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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.

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Happening today

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In-person only, on purpose. Everything here is something you can actually show up to. No screens, no streams.

★ Featured this season

13th Annual Santa Cruz Comedy Festival at Woodhouse Blending & Brewing, Oct 17 ★ Featured Event
Sat, Oct 17, 2026 · 6:30 PM

13th Annual Santa Cruz Comedy Festival

📍 Woodhouse Blending & Brewing · Downtown Santa Cruz · $17.85

13th Annual Santa Cruz Comedy Festival Presented by DNA October 12-17 At Woodhouse: Saturday, October 17th • 6:30 PM 21 Comics • 3 Headliners •…

Music Family 📍 Downtown Santa Cruz Details →
Free Live Jazz Downtown At Mariposa Coffee Bar, Oct 11 ★ Featured
Sun, Oct 11, 2026 · Mariposa Coffee Bar

Free Live Jazz Downtown At Mariposa Coffee Bar

The Django Sheridan Collective is a dynamic group of local Santa Cruz college students and musicians performing for free every Sunday at Mariposa Coffeebar in…

Music 📍 Downtown Santa Cruz
Second Sunday AVALON VISIONS PSYCHIC FAIR, Oct 11 Coming up
Sun, Oct 11, 2026 · Avalon Visions

Second Sunday AVALON VISIONS PSYCHIC FAIR

Come to the Second Sunday AVALON VISIONS PSYCHIC and HEALING ARTS FAIR where an array of intuitive professionals is available for your consultation, as well…

Festivals 📍 Soquel
Open Studios Art Tour 2026 at Santa Cruz, Oct 11 Coming up
Sun, Oct 11, 2026 · Santa Cruz

Open Studios Art Tour 2026

Welcome to Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour! Every year over the first three weekends in October, visitors can discover new artists, experience the…

Festivals
AC Myles & Band: Stratocaster Masters at Moe's Alley, Oct 11 Coming up
Sun, Oct 11, 2026 · Moe's Alley

AC Myles & Band: Stratocaster Masters

Moes Alley presents AC Myles & Band: Stratocaster Masters! Sunday, October 11, 2026Doors: 1pm / Show: 2pm$15 in advance / $20 day of the show21+*…

Music 📍 Midtown

☀️ Happening today

Sunday, October 11

Sunday's got some wandering built in: start downtown at the Antiques Faire, then swing over to Love Apple Farms for the Pumpkin Patch & Winter Veggies if you've got kids or just like pumpkins. Open Studios Art Tour 2026 is worth a stop if you want to see where local artists actually work. In the evening, settle in at Pono Hawaiian Grill for Kailua Moon, bring cash for the bar and no rush getting there.

38 events on today. No plans required, just go. See the full day →

9:00 AM
See listing
Antiques Faire
📍 Downtown Santa Cruz Antique Faire
Markets
10:00 AM
FREE
Pumpkin Patch & Winter Veggies
📍 Love Apple Farms
Community
10:00 AM
$150
Weaving / Colors: Traditional Zapotec Weaving and Natural Dyeing
📍 Redtail Ranch
Art & Culture
11:00 AM
FREE
Open Studios Preview Exhibition
📍 m.k. contemporary art gallery
Art & Culture
11:00 AM
FREE
Second Sunday AVALON VISIONS PSYCHIC FAIR
📍 Avalon Visions
Festivals
11:00 AM
FREE
SPAM New Media Festival 2026
📍 Indexical
Art & Culture
11:00 AM
FREE
Open Studios Art Tour 2026
📍 Santa Cruz
Festivals
12:00 PM
FREE
UCSC: Victor “Marka27” Exhibition
📍 UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
Art & Culture
12:00 PM
FREE
Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still
📍 UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
Education

What's happening

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

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Showing 30 of 51 upcoming events · Outdoors · from 2026-10-11 · to 2026-10-18

Oct
11

Elkhorn Slough: Free Tour of the Preserve

📍 Elkhorn Slough Reserve
🕒 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM · 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 📍 Watsonville
Oct
11

Luz del Valle Farm: U-Pick Apples

📍 Luz de Valle Farm
🕒 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM · $12

Ticket price includes 1 pound of apples in addition to what you pick during your timed hour on the farm. Click the link in the…

Outdoors Family 📍 Aptos & Seacliff
Oct
11

For Goodness Snakes!

📍 Quail Hollow Ranch County Park
🕒 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM · See listing

Free activity with limited spots! In this exciting and interactive presentation, you’ll get a chance to see and hold (only if you want to!) a…

Outdoors Family 📍 San Lorenzo Valley
Oct
12

Beach Cleanup @ Capitola Beach

📍 Esplanade Park
🕒 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM · See listing

Meet Up Location: Please meet us in the Esplanade Park at 120 Monterey Ave. Facilities & Accessibility: There are restrooms and drinking fountains available on…

Community Outdoors 📍 Capitola
Oct
12

Beach Cleanup @ Capitola Beach

📍 Capitola Beach next to jetty on East side
🕒 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM · See listing

Join Save Our Shores for a beach cleanup at Capitola Beach after the fireworks event! Registration is required, click here to register. Meet Up Location…

Outdoors Community 📍 Capitola
Oct
12

A Presentation by Rick Flores: The Uses of Native Plants

📍 UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden
🕒 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM · See listing

Rick Flores, Executive Director, UCSC Arboretum and Botanic Garden and Steward of the Amah Mutsun Relearning Program, will speak on Uses of Native Plants. 5:30…

Outdoors Education 📍 UCSC
Oct
13

Volunteer at the UCSC Arboretum

📍 UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden
🕒 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM · FREE

Volunteer Information Sessions at the Arboretum Do you love gardens and gardening? The UCSC Arboretum & Botanic Garden has a wonderful community of staff, students…

Education Outdoors 📍 UCSC
Oct
13

Trivia Night at Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing

📍 Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
🕒 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM · FREE

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…

Outdoors Free 📍 Westside
Oct
14

Pilates & Posture in the Pasture

📍 Beyond Liberty
🕒 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM · $10

Horses are deeply attuned to nonverbal cues; our posture, breath, and inner state shape how they respond. When we’re centered, they notice. This gentle, horse…

Outdoors Wellness 📍 Aptos & Seacliff
Oct
14

Adventure Rec Info Session for International Students

📍 Classroom Unit
🕒 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM · See listing

Ready to explore the majestic coastal redwoods, discover Santa Cruz’s iconic beaches, or get out on the water? Join UCSC Adventure Rec and International Student…

Education Outdoors 📍 UCSC
Oct
16

Neary Lagoon

📍 Santa Cruz Bird Club
🕒 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM · See listing

We will walk around the lagoon looking for late migrants, interesting waterfowl, and skulky Old World warblers. No promises! Meet at 8 AM at the…

Outdoors 📍 Westside
Oct
16

Luz del Valle Farm: U-Pick Apples

📍 Luz de Valle Farm
🕒 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM · $12

Ticket price includes 1 pound of apples in addition to what you pick during your timed hour on the farm. Click the link in the…

Outdoors Food & Drink 📍 Aptos & Seacliff
Oct
16

Sequoias At Night

📍 Roaring Camp Railroads
🕒 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM · See listing

Fridays & Saturdays 8pm-10pm through October. Opening weekend July 10-11! Experience the magic once again as this beloved art and light installation returns to the…

Outdoors Art & Culture 📍 San Lorenzo Valley
Oct
16

Roaring Camp: Sequoia Lights

📍 Roaring Camp Railroads
🕒 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM · $15.9

This nighttime experience will bring you a magical and immersive perspective on the ancient forest at Roaring Camp. During the 0.8-mile loop walk, you will…

Outdoors Art & Culture 📍 San Lorenzo Valley
Oct
17

Race The Flame

📍 UCSC campus at the East Field
🕒 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM · $15

Are you ready? If you had to escape a wildfire in Santa Cruz how long would it take you to run or walk to reach…

Wellness Outdoors 📍 UCSC
Oct
17

SC Beach Boardwalk: Band Review

📍 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
🕒 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · See listing

Go see an exciting musical parade as 55 Northern California high school and junior high school marching bands compete next to the iconic Santa Cruz…

Outdoors Music 📍 Beach & Boardwalk
Oct
17

Glenwood 5K Trail Run/Walk

📍 Siltanen Park
🕒 8:00 AM · $45

GLENWOOD 5K Trail Run/Walk Join us for the 2nd Annual Glenwood 5K Trail Run/Walk through the scenic Glenwood East Preserve! Whether you're a seasoned trail…

Wellness Outdoors 📍 Scotts Valley
Oct
17

Beach Cleanup @ Beer Can Beach

📍 Beer Can Beach
🕒 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM · See listing

Join Save Our Shores for a beach cleanup at Beer Can Beach! Registration is required, click here to register. Meet Up Location: Please meet us…

Outdoors Community 📍 Aptos & Seacliff
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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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