Check out the Classic, Vintage and Retro Thunderbirds on display then stick around to enjoy fabulous shopping and/or grab a bite at one of the many fine local eateries with the best views in Santa Cruz!
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
The Kick Off - Sonivore Listening Lounge
THE KICK OFF is a one-night fundraiser for the Sonivore Listening Lounge at 701 Front Street. DJs, live performances, visual art by Made Fresh Crew, and a first taste of Sonivore — just days before our Kickstarter closes. Donation-based entry. To RSVP in advance, pledge at least the minimum tier on Kickstarter, or Venmo a donation to @sonivoremusic with “Fundraiser” in the note. You can also donate at the door. Come through and help us bring the lounge to life.
Afrobeats Nite at the IAS
Join us for a night of dancing, joy, and community organized by Afrobeats Nite Santa Cruz featuring DJ Mai Girl and DJ Monk Earl. In addition to music, there will be vendors, food trucks, and late night showings of the exhibitions Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá and Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still . This event is FREE and open to the public. Afrobeats Nite at the IAS is a collaboration with Visualizing Abolition , an arts-based initiative that reaches across prison borders to contribute to the unfolding collective story and alternative imagining underway to create a future free of prisons. Jase “Monk” Earl is a Santa Cruz–based DJ, curator, cultural producer, educator, and writer whose understanding of community is rooted in Hip Hop culture and shaped by his upbringing in the immigrant-rich neighborhood of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. As the founder of Afroscope Promotions and founder, curator, and resident DJ of Afrobeats Nite Santa Cruz, he creates public spaces where African and diasporic music become catalysts for connection, cultural exchange, and collective celebration. DJ Mai Girl plays festivals, clubs, shows, and private events all over the West Coast and beyond. Her unique blend of genres and hand-picked selections– whether it be hip hop, soul, house, jazzy vibes, old school jams, Afro, Caribbean or Latin rhythms– keep people moving all night. She consistently plays one Stevie or Prince song every set to remind herself of why she started DJing in the first place.
★ Featured
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Adventure Night
Rio Theatre & Sante Adairius Midtown Portal team up to support Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship Join us for the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Adventure Night October 10th at 7 pm, Rio Theatre Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world! Join us when we screen this all new Adventure line up of films featuring BEST DAY EVER, the Audience Choice Award Winner and Best Film: Mountain Sports along with five other audience favorites. This year’s films are bound to showcase an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world. The Rio Theatre has been hosting the annual adventure night since 2013. Guaranteed to sell out! Visit https://www.riotheatre.com/events-2/2026/10/10/banffcentremountain for a complete list of films and tickets.
Coming up
Kishi Bashi:: Rio Theatre Santa Cruz 10/6
(((folkYEAH!))) presents KISHI BASHI Rio Theatre Santa Cruz, CA October 6, 2026 Doors 7pm / Show 8pm All Ages
Coming up
Dual Demons - CLASS
A recurring dance class in Santa Cruz. Check with the venue for specific style and level.
☀️ Happening today
Tuesday, October 655 events on today. No plans required, just go. See the full day →
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Filter by category, date, or area. Everything listed is in person, county-wide.
Showing 30 of 70 upcoming events · Free · from 2026-10-10 · to 2026-10-11
Zen Meditation. Open to all. Free of charge.
Classic cars and coffee every Saturday morning, in East Lake Village Shopping Center. It doesn't get much better. Come walk around the expansive parking lot, look at some beautifully restored cars, drink delicious coffee, and visit with your community. Stay awhile and enjoy one of the many great eateries in the shopping center!
Docent-led tours of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve are every Saturday AND Sunday, at 10 am and 11 am. Tours are on a first-come, first-serve basis – visitors may sign up at the Visitor Center front desk, or call ahead the morning of using the phone number (831) 728-2822. The Docent will craft a walk that meets the groups needs and abilities.
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:00am - 3:00pm Gently used books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, puzzles and games will be sold. Proceeds support the programs and activities at the Scotts Valley Branch Library.
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:00am - 1:00pm Join us each Saturday morning for a relaxing time crafting with your neighbors.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Sandhills Tour
Get ready to hike around an ancient seafloor! On this 1.5 mile hike through the Sandhills, which will last approximately 2 hours, participants can meander through sandy soils on the mountain top, about 800 feet above present day sea level. Explore this beautiful landscape and learn about the rare and unique things that call it home. The hike is recommended for ages 8 and up. Children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Plan to meet in the parking lot of the campground (located off Graham Hill Rd.).
Join Thrill the World Santa Cruz for free community dance classes and spooky Halloween performances! Learn Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” choreography—no dance experience required—and join us for the official worldwide Thrill the World dance on October 24 at 3 PM in Downtown Santa Cruz.
Join us for a mini market on October 10th with local makers, vintage, art, treasures, tunes, and more!! 345 Swift Street, 10am-4pm. No place you'd rather be!
Learn the how, where and why fire is used to manage the natural landscape at the Central Coast Good Fire Fair on Saturday, Oct. 10. The fair is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton in Santa Cruz County. The event is sponsored by the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network & Santa Cruz Mountains Forests Program and California State Parks. "If conditions are right, you'll be able to see a prescribed fire carried out by local resource managers right in the heart of a Santa Cruz Mountains coast redwood grove" said Brian Woodward, UC Cooperative Extension forest advisor for Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. The Good Fire Fair will offer educational activities for children and adults: Learn how to safely build, tend and extinguish a campfire Watch a live prescribed fire of redwood understory growth (likely between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., depending on the weather and permitting safe and favorable conditions) Savor sandwiches, burgers and Venezuelan food from local food trucks Observe demonstrations and visit informative booths Learn how to make your home more resilient to wildfire Test your fire knowledge and win prizes “The event will also include organizations from across our region related to good fire, home hardening, and natural resource management, with lots of fun activities for those of all ages,” said Woodward. The event is free, but parking at the park is $10. No registration required.
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm Join us each Saturday morning for a relaxing time crafting with your neighbors.
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:15am - 12:15pm A joint meeting between the League of Women Voters and AAUW to discuss the initiatives on the November ballot.
Wilder Ranch State Park: Guided Coastal Nature Walk
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.
Open Studios Art Tour - 5 Artists at One Location
Join Us for 2 Weekends of Art! 205: Martine Mahoudeau – Painting 206: David Sunoo – Jewelry – Metalsmithing 207: Lynn Jaye – Painting 208: Martina Goulart – Painting 209: Kathy Coulston – Painting Experience a wide and unique variety of Art Expressions
Agricultural History Project
Bring your friends, family and neighbors and come out to enjoy good old-fashioned activities such as spinning wool, cheese making, wooden cow milking and ice cream making! You can even drive a tractor and go on a hayride. Local Santa Cruz County 4-H clubs will be hosting their Annual Spring Fair. This action-packed day is admission free, and donations are gladly accepted. It’s fun for the whole family! Activities include: Farm Animals to see and pet Ice cream making the old-fashioned way Butter churning Fresh cheese making Rope making Hay wagon rides with tractors Wooden cow milking Hay cutting from real oats, wheat and barley Kids (real) tractor driving Puppet Show Old-fashioned hoops Crafts and so much more! 2025 Schedule: March 8th – Birds, Bees & Butterflies April 12th – Easter on the Farm with Egg Hunt May 10th – Springtime on the Farm June 14th – Olden Days on the Farm July 12th – Summertime Fun on the Farm August 9th – Round-Up at the Ranch September 13th – Visit Yesterday’s Farm during the Santa Cruz Fair October 11th – Tractor-or-Treat November 8th – Harvest on the Farm December 13th – Holidays on the Farm
Explore artists’ working spaces throughout North County, from Santa Cruz neighborhoods to mountain communities. Meet makers and discover a range of techniques and media.
Martial Arts Japanese Food Arts and Crafts Kids Activities Ikebana and Bonsai Live Music and Dance Free parking will be available at the Santa Cruz Government Center located in the designated parking area for the fair where you may access a free shuttle to the fair at the historical Mission Plaza.
Step back in time at the Agricultural History Project with hands-on farm activities and demonstrations. Bring lunch and enjoy a family picnic on the farm.
Starting in April, on both Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend of each month, the City of Santa Cruz staff will lead tours of Loch Lomond Reservoir on the Newell Jewell (pontoon boat). The tours start at 11AM on both days and lasts about an hour. Attendance is limited to 25 people and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The Loch Lomond Recreation Area is a 180-acre reservoir and part of the 2,800-acre watershed land holdings that the City of Santa Cruz Water Department manages in the Newell Creek watershed. It is open daily from late March through mid-October when the park closes for the season.
Seacliff Village: Street Fair
Enjoy the best of Seacliff! Get ready for an afternoon of fun at the 6th Annual Seacliff Village Street Fair! The adorable Doggie Parade kicks off the fair at 11:30 AM Delicious bites from the food trucks, Local Vendor Stalls Live music by the Steven Graves Band and The Joint Chiefs. Crafts Ice Cream a Kids’ Corner packed with activities. This free, family-friendly event is the perfect way to kick off the fall season!
6th Annual Seacliff Village Street Fair
Get ready for an afternoon of fun at the 6th Annual Seacliff Village Street Fair on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM! The adorable Doggie Parade kicks off the fair at 11:30 AM on Broadway between Santa Cruz and Center Avenues in Seacliff. Groove to live music by the Steven Graves Band and The Joint Chiefs. There will be local vendors selling their crafts, food trucks, and a Kids’ Corner packed with activities. Hosted by the Seacliff Business Partnership and the Seacliff Improvement Foundation, this free, family-friendly event is the perfect way to celebrate community and kick off the fall season!
Downtown Santa Cruz: Yoga In The Streets
This celebration will transform Pacific Avenue, which will be closed at Cooper Street, creating a vibrant hub for healing and connection. Attendees will experience: yoga, meditation, live music, sound baths, and mindfulness activities This celebration available to the whole family will feature DJ Drez and Marti Nikko, the internationally recognized husband-and-wife duo known for blending hip-hop, reggae, and Indian raga into music made for movement and meditation alike. Their sound has soundtracked yoga spaces and dance floors around the world.
Free Skool tea party
Free Skool tea party
2nd Annual Yoga For All Day in Downtown Santa Cruz
YOGA FOR ALL MOVEMENT IS TURNING 10 — AND CELEBRATING WITH FREE YOGA IN THE STREETS! The milestone free celebration will transform Pacific Avenue, which will be closed at Cooper Street, into a vibrant hub for healing and connection. Attendees will experience yoga, meditation, live music, sound baths, and mindfulness activities for the whole family, fostering an inclusive space centered on equity and wellness. Headlining the celebration are DJ Drez and Marti Nikko, the internationally recognized husband-and-wife duo known for blending hip-hop, reggae, and Indian raga into music made for movement and meditation alike. Their sound has soundtracked yoga spaces and dance floors around the world, and their appearance marks a special addition to YFAM's flagship event.
UCSC: Victor “Marka27” Exhibition
“Ni de aquí, ni de allá” (“neither from here, nor there”), is a phrase commonly used by bilingual, bicultural communities. In the exhibition the phrase becomes a bold declaration of dual belonging against a violent notion of nationalism and identity. Through paintings, immersive installations, sculptural works, and a curated soundscape, Marka27 invites gallery goers into a vibrant, layered world where street culture meets Indigenous tradition, and personal memory collides with collective truth and activism. Curated by internationally recognized curator Kate Fowle, this exhibition is organized in partnership with The Center for Art & Advocacy and as part of Visualizing Abolition, an arts-based initiative that reaches across prison borders to contribute to the unfolding collective story and alternative imagining underway to create a future free of prisons. ABOUT THE ARTIST: Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez is a renowned visual artist working at the intersections of contemporary art, graffiti, vinyl toys, fashion and design, and art activism.
Henry Cowell Redwoods SP: Redwood Grove Guided Walk
Experience an old-growth redwood forest filled with ancient trees over 200 ft. tall, and connect one on one with park staff. On this 1-mile stroll, you will be chatting about life histories, ecology, etc., and sharing a wonderful adventure among these giants. You don’t want to miss this! Meet at the visitor center. Although the event is free, the vehicle day-use fee is $10. Hold on to that receipt! Once you have paid for parking at one state park, you have paid for them all. There are 14 state parks in Santa Cruz County alone!
Second Saturday: Adelante Watsonville
Join Ecology Action's EVs for Everyone team for a fun community event in collaboration with Pajaro Valley Arts Second Saturday (October 10th, 12pm-4pm)! Many fun activities will include Electric Vehicle test drives, static EVs on display, mariachi music, a resource fair, delicious food, an e-bike demo, and a bike raffle! This will be a great chance for the community to learn about electric vehicles and the incentives/rebates that are available. We hope to see you there! ¡Únase a nosotros para un divertido evento comunitario en colaboración con Pajaro Valley Arts Second Saturday el 10 de octubre, de 12:00 p.m. a 4:00 p.m.! Habrá muchas actividades emocionantes, incluyendo pruebas de manejo de vehículos eléctricos, exhibición de vehículos eléctricos, música de mariachi, una feria de recursos comunitarios, deliciosa comida, una demostración de bicicletas eléctricas y un sorteo de bicicletas. Esta será una excelente oportunidad para que la comunidad aprenda más sobre los vehículos eléctricos y los incentivos o reembolsos que podrían estar disponibles para ellos. ¡Esperamos verlos allí!
Carlos Motta’s When Time Stands Still features new and recent installations, videos, and sculptures highlighting the artist’s preoccupation with the historical and aesthetic productions of difference and marginalization that shape the present. The selection of artworks in the exhibition explore the unsettling experience of living in a time that seems violently stuck on repeat. Archetypal figures from art history (a fool, a siren, a witness, a victim) reappear in the current moment as containers of time, bringing the past of imperialism, colonization, and displacement into a present marked by the rise of anti-immigration politics, climate injustice, and other forms of disposability. Some works challenge this violent repetition of time. The clock moves, if gruelingly, in an endurance-based video performance, No One, 2025. For forty-six minutes, the artist undertakes to keep his eyes open, witnessing, withstanding, confronting, and resisting the bombardment of images, both historical and otherwise, that normalize harm. In another video work, Gravity, 2024, performers enact rescue carries, supporting each other until they can’t bear the weight. Together, the artworks act as a proposal about how to rethink time—how to slow time—with a poetic and aesthetic cadence that might counter the numbing reverberations of living in the present. When Time Stands Still is organized as part of Visualizing Abolition, an arts-based initiative that reaches across prison borders to create a future free of prisons. About the Artist Carlos Motta (b. 1978, Colombia) is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice documents the social conditions and political struggles of sexual, gender, and ethnic communities, challenging normative discourses through acts of self-representation. His work has been the focus of several survey exhibitions.
Victor ‘Marka27’ Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá
Organized in partnership with the Center for Art and Advocacy, located in Brooklyn, New York, Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá ( Not From Here, Not From There ) by multidisciplinary artist Victor ‘Marka27’ Quiñonez features a wide range of artworks that issue a bold declaration of dual belonging, including altars, an elaborately immersive botanica, paintings referencing visual symbolism drawn from textiles, graffiti and community traditions, and, in a series called I.C.E. Scream , large, brightly colored resin sculptures in the shape of melting Mexican paletas (popsicles). As the exhibition title suggests (a phrase widely used in bilingual and bicultural communities), these artworks reflect the artist’s interest in the experience of living between worlds even as violent notions of nationalism and identity pervade. Accompanying the exhibition, Elevar la Cultura , an immersive sculptural installation featuring a twenty-two-foot-tall pyramid built from ice coolers adorned with ancestral textiles, sacred symbols, and mural work will be on view at Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos (1817 Soquel) November 7, 2026- March 7, 2027. As Quiñonez explains, this sculpture epitomizes the contradictions of living—and laboring—as an immigrant in the United States: “Most people see the cooler as a tool for leisure…for barbecues, tailgating, and celebrations. But for immigrant communities, the cooler is a tool and symbol for opportunity and independence. In every major city, you see families and vendors selling fruit, food, and water out of these coolers on the streets and in subway stations. They’re a necessity for survival and a way to start an honest living,” the artist shares. The Institute of Arts and Sciences will be the second venue to successfully present Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá to the public. First organized by Boston University Art Galleries and curated by Kate Fowle in September of 2025, the exhibition debuted to critical acclaim before gaining national attention after its abrupt removal from
Saturday, October 10 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm Write a poem in a creative and supportive environment.
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