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Showing 240 of 478 upcoming events · from 2026-07-24 · to 2026-07-31
📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
🕒 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM · $400
Calling young artists and scientists curious about nature! This summer, young explorers can join us on a journey to investigate symmetries, patterns, and curiosities in the natural world. Spend the week exploring nearby beach, creek, and garden habitats, and making all sorts of art inspired by what we discover.
📍 All About Theatre
🕒 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM · $895
A longer production of Moana Jr. with intensive rehearsal and performance experience.
📍 Dynomite Farm
🕒 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · $59
Enjoy Dynomite Farm’s show-quality dahlia beds for intimate, unhurried cutting experiences where you and your friends have the field to yourselves. No crowds. No rushing. Just you, your people, and a thousand flowers. Companion passes are available for guests who want to join the fun, explore the farm, and take in the beauty without cutting flowers. Friendly chickens roam the property, there are swings for little ones.
📍 BEYOND liberty
🕒 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM · $10
Mindful Movement with Horses Blending Tai Chi, Qigong, Horses and Mindfulness and informed by Polyvagal Theory, this class supports nervous system regulation, embodied awareness, and safe connection—with yourself, the herd, and the natural world. All proceeds benefit BEYOND liberty, a nonprofit horse sanctuary and equine education center improving the lives of both humans and horses through education, experiential learning and wellness and enrichment programs. $10 drop-in. Registration required: https://BeyondLibertyandPMR.as.me/MindfulnessThroughMovement
📍 All About Theatre
🕒 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM · $345
A week-long summer production of Moana Jr. for young performers.
📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
🕒 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM · See listing
Leave your mark on Santa Cruz history by volunteering at the historic Evergreen Cemetery every Friday from 9:30am-12pm. No need to register, just show up ready to work! All ages are welcome to help, including high school students seeking community service hours. Tools and work gloves will be provided. Please bring a mask and your own bottled water. For more information, email [email protected]
📍 Roaring Camp Railroads
🕒 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM · $32
From Trees to Shining Seas – Felton to Santa Cruz. Departing from the Santa Cruz Mountains, travel through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, down the scenic San Lorenzo River Gorge, across a 1909 steel truss bridge, and through an 1875 tunnel before arriving at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Reverse roundtrips departing from the beach in Santa Cruz to Roaring Camp and back may be purchased from the conductor on the train departing from Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz Big Trees & Pacific Railway operates passenger and freight services on one of the oldest and most historic lines in California. When the route opened in 1875 it carried lumber as well as picnickers and tourists to the Big Trees and Santa Cruz. Today’s Beach Train passengers can start their roundtrip journeys from either Roaring Camp in Felton or from the beach in Santa Cruz. Departs from both the beach in Santa Cruz and Roaring Camp. See departure times for more information. The Beach Train will run weekends and holidays through May, and then daily June through the first week of August, then back to weekends and holidays to the end of September. Please note that the 4 p.m. train leaving Santa Cruz is one-way only. There is no return train to the beach.
📍 City of Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Facility
🕒 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM · FREE
Free Public Tours of the City of Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Facility are here. Don't miss this educational community favorite activity! Summer Public Tours Are Back! Public Tours of the Resource Recovery Facility will be offered every Friday at 10 AM from June 12th through August 14th, 2026. A single Saturday will also be offered on July 25th. Out of consideration for others, please only sign up on Saturday if Fridays are not an option for you. Come join us! Get ready to discover the journey your recycling and food scraps take—and see firsthand how your actions make a difference! Visitors will see what happens to the 30 to 50 tons of material that Santa Cruzians place into their blue recycle bins every single day. We will also learn why it is important to “recycle right,” avoid “wish-cycling," and why we can't rely on a triangle and a blue bin anymore. Visitors will see a mountain of scrap metal, learn about the facility’s Household Hazardous Waste Program, and see the Food Scrap Pre-Processor Machine. Don’t miss out on this chance to become a waste reduction pro! Tours are limited to 20 people. Children must be at least 8 years old. Youth ages 8 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited. Pre-registration is required. Registration closes 48 hours before the tour date. No Drop-Ins. Safety Notice: This tour includes stairs and standing/walking for approximately 45 minutes. On this tour, you may be exposed to loud noises, dust, or tight spaces. Please note that this is a working industrial facility with potential hazards, and your safety is our top priority. Please wear closed-toe sturdy shoes and long pants. We will provide safety vests, eye protection, ear protection, and hard hats. Please inform City staff before your tour date if you will need accommodations.
📍 Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center
🕒 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM · See listing
0 booked, 6 available Handbuilding
📍 Wilder Ranch State Park
🕒 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM · FREE
Young adventurers are invited to join the Junior Ranger Program at Wilder Ranch State Park this summer! The free program is 11 a.m. to noon. Kids ages 7-12 are invited. Parents and guardians can learn more and register their young adventurers online. Parking is $10 and helps Friends support the park.
📍 La Bahia Hotel & Spa
🕒 11:00 AM · $54
A notable new offering for the property, La Bahia has introduced Spa Day Passes, now available via ResortPass (based on availability), granting both travelers and locals access to enjoy the property’s serene spa amenities for a restorative escape by the sea.
📍 Comicopolis
🕒 12:00 PM · FREE
It's time to get those crayons sharpened, paints mixed and markers at the ready for our Summer 2026 Pokémon Art Contest for kids 5-12! To join in, create a picture of your favorite Pokémon having a fun moment or striking a cool, dynamic pose. Submissions should be on 8.5 x 11 paper. You can use any medium you like, such as paint, marker, crayon, pencil, etc. No digital art. There will be prizes awarded to two age groups, 5-7 and 8-12. Entries accepted June 1st-July 31st. Winners will be announced on August 6th. BONUS: All participants will receive a free Pokémon:Chaos Rising 11x17 mini-poster (while supplies last) when you hand in your art.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 12:00 PM · See listing
Friday, July 24 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm Join our Bridge Club for friendly games and social fun, open to players of all skill levels.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 12:00 PM · See listing
Friday, July 24 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm We are knitting at Live Oak Library on Fridays.
📍 Institute of the Arts and Sciences
🕒 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM · See listing
Visit the IAS, UCSC’s premier art galleries, for our spring exhibitions. On view April 10–August 16, 2026 are three diverse and interdisciplinary shows: Libia Posada: Everything is Going Right , the first US solo exhibition by the Colombia-based artist and medical doctor; Gina Athena Ulysse: A Redwoods Rasanblaj , a site-specific and immersive exploration of the Haitian kreyol conception of rasanblaj; and Ronaldo V. Wilson: There Are No Words, But Melodies , a mixed-media exhibition emerging at the intersections of Black poetics, performance, and visual art. The IAS Galleries are open Wednesday-Sunday, 12 pm – 5 pm. Admission is free to the public. Libia Posada: Everything is Going Right Libia Posada’s first solo exhibition in the United States features installations, sculptures, and drawings meticulously constructed from surgical instruments, gauze bandages, crutches, used books, and domestic picture frames. The new and existing works in the exhibition powerfully stitch together the personal, social, and political disorders and afflictions that currently trouble the world, from the wars that resonate across the globe to the violences of aging in US prisons. Gina Athena Ulysse: A Redwoods Rasanblaj: Origins & Disentanglements The internationally-lauded work of humanities professor Gina Athena Ulysse is on view as a premier Faculty Spotlight Exhibition. The site-specific installation, produced in community from things collected, found, purchased and donated, centers on the Haitian concept of rasanblaj, a form of assembly and collage that transcends the formal use of materials to draw together people, spirits, and ideas. Ronaldo V. Wilson: There Are No Words, But Melodies Collage is both a material practice and a structural interrogation in the Faculty Spotlight Exhibition artworks by literature professor Ronaldo V. Wilson. In video, painting, and installation, layers and folds conceal and reveal, delving into the experience, both bodily and emotive, of living in time
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 12:30 PM · See listing
Friday, July 24 2026 11:30am - 12:00pm Come join Librarian Emily for stories, songs, and lots of fun for preschoolers and their caregivers in our beautiful, newly-renovated Scotts Valley Library Branch every Friday at 11:30am.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 12:30 PM · FREE
Friday, July 24 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm Join us for great stories and a fun craft. Ages 4-6
📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
🕒 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM · See listing
Take a guided tour of the MAH by one of our staff members! At the MAH, our tours don't just take you through art and history. They immerse you in it and connect you to Santa Cruz and beyond. If you're ready to dive into a new perspective, join us every Friday for an informative private tour free with admission. Art experts, historians, and educators are here to help. Plus, stick around to meet new people or check out our new gift shop. If you are an educator and interested in booking a tour for your class or group, browse our educational field trips here.
📍 Pajaro Park
🕒 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM · See listing
Tie-Dye: Join MCFL staff to tie-dye a book bag. Adult and Teen Workshops - Ages 13 and up Registration required - Materials provided - No experience needed Call the branch directly to register Please note, programs will be cancelled if no one is registered 24 hours before the program This program is brought to you by the Foundation for Monterey County Free Libraries. Sign up for the Summer Reading Club at any MCFL branch between June 1st and July 31st. Or sign up online at https://emcfl.beanstack.com/reader365
📍 All About Theatre
🕒 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM · $395
A technical training camp for theater at All About Theatre in Santa Cruz, covering skills for behind-the-scenes production.
📍 Capitola
🕒 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · See listing
Join a diverse group of cyber security enthusiasts every 3rd Friday of the month from 1-3PM or on the 1st Sunday of the month from 3-5PM. Join a group of folks who have a passion for cyber security. Group members have a broad range of interests and skill within the field and invite other people interested in cybersecurity to this public space where we can hangout, share new ideas, projects, and socialize. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/events?term=cyber+security&r=range&start=2026-06-02&end=2026-09-30
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 1:30 PM · See listing
Friday, July 24 2026 12:30pm - 2:30pm Are you stuck with a technology question? You can make a free appointment with a tech savvy library staff member!
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 2:00 PM · See listing
Friday, July 24 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm Play cards with fun folks every 2nd and 4th Friday.
📍 Engineering 2
🕒 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM · See listing
While large language models can match or exceed human performance, they do so with memory and energy costs orders of magnitude greater than biological cognition. We investigate sparsity as a brain-inspired computational principle to address both. We first establish a framework for evaluating small language model construction methods, using the next-token logit distribution as a behavioral fingerprint. Then, we introduce a semi-structured correlation-aware weight sparsity (CWS) method that uses the full activation covariance to identify and prune correlated weights whose combined removal cost is lower than any individual score predicts. CWS, improves perplexity over existing criteria up to 70% sparsity. To extend this gain to extreme sparsity, we propose a hierarchical ADMM framework that optimizes pruning directly against cross-entropy and distillation loss, first layer-wise for efficiency and then globally for cross-layer coordination. This research establishes brain-inspired principles as a foundation for efficient language models that remain accurate even under extreme compression. Event Host: Kimia Gholami, Ph.D. Student, Electrical & Computer Engineering Advisor: Jason Eshraghian Zoom: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/9827512398?pwd=SGpDWGtVVG81dkgyTHhjbG81dEVUZz09&omn=98349793611 Passcode: 8398
📍 Downtown Watsonville
🕒 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM · See listing
The Watsonville Farmers Market is every Friday afternoon from 2-7 all year round at the City Plaza in Downtown Watsonville. Don’t miss out on the wonderful locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers. Bring your appetite as there are tons of delicious prepared foods to try.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 2:00 PM · See listing
Friday, July 24 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm Sharpen your word skills and enjoy friendly competition at our Scrabble Club - fun for all levels.
📍 Sub Rosa
🕒 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM · See listing
Sharing the wonderful art of Gazan organizer Yazan Mohammad🥳 join us to explore his work and support his university costs so he can proceed with his evacuation from Gaza. lets get YAZAN to Ireland!~ a fundraiser for YAZAN’s education at UNIVERSITY of LIMERICK and evacuation from GAZA Join us to celebrate Yazan’s commitment to UL in Ireland and help raise funds for his evacuation from Gaza [⭐] Art Market [⭐] Music [⭐] Community [⭐] Zines! Friday, July 24. Subrosa, 703 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. 3-9PM * Interested in vending or playing music? Contact meowzedong.420 on Signal. Free entry (NOTAFLOF*) // all-ages // dry space // safe(r) space // anti-capitalist space // respect the space and each other! *no one turned away for lack of funds SubRosa is at 703 Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz, CA —@@@@@— 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 wo
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 4:00 PM · See listing
Friday, July 24 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm S.T.E.A.M Projects. Explore Your World
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 4:30 PM · See listing
Friday, July 24 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm Use your imagination and build anything you can dream! Lego and Duplo blocks will be available for children and youth to tinker with, build, explore, and creatively play! No registration necessary.
📍 The Sawmill Restaurant and Ale House
🕒 5:00 PM · See listing
Friday, 5:00 PM - Performing with "WOODMILL"
📍 Santa Cruz
🕒 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM · FREE
Free summer block party in Midtown Santa Cruz featuring live music, food trucks, local artists, makers, and family fun.
📍 Midtown Block Party Lot
🕒 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM · FREE
Go Celebrate all the vibrancy of Midtown at the Summer Block Party, happening every Friday! Food – Artists – Live Music – Vendors The summer series of free events will feature the talents of 30+ local bands. In addition to live music, event goers will enjoy a selection of local eats as well as the opportunity to check out the work of local artists and vendors. Midtown Fridays starts May 29 to August 28.
📍 All About Theatre
🕒 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM · $595
A theater production of the musical Dear Evan Hansen.
📍 Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
🕒 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM · FREE
Unwind at the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park at a old-fashioned campfire event this summer! From 5:30-8 p.m. on Friday, July 24, visitors can enjoy a campfire at the state historic park, listen to live music and make fresh tortillas on the comal! Visitors are also welcome to bring their own food for an evening picnic and listen to the musical guest Ramblin Rebels. The event is free. Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park is at 144 School St., Santa Cruz CA 95060.
📍 The Landing
🕒 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · $12
Step back in time to the Golden Age of cinema! With live piano accompaniment by Kylan deGhetaldi, you won’t want to miss this unique silent movie experience. Buster Keaton's The General is one of the most revered comedies of the silent era. Released in 1926, this marks the 100th anniversary of this classic film. This is a fundraiser. All proceeds benefit The Landing. Doors open at 6 PM and the movie starts at 7 PM. Concessions will be available for purchase.
📍 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
🕒 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM · See listing
Join us for an astronomy-themed evening at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. We’ll be learning about the moon, stars, solar system, planets, all things astronomy, through activities, games, interactive models, etc. 6:00-8:00 – jazz music and interactive astronomy booths 8:00-9:00 – guest speaker presentation 9:00-10:00 – moonlight walk through the Redwood Grove 9:00-11:00 – telescope viewing with Santa Cruz Astronomy Club Event is held at the entrance to the Redwood Grove. Hope to see you there!
📍 Scotts Valley Community Center
🕒 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · $10
Join us for Bunco Game Night! Get ready for an evening full of fun, laughs, music, and friendly competition! Your entry includes lite appetizers and the chance to win prizes at the end of the night. No experience needed — Bunco is easy to learn and perfect for a relaxed, social evening. Grab your friends and bring your beverage of choice to enjoy while you roll the dice. No prior experience needed, super easy game to play
📍 Midtown Friday Summer Block Party
🕒 6:00 PM · See listing
Ripatti Rose Band - Live at Midtown Friday Summer Block Party
📍 Madson Wine
🕒 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM · FREE
Rebecca Coupe Franks / Trumpet Nancy Heth / Vocals and Piano
📍 The Sawmill Restaurant and Ale House
🕒 6:00 PM · See listing
WoodMill plays live music at The Sawmill Restaurant in Boulder Creek. A casual evening of tunes with food and drinks.
📍 Ohana Studios Santa Cruz
🕒 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM · $20
Pole Fitness 101 is more than just aerial training. Get movement training you’ll use for life! ✅Pole technique with dance & fitness modules ✅Functional conditioning ✅Mobility & flexibility training ✅High level Xpert Xpole certified (L1-L4) ✅FRC certified Mobility Specialist (FRCms) Drop in on one class or attend the fully programmed module for 7 weeks! Fridays 6 pm. www.ohanastudiosantacruz.com
📍 The Colligan Theater
🕒 6:30 PM · $18
Disney’s Moana JR. is a musical adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film, bringing the adventures of Moana and her village of Motunui to life onstage. Moana JR. features all the beloved songs from the film, written by Tony®, GRAMMY, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina, including “How Far I’ll Go,” “Shiny,” and “You’re Welcome.” This thrilling and heartwarming coming-of-age story follows the strong-willed Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage. Moana and the legendary demigod Maui embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and camaraderie as both learn to harness the power that lies within. With empowering messages of bravery and selflessness, Moana JR. is sure to bring out the hero within each of us.
📍 Chaminade Resort & Spa
🕒 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM · See listing
Join us from May to October as Chef Samuels and his culinary team create gourmet four-course dinners expertly paired with wines from local California vineyards. Enjoy a romantic evening in the Chaminade courtyard overlooking Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay. 21+ only. Tickets and Overnight Packages (two tickets included) on sale now. See 2026 calendar below. Friday, May 1 in partnership with Beauregard Vineyards Friday, June 5 in partnership with Caymus Vineyards Friday, July 10 in partnership with Wente Vineyards Friday, July 24 in partnership with Storrs Winery Friday, August 7 in partnership with Fableist Wine Co. Friday, September 11 in partnership with Serial Wines October Date TBD in partnership with Alfaro Family Vineyards
📍 Woodhouse Blending & Brewing
🕒 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM · See listing
The power trio plays primarily original music, with a few select covers, rooted in a meld of funk/rock/jazz/world/hip hop/dance music. Wasabi’s tunes draw from the personal journeys of its members and a revolving collection of special guests who frequently sit in on various instruments and vocals
📍 Garfield Park Branch Library
🕒 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM · FREE
Local author Rosemary Hayward will be reading and answering all your questions about her novel about the suffragettes, Strait Lace. "What Rosemary Hayward does so well is bring the feminist cause right into the parlor, the dining room and even the scullery. Her message is clear; votes for women, and at all levels of society. Her research is outstanding. Readers will close the book knowing much more about the When the Why and the Who of the fight for female emancipation. And she is not scared to confront the How either. The merits and morality of using violence and hunger strike for the greater good is discussed with passion around the Edwardian family`s dining table, whilst Harriet, the main protagonist, goes much further; seizing the moment to take brave and resolute action for her beloved feminist cause." Patricia Román (Author) Copies will be for sale The library asks you to register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/14614149 since seating is limited in this delightful and beautifully restored little library.
📍 Park Hall Ben Lomond
🕒 7:00 PM · $22
Little People's Repertory Theatre Presents Jurassic Jungle Book: A Three-Hour Tour Little People's Repertory Theatre (LPRT) presents Jurassic Jungle Book: A Three-Hour Tour, an original rock musical by Jannine Chadwick, Directed by Daria Elise Troxell, Musical Direction Gabe House. During a sightseeing boat tour, seven passengers become castaways when their boat is shipwrecked on a tropical jungle island. The island is sparsely populated by talking jungle animals, Village People, Mowgli (a boy raised by wolves), Huntriz, three singing dino-hunters, four ninja turtles, and Indominus Khan, a tiger who became a mutant after a sinister group of “scientists” came to “study” the island, with the hidden motive of transforming the island into a prehistoric theme park. This sweet and silly mash-up features more than twenty musical numbers. The cast includes children ages 7–14 singing and dancing to parodies of contemporary pop songs and classic rock hits. It's alternative children's musical theatre like no other! Shows regularly sell out, so reserve your tickets early. Ticket information and show times are available online at lprt.org. Performances will be held at Park Hall in Ben Lomond from July 15 through July 25. Please visit the website for specific show times.
📍 Santa Cruz Actors' Theatre
🕒 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM · $16
A story written by Capitola’s very own, Joe Ortiz, comes to life at The SC Actors Theatre. Escaping Queens follows an immigrant family as they navigate the challenges of poverty and a father’s problems with gambling, alcohol, and women. This funny, edgy, ultimately hopeful musical paints a cast of colorful characters, from neighborhood bookies to a doo wop group to all the shades and personalities in a mixed Italian and Puerto Rican family. Based on Oritz’s own memoir, Pastina—My Father’s Misfortune, My Mother’s Good Soup, the emotional turbulence of navigating an escape from New York is presented as a compelling and sophisticated story that asks if children are fated to repeat their parents’ mistakes. -Shelly Novo; Good Times Santa Cruz
📍 Park Hall Ben Lomond
🕒 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM · See listing
Little People’s Repertory Theatre Presents Jurassic Jungle Book: A Three-Hour Tour Little People’s Repertory Theatre (LPRT) presents Jurassic Jungle Book: A Three-Hour Tour, an original rock musical by Jannine Chadwick, Directed by Daria Elise Troxell, Musical Direction Gabe House. During a sightseeing boat tour, seven passengers become castaways when their boat is shipwrecked on a tropical jungle island. The island is sparsely populated by talking jungle animals, Village People, Mowgli (a boy raised by wolves), Huntriz, three singing dino-hunters, four ninja turtles, and Indominus Khan, a tiger who became a mutant after a sinister group of “scientists” came to “study” the island, with the hidden motive of transforming the island into a prehistoric theme park. This sweet and silly mash-up features more than twenty musical numbers. The cast includes children ages 7–14 singing and dancing to parodies of contemporary pop songs and classic rock hits. It’s alternative children’s musical theatre like no other! Shows regularly sell out, so reserve your tickets early. Ticket information and show times are available online at lprt.org. Performances will be held at Park Hall in Ben Lomond from July 15 through July 25. Please visit the website for specific show times.
📍 The 418 Project
🕒 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM · See listing
A practilonga, or Argentine tango practice session, with Aaron in Santa Cruz.
📍 Cabrillo College Crocker Theater
🕒 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM · $20
Cabrillo Stage is a musical theatre company dedicated to presenting high-caliber, large-scale musical productions to the area. They are committed to the creation of musicals with Broadway-level production values. In this way, they foster educational opportunities while giving audiences the highest-quality family entertainment. They aim to be a destination point for the best of live theatre. Sister Act hits the stage with the force of a disco ball struck by divine inspiration. Deloris, a bold and big-hearted nightclub singer, lands in a convent for her own protection and winds up transforming a tuneless choir into a soulful powerhouse. Her energy shakes the dust off every pew as she teaches the nuns to sing with joy, courage, and a little sparkling attitude. By the finale, the once-quiet convent is radiating harmony, friendship, and unstoppable fun. Sister Act delivers a burst of laughter, heart, and high-energy music that leaves the audience glowing long after the curtain falls. Click “More Event Dates” in orange above to see other showtimes, or follow the link in the orange button above to purchase tickets. Locals Love: Stunning, creative sets, talented live orchestras, and passionate performances, often at reasonable prices. First Timers Miss: The theater’s architecture beautifully complements the overall experience, designed for optimal viewing. Insights: Santa Cruz METRO bus lines 1, 2, 55, and 73 all service Cabrillo College, providing access to the campus and the Crocker Theater. If taking a car, parking in Lot L is free.
📍 The Blue Lagoon
🕒 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM · $23.18
Step into the glamorous, neon-drenched world of cyber jazz.
📍 Felton Music Hall
🕒 8:00 PM · See listing
60 Juno is proof that it doesn’t matter where you are from; you can create music that transcends your boundaries. Originally a “one-man army,” 60 Juno was created by Jericho Tejeda in his home in Fresno during COVID. Now a full band (that Jericho met on IG chats) with Daniel González (guitar), Justin Suárez (drums), and Marcus Felix (bass), Juno 60 sounds like acid surf meets soaring ’90s pop music. Out of the gate, 60 Juno hit international acclaim with their second single “J Song.” A short West Coast tour before they head to Spain keeps 60 Juno on the move. -DNA; Good Times Santa Cruz
📍 Crow’s Nest
🕒 8:00 PM · $7
Live music featuring hits from the 60s to today at Crow's Nest. A dinner and show experience with a broad musical appeal.
📍 Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park
🕒 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM · $25
Santa Cruz Shakespeare invites you to experience Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, un-der the trees and stars of the Audrey Stanley Grove in Santa Cruz’s DeLaveaga Park this summer. Much Ado About Nothing By William Shakespeare Directed by Charles Pasternak One of Shakespeare’s wittiest and most beloved comedies, the 2026 season will open with Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Of all the couples in Shakespeare, perhaps none is more widely loved than Beatrice and Benedick. Their battle of wits; their antagonism turned to eroticism; their history. Before the play begins, they already seem to define each other. The audience, like the other characters in the play, wait with excitement as their wits clash, and eventually, as their love blossoms. Much Ado About Nothing runs July 11 – August 30. More information or to purchase tickets, follow the link in the orange above, or contact the box office Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4pm at the number listed above.
📍 The Crepe Place
🕒 8:00 PM · See listing
A multi-genre concert featuring June Swoon, Career Woman, and Not Yet Old Dog.
📍 Watsonville City Plaza
🕒 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM · FREE
You are invited for two outdoor movie nights this Summer! Join us on July 10 and July 24 at the Watsonville City Plaza. Movies begin at dusk. This event is FREE, so grab your lawn chair, blanket, picnic style dinner and your family and friends
📍 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 view 26 unique, lighted lanterns, hung approximately 50 feet above the ground. The lanterns were crafted by local artists including Anna Bobisuthi, Roaring Camp’s resident blacksmith, and Chris Butler, who also created the lighting design for Sequoias at Night. Tickets are available at the link in the orange button above. Kids under two enter for free. Roaring Camp’s food services and gift shop will be open.
📍 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
🕒 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM · FREE
Stay for the entertainment from 8:30pm to 9:30pm on the Colonnade Deck! Where you can listen to live music with delicious food & drink in your hand, be amazed by Magicians & acrobats, and show off your best dance moves with a DJ dance party at the Plaza stage. Admission is free! Monday, June 15, 2026 8:30pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza 9:00pm Magic with Kris Bentz Tuesday, June 16, 2026 8:30pm Magic with Kris Bentz 9:00pm Acrobatics with Molly Keczan Wednesday, June 17, 2026 8:30pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza 9:00pm Magic with Kris Bentz Thursday, June 18, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – Live Music with Fire Peach Friday, June 19, 2026 – Free showing of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off movie on the beach at 9pm Saturday, June 20, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Sunday, June 21, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Monday, June 22, 2026 8:30pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza 9:00pm Circus Acrobatics with MeeZee! Tuesday, June 23, 2026 8:30pm Circus Acrobatics with MeeZee! 9:00pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza Wednesday, June 24, 2026: World Cup Watch Party for Mexico Game Thursday, June 25, 2026: World Cup Watch Party for USA Game Friday, June 26, 2026 – Free showing of the movie Kicking and Screaming on the beach at 9pm Saturday, June 27, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Sunday, June 28, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Monday, June 29, 2026 8:30pm Magic with Patrick Livingstone 9:00pm Surfing Magic with Doug Hofkins Tuesday, June 30, 2026 8:30pm Magic with Patrick Livingstone 9:00pm Surfing Magic with Doug Hofkins Wednesday, July 1, 2026 8:30pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza 9:00pm Circus Acrobatics with MeeZee! Thursday, July 2, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – Live Music with El Brick Friday, July 3, 2026 – Independence Day Celebrations Saturday, July 4, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Sunday,
📍 Santa Cruz Maker Studios
🕒 9:00 PM – 2:00 PM · $720
Join us this summer for a maker experience where students (ages 7 – 12) design and build custom creations they can proudly take home. Our summer camps combine creativity, engineering, and craftsmanship in a supportive studio environment designed for both first time makers and returning students. Each camp week provides access to our 3D printing, woodworking, and textiles stations, with dedicated instructors in each area guiding students through tools, techniques, and projects. Every week also features a themed focus that inspires ideas across our maker zones and gives students a starting point for their creations. While themes provide structure, students are encouraged to explore projects that interest them, combine ideas across weeks, or pursue custom builds with instructor support. Camp Schedule and Daily Flow Summer camp runs from May 29 through July 31, 2026, with ten themed camp sessions offered throughout the season. Camp hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Camps are designed for students ages 7 to 12 and take place at Santa Cruz Maker Studios, located at 427 A. Swift Street in Santa Cruz. Session 1: May 27 & 29 (Two-Day Camp) Choose Your Mini Project – $144.00 This one day camp is designed for creative exploration and flexibility. Students choose a mini project based on their interests and skill level and spend the day designing, building, and finishing something they are excited about. Projects may include woodworking builds, simple robots, sewing projects, laser cut designs, or 3D printed creations. This session is a great introduction for new students and a fun option for returning makers looking to try something new. Session 2: June 1 – June 5 Arcades and Games – $720.00 Students step into the role of game designers and builders. Using woodworking, laser cutting, and 3D printing, campers create playable arcade style games such as a mini foosball table and mini-golf course. Others may design custom board games, chess boards and pieces,
📍 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
🕒 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM · FREE
Every Friday night on the beach in front of the Colonnade, bring your family and your blanket or low-back chair to experience the ultimate movie night! Watch your favorite movies while munching on mouthwatering Boardwalk treats, from kettle corn and saltwater taffy to corn dogs and turkey legs. Seating is first come, first served and each movie will have a 15-minute intermission. June 12, 2026: The Lost Boys June 19, 2026: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off June 26, 2026: Kicking and Screaming July 10, 2026: 13 Going on 30 July 17, 2026: Back to the Future July 24, 2026: A Minecraft Movie July 31, 2026: Jurassic Park August 7, 2026: The Goonies
📍 Santa Cruz Boardwalk
🕒 9:00 PM · See listing
Get the full lineup: bit.ly/Free-Movies-on-the-Beach FREE Movies on the Beach Friday Nights at 9pm June 12 – August 7, 2026 (Except July 3) Beach in front of the Colonnade A Minecraft Movie - July 24 at 9 PM There’s nothing quite like watching your favorite movies under the stars with your toes in the sand, enjoying the nostalgic flavors of classic Boardwalk treats. Grab your blankets and your favorite people for a Boardwalk movie night packed with unforgettable fun! Admission FREE! • Each movie will include a 15-minute intermission. • Seating is first-come, first-served. • Low-back chairs and blankets are encouraged for seating; please allow others space and a good view. • Smoking is not permitted on the beach or Boardwalk. Alcohol and glass are prohibited on the beach. • A limited number of assistive listening devices (ALDs) are available for check-out at the Mini Golf Kiosk inside Neptune's Kingdom. • If you require other special accommodations or would like to request Closed Captioning, please contact the Manager on Duty at least 48 hours in advance of the movie at (831) 423-5590. Free Movies on the Beach is sponsored by KDON, KOCN, KWAV, KCDU, and the City of Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Printable Schedule: coming soon... ENJOY THE SHOWS!
📍 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
🕒 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM · $7
Celebrate National Carousel Day and our Looff Carousel’s 115th Anniversary. First 100 riders on the Carousel will receive a brass souvenir carousel ring. Normal ride pricing and restrictions apply.
📍 Franich Park
🕒 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM · FREE
Join us at Rally in the Pajaro Valley, our annual community softball tournament! It’s an event that brings together local organizations, businesses, and residents to raise funds and awareness for programs supporting our youth in the Pajaro Valley. Rally is all about celebrating our community spirit, building connections, and making a positive impact together. Everyone is invited to come out for free, cheer on the teams, and learn about the amazing local nonprofits making a difference. Feel free to stop by to donate on-site during the event, every little bit helps support these important causes. See you there!
📍 Santa Cruz Zen Center
🕒 8:30 AM – 9:10 AM · FREE
Zen Meditation. Open to all. Free of charge.
📍 UC Santa Cruz
🕒 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM · FREE
Come enjoy picking your own organic strawberries and/or flowers at the campus farm! When: U-picks will take place on Saturdays from 9am to 12pm, July 11–August 22, or while supplies last. PLEASE NOTE that u-pick will not occur on Saturday, July 4. Where: Free parking will be available in the Hay Barn lot or lot 115/116 during u-pick hours. Please do not park in the dirt lot at the farm’s back gate. Please walk to the check-in table near the strawberries/flowers at the farm to pre-pay and collect your u-pick container(s). We will have directional signage displayed. There is one ADA parking spot on the farm. The UCSC Farm has uneven, hilly terrain. If you require accommodations to fully participate, please email [email protected] and we will do our best to accommodate. Cost: UCSC students with valid ID get 25% off produce. Strawberry pints – $4 each Strawberry flats (12 pints) – $44 Flowers – $25 for 32oz deli container Flower buckets – $75 Payment: Credit card payments only (you will need a smartphone to scan a QR code and enter your card info manually). Dogs are not allowed on the UC Santa Cruz campus (service animals are OK).
📍 All About Theatre
🕒 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM · $895
A longer production of Moana Jr. with intensive rehearsal and performance experience.
📍 East Lake Village Shopping Center
🕒 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM · FREE
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!
📍 Cowell Beach
🕒 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM · See listing
Join Save Our Shores for a beach cleanup at Cowell & Main Beach! Registration is required, click here to register. Meet Up Location: Please meet us at the base of the stairs to Cowell Beach, on the right side of the wharf entrance. Facilities & Accessibility: Restrooms and drinking fountains are available onsite. Metered parking in the lot is limited, surrounding streets have additional metered parking available, please plan accordingly. How to Prepare: All volunteers must register to participate, register here. We recommend that all volunteers wear closed-toed shoes, dress in layers, wear sun protection, and bring a filled reusable water bottle. Save Our Shores encourages volunteers to avoid single-use plastics at our cleanups. All cleanup materials are provided, including buckets, grabbers, and gloves. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own. You can download the Save Our Shores Marine Tally App (Apple, Google) in advance of the cleanup and use it to record the debris you collect, or you can use the paper data cards that we will provide at the event. Every participant must complete a volunteer waiver. We will have waivers available at the event, however, participants are encouraged to complete this paperwork in advance to save time and bring it with you on the day of the event. Anyone under the age of 18 will require a parent or guardian’s signature on this document. Volunteers under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult (guardian) for the duration of the event. If you have additional questions, please check our FAQ page. This event is in partnership with:
📍 Dynomite Farm
🕒 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · $59
Enjoy Dynomite Farm’s show-quality dahlia beds for intimate, unhurried cutting experiences where you and your friends have the field to yourselves. No crowds. No rushing. Just you, your people, and a thousand flowers. Companion passes are available for guests who want to join the fun, explore the farm, and take in the beauty without cutting flowers. Friendly chickens roam the property, there are swings for little ones.
📍 Desert Dreams Dance
🕒 9:15 AM – 11:00 AM · See listing
This is a mixed-level ballet class for adult ballet dancers with Elizebeth Randall Rains.
📍 Roaring Camp Railroads
🕒 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM · $32
From Trees to Shining Seas – Felton to Santa Cruz. Departing from the Santa Cruz Mountains, travel through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, down the scenic San Lorenzo River Gorge, across a 1909 steel truss bridge, and through an 1875 tunnel before arriving at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Reverse roundtrips departing from the beach in Santa Cruz to Roaring Camp and back may be purchased from the conductor on the train departing from Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz Big Trees & Pacific Railway operates passenger and freight services on one of the oldest and most historic lines in California. When the route opened in 1875 it carried lumber as well as picnickers and tourists to the Big Trees and Santa Cruz. Today’s Beach Train passengers can start their roundtrip journeys from either Roaring Camp in Felton or from the beach in Santa Cruz. Departs from both the beach in Santa Cruz and Roaring Camp. See departure times for more information. The Beach Train will run weekends and holidays through May, and then daily June through the first week of August, then back to weekends and holidays to the end of September. Please note that the 4 p.m. train leaving Santa Cruz is one-way only. There is no return train to the beach.
📍 The Farm at Lavender Hill
🕒 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM · See listing
A fun market featuring 30 amazing local vendors! We have new vendors every month so there is always something new to check out! Enjoy strolling the garden and meeting the peacocks.
📍 Scotts Valley High School
🕒 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · See listing
The 2026 event is a vintage, antique motorcycle and e-Bike show for the whole family. Special display class for middle and high school students to display e-Bikes and minibikes. This year, a For Sale area will be provided. The Scotts Valley Motorcycle Show will be held on the baseball fields at Scotts Valley High School in beautiful Scotts Valley, CA. Presented in partnership with the Scotts Valley Kiwanis Club, supporting various programs in the local schools. Sponsored by Motocharities, Motonexus.com, The Scotts Valley Kiwanis Club and Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys. When looking for “Things to do in Scotts Valley CA”, The Scotts Valley Motorcycle Show should be at the top of your list.
📍 City of Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Facility
🕒 10:00 AM · FREE
Free Public Tours of the City of Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Facility are here. Don't miss this educational community favorite activity! Summer Public Tours Are Back! Public Tours of the Resource Recovery Facility will be offered every Friday at 10 AM from June 12th through August 14th, 2026. A single Saturday will also be offered on July 25th. Out of consideration for others, please only sign up on Saturday if Fridays are not an option for you. Come join us! Get ready to discover the journey your recycling and food scraps take—and see firsthand how your actions make a difference! Visitors will see what happens to the 30 to 50 tons of material that Santa Cruzians place into their blue recycle bins every single day. We will also learn why it is important to “recycle right” avoid “wish-cycling" and why we can't relay on a triangle and a blue bin any more. Visitors will see a mountain of scrap metal, learn about the facility’s Household Hazardous Waste Program, and see the Food Scrap Pre-Processor Machine. Don’t miss out on this chance to become a waste reduction pro! Tours are limited to 20 people. Children must be at least 8 years old. Youth ages 8 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited. Pre-registration is required. Registration closes 48 hours before the tour date. No Drop-Ins. Safety Notice: This tour includes stairs and standing/walking for approximately 45 minutes. On this tour, you may be exposed to loud noises, dust, or tight spaces. Please note that this is a working industrial facility with potential hazards, and your safety is our top priority. Please wear closed-toe sturdy shoes and long pants. We will provide safety vests, eye protection, ear protection, and hard hats. Please inform City staff before your tour date if you will need accommodations.
📍 Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center
🕒 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM · See listing
0 booked, 6 available Handbuilding
📍 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 in March, April, and May 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. .
📍 7 Hangar Way suite b, Watsonville, CA 95076, USA
🕒 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM · FREE
Event: RAINBOW PLAYGROUP @ Raíces y Cariño Date: 4th Saturday of the Month Saturday, January 25 Time: 10:30 am -12:00 pm Location: RC Fam 7 Hangar Way, Suite B, Watsonville, CA 95076 Ages: 0-10 years old and younger and their caregivers, with siblings welcome. Cost: FREE Event Description: A monthly bilingual playgroup for LGBTQIA+ families and allies. This play group is for children who are 10 years old and younger and their caregivers, with siblings welcome. We will have an art activity, a story, some light snacks, and PLAY! Please, do not bring sick children to Rainbow Playgroup. Families are asked to maintain the confidentiality of all playgroup attendees and no photography is permitted. RSVP Form ¡Grupo de Juego Arcoiris! Un grupo de juego bilingüe para familias LGBTQIA+ y aliados El cuarto sábado del mes 10:30am-12pm, Raíces y Cariño, 7 Hangar Way, Suite B, Watsonville, CA 95076 Este grupo de juego es para niños de 10 años o menos y cuidadores, y se admiten hermanos. Tendremos un
📍 Capitola
🕒 10:30 AM · See listing
Join UCSC Master Gardeners for a workshop focused on planting your own edible bounty! Despite their small size, microgreens pack a nutritional punch and are a great addition to any diet. Join Master Gardener volunteers as we demonstrate a step-by-step process for growing your own microgreens. Registration required. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16324653
📍 Santa Cruz Harbor
🕒 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM · FREE
Go explore the harbor shops, restaurants and experiences with very little car traffic! Passengers may be picked up and dropped off at the following locations: X1 Gate (northeast harbor) AA Dock (southwest harbor) Launch Ramp (southeast harbor) Please visit the Port District’s website to view the map for all water taxi pick-up and drop-off locations in the harbor. Visitor parking is available for water taxi passengers in the north harbor near X Dock.
📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
🕒 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM · FREE
Soak up the sun with family-friendly festivities, food, and fun. Kids of all ages will enjoy an afternoon of food trucks, interactive activities, sweet treats, live animals, and so much more! There will be shows taking place in the amphitheater throughout the day and activities across Tyrrell Park. As a bonus, there will be free admission to the Museum, so you won’t miss the excitement taking place inside, too! Amphitheater Programming Schedule: 11:30am – 12:15pm: Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe Hummaya Singers and Dancers 12:30 – 1:15pm: Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Center Animal Program 1:30 – 2:15pm: Full Circle Falconry Show
📍 Branciforte Branch Library
🕒 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM · FREE
We're offering a wide range of books, from classic novels to contemporary reads. Discover hidden gems and enjoy a cozy atmosphere while making great finds.
📍 La Selva Beach Branch Library
🕒 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM · See listing
Join us for an energetic fusion of Australian music, culture, art, science, comedy, character building, and audience participation. The show also includes storytelling and information about didgeridoo history and crafting. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16206168
📍 Santa Cruz
🕒 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM · See listing
Staff offers a guided adobe tour centered on the experiences of Native communities in the Santa Cruz mission providing insight into daily life, cultural change, and the impacts of the mission system. Visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the resilience and enduring presence of Indigenous people in the region. Reservation Link:
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 11:00 AM · See listing
Saturday, July 25 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm In partnership with the Volunteer Center Literacy Program
📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
🕒 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM · See listing
Join us for a free community celebration at the Museum ! Summer Fun Fest is a joyful, all-ages festival designed to bring the community together through nature, creativity, and hands-on exploration. Enjoy free admission all day and experience a lively mix of activities and entertainment throughout the museum and outdoor spaces. Guests can look forward to a food truck and sweet treats, interactive activities and hands-on stations, community partner tabling, and live performances in the amphitheater throughout the afternoon. From cultural performances to animal demonstrations and nature-based activities, there will be something for everyone to discover and enjoy. Come celebrate summer with us and connect with your community at the museum! Schedule of performances: 11:30am – 12:15pm: Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe Hummaya Singers and Dancers 12:30 – 1:15pm: Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Center Animal Program 1:30 – 2:15pm: Full Circle Falconry Show This event is made possible through the support of Dream Inn, Sea Glass Orthodontics, and West Coast Bank.
📍 La Bahia Hotel & Spa
🕒 11:00 AM · $54
A notable new offering for the property, La Bahia has introduced Spa Day Passes, now available via ResortPass (based on availability), granting both travelers and locals access to enjoy the property’s serene spa amenities for a restorative escape by the sea.
📍 Wilder Ranch State Park
🕒 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM · FREE
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.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 11:00 AM · See listing
Saturday, July 25 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm Join us each Saturday morning for a relaxing time crafting with your neighbors.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 11:30 AM · See listing
Saturday, July 25 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm Join UCSC Master Gardeners for a workshop focused on planting your own edible bounty!
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 11:30 AM · See listing
Saturday, July 25 2026 10:30am - 12:30pm Enjoy an art walk guided by a local artist and create your own work of art in this intergenerational program!
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 11:30 AM · See listing
Saturday, July 25 2026 10:30am - 11:30am Step into a world of imagination with stories, rhymes, and songs for children ages 0–8, shared with families and caregivers in a warm, welcoming space.
📍 Soulcare Studios
🕒 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM · $40
Discover the calming and creative power of music 🎶 Our beginner-friendly harp lessons offer a peaceful space to learn something new, connect with sound, and explore music in a supportive group setting. No experience is needed, and instruments are provided. 🗓 1st & 3rd Saturdays 🎵 All levels welcome ⚠️ Limited to 10 spots—advance booking recommended
📍 Fruition Brewing
🕒 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM · FREE
Two days of fun, kitchen specials, pop-ups, and music to celebrate how lucky we feel to have made it 7 years!
📍 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
🕒 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM · FREE
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!
📍 Capitola
🕒 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM · $39.19
Pot a plant, sip a craft brew & take home something green. Pints & Plants returns to Santa Cruz at Sante Adairius Rustic Ales!
📍 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
🕒 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM · See listing
Coast Redwoods offer a 100% satisfaction guaran-treed! Every Saturday at 12:00pm, we are taking folks on a guided walk through the Redwood Grove to talk about coast redwoods and to experience the forest together. On this 1-mile stroll, we will be chatting about life histories, ecology, etc. and sharing a wonderful adventure among these giants. Click here to RSVP. Let's plan to meet in the front of the Visitor Center, we hope you can join us!
📍 Freedom Branch Library
🕒 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM · See listing
Watsonville Public Library and the Santa Cruz County Roleplayin g Games Group invite anyone in the community interested in tabletop role-p laying games (TTRPGs) to come and learn how to play multiple role-playing games. Several games will be presented at the same session at different ta bles. The focus for this session is for people to experience the ga mes without the commitment of lots of sessions or money spent. Everything needed to play will be provided, and all skill levels are welcome! Audience: Adults. https://www.watsonville.gov/calendar.aspx?EID=7416
📍 Lester Estate Wines
🕒 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM · $75
Explore and discover the beauty of Deer Park Ranch with a 90-minute guided hike through the vineyards and ranch with Lester Estate brand ambassador, Steve Johnson. Get your heart pumping as you hear about the wine’s journey from soil to glass. Learn about the winery’s history & vineyard practices while taking in 360-degree views of the Monterey Bay. Part education, part exercise, part wine experience with sips and snacks along the way. This is a moderate hike with some small hills. Please note, this experience is not available to those guests who have mobility constraints or require assistance with walking or standing.
📍 Comicopolis
🕒 12:00 PM · FREE
It's time to get those crayons sharpened, paints mixed and markers at the ready for our Summer 2026 Pokémon Art Contest for kids 5-12! To join in, create a picture of your favorite Pokémon having a fun moment or striking a cool, dynamic pose. Submissions should be on 8.5 x 11 paper. You can use any medium you like, such as paint, marker, crayon, pencil, etc. No digital art. There will be prizes awarded to two age groups, 5-7 and 8-12. Entries accepted June 1st-July 31st. Winners will be announced on August 6th. BONUS: All participants will receive a free Pokémon:Chaos Rising 11x17 mini-poster (while supplies last) when you hand in your art.
📍 Institute of the Arts and Sciences
🕒 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM · See listing
Visit the IAS, UCSC’s premier art galleries, for our spring exhibitions. On view April 10–August 16, 2026 are three diverse and interdisciplinary shows: Libia Posada: Everything is Going Right , the first US solo exhibition by the Colombia-based artist and medical doctor; Gina Athena Ulysse: A Redwoods Rasanblaj , a site-specific and immersive exploration of the Haitian kreyol conception of rasanblaj; and Ronaldo V. Wilson: There Are No Words, But Melodies , a mixed-media exhibition emerging at the intersections of Black poetics, performance, and visual art. The IAS Galleries are open Wednesday-Sunday, 12 pm – 5 pm. Admission is free to the public. Libia Posada: Everything is Going Right Libia Posada’s first solo exhibition in the United States features installations, sculptures, and drawings meticulously constructed from surgical instruments, gauze bandages, crutches, used books, and domestic picture frames. The new and existing works in the exhibition powerfully stitch together the personal, social, and political disorders and afflictions that currently trouble the world, from the wars that resonate across the globe to the violences of aging in US prisons. Gina Athena Ulysse: A Redwoods Rasanblaj: Origins & Disentanglements The internationally-lauded work of humanities professor Gina Athena Ulysse is on view as a premier Faculty Spotlight Exhibition. The site-specific installation, produced in community from things collected, found, purchased and donated, centers on the Haitian concept of rasanblaj, a form of assembly and collage that transcends the formal use of materials to draw together people, spirits, and ideas. Ronaldo V. Wilson: There Are No Words, But Melodies Collage is both a material practice and a structural interrogation in the Faculty Spotlight Exhibition artworks by literature professor Ronaldo V. Wilson. In video, painting, and installation, layers and folds conceal and reveal, delving into the experience, both bodily and emotive, of living in time
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 12:00 PM · See listing
Saturday, July 25 2026 11:00am - 3:00pm Get ready to flip through pages at our pop-up book sale!
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 12:00 PM · See listing
Saturday, July 25 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm Enjoy a fun, interactive show featuring Australian music, culture, storytelling, and didgeridoo.
📍 Annieglass
🕒 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · $110
Get your hands dirty with award-winning artist Suzanne McCourt. Suzanne will be hands-on to help create a mixed media canvas 12 x 12” along with a small practice canvas. Explore color theory collage on canvas which include spray paint stencils, layering paper, painting with acrylic, collages and getting as creative as possible! Unravel the mysteries of color theory and have a great time. Be sure to bring your apron or paint t-shirt. You’ll also receive 15% off Annieglass first-quality pieces on the day of the event. Sparkling waters provided. Half bottles & bottles of wine available for purchase.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 1:00 PM · See listing
Saturday, July 25 2026 12:00pm - 5:00pm Adults need playtime, too! Come play some new or old favorite tabletop games.Bring your favorite board game or play some of the library's games. No prior gaming experience is necessary.
📍 Annieglass Inc
🕒 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · $110
Dive into colors and creativity with Suzanne McCourt as you craft your own unique collage masterpiece!
📍 Nicholson Vineyards
🕒 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM · $25
Enjoy summer weekend afternoons at the beautiful Nicholson Vineyards! Saturdays from noon to 5pm – Enjoy perusing art from local artists Sundays from 1pm to 4pm – Enjoy listening to local musicians Pack a picnic spread, gather your friends and family, and sip on their refreshing summer wine flight, featuring the best of our warm-weather selections. Book your reservation today! July 11 & 12: The Clay Chalet and music by Dos Bros July 18 & 19: Indigo and Vine and music by Jo Coleman July 25 & 26: Sour Sammy Sourdough and music by Six String Mixtape August 1 & 2: Scout and Sea and music by Half Pass August 8 & 9: Lili Arnold Studios and music by Eden Edell August 15 & 16: Desert Moon Design and music by Kip Allert August 22 & 23: Papelline Jewelry and music by Zach Bailey August 29 & 30: Anna Gail Designs and music by Jeff Smith September 5 & 6: All You Knead and music by Cake Party!
📍 Wilder Ranch State Park
🕒 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM · See listing
Want to learn about the rich dairy history of Wilder Ranch State Park? Dreamt of peeking inside our beautiful Victorian homes and barns? Join us weekly on Saturdays and Sundays for a 1.5 hour long tour of the historic buildings of Wilder Ranch! Meet at the visitor's center at 1 pm. Pre-register here or join us on the day-of. This tour is free. Parking in Day-use lot is $10. Questions?Call (669)758-1963or email [email protected]
📍 Annieglass
🕒 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · $85
Make your own beautiful set of four glass coasters with Smithsonian artist, Annie Morhauser. Everything you need will be provided—glass, stencils, colorful glass enamels, adhesive feet, and expert guidance throughout the process. You’ll design and decorate 4″ glass squares, then load them into the kilns (don’t worry—they’ll be off!). Annieglass will fire your pieces for you, and you can have them shipped to your home. Want a full set of eight? Book two workshops! You’ll also receive 15% off Annieglass first-quality pieces on the day of the event. Sparkling waters provided. Half bottles & bottles of wine available for purchase.
📍 The Diversity Center
🕒 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM · See listing
LGBTQ+ Gamers Group Date: Saturday, July 25 Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm Location: The Diversity Center Ages: 18+ For gamers of all types, to socialize and game. Join for our monthly meetup, and bring your favorite board games and card games to play! In the group’s Discord we discuss event times, computer games, and other gaming topics.
📍 The Colligan Theater
🕒 1:30 PM · $18
Disney’s Moana JR. is a musical adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film, bringing the adventures of Moana and her village of Motunui to life onstage. Moana JR. features all the beloved songs from the film, written by Tony®, GRAMMY, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina, including “How Far I’ll Go,” “Shiny,” and “You’re Welcome.” This thrilling and heartwarming coming-of-age story follows the strong-willed Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage. Moana and the legendary demigod Maui embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and camaraderie as both learn to harness the power that lies within. With empowering messages of bravery and selflessness, Moana JR. is sure to bring out the hero within each of us.
📍 Capitola
🕒 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM · See listing
Join us for an energetic fusion of Australian music, culture, art, science, comedy, character building, and audience participation. The show also includes storytelling and information about didgeridoo history and crafting. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16224944
📍 Live Oak Branch Library
🕒 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM · See listing
Join us for an energetic fusion of Australian music, culture, art, science, comedy, character building, and audience participation. The show also includes storytelling and information about didgeridoo history and crafting. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16224944
📍 Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park
🕒 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM · $25
Santa Cruz Shakespeare invites you to experience Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, un-der the trees and stars of the Audrey Stanley Grove in Santa Cruz’s DeLaveaga Park this summer. Much Ado About Nothing By William Shakespeare Directed by Charles Pasternak One of Shakespeare’s wittiest and most beloved comedies, the 2026 season will open with Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Of all the couples in Shakespeare, perhaps none is more widely loved than Beatrice and Benedick. Their battle of wits; their antagonism turned to eroticism; their history. Before the play begins, they already seem to define each other. The audience, like the other characters in the play, wait with excitement as their wits clash, and eventually, as their love blossoms. Much Ado About Nothing runs July 11 – August 30. More information or to purchase tickets, follow the link in the orange above, or contact the box office Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4pm at the number listed above.
📍 Capitola
🕒 2:00 PM · See listing
Daniel reads from his powerful book of poetry, SIX is for 6enocide. Copies of the book are available for purchase and signing. Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is recommended. Join us as Daniel Reyes reads from his book SIX is for 6enocide, which is dedicated to the Alaydi family in Gaza, Palestine. Local Palestinian poet Howla Jardali will read a poem and introduce Daniel. Professor Stephen Zunes, Program Director of USF's Middle Eastern Studies Program will be present to answer any questions about the history and politics of the region. Registration required. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16418611
📍 Chaminade Resort and Spa
🕒 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM · $140
Through the hands-on exploration of a bustling beehive on Chaminade's grounds, you will learn about the intriguing world of honey bees in a way that very few get to experience. Your hive tour, led by Northern Roots Bee Co.’s professional beekeepers, will include suiting up in beekeeping attire and learning about the different roles and contributions that bees make in the colony. We’ll finish the experience with a honey tasting where participants delight in the nuanced flavors of varietal honeys. This experience is open to overnight resort guests and community members.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 2:30 PM · See listing
Saturday, July 25 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm Enjoy a fun, interactive show featuring Australian music, culture, storytelling, and didgeridoo.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 3:00 PM · See listing
Saturday, July 25 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm Downtown Library Youth Chess Club. Open to players ages 6 to 18. Instructor is Chess Master Gjon Feinstein.
📍 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
🕒 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM · See listing
Learning about different tree species? How in-tree-guing! During this 1 mile walk, we'll be chattin' about a handful of trees that reside in the park, and giving you the tools you need to identify species during your future park visits. Beleaf us, it'll be a great time! This free program will meet in front of the Visitor Center and meander down River Trail and back through the Redwood Grove. Hard rain cancels! Hope to see you there! Click here to RSVP.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 3:00 PM · See listing
Saturday, July 25 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm Daniel reads from his powerful book of poetry, SIX is for 6enocide. Copies of the book are available for purchase and signing. Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is recommended.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 4:00 PM · See listing
Saturday, July 25 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm Stop procrastinating and start producing.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 4:00 PM · See listing
Saturday, July 25 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm Join a group of writers working together to improve their writing.
📍 Sub Rosa
🕒 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM · See listing
Bottomlined by chris
📍 Discretion Brewing
🕒 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM · See listing
5:30-7:30pm Formed in 2022, Rivets & Rust are a Santa Cruz Rock, Folk, Americana Band. Their music encompasses a unique variety of singer-songwriter originals as well as a collection of classic covers. The band's delivery of a mellow vibe with soaring vocals and smoking guitar passages resonates with a wide range of audiences. Rivets & Rust are: Tim Bennett- Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocals, Angela Bennett- Keys/Harmony Vocals, Glenn MacPherson- Lead Guitar, Jeff Arlt- Drums, and Mark Hull- Bass.
📍 All About Theatre
🕒 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM · $595
A theater production of the musical Dear Evan Hansen.
📍 Roaring Camp Railroads
🕒 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM · See listing
This is the one folks. Head out into the woods for some good ol' fashioned fun! Your night begins at the town of Roaring Camp with a delicious BBQ dinner and enjoy just-like-Grandma-made-it apple pie. After dinner, board the historic steam train and head to the top of the mountain for music and hot cider
📍 Little Giant Collective
🕒 6:00 PM – 8:45 PM · $5
Queer Speed Dating is back after a brief hiatus! Skip the apps and come find some summer lovin' at our July event hosted at Little Giant Collective. All gender identities and sexual orientations welcome and encouraged to attend. This time we're trying something a little different... Our first round from 6:00-7:15pm will be for speed daters ages 35+ Our second round from 7:30-8:45 we will be for daters aged 25-40 We've got a packed schedule, so please arrive on time for the start corresponding with your age group! Priced on a sliding scale $5–15 | NOTAFLOF Be kind, be respectful, be sexy! See y'all there 🍉💋 Follow us @queerspeeddatingsc on instagram --- Little Giant Collective is located next to Mobo Sushi on115 River Street South, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Accessibility notes: Ground floor location, restrooms available (gendered single stalls, restrooms are shared with other businesses in the Galeria). Centrally located in downtown Santa Cruz.
📍 The Neighbor's Pub
🕒 7:00 PM · $7.18
Queer line dancing and honky tonk party
📍 Mount Hermon Camp & Conference Center
🕒 7:00 PM · See listing
In the early 1990s, young composer and pianist Fernando Ortega, classically trained and musically complex, entered the Christian music scene. His distinctively earthy sound perplexed and even defied the pop status quo. Descended from eight generations of Mexican weavers, this son of the Rio Grande entwined thoughtful melodies with Celtic, bluegrass, classical and Latin American influences to create something unique and rare. Today, Fernando is one of Christian music’s most respected artists, his works encompassing modern hymns, liturgical songs, and Inspirational and praise & worship favorites. With three Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and a Billboard Latin Music Award to his credit, Fernando’s Christian radio hits include “This Good Day,” “Jesus, King of Angels” and “Sleepless Night.” Renowned for his stirring arrangements of beloved hymns— “Give Me Jesus” and “Be Thou My Vision,” among others— his solo discography features 18 projects in a heralded career spanning more than 25 years. His latest offering, the much-anticipated The Crucifixion of Jesus, follows the same devotional trajectory of 2011’s Come Down O Love Divine, this time centering on the events of Holy Week. Co-produced with Bernard Chadwick in a customized recording space in Fernando’s Albuquerque home, it’s the most intentionally devotional project he’s ever released, a meticulous labor of love. Engineered and mixed by GRAMMY® Award-winner Brandon Bell, the project was an epiphany of sorts for Fernando. “It was about finding my way through the mystery of Holy Week,” he explains, “working my way through the events leading up to Christ’s death, the betrayal, the communion…all of it a meditation.” Featuring 11 contemplative songs and six readings, the album is a sweeping narrative which carries the listener from Palm Sunday to the Crucifixion. In stark and stunning compositions like “In My Father’s Kingdom” (the Last Supper), “Stay With Me Here” (Garden of Getsemane), “Ah Holy Jesus, How Have You
📍 Park Hall Ben Lomond
🕒 7:00 PM · $22
Little People's Repertory Theatre Presents Jurassic Jungle Book: A Three-Hour Tour Little People's Repertory Theatre (LPRT) presents Jurassic Jungle Book: A Three-Hour Tour, an original rock musical by Jannine Chadwick, Directed by Daria Elise Troxell, Musical Direction Gabe House. During a sightseeing boat tour, seven passengers become castaways when their boat is shipwrecked on a tropical jungle island. The island is sparsely populated by talking jungle animals, Village People, Mowgli (a boy raised by wolves), Huntriz, three singing dino-hunters, four ninja turtles, and Indominus Khan, a tiger who became a mutant after a sinister group of “scientists” came to “study” the island, with the hidden motive of transforming the island into a prehistoric theme park. This sweet and silly mash-up features more than twenty musical numbers. The cast includes children ages 7–14 singing and dancing to parodies of contemporary pop songs and classic rock hits. It's alternative children's musical theatre like no other! Shows regularly sell out, so reserve your tickets early. Ticket information and show times are available online at lprt.org. Performances will be held at Park Hall in Ben Lomond from July 15 through July 25. Please visit the website for specific show times.
📍 Santa Cruz Actors' Theatre
🕒 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM · $16
A story written by Capitola’s very own, Joe Ortiz, comes to life at The SC Actors Theatre. Escaping Queens follows an immigrant family as they navigate the challenges of poverty and a father’s problems with gambling, alcohol, and women. This funny, edgy, ultimately hopeful musical paints a cast of colorful characters, from neighborhood bookies to a doo wop group to all the shades and personalities in a mixed Italian and Puerto Rican family. Based on Oritz’s own memoir, Pastina—My Father’s Misfortune, My Mother’s Good Soup, the emotional turbulence of navigating an escape from New York is presented as a compelling and sophisticated story that asks if children are fated to repeat their parents’ mistakes. -Shelly Novo; Good Times Santa Cruz
📍 Park Hall Ben Lomond
🕒 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM · See listing
Little People’s Repertory Theatre Presents Jurassic Jungle Book: A Three-Hour Tour Little People’s Repertory Theatre (LPRT) presents Jurassic Jungle Book: A Three-Hour Tour, an original rock musical by Jannine Chadwick, Directed by Daria Elise Troxell, Musical Direction Gabe House. During a sightseeing boat tour, seven passengers become castaways when their boat is shipwrecked on a tropical jungle island. The island is sparsely populated by talking jungle animals, Village People, Mowgli (a boy raised by wolves), Huntriz, three singing dino-hunters, four ninja turtles, and Indominus Khan, a tiger who became a mutant after a sinister group of “scientists” came to “study” the island, with the hidden motive of transforming the island into a prehistoric theme park. This sweet and silly mash-up features more than twenty musical numbers. The cast includes children ages 7–14 singing and dancing to parodies of contemporary pop songs and classic rock hits. It’s alternative children’s musical theatre like no other! Shows regularly sell out, so reserve your tickets early. Ticket information and show times are available online at lprt.org. Performances will be held at Park Hall in Ben Lomond from July 15 through July 25. Please visit the website for specific show times.
📍 The 418 Project
🕒 7:30 PM · See listing
A milonga, or social tango dance, with DJ Sharon at the 418 Project in Santa Cruz.
📍 Cabrillo College Crocker Theater
🕒 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM · $20
Cabrillo Stage is a musical theatre company dedicated to presenting high-caliber, large-scale musical productions to the area. They are committed to the creation of musicals with Broadway-level production values. In this way, they foster educational opportunities while giving audiences the highest-quality family entertainment. They aim to be a destination point for the best of live theatre. Sister Act hits the stage with the force of a disco ball struck by divine inspiration. Deloris, a bold and big-hearted nightclub singer, lands in a convent for her own protection and winds up transforming a tuneless choir into a soulful powerhouse. Her energy shakes the dust off every pew as she teaches the nuns to sing with joy, courage, and a little sparkling attitude. By the finale, the once-quiet convent is radiating harmony, friendship, and unstoppable fun. Sister Act delivers a burst of laughter, heart, and high-energy music that leaves the audience glowing long after the curtain falls. Click “More Event Dates” in orange above to see other showtimes, or follow the link in the orange button above to purchase tickets. Locals Love: Stunning, creative sets, talented live orchestras, and passionate performances, often at reasonable prices. First Timers Miss: The theater’s architecture beautifully complements the overall experience, designed for optimal viewing. Insights: Santa Cruz METRO bus lines 1, 2, 55, and 73 all service Cabrillo College, providing access to the campus and the Crocker Theater. If taking a car, parking in Lot L is free.
📍 Bruno's Bar & Grill
🕒 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM · $33.85
Get ready to sashay into The Shug Shack Drag Show, where fierce performers and fabulous entertainment will leave you gagging for more!
📍 The 418 Project
🕒 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM · See listing
After the Dark Starts series at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz features hip hop, rap, and R&B artists celebrating authenticity and community. A late-night immersive music experience.
📍 Crow’s Nest
🕒 8:00 PM · $8
Love Creek plays at Crow's Nest in Santa Cruz, California, for an evening of live music by the coast.
📍 The Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park
🕒 8:00 PM · See listing
Something wicked this way comes, indeed. Starting this weekend and running through August 30th, Santa Cruz Shakespeare presents one of The Bard’s most infamous plays, Macbeth. Coincidentally the play’s first ever performance is believed to have been in 1606 marking this as the 420th anniversary, which is very Santa Cruz. And for anyone familiar with Macbeth, it’s easy to see why it’s lasted throughout the ages. Witches, murder, moral failings and tons of tragedy are beautifully sewn throughout the acts, stitched together with lines such as “Blood will have blood,” and “the wine of life is drawn.” -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz
📍 Joe's Bar
🕒 8:30 PM · See listing
Sean and the Skinwalkers is a blues rock trio from Monterey County California. Just as comfortable playing traditional blues as they are tearing through a psychedelic rock song, the common thread is always the blues and the intensity that they bring to every performance. No two performances are ever the same as everything is raw and changes on the fly, with improvised wild guitar solos that often take place in the audience. Sometimes compared to the legends of the 70s blues rock scene, Sean and the Skinwalkers does cover a wide range of music in addition to playing originals. You'll hear covers and inspiration from artists like Led Zeppelin, Rory Gallagher, Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter, Free, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Marcus King, Stray Cats, Jeff Healey, Tab Benoit and more, but always with the Skinwalker's unique flavor. Keep your camera ready as you never know what to expect, Sean is likely to jump into the audience and use your beer bottle to play slide guitar or ask you to hit the strings while he frets notes for a solo and has a conversation with you about your day. Nobody ever forgets a Sean and the Skinwalkers performance! Original music on every streaming platform, with a new album releasing soon! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wolfmanblues/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6AQRQZEOJxIlim78Gi7HIt?si=9htrXeE1RXG2cVjmWyFnbQ Youtube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa2wGtmVpbPZNtThEKxERS_PTsXxzYZIK
📍 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 view 26 unique, lighted lanterns, hung approximately 50 feet above the ground. The lanterns were crafted by local artists including Anna Bobisuthi, Roaring Camp’s resident blacksmith, and Chris Butler, who also created the lighting design for Sequoias at Night. Tickets are available at the link in the orange button above. Kids under two enter for free. Roaring Camp’s food services and gift shop will be open.
📍 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
🕒 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM · FREE
Stay for the entertainment from 8:30pm to 9:30pm on the Colonnade Deck! Where you can listen to live music with delicious food & drink in your hand, be amazed by Magicians & acrobats, and show off your best dance moves with a DJ dance party at the Plaza stage. Admission is free! Monday, June 15, 2026 8:30pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza 9:00pm Magic with Kris Bentz Tuesday, June 16, 2026 8:30pm Magic with Kris Bentz 9:00pm Acrobatics with Molly Keczan Wednesday, June 17, 2026 8:30pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza 9:00pm Magic with Kris Bentz Thursday, June 18, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – Live Music with Fire Peach Friday, June 19, 2026 – Free showing of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off movie on the beach at 9pm Saturday, June 20, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Sunday, June 21, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Monday, June 22, 2026 8:30pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza 9:00pm Circus Acrobatics with MeeZee! Tuesday, June 23, 2026 8:30pm Circus Acrobatics with MeeZee! 9:00pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza Wednesday, June 24, 2026: World Cup Watch Party for Mexico Game Thursday, June 25, 2026: World Cup Watch Party for USA Game Friday, June 26, 2026 – Free showing of the movie Kicking and Screaming on the beach at 9pm Saturday, June 27, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Sunday, June 28, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Monday, June 29, 2026 8:30pm Magic with Patrick Livingstone 9:00pm Surfing Magic with Doug Hofkins Tuesday, June 30, 2026 8:30pm Magic with Patrick Livingstone 9:00pm Surfing Magic with Doug Hofkins Wednesday, July 1, 2026 8:30pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza 9:00pm Circus Acrobatics with MeeZee! Thursday, July 2, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – Live Music with El Brick Friday, July 3, 2026 – Independence Day Celebrations Saturday, July 4, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Sunday,
📍 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
🕒 8:45 PM – 11:00 PM · FREE
Enjoy this astronomy-based guided hike where you will be guided up to the Observation Deck, perched on an ancient seabed, over 800 feet above sea level and 17 miles from the beach. You will participate in activities and learn about the night sky. This involves a 1 mile round trip hike. Meet at the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground. Follow the link in the orange button above to RSVP. Although this event is free, it costs $10 to park at State Parks. If you plan to visit any other state park earlier in the day, hold on to that receipt! Once you have paid for parking at one state park for the day, you have paid for them all. There are 14 state parks in Santa Cruz County alone!
📍 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
🕒 8:45 PM – 9:45 PM · See listing
Star Walks - Astronomy-based program where participants are guided up to the observation deck, where they will participate in activities and learn about the night sky. This involves a 1 mile round trip hike. Meet in the campfire center of the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park campground. RSVP for this hike here .
📍 Jury Room
🕒 9:00 PM · $10
Those familiar with the darker, seedier, drunker corners of the Santa Cruz music scene probably already know Lawnmower. For everyone else, listen up! Formed in 2024, Lawnmower is a degenerate trio of punks who play a “who cares about practicing” brand of the genre mixed with a tinge of downbeat sludge. In all honesty they actually do practice and write some of the funniest-without-being-satire songs currently in the scene. Lawnmower is raw with hoarse vocals screamed with all the fury and honesty of someone who identifies with Michael Douglas in Falling Down. This band rules and their show at the Jury Room with Total Joke and Apricot Court will be anything but a buzzkill. -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz
📍 Moe's Alley
🕒 9:00 PM · See listing
Moes Alley presents Fully Fullwood Band ft. Ginger Roots, plus Militia of Love! Saturday, July 25, 2026Doors: 8pm / Show: 9pm$25 in advance / $30 day of show21+ * All sales are final* Avoid scammers! Only purchase tickets from moesalley.com or ticketweb.com* Tickets requested by email will be delivered 3 days prior to the event* Will Call tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event====FULLY FULLWOODA truly well-earned recognition as being one of the Greats of the music industry, deeply creative and positively innovative, we introduce Fully Fullwood. Fully Fullwood is one of the most popular and well-known bass players in the world and has worked and recorded with every major artist out of Jamaica. His list of credits reads like a whos-who of the twentieth centurys most important musical artists. Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Michael Rose, Mikey Dread, The Mighty Diamonds, Black Uhuru, Joe Higgs, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Frankie Paul, Big Youth, U-Roy, Sister Carol, John Holt, Judy Mowatt, Ken Boothe, Andrew Tosh, Delroy Wilson, and many more have utilized the outstanding talents of this absolutely amazing composer, producer and musician. The originator and leader of the Soul Syndicate Band, Fully Fullwood has the distinction of also being a member of reggae superstar Peter Toshs famous band, Word, Sound and Power whom he recorded with and also toured with extensively until the singers untimely passing.
📍 Santa Cruz
🕒 12:00 AM · See listing
“We the Dreamers is both an invitation and a responsibility”; says Music Director Cristian Măcelaru. “At this historic moment, we are asking how music can help us imagine a more expansive ‘we’—one that listens deeply, embraces complexity, and dares to hope. These works remind us that dreaming is essential to shaping a more just and connected future.” The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music presents its 64th season, We the Dreamers, running July 26 through August 9, 2026. Framed by the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this transformative season asks one of the most resonant civic questions of our time: Who is the “we” of America—and who are “we” still becoming? The answers unfold across four world premiere Festival Commissions, eight West Coast premieres, and two U.S. premieres, brought to life by a dynamic global roster of over 20 composers and an extraordinary array of guest artists. Highlights include the second-ever performance and West Coast premiere of Philip Glass’s Symphony No. 15 Lincoln, which draws on Lincoln’s urgent reverence for the Constitution and his prescient warnings against internal division, alongside an appearance by Former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove and new works by Clarice Assad, Vivian Fung, Sarah Hennies, and Pedro Emanuel Pereira—together offering a compelling portrait of our contemporary moment through the lens of history, civic reckoning, and global perspective. For more information: Cabrillo Festival 2026 Co-sponsored by the Humanities Institute
📍 Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
🕒 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM · See listing
In late July and early August each year, audiences are joined by both preeminent and emerging composers, spectacular guest artists, and an orchestra of dedicated professional musicians from across the globe to give voice to works which are rarely more than a year or two old, and sometimes still wet on the page. The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, even at a seasoned 60 years old, is all about the new—the here and now of contemporary works for orchestra. To quote Financial Times music critic Allan Ulrich, “…in the surf mecca of Santa Cruz, 75 miles south of San Francisco, the Cabrillo Festival has made the contemporary repertoire sound urgent, indispensable and even sexy.”
📍 UC Santa Cruz
🕒 12:00 AM · See listing
The Dickens Project at UC Santa Cruz invites the community to the 2026 Dickens Universe, held July 26–August 1, a weeklong scholarly gathering devoted to Charles Dickens’s Bleak House. The Universe brings together scholars, students, teachers, and lifelong learners for lectures, discussion groups, film screenings, Victorian tea, festive dance, and a variety of other immersive experiences—all set among the redwoods on the UCSC campus. This retreat celebrates the power of literature to build community, spark conversation, and connect readers across generations. For more information please visit: 2026 Dickens Universe
📍 Capitola Wharf
🕒 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM · $59.76
The annual 6-mile, scenic seaside run-by-the-Sea is widely acclaimed as “The best little road race in California”. The Wharf to Wharf is the biggest summer event of its kind on the West Coast. The race route is lined with fans, bands, and all kinds of great fun! Go to Capitola and cheer them on! 2026 Course Update: Due to ongoing construction at the Murray Street Bridge, this year’s race will start at 30th Avenue and Portola Drive instead of the Santa Cruz Wharf. From there, participants will follow the classic coastal route through Pleasure Point and into Capitola, finishing in the heart of Capitola Village. The finish line celebration remains a highlight, with a festive atmosphere, cheering crowds, and a memorable downhill finish toward the beach.
📍 UC Santa Cruz
🕒 1:00 AM – 12:59 AM · See listing
“We the Dreamers is both an invitation and a responsibility”; says Music Director Cristian Măcelaru. “At this historic moment, we are asking how music can help us imagine a more expansive ‘we’—one that listens deeply, embraces complexity, and dares to hope. These works remind us that dreaming is essential to shaping a more just and connected future.” The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music presents its 64th season, We the Dreamers, running July 26 through August 9, 2026 . Framed by the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this transformative season asks one of the most resonant civic questions of our time: Who is the “we” of America—and who are “we” still becoming? The answers unfold across four world premiere Festival Commissions, eight West Coast premieres, and two U.S. premieres , brought to life by a dynamic global roster of over 20 composers and an extraordinary array of guest artists. Highlights include the second-ever performance and West Coast premiere of Philip Glass’s Symphony No. 15 Lincoln , which draws on Lincoln’s urgent reverence for the Constitution and his prescient warnings against internal division, alongside an appearance by Former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove and new works by Clarice Assad, Vivian Fung, Sarah Hennies , and Pedro Emanuel Pereira —together offering a compelling portrait of our contemporary moment through the lens of history, civic reckoning, and global perspective. For more information: Cabrillo Festival 2026
📍 Humanities and Social Sciences Facility
🕒 1:00 AM – 12:59 AM · $500
The Dickens Universe is a unique cultural event that brings together scholars, teachers, students, and members of the general public for a week of stimulating discussion and festive social activity on the beautiful Santa Cruz campus of the University of California—all focused on one or two Victorian novels, usually (but not always) one by Charles Dickens. In 2026, the Dickens Universe will feature Bleak House by Charles Dickens. Dickens’s ninth novel, published between 1852-1853, shines a light on social injustice and the devastating effects of a corrupt legal system, following the entangled lives of those caught in the never-ending Jarndyce and Jarndyce case. Told in alternating narrative voices, this rich literary experiment plays with a variety of genres from detective fiction and social realism to melodrama and satire. As characters move from city to suburb, from mansions to slums, we discover unexpected connections among classes, plots, and characters. Now in its 46th year of operation, the Dickens Universe combines features of a scholarly conference, a festival, a book club, and a summer camp. Participants include people of all ages and walks of life—distinguished scholars, graduate students, undergraduates, retirees, young professionals, high school teachers, and anyone who loves reading and enjoys long Victorian novels. Here are some things that make the Universe such a special experience. The college lifestyle: participants live on campus, eat together in the student dining hall, and have time to meet and come to know each other in different ways. Everyone is reading the same book. We all have this one important thing in common. The activities include formal lectures, small discussion groups, films, daily Victorian teas, performances, and Victorian dancing. The Universe offers a week of total immersion in the world of Victorian fiction with friendly, like-minded colleagues in a beautiful setting. Whether we’re returning to a Dickens novel that everyone know
📍 Capitola Wharf
🕒 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM · $59.76
The Wharf to Wharf Race is a Santa Cruz summer tradition and one of the most iconic 6-mile races in California. Known for its laid-back coastal vibe and strong community spirit, the race welcomes runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. The point-to-point course traces the Monterey Bay coastline, offering stunning ocean views, ocean breezes, and live music from local bands stationed along the route. 2026 Course Update: Due to ongoing construction at the Murray Street Bridge, this year’s race will start at 30th Avenue and Portola Drive instead of the Santa Cruz Wharf. From there, participants will follow the classic coastal route through Pleasure Point and into Capitola, finishing in the heart of Capitola Village. The finish line celebration remains a highlight, with a festive atmosphere, cheering crowds, and a memorable downhill finish toward the beach. Registration Information: Local Registration (Santa Cruz County residents): Opens March 31, 2026 General Registration: Opens April 1, 2026 The event has a capacity limit and typically fills quickly once registration opens. Participants are encouraged to register early to secure their spot in one of Santa Cruz’s most anticipated annual events.
📍 Land of Medicine Buddha – In the Gompa
🕒 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM · See listing
Join us for Sunday drop-in Meditations 9-10 am weekly. In person only– in the Gompa at Land of Medicine Buddha with Venerable Yangchen! Venerable Yangchen's guided meditations bring together a refreshing and precious combination of simplicity, depth, and accessibility. These weekly, hour-long sessions are of great relevance and value to long-term Buddhist practitioners as well as to complete newcomers to meditation. The practice begins with brief instruction, 10 minutes of silent meditation, followed by guided analytical meditation and discussion based on the theme of the week.
📍 All About Theatre
🕒 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM · $895
A longer production of Moana Jr. with intensive rehearsal and performance experience.
📍 Live Oak Farmers’ Market
🕒 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM · 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, Pleasure Point and Capitola. Here the atmosphere is bumping with families, cyclists, beach goers, locals, visitors, the young and the old. Shoppers find an excellent selection of organic produce from regional farms. The tables are stacked high with tree-ripened fruits, greens, fresh bread, pastries, nuts and legumes, sustainable seafood, pasture-raised organic meats and seasonal flowers. Many visitors spend hours at the market, filling their bags with berries, chicories and bagels – then moving onto a unique meal from one of the accomplished cooks that sell at the market. Sunday brunch offerings include traditional Michoacan Mexican dishes, gyoza, savory and sweet crepes and farm-driven meals that spotlight the harvest in clean, creative and bright arrangements. Watsonville-based Hidden Fortress Coffee provides that hot, comforting cup of goodness that brings us back to the simple pleasures of life. This is your Sunday destination.
📍 Dynomite Farm
🕒 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · $59
Enjoy Dynomite Farm’s show-quality dahlia beds for intimate, unhurried cutting experiences where you and your friends have the field to yourselves. No crowds. No rushing. Just you, your people, and a thousand flowers. Companion passes are available for guests who want to join the fun, explore the farm, and take in the beauty without cutting flowers. Friendly chickens roam the property, there are swings for little ones.
📍 Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center
🕒 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM · See listing
0 booked, 6 available Handbuilding
📍 UCSC Arboretum
🕒 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM · See listing
Join the UC Master Gardeners of Monterey, San Benito & Santa Cruz Counties for this hands-on summer workshop at the UCSC Arboretum! Classes are free with paid admission, but registration is required to attend. You are welcome to take one, two, or all four classes which occur on the last Sunday of the month, June through September. Register Here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/earth-friendly-gardening-analyzing-your-space Earth-friendly gardening begins with working with your environment to create landscapes that are beautiful, resilient, and easier to maintain. During this workshop, we’ll learn to: Select climate-wise, water-smart, native, and drought-tolerant plants Choose the right plants for your garden’s conditions and needs Support pollinators and soil health Avoid plants that may create future problems Get plants established and keep them healthy with less maintenance We’ll also introduce helpful resources to guide your plant choices and help you grow a garden that is beautiful, sustainable, and easier to care for over time. Classes are free with an Arboretum membership which includes free admission to the gardens as well as a whole host of great benefits. Consider becoming a member today by visiting our website: arboretum.ucsc.edu
📍 Roaring Camp Railroads
🕒 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM · $32
From Trees to Shining Seas – Felton to Santa Cruz. Departing from the Santa Cruz Mountains, travel through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, down the scenic San Lorenzo River Gorge, across a 1909 steel truss bridge, and through an 1875 tunnel before arriving at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Reverse roundtrips departing from the beach in Santa Cruz to Roaring Camp and back may be purchased from the conductor on the train departing from Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz Big Trees & Pacific Railway operates passenger and freight services on one of the oldest and most historic lines in California. When the route opened in 1875 it carried lumber as well as picnickers and tourists to the Big Trees and Santa Cruz. Today’s Beach Train passengers can start their roundtrip journeys from either Roaring Camp in Felton or from the beach in Santa Cruz. Departs from both the beach in Santa Cruz and Roaring Camp. See departure times for more information. The Beach Train will run weekends and holidays through May, and then daily June through the first week of August, then back to weekends and holidays to the end of September. Please note that the 4 p.m. train leaving Santa Cruz is one-way only. There is no return train to the beach.
📍 Mountain Parks Foundation
🕒 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM · See listing
Cable Car Beach Stroll - Join us on a stroll from the Visitor Center to Cable Car Beach, where we will be observers of change as we leave the old growth trees in the grove and enter the second growth populations with an abundance of "fairy rings" alongside the San Lorenzo River. This program meets in front of the Nature Store at 10:00 am on the last Sunday of each month. Be prepared to walk ~2 miles in under two hours. Please bring water, snacks, sun protection, and weather and terrain appropriate clothing. RSVP for this guided walk here!
📍 Muzzio Park
🕒 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM · See listing
A community mosaic-making activity celebrating Parks and Recreation Month. Create art together in a park.
📍 The 418 Project
🕒 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM · See listing
Wing Chun martial arts classes with instructor Marcus at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, meeting multiple times per week.
📍 Santa Cruz Harbor
🕒 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM · FREE
Go explore the harbor shops, restaurants and experiences with very little car traffic! Passengers may be picked up and dropped off at the following locations: X1 Gate (northeast harbor) AA Dock (southwest harbor) Launch Ramp (southeast harbor) Please visit the Port District’s website to view the map for all water taxi pick-up and drop-off locations in the harbor. Visitor parking is available for water taxi passengers in the north harbor near X Dock.
📍 La Bahia Hotel & Spa
🕒 11:00 AM · $54
A notable new offering for the property, La Bahia has introduced Spa Day Passes, now available via ResortPass (based on availability), granting both travelers and locals access to enjoy the property’s serene spa amenities for a restorative escape by the sea.
📍 Corralitos farm and garden market
🕒 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM · 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 produce, local flowers, local honey, baked goods, plants, crafts, and so much more. An amazing Jewel hidden in the south County of Santa Cruz also we are right next to Aldridge Park and the famous Corralitos meat market. See you all there. Rain or Shine. Located 127 Hames Road Corralitos 11-3pm plenty additional parkiing @Aldridgepark
📍 SubRosa Community Space, 703 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
🕒 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM · See listing
Beginner Bluegrass Slow Jam – Sunday, June 28th / 11 a.m. with Bashi ([email protected]) Location: SubRosa courtyard, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA Description: Bluegrass standards for beginners, played at a very slow 60-90 bpm. If you can play a G, D, and A chord on your instrument, you're able to take part in this group jam. If not, come and learn! Materials: BYO instrument Accessibility: We will be outside
📍 La Bahia Hotel & Spa
🕒 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM · FREE
For a more casual local draw, Low Tide features weekly dining specials including The Monday Slice ($20 signature pizzas), Wine Down Wednesdays (½ price bottles under $80), and Sunday Golden Hour offerings (4PM-6PM with $6 draft beer and house wine)
📍 Fruition Brewing
🕒 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM · FREE
Two days of fun, kitchen specials, pop-ups, and music to celebrate how lucky we feel to have made it 7 years!
📍 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
🕒 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM · See listing
Coast Redwoods offer a 100% satisfaction guaran-treed! Every Saturday at 12:00pm, we are taking folks on a guided walk through the Redwood Grove to talk about coast redwoods and to experience the forest together. On this 1-mile stroll, we will be chatting about life histories, ecology, etc. and sharing a wonderful adventure among these giants. Click here to RSVP. Let's plan to meet in the front of the Visitor Center, we hope you can join us!
📍 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
🕒 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM · FREE
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!
📍 Institute of the Arts and Sciences
🕒 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM · See listing
Visit the IAS, UCSC’s premier art galleries, for our spring exhibitions. On view April 10–August 16, 2026 are three diverse and interdisciplinary shows: Libia Posada: Everything is Going Right , the first US solo exhibition by the Colombia-based artist and medical doctor; Gina Athena Ulysse: A Redwoods Rasanblaj , a site-specific and immersive exploration of the Haitian kreyol conception of rasanblaj; and Ronaldo V. Wilson: There Are No Words, But Melodies , a mixed-media exhibition emerging at the intersections of Black poetics, performance, and visual art. The IAS Galleries are open Wednesday-Sunday, 12 pm – 5 pm. Admission is free to the public. Libia Posada: Everything is Going Right Libia Posada’s first solo exhibition in the United States features installations, sculptures, and drawings meticulously constructed from surgical instruments, gauze bandages, crutches, used books, and domestic picture frames. The new and existing works in the exhibition powerfully stitch together the personal, social, and political disorders and afflictions that currently trouble the world, from the wars that resonate across the globe to the violences of aging in US prisons. Gina Athena Ulysse: A Redwoods Rasanblaj: Origins & Disentanglements The internationally-lauded work of humanities professor Gina Athena Ulysse is on view as a premier Faculty Spotlight Exhibition. The site-specific installation, produced in community from things collected, found, purchased and donated, centers on the Haitian concept of rasanblaj, a form of assembly and collage that transcends the formal use of materials to draw together people, spirits, and ideas. Ronaldo V. Wilson: There Are No Words, But Melodies Collage is both a material practice and a structural interrogation in the Faculty Spotlight Exhibition artworks by literature professor Ronaldo V. Wilson. In video, painting, and installation, layers and folds conceal and reveal, delving into the experience, both bodily and emotive, of living in time
📍 Comicopolis
🕒 12:00 PM · FREE
It's time to get those crayons sharpened, paints mixed and markers at the ready for our Summer 2026 Pokémon Art Contest for kids 5-12! To join in, create a picture of your favorite Pokémon having a fun moment or striking a cool, dynamic pose. Submissions should be on 8.5 x 11 paper. You can use any medium you like, such as paint, marker, crayon, pencil, etc. No digital art. There will be prizes awarded to two age groups, 5-7 and 8-12. Entries accepted June 1st-July 31st. Winners will be announced on August 6th. BONUS: All participants will receive a free Pokémon:Chaos Rising 11x17 mini-poster (while supplies last) when you hand in your art.
📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
🕒 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · See listing
This monthly series of writing workshops in Evergreen Cemetery is facilitated by local poet Gabriel Kittle-Cervine. Rite Life is a workshop that blends the act of automatic writing, with our individual practices of ancestor veneration, to confront that which haunts us, and to celebrate that which allows us to live. The workshop was born in 2016 from the vision of a profound poet and spiritual teacher named Honeysun, just a couple of years before she passed beyond this life. Her initial concept for the Rite Life workshop is preserved in the way it's practiced today; still facilitated by Gabe, her friend and pupil, alongside a bright circle of local writers and practitioners of craft. Learn more at www.blankmetafour.com or follow @unclegabe831 on Instagram. All ages welcome, and we'll be there rain or shine-see y'all in the cemetery!
📍 Aptos Branch Library
🕒 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM · See listing
Learn how to create your own anime character from scratch from former Simpson's artist, Carlos Nieto III, in a fun and easy step-by-step process. No experience necessary! No experience necessary! Using simple shapes and easy to understand instructions, participants will gain the knowledge to create their very own unique anime characters. Open to teens, ages 12-18. Space is limited. Registration required. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16116863
📍 Nicholson Vineyards
🕒 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM · $25
Enjoy summer weekend afternoons at the beautiful Nicholson Vineyards! Saturdays from noon to 5pm – Enjoy perusing art from local artists Sundays from 1pm to 4pm – Enjoy listening to local musicians Pack a picnic spread, gather your friends and family, and sip on their refreshing summer wine flight, featuring the best of our warm-weather selections. Book your reservation today! July 11 & 12: The Clay Chalet and music by Dos Bros July 18 & 19: Indigo and Vine and music by Jo Coleman July 25 & 26: Sour Sammy Sourdough and music by Six String Mixtape August 1 & 2: Scout and Sea and music by Half Pass August 8 & 9: Lili Arnold Studios and music by Eden Edell August 15 & 16: Desert Moon Design and music by Kip Allert August 22 & 23: Papelline Jewelry and music by Zach Bailey August 29 & 30: Anna Gail Designs and music by Jeff Smith September 5 & 6: All You Knead and music by Cake Party!
📍 Wilder Ranch State Park
🕒 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM · See listing
Want to learn about the rich dairy history of Wilder Ranch State Park? Dreamt of peeking inside our beautiful Victorian homes and barns? Join us weekly on Saturdays and Sundays for a 1.5 hour long tour of the historic buildings of Wilder Ranch! Meet at the visitor's center at 1 pm. Pre-register here or join us on the day-of. This tour is free. Parking in Day-use lot is $10. Questions?Call (669)758-1963or email [email protected]
📍 The Colligan Theater
🕒 1:30 PM · $18
Disney’s Moana JR. is a musical adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film, bringing the adventures of Moana and her village of Motunui to life onstage. Moana JR. features all the beloved songs from the film, written by Tony®, GRAMMY, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina, including “How Far I’ll Go,” “Shiny,” and “You’re Welcome.” This thrilling and heartwarming coming-of-age story follows the strong-willed Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage. Moana and the legendary demigod Maui embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and camaraderie as both learn to harness the power that lies within. With empowering messages of bravery and selflessness, Moana JR. is sure to bring out the hero within each of us.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 2:00 PM · See listing
Sunday, July 26 2026 1:00pm - 2:15pm Learn how to create your own anime character from scratch from former Simpson's artist, Carlos Nieto III, in a fun and easy step-by-step process. No experience necessary!
📍 Park Hall Ben Lomond
🕒 2:00 PM · $22
Little People's Repertory Theatre Presents Jurassic Jungle Book: A Three-Hour Tour Little People's Repertory Theatre (LPRT) presents Jurassic Jungle Book: A Three-Hour Tour, an original rock musical by Jannine Chadwick, Directed by Daria Elise Troxell, Musical Direction Gabe House. During a sightseeing boat tour, seven passengers become castaways when their boat is shipwrecked on a tropical jungle island. The island is sparsely populated by talking jungle animals, Village People, Mowgli (a boy raised by wolves), Huntriz, three singing dino-hunters, four ninja turtles, and Indominus Khan, a tiger who became a mutant after a sinister group of “scientists” came to “study” the island, with the hidden motive of transforming the island into a prehistoric theme park. This sweet and silly mash-up features more than twenty musical numbers. The cast includes children ages 7–14 singing and dancing to parodies of contemporary pop songs and classic rock hits. It's alternative children's musical theatre like no other! Shows regularly sell out, so reserve your tickets early. Ticket information and show times are available online at lprt.org. Performances will be held at Park Hall in Ben Lomond from July 15 through July 25. Please visit the website for specific show times.
📍 Park Hall Ben Lomond
🕒 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM · See listing
Little People’s Repertory Theatre Presents Jurassic Jungle Book: A Three-Hour Tour Little People’s Repertory Theatre (LPRT) presents Jurassic Jungle Book: A Three-Hour Tour, an original rock musical by Jannine Chadwick, Directed by Daria Elise Troxell, Musical Direction Gabe House. During a sightseeing boat tour, seven passengers become castaways when their boat is shipwrecked on a tropical jungle island. The island is sparsely populated by talking jungle animals, Village People, Mowgli (a boy raised by wolves), Huntriz, three singing dino-hunters, four ninja turtles, and Indominus Khan, a tiger who became a mutant after a sinister group of “scientists” came to “study” the island, with the hidden motive of transforming the island into a prehistoric theme park. This sweet and silly mash-up features more than twenty musical numbers. The cast includes children ages 7–14 singing and dancing to parodies of contemporary pop songs and classic rock hits. It’s alternative children’s musical theatre like no other! Shows regularly sell out, so reserve your tickets early. Ticket information and show times are available online at lprt.org. Performances will be held at Park Hall in Ben Lomond from July 15 through July 25. Please visit the website for specific show times.
📍 The Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park
🕒 2:00 PM · See listing
Something wicked this way comes, indeed. Starting this weekend and running through August 30th, Santa Cruz Shakespeare presents one of The Bard’s most infamous plays, Macbeth. Coincidentally the play’s first ever performance is believed to have been in 1606 marking this as the 420th anniversary, which is very Santa Cruz. And for anyone familiar with Macbeth, it’s easy to see why it’s lasted throughout the ages. Witches, murder, moral failings and tons of tragedy are beautifully sewn throughout the acts, stitched together with lines such as “Blood will have blood,” and “the wine of life is drawn.” -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz
📍 Cabrillo College Crocker Theater
🕒 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM · $20
Cabrillo Stage is a musical theatre company dedicated to presenting high-caliber, large-scale musical productions to the area. They are committed to the creation of musicals with Broadway-level production values. In this way, they foster educational opportunities while giving audiences the highest-quality family entertainment. They aim to be a destination point for the best of live theatre. Sister Act hits the stage with the force of a disco ball struck by divine inspiration. Deloris, a bold and big-hearted nightclub singer, lands in a convent for her own protection and winds up transforming a tuneless choir into a soulful powerhouse. Her energy shakes the dust off every pew as she teaches the nuns to sing with joy, courage, and a little sparkling attitude. By the finale, the once-quiet convent is radiating harmony, friendship, and unstoppable fun. Sister Act delivers a burst of laughter, heart, and high-energy music that leaves the audience glowing long after the curtain falls. Click “More Event Dates” in orange above to see other showtimes, or follow the link in the orange button above to purchase tickets. Locals Love: Stunning, creative sets, talented live orchestras, and passionate performances, often at reasonable prices. First Timers Miss: The theater’s architecture beautifully complements the overall experience, designed for optimal viewing. Insights: Santa Cruz METRO bus lines 1, 2, 55, and 73 all service Cabrillo College, providing access to the campus and the Crocker Theater. If taking a car, parking in Lot L is free.
📍 Santa Cruz Actors' Theatre
🕒 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM · $16
A story written by Capitola’s very own, Joe Ortiz, comes to life at The SC Actors Theatre. Escaping Queens follows an immigrant family as they navigate the challenges of poverty and a father’s problems with gambling, alcohol, and women. This funny, edgy, ultimately hopeful musical paints a cast of colorful characters, from neighborhood bookies to a doo wop group to all the shades and personalities in a mixed Italian and Puerto Rican family. Based on Oritz’s own memoir, Pastina—My Father’s Misfortune, My Mother’s Good Soup, the emotional turbulence of navigating an escape from New York is presented as a compelling and sophisticated story that asks if children are fated to repeat their parents’ mistakes. -Shelly Novo; Good Times Santa Cruz
📍 Aptos Grange
🕒 2:30 PM – 8:00 PM · $25
Local non-profit American Sign Language Services Community hosting a bingo fundraiser at the Aptos Grange on Sunday's 3PM - 8PM , Monday's 5PM to 10PM.
📍 Streetlight Records
🕒 3:00 PM – 12:00 AM · See listing
Bay Area singer-songwriter and creative arts therapist Frances Ancheta draws upon her Filipina heritage, folk, pop, British new wave, world and roots music in the creation of her original, acoustic-based songs. Ancheta’s debut album, 2008’s Now We’re Here was followed by a second album three years later. After that, she took a sabbatical from music to focus on family, her work as a music therapist and a battle with cancer. That latter challenge had a happy outcome and also brought forth a bounty of songs that would fill her next several albums. Her latest release is 2025’s upbeat Saving Graces. -Bill Kopp; Good Times Santa Cruz
📍 Discretion Brewing
🕒 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM · See listing
3:00-5:00pm Lefty Rosa was born in Santa Cruz county but has traveled far and wide to perfect its dreamy brand of original Americana music. It features Ezzie DeGiovanni (acoustic guitar/vocals), Joel Murach (Telecaster/vocals/harmonica), Chris Weinress (upright bass), and Tom Murach (drums).
📍 Fast Eddy's Billiards Dart Room
🕒 3:00 PM · FREE
Sing your heart out! We will start at 3pm....ends when the cops show up or when I throw in the towel....No way you can be too late to get into the rotation.....We use Karafun, so the artists who own the songs get paid ROYALTIES via BMI or ASCAP. Venmo & TIP JAR FOR THE KJ. Beer and Wine , Bar Food Menu. Plenty of free parking.
📍 Moe's Alley
🕒 4:00 PM · See listing
Sue Foley is bringing her band back to Moes to rock your world! Sunday, July 26, 2026Doors: 3pm / Show: 4pm$30 in advance / $35 day of the show21+* No Refunds | All sales are final* Avoid scammers! Only purchase tickets from moesalley.com or ticketweb.com* Tickets requested by email will be delivered 3 days prior to the event* Will Call tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event====SUE FOLEYSue Foley is a multi-award-winning blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter whose latest album, One Guitar Woman: A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar, was nominated for the 2025 GRAMMY Award for Best Traditional Blues Album. Known for her fiery playing and soulful voice, Foley blends Texas blues grit with refined fingerstyle technique, whether on her signature pink paisley Fender Telecaster or a hand-built flamenco guitar. Born in Ottawa, Canada, Foley began performing professionally at 16 and made her mark in Austin, Texas, with the legendary Antones label. Since her 1992 debut Young Girl Blues, shes toured internationally, sharing stages with B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Billy F Gibbons. Foley is a five-time consecutive Blues Music Award winner for Traditional Blues Female Artist (20202025) and a recipient of multiple other honors, including a JUNO Award and the 2024 Maple Blues Lifetime Achievement Award. A passionate scholar as well as a performer, Foley holds a PhD in Musicology and will release her first book, Guitar Women, in 2026. As the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote, Foley has a killer voice, an impossibly alluring blend of sex and innocence to go with those blazing guitar chops. With One Guitar Woman, she reclaims history and redefines what a guitar hero can be.
📍 Woodhouse Blending & Brewing
🕒 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM · See listing
With a style inspired by the golden era of the ’50s and ’60s, Henry’s music pays homage to the honky-tonk and Bakersfield sounds that defined a generation—music that gets your boots tapping and reminds us why those songs never fade.
📍 The 418 Project
🕒 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM · See listing
A monthly open mic night at the 418 Project featuring music, theatre, and spoken word performances.
📍 All About Theatre
🕒 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM · $595
A theater production of the musical Dear Evan Hansen.
📍 Santa Cruz Zen Center
🕒 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM · FREE
Silent meditation.
📍 SubRosa Community Space, 703 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
🕒 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM · See listing
Usually 4th Thursday but here’s a special last Sunday open mic! Doors 7pm to sign up Performances 7:30pm $5 notaflof Bring songs, poems, or whatever you please, and be prepared for a delightful evening sharing our creativity. Future open mics will be happening on the fourth Thursday of each month, with the exception of July’s, which is on the last Sunday! Sign-Ups 7pm & Performances 7:30pm // $5 at door - notaflof!* // all-ages // dry space // safe(r) space // anti-capitalist space // respect the space and each other! *no one turned away for lack of funds SubRosa is at 703 Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz, CA —@@@@@— 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 ski
📍 Civic Auditorium
🕒 7:00 PM · See listing
Cellist Hanna Rumora is a versatile artist who approaches old and new works with commitment and curiosity. Hanna’s dedication to new music has led to performances with Eighth Blackbird, Hub New Music, and the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, as well as recording alongside the JACK Quartet. Hanna has also played with Des Moines Metro Opera and Orchestra Iowa. As a cross-genre artist, Hanna has performed with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Michael Bublé, and a Beatles tribute band. Recently, Hanna gave a premiere at Roosevelt University’s Electro-Acoustic Festival, accompanied multi-style cellist Ben Sollee at one of his tour stops, and traveled to Bangkok, Thailand to perform at an international music festival. Hanna is a founding member of the Burch Trio, a string trio that performs and teaches across Eastern Iowa. She is also a founding member of Room 1078, a string quartet whose daring programming ranges from contemporary classical premieres to arrangements of renaissance folk music to through-composed, narrated story-songs by the ensemble. You can hear Hanna play on the Grammy-nominated album Sila: The Breath of the World, Room 1078’s debut album By the Skin of Our Teeth, or on Fever’s Candlelight Concert Series throughout the Midwest. Hanna is the Cello Instructor at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She has led masterclasses across the country, at schools such as Sacramento State, University of the Pacific, Dickinson College, and Drake University. Hanna earned her doctorate in performance at the University of Iowa after completing her masters at the University of Michigan. Her principal teachers include Tony Elliott, Amir Eldan, and Anthony Arnone. Hanna’s favorite activities outside of playing the cello include petting her three cats, stargazing, and playing the banjo.
📍 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
🕒 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM · FREE
Stay for the entertainment from 8:30pm to 9:30pm on the Colonnade Deck! Where you can listen to live music with delicious food & drink in your hand, be amazed by Magicians & acrobats, and show off your best dance moves with a DJ dance party at the Plaza stage. Admission is free! Monday, June 15, 2026 8:30pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza 9:00pm Magic with Kris Bentz Tuesday, June 16, 2026 8:30pm Magic with Kris Bentz 9:00pm Acrobatics with Molly Keczan Wednesday, June 17, 2026 8:30pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza 9:00pm Magic with Kris Bentz Thursday, June 18, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – Live Music with Fire Peach Friday, June 19, 2026 – Free showing of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off movie on the beach at 9pm Saturday, June 20, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Sunday, June 21, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Monday, June 22, 2026 8:30pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza 9:00pm Circus Acrobatics with MeeZee! Tuesday, June 23, 2026 8:30pm Circus Acrobatics with MeeZee! 9:00pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza Wednesday, June 24, 2026: World Cup Watch Party for Mexico Game Thursday, June 25, 2026: World Cup Watch Party for USA Game Friday, June 26, 2026 – Free showing of the movie Kicking and Screaming on the beach at 9pm Saturday, June 27, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Sunday, June 28, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Monday, June 29, 2026 8:30pm Magic with Patrick Livingstone 9:00pm Surfing Magic with Doug Hofkins Tuesday, June 30, 2026 8:30pm Magic with Patrick Livingstone 9:00pm Surfing Magic with Doug Hofkins Wednesday, July 1, 2026 8:30pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza 9:00pm Circus Acrobatics with MeeZee! Thursday, July 2, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – Live Music with El Brick Friday, July 3, 2026 – Independence Day Celebrations Saturday, July 4, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Sunday,
📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
🕒 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM · See listing
Birds are fascinating and charismatic animals and the study of them is both fun and scientific. Campers will use scientific tools to study the many species of birds that visit the Museum and the surrounding habitats to study the great diversity of birds that call Santa Cruz home during the summer. Join us to dive into the world of birds! Times: Drop-off 8:30-9 a.m. | Pick-up 3-3:30 p.m. Grades: Entering 3rd through 4th grade (ages 8-9) Price : $400 | $20 Sibling Discount | $20 Off for Members (family and above) Scholarship applications open January 1-15, 2026 Member registration opens January 30, 2026, and opens January 31, 2026, for the public Museum Members get early access to camp registration, discounts, and more! Learn More REGISTER HERE
📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
🕒 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM · See listing
CAMP FULL – CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WAITLIST Are you a green thumb or a budding botanist? Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for the Beginning Botany camp this summer to learn about the natural world by studying plants, trees, and much more. Campers will build friendships while investigating nature, playing games, and creating awesome crafts! Times: Drop-off 8:30-9 a.m. | Pick-up 3-3:30 p.m. Grades: Entering K through 2nd grade (ages 5-7) Price : $400 | $20 Sibling Discount | $20 Off for Members (family and above) Scholarship applications open January 1-15, 2026 Member registration opens January 30, 2026, and opens January 31, 2026, for the public Museum Members get early access to camp registration, discounts, and more! Learn More
📍 Humanities and Social Sciences Facility
🕒 1:00 AM – 12:59 AM · $500
The Dickens Universe is a unique cultural event that brings together scholars, teachers, students, and members of the general public for a week of stimulating discussion and festive social activity on the beautiful Santa Cruz campus of the University of California—all focused on one or two Victorian novels, usually (but not always) one by Charles Dickens. In 2026, the Dickens Universe will feature Bleak House by Charles Dickens. Dickens’s ninth novel, published between 1852-1853, shines a light on social injustice and the devastating effects of a corrupt legal system, following the entangled lives of those caught in the never-ending Jarndyce and Jarndyce case. Told in alternating narrative voices, this rich literary experiment plays with a variety of genres from detective fiction and social realism to melodrama and satire. As characters move from city to suburb, from mansions to slums, we discover unexpected connections among classes, plots, and characters. Now in its 46th year of operation, the Dickens Universe combines features of a scholarly conference, a festival, a book club, and a summer camp. Participants include people of all ages and walks of life—distinguished scholars, graduate students, undergraduates, retirees, young professionals, high school teachers, and anyone who loves reading and enjoys long Victorian novels. Here are some things that make the Universe such a special experience. The college lifestyle: participants live on campus, eat together in the student dining hall, and have time to meet and come to know each other in different ways. Everyone is reading the same book. We all have this one important thing in common. The activities include formal lectures, small discussion groups, films, daily Victorian teas, performances, and Victorian dancing. The Universe offers a week of total immersion in the world of Victorian fiction with friendly, like-minded colleagues in a beautiful setting. Whether we’re returning to a Dickens novel that everyone know
📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
🕒 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM · $300
Birds are fascinating and charismatic animals and the study of them is both fun and scientific. Campers will use scientific tools to study the many species of birds that visit the Museum and the surrounding habitats to study the great diversity of birds that call Santa Cruz home during the summer. Join us to dive into the world of birds!
📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
🕒 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM · $300
Are you a green thumb or a budding botanist? Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for the Beginning Botany camp this summer to learn about the natural world by studying plants, trees, and much more. Campers will build friendships while investigating nature, playing games, and creating awesome crafts!
📍 Dynomite Farm
🕒 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · $59
Enjoy Dynomite Farm’s show-quality dahlia beds for intimate, unhurried cutting experiences where you and your friends have the field to yourselves. No crowds. No rushing. Just you, your people, and a thousand flowers. Companion passes are available for guests who want to join the fun, explore the farm, and take in the beauty without cutting flowers. Friendly chickens roam the property, there are swings for little ones.
📍 Cypress Health Institute
🕒 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM · $8600
Cypress Health Institute Certified Massage Therapist Program
📍 Roaring Camp Railroads
🕒 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM · $32
From Trees to Shining Seas – Felton to Santa Cruz. Departing from the Santa Cruz Mountains, travel through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, down the scenic San Lorenzo River Gorge, across a 1909 steel truss bridge, and through an 1875 tunnel before arriving at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Reverse roundtrips departing from the beach in Santa Cruz to Roaring Camp and back may be purchased from the conductor on the train departing from Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz Big Trees & Pacific Railway operates passenger and freight services on one of the oldest and most historic lines in California. When the route opened in 1875 it carried lumber as well as picnickers and tourists to the Big Trees and Santa Cruz. Today’s Beach Train passengers can start their roundtrip journeys from either Roaring Camp in Felton or from the beach in Santa Cruz. Departs from both the beach in Santa Cruz and Roaring Camp. See departure times for more information. The Beach Train will run weekends and holidays through May, and then daily June through the first week of August, then back to weekends and holidays to the end of September. Please note that the 4 p.m. train leaving Santa Cruz is one-way only. There is no return train to the beach.
📍 La Bahia Hotel & Spa
🕒 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM · FREE
For a more casual local draw, Low Tide features weekly dining specials including The Monday Slice ($20 signature pizzas), Wine Down Wednesdays (½ price bottles under $80), and Sunday Golden Hour offerings (4PM-6PM with $6 draft beer and house wine)
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 11:30 AM · FREE
Monday, July 27 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm Join us Mondays 10:30am-12pm at Aptos Library for social Bridge! All skill levels welcome. Enjoy fun, friendship, and mental stimulation.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 11:30 AM · See listing
Monday, July 27 2026 10:30am - 11:30am Join us for Storytime for ages 0-5 featuring songs, rhymes, lap bounces, and stories. After Storytime, stay for Stay & Play!
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 11:30 AM · See listing
Monday, July 27 2026 10:30am - 11:30am Join seniors like you every Monday for an hour of gathering and sharing about getting older. We will focus on a different topic each week.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 11:30 AM · See listing
Monday, July 27 2026 10:30am - 12:30pm Play Mahjong with fellow enthusiasts! Beginners welcome with weekly Hong Kong Style lessons. Other styles offered too. Tiles provided or bring your own.
📍 Capitola Branch Library
🕒 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM · See listing
Come join a community of readers who meet the 4th Monday of each month to hear poetry and discuss its curious powers. Come join a community of readers who meet the 4th Monday of each month to hear poetry and discuss its curious powers. Discussions facilitated by Paola Bruni, Elaine Fletcher Chapman, and Jessica Cohn. Registration encouraged. Walk-ins welcome. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/14321587 Poets in 2026 January 26 Joy Harjo February 23 Billy Collins March 23 Eavan Boland April 27 Arthur Sze May 18 * Emily Dickinson June 22 Gary Snyder July 27 Dean Young August 24 Lucille Clifton September 28 Sharon Olds October 26 Juan Felipe Herrera November 23 Ada Limon December 28 Jericho Brown *Note: Third Monday in May because of Memorial Day
📍 Capitola Branch Library
🕒 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM · FREE
Next up for The Spoken Experience: Dean (You want happy endings, read cookbooks) Young. Join this community of readers who meet up monthly to enjoy a featured poet's work, along with the ensuing conversation. Join us Monday, July 27, in the front room of the Capitola Branch Library@noon. Hope to see you. (Facilitated by local poets Paola Bruni, Elaine Fletcher Chapman and Jessica Cohn) See less
📍 California Coffee
🕒 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM · FREE
Join us Wednesday, May 21st from 12:00 PM- 1:00 PM at California Coffee for an informative and uplifting workshop you won't want tfor suo miss! Our featured guest speaker, Manas S. Kshirsagar, AD, MS a NAMA Board Certified Ayurvedic Doctor with years of experience in holistic wellness and healing, will be presenting "Tools for Stress and Anxiety". With today's fast-paced world and the stress levels many of us are unduring, this workshop will offer valuable insight, practical tools and wellness strategies to help bring more balance, peace and calm into our daily lives. Lunch Special Available: Half Sandwich + Chips just $9.99 California Coffee, 9105 Soquel Dr., Aptos, CA 95003 cacoffeeaptos.com Thank you from myself Sylvia Reyes, and my amazing team for supporting our small business and community events!
📍 Watsonville Senior Center
🕒 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM · See listing
A Loteria game session at the Watsonville Senior Center, part of Parks and Recreation Month celebrations.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 1:00 PM · See listing
Monday, July 27 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm Come join a community of readers who meet the 4th Monday of each month to hear poetry and discuss its curious powers.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 1:30 PM · See listing
Monday, July 27 2026 12:30pm - 2:00pm Join us every Monday at the Felton Branch for a knitting party. All you need to do is bring some yarn and knitting needles. All ages are welcome.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 1:30 PM · FREE
Monday, July 27 2026 12:30pm - 3:00pm Join a supportive writing group to share work, give feedback, and grow your craft. All genres and experience levels welcome. Meets 2nd & 4th Mondays, 12:30?3 PM at Aptos Library.
📍 Aptos Grange
🕒 2:30 PM – 8:00 PM · $25
Local non-profit American Sign Language Services Community hosting a bingo fundraiser at the Aptos Grange on Sunday's 3PM - 8PM , Monday's 5PM to 10PM.
📍 UC Santa Cruz
🕒 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM · See listing
Changes to the “duration of status” for F and J visa holders are now in effect. Immigration rules are complex, and Global Engagement wants to make sure you have accurate information. We invite you to join us for a comprehensive update and a Q&A session for F and J visa-holding students and scholars. Four sessions will be held during the following date/times in Pacific Time: Undergraduate Students (F/J) Town Hall: Friday, July 31 @ 9:00-10:30 Graduate Students (F/J) Town Hall: Thursday, July 30 @ 13:30-15:00 New Graduate Students (F/J) Starting Fall 2026 Town Hall: Thursday, July 30 @ 10:30-12:00 J Scholars Town Hall: Monday, July 27 @ 14:30-16:00 Click here to register for the Zoom link Can’t make it? This update and future guidance will be posted on the Global Engagement Immigration Updates and Guidance Webpage . We recommend bookmarking this page. Questions? Please visit our advising webpage to schedule an appointment with an international advisor or email us at [email protected] or [email protected].
📍 Woodhouse Blending & Brewing
🕒 4:30 PM – 9:30 PM · See listing
This is the place to be on Tuesday! This weekly jam fest features rotating bands, open jam sessions, vendors, activities and all the dance vibes you can manage. Bring your instrument and your dancing shoes!
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 4:30 PM · See listing
Monday, July 27 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm Trained therapy dogs will be available at the Library to be attentive reading partners for children reading aloud. *Registration is required*
📍 Sub Rosa
🕒 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM · See listing
Critter likely hosting show
📍 Sub Rosa
🕒 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM · See listing
-Natalie
📍 The Cruz Room
🕒 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM · FREE
The Game Night Collective provides a curated experience. Every Monday night with a library of 30+ board games, guided game teaching, hosted featured games, and prizes! Whether you arrive alone or with a group, the goal is to make it easy to sit down and start playing. Hosted mic’d board games 5 – 8 Trivia 8 – 10
📍 Ugly Mug CoffeeHouse, 4640 Soquel Dr, Soquel, CA 95073, United States
🕒 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM · FREE
It's Monday Open Mic at the Ugly Mug! Sign ups at 5p Beer, Espresso Drinks and Desserts available
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 5:00 PM · See listing
Monday, July 27 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm A poetry workshop anyone who would like to establish a writing practice in a safe and encouraging environment.
📍 Motion Pacific at The 418 Project
🕒 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM · See listing
This is Motion Pacific's Beginning Jazz Fusion class for adult dancers.
📍 All About Theatre
🕒 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM · $595
A theater production of the musical Dear Evan Hansen.
📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 6:00 PM · See listing
Monday, July 27 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm Dr. Michael Mark Chemers & Susan Myer Silton discuss Fences by August Wilson, Private Lives by Noel Coward, and The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown
📍 Sky Park
🕒 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM · See listing
Come join us! Mondays @ 6pm Yoga 7pm Meditation and Sound Healing ❤️🩹 $10 a class, no one will be turned away 🫶
📍 The 418 Project
🕒 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM · See listing
A weekly Afro-Brazilian dance class focusing on rhythm and movement.
📍 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
📍 Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center
🕒 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · See listing
1 booked, 15 available Sarah Orre
📍 Indexical
🕒 6:30 PM · $16
A rare solo performance on German cowbells (almglocken) by composer/musician Sarah Hennies. Moderated by UCSC Scholar and educator Madison Heying, this evening peels back the layers of accepted reality. Hennies resides in upstate New York and has had her compositions performed around the world, often with Hennies on percussion. So much of art is about intention, and Hennies' passionate focus on queer & trans identity, psychoacoustics, and the social and neurological conditions underlying creative thought imbues the evening with context. “Indexical has done it again,” as Mr. Magoo might say. -DNA; Good Times Santa Cruz
📍 Santa Cruz
🕒 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM · See listing
FREE IN-STORE EVENT: Santa Cruz native (and former bookseller at Bookshop Santa Cruz!) Chloe Chapin will share her debut Suitable: The Sartorial Revolution and the Fashioning of Modern Men-the su...
📍 The Audrey Stanley Grove at DeLaveaga Park
🕒 7:00 PM · See listing
The Santa Cruz Shakespeare (SCS) cast will be shaking things up later this month at their Monday Night Revels. The SCS will be putting on a special performance where they and the audience will watch the story develop together. They will be playing Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) live! Every decision a character makes, every dice roll, every twist, and every battle will unfold on the stage. Only the Game Master knows what is in store for the lively party of adventurers. This performance will be exciting and intimate. It is perfect for those who have played D&D for years and those who have never played before. -Isabella Marie Sangaline; Good Times Santa Cruz
📍 Kuumbwa Jazz
🕒 7:00 PM · See listing
Contemporary jazz guitarist and composer Ray Obiedo had an eclectic music upbringing during his younger days in the San Francisco Bay Area. The sounds of Miles Davis, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Henry Mancini, Mortown Records, and perhaps most of all, James Brown, all influenced his musical persona and career trajectory. His early break was joining Johnny “Hammond” Smith on tour in 1974, which then led to late seventies touring with the legendary Herbie Hancock. During that time, Obiedo also began a longtime association with Pete Escovedo, which notably continues to this day. Ray Obiedo’s Latin Jazz Ensemble will feature Escovedo on percussion; an East Bay icon who has been a major force in Latin music since the late 1960s. His versatility has led to success across musical genres, including Latin jazz, salsa, rock, and Latin pop. The legendary jazz percussionist’s name has been synonymous with Latin music for half a century. Later this year, Escovedo and his daughter, Sheila E, will both be honored by the Latin Recording Academy with a Lifetime Achievement Award. It is the first time the Recording Academy has honored both a father and daughter. Ray Obiedo Website (Ticket Includes 5% City of Santa Cruz Admission Tax)
📍 Abbott Square Market
🕒 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM · FREE
Come hang out in the secret garden and have some laughs, EVERY MONDAY NIGHT. Featuring comedians from all over the area and beyond.
📍 Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park
🕒 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM · $15
The Santa Cruz Shakespeare Cast Plays D&D – Live! Enjoy a one-night-only live Dungeons & Dragons adventure where the script doesn’t exist, the stakes are real, and the story unfolds in front of your eyes. Every battle, every spell, every unexpected twist is determined in the moment.
📍 Bookshop Santa Cruz
🕒 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM · FREE
Santa Cruz native (and former bookseller at Bookshop Santa Cruz!) Chloe Chapin will share her debut book, Suitable: The Sartorial Revolution and the Fashioning of Modern Men —the surprising story of how the plain black suit became a symbol of masculinity, democracy, and modernity. “Chapin’s colorful prose and eye for detail will forever change how we see the pantsuit and its role in politics.” — Lindsay M. Chervinsky, author of Making the Presidency Chapin will be in conversation with B. Modern, a fellow costume designer.
📍 The 418 Project
🕒 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM · See listing
Contact Improv dance session at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, offered weekly on Mondays.
📍 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
🕒 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM · FREE
Stay for the entertainment from 8:30pm to 9:30pm on the Colonnade Deck! Where you can listen to live music with delicious food & drink in your hand, be amazed by Magicians & acrobats, and show off your best dance moves with a DJ dance party at the Plaza stage. Admission is free! Monday, June 15, 2026 8:30pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza 9:00pm Magic with Kris Bentz Tuesday, June 16, 2026 8:30pm Magic with Kris Bentz 9:00pm Acrobatics with Molly Keczan Wednesday, June 17, 2026 8:30pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza 9:00pm Magic with Kris Bentz Thursday, June 18, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – Live Music with Fire Peach Friday, June 19, 2026 – Free showing of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off movie on the beach at 9pm Saturday, June 20, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Sunday, June 21, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Monday, June 22, 2026 8:30pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza 9:00pm Circus Acrobatics with MeeZee! Tuesday, June 23, 2026 8:30pm Circus Acrobatics with MeeZee! 9:00pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza Wednesday, June 24, 2026: World Cup Watch Party for Mexico Game Thursday, June 25, 2026: World Cup Watch Party for USA Game Friday, June 26, 2026 – Free showing of the movie Kicking and Screaming on the beach at 9pm Saturday, June 27, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Sunday, June 28, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Monday, June 29, 2026 8:30pm Magic with Patrick Livingstone 9:00pm Surfing Magic with Doug Hofkins Tuesday, June 30, 2026 8:30pm Magic with Patrick Livingstone 9:00pm Surfing Magic with Doug Hofkins Wednesday, July 1, 2026 8:30pm Circus Comedy with Coventry & Kaluza 9:00pm Circus Acrobatics with MeeZee! Thursday, July 2, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – Live Music with El Brick Friday, July 3, 2026 – Independence Day Celebrations Saturday, July 4, 2026 from 8:30-9:30pm – DJ Dance Party with Santa Cruz DJ Company Sunday,
📍 Santa Cruz Maker Studios
🕒 9:00 PM – 2:00 PM · $720
Join us this summer for a maker experience where students (ages 7 – 12) design and build custom creations they can proudly take home. Our summer camps combine creativity, engineering, and craftsmanship in a supportive studio environment designed for both first time makers and returning students. Each camp week provides access to our 3D printing, woodworking, and textiles stations, with dedicated instructors in each area guiding students through tools, techniques, and projects. Every week also features a themed focus that inspires ideas across our maker zones and gives students a starting point for their creations. While themes provide structure, students are encouraged to explore projects that interest them, combine ideas across weeks, or pursue custom builds with instructor support. Camp Schedule and Daily Flow Summer camp runs from May 29 through July 31, 2026, with ten themed camp sessions offered throughout the season. Camp hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Camps are designed for students ages 7 to 12 and take place at Santa Cruz Maker Studios, located at 427 A. Swift Street in Santa Cruz. Session 1: May 27 & 29 (Two-Day Camp) Choose Your Mini Project – $144.00 This one day camp is designed for creative exploration and flexibility. Students choose a mini project based on their interests and skill level and spend the day designing, building, and finishing something they are excited about. Projects may include woodworking builds, simple robots, sewing projects, laser cut designs, or 3D printed creations. This session is a great introduction for new students and a fun option for returning makers looking to try something new. Session 2: June 1 – June 5 Arcades and Games – $720.00 Students step into the role of game designers and builders. Using woodworking, laser cutting, and 3D printing, campers create playable arcade style games such as a mini foosball table and mini-golf course. Others may design custom board games, chess boards and pieces,