the endeavors of family and community life even in the youngest years. In the process, young children often collaborate skillfully and help without being asked, developing community-mindedness through their shared contributions. Barbara Rogoff is UCSC Foundation Distinguished Professor of Psychology at UCSC. She investigates cultural aspects of children’s learning and how communities arrange for learning, finding especially sophisticated collaboration, attention, and community-mindedness among children from some Mexican and Indigenous communities of the Americas. She is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Education, and a Fellow of professional organizations in psychology, anthropology, and education. She has received Distinguished Lifetime Contributions Awards from international research organizations as well as the Chemers Award for Outstanding Research, from UCSC. She has held the University of California Presidential Chair and Fellowships of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Kellogg Foundation, Spencer Foundation, and the Exploratorium, and served as Editor of Human Development. A cat that lives at a University in Pakistan is named in her honor (the cat’s name: β€œDoctor Barbara Rogoff”). Her award-winning books include Learning Together: Children and Adults in a School Community; The Cultural Nature of Human Development; and Developing

Education Free πŸ“ UCSC Details β†’
Aug
11

Volunteer at the UCSC Arboretum

πŸ“ Arboretum
πŸ•’ 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Β· See listing

Volunteer Information Sessions at the Arboretum Do you love gardens and gardening? The UCSC Arboretum & Botanic Garden has a wonderful community of staff, students, and volunteers, ready to welcome you. Opportunities include staffing our gift shop & retail nursery and working to care for our gardens and greenhouses. To learn more, join us at one of our monthly information sessions. They go for about 45 minutes and include an easy walk through the gardens. To attend, please fill out our simple volunteer interest form at the bottom of our volunteer webpage found here: https://arboretum.ucsc.edu/get-involved/become-a-volunteer/ If you need a different day and/or have mobility issues please let us know in the β€œNotes” section of the Interest Form. Thank You!

Education Outdoors πŸ“ UCSC Details β†’
Aug
11

Toddler Tumble Time

πŸ“ Watsonville Public Library
πŸ•’ 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Β· See listing

Come Join Us for Toddler Tumble Time! We’ll be sharing some of our educational collection items. Bring your little ones to explore and learn about science. Don’t miss out on the fun! Β‘AcompÑñenos en la Hora de Juegos para PequeΓ±itos! Compartiremos una selecciΓ³n de artΓ­culos de nuestra colecciΓ³n educativa. Venga con sus pequeΓ±os a explorar y aprender sobre la ciencia. Β‘No se lo pierda! The event is ADA accessible. Materials will be provided. These programs are funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services. Estos programas son financiados por el Programa de Subvenciones de Equidad al Aire Libre, creado a travΓ©s AB 209 y administrado por la Oficina de Subvenciones y Servicios Locales de Parque Estatales de California.

Aug
11

Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia

πŸ“ Boulder Creek Branch Library
πŸ•’ 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Β· See listing

Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging. Join us to learn about the impact of Alzheimer's, the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia, stages and risk factors, current research and treatments available for some symptoms, and Alzheimer's Association resources.

Aug
11

Backgammon @ the Library

πŸ“ Santa Cruz Public Libraries
πŸ•’ 11:00 AM Β· See listing

Tuesday, August 11 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm Join us Tuesdays at Aptos Library to learn, play, and compete in Backgammon! All skill levels welcome - enjoy strategy, fun, and friendly competition in a relaxed social setting.

Community Education Details β†’
Aug
11

Time Management

πŸ“ UC Santa Cruz
πŸ•’ 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM Β· See listing

In this workshop, you will: Learn the ways you can manage your time and avoid procrastination/burnout. The Successful Slug Workshop series, hosted by Learning Support Services Peer Coaches, are open to all UCSC undergraduate students and focus on academic skills and tools to support your success as a student. At each workshop, you will be introduced to a topic, engage in active learning, be given resources to begin implementing the same day, and have an opportunity to learn more if you are interested. 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 initiativeβ€”whether a student service, faculty program, or community eventβ€”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 .

Education Adults 21+ πŸ“ UCSC Details β†’
Aug
11

Master Class: Gaw Vang Williams - Dynamics & Tone for Vocal Storytelling

πŸ“ Kuumbwa Jazz
πŸ•’ 7:00 PM Β· See listing

Gaw Vang Williams is a vocalist and educator from Sacramento, California. She became the director of the vocal jazz program at Sacramento State University in 2014, where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and Master of Music in Voice Performance. She began teaching in 2004, serving as a music instructor at various high schools and music organizations. In Dynamics & Tone for Vocal Storytelling, Williams will lead participants through the exploration of different vocal tones, and demonstrate how storytelling naturally shapes vocal dynamics. Williams is a sought-after clinician and adjudicator for festivals and workshops throughout the United States. She currently serves as the President of the California Alliance for Jazz and is the vocal jazz traveling clinician for the Monterey Jazz Festival. Can’t make it in-person? You can stream it! Click here to register.

Aug
12

Latte's and Learn

πŸ“ California Coffee
πŸ•’ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Β· FREE

Join us Wednesday, May 21st from 12:00 PM- 1:00 PM at California Coffee for an informative and uplifting workshop you won't want tfor suo miss! Our featured guest speaker, Manas S. Kshirsagar, AD, MS a NAMA Board Certified Ayurvedic Doctor with years of experience in holistic wellness and healing, will be presenting "Tools for Stress and Anxiety". With today's fast-paced world and the stress levels many of us are unduring, this workshop will offer valuable insight, practical tools and wellness strategies to help bring more balance, peace and calm into our daily lives. Lunch Special Available: Half Sandwich + Chips just $9.99 California Coffee, 9105 Soquel Dr., Aptos, CA 95003 cacoffeeaptos.com Thank you from myself Sylvia Reyes, and my amazing team for supporting our small business and community events!

Aug
12

Spring Exhibitions at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences

πŸ“ Institute of the Arts and Sciences
πŸ•’ 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Β· See listing

Visit the IAS, UCSC’s premier art galleries, for our spring exhibitions. On view April 10–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 – 5 pm. Admission is free to the public. Libia Posada: Everything is Going Right Libia Posada’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 πŸ“ Westside Details β†’
Aug
12

Prepare for the Fair: Resume & Recruiter Insights

πŸ“ UC Santa Cruz
πŸ•’ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Β· FREE

Online via Zoom – Register to receive Zoom details Preparing for an upcoming career fair or networking event? Join us for this virtual session on Wednesday, August 12, at 12:00 noon (Pacific Time) , designed to help participants make the most of their next opportunity to connect with employers. Featuring talent acquisition leader and UC Davis alumnus Alexander Reyes, MBA, this session will provide an insider’s perspective on how recruiters evaluate candidates and what helps job seekers stand out at career fairs and recruitment events. Attendees will gain practical strategies for strengthening their resumes, developing an effective elevator pitch, and approaching employer conversations with confidence. Whether attending the upcoming HireUC Alumni Career Summits or another recruitment event, participants will leave with actionable tips to help them prepare, connect, and make a lasting impression. This session is intended for alumni, recent graduates, and job seekers at all career stages . By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:​ Apply resume best practices to better align their materials with employer expectations.​ Identify strategies for preparing for career fairs and recruitment events. Develop an elevator pitch that communicates their skills, experiences, and career goals. LEARN MORE & REGISTER This webinar is hosted by UC Davis and is open to all UC alumni

Education Free πŸ“ UCSC Details β†’
Aug
12

Paradigm Sport Fall Softball Offense Clinic

πŸ“ Jade Street Park
πŸ•’ 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Β· $250

This is a clinic for Softball Athletes 12+, designed specific to athletes by athletes. Throughout three 4-week sessions, athletes will focus on every aspect of becoming a complete offensive player. We'll cover hitting mechanics, swing fundamentals, approach at the plate, pitch selection, live pitching, front toss, situational execution, base running, and the mental side of the game.

Aug
13

ReView

πŸ“ Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery
πŸ•’ 1:00 AM – 12:59 AM Β· See listing

Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery August 13-September 19, 2026 Opening celebration and Artist Talk Saturday, August 15, 2-4:30 p.m Light refreshments will be served. Summer Gallery Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 1-5pm ReView: UC Santa Cruz Arts Alumni Exhibition features Arts Division alumni from the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas. Curated by ValΓ©ria Miranda, the Sesnon’s Director, ReView includes a wide variety of media and techniques highlighting the diversity of contemporary practice of alumni who graduated from 1972 to 2025. The exhibition title alludes to the portfolio critique process and suggests ideas of reflection and reevaluationβ€”whether revisiting past work, rethinking materials, or tracing how a practice evolves over time. This exhibition celebrates the creative path of artists who began their journeys at UC Santa Cruz. United by shared roots yet defined by distinct paths, the participating alumni reflect the lasting influence of the Arts Division programs. Their works speak to the spirit of inquiry, experimentation, and perseverance that has long shaped the university’s artistic community. ReView presents an opportunity for the campus and larger community to see the professional practice of these artists who continue to build on the creative foundation that they received at UCSC and to inspire our current students, offering visualization of their own future artistic journeys after graduation. ReView offers a unique opportunity for returning alumni to celebrate their creative expressions while reconnecting with classmates and the university community. Admission is free and open to the public. More Information

Education Free πŸ“ UCSC Details β†’
Aug
13

Latte's and Learn

πŸ“ California Coffee
πŸ•’ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Β· FREE

Join us Wednesday, May 21st from 12:00 PM- 1:00 PM at California Coffee for an informative and uplifting workshop you won't want tfor suo miss! Our featured guest speaker, Manas S. Kshirsagar, AD, MS a NAMA Board Certified Ayurvedic Doctor with years of experience in holistic wellness and healing, will be presenting "Tools for Stress and Anxiety". With today's fast-paced world and the stress levels many of us are unduring, this workshop will offer valuable insight, practical tools and wellness strategies to help bring more balance, peace and calm into our daily lives. Lunch Special Available: Half Sandwich + Chips just $9.99 California Coffee, 9105 Soquel Dr., Aptos, CA 95003 cacoffeeaptos.com Thank you from myself Sylvia Reyes, and my amazing team for supporting our small business and community events!

Aug
13

Spring Exhibitions at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences

πŸ“ Institute of the Arts and Sciences
πŸ•’ 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Β· See listing

Visit the IAS, UCSC’s premier art galleries, for our spring exhibitions. On view April 10–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 – 5 pm. Admission is free to the public. Libia Posada: Everything is Going Right Libia Posada’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 πŸ“ Westside Details β†’
Aug
13

Working Hard Isn’t Enough: The Unspoken Rules That Shape Your Career

πŸ“ UC Santa Cruz
πŸ•’ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Β· FREE

Working Hard Isn’t Enough: The Unspoken Rules That Shape Your Career With Ricky Koo Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026 | Noon PT Virtual via Zoom Hosted by UCLA Alumni Association, open to all UC alumni As a first-generation immigrant, career coach Ricky Koo was taught to work hard, stay humble, and let results speak. Sound familiar? Here’s the thing: You can be great at your job and still be misunderstood, overlooked or underestimated. In this webinar, Ricky Koo β€” a first-generation immigrant who rose through the ranks to become a corporate executive before building his own professional coaching business β€” breaks down what actually shapes how you’re perceived at work, and how to take control of your professional narrative without being fake, loud or political in ways that feel misaligned. This isn’t about self-promotion. It’s about self-definition. Learn More & Register

Education Free πŸ“ UCSC Details β†’
Aug
13

Rules Are Not Neutral: Play As Sense-Making, Acts Of Resistance, And Imagining Otherwise

πŸ“ Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery
πŸ•’ 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Β· FREE

This exhibition brings together a range of analog games – including board, card, role-playing, and other participatory works – that engage social and political realities in different ways. The works span widely circulated commercial games to independently produced projects, one-of-a-kind artworks by artists, faculty, alumni, and students, and materials drawn from UC Santa Cruz Special Collections and Archives. In part, the exhibition challenges the persistent assumption that games and play are detached from social and political life. On the contrary, game designers and artists across diverse perspectives and positions have long used play to engage questions of social systems, lived experience, and how power operates. This exhibition does not attempt to represent that full spectrum. Instead, it brings together a particular set of works that foreground how games can make systems visible, intervene in them, and imagine alternatives. All games embody values, whether intentional or not. – Mary Flanagan , game designer and scholar Across all of these works, games are not only forms of entertainment, though they may be that as well. They are encountered in multiple ways: as objects, as systems, as artworks, and as experiences that unfold unpredictably through interaction. In each case, rules and constraints shape what participants can do. In these different forms, the works stage systems – such as housing and land ownership, capitalism, race and identity, civil rights and protest, fascism, and colonialism – in ways that are simplified and easy to see, opening space to recognize similar structures beyond the game. In this sense, the works suggest that rules are not neutral – they organize experience, distribute power, and produce meaning. Games are the art of agency. – C. Thi Nguyen , philosopher The exhibition is intentionally dense. This abundance reflects the breadth of ways games operate across contexts, from activism and education to art and everyday life. While it cel

Education Art & Culture πŸ“ UCSC Details β†’
Aug
14

Return to the Redwoods 2026

πŸ“ UC Santa Cruz
πŸ•’ 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM Β· See listing

Get ready to Return to the Redwoods ! Reconnect with friends, family, and fellow alumni as you explore the beauty of UC Santa Cruz. From the kick-off party and Stars & S’mores to hikes, workshops, and family-friendly fun, this weekend offers something for everyone. Ticket, housing, and registration details will be shared in early 2026β€”stay tuned! You won’t want to miss it.

Education Family πŸ“ UCSC Details β†’
Aug
14

ReView

πŸ“ Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery
πŸ•’ 1:00 AM – 12:59 AM Β· See listing

Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery August 13-September 19, 2026 Opening celebration and Artist Talk Saturday, August 15, 2-4:30 p.m Light refreshments will be served. Summer Gallery Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 1-5pm ReView: UC Santa Cruz Arts Alumni Exhibition features Arts Division alumni from the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas. Curated by ValΓ©ria Miranda, the Sesnon’s Director, ReView includes a wide variety of media and techniques highlighting the diversity of contemporary practice of alumni who graduated from 1972 to 2025. The exhibition title alludes to the portfolio critique process and suggests ideas of reflection and reevaluationβ€”whether revisiting past work, rethinking materials, or tracing how a practice evolves over time. This exhibition celebrates the creative path of artists who began their journeys at UC Santa Cruz. United by shared roots yet defined by distinct paths, the participating alumni reflect the lasting influence of the Arts Division programs. Their works speak to the spirit of inquiry, experimentation, and perseverance that has long shaped the university’s artistic community. ReView presents an opportunity for the campus and larger community to see the professional practice of these artists who continue to build on the creative foundation that they received at UCSC and to inspire our current students, offering visualization of their own future artistic journeys after graduation. ReView offers a unique opportunity for returning alumni to celebrate their creative expressions while reconnecting with classmates and the university community. Admission is free and open to the public. More Information

Education Free πŸ“ UCSC Details β†’
Aug
14

Spring Exhibitions at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences

πŸ“ Institute of the Arts and Sciences
πŸ•’ 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Β· See listing

Visit the IAS, UCSC’s premier art galleries, for our spring exhibitions. On view April 10–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 – 5 pm. Admission is free to the public. Libia Posada: Everything is Going Right Libia Posada’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 πŸ“ Westside Details β†’
Aug
15

ReView

πŸ“ Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery
πŸ•’ 1:00 AM – 12:59 AM Β· See listing

Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery August 13-September 19, 2026 Opening celebration and Artist Talk Saturday, August 15, 2-4:30 p.m Light refreshments will be served. Summer Gallery Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 1-5pm ReView: UC Santa Cruz Arts Alumni Exhibition features Arts Division alumni from the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas. Curated by ValΓ©ria Miranda, the Sesnon’s Director, ReView includes a wide variety of media and techniques highlighting the diversity of contemporary practice of alumni who graduated from 1972 to 2025. The exhibition title alludes to the portfolio critique process and suggests ideas of reflection and reevaluationβ€”whether revisiting past work, rethinking materials, or tracing how a practice evolves over time. This exhibition celebrates the creative path of artists who began their journeys at UC Santa Cruz. United by shared roots yet defined by distinct paths, the participating alumni reflect the lasting influence of the Arts Division programs. Their works speak to the spirit of inquiry, experimentation, and perseverance that has long shaped the university’s artistic community. ReView presents an opportunity for the campus and larger community to see the professional practice of these artists who continue to build on the creative foundation that they received at UCSC and to inspire our current students, offering visualization of their own future artistic journeys after graduation. ReView offers a unique opportunity for returning alumni to celebrate their creative expressions while reconnecting with classmates and the university community. Admission is free and open to the public. More Information

Education Free πŸ“ UCSC Details β†’
Aug
15

Balance Your Nervous System with Breema - Bodywork & Self-Care Exercises

πŸ“ Hummingbird Valley Retreat Center
πŸ•’ 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Β· $50

With so many things requiring our attention each day, it can be difficult to find balance. This can lead to nervous system dysfunction, indicated by fatigue, overwhelm, anxiety, insomnia, and even illness. Breema Bodywork, Self-Breema Exercises, and the Nine Principles of Harmony offer practical tools to balance your nervous system, and bring more presence and vitality into your life. In this workshop you will learn: β€”Simple partner Breema bodywork exercises that are as nurturing to give as to receive β€”Self-Breema exercises that can be practiced throughout the day to harmonize and balance your mind, body, and feelings β€”Breema’s Nine Prinicples of Harmony that support you to discover a new energy, clarity, and enthusiasm for life! This workshop is ideal for those new to Breema’s transformational perspective on ways to live simply and meaningfully, as well as those with prior experience! Each workshop offers new material that will support you to have a more balanced, harmonious, and grounded perspective on life. Please be comfortable sitting, moving, and working on a well padded floor. $50 if paid by August 5 (use coupon code EARLYBIRD), $60 thereafter. For more information please contact the Breema Center: 510-428-0937 or [email protected] Continuing Education may be available for this event. Visit breema.info/ce for more information and to sign up. Instructors: Alexandra Johnson, MD, Denise Berezonsky and Dena Ehrlich

Wellness Education Details β†’
Aug
15

Seymour Center’s Art in the Aquarium

πŸ“ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
πŸ•’ 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Β· See listing

Dive into your creative side and make a splash with us! 🎨🌊 Bring the whole family and unleash your inner artist while surrounded by fascinating ocean life. Whether you’re a budding painter or just looking for a fun weekend activity, you’ll leave with your very own sea-inspired masterpiece to take home! 🐠✨ Join us on the third Saturday of every month for a fun art project with a talented Seymour volunteer!

Aug
15

How to Start a Short Story

πŸ“ Scotts Valley Branch Library
πŸ•’ 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Β· See listing

In this two-part short story workshop, writers will explore how to shape a story from an initial idea into a more focused, compelling draft. Register here: https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16763798 We’ll look at what makes a story feel alive on the page, with an emphasis on helping each writer better understand what their story is really about. Participants will have the opportunity to share their work, receive constructive feedback, and discuss practical strategies for strengthening a draft. The workshop is designed to be supportive, thoughtful, and generative, whether you are starting a new story, revising an existing one, or trying to figure out where a piece wants to go next. Writers of all experience levels are welcome. The goal is not to leave with a perfect story, but to leave with a clearer sense of direction, stronger tools for revision, and renewed confidence in the work. Devin Shoop is an MFA candidate and a published author. Photo credit: Aaron Burden.

Art & Culture Education πŸ“ Scotts Valley Details β†’
Aug
15

The Language of Collage with Gina Gaiser

πŸ“ Tumbleweed Found
πŸ•’ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Β· $45

Finding Shape, Color & Composition in Everyday Materials Collage begins with learning to see. In this introductory, hands-on workshop, participants will explore the elements of design and principles of composition using found papers, photographs, maps, botanical imagery, magazines, and printed ephemera. Through demonstrations and guided exercises, you'll learn how framing, cropping, layering, repetition, and thoughtful composition can transform ordinary materials into dynamic works of art. We'll explore visual concepts, including the Rule of Thirds, the Fibonacci Sequence (Golden Spiral), balance, rhythm, contrast, and focal point, as we create several collage studies and one finished piece. Participants will mat and frame one completed collage to take home, ready to display. Techniques Explored ● Elements of design: shape, line, color, texture, pattern, and negative space ● Framing and cropping to discover strong compositions ● Layering, repetition, and abstraction using found papers and photographs ● Creating balance, rhythm, movement, and focal points ● Editing and refining compositions through scale, contrast, and placement Materials A wide selection of found papers, magazines, photographs, vintage ephemera, maps, botanical imagery, and collage tools will be provided. Participants are also encouraged to bring personal photographs, paper scraps, or printed materials they'd like to incorporate into their work. About Gina Gina Gaiser is an Oakland-based artist working in photography, collage, and digital media. Her work begins with photographs of the built environment and the natural world, where she is drawn to overlooked patterns, textures, and structures. She cuts apart and reassembles these images into layered compositions that explore repetition, abstraction, and transformation. She earned a BA in Studio Art from the University of California, Santa Cruz, studied printmaking and art history at Il Bisonte in Florence, Italy, and received an MFA in Digital Media,

Art & Culture Education Details β†’
Aug
15

Spring Exhibitions at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences

πŸ“ Institute of the Arts and Sciences
πŸ•’ 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Β· See listing

Visit the IAS, UCSC’s premier art galleries, for our spring exhibitions. On view April 10–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 – 5 pm. Admission is free to the public. Libia Posada: Everything is Going Right Libia Posada’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 πŸ“ Westside Details β†’
Aug
15

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Redwood Loop Tour

πŸ“ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
πŸ•’ 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Β· See listing

Coast Redwoods offer a 100% satisfaction guaran-treed! Every Saturday at 12:00pm, we are taking folks on a guided walk through the Redwood Grove to talk about coast redwoods and to experience the forest together. On this 1-mile stroll, we will be chatting about life histories, ecology, etc. and sharing a wonderful adventure among these giants. Click here to RSVP. Let's plan to meet in the front of the Visitor Center, we hope you can join us!

Aug
15

Eggsellent Science

πŸ“ Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery
πŸ•’ 1:00 PM Β· $5

A Special Science Saturday Series We're hatching something new this spring. Guest educators from 4-H Youth Development, University of California are taking over one Saturday a month for a six-session series exploring science through studying the incredible, edible egg. Kids will use microscopes, conduct buoyancy experiments, and yes ...even try walking on eggs. This UC-developed curriculum goes deeper than our usual Science Saturday format, with small group investigations and structured lessons that build on each other week to week. Great for homeschool families who want documented STEM learning, and for any curious kid who likes getting messy with science. Grades K–6. Registration Coming Soon! March 21 | April 18 | May 16 | June 20 | July 18 | August 15 About 4-H Youth Development, University of California 4-H is the nation's largest positive youth development organization, with an international presence reaching nearly 6 million young people. As the youth program of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H helps kids build life skills through hands-on projects in science, agriculture, leadership, and more.

Aug
15

Nothing Like Normal A Local Author Talk With Martha Graham-Waldon

πŸ“ Scotts Valley Branch Library
πŸ•’ 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Β· See listing

Nothing Like Normal is a tender coming of age story about growing up with an older sister who developed schizophrenia at the tender age of 15. The recently released 2nd edition continues the story with a tender epilogue as the author unites with her sister’s daughter, revealing how joy can arise even out of tragedy and pain. This book will resonate with anyone who has struggled with the pain of schizophrenia or a chronic illness in a loved one, while inspiring hope and healing as well. Presented in honor of August's National Wellness Month. Registration encouraged, walk-ins welcome. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16578258 Light refreshments will be provided.

Art & Culture Education πŸ“ Scotts Valley Details β†’
Aug
15

Nothing Like Normal

πŸ“ Santa Cruz Public Libraries
πŸ•’ 3:00 PM Β· See listing

Saturday, August 15 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm Nothing Like Normal is a tender coming of age story about growing up with an older sister who developed schizophrenia at the tender age of 15.

Community Education Details β†’
Aug
15

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Star Walk Tour

πŸ“ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
πŸ•’ 8:15 PM – 9:15 PM Β· See listing

Star Walks - Astronomy-based program where participants are guided up to the observation deck, where they will participate in activities and learn about the night sky. This involves a 1 mile round trip hike. Meet in the campfire center of the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park campground. RSVP for this hike here .

Aug
16

ReView

πŸ“ Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery
πŸ•’ 1:00 AM – 12:59 AM Β· See listing

Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery August 13-September 19, 2026 Opening celebration and Artist Talk Saturday, August 15, 2-4:30 p.m Light refreshments will be served. Summer Gallery Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 1-5pm ReView: UC Santa Cruz Arts Alumni Exhibition features Arts Division alumni from the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas. Curated by ValΓ©ria Miranda, the Sesnon’s Director, ReView includes a wide variety of media and techniques highlighting the diversity of contemporary practice of alumni who graduated from 1972 to 2025. The exhibition title alludes to the portfolio critique process and suggests ideas of reflection and reevaluationβ€”whether revisiting past work, rethinking materials, or tracing how a practice evolves over time. This exhibition celebrates the creative path of artists who began their journeys at UC Santa Cruz. United by shared roots yet defined by distinct paths, the participating alumni reflect the lasting influence of the Arts Division programs. Their works speak to the spirit of inquiry, experimentation, and perseverance that has long shaped the university’s artistic community. ReView presents an opportunity for the campus and larger community to see the professional practice of these artists who continue to build on the creative foundation that they received at UCSC and to inspire our current students, offering visualization of their own future artistic journeys after graduation. ReView offers a unique opportunity for returning alumni to celebrate their creative expressions while reconnecting with classmates and the university community. Admission is free and open to the public. More Information

Education Free πŸ“ UCSC Details β†’
Aug
16

Spring Exhibitions at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences

πŸ“ Institute of the Arts and Sciences
πŸ•’ 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Β· See listing

Visit the IAS, UCSC’s premier art galleries, for our spring exhibitions. On view April 10–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 – 5 pm. Admission is free to the public. Libia Posada: Everything is Going Right Libia Posada’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 πŸ“ Westside Details β†’
Aug
17

ReView

πŸ“ Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery
πŸ•’ 1:00 AM – 12:59 AM Β· See listing

Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery August 13-September 19, 2026 Opening celebration and Artist Talk Saturday, August 15, 2-4:30 p.m Light refreshments will be served. Summer Gallery Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 1-5pm ReView: UC Santa Cruz Arts Alumni Exhibition features Arts Division alumni from the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas. Curated by ValΓ©ria Miranda, the Sesnon’s Director, ReView includes a wide variety of media and techniques highlighting the diversity of contemporary practice of alumni who graduated from 1972 to 2025. The exhibition title alludes to the portfolio critique process and suggests ideas of reflection and reevaluationβ€”whether revisiting past work, rethinking materials, or tracing how a practice evolves over time. This exhibition celebrates the creative path of artists who began their journeys at UC Santa Cruz. United by shared roots yet defined by distinct paths, the participating alumni reflect the lasting influence of the Arts Division programs. Their works speak to the spirit of inquiry, experimentation, and perseverance that has long shaped the university’s artistic community. ReView presents an opportunity for the campus and larger community to see the professional practice of these artists who continue to build on the creative foundation that they received at UCSC and to inspire our current students, offering visualization of their own future artistic journeys after graduation. ReView offers a unique opportunity for returning alumni to celebrate their creative expressions while reconnecting with classmates and the university community. Admission is free and open to the public. More Information

Education Free πŸ“ UCSC Details β†’
Aug
17

Latte's and Learn

πŸ“ California Coffee
πŸ•’ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Β· FREE

Join us Wednesday, May 21st from 12:00 PM- 1:00 PM at California Coffee for an informative and uplifting workshop you won't want tfor suo miss! Our featured guest speaker, Manas S. Kshirsagar, AD, MS a NAMA Board Certified Ayurvedic Doctor with years of experience in holistic wellness and healing, will be presenting "Tools for Stress and Anxiety". With today's fast-paced world and the stress levels many of us are unduring, this workshop will offer valuable insight, practical tools and wellness strategies to help bring more balance, peace and calm into our daily lives. Lunch Special Available: Half Sandwich + Chips just $9.99 California Coffee, 9105 Soquel Dr., Aptos, CA 95003 cacoffeeaptos.com Thank you from myself Sylvia Reyes, and my amazing team for supporting our small business and community events!

Aug
17

Preparing for Life's Transitions

πŸ“ Aptos Branch Library
πŸ•’ 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM Β· See listing

Brought to you by Village Santa Cruz - Topics covered are personal, legal, medical, financial, insurance, real estate, living options, daily living, crisis plan, home health, hospice and end of life. Licensed workshops STEP: Strategic Transitions and Essential Planning brought to you by Village Santa Cruz County. STEP is a workshop series designed for participants to gather all essential information in one place and easily accessed when needed. 6 workshops ; 12 topics a conversation with professionals; and workbook included! MAY 18: Life Information and Legal Essentials JUNE 15: Medical and Financial JULY 20: Insurance and Real Estate AUGUST 17: Living Options and Everyday Life SEPTEMBER 21: Crisis Plan and Home Health OCTOBER 19: End of Life Care and End -of-Life Planning

Wellness Education πŸ“ Soquel Details β†’
Aug
17

Preparing for Life's Transitions

πŸ“ Santa Cruz Public Libraries
πŸ•’ 1:30 PM Β· See listing

Monday, August 17 2026 12:30pm - 2:30pm Brought to you by Village Santa Cruz - Topics covered are personal, legal, medical, financial, insurance, real estate, living options, daily living, crisis plan, home health, hospice and end of life.

Community Education Details β†’

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