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 Valéria 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 reevaluation—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
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.
★ Featured this season
★ Featured Event
Open House Tour at the New Puppetry Institute!
Important News from The Puppetry Institute Like many arts organizations, we’ve been navigating the realities of a challenging economic landscape. Running two separate locations has become increasingly difficult, and after a great deal of thought we’ve made the decision to move from our previous location and reopen our art school inside our MIDDLEOF space, unit D-06 in the Capitola Mall. While change is never easy, we truly believe this move creates something exciting. By bringing everything together under one roof, we’ll be able to continue offering our incredible workshops while also having enough space for our interactive puppetry installations, art gallery, and live performances. It allows us to create a home where imagination, education, and immersive art can exist side by side. These are difficult times for the arts, and organizations like ours are constantly finding creative ways to keep the magic alive. We believe this move will help ensure that we can continue sharing our unique brand of creativity, storytelling, and wonder with the Central Coast community we’re proud to call home for the past 10 years Thank you to everyone who has supported us through every chapter of this journey. Your encouragement, attendance, donations, and belief in what we do continue to make all of this possible. We’re excited for this next adventure and can’t wait to welcome you into this new chapter of The Puppetry Institute. Learn more about who we are and what we do please visit us Sept 4th from 4-7pm for a tour of our classroom and our magical 5000 sq ft
★ Featured
43rd Annual Capitola Art & Wine Festival
Stroll the festival with friends and family, sipping exceptional wines from Santa Cruz Mountain wineries while admiring the artistic talents of over 100 fine artists. Sway to live music and be inspired by local dance groups while taking in the ocean breeze and breathtaking view of the Monterey Bay. Feed your cravings with tantalizing cuisine from local food purveyors, and cruise through the Artisans Marketplace for locally handcrafted goods. If that isn’t enough, Capitola Village is filled with restaurants for every taste and charming boutiques to satisfy a shopper’s dream. Art, wine, music, and gourmet cuisine in the enchanting beach-side setting of Capitola Village…summer’s last hurrah, and truly a weekend in paradise! This event is from 10am to 6pm on Saturday, September 12 and from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, September 13. See link to the event in the orange box above.
Coming up
Ceremony of Sound: Sound Bath Practitioner Certification Course
⚡ Ceremony of Sound ⚡ Breath+Oneness’ 100-hour Sound Healing Certification Course Get Certified in 4 weekends over 4 months ✨ Designed for beginner and intermediate musicians, healers, yoga teachers, therapists, and anyone who wants to use resonance and vibration in their offerings, ceremonies, and classes. ♢ Add to your current career or start a new one as you share your gift of sound healing with the world ♢ Become who you are meant to be! Follow your purpose, passion, and artistic expression into the embrace of sound healing 🎵🎵🎵 _____________________________ 📅 Fall Session 2026 | 4 Weekends over 4 Months All days are 8:30am-5:30pm 9/4-9/6 10/3-10/4 11/7-11/8 12/4-12/6 🙌 EARLY BIRD pricing! Register by May 31st to save $250 on tuition. 😍 In order to provide each participant with personal feedback and to cultivate deep and meaningful relationships with our cohort, we keep the group size limited. Register early for early bird pricing and to reserve your spot! Staff teachers: Lead Teacher: Dallas McKenzie Co-Lead Teacher: Adron Beene Support Teachers: Alex Harrison, Sam David, and Carrie Arlah Burr _____________________________ This course is for you if you want to: - Initiate or expand your relationship with music, sound, resonance, and vibration - Deepen your ability to heal and offer healing to others - Play many different instruments (including renowned brands Meinl Sonic Energy and Crystal Tones crystal singing bowls) and develop further with the ones you resonate with most - Set and hold ceremonial space through prayer, intention, and sound - Take people on journeys, sound baths, potent yoga classes, and more - Explore vibrational healing instruments such as Crystal Tones crystal bowls, your voice, drums, flute, digeridoo, chimes, gong, and much more - Deepen and expand your self-expression and artistry - Connect with an intimate group of no more than 15 students along with your mentors and teachers for ample individualized attention and personal practice _____
Coming up
September First Friday @ Treehouse Dispensary!
Photo: Ariel Taylor with artwork Deeper FIRST FRIDAY at TREEHOUSE! Celebrate the last month of Summer with us! Community over everything. <3 We offer specials on our featured cannabis brands, discounts on artists who have work on display, and a penny wheel for you to spin when you spend over $50! Specials run all day! Resident Artists on Display: Cole Lemke (aka Chump Magic), Ariel Taylor, Brittany Costanzo, & Mio Kamstra-Brown Featured Cannabis Brands (Some will be here in person from 11:00am – 1:00pm!): • Allswell • Arcata Fire • Auntie Aloha • BLOOM • Daze Off • Glass House Farms • Give Thanks/ Stony's Reserves • Greenline • Habitat • Heavy Hitters • Jetty • Kanha • KwikEase • Maven Genetics • Not Your Father's • Pabst • Pacific Stone • PLUS • Punch • Pure Beauty • Raw Garden • Shooters • Space Craft • St. Ides •. UpNorth • Follow us on Instagram @treehousedispensary_sc! Head to our website for all the details! www.OurTreehouse.io · (831) 471-8289 · 3651 Soquel Drive, Soquel CA · C10-0000105-LIC · 21+ only please We can't wait to see you there! 🙂 Swing by to look at the art on our walls & take advantage of our dope deals!
Coming up
Free First Friday
Make the MAH your first stop this weekend with FREE First Friday. Explore all three floors of the museum and see our latest exhibitions, check out our giftshop, and hangout among art and history! Then stay into the night dancing to live music out in Abbott Square. First Friday hours are 12-8pm. See you then!
☀️ Happening today
Friday, September 493 events on today. No plans required, just go.
What's happening
Filter by category, date, or area. Everything listed is in person, county-wide.
14 upcoming events · Education · from 2026-09-05 · to 2026-09-06
First Saturday Tours are a wonderful way to introduce yourself to the Arboretum or to deepen your knowledge of the Arboretum’s plant collections. Each tour is a little different depending on the time of year, the interests of the tour guide, and the people who join in. For example, you might learn about the birds and mammals that make this land their home or about the amazing physical adaptations that plants have evolved to better deal with our extreme weather and climate conditions. Tours are free with paid admission.
Saturday, September 05 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm In partnership with the Volunteer Center Literacy Program
First Saturday Tours are a wonderful way to introduce yourself to the Arboretum or to deepen your understanding of the Arboretum’s plant collections. Each tour is a little different depending on the time of year, the interests of the tour guide and the people who join in. You might learn more about the birds and mammals that make this land their home or about the amazing physical adaptations that plants have evolved to better deal with extreme weather and climate conditions.
Saturday, September 05 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm Have you been hankering for an in-person book club? Join us on the first Saturday of the month from 10:30AM-12PM in our cozy Fireside Room for a friendly book discussion group.
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. 🗓 1st & 3rd Saturdays 🎵 All levels welcome ⚠️ Limited to 10 spots—advance booking recommended
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Redwood Loop Tour
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!
"Xian Hippie Comics" - Illustrated Lecture by Amy Slonaker
An illustrated lecture exploring Xian hippie comics and their visual storytelling.
By the close of the 1960s, mainstream institutions reluctantly began to come to terms with the emerging counterculture, taking (for a time, at least) an “if you can’t beat ‘em, co-opt ‘em” approach. So it was that Christian Evangelicals launched comic books in a bid to reach the era’s youth. With a look and feel that suggests Archie, Jughead and their pals on acid, those unique works fall into what is now known as “Christian Hippie Comics.” A deep dive reveals a fascinating approach to theology and spirituality. Santa Barbara-based religion and myth scholar Amy Slonaker presents a vividly illustrated lecture on the subject. -Bill Kopp; Good Times Santa Cruz
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 Valéria 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 reevaluation—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
Wing Chun martial arts classes with instructor Marcus at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, meeting multiple times per week.
Introduction to Organized Anarchist Feminism
Introduction to Organized Anarchist Feminism - Sunday, September 6th / 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. with tasha von stein ([email protected] & instagram @blackrosebayare) Location: please contact for location information – [email protected] Description: Members of Black Rose will be introducing folks to the organized Anarcha-feminist tradition as practiced by BRRN and its sister organizations. We specifically want to focus on the examples of the Mujeres Libres in Spain, the Feminist organization like Women of Rojava, and our own experiences as feminist militant to mobilize against patriarchy. We hope by doing so we can inspire further mass feminist organizing in Santa Cruz. All of which will be done through selected readings and group discussion. Materials: Read and/or watch the material which we will link later. Community care note: encouraged masking but not required.
Join a diverse group of cyber security enthusiasts every 3rd Friday of the month from 1-3PM or on the 1st Sunday of the month from 3-5PM. Join a group of folks who have a passion for cyber security. Group members have a broad range of interests and skill within the field and invite other people interested in cybersecurity to this public space where we can hangout, share new ideas, projects, and socialize. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/events?term=cyber+security&r=range&start=2026-06-02&end=2026-09-30
Sunday, September 06 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm Join a diverse group of cyber security enthusiasts every 3rd Friday of the month from 1-3PM or on the 1st Sunday of the month from 3-5PM.
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