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πŸ“ 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.

β˜… Featured this season

Promotional image for Open House Tour at the New Puppetry Institute! β˜… Featured Event
Fri, Sep 4, 2026 Β· 4:00 PM

Open House Tour at the New Puppetry Institute!

πŸ“ The Puppetry Institute Β· Capitola Β· See listing

Important News from The Puppetry Institute Like many arts organizations, we’ve been navigating the realities of a challenging economic landscape. Running two separate locations has become increasingly difficult, and after a great deal of thought we’ve made the decision to move from our previous location and reopen our art school inside our MIDDLEOF space, unit D-06 in the Capitola Mall. While change is never easy, we truly believe this move creates something exciting. By bringing everything together under one roof, we’ll be able to continue offering our incredible workshops while also having enough space for our interactive puppetry installations, art gallery, and live performances. It allows us to create a home where imagination, education, and immersive art can exist side by side. These are difficult times for the arts, and organizations like ours are constantly finding creative ways to keep the magic alive. We believe this move will help ensure that we can continue sharing our unique brand of creativity, storytelling, and wonder with the Central Coast community we’re proud to call home for the past 10 years Thank you to everyone who has supported us through every chapter of this journey. Your encouragement, attendance, donations, and belief in what we do continue to make all of this possible. We’re excited for this next adventure and can’t wait to welcome you into this new chapter of The Puppetry Institute. Learn more about who we are and what we do please visit us Sept 4th from 4-7pm for a tour of our classroom and our magical 5000 sq ft

Art & Culture Family πŸ“ Capitola Details β†’
Promotional image for 43rd Annual Capitola Art & Wine Festival β˜… Featured
Sat, Sep 12, 2026 Β· Capitola Village

43rd Annual Capitola Art & Wine Festival

Stroll the festival with friends and family, sipping exceptional wines from Santa Cruz Mountain wineries while admiring the artistic talents of over 100 fine artists. Sway to live music and be inspired by local dance groups while taking in the ocean breeze and breathtaking view of the Monterey Bay. Feed your cravings with tantalizing cuisine from local food purveyors, and cruise through the Artisans Marketplace for locally handcrafted goods. If that isn’t enough, Capitola Village is filled with restaurants for every taste and charming boutiques to satisfy a shopper’s dream. Art, wine, music, and gourmet cuisine in the enchanting beach-side setting of Capitola Village…summer’s last hurrah, and truly a weekend in paradise! This event is from 10am to 6pm on Saturday, September 12 and from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, September 13. See link to the event in the orange box above.

Food & Drink πŸ“ Capitola
Promotional image for Ceremony of Sound: Sound Bath Practitioner Certification Course Coming up
Fri, Sep 4, 2026 Β· Breath + Oneness

Ceremony of Sound: Sound Bath Practitioner Certification Course

⚑ Ceremony of Sound ⚑ Breath+Oneness’ 100-hour Sound Healing Certification Course Get Certified in 4 weekends over 4 months ✨ Designed for beginner and intermediate musicians, healers, yoga teachers, therapists, and anyone who wants to use resonance and vibration in their offerings, ceremonies, and classes. β™’ Add to your current career or start a new one as you share your gift of sound healing with the world β™’ Become who you are meant to be! Follow your purpose, passion, and artistic expression into the embrace of sound healing 🎡🎡🎡 _____________________________ πŸ“… Fall Session 2026 | 4 Weekends over 4 Months All days are 8:30am-5:30pm 9/4-9/6 10/3-10/4 11/7-11/8 12/4-12/6 πŸ™Œ EARLY BIRD pricing! Register by May 31st to save $250 on tuition. 😍 In order to provide each participant with personal feedback and to cultivate deep and meaningful relationships with our cohort, we keep the group size limited. Register early for early bird pricing and to reserve your spot! Staff teachers: Lead Teacher: Dallas McKenzie Co-Lead Teacher: Adron Beene Support Teachers: Alex Harrison, Sam David, and Carrie Arlah Burr _____________________________ This course is for you if you want to: - Initiate or expand your relationship with music, sound, resonance, and vibration - Deepen your ability to heal and offer healing to others - Play many different instruments (including renowned brands Meinl Sonic Energy and Crystal Tones crystal singing bowls) and develop further with the ones you resonate with most - Set and hold ceremonial space through prayer, intention, and sound - Take people on journeys, sound baths, potent yoga classes, and more - Explore vibrational healing instruments such as Crystal Tones crystal bowls, your voice, drums, flute, digeridoo, chimes, gong, and much more - Deepen and expand your self-expression and artistry - Connect with an intimate group of no more than 15 students along with your mentors and teachers for ample individualized attention and personal practice _____

Music πŸ“ Capitola
Promotional image for September First Friday @ Treehouse Dispensary! Coming up
Fri, Sep 4, 2026 Β· Treehouse Dispensary

September First Friday @ Treehouse Dispensary!

Photo: Ariel Taylor with artwork Deeper FIRST FRIDAY at TREEHOUSE! Celebrate the last month of Summer with us! Community over everything. <3 We offer specials on our featured cannabis brands, discounts on artists who have work on display, and a penny wheel for you to spin when you spend over $50! Specials run all day! Resident Artists on Display: Cole Lemke (aka Chump Magic), Ariel Taylor, Brittany Costanzo, & Mio Kamstra-Brown Featured Cannabis Brands (Some will be here in person from 11:00am – 1:00pm!): β€’ Allswell β€’ Arcata Fire β€’ Auntie Aloha β€’ BLOOM β€’ Daze Off β€’ Glass House Farms β€’ Give Thanks/ Stony's Reserves β€’ Greenline β€’ Habitat β€’ Heavy Hitters β€’ Jetty β€’ Kanha β€’ KwikEase β€’ Maven Genetics β€’ Not Your Father's β€’ Pabst β€’ Pacific Stone β€’ PLUS β€’ Punch β€’ Pure Beauty β€’ Raw Garden β€’ Shooters β€’ Space Craft β€’ St. Ides β€’. UpNorth β€’ Follow us on Instagram @treehousedispensary_sc! Head to our website for all the details! www.OurTreehouse.io Β· (831) 471-8289 Β· 3651 Soquel Drive, Soquel CA Β· C10-0000105-LIC Β· 21+ only please We can't wait to see you there! πŸ™‚ Swing by to look at the art on our walls & take advantage of our dope deals!

Art & Culture πŸ“ Soquel
Promotional image for Free First Friday Coming up
Fri, Sep 4, 2026 Β· Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

Free First Friday

Make the MAH your first stop this weekend with FREE First Friday. Explore all three floors of the museum and see our latest exhibitions, check out our giftshop, and hangout among art and history! Then stay into the night dancing to live music out in Abbott Square. First Friday hours are 12-8pm. See you then!

Music πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz

β˜€οΈ Happening today

Friday, September 4

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

1:00 AM
See listing
ReView
πŸ“ Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery
Education
8:30 AM
$2600
Ceremony of Sound: Sound Bath Practitioner Certification Course
πŸ“ Breath + Oneness
Music
9:00 AM
$10
First Friday $10 Coworking
πŸ“ NextSpace Santa Cruz
Community
9:00 AM
$59
Dynomite Farm: Private Dahlia U-Cut Experience
πŸ“ Dynomite Farm
Community
9:00 AM
$10
Mindful Movement with Horses
πŸ“ BEYOND liberty
Sports
9:30 AM
See listing
Evergreen Volunteer Days
πŸ“ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
Community
10:30 AM
$26.45
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
πŸ“ Roaring Camp Railroads
Cultural Event
10:30 AM
See listing
Mothersong
πŸ“ Watsonville
Art & Culture
11:00 AM
See listing
September First Friday @ Treehouse Dispensary!
πŸ“ Treehouse Dispensary
Art & Culture

What's happening

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

Quick: Today This weekend Next 7 days Area Clear all

11 upcoming events Β· LGBTQ+ Β· from 2026-09-04 Β· to 2026-09-11

Sep
4

Back to School Youth Karaoke + Dance Party! @ TDC

πŸ“ The Diversity Center
πŸ•’ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Β· See listing

Name: Back to School Youth Karaoke + Dance Party! Date: Friday, September 4 Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm Location: The Diversity Center Ages: LGBTQ+ and allied youth ages 11-18 RSVP: tinyurl.com/tdcyouthkaraoke2026 Event Description: Sing your heart out to Sabrina Carpenter, MCR, Chappell Roan, or any of your favorite artists - no matter how famous or obscure! Duets and group numbers are welcome. Come solo and make friends, or bring someone along. No singing experience necessary! RSVP encouraged. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Questions? [email protected] Accessibility Information: Music will be playing, so bring headphones if you are sound sensitive! We will have refreshments available for you. There is an all gender single stall bathroom at the center. You will be asked to sign in with a community check in form. Note: you must stay in an area where staff can see you. This event will be held in English. Please review our youth co

Sep
5

SANTA CRUZ TRANS POTLUCK

πŸ“ SubRosa Community Space, 703 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
πŸ•’ 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM Β· 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] β€”@@@@@β€” 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

Sep
7

Queer & Trans Yoga Hosted by Sapphire Yoga Collective @ TDC

πŸ“ The Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County, 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
πŸ•’ 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM Β· 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

Sep
7

Grieving Together: Tending our Queer Hearts

πŸ“ The Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
πŸ•’ 7:30 PM – 8:20 PM Β· 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]

Sep
8

Movie Bingo - β€œBut I’m a Cheerleader”: Wisdom Workshops @ TDC

πŸ“ 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
πŸ•’ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Β· 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. September Activities: September 1: LGBTQIA2S+ Jeopardy with Nic Come back for another round of Jeopardy! Pick your teams and play for prizes! September 8: Movie Bingo - β€œBut I’m a Cheerleader” with Nic Watch along and play a round of the TDC class movie bingo! September 15: Music Bingo - Songs About Places Music bingo is back - this time featuring only songs about places. All fun, no competition! September 22: Demystifying Preplanning: A Workshop with Santa Cruz Memorial Though no one likes to talk about preplanning memorials, it’s important to make sure your wishes are followed and that your loved ones don’t need to deal with more uncertainty. Come have a stress-free and enlig

LGBTQ+ Community πŸ“ Midtown Details β†’
Sep
8

Rainbow Sangha at Insight Meditation Center (Outside Community Event)

πŸ“ Insight Santa Cruz, 740 Front Street (2nd floor of the Galleria building)
πŸ•’ 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Β· See listing

Rainbow Sangha Sit, on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month , 7:00 - 8:30 pm. The Rainbow Sangha group offers a safer space for individuals who identify as queer, non-binary, transgender, lesbian, bisexual, trans*, gay, intersex, questioning, and others who identify outside of cisgender, heterosexual mainstream culture. Please see more information on the Rainbow Sangha page at Insight Santa Cruz . .

Sep
9

Gay Beach Volleyball (Outside Community Series)

πŸ“ Court 16, Santa Cruz Main Beach Volleyball, 270 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
πŸ•’ 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM Β· 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! .

Sep
10

Guided Mindfulness for Queers and Friends Hosted by TDC @ TDC

πŸ“ 1117 Soquel Ave.
πŸ•’ 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Β· 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. If you have questions about this well-being offering, please contact Tara Maxon, Wellbeing Coordinator, at: [email protected] View our Community Agreements for Diversity Center groups.

Sep
10

Guided Mindfulness for Queers and Friends Hosted by TDC @ TDC

πŸ“ The Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062
πŸ•’ 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Β· See listing

Well-being offering: Guided Mindfulness Group Date: Weekly on Thursdays New Time! 11:30 am - 12:30 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. .

Sep
11

Trans Memorial Quilt Panel Craft Meet-Up @ TDC

πŸ“ The Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
πŸ•’ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Β· See listing

Name: Trans Memorial Quilt Panel Craft Meet-Ups Date: Friday, September 11, Friday, October 2, + Thursday, October 22 Time: 6:00 - 9:00 pm Location: September 11 @ The Diversity Center, October 2 @ The Fabrica, October 22 @ UCSC Ages: All ages RSVP: tinyurl.com/TDORQUILT2026 Description: Craft for a cause! Create a fabric panel for a Trans Memorial Quilt, honoring trans lives lost in the last year. The panels will be sewn together and displayed at Trans Day of Remembrance 2026 on November 20 at 5:30 pm at London Nelson (Details about TDOR at the end of this RSVP!)

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