Oct
17
This Celtic music weekend for adults offers dozens of workshops and sessions for various levels of playing ability, and takes place in the beautiful redwoods…
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 →In-person only, on purpose. Everything here is something you can actually show up to. No screens, no streams.
★ Featured this season
★ Featured Event
Sat, Oct 17, 2026 · 6:30 PM
13th Annual Santa Cruz Comedy Festival
📍 Woodhouse Blending & Brewing · Downtown Santa Cruz · $17.85
13th Annual Santa Cruz Comedy Festival Presented by DNA October 12-17 At Woodhouse: Saturday, October 17th • 6:30 PM 21 Comics • 3 Headliners •…
Music
Family
📍 Downtown Santa Cruz
Details →
Coming up
Mon, Oct 12, 2026 · Corralitos Cultural Center
Tai Chi with Manny
Improve your energy, balance, strength and coordination.
Music
📍 Watsonville
Coming up
Mon, Oct 12, 2026 · Felton Music Hall
20 Years of Nekrogoblikon - Felton, CA - VIP TICKETLESS UPGRADE
Some bands start off with a concept; others develop it along the way. Santa Barbara’s Nekrogoblikon is of the later ilk and the better for…
Music
📍 San Lorenzo Valley
Coming up
Mon, Oct 12, 2026 · The Ugly Mug
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
📍 Soquel
Coming up
Mon, Oct 12, 2026 · 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
📍 Downtown Santa Cruz
☀️ Happening today
Monday, October 1250 events on today. No plans required, just go. See the full day →
9:00 AM
See listing
Beach Cleanup @ Capitola Beach
📍 Capitola Beach next to jetty on East side
Outdoors
9:00 AM
See listing
Capitola Beach Cleanup with Save Our Shores
📍 City of Capitola
Community
9:00 AM
See listing
Beach Cleanup @ Capitola Beach
📍 Esplanade Park
Community
10:00 AM
$105
Halloween Ceramics Camp
📍 Art Factory Studios
Art & Culture
10:00 AM
See listing
FUN & FUNCTIONAL HANDBUILDING (2/4)
📍 Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center
Community
10:30 AM
See listing
Infant/Toddler Storytime at Capitola
📍 Capitola Branch Library
Community
10:30 AM
See listing
Club de Escucha de Santa Cruz
📍 Capitola Branch Library
Community
10:30 AM
$26.45
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
📍 Roaring Camp Railroads
Cultural Event
10:30 AM
See listing
Mahjong Club @ Branciforte
📍 Branciforte Branch Library
Community
What's happening
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Cultural Event
27 upcoming events · Education · from 2026-10-17 · to 2026-10-18
Oct
17
What do ancient seafloors, Swiss cheese and portions of the Santa Cruz Mountains have in common? Probably not much, but tell that to the bedrock…
Oct
17
Join Saturday Shakespeare at Aptos Library for five lively sessions with guest experts, group readings, and discussions, ending with a shared play viewing. Attend in…
Oct
17
Seymour Center’s Art in the Aquarium
📍 Seymour Marine Discovery Center
🕒 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM · 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…
Oct
17
A recurring dance class in Santa Cruz. Check with the venue for specific style and level.
Oct
17
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…
Oct
17
Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still
📍 UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
🕒 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM · FREE
Carlos Motta’s When Time Stands Still, the artist’s second solo show with the IAS, features new and recent installations, videos, and sculptures highlighting the artist’s…
Oct
17
Dance Masterclasses with NBA Dancers Caroleen Chang (Golden State Warriors) & EJ Aban (Sacramento Kings)
📍 West Field House
🕒 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM · See listing
Come train with the UCSC Spirit Squad and our incredible masterclass teachers at our Fall Clinic on October 17th! We are hosting classes in contemporary…
Oct
17
Bridget Evoy: Trailblazer in the California Goldrush Economy
📍 La Selva Beach Branch Library
🕒 1:00 PM · See listing
Join us for an author talk with Craig S. Harwood, author of Bridget's Gambit: A Saga of Family Enterprise in Gold Rush California, and discover…
Oct
17
2026 Festival of Monsters - The Center for Monster Studies
📍 Courtyard by Marriott Santa Cruz
🕒 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM · $250
Held in beautiful Santa Cruz, Calif. the 2026 Festival of Monsters academic conference will explore how monsters and language intertwine with panels on monsters and…
Oct
17
This 5-day academic conference explores monsters in our culture. Oct. 14-18, 2026.
Oct
17
Downtown Library Youth Chess Club. Open to players ages 6 to 18. Instructor is Chess Master Gjon Feinstein.
Oct
17
Join players at Game Santa Cruz for a three free sessions of monster-related board and card games on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, as part of…
Oct
17
Senator Cory Booker, Speaker & Reception
📍 at the home of Diana & Matt Chapman
🕒 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM · $250
RSVP for Saturday, October 17, 2026, 5 - 7 PM: Senator Cory Booker, Speaker & Reception in support of the Booker Victory Fund. 5:00 -…
Education
📍 Aptos & Seacliff
Oct
17
Use your powers of deduction during a special Festival of Monsters edition of the bone-chilling bluffing game Blood on the Clocktower, 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct…
Oct
17
The Trans & Queer Fall Mixer is UCSC’s annual queerlicious welcome event for new and returning students. Hosted by the Lionel Cantú Queer Resource Center…
Oct
17
24-Hour Theater is a whirlwind work of experimental theater and a long-standing Barnstorm tradition. Using a surprise theme and props revealed the night of, student…
Oct
18
Youth Robot Series - Santa Cruz Maker Studios
📍 Santa Cruz Maker Studios
🕒 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM · $245
Youth Robot Series at Santa Cruz Maker Studios Join us for our 3-week Robot Series designed for youth (ages 7-12) who love building, problem-solving, and…
Oct
18
Wing Chun martial arts classes with instructor Marcus at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, meeting multiple times per week.
Oct
18
Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still
📍 UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
🕒 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM · FREE
Carlos Motta’s When Time Stands Still, the artist’s second solo show with the IAS, features new and recent installations, videos, and sculptures highlighting the artist’s…
Oct
18
Teen Robot Series at Santa Cruz Maker Studios Join us for our 3-week Robot Series designed for teens (ages 11-17) who love building, problem-solving, and…
Oct
18
A TEDx-style event featuring talks and presentations on a range of topics, bringing big ideas to a local stage.
Oct
18
This 5-day academic conference explores monsters in our culture. Oct. 14-18, 2026.
Oct
18
Barry Bowman Celebration of Life
📍 College Nine and John R. Lewis Dining Hall
🕒 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM · See listing
Barry Bowman Celebration of Life Join us to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Barry Bowman, Professor Emeritus of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental…
Oct
18
2026 Festival of Monsters - The Center for Monster Studies
📍 Courtyard by Marriott Santa Cruz
🕒 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM · $250
Held in beautiful Santa Cruz, Calif. the 2026 Festival of Monsters academic conference will explore how monsters and language intertwine with panels on monsters and…
Oct
18
Join us for Witchcrafting-Witch Bells, a spooky hands-on event full of magic, fun, and enchantment .
Education
📍 Midtown
Oct
18
Fall 2026 book tour for Antonio Roman-Alcalá’s “North Stars of Emancipation: California’s Diverse Food & Farming Movements in Times of Racial Reckoning” - Sunday October…
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.
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