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📍 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

Promotional image for Phamily Time! ★ Featured Event
Sat, Aug 8, 2026 · 4:00 PM

Phamily Time!

📍 Woodhouse Blending & Brewing · Downtown Santa Cruz · See listing

Phamily Time, presented by Phreeborn is back with a summer edition you won’t want to miss. There will be something for everyone, so bring the whole phamily! Get tickets for the whole day celebration here: TICKETS

Music Festivals 📍 Downtown Santa Cruz Details →
Music
★ Featured
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 · Westside Locations

Chamber Choir Now Auditioning

Beati Quorum, a new and growing Ensemble, is seeking new local members. Beati Quorum is a small, hybrid professional / volunteer ensemble based in Santa Cruz. We focus on a cappella singing, Renaissance through contemporary works, and collaborations with artists from our local network to international groups. Visit www.beatiquorum.org to set up an audition today.

Music 📍 Westside
Promotional image for WRECKAGE: A Musical Tragicomedy ★ Featured
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 · London Nelson Community Center

WRECKAGE: A Musical Tragicomedy

The Tony Award-Winning San Francisco Mime Troupe Opens their 67th Season with: WRECKAGE: A Musical Tragicomedy July 3 – Sept. 7, 2026

Art & Culture
Promotional image for Zen Buddhist Meditation Coming up
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 · Santa Cruz Zen Center

Zen Buddhist Meditation

Zen Meditation. Open to all. Free of charge.

Music 📍 Downtown Santa Cruz
Promotional image for Aloha Music & Arts Festival Santa Cruz Coming up
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 · Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds

Aloha Music & Arts Festival Santa Cruz

The first annual Aloha Music & Arts Festival Santa Cruz will take place Friday, July 31, and Saturday, Aug. 1, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, bringing together local musicians, hula schools, artists, food vendors, and community organizations for a weekend celebrating Hawaiian, Polynesian, and Pacific cultures. Gates open daily at 11 a.m. Admission to the festival is free. Donations are welcome. Parking will be available for $20 per vehicle. No in-and-out privileges will be allowed, and re-entry fees will be enforced. Produced by Victor Ohana Productions LLC, the festival aims to celebrate the Spirit of Aloha while creating a new cultural tradition for the Central Coast community. Organizers say the event was created to strengthen connections among local Polynesian communities, while offering residents and visitors a new summer cultural experience in Santa Cruz County. “This festival is about bringing people together through music, dance, food, art, and community,” said Marie Victor, founder of Victor Ohana Productions. “Santa Cruz has deep cultural and historical connections to Hawaiʻi through surf culture and the ocean lifestyle. We wanted to create an event that celebrates those shared influences while showcasing the incredible local talent we have here in Northern California.” Rather than featuring a national headliner, the festival will spotlight local bands and performers from throughout Santa Cruz County and the surrounding region. Organizers said the focus of the event is community participation and cultural authenticity. Festival attendees can expect: ● Food vendors featuring Pacific-inspired cuisine ● Local arts, crafts, and merchandise vendors ● Information booths from community nonprofits and organizations ● Family-friendly cultural activities and entertainment Local Live Music ● Victor Ohana 3 Generations ● Ho' Omana ● Hunawai ● Kanalu ● Laule'a Hawaiian Band ● Ka La'i O Mele ● George Kahumoku Jr (Grammy Award Winner in

Music 📍 Watsonville

☀️ Happening today

Saturday, August 1

84 events on today. No plans required, just go.

1:00 AM
$500
The Dickens Universe featuring ‘Bleak House’
📍 Humanities and Social Sciences Facility
Education
7:45 AM
See listing
Strawberry Jam 1K and 5K Fun Run and Walk
📍 Landmark Elementary School
Wellness
8:00 AM
FREE
Scotts Valley Farmers' Market
📍 Joe and Linda Aliberti Boys and Girls Club
Markets
8:00 AM
See listing
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Birdwatching
📍 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
Outdoors
8:00 AM
FREE
Cabrillo Farmers Market
📍 Cabrillo College
Markets
8:30 AM
FREE
Zen Buddhist Meditation
📍 Santa Cruz Zen Center
Music
8:39 AM
FREE
Chamber Choir Now Auditioning
📍 Westside Locations
Music
9:00 AM
$59
Dynomite Farm: Private Dahlia U-Cut Experience
📍 Dynomite Farm
Community
9:00 AM
FREE
UC Santa Cruz Farm U-Pick
📍 UC Santa Cruz
Food & Drink

What's happening

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13 upcoming events · LGBTQ+ · from 2026-08-01 · to 2026-08-08

Aug
1

SANTA CRUZ TRANS POTLUCK

📍 SubRosa Community Space, 703 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
🕒 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM · FREE

SANTA CRUZ TRANS POTLUCK - Saturday May 2nd, 12pm - 3pm at SubRosa (703 Pacific Ave in downtown Santa Cruz). Trans ppl!!! Bring ur friends! * Make Trans Friends * Share Food * Build Community Community announcements at 2pm. This can include things like board game nights or dinners, more formal planned events, or a milestone you feel like sharing with the community! This is a dry space (no alcohol) - Masks encouraged (available at SubRosa). Send feedback or suggestions to: [email protected] —@@@@@— SubRosa is a collectively run anarchist community space - a place to meet people, share resources and ideas, challenge our assumptions and act on our passions. Let’s create together the world(s) we want to live in now. @subrosa_space And SubRosa is part of the Hub Community Center at 703 Pacific Ave in downtown Santa Cruz - a constellation of projects that support skill-sharing, appropriate re/use of resources, and interconnected, creative communities - since 1994! More about the Hub i

Aug
1

Remembering Your Belonging Workshop with Mo Katzman (OUTSIDE COMMUNITY EVENT)

📍 The Diversity Center
🕒 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM · See listing

Remembering Your Belonging Workshop with Mo Katzman (OUTSIDE COMMUNITY EVENT) Date : Saturday, August 1st Time : 1-7pm Location : Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center in Santa Cruz. RSVP : You can register for the workshop here Event description: A workshop to give you... Relational skills to get out of isolation and into community and embodiment skills to move away from shame and towards what you want and care about. This is an introductory workshop to a larger unfolding offering! There will be: Movement Somatic practices Discussions Journaling Large and small group shares Guided visualizations Tea and snacks! Come home to your wholeness We'll have a seat for you.

LGBTQ+ Wellness 📍 Midtown Details →
Aug
3

Queer & Trans Yoga Hosted by Sapphire Yoga Collective @ TDC

📍 The Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County, 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
🕒 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM · FREE

Queer & Trans Yoga by Sapphire Yoga Collective Weekly Yoga Class @ TDC Mondays from 6:00 PM -7:15 PM This is a trauma-sensitive, all-levels, all-bodies/abilities class taught by a rotating queer-identifying yoga teacher each week. We highlight self nurturance through yoga asana and meditation, a somatic and mindfulness healing practice that resources us for our own resilience as well as community care. No prior yoga experience necessary. Ultimately, this is a brave space for LGBTQIA++ identifying folks to gather and take deep care. Please bring your our yoga mat and water bottle. Cost: $10-20 suggested donation. No one turned away for lack of funds! @sapphireyogacollective and @yogaforallmovement Questions? Contact Tara Maxon, Well-being Coordinator email: tara.maxon @diversitycenter.org

LGBTQ+ Wellness 📍 Midtown Details →
Aug
3

Grieving Together: Tending our Queer Hearts

📍 The Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
🕒 7:30 PM – 8:20 PM · See listing

NEW Group beginning March 2nd Name: Grieving Together: Tending our Queer Hearts Date: Starts Monday, March 2nd (Monthly, held on the First Monday of the Month) Time: 7:30-8:30 pm Location: In-Person at The Diversity Center Ages: 18+ RSVP: RSVP QR Code on flyer Event Description: This group’s intention is to hold space for collective queer grief in these times. Whether you’re feeling heavy with the world or experiencing personal loss, we’ll be holding space to grieve together. The group will be facilitated by Ore Ganin-Pinto, Interfaith Chaplain and Harper Cheaney, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. If you have any questions about the group, please contact Harper at [email protected]

LGBTQ+ Wellness 📍 Midtown Details →
Aug
4

Tote Bag Painting activity with Nic - Wisdom Workshops @ TDC

📍 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
🕒 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM · See listing

Date: Every Tuesday, except Holidays Time: 10am - 12:00 pm Location: The Diversity Center Event Description: Join your community every Tuesday between 10am-12pm at the Diversity Center. Nic is ready with a different activity or workshop each week, and volunteers are on hand with snacks, beverages, and community. August Activities: August 4: Tote Bag Painting activity with Nic Get your beach bag ready and customize your own tote bag with Nic. All supplies provided. August 11: Qigong with Tara Settle the mind and body and engage in gently movement. All levels welcome. August 18: “Word is Out - Stories from Some of Our Lives” (1977) documentary viewing and discussion with Nic One of the most important LGBTQ+ documentaries ever made, it is considered the first documentary about gay people by gay people. Though it is criminally under-watched, Word is Out had a huge impact, even on pioneers like Vito Russo. This film was made by six LGBTQ+ filmmakers and features interviews with 26 LGBTQ+ pe

LGBTQ+ Community 📍 Midtown Details →
Aug
4

(OUTSIDE GROUP)The Older Lesbians’ Group: Where in All The World Are The Lesbians?

📍 The Diversity Center
🕒 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM · See listing

(OUTSIDE GROUP ) The Older Lesbians’ Group: Where in All The World Are The Lesbians? First and Third Tuesday, August 4, 2:00 - 3:30 pm (RSVP for location) Topics are chosen at the beginning of each meeting. Share your most compelling topic about navigating life as an older lesbian, in a safe, confidential environment. Join us if you are an older (you decide what age that is), self-identified lesbian, interested in sharing your journey with others. Meetings are held at a group member’s home. RSVP to [email protected] prior to each meeting for the address.

LGBTQ+ Community 📍 Midtown Details →
Aug
4

Queer Book Club with Jeffrey @ The Diversity Center

📍 The Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County, 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
🕒 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · See listing

Queer Book Club at The Diversity Center Date: The first Tuesday of every month Time: 6:00-9:00 PM Location: The Diversity Center Ages: 18+ Cost: FREE! Open to all! Come eat, drink, and chat about LGBTQ+ lit. :) This month’s book is "Monk and Robot" by Becky Chambers. This book club is an intergenerational opportunity to bond with people of different ages. Text Jeffrey at 732-272-5896 for details and to be added to the Whatsapp group. .

Aug
5

Gay Beach Volleyball (Outside Community Series)

📍 Court 16, Santa Cruz Main Beach Volleyball, 270 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
🕒 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM · FREE

Santa Cruz Gay Beach Volleyball Date : Wednesdays, last session October 28 Time : 5:30 - 10:00 pm Location : Main Beach Court 16 (across from La Bahia) Cost : Free Santa Cruz Gay Beach Volleyball has been fabulizing Main Beach since 1979. We meet at 5:30 pm on Main Beach Court 16 (across from La Bahia) every Wednesday evening during Daylight Saving Time and play till it's too dark or too cold or we're just hungry. All skill levels - including no skill at all - are welcome. We're here to have fun, connect and yes, sometimes even play surprisingly good volleyball. Socializing on the sidelines is often as busy as the playing on our courts. Afterwards we head to dinner at a local restaurant or sometimes a potluck. Free to participate. ALL (yes, we mean you!) are welcome. Come out and play! .

Aug
6

Guided Mindfulness for Queers and Friends Hosted by TDC @ TDC

📍 1117 Soquel Ave.
🕒 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM · FREE

Well-being offering: Guided Mindfulness Group Date: Weekly on Thursdays Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Location: The Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz Ages: Adults and teens welcome Cost: FREE Program description: Give your brain a break, and reconnect with the present moment, using guided breathing and mindfulness techniques. All LGBTQ+ people and allies are welcome. View our Community Agreements for Diversity Center groups.

LGBTQ+ Wellness 📍 Midtown Details →
Aug
6

Mariposa de la Comunidad LGBTQ+ De Watsonville (Hosted by TDC @ Watsonville Library)

📍 Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St STE 100, Watsonville, CA 95076, USA
🕒 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM · FREE

Biblioteca Watsonville Primer jueves del mes, 5:30-7:30pm Facilitado por Roselyn Macias el primer jueves de cada mes ¡Bienvenidos al grupo Mariposa de la Comunidad LGBTQ+ de Watsonville del Centro de Diversidad! ¿Tiene 18 años o más, se siente solo, sin apoyo? O quieres conocer a otros como tú. Lo encontraste. Aquí obtendrá recursos, apoyo, capacitaciones y tendrá nuevas conexiones en la comunidad. Watsonville Library Every first Thursday of the month, 5:30-7:30pm Facilitated by Roselyn Macias on the first Thursday of the month Welcome to The Diversity Center’s Spanish-speaking LGBTQ+ support group in Watsonville ! Are you 18 or older, feel alone, unsupported, or want to meet others like yourself? You found us. Here you will get resources, support, trainings, and make new connections in your community.

LGBTQ+ Community 📍 Watsonville Details →
Aug
8

Write Queer, a creative writing group @TDC

📍 The Diversity Center
🕒 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM · See listing

Write Queer, a creative writing group Date: May 9, and the Second and Fourth Saturdays Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 Noon Cost: Free Location: The Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Ages: 18+ Join Jesse and Peggy for all or part of this series, running from March through May. Unleash your creativity at Write Queer, an 18+ group for writers of all levels. Respond to provided prompts, or bring your own projects. Meetings include writing time, optional sharing and positive feedback. Please bring a pen and paper or a laptop. .

LGBTQ+ Community 📍 Midtown Details →
Aug
8

Game Night for Trans and Non-binary Young Adults @TDC

📍 The Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
🕒 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · See listing

Game Night for Trans and Non-binary Young Adults, hosted by TransFamilies Date : Saturday, August 8 Time : 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Location : The Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz Ages : Young adults 18+ Welcoming all Trans and Non-binary young adults (18+) for board games, cards, laughter, and friendship. Pizza and drinks provided. Please bring your favorite game or two to share. .

LGBTQ+ Community 📍 Midtown Details →
Aug
8

Mickey Avalon

📍 Felton Music Hall
🕒 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM · See listing

Mickey Avalon has no shortage of street cred or endless raw raps about male prostitution or smoking crack. Avalon’s early home life reeked of addiction, and he left his father for the streets of Hollywood, California. Slinging weed and trying to find purpose, Avalon even dabbled in orthodox Judaism (his grandmother is a holocaust survivor). A marriage and a family got pushed aside for their own personal raging heroin addiction. But Avalon’s story and music is all about overcoming the odds and pushing past great struggles. Ever since Avalon showed up on MySpace Records with the single, “Jane Fonda,” he have been on the frontline of music’s edge. Punk, Hip Hop, Rap, Glam and Mickey Avalon. -DNA; Good Times Santa Cruz

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