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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 Phamily Time! β˜… Featured Event
Sat, Aug 8, 2026 Β· 4:00 PM

Phamily Time!

πŸ“ Woodhouse Blending & Brewing Β· Downtown Santa Cruz Β· See listing

Phamily Time, presented by Phreeborn is back with a summer edition you won’t want to miss. There will be something for everyone, so bring the whole phamily! Get tickets for the whole day celebration here: TICKETS

Music Festivals πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz Details β†’
Promotional image for Bluegrass Jam Bazaar (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) Coming up
Mon, Aug 3, 2026 Β· Woodhouse Blending & Brewing

Bluegrass Jam Bazaar (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

This is the place to be on Tuesday! This weekly jam fest features rotating bands, open jam sessions, vendors, activities and all the dance vibes you can manage. Bring your instrument and your dancing shoes!

Music πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz
Music
Coming up
Mon, Aug 3, 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 Blue Monday Blues Jam Coming up
Mon, Aug 3, 2026 Β· VFW Post 7263

Blue Monday Blues Jam

🎸 Blues Jam Night! 🎢 Great Music by Amazing Musicians β€” You Don’t Want to Miss This! Every 1st Monday of the Month No Cover Charge | Fully Stocked Bar | Open Mic Bring your instrument, your voice, or just come enjoy the vibes! πŸ— Southern Fried Chicken & Fish Dinners β€” starting at $20 (Cash Only) 🍽️ Served from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM πŸ’™ Donations Appreciated β€” Proceeds benefit the VFW Relief Program

Music
Promotional image for Abbott Square: Comedy Night Coming up
Mon, Aug 3, 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 3

30 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
10:00 AM
FREE
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Native Garden Workday
πŸ“ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Outdoors
10:00 AM
$32
Santa Cruz Beach Train
πŸ“ Roaring Camp Railroads
Family
11:00 AM
FREE
Local Specials
πŸ“ La Bahia Hotel & Spa
Food & Drink
11:30 AM
FREE
Aptos Bridge Club
πŸ“ Santa Cruz Public Libraries
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

What's happening

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

Quick: Today This weekend Next 7 days Area Clear all

17 upcoming events Β· Education Β· from 2026-08-08 Β· to 2026-08-09

Aug
8

Weekend with Shakespeare

πŸ“ UC Santa Cruz
πŸ•’ 1:00 AM – 12:59 AM Β· See listing

Dig deeply into this season’s Shakespeare productions with a special weekend of lectures, discussions and hands-on activities. In partnership with UCSC’s Shakespeare Workshop and The Humanities Institute, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about each play during the day and then enjoy the production that same evening. This year, Weekend with Shakespeare will be held at the Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park on August 8th ( Much Ado About Nothing ) and August 9th ( Macbeth ). Admission is free to all, but seating is limited. Please register below to reserve your seats . Schedule for Weekend with Shakespeare Saturday, 8/8 – Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare 11:00 a.m. – Welcome (Sean Keilen, UCSC) 11:15 a.m. – Actor Panel (Charles Pasternak and members of the company, SCS) 12:15 p.m. – Boxed lunch (courtesy of Shakespeare Workshop) 1:00 p.m. – Visiting Scholar (Eli Simon, UC Irvine) 2:00 – End of program Sunday, 8/9 – Macbeth by William Shakespeare 1:00 a.m. – Welcome (Sean Keilen, UCSC) 11:15 a.m. – Actor Panel (Charles Pasternak and members of the company, SCS) 12:15 p.m. – Boxed lunch (courtesy of Shakespeare Workshop) 1:00 p.m. – Visiting Scholar (Eli Simon, UC Irvine) 2:00 – End of program Sean Keilen is Professor of Literature and UC Santa Cruz, the founder of Shakespeare Workshop , and Head of Dramaturgy at Santa Cruz Shakespeare . Charles Pasternak is Artistic Director at Santa Cruz Shakespeare , before which served as Artistic Director of The Porters of Hellsgate Theatre Co in Los Angeles for over fifteen years. He has had a wide-ranging career as an actor and director at theatres across this country including American Players Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, three seasons with The Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis and four with Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Eli Simon is a Chancellor’s Professor of Drama at UC Irvine, where he has served as chair and head

Education Free πŸ“ UCSC Details β†’
Aug
8

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Sandhills Guided Hike

πŸ“ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
πŸ•’ 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Β· See listing

Sandhills Tour - Hike around an ancient seafloor?! Yes please! On this 1.5 mile hike through the Santa Cruz Sandhills, we'll be meandering through sandy soils on the mountain top, about 800' above present-day sea level! Join us on August 8th at 9:00 am to explore this beautiful landscape and learn about the rare and unique things that call it home. RSVP for this event here . Let's plan to meet in the campground parking lot (located off Graham Hill Rd.). We hope to see you there! Hard rain cancels.

Aug
8

Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center: Plankton Walk

πŸ“ Sanctuary Exploration Center
πŸ•’ 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM Β· $35

You will be going out to the Santa Cruz Wharf to collect the plankton and take data on the physical conditions. You will then go to a lab at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Center to look closely at your subjects (plankton) under the microscopes. These are the microscopic organisms that produce half the oxygen you breathe (phytoplankton) and the zooplankton, that form the base of the food chain.

Aug
8

Pacific Plankton Walk

πŸ“ Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center
πŸ•’ 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM Β· See listing

Join us for a morning filled with plankton! These are the microscopic organisms that produce half the oxygen we breathe (phytoplankton) and the zooplankton, that form the base of the food chain. We will be going out to the Santa Cruz Wharf to collect the plankton and take data on the physical conditions. We will then go to a lab at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Center to look closely at our subjects (plankton) under the microscopes. REGISTER About the Speaker Jane Silberstein received her undergraduate degree in science (emphasis on marine science) at UCSC, and later obtained her graduate degree at Moss Landing Marine Labs in Invertebrate Marine Ecology. She has spent the last 40 years learning and teaching about the marine life in the bay and ways to engage audiences with this information. Jane has been teaching about plankton for 10 semesters at Cabrillo College with a program called the Pacific Plankton Program, and worked on plankton projects for many years at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Accessibility and Logistics There will be two parts in this program (field work and lab portion) β€” Please note that transportation between venues is not provided, so plan accordingly. Dress in comfortable layers, long pants, hat, sunglasses,and closed-toe shoes (no flip-flops or sandals). Please plan to bring any water and snacks you will want during the program. Please bring a notebook if you have one, otherwise, we’ll bring paper, to draw and describe the amazing microscopic drifters we find in the Monterey Bay! Capacity : 20 Ticket Price: $35 General | $25 Student Discounts : $5 member discount Age limit: 10+. Youth must be accompanied by an adult.

Aug
8

Plankton Walk

πŸ“ Sanctuary Exploration Center
πŸ•’ 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM Β· $35

You will be going out to the Santa Cruz Wharf to collect the plankton and take data on the physical conditions. You will then go to a lab at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Center to look closely at your subjects (plankton) under the microscopes. These are the microscopic organisms that produce half the oxygen you breathe (phytoplankton) and the zooplankton, that form the base of the food chain.

Aug
8

Harp Lessons for All Ages

πŸ“ Soulcare Studios
πŸ•’ 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Β· $40

Discover the calming and creative power of music 🎢 Our beginner-friendly harp lessons offer a peaceful space to learn something new, connect with sound, and explore music in a supportive group setting. No experience is needed, and instruments are provided. πŸ—“ 1st & 3rd Saturdays 🎡 All levels welcome ⚠️ Limited to 10 spotsβ€”advance booking recommended

Education Family πŸ“ Soquel Details β†’
Aug
8

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
8

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
8

Companions of the Sun

πŸ“ Santa Cruz Public Libraries
πŸ•’ 2:00 PM Β· See listing

Saturday, August 08 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm Learn about Iranian rituals and beliefs in relation to dance, as well as how Iranian culture has impacted global music and dance traditions.

Community Education Details β†’
Aug
8

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Star Walk Tour

πŸ“ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
πŸ•’ 8:30 PM – 9:30 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
9

Weekend With Shakespeare

πŸ“ UC Santa Cruz
πŸ•’ 1:00 AM – 12:59 AM Β· See listing

Dig deeply into this season’s Shakespeare productions with a special weekend of lectures, discussions and hands-on activities. In partnership with UCSC’s Shakespeare Workshop and The Humanities Institute, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about each play during the day and then enjoy the production that same evening. This year, Weekend with Shakespeare will be held at the Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park on August 8th ( Much Ado About Nothing ) and August 9th ( Macbeth ). Admission is free to all, but seating is limited. Please register below to reserve your seats . Schedule for Weekend with Shakespeare Saturday, 8/8 – Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare 11:00 a.m. – Welcome (Sean Keilen, UCSC) 11:15 a.m. – Actor Panel (Charles Pasternak and members of the company, SCS) 12:15 p.m. – Boxed lunch (courtesy of Shakespeare Workshop) 1:00 p.m. – Visiting Scholar (Eli Simon, UC Irvine) 2:00 – End of program Sunday, 8/9 – Macbeth by William Shakespeare 1:00 a.m. – Welcome (Sean Keilen, UCSC) 11:15 a.m. – Actor Panel (Charles Pasternak and members of the company, SCS) 12:15 p.m. – Boxed lunch (courtesy of Shakespeare Workshop) 1:00 p.m. – Visiting Scholar (Eli Simon, UC Irvine) 2:00 – End of program Sean Keilen is Professor of Literature and UC Santa Cruz, the founder of Shakespeare Workshop , and Head of Dramaturgy at Santa Cruz Shakespeare . Charles Pasternak is Artistic Director at Santa Cruz Shakespeare , before which served as Artistic Director of The Porters of Hellsgate Theatre Co in Los Angeles for over fifteen years. He has had a wide-ranging career as an actor and director at theatres across this country including American Players Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, three seasons with The Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis and four with Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Eli Simon is a Chancellor’s Professor of Drama at UC Irvine, where he has served as chair and head

Education Free πŸ“ UCSC Details β†’
Aug
9

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Highlights Loop Guided Hike

πŸ“ Visitor Center | Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
πŸ•’ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Β· See listing

Highlights Loop Guided Hike- Want to experience the different ecosystems in Henry Cowell State Park first hand? Look no further than this diverse loop through an old-growth redwood forest and the unique Santa Cruz Sandhills. On this guided hike, we will gain 500 feet over 4.5 miles in about 3 hours. Come prepared with good walking shoes and water. Let's plan to meet in front of the Visitor Center at 9:00 am. RSVP here to save your spot!

Aug
9

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†’

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