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
Treehouse Dispensary First Friday
Treehouse Dispensary hosts a monthly First Friday event on the first Friday of every month. These events feature live music, local artists, makers, and an art market with up to 20 different vendors, along with shop-wide discounts and community activities. The shop is open 8:00 AM to 9:45 PM daily. We're proud to offer everyday savings for our community: New Members: 10% off your first order Wisdom Discount (65+): 5% off Medical Patients: 10% off Students & Teachers: 20% off with valid ID Veterans: 20% off *Please note that discounts do not stack with other deals. Ask staff for exclusions.
Coming up
Kids Class: Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian Dance
Weekly kids' classes in traditional hula and Tahitian dance, led by Te Hau Nui School at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz.
Dual Demons - JAM
A weekly music jam session in downtown Santa Cruz, featuring lights and fun for all musicians.
Coming up
Del Mar Trio
Free live music every Tuesday night with the Del Mar Trio at Callahan's in Santa Cruz.
Coming up
La Luz
With over a decade of carving out a sound that belongs entirely to them, La Luz’s blend of surf noir, garage rock, and haunted psychedelia wraps listeners in layered harmonies somewhere between doo-wop and folk. Guitarist and songwriter Shana Cleveland, the band's founding member, is one of indie rock's most original voices. Through metaphysical poetry, she takes listeners to rural Californian landscapes and science fiction dimensions. La Luz’s most recent album, News of the Universe, is ambitious, brutal, and blissful. They bring an electric energy to the stage with Soul Train-inspired dance contests and swaggering riffs that spin the room into action. -Shelly Novo; Good Times Santa Cruz
☀️ Happening today
Tuesday, August 2547 events on today. No plans required, just go.
What's happening
Filter by category, date, or area. Everything listed is in person, county-wide.
17 upcoming events · Free · from 2026-08-25 · to 2026-08-25
Join us for a drop-in clinic to plan for your future at the Scotts Valley Library! Registration is optional, and not required! Receive on-site assistance and information on Advance Healthcare Directives, simple wills, and Powers of Attorney. For ages 60+ residing in Santa Cruz or San Benito county.
Tuesday, August 25 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm Join us Tuesdays at Aptos Library to learn, play, and compete in Backgammon! All skill levels welcome - enjoy strategy, fun, and friendly competition in a relaxed social setting.
Tuesday, August 25 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm Are you stuck with a technology question? You can make a free appointment with a tech savvy library staff member!
0 booked, 4 available Glazing
Tuesday, August 25 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm Housing navigation services for people experiencing homelessness.
Tuesdays, May through October — over 30 years running, and the second-oldest market in the county (started in 1987). Regional farms set up tents full of fresh produce, meats, eggs, artisanal bread, and seafood, connecting you straight to the people who grow your food. Run by SCCFM since 2009, with deep ties to Felton. The kind of market regulars call a second home.
Join us at New Brighton Middle School (250 Washburn Ave)l for an in-person open house on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 from 6:00-8:00 pm. Learn about and provide feedback on design concepts for adaptation sites Learn about and share feedback on camping opportunity sites being studied to replace camping opportunities lost at Seacliff SB Can’t attend in person? An online survey will be available for sharing feedback starting August 25, 2026
Neighbors for Neighbors: Belonging Builds Community - Branciforte
Join us for Neighbors for Neighbors: Belonging Builds Community, presented by Housing Matters in partnership with Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Neighbors for Neighbors is a welcoming space where community members, both housed and unhoused, can connect, share experiences, and learn from one another. The format for our meetings focuses on building community. The discussion is an active participatory experience. To register visit: https://housingmatterssc.org/event/neighbors-for-neighbors-branciforte/ https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/15509572
Welcome back to Tuesday Night Live at the Wharf Common’s stage! Every 2 nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, head to the Wharf for live music and additional shows from 6 to 8pm. Check out Wharf Business pop ups, or make a dinner reservation before the shows. Be sure to bring a chair or wear your dancing shoes! May 26, 2026: SambaDá June 9, 2026: The Viva Santana Show June 23: 2026: The Unauthorized Rolling Stones July 14: 2026: Sweet VooDoo July 28: The Lost Boys Featuring James Durbin August 11, 2026: Santa Cruda August 25, 2026: The Joint Chiefs September 8, 2026: Extra Large After parties after every show will take place upstairs at Vino by the Sea !
Join us for Neighbors for Neighbors: Belonging Builds Community, presented by Housing Matters in partnership with Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Neighbors for Neighbors is a welcoming space where community members, both housed and unhoused, can connect, share experiences, and learn from one another. The format for our meetings focuses on building community. The discussion is an active participatory experience. To register visit: https://housingmatterssc.org/event/neighbors-for-neighbors/ https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/15509566
Trivia Night at Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
Hugging Porcupines Productions presents Trivia Night, every Tuesday evening at Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing. Trivia is always free to play. Grab your team and challenge yourself to 6 rounds of fun trivia.
Next Trivia Night: 8/25 6:30-8:00pm Hosted by Michael Cahalan Pair one of our 16 beers on tap with some lively Taproom Trivia, every Tuesday at 6:30pm. No sign-ups required. Just come a little early to snag a table. Free to play | Prizes | Up to 6 per team
Tuesday, August 25 2026 6:00pm - 7:30pm Join us for Neighbors for Neighbors: Belonging Builds Community, presented by Housing Matters in partnership with Santa Cruz Public Libraries.
Celebrating Veterans with Joseph Jason Santiago LaCour at SatoriArts
Writers of Color hosts a monthly Open Mic reading at Satori Arts featuring writers of poetry, prose, one-act plays, and on occasion, music. This month, we celebrate Veterans of all Wars. This month we feature Joseph Jason Santiago Lacour, a local spoken word artist and writer, and a special appearance by General Phlint, a Santa Cruz local poet, DJ, and musician. Bring your writing for Open Mic to share for a 5-minute segment.
To celebrate the release of Winter in America (Still, the Bookshop Santa Cruz will be gathering local poets. This release is a sequel anthology and features various voices responding to this moment in history. It is not meant to be reactionary. It aims to bring forward the “quieter reverberations” of how all the events swirling around affect the daily lives of Americans. It aims to bring people together, putting compassion forward. It dives deep into the actual impact and consequences of the 2024 election. Through these reflections, the anthology may help shed light on the direction we are going and what we will become. -Isabella Marie Sangaline; Good Times Santa Cruz
Free live music every Tuesday night with the Del Mar Trio at Callahan's in Santa Cruz.
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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