Sep
5
Enjoy another season of: 🍎 U-Pick Apples 🎃 Pumpkins 🌳 Beautiful Orchard Views 👨👩👧👦 Family Fun Apples are notorious for not reading travel itineraries. Please double check on what is ready to be picked before you go!
📍 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.
★ Featured this season
★ Featured Event
Fri, Sep 4, 2026 · 4:00 PM
Open House Tour at the New Puppetry Institute!
📍 The Puppetry Institute · Capitola · See listing
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
Art & Culture
Family
📍 Capitola
Details →
★ Featured
Sat, Sep 12, 2026 · Capitola Village
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.
Food & Drink
📍 Capitola
Coming up
Fri, Sep 4, 2026 · Breath + Oneness
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 _____
Music
📍 Capitola
Coming up
Fri, Sep 4, 2026 · Treehouse Dispensary
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!
Art & Culture
📍 Soquel
Coming up
Fri, Sep 4, 2026 · Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
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!
Music
📍 Downtown Santa Cruz
☀️ Happening today
Friday, September 493 events on today. No plans required, just go.
1:00 AM
See listing
ReView
📍 Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery
Education
8:30 AM
$2600
Ceremony of Sound: Sound Bath Practitioner Certification Course
📍 Breath + Oneness
Music
9:00 AM
$10
First Friday $10 Coworking
📍 NextSpace Santa Cruz
Community
9:00 AM
$59
Dynomite Farm: Private Dahlia U-Cut Experience
📍 Dynomite Farm
Community
9:00 AM
$10
Mindful Movement with Horses
📍 BEYOND liberty
Sports
9:30 AM
See listing
Evergreen Volunteer Days
📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
Community
10:30 AM
$26.45
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
📍 Roaring Camp Railroads
Cultural Event
10:30 AM
See listing
Mothersong
📍 Watsonville
Art & Culture
11:00 AM
See listing
September First Friday @ Treehouse Dispensary!
📍 Treehouse Dispensary
Art & Culture
What's happening
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16 upcoming events · Family · from 2026-09-05 · to 2026-09-06
Sep
5
From Trees to Shining Seas – Felton to Santa Cruz. Departing from the Santa Cruz Mountains, travel through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, down the scenic San Lorenzo River Gorge, across a 1909 steel truss bridge, and through an 1875 tunnel before arriving at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Reverse roundtrips departing from the beach in Santa Cruz to Roaring Camp and back may be purchased from the conductor on the train departing from Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz Big Trees & Pacific Railway operates passenger and freight services on one of the oldest and most historic lines in California. When the route opened in 1875 it carried lumber as well as picnickers and tourists to the Big Trees and Santa Cruz. Today’s Beach Train passengers can start their roundtrip journeys from either Roaring Camp in Felton or from the beach in Santa Cruz. Departs from both the beach in Santa Cruz and Roaring Camp. See departure times for more information. The Beach Train will run weekends and holidays through May, and then daily June through the first week of August, then back to weekends and holidays to the end of September. Please note that the 4 p.m. train leaving Santa Cruz is one-way only. There is no return train to the beach.
Sep
5
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
📍 Roaring Camp Railroads
🕒 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM · $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 Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
Sep
5
Wilder Ranch State Park: Living History Dairy Ranch
📍 Wilder Ranch State Park
🕒 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM · FREE
Go on a trip back in time to experience what life would have been like on a working dairy ranch in the early 1900s. At this living history event, costumed docents will guide you through the past and take you into historic homes, barns, and workshops. Learn all about the park partners and how they help Wilder Ranch and experience old-fashioned crafts, activities, and games at this family-friendly event. Rain cancels. Free event. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. Hold on to that receipt! Once you pay for parking at one state park, you have paid for all of them for the day, and there are over 14 in Santa Cruz County alone!
Sep
5
Wilder Ranch State Park: Guided Coastal Nature Walk
📍 Wilder Ranch State Park
🕒 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM · FREE
On this 2.5-mile, 2-hour family-friendly walk, you will explore the plants, animals, and geology of the Santa Cruz County coastal bluffs. Bring water, a hat, closed-toe shoes, layered clothing, and binoculars if available. Pre-registration required at the link in the orange button above. Meet next to the park map in the main parking lot. Rain cancels. Free event. Vehicle day-use fee is $10.
Sep
5
Saturday, September 05 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm Join us each Saturday morning for a relaxing time crafting with your neighbors.
Sep
5
Come join Librarian Emily for stories, songs, and lots of fun for preschoolers and their caregivers in our beautiful Scotts Valley Library Branch every Friday at 11:30am. Please note the time change!
Sep
5
Saturday, September 05 2026 10:30am - 11:30am Step into a world of imagination with stories, rhymes, and songs for children ages 0–8, shared with families and caregivers in a warm, welcoming space.
Sep
5
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
Sep
5
Saturday, September 05 2026 12:00pm - 5:00pm Play tabletop board games and have some fun!
Sep
5
The waters are chummed, the amps are cranked and costumed-themed-surf-metal act Shark in the Water from Oakland, CA are ready to devour absolutely everyone on the patio of Shanty Shack Brewing. Helping to tenderize the crowd are Santa Cruz's own surfabilly sensations The Surf Creeps and Pacific Groves skate punk rascals Apricot Court. If you skip this you may find yourself hunted in the water next time you go to the beach. It's a tiki party (sorta)! If you wanna get down with the spirit of the evening bring a tiki cup for your beer and wear your grooviest Hawaiian shirt! Shark in the Water like their food gift-wrapped in loud patterns with a pineapple garnish. Actual Food (For Humans): Delicious Hawaiian food will be available on-site so you can eat while Shark in the Water prepare to eat you! All-ages!
Sep
6
Enjoy another season of: 🍎 U-Pick Apples 🎃 Pumpkins 🌳 Beautiful Orchard Views 👨👩👧👦 Family Fun Apples are notorious for not reading travel itineraries. Please double check on what is ready to be picked before you go!
Sep
6
From Trees to Shining Seas – Felton to Santa Cruz. Departing from the Santa Cruz Mountains, travel through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, down the scenic San Lorenzo River Gorge, across a 1909 steel truss bridge, and through an 1875 tunnel before arriving at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Reverse roundtrips departing from the beach in Santa Cruz to Roaring Camp and back may be purchased from the conductor on the train departing from Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz Big Trees & Pacific Railway operates passenger and freight services on one of the oldest and most historic lines in California. When the route opened in 1875 it carried lumber as well as picnickers and tourists to the Big Trees and Santa Cruz. Today’s Beach Train passengers can start their roundtrip journeys from either Roaring Camp in Felton or from the beach in Santa Cruz. Departs from both the beach in Santa Cruz and Roaring Camp. See departure times for more information. The Beach Train will run weekends and holidays through May, and then daily June through the first week of August, then back to weekends and holidays to the end of September. Please note that the 4 p.m. train leaving Santa Cruz is one-way only. There is no return train to the beach.
Sep
6
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
📍 Roaring Camp Railroads
🕒 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM · $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 Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
Sep
6
Got plans yet for Labor Day weekend? How about a fun Block Party in the Seabright neighborhood? On Sunday, September 6, celebrate the end of summer with live music, free activities for kids of all ages, vendors, local food and more! The Block party is located on the closed portion of Murray Street on the corner of Seabright.
Sep
6
Renaissance Day at SC Maker Studios! Step back in time and join us for a special Renaissance-themed Maker Day at SC Maker Studios! In addition to all of our favorite maker stations, including 3D printing, laser engraving, woodworking, and sewing and beading. Participants will enjoy exclusive Renaissance-inspired crafts and activities available only during this special event. Session Times: Youth Session (Ages 7–12): 10:00am - 12:00 pm Teen Session (Ages 11–17): 12:30am - 2:30pm Sign up here: https://scmakerstudios.com/sunday-maker-registration/
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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