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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

Filter by category, date, or area. Everything listed is in person, county-wide.

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Showing 30 of 144 upcoming events Β· Free Β· from 2026-11-15 Β· to 2026-11-22

Sun
Nov
15

Live Oak: Farmers Market

Where: Live Oak Farmers' Market
When: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

Started in 2000, this neighborhood market has grown to be a weekly event that is loved and depended on by the communities of Live Oak…

Markets Free πŸ“ Midtown
Sun
Nov
15

Hanukkah Fair

Where: Temple Beth El gift shop
When: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

The County's best selection of menorahs, candles, dreidles, affordable gifts for everyone. Your one-stop shop for Hanukkah. Decorations, paper plates, novelty items, books, chocolate gelt…

Festivals Cultural Event πŸ“ Aptos & Seacliff
Sun
Nov
15

Downtown Santa Cruz: Makers Market

Where: Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market
When: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

Enjoy the Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market every THIRD Sunday in 2026! Featuring 40+ local makers & artists, this market hosts a wide range of…

Markets Free πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz
Sun
Nov
15

Elkhorn Slough: Free Tour of the Preserve

Where: Elkhorn Slough Reserve
When: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

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…

Outdoors Free πŸ“ Watsonville
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

Corralitos Farm and Garden Market

Where: Corralitos farm and garden market
When: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

A small but mighty amazing community market. In beautiful Corralitos, which is located in south Santa Cruz county. The country feel is real with local…

Food & Drink Free πŸ“ Watsonville
Sun
Nov
15

Hotel Paradox: Beach Please Fair

Where: Hotel Paradox
When: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

Head to the Paradox Hotel for an Ocean Themed Art and Sea Glass Fair, with an edge! Vendors will be on theme with local art…

Markets Free πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz
Sun
Nov
15

UCSC: Victor β€œMarka27” Exhibition

Where: UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
When: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

β€œNi de aquΓ­, ni de allÑ” (β€œneither from here, nor there”), is a phrase commonly used by bilingual, bicultural communities. In the exhibition the phrase…

Art & Culture Cultural Event πŸ“ Westside
Sun
Nov
15

Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still

Where: UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
When: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Β· Price: 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…

Education Art & Culture πŸ“ Westside
Sun
Nov
15

Bunnies & Brews at Balefire Brewing Co

Where: Balefire Brewing Company
When: 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

Join the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter for a fun afternoon of Bunnies & Brews at Balefire Brewing, located at 21517 E. Cliff Dr. in…

Community Free πŸ“ Midtown
Sun
Nov
15

Wilder Ranch: Historic Grounds Tours

Where: Wilder Ranch State Park
When: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Β· Price: FREE

Discover what life was like a century ago on this innovative dairy ranch. This hour-long tour includes the 1896 water-powered machine shop, horse barn, uniquely…

Cultural Event Free πŸ“ North Coast
Sun
Nov
15

Quail Hollow Ranch: Ranch House Tour

Where: Quail Hollow Ranch County Park
When: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

As a volunteer docent for the County of Santa Cruz Park system, Richard James has researched the colorful history of Quail Hollow Ranch for years…

Cultural Event Free πŸ“ San Lorenzo Valley
Sun
Nov
15

Workshop on Conscientious Objections

Where: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
When: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

At 1 pm on Sunday December 15 the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Santa Cruz County (6401 Freedom Blvd) offers a free public workshop, centered on…

Education Free πŸ“ Aptos & Seacliff
Sun
Nov
15

New Play Festival

Where: Second Stage
When: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM Β· Price: FREE

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…

Education Free πŸ“ UCSC
Sun
Nov
15

Meet Me In the Belly of the Whale

Where: Theater Arts B100 Studio Theater
When: 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM Β· Price: FREE

Meet Me in the Belly of the Whale by Gillian O’Leary is an original play about the end of the world, getting swallowed by a…

Art & Culture πŸ“ UCSC
Sun
Nov
15

Ideal Bar and Grill: Salsa by the Sea

Where: Ideal Bar & Grill
When: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

Salsa By The Sea is a free, weekly outdoor salsa dancing event held near the wharf on Beach Street, at the Ideal Bar patio. The…

Dance Free πŸ“ Beach & Boardwalk
Sun
Nov
15

Eating Disorder Recovery Support Group

Where: The Lotus Collaborative
When: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

A therapist-led space for people in recovery, just beginning to explore recovery, or struggling with food and body and looking for support. Free β€’ In-person…

Wellness Free πŸ“ Westside
Sun
Nov
15

Daniel Duane, Yosemite Falls

Where: Santa Cruz
When: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Cult-favorite nature writer Daniel Duane shares about climbing and the double-sided coin of legacy and preservation in conversation with James Workman, author of natural resources…

Art & Culture Free
Sun
Nov
15

Karaoke with Moondog

Where: Fast Eddy's Billiards Dart Room
When: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM Β· Price: FREE

Sing your heart out! We will start at 5pm....ends when the cops show up or when I throw in the towel....No way you can be…

Music Free πŸ“ Capitola
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

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

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

114 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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