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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 β†’

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In-person only, on purpose. Everything here is something you can actually show up to. No screens, no streams.

β˜… Featured this season

Grateful Sunday at The Crepe Place, Nov 15 β˜… Featured
Sun, Nov 15, 2026 Β· The Crepe Place

Grateful Sunday

Grateful Sundays at the Crepe Place take place in the beautiful garden. Full meals are available, and the Garden Bar is open for service! For…

Music πŸ“ Midtown
Art Lounge ~ Sip Local Beer & Wine and Make Art! at The Painted Cork, Nov 18 β˜… Featured
Wed, Nov 18, 2026 Β· The Painted Cork

Art Lounge ~ Sip Local Beer & Wine and Make Art!

Welcome to the Art Lounge! Welcome to the Art Lounge, your creative haven for Arts, Crafts, and Drafts. Think of it like a restaurant, but…

Art & Culture πŸ“ Westside
New Play Festival at Second Stage, Nov 20 β˜… Featured
Fri, Nov 20, 2026 Β· Second Stage

New Play Festival

New Play Festival is an annual student-run showcase of experimental, short stage readings that focuses on nurturing and showcasing new playwrights in the UC Santa…

Art & Culture πŸ“ UCSC
UCSC Orchestra at Recital Hall, Nov 24 β˜… Featured
Tue, Nov 24, 2026 Β· Recital Hall

UCSC Orchestra

UCSC Orchestra, Copland's Billy the Kid and Tchaikovsky's Symphomy No. 5 in E minor, Op 64 Information about this event is available at https://events.ucsc.edu/event/orchestra-fall-2026-27/, QUESTIONS?…

Family πŸ“ UCSC

β˜€οΈ Happening today

Sunday, November 15

Start the day at Temple Beth El's Hanukkah Fair in Aptos, then wander over to Natural Bridges for the Monarch Butterfly Viewing, bring a layer, it's breezy out there. Soquel is the music spot today: Hot club Soquel plays The Ugly Mug at 11, and The Jade Trio takes over Discretion Brewing by 3. If drag and loud guitars are more your speed, Moe's Alley has Drag The River marking thirty years on the road.

63 events on today. No plans required, just go. See the full day β†’

9:00 AM
$65
Bio-Vibe Table: Sound & Vibration Wellness Sessions
Where: Soulcare Studios
Wellness
9:00 AM
FREE
Live Oak: Farmers Market
Where: Live Oak Farmers' Market
Markets
9:00 AM
Drop-in Meditation
Where: Land of Medicine Buddha
Community
9:30 AM
FREE
Hanukkah Fair
Where: Temple Beth El gift shop
Festivals
9:30 AM
FREE
Volunteer in the cool, quiet beauty of The Forest of Nisene Marks
Where: Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
Outdoors
10:00 AM
FREE
Downtown Santa Cruz: Makers Market
Where: Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market
Markets
10:00 AM
$245
Youth Robot Series - Santa Cruz Maker Studios
Where: Santa Cruz Maker Studios
Family
10:00 AM
SUNDAY SERENITY: RESTORATIVE EXPRESSIVE ART
Where: Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center
Art & Culture
10:00 AM
FREE
Elkhorn Slough: Free Tour of the Preserve
Where: Elkhorn Slough Reserve
Outdoors

What's happening

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Showing 30 of 114 upcoming events Β· Family Β· from 2026-11-15 Β· to 2026-11-22

Sun
Nov
15

Youth Robot Series - Santa Cruz Maker Studios

Where: Santa Cruz Maker Studios
When: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Β· Price: $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…

Family Education πŸ“ Westside
Sun
Nov
15

Natural Bridges SB: Monarch Butterfly Self Guided Tours

Where: Natural Bridges State Beach
When: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

Monarch migration is variable and population numbers and dates are different each year. The monarchs typically begin arriving in mid-October and leave by mid-February. At…

Family Free πŸ“ Westside
Sun
Nov
15

Teen Robot Series - Santa Cruz Maker Studios

Where: Santa Cruz Maker Studios
When: 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM Β· Price: $245

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…

Family Education πŸ“ Westside
Sun
Nov
15

Shrek The Musical JR

Where: SLV Performing Arts Center
When: 2:00 PM Β· Price: $10

This family-friendly musical comedy follows the adventures of an ogre named Shrek who sets off on a quest to save a princess from a dragon…

Family πŸ“ San Lorenzo Valley
Sun
Nov
15

The Olive Tree: A Santa Cruz Poetry Open Mic

Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
When: 2:30 PM – 6:00 PM Β· Price: $2

The Olive Tree is a poetry mic and public gathering space hosted by local poet Gabriel Kittle-Cervine. This monthly event seeks to honor the deeply…

Art & Culture Family πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz
Sun
Nov
15

Monarch Butterfly Viewing at Natural Bridges

Where: Natural Bridges State Beach
When: 12:00 AM – 12:59 AM Β· Price: FREE

Visit the Monarch Grove at Natural Bridges State Beach for a self-guided family outing during November. Walk the accessible boardwalk to look for overwintering butterflies…

Family Free πŸ“ Westside
Mon
Nov
16

Zumba Watsonville - In person

Where: RaΓ­ces y CariΓ±o
When: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Take a breath and recharge your energy! We invite you to our free classes in Zumba a space for movement, well-being and support dedicated especially…

Dance Family πŸ“ Watsonville
Mon
Nov
16

Natural Bridges SB: Monarch Butterfly Self Guided Tours

Where: Natural Bridges State Beach
When: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

Monarch migration is variable and population numbers and dates are different each year. The monarchs typically begin arriving in mid-October and leave by mid-February. At…

Family Free πŸ“ Westside
Mon
Nov
16

Knitting at the Library @ Felton

Where: Felton Branch Library
When: 12:30 PM

Join us every Monday at the Felton Branch for a knitting party. All you need to do is bring some yarn and knitting needles. All…

Community Family πŸ“ San Lorenzo Valley
Mon
Nov
16

Crafternoons

Where: 1 2nd St, Watsonville, CA
When: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Crafternoons are back! βœ‚οΈ Get craft with family. Drop in to the Main Library between 2-5pm every Monday and Wednesday to make a craft together…

Family En espaΓ±ol πŸ“ Watsonville
Mon
Nov
16

PAWS Afterschool Program

Where: Santa Cruz SPCA
When: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Β· Price: $75

PAWS Afterschool Club (Ages 7-10) Looking for something fun to do after school? Love animals? Join PAWS and discover what it takes to care for…

Family Education πŸ“ Midtown
Mon
Nov
16

Hosted Board Game Night

Where: The Cruz Room
When: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

6 - 8pm Β· Hosted Board Game Night, open & hosted games, library of 30+ games, raffle, merch, and a Learn to Play demo at…

Community Family πŸ“ Westside
Mon
Nov
16

Monarch Butterfly Viewing at Natural Bridges

Where: Natural Bridges State Beach
When: 12:00 AM – 12:59 AM Β· Price: FREE

Visit the Monarch Grove at Natural Bridges State Beach for a self-guided family outing during November. Walk the accessible boardwalk to look for overwintering butterflies…

Family Free πŸ“ Westside
Tue
Nov
17

Baby Time and Stay & Play

Where: Branciforte Branch Library
When: 10:30 AM

Baby Story Time is a sweet introduction to stories, songs, rhymes, and lap play, thoughtfully designed to nurture early literacy and bonding.

Community Family πŸ“ Midtown
Tue
Nov
17

Sensory Play

Where: Main Library
When: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Looking for interactive and engaging activities for your child? Join us for Sensory Play, each month will feature a different theme and new ways to…

Community Family πŸ“ Watsonville
Tue
Nov
17

Natural Bridges SB: Monarch Butterfly Self Guided Tours

Where: Natural Bridges State Beach
When: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

Monarch migration is variable and population numbers and dates are different each year. The monarchs typically begin arriving in mid-October and leave by mid-February. At…

Family Free πŸ“ Westside
Tue
Nov
17

Toddler Time @ Scotts Valley

Where: Scotts Valley Branch Library
When: 11:00 AM

Come join Librarian Emily for stories, songs, and lots of fun for toddlers and their caregivers in our beautiful, newly-renovated Scotts Valley Library Branch every…

Community Family πŸ“ Scotts Valley
Tue
Nov
17

Fall 2026 Afterschool & Maker Sundays at SCMS!

Where: Santa Cruz Maker Studios
When: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Β· Price: $37

Fall Semester Maker Classes (August 11, December 20, 2026) Join us for a semester of hands-on creativity at SC Maker Studios! Students explore 3D printing…

Community Family πŸ“ Westside
Tue
Nov
17

Aptos Youth Chess Club @ Aptos

Where: Aptos Branch Library
When: 3:30 PM

Aptos Youth Chess Club. Open to players ages 6 to 18 with knowledge of basic rules (how the pieces move). Instructor is Chess Master Dana…

Community Family πŸ“ Aptos & Seacliff
Tue
Nov
17

Youth Studio Art

Where: Community Through Art
When: 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Β· Price: $255

Youth Bloom Studio Art with Sarah Orre, nurtures creativity, confidence, and curiosity through hands-on learning. Each class encourages young artists to explore new materials, techniques…

Art & Culture Family πŸ“ San Lorenzo Valley
Tue
Nov
17

SPCA Junior Animal Care Team

Where: Santa Cruz SPCA
When: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Β· Price: $75

Junior Animal Care Team (Ages 11+) Ready to level up your animal skills? If you love animals and want real, hands-on experience, the Junior Animal…

Family Education πŸ“ Midtown
Tue
Nov
17

Sewing Classes

Where: Freedom Branch Library
When: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

✨ Free Sewing Classes ✨ Ready to unleash your creativity and learn a new skill? Whether you're a total beginner or an experienced sewer, our…

Community Family πŸ“ Watsonville
Tue
Nov
17

Monarch Butterfly Viewing at Natural Bridges

Where: Natural Bridges State Beach
When: 12:00 AM – 12:59 AM Β· Price: FREE

Visit the Monarch Grove at Natural Bridges State Beach for a self-guided family outing during November. Walk the accessible boardwalk to look for overwintering butterflies…

Family Free πŸ“ Westside

84 more events further out

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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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