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.
From the waves to the redwoods, it's all happening here.
Live music, festivals, art walks, surf contests, trail days and everything in between.
In-person only, on purpose. Everything here is something you can actually show up to. No screens, no streams.
★ Featured this season
★ Featured
Movie Night Under the Stars: Screening “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”
The DSAS Center for Leadership and Involvement and Summer Edge invite you to join us for our Movie Night Under the Stars event screening “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”: Date: Tuesday, July 28th Screening Time: Event entry begins at 7:30 p.m. | Movie starts at 8:00 p.m. Location: Stevenson College Knoll *Bring your own blanket! Limited chairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.* Free movie snacks will be available! For any questions or accommodations, please email [email protected] . You Belong Here: The programs and services described here are open to all, consistent with state and federal law, as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service, faculty program, or community event—is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and respectful of all identities. To learn more, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications .
★ Featured
Free Beach BBQ Parties and Concerts
Every Thursday throughout the summer, enjoy a family-friendly party on the beach at no charge! There will be local bands and DJs performing on the outdoor stage, providing music for dancing and socializing. There will be BBQ food and drinks for purchase all in a beachside setting providing stunning views of the ocean and Walton Lighthouse. Parking is limited in the area, so consider enjoying a free water taxi ride from other parking areas! 2026 Lineup: May 21, 2026: Sambada May 28, 2026: Space Heater June 4, 2026: James Durbin & The Lost Boys June 11, 2026: Ancestree June 18, 2026: Jive Machine June 25, 2026: Cake by the Ocean July 2, 2026: Ripatti Rose Band July 9, 2026: Extra Large July 16, 2026: Fishhook July 23, 2026: Harry & The Hitmen July 30, 2026: Matt Masih & The Messengers August 6, 2026: The Houserockers August 13, 2026: The Joint Chiefs August 20, 2026: La Familia August 27, 2026: Alex Lucero Band September 3, 2026: Sambada
Chamber Choir Now Auditioning
Beati Quorum, a new and growing Ensemble, is seeking new local members. Beati Quorum is a small, hybrid professional / volunteer ensemble based in Santa Cruz. We focus on a cappella singing, Renaissance through contemporary works, and collaborations with artists from our local network to international groups. Visit www.beatiquorum.org to set up an audition today.
Coming up
Bluegrass Jam Bazaar (Copy) (Copy)
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!
☀️ Happening today
Monday, July 2749 events on today. No plans required, just go.
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Filter by category, date, or area. Everything listed is in person, county-wide.
Showing 330 of 493 upcoming events · from 2026-07-26 · to 2026-08-02
SC Civic Auditorium: Festival of Contemporary Music
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.”
“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
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
“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
The Dickens Universe featuring ‘Bleak House’
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
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.
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.
A longer production of Moana Jr. with intensive rehearsal and performance experience.
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.
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.
July is Parks and Recreation Month | Community Mosaic Making
A community mosaic-making activity celebrating Parks and Recreation Month. Create art together in a park.
0 booked, 4 available Glazing
Earth Friendly Gardening Classes: Plant Selection
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
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.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Cable Car Beach Stroll
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!
Wing Chun martial arts classes with instructor Marcus at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, meeting multiple times per week.
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)
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
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.
FSSC - Beginner Bluegrass Slow Jam
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
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.
Two days of fun, kitchen specials, pop-ups, and music to celebrate how lucky we feel to have made it 7 years!
Step back into the golden era of ’70s pop-soul with Mark Van Haren—guitarist, vocalist, and lifelong devotee of the music that made AM radio magic. Raised on Stevie Wonder, Hall & Oates, Al Green, James Taylor, Steely Dan, Bill Withers, Bacharach, and the Beatles, Mark brings that era’s warmth, melody, and heart to life. His sets blend rich vocals, rhythmic guitar, and harmonically complex arrangements, mixing familiar-but-forgotten favorites like “Baby Come Back” with soulful deep cuts such as “Knocks Me Off My Feet.” Every song is chosen for connection—music that feels good, hits deep, and brings audiences together.
Spring Exhibitions at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences
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
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.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Redwood Loop Tour
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 SP: Redwood Grove Guided Walk
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!
Wilder Ranch State Park - Ranch History Tour
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]
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
Rite Life - A Writing Group Amongst the Dead
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!
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!
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.
Macbeth, presented by Santa Cruz Shakespeare
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
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.
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.
Cabrillo Crocker Theater: Sister Act, The Musical
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.
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!
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
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.
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).
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
Middle Dog began as a vision to create music defined by connection rather than confined by genre. Influenced by both the past (Jerry Garcia Band, Pink Floyd, Bobby Bland and Little Feat) and the present (Eggy, Phish, Bahamas, and King Gizzard), Middle Dog weaves together a tapestry of emotional lyrics, captivating melodies, and timeless grooves, offering a paw to all who wish to listen. Formed in 2022 by Evan Bachmann (guitar & vocals) and Paul Urrutia (drums & vocals), This vision came to life with the additions of Aiden Smith (bass & vocals) and Ben Kuperschmid (keys & sax), forming the band’s current lineup. Since hitting the stage, Middle Dog has performed at some of San Francisco’s most historic venues, including The Savoy Tivoli, The Faight, The Kilowatt, and The Golden Gate Park Bandshell. As they continue to write new music, refine their sound, and organically expand their fanbase, Middle Dog remains rooted in authenticity, keeping tails waggin’ with every note. Evan Bachmann - Guitar & Vocals Paul Urrutia - Drums & Vocals Aiden Smith - Bass Ben Kuperschmid - Keys & Sax
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.
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.
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.
Live bands – every Sunday at 5:00pm
A monthly open mic night at the 418 Project featuring music, theatre, and spoken word performances.
A theater production of the musical Dear Evan Hansen.
Open Mic
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
Silent meditation.
Improvised piano and acoustic stand-up bass for a fun evening.
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.
SC Beach Boardwalk: Evenings on the Colonnade
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,
Beginning Botany Summer Camp
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
World of Birds Summer Camp
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
The Dickens Universe featuring ‘Bleak House’
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
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!
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!
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 Certified Massage Therapist Program
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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
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!
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.
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.
July is Parks and Recreation Month | Loteria
A Loteria game session at the Watsonville Senior Center, part of Parks and Recreation Month celebrations.
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.
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.
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.
Elimination of “Duration of Status” Virtual Town Halls
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].
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!
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*
-Natalie
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
Open Mic w/ SteveV, every Monday
It's Monday Open Mic at the Ugly Mug! Sign ups at 5p Beer, Espresso Drinks and Desserts available
Monday, July 27th, come early for the line dance lessons and then enjoy a folk rock hoedown at SubRosa with...
Monday, July 27th, come early for the line dance lessons and then enjoy a folk rock hoedown at SubRosa with... * Bovine - ATX folk rock americana @___bovine___ ** Miriam Hacksaw - queer Malayali-American fiddler and banjoist from New Orleans @miriamhacksaw *** Towse - folk pop fairy @towselikehouse **** Gay Eldest Daughter - queer folk from the central coast @gayeldestdaughter ***** Big Tractor - honkytonk folk punk @bigtractormusic Doors/Dance lesson - 5:30pm & Music - 6:00pm // $10 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 Cente
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.
A theater production of the musical Dear Evan Hansen.
Motion Pacific: Adult Beginning Jazz Fusion
This is Motion Pacific's Beginning Jazz Fusion class for adult dancers.
Come join us! Mondays @ 6pm Yoga 7pm Meditation and Sound Healing ❤️🩹 $10 a class, no one will be turned away 🫶
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
1 booked, 15 available Sarah Orre
Queer & Trans Yoga Hosted by Sapphire Yoga Collective @ TDC
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
A weekly Afro-Brazilian dance class focusing on rhythm and movement.
Aidan Santa Cruz is a Santa Cruz native, pianist, vocalist, and lifelong lover of music. Over the years, he has performed with a variety of local artists and organizations, including the Kuumbwa Jazz Camp, the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival, Cabrillo College, Cabrillo Stage, and the Santa Cruz Symphony. Drawing inspiration from classical, jazz, world music, and everything in between, Aidan brings curiosity, creativity, and a deep appreciation for musical connection to every performance.
Indexical x Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music present: Sarah Hennies
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
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)
Ten minute time slots for spoken word, poetry, comedy, or solo/duet musical acts with Happy Hour prices at the bar. (No drum sets please.)
Audrey Stanley Grove: Shakespearian Actors Play Live DnD
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.
The SCS Cast Plays Dungeons & Dragons Live!
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
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.
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...
Come hang out in the secret garden and have some laughs, EVERY MONDAY NIGHT. Featuring comedians from all over the area and beyond.
Contact Improv dance session at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, offered weekly on Mondays.
SC Beach Boardwalk: Evenings on the Colonnade
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,
Summer Camp (ages 7-12) Santa Cruz Maker Studios
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,
The Dickens Universe featuring ‘Bleak House’
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
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!
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!
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.
Karaoke Sing-a-long Music Bingo Tea Party with Juno and Tara! - Wisdom Workshops @ TDC
Date: Every Tuesday, except Holidays Time: 10am - 12:00 pm Location: The Diversity Center Event Description: Join your community every Tuesday between 10am-12pm at the Diversity Center. Nic is ready with a different activity or workshop each week, and volunteers are on hand with snacks, beverages, and community. July Activities: July 7: Santa Cruz MAH Queer History Tour! To cap off Pride season, we are going to take a field trip to the MAH to visit the Queer Santa Cruz exhibit. Meet us at the MAH at 10:00 am (tour starts at 10:05). This event is free to attend. Carpooling is encouraged due to limited downtown parking. July 14: Trauma-informed Chair Yoga with Irene Easeful, playful, all-levels chair yoga July 21: Screaming Queens: The Riot of Compton’s Cafeteria documentary and discussion Watch a one hour documentary about the LGBTQ+ uprising in the Bay Area that happened 3 years before Stonewall and discuss afterwards July 28 : Karaoke Sing-a-long Music Bingo Tea Party with Juno and Ta
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.
Tuesday, July 28 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm Join us Tuesdays at Aptos Library to learn, play, and compete in Backgammon! All skill levels welcome - enjoy strategy, fun, and friendly competition in a relaxed social setting.
Tuesday, July 28 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm Are you stuck with a technology question? You can make a free appointment with a tech savvy library staff member!
Tuesday, July 28 2026 10:00am - 3:00pm Providing equitable care with a monthly visit on the 4th Tuesday of the month to the Boulder Creek Branch Library.
Tuesday, July 28 2026 10:30am - 11:30am Baby Story Time is a sweet introduction to stories, songs, rhymes, and lap play, thoughtfully designed to nurture early literacy and bonding.
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.
Tuesday, July 28 2026 11:00am - 11:45am Come join Librarian Emily for stories, songs, and lots of fun for toddlers and their caregivers in our beautiful, newly-renovated Scotts Valley Library Branch every Tuesday at 11am.
Tuesday, July 28 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm Puppets, Songs and toys, Oh My!
0 booked, 4 available Glazing
Tuesday, July 28 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm Engaging audiences of all ages, Circus of Smiles incorporates juggling, acrobatics, music, and feats of incredible strength.
Tuesday, July 28 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm Housing navigation services for people experiencing homelessness.
July is Parks and Recreation Month | Youth Basketball Camp
A youth basketball camp during Parks and Recreation Month, offering skill development and fun for young players.
WATERCOLOR FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS AND RECOVERING PERFECTIONISTS (4/4)
1 booked, 7 available Maria Ayllon
Conversations in Español - Community club to foster fluency
Tuesday, July 28 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm This club is designed for intermediate-level participants, so if you're just starting out, you might find it a bit challenging at first.
The Felton Farmers’ Market is a treasured weekly gathering place – started in 1987 it is the second longest running market in Santa Cruz County. SCCFM took over operations in 2009 and our team has developed deep ties to the community. Every Tuesday a quality collection of regional farms and food businesses throw up their tents to sell a colorful array of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, artisanal bread, seafood and other staple foods. Connecting residents directly with local farms, the Felton Market is an essential part of the regional food system as well as a resource for nutritious organic foods and basic agricultural education.
Audrey Stanley Grove: Live Drama in the Redwoods
Santa Cruz Shakespeare invites you to experience August Wilson’s Fences, under the trees and stars of the Audrey Stanley Grove in Santa Cruz’s DeLaveaga Park this summer. Fences By August Wilson Directed by Susan Dalian August Wilson joins the Santa Cruz Shakespeare stage for the first time in 45 years. Fences is the perfect offering, wonderfully in line with the Santa Cruz Shakespeare season’s theme: Till Death Do Us Part. Troy Maxson is one of Wilson’s great creations; Shakespearean in scope; a wordsmith and brilliant storyteller. He has survived the terrible trauma of his past and built himself a good life. But the backbone of that life, the spine that keeps it standing strong, is his wife Rose. Like all of Wilson’s best work, Fences is both mythic and intimate; the questions it asks both human and eternal. Fences runs July 28 – August 28. Tickets available for purchase starting May 1. More information through the link in the orange button above. Seasonal box office hours beginning May 1 are Tuesday through Friday from 12p.m. to 4p.m. Call the number above.
Santa Cruz Shakespeare's Fences
August Wilson joins the Santa Cruz Shakespeare stage for the first time in 45 years. Fences is the perfect offering, wonderfully in line with the season’s theme: Till Death Do Us Part. Troy Maxson is one of Wilson’s great creations; Shakespearean in scope; a wordsmith and brilliant storyteller. He has survived the terrible trauma of his past and built himself a good life. But the backbone of that life, the spine that keeps it standing strong, is his wife Rose. Like all of Wilson’s best work, Fences is both mythic and intimate; the questions it asks both human and eternal. Fences runs July 28 – August 28. Tickets available for purchase starting May 1. More information at https://santacruzshakespeare.org/tickets/ Seasonal box office hours beginning May 1 are Tuesday through Friday from 12p.m. to 4p.m. Call 831-460-6399.
R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ Live Oak
Tuesday, July 28 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713
R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @Garfield Park
Tuesday, July 28 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713
Step into a realm of revitalization at our pharmacy, where we proudly introduce our exclusive hydration injection services. Designed to replenish your body’s essential fluids and nutrients swiftly and effectively, our hydration injections offer a rejuvenating experience that goes beyond traditional methods. Our skilled and caring professionals utilize cutting-edge techniques to administer a customized blend of hydration, vitamins, and minerals directly into your system, ensuring a rapid and targeted response. Whether you’re seeking a post-workout boost, recovering from illness, or simply aiming to enhance your overall well-being, our hydration injections provide a quick and convenient solution. Experience the transformative power of hydration at our pharmacy, where health and vitality converge for a renewed and invigorated you.
Tuesday, July 28 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm Come and make dried flower creations.
Tuesday, July 28 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm Make and explore STEAM possibilities at Scotts Valley Branch Library!
Kids Class: Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian Dance
Weekly kids' classes in traditional hula and Tahitian dance, led by Te Hau Nui School at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz.
Tuesday, July 28 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm Aptos Youth Chess Club. Open to players ages 6 to 18 with knowledge of basic rules (how the pieces move). Instructor is Chess Master Dana Mackenzie.
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!
Kaika Class: Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian Dance
Weekly hula and Tahitian dance class at The 418 Project. Learn traditional Hawaiian and Polynesian dance in a supportive environment.
Tuesday, July 28 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm Practice reading to a trained therapy dog! Registration is required.
Wing Chun martial arts classes with instructor Marcus at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, meeting multiple times per week.
A theater production of the musical Dear Evan Hansen.
Tuesday, July 28 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm Practice reading to a trained therapy dog! Registration is required.
Get the feeling you’ve been here before? That’s not just déjà vu, that’s past-life memories trying to surface so you can heal and get closure on forgotten events. This workshop will train you how to initiate your own past-life regression and discover who you are through who you’ve been. Learn about loved ones, friends, enemies and frenemies to resolve tensions, deepen spiritual bonds and fulfill a purpose. We will experience auto-hypnotherapy with post hypnotic suggestions for your own self-hypnosis regression work. Learn how Tarot and other modalities are used to enhance regression work. Everyone you are close to is someone you have a past with beyond and before this lifetime. You are the sum total of every event, thought and feeling of multiple lifetimes.
A weekly music jam session in downtown Santa Cruz, featuring lights and fun for all musicians.
Get ready for an awesome evening of folk music with...
Tuesday, July 28th, get ready for an awesome evening of folk music with... * Miriam Hacksaw - queer Malayali-American fiddler and banjoist from New Orleans @miriamhacksaw ** Hannah Mayree - banjoist activating and co-creating with the Black Banjo Reclamation Project @hannah_mayree *** Song-Ha **** Gay Eldest Daughter - folk music from Santa Cruz as queer as her banjo is long @gayeldestdaughter Doors - 6:00pm & Music - 7:00pm // $10-15 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 co
Welcome back to Tuesday Night Live at the Wharf Common’s stage! Every 2 nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, head to the Wharf for live music and additional shows from 6 to 8pm. Check out Wharf Business pop ups, or make a dinner reservation before the shows. Be sure to bring a chair or wear your dancing shoes! May 26, 2026: SambaDá June 9, 2026: The Viva Santana Show June 23: 2026: The Unauthorized Rolling Stones July 14: 2026: Sweet VooDoo July 28: The Lost Boys Featuring James Durbin August 11, 2026: Santa Cruda August 25, 2026: The Joint Chiefs September 8, 2026: Extra Large After parties after every show will take place upstairs at Vino by the Sea !
5 booked, 2 available Kathryn Pierno
Neighbors for Neighbors: Belonging Builds Community - Branciforte
Join us for Neighbors for Neighbors: Belonging Builds Community, presented by Housing Matters in partnership with Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Neighbors for Neighbors is a welcoming space where community members, both housed and unhoused, can connect, share experiences, and learn from one another. The format for our meetings focuses on building community. The discussion is an active participatory experience. To register visit: https://housingmatterssc.org/event/neighbors-for-neighbors-branciforte/ https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/15509572
Tuesday, July 28 2026 6:00pm - 7:30pm Join us for Neighbors for Neighbors: Belonging Builds Community, presented by Housing Matters in partnership with Santa Cruz Public Libraries.
Jon Dryden is a pianist/keyboardist/composer currently residing in Northern California. He graduated from the Berklee College of Music and moved to Brooklyn, NY, where he spent nineteen years as a professional musician. He performed or recorded with Norah Jones, David Byrne. Regina Carter, Lenny White, Natalie Merchant, Paula Cole, Charlie Louvin, Gaby Moreno, Madeline Peyroux, Sara Ramirez, and many others. Dryden appeared on The Chappelle Show and contributed music to film and television. He has released two piano trio albums, both recorded in New York: Memento Mori (2020) and Trio (2022). Trio was produced by Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Jesse Harris. His next release Some of My Lies Are True, also produced by Harris) will drop on June 19th, 2026.
Trivia Night at Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
Hugging Porcupines Productions presents Trivia Night, every Tuesday evening at Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing. Trivia is always free to play. Grab your team and challenge yourself to 6 rounds of fun trivia.
A concert of works performed by the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra penned by four under-30 composers and conducted by emerging conductors, all participating in the Conductors/Composers Workshop. FREE! This year in residence are four early-career composers, Oswald Huỳnh, Kai Kubota-Enright, Paul Novak, and Zoe Verduin, participating in the Festival’s prestigious Conductors/Composers Workshop. Composers are mentored by artists in residence and will have their pieces performed by the Festival Orchestra, led by Conducting Fellows also participating in the workshop, and culminating with the “In the Works” concert. Historically, only three composers are selected, but this year marks an expansion with a fourth composer selected in partnership with Missy Mazzoli and Ellen Reid’s Luna Composition Lab supporting young female and nonbinary composers.
0 booked, 7 available
As with everything we do, we bring the fun! This isn’t your average ordinary trivia. It’s “Bruno’s Style”. We sing, we play instruments, we dance and we drink. Fill up on Tacos and Margs and get ready for a night of fun! If you’re looking for a quiet night with boring trivia for the brainiacs you won’t find it at Bruno’s. With musical clues for our players – we have the most fun trivia around. We turn the music up loud and we make a lot of noise! It’s free to play with prizes for the winners. With $3 tacos and the buy a Margarita or Modelo and get a free taco deal, you’re going to have a great night at the best bar in town. Bring your friends and form a team or come by yourself and make some new friends, you’ll have a blast!
Santa Cruz Civic Center: Cabrillo Festival Performance
A concert of works performed by the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra penned by four under-30 composers and conducted by emerging conductors. FREE! This year in residence are four early-career composers, Oswald Huỳnh, Kai Kubota-Enright, Paul Novak, and Zoe Verduin, participating in the Festival’s prestigious Conductors/Composers Workshop. Composers are mentored by artists in residence and will have their pieces performed by the Festival Orchestra, led by Conducting Fellows also participating in the workshop, and culminating with the “In the Works” concert. Historically, only three composers are selected, but this year marks an expansion with a fourth composer selected in partnership with Missy Mazzoli and Ellen Reid’s Luna Composition Lab supporting young female and nonbinary composers.
Rainbow Sangha at Insight Meditation Center (Outside Community Event)
Rainbow Sangha Sit, on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, 7:00 - 8:30 pm. The Rainbow Sangha group offers a safer space for individuals who identify as queer, non-binary, transgender, lesbian, bisexual, trans*, gay, intersex, questioning, and others who identify outside of cisgender, heterosexual mainstream culture. Please see more information on the Rainbow Sangha page at Insight Santa Cruz . .
Born in Havana and now based in Switzerland, composer, violinist and singer Yilian Cañizares comes from a classical foundation but launched her professional career in jazz leading the Ochumare Quartet. She released two albums with the group in 2009 and 2011. From there, Cañizares continued as a solo artist, with three albums to her credit. She has also collaborated on record with acclaimed Cuban pianist Omar Sosa on a pair of releases, including a 2019 release, Live at Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg. Cañizares’ vocals are delivered variously in French, Spanish and Yoruba, and she often plays violin while she is singing. -Bill Kopp; Good Times Santa Cruz
Movie Night Under the Stars: Screening “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”
The DSAS Center for Leadership and Involvement and Summer Edge invite you to join us for our Movie Night Under the Stars event screening “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”: Date: Tuesday, July 28th Screening Time: Event entry begins at 7:30 p.m. | Movie starts at 8:00 p.m. Location: Stevenson College Knoll *Bring your own blanket! Limited chairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.* Free movie snacks will be available! For any questions or accommodations, please email [email protected] . You Belong Here: The programs and services described here are open to all, consistent with state and federal law, as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service, faculty program, or community event—is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and respectful of all identities. To learn more, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications .
Free live music every Tuesday night with the Del Mar Trio at Callahan's in Santa Cruz.
SC Beach Boardwalk: Evenings on the Colonnade
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,
Join us for Trivia Tuesdays at Discretion! Every Tuesday 6:30-8:00pm Hosted by Michael Cahalan Pair one of our 16 beers on tap with some lively Trivia, every Tuesday at 6:30pm. No sign-ups required - just come a little early to snag a table in the beer garden. Free to play | Prizes | Up to 6 per team
Summer Camp (ages 7-12) Santa Cruz Maker Studios
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 Shakespeare Family Days
Santa Cruz Shakespeare Family Days Santa Cruz Shakespeare is hosting Family Days with performances of Much Ado About Nothing on July 29 and Aug. 5. Kids age 12 and under are FREE with a paid adult ticket. Gates open at 10am show at noon. Prior to the performance, families can enjoy on-site activities and lunch at the Audrey Stanley Grove at DeLaveaga Park santacruzshakespeare.org/plan/familydays
The Dickens Universe featuring ‘Bleak House’
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
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!
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!
Horses are deeply attuned to nonverbal cues; our posture, breath, and inner state shape how they respond. When we’re centered, they notice. This gentle, horse aligned class explores the power of posture—and how we show up . Through foundational Pilates-based movement, you’ll deepen postural alignment, improve stability, and cultivate a calm, grounded presence.No experience needed.$10/class Free with membership: https://beyondliberty.org/groupwellnessmembership
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.
July is Parks and Recreation Month | Arts & Crafts with Grandchildren
Arts and crafts sessions for grandparents and grandchildren at Watsonville Senior Center. Part of Parks and Recreation Month activities.
Wednesday, July 29 2026 9:00am - 3:00pm Dignity Mobile Wellness Clinic and Santa Cruz Public Libraries are partnering to offer services that support the health of patrons with weekly Wednesday visits to the Scotts Valley branch library.
A free weekly dance jam for babies and their caregivers at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, with movement, music, and play in a joyful environment.
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.
GARDEN TOTEMS: HANDBUILDING (4/5)
0 booked, 14 available Noelle Lightbourne
A gentle, body-led practice to release tension, unwind fascia, and reconnect with your body’s natural balance and ease.
Join us and learn about seed saving from a Master Gardener! We will cover essential techniques for collecting, cleaning, drying, and storing seeds from vegetables and flowers, focusing on sustainability and selecting the best plants for future, climate-adapted generations. This hands-on session will include plant selection appropriate for seed saving, pollination, identifying mature seeds, processing techniques and proper storage conditions to ensure viability. Community-led Learning Bio: Delise Weir is a Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver who worked at Shepherd’s Seeds in Felton for 5 years after graduating from UCSC’s Environmental Studies program. She currently sits on the board of the Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden.
Have you ever lost a listing, and when you saw who they hired you thought "they hired that guy?! He's an idiot!". Then this is for you!
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)
CEO Works Luncheon | How to Run A Sustainable Venture Backed Business
Learn from seasoned entrepreneur Toby Corey who has led three $1B businesses, navigated two IPOs, and raised over $300m
Wednesday, July 29 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm Join us and learn about seed saving from a Master Gardener!
Preschool Storytime @ the Garfield Park Branch Library
Wednesday, July 29 2026 10:30am - 11:00am Join us at the Garfield Park Branch Library for Storytime!
Toddler & Preschool Storytime at Boulder Creek
Wednesday, July 29 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm Come join us for stories, songs, and lots of fun for toddlers, preschoolers and their caregivers in our beautiful Boulder Creek Library Branch every Wednesday at 11am.
Wednesday, July 29 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm Join us for Story Time featuring songs, rhymes, and stories designed to help preschoolers develop early literacy skills.
Wednesday, July 29 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm Join us for great stories followed by a hands-on craft.
Spring Exhibitions at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences
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
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!
Audrey Stanley Grove: Much Ado About Nothing
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.
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.
Dance for Parkinson’s at Motion Pacific is a class for people with Parkinson’s Disease and their caretakers. The class is based on the innovative and internationally renowned Dance for PD® program designed by the Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson Group. Trained Dance for Parkinson’s teachers use prompts and multiple dance styles to inspire movement, creative expression, and community. Dancers may sit in a chair, use a barre, or stand. Dance for Parkinson’s at Motion Pacific is open and free to the public. Classes are appropriate for anyone with Parkinson’s, no matter how advanced. Movement modifications will be made available and there is no dance experience required. Dance for Parkinson’s is offered every Wednesday from 1:00pm to 2:15pm, with the exception of the first Wednesday of the month, during which class is not held. Classes are offered in-person, in the Lobby at The 418 Project.
Wednesday, July 29 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm Engaging audiences of all ages, Circus of Smiles incorporates juggling, acrobatics, music, and feats of incredible strength.
Wednesday, July 29 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm Make and explore STEAM possibilities at Boulder Creek Branch Library!
Every week we will have a new project idea for you to build or explore. Projects will include Science, Arts & Crafts, including model building, and exploration of the environment around us. Children will need an adult present to help them. Expect to get messy!
Wednesday, July 29 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm Every week we will have a new project idea for you to build or explore.
R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ Branciforte
Wednesday, July 29 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713
R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ Boulder Creek
Wednesday, July 29 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713.
R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ La Selva Beach
Wednesday, July 29 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713
Every Wed from 4 to 8 pm at our Downtown Santa Cruz Tasting Room + Wine Bar Join us for a night of wigging out in Downtown Santa Cruz! Wear a wig, and we’ll have a surprise for you. We’ll play cool music, games, trivia, and much more! Let’s wig out and keep Santa Cruz weird! Wig Out Wednesday Special: 2 empanadas and a glass of wine (Riesling, Rose, or Homestead) for $19.
R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ Capitola
Wednesday, July 29 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713
Wednesday, July 29 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm Learn how to craft, build, and survive in the world of Minecraft.edu. Ages 8 to 18
BioCharger & Vibrational Sound Table Healing Happy Hour
Take a midweek pause and recharge your energy ✨ Join us for BioCharger & Vibrational Sound Table Healing Happy Hour—a unique experience designed to support relaxation, recovery, and energetic balance. This drop-in session allows you to unwind, reset your nervous system, and leave feeling refreshed and aligned. 🕒 Wednesdays | 4:30–6:00 PM 💲 $25 per session ⚠️ Limited to 15 spots—reserve early
Wednesday, July 29 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm Lego Fun for Kids
A weekly beginning hip hop house dance class. Participants will learn foundational movements, rhythms, and combinations in a structured, studio setting.
Gay Beach Volleyball (Outside Community Series)
Santa Cruz Gay Beach Volleyball Date : Wednesdays, last session October 28 Time : 5:30 - 10:00 pm Location : Main Beach Court 16 (across from La Bahia) Cost : Free Santa Cruz Gay Beach Volleyball has been fabulizing Main Beach since 1979. We meet at 5:30 pm on Main Beach Court 16 (across from La Bahia) every Wednesday evening during Daylight Saving Time and play till it's too dark or too cold or we're just hungry. All skill levels - including no skill at all - are welcome. We're here to have fun, connect and yes, sometimes even play surprisingly good volleyball. Socializing on the sidelines is often as busy as the playing on our courts. Afterwards we head to dinner at a local restaurant or sometimes a potluck. Free to participate. ALL (yes, we mean you!) are welcome. Come out and play! .
A regular tango class in Downtown Santa Cruz, offering a way to learn Latin dance in a social, cultural setting.
MUD SLINGING: BEGINNING WHEEL THROWING (1/4)
0 booked, 6 available Chris Finnie
Fabrica Mending Night
Bring chairs, jackets, a picnic supper, and the family to enjoy free live music and the sunset! Concerts begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and take place at the Esplanade bandstand. Visit local restaurants and pick up dinner to go and enjoy a picnic at the beach! Suggested to bring low back chairs or picnic blanket for seating. *No dogs or alcohol in the park or on the beach. 2026 Lineup: June 3, 2026: Rockin’ Big Band Blues with The Delta Wires June 10, 2026: Surf/Garage Rock with The Trestles June 24, 2026: Originals and Quirky Covers with Coffee Zombie Collective July 1, 2026: Fun Rock’n Party Music with Spun July 8, 2026: Classic Rock with B-Movie Kings July 15, 2026: Top 40/Dance 70’s through today with Mercy & The Heartbeats July 22, 2026: Funky Mostly Original Pop with Extra Large July 29, 2026: Latin Rock & Salsa with Santa Cruz Latin Collective August 5, 2026: R&B, Soul & Funk with The Joint Chiefs Band August 12, 2026: Top 40’s Dance with The Peelers August 19, 2026: Oldies Dance Band with The Digbeats
Have you ever had the chance to attend a live puppet show? Join us for a classic retelling of "Jack and the Beanstalk" brought to life by Fratello Marionettes on Wednesday, July 29 at 6:30pm at the Main Library. This program will be presented in English and the intended audience is families. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. ESPAÑOL ¿Alguna vez has tenido la oportunidad de asistir a un espectáculo de marionetas en vivo? Se le invita a una presentación para una versión clásica de "Jack y las Habichuelas Mágicas" que será presentada por Fratello Marionettes el miércoles, 29 de julio a las 6:30pm en la Biblioteca Principal. Este programa se presentará en inglés y la audiencia prevista son las familias. Los asientos estarán disponibles por orden de llegada.
A weekly event at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, focused on setup activities. Details are sparse.
Motion Pacific: Advanced Contemporary Jazz
This is Motion Pacific's Advanced Contemporary Jazz Dance class for adults.
Santa Cruz is known near and far for its surfing legacy, but there is another water sport that finds a niche on our coast, with a similarly devoted following. Sailboats dot the waves almost as frequently as surf boards here, benefiting from the tides and currents that make this beach town so special. So it is no surprise that the Santa Cruz Harbor and the Santa Cruz Yacht Club have become a nexus for the sailing community, with a calendar packed with activities and a weekly regatta, which brings out even the biggest land lover to admire the race every Wednesday.
Trivia every Wednesday! Hosted at Front and Cooper inside of Abbott Square Market Go test your knowledge, win some prizes and have some hand crafted cocktails! Brought to you by Hugging Porcupines Productions
The Mark Van Haren Trio performs live.
A weekly evening of tango in Santa Cruz, offering a chance to learn, dance, and connect with a new community.
A live alternative rock performance at a Santa Cruz restaurant and bar, featuring a band known for their energetic shows.
Audrey Stanley Grove: Live Drama in the Redwoods
Santa Cruz Shakespeare invites you to experience August Wilson’s Fences, under the trees and stars of the Audrey Stanley Grove in Santa Cruz’s DeLaveaga Park this summer. Fences By August Wilson Directed by Susan Dalian August Wilson joins the Santa Cruz Shakespeare stage for the first time in 45 years. Fences is the perfect offering, wonderfully in line with the Santa Cruz Shakespeare season’s theme: Till Death Do Us Part. Troy Maxson is one of Wilson’s great creations; Shakespearean in scope; a wordsmith and brilliant storyteller. He has survived the terrible trauma of his past and built himself a good life. But the backbone of that life, the spine that keeps it standing strong, is his wife Rose. Like all of Wilson’s best work, Fences is both mythic and intimate; the questions it asks both human and eternal. Fences runs July 28 – August 28. Tickets available for purchase starting May 1. More information through the link in the orange button above. Seasonal box office hours beginning May 1 are Tuesday through Friday from 12p.m. to 4p.m. Call the number above.
Moes Alley presents psych-soul favorites Monophonics with Miami-based Lemon City Trio! Wednesday, July 29, 2026Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm$30 in advance / $35 day of the show21+*Tickets on sale Friday, May 1st at 10am PT** 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====MONOPHONICSThe worlds premier psychedelic soul band, Monophonics, cordially invites you to attend the grand re-opening of the once thriving, once vibrant establishment, the legendary Sage Motel. A place where folks experience the highs and lows of human existence. A place where big dreams and broken hearts live, where people arrive without ever knowing how they got there. Its where individuals find themselves at a crossroads in life.LEMON CITY TRIOLemon City Trio formed as a soul jazz organ trio, and has since evolved into a band with its own sound and unique repertoire. The band hails from Miami, Fl and has made a name for itself throughout the state, and up the east coast. Ranging from edgy fusion grooves, to dreamy space Rock, and everything in between, LCT takes its audience on a journey from start to finish.
SC Beach Boardwalk: Evenings on the Colonnade
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,
Summer Camp (ages 7-12) Santa Cruz Maker Studios
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,
Enjoy Discretion on a boat! For schedule of beer cruises & tickets, visit the links below. We'll see you out on the ocean… Chardonnay Sailing Charters Discretion sails on 5/27, 8/26, 9/16, 10/21 O'Neill Yacht Charters Discretion sails on 6/27, 7/30, 8/9, 9/19, 10/11
The Dickens Universe featuring ‘Bleak House’
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
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!
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!
BEGINNING/INTERMEDIATE SEWING (1/6)
1 booked, 8 available Katy Kenyon-Abel
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.
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.
0 booked, 4 available Glazing
It’s storytime in the park with an exciting twist—bikes. Join us for storytime and stay at the park for a special bike series hosted by Ecology Action. These programs will take place at 10:30am at Callaghan Park (225 Sudden St) on the following dates: July 16: Bike rodeo on the basketball courts July 23: Bike safety talk with the SC Bike Team July 30: Family bike ride with the SC Bike Team Bring blankets, hats, and sunscreen. Biking is optional. All participants who want to ride must have a parent signed waiver and be fitted with a helmet before biking. Audience: Children aged 0-5 and their caregivers. ESPAÑOL Es la hora de cuentos en el parque, pero con un toque divertido: las bicicletas. Acompáñanos a la hora de cuentos y quédate en el parque para disfrutar de una serie especial de actividades con bicicletas organizadas por Ecology Action. Estos programas se llevarán a cabo a las 10:30am en el Parque Callaghan (225 Sudden St) las siguientes fechas: 16 de julio: Rodeo en bicicleta en las canchas de básquetbol 23 de julio: Charla sobre seguridad en bicicleta con SC Bike Team 30 de julio: Paseo familiar en bicicleta con SC Bike Team No se le olvide traer cobijas, sombreros y protector solar. Montar en bicicleta es opcional. Todos los participantes que quieran montar deben traer un casco puesto, y sus padres deben firmar una exención de responsabilidad. Audiencia: Niños de 0 a 5 años y sus cuidadores.
Elimination of “Duration of Status” Virtual Town Halls
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].
Get ready to dance, sing, and play with Cascada de Flores! Original stories told in Spanish & English, using song, musical instruments, dance, theater, and traditional Mexican & Latin American cultures. Families are invited to sing, dance, and play with beautiful traditional songs and dances. ¡Prepárate para bailar, cantar y jugar con Cascada de Flores! Relatos originales contados en inglés y español, utilizando canción, instrumentos musicales, danza, teatro y culturas tradicionales mexicanas y latinoamericanas. Se invita a las familias a cantar, bailar y jugar con hermosas canciones y bailes tradicionales. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16193825
Join us for an inside look at one of Santa Cruz County's most innovative companies and the remarkable women helping to build it. This event opens with a presentation on Joby Aviation: Who we are, how we got here, and where we're headed as we work to bring sustainable electric air travel to the world. From our founding story to our mission, values, and culture, you'll leave with a clear picture of what makes Joby one of the most exciting companies in the country and right here in our own community.
Guided Mindfulness for Queers and Friends Hosted by TDC @ TDC
Well-being offering: Guided Mindfulness Group Date: Weekly on Thursdays Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Location: The Diversity Center 1117 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz Ages: Adults and teens welcome Cost: FREE Program description: Give your brain a break, and reconnect with the present moment, using guided breathing and mindfulness techniques. All LGBTQ+ people and allies are welcome. If you have questions about this well-being offering, please contact Tara Maxon, Wellbeing Coordinator, at: [email protected] View our Community Agreements for Diversity Center groups.
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.
Thursday, July 30 2026 10:30am - 11:30am Get ready to dance, sing, and play with Cascada de Flores! ¡Prepárate para bailar, cantar y jugar con Cascada de Flores!
Thursday, July 30 2026 10:30am - 11:30am For ages 0-5
Rules Are Not Neutral: Play As Sense-Making, Acts Of Resistance, And Imagining Otherwise
This exhibition brings together a range of analog games – including board, card, role-playing, and other participatory works – that engage social and political realities in different ways. The works span widely circulated commercial games to independently produced projects, one-of-a-kind artworks by artists, faculty, alumni, and students, and materials drawn from UC Santa Cruz Special Collections and Archives. In part, the exhibition challenges the persistent assumption that games and play are detached from social and political life. On the contrary, game designers and artists across diverse perspectives and positions have long used play to engage questions of social systems, lived experience, and how power operates. This exhibition does not attempt to represent that full spectrum. Instead, it brings together a particular set of works that foreground how games can make systems visible, intervene in them, and imagine alternatives. All games embody values, whether intentional or not. – Mary Flanagan , game designer and scholar Across all of these works, games are not only forms of entertainment, though they may be that as well. They are encountered in multiple ways: as objects, as systems, as artworks, and as experiences that unfold unpredictably through interaction. In each case, rules and constraints shape what participants can do. In these different forms, the works stage systems – such as housing and land ownership, capitalism, race and identity, civil rights and protest, fascism, and colonialism – in ways that are simplified and easy to see, opening space to recognize similar structures beyond the game. In this sense, the works suggest that rules are not neutral – they organize experience, distribute power, and produce meaning. Games are the art of agency. – C. Thi Nguyen , philosopher The exhibition is intentionally dense. This abundance reflects the breadth of ways games operate across contexts, from activism and education to art and everyday life. While it cel
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!
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.
Spring Exhibitions at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences
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
Thursday, July 30 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm Songs and Stories
Step into the MAH's Archives Reading Room during our weekly Open Archives hours. Meet the archivist, see a unique item from the collection on display, and discover where Santa Cruz history is preserved. Please note: Open Archives is an informal drop-in experience, not a time for in-depth research appointments. If you'd like to schedule research time, please contact us in advance by email or phone. We usually pop open the archives every week-though every now and then we take a break. For more information, email [email protected]
July is Parks and Recreation Month | Free Swim Thursdays
Free swim Thursdays in July at the Watsonville High School Pool in celebration of Parks and Recreation Month. A cool way to enjoy summer.
Elimination of “Duration of Status” Virtual Town Halls
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].
Get ready to dance, sing, and play with Cascada de Flores! Original stories told in Spanish & English, using song, musical instruments, dance, theater, and traditional Mexican & Latin American cultures. Families are invited to sing, dance, and play with beautiful traditional songs and dances. ¡Prepárate para bailar, cantar y jugar con Cascada de Flores! Relatos originales contados en inglés y español, utilizando canción, instrumentos musicales, danza, teatro y culturas tradicionales mexicanas y latinoamericanas. Se invita a las familias a cantar, bailar y jugar con hermosas canciones y bailes tradicionales. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16233495
Far West Fungi’s Santa Cruz Store & Café is launching Myco-Mixers – Enjoy an afternoon of food, fun, and fungi! Each Myco-Mixer will feature complimentary bites, product samples, and happy hour discounts on café favorites. Guests can meet the Far West Fungi team, learn about unique mushroom products, and discover new flavors to take home. Head Far West in Santa Cruz each week to taste house-made tacos, explore featured products, and find your new favorite mushroom treats. Whether you’re a foodie, mushroom enthusiast, or just looking for a fun Thursday outing, Myco-Mixers are the perfect way to experience local one-of-a-kind flavors!
Thursday, July 30 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm Creativity time for teens and tweens at the library!
Thursday, July 30 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm Get ready to dance, sing, and play with Cascada de Flores! ¡Prepárate para bailar, cantar y jugar con Cascada de Flores!
Thursday, July 30 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm Play Mahjong with fellow enthusiasts! Beginners welcome with weekly Hong Kong Style lessons. Other styles offered too. Tiles provided or bring your own.
Thursday, July 30 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713
R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ Downtown
Thursday, July 30 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713
Thursday, July 30 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713.
Join us for Yappy Hours in the Kincentricity Garden every last Thursday of the month! Meet the pups that are up for adoption (paperwork to fill out onsite), sip on a few "Barktinis", and enjoy furry-friend festivities like the option for dogs to make their very own paw paintings!
Thursday, July 30 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm Learn how to craft, build, and survive in the world of Minecraft.edu.
Thursday, July 30 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713
Thursday, July 30 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm Bring your decks and get ready to play
Thursday, July 30 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm Make and explore STEAM possibilities at Felton Branch Library! Age 6+
¡Prepárate para bailar, cantar y jugar con Cascada de Flores! Relatos originales contados en inglés y español, utilizando canción, instrumentos musicales, danza, teatro y culturas tradicionales mexicanas y latinoamericanas. Se invita a las familias a cantar, bailar y jugar con hermosas canciones y bailes tradicionales. Get ready to dance, sing, and play with Cascada de Flores! Original stories told in Spanish & English, using song, musical instruments, dance, theater, and traditional Mexican & Latin American cultures. Families are invited to sing, dance, and play with beautiful traditional songs and dances. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16225700 https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16233495
¡Prepárate para bailar, cantar y jugar con Cascada de Flores! Relatos originales contados en inglés y español, utilizando canción, instrumentos musicales, danza, teatro y culturas tradicionales mexicanas y latinoamericanas. Se invita a las familias a cantar, bailar y jugar con hermosas canciones y bailes tradicionales. Get ready to dance, sing, and play with Cascada de Flores! Original stories told in Spanish & English, using song, musical instruments, dance, theater, and traditional Mexican & Latin American cultures. Families are invited to sing, dance, and play with beautiful traditional songs and dances. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16225700 https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16233495
Tech Café: iPad Stop Motion Movies
Learn to create stop-motion movies using iPads at Watsonville Main Library. Part of a weekly Tech Cafe series.
Are you interested in learning about technology? Visit us during our weekly Tech Café program where you have the opportunity to get basic tech-related questions answered and test a new piece of technology. This program will take place on Thursdays from 4:30-6:30pm at the Main Library (unless otherwise indicated). The technology we demo will change each month; here is a list of what technology will be featured: - January (program starts on the 15th): Doodle Pens - February: Makey Makeys (circuit boards) - March: 3D Printer - April: Spheros (programmable robots) - May: Cricut - June: Glowforge - laser cutter (This program will take place at the Freedom Branch) - July: iPad Stop Motion movies - August: Spheros (programmable robots) - September: 3D Printer - October: Doodle Pens - November: Cricut - December: Makey Makeys (circuit boards) Audience: All Ages ¿Le interesa aprender sobre tecnología? Visítanos durante nuestro programa semanal Tech Café, donde tendrás la oportunidad de obtener respuestas a preguntas básicas relacionadas con la tecnología y probar una nueva tecnología. Este programa se llevará a cabo los jueves de 4:30 a 6:30pm en la Biblioteca Principal (a menos que se indique otro horario o lugar). La tecnología que mostraremos cambiará cada mes; las tecnologías que se presentarán: - enero (el programa comienza el día 15): Doodle Pens - febrero: Makey Makeys (placas de circuitos) - marzo: Impresora 3D - abril: Spheros (robots programables) - mayo: Cricut - junio: Glowforge - cortadora láser (este programa se llevará a cabo en la sucursal Freedom) - julio: iPad Stop Motion (películas) - agosto: Spheros (robots programables) - septiembre: Impresora 3D - octubre: Doodle Pens - noviembre: Cricut - diciembre: Makey Makeys (placas de circuitos) Audiencia: Para todas las edades
Thursday, July 30 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm Stop by each week for a new creative craft.
Business After Hours: K&D Landscaping - 40th Anniversary Event!
Join the Santa Cruz Area Chamber for Business After Hours on July 30 from 5:00–7:00 PM at K&D Landscaping in Watsonville. Network with fellow business professionals, enjoy a relaxed evening of conversation, and experience a unique behind-the-scenes look at a local business. The evening will also include a special 40th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting celebrating K&D Landscape’s milestone year. Help us commemorate this exciting achievement while building connections with the Chamber’s vibrant business community. We look forward to celebrating with you!
A weekly Congo dance class in Santa Cruz. Participants learn traditional African dance movements in a group setting at The 418 Project.
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.
K & D Landscaping 40th Year Anniversary Ribbon Cutting
A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the 40th anniversary of a landscaping business. Open to the community.
Persephone Restaurant Thursday Night Pasta Special
Every Thursday along with our regular menu we offer a prix fixe pasta dinner! Enjoy three courses starting with a fresh farmers market mixed green salad, your choice of Pappardelle Bolognese, Truffled Tortiglioni or our seasonal risotto. Finish with a scoop of our housemade chocolate gelato or seasonal sorbet. Three courses for $40!
5:30-7:30pm Medicine Road Throughout the course of their exciting journey as a group, the members of Medicine Road have won over the hearts of music lovers around the Bay Area, performing at a variety of venues and making countless public appearances. A talented rock band, Medicine Road has earned the admiration and affection of critics and fans alike from Santa Cruz to San Francisco. Medicine Road formed in their hometown of Boulder Creek, California in 2007. Since then they evolved into popular and versatile talented group of musicians. They consist of 4 members, Pablo Eagle (singer-songwriter, guitarist), Jonathan (Skippy) Sherred (bass guitar, vocals), Doug Underhill (drums, background vocals), and Sean Woodward (lead guitar, background vocals). The sound can be anything from psychedelic, country, hard rock, jazzy, and or folky, all in one show. The band will not and never has wanted to be one style of music, and pleases people of all ages and musical tastes. They take pride in being an original music band, and playing the music they love, and it shows! A Medicine Road show is like non other, and not to be missed!
A theater production of the musical Dear Evan Hansen.
Every Thursday throughout the summer, enjoy a family-friendly party on the beach at no charge! There will be local bands and DJs performing on the outdoor stage, providing music for dancing and socializing. There will be BBQ food and drinks for purchase all in a beachside setting providing stunning views of the ocean and Walton Lighthouse. Parking is limited in the area, so consider enjoying a free water taxi ride from other parking areas! 2026 Lineup: May 21, 2026: Sambada May 28, 2026: Space Heater June 4, 2026: James Durbin & The Lost Boys June 11, 2026: Ancestree June 18, 2026: Jive Machine June 25, 2026: Cake by the Ocean July 2, 2026: Ripatti Rose Band July 9, 2026: Extra Large July 16, 2026: Fishhook July 23, 2026: Harry & The Hitmen July 30, 2026: Matt Masih & The Messengers August 6, 2026: The Houserockers August 13, 2026: The Joint Chiefs August 20, 2026: La Familia August 27, 2026: Alex Lucero Band September 3, 2026: Sambada
Matt Masih & The Messengers play live at Crow's Nest in Santa Cruz, California.
Crow’s Nest: Free Beach BBQ Parties and Concerts
Every Thursday throughout the summer, enjoy a family-friendly party on the beach at no charge! There will be local bands and DJs performing on the outdoor stage, providing music for dancing and socializing. There will be BBQ food and drinks for purchase all in a beachside setting providing stunning views of the ocean and Walton Lighthouse. Parking is limited in the area, so consider enjoying a free water taxi ride from other parking areas! 2026 Lineup: May 21, 2026: Sambada May 28, 2026: Space Heater June 4, 2026: James Durbin & The Lost Boys June 11, 2026: Ancestree June 18, 2026: Jive Machine June 25, 2026: Cake by the Ocean July 2, 2026: Ripatti Rose Band July 9, 2026: Extra Large July 16, 2026: Fishhook July 23, 2026: Harry & The Hitmen July 30, 2026: Matt Masih & The Messengers August 6, 2026: The Houserockers August 13, 2026: The Joint Chiefs August 20, 2026: La Familia August 27, 2026: Alex Lucero Band September 3, 2026: Sambada
Thursday, July 30 2026 4:30pm - 5:00pm ¡Una hora de cuentos en español!
Motion Pacific: Adult Intermediate Modern
This is Motion Pacific's Adult Intermediate Modern class for adult dancers.
Head to Bargetto Winery’s creekside courtyard in Soquel on Thursday evenings for Live Music and Wine! There is no cover charge and wine by the glass and light snacks are available for purchase. May 7, 2026: Alex Lucero May 14, 2026: James Durbin May 21, 2026: The Joint Chiefs May 28, 2026: Sambada June 4, 2026: Alex Lucero June 11, 2026: The Breaux Show June 18, 2026: Beach Cowboys June 25, 2026: The Joint Chiefs July 2, 2026: Alex Lucero July 9, 2026: James Durbin July 16, 2026: 10 O’Clock Lunch Band July 23, 2026: Highwater Blues July 30, 2026: The Joint Chiefs August 6, 2026: TBD August 13, 2026: TBD August 20, 2026: TBD August 27, 2026: TBD September 3, 2026: TBD
a show!
Whatchadoin Thursday July 30th? - how about going to a show at SubRosa with… * CASINO YOUTH ** BEAUTIFUL FREAKS *** NOTHING OVER SILENCE **** UTILITY CARD 7pm - 10pm // $15 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 skill-sharing, appropriate re/use of resources, and interconnected, creative communities - since 1994! More about the Hub is at linktree in bio @santacruzhub Arushi bottomline
INSPIRED BY NATURE: BEGINNING HANDBUILDING (5/5)
1 booked, 6 available Kathryn Pierno
Join us at Bargetto Winery in Soquel on Thursday evenings for Live Music and Wine! 6-8PM No cover charge. Wine by-the-glass for purchase. Food will be available for purchase by ItaliaFire Open seating, no reservations required. No outside food is permitted. For more info please call: (831) 475-2258 ext. 110
BITE ME! No Cover • Last Thursday of Every Month Cat Alley Street (upstairs above The Catalyst) – Santa Cruz https://catalleystreet.com A high-energy Goth / Industrial / Deathrock / EBM / Techno night in a swanky new vampire venue. THE DANCE CHAMBER Be among the first to experience our brand-new, state-of-the-art sound system. Our DJs will make you shake your fine goth ass from 6 PM onward. THE BAR Exclusive Bite Me cocktails, including the Banshee and London After Midnight. THE LOUNGE A cozy, quieter space across from the bar featuring hand-picked furnishings curated by the Baron's cat of Cat Alley Street himself. Plus the Macabre Makers Faire: • Jewelry and clothing makers • Tintype photography • Goth makeovers • Other dark delights BEST DRESSED Select free drink tickets awarded to our most impeccably dressed guest vampires. COME EARLY DJs start at 6 PM, and our new kitchen will be serving pizza. Vampires may not be assumed to eat human pizza, but trust the cat, it’s totally worth it! We’ve created a beautiful, comfortable, and welcoming vampire lounge and can’t wait to share it with the greater Goth community and kind-hearted misfits of all sorts. Fly upstairs. Last Thursday of each month. Bite Me!
Join us at Bargetto Winery in Soquel on Thursday evenings for Live Music and Wine! 6-8PM No cover charge. Wine by-the-glass for purchase. Food will be available for purchase. Open seating, no reservations required. No outside food is permitted. For more info please call: (831) 475-2258
Afrobeats Nite Santa Cruz Returns — A Cultural Revival at Woodhouse The heartbeat of Santa Cruz is about to change tempo. Created and curated by DJ Monk Earl , the originator and soul of the event, Afrobeats Nite is not just a dance party. It’s a vibrant celebration of African diasporic sound, rooted in joy and connection. As one of the only consistent platforms for Afrobeats culture in the Santa Cruz area, the night has built a dedicated following—drawing dancers, music lovers, students, artists, and families into a space that’s as electric as it is welcoming.
Musical Storytelling: MLK's Legacy Through the Lens of Music
On August 1st, composer James Lee III’s piano concerto Shades of Unbroken Dreams will receive its West Coast premiere at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. The concerto is inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, and the “shades” that Lee refers to “represent the various people of color who aspire to be part of that great dream.” Before the premiere, in a pre-rehearsal talk on July 30, Lee will speak with Dr. David H. Anthony III, Professor Emeritus of African History, about the piece’s connection to the rhetoric of MLK’s iconic words, and the ability of music to speak powerfully to history, as a crucial agent of social and cultural discourse. Free and open to the public.
Steve Abrams has been a mainstay on the jazz and Afro-Cuban music scene in the Bay Area for over 25 years. His groups have performed at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, and the San Jose International Jazz Festival and others. His New Zealand sextet, Pleasure Point, has performed at the Nelson International Jazz Festival, the Tauranga National Jazz Festival, the Manawatu Jazz Festival and the Wellington International Jazz Festival. Steve is also a musical director and accompanist for Mountain Community Theater and Little People’s Repertory Theater in Ben Lomond. He has a BA in Music from UCLA, with an emphasis on arranging and African drumming, and teaches piano and flute at his home in Ben Lomond.
Ocean Alternative Parent Information Night
Parents, come learn more about Ocean Alternative, a K-8 independent study/homeschool program in Live Oak School District. We will explain how our public school program works and what we can offer families in the 26-27 school year.
Free jazz nights every other Thursday at Abbott Square Market. All ages welcome to enjoy local jazz artists in an outdoor plaza setting.
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
A Santa Cruz concert from SASAMI, known for blending heavy rock with pop and atmospheric elements.
Peter Asher of Peter & Gordon ("World Without Love" , " I Go to Pieces") Jeremy Clyde of Chad & Jeremy ("Summer Song", "Yesterday's Gone")
Cabrillo Crocker Theater: Sister Act, The Musical
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.
Moe's Alley Presents: The Cash Box Kings with special guest Aki Kumar
Jump blues, small-band swing and R&B are all ingredients in the stew that came to be known as rock ‘n’ roll. This music of Cash Box Kings builds on those foundations, adding a healthy helping of the blues (Chicago style) into the mix. Distorted harmonica, shouted vocals, beefy horn sections and a rhythm section that won’t quit are the hallmarks of this spirited outfit from the windy city. As exemplified on their latest release, Oscar’s Motel, it’s all lovingly done with a lot of style and – more importantly – love and understanding. Bay Area blues sensation Aki Kumar is also on the bill. -Bill Kopp; Good Times Newspaper
Thursday, July 30 2026 7:00pm - 8:30pm The Scotts Valley Genre Book Club meets on the last Thursday of the month from 7:00pm-8:30pm. The group meets virtually to discuss books from a different genre each month.
Grab some lawn chairs and some blankets and cozy up for this free movie night on Seabright! July 9: The SpongeBob Movie July 16: Legally Blonde July 23: Minecraft Movie July 30: Shrek August 6: Hoppers August 13: Goat
Audrey Stanley Grove: Live Drama in the Redwoods
Santa Cruz Shakespeare invites you to experience August Wilson’s Fences, under the trees and stars of the Audrey Stanley Grove in Santa Cruz’s DeLaveaga Park this summer. Fences By August Wilson Directed by Susan Dalian August Wilson joins the Santa Cruz Shakespeare stage for the first time in 45 years. Fences is the perfect offering, wonderfully in line with the Santa Cruz Shakespeare season’s theme: Till Death Do Us Part. Troy Maxson is one of Wilson’s great creations; Shakespearean in scope; a wordsmith and brilliant storyteller. He has survived the terrible trauma of his past and built himself a good life. But the backbone of that life, the spine that keeps it standing strong, is his wife Rose. Like all of Wilson’s best work, Fences is both mythic and intimate; the questions it asks both human and eternal. Fences runs July 28 – August 28. Tickets available for purchase starting May 1. More information through the link in the orange button above. Seasonal box office hours beginning May 1 are Tuesday through Friday from 12p.m. to 4p.m. Call the number above.
Seabright Summer Movie Nights
Thursday Night Movie Nights, a six-week outdoor movie series held Thursday nights on Murray Street starting July 9 through August 13. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for free outdoor screenings. The event series is free to attend and will feature family-friendly programming throughout the summer. July 23: Minecraft Movie July 30: Shrek August 6: Hoppers August 13: Goat
Enjoy free live music every Thursday evening throughout the summer at the Boardwalk’s Colonnade Stage. Grab a bite, enjoy a refreshing drink, and dance along to a rotating lineup of bands and talented artists with the ocean as your backdrop. 2026 Lineup: • June 18, 2026: Fire Peach • July 2, 2026: El Brick • July 9, 2026: Shawn Yanez • July 16, 2026: Flaco El Jandro • July 23, 2026: Papiba & Friends • July 30, 2026: The Deadlies • August 6, 2026: Anthony Arya
SC Beach Boardwalk: Evenings on the Colonnade
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,
Jimmy and the Deadlies @ the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Summer Camp (ages 7-12) Santa Cruz Maker Studios
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,
The Dickens Universe featuring ‘Bleak House’
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
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!
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!
What is CreativeMornings? A free, live, monthly breakfast lecture series for creatives, community-builders, entrepreneurs, and more! Each month features a short lecture by a local innovator, framed by opportunities to socialize and spark new connections. CreativeMornings draws attendees and speakers not strictly from “creative” fields; it includes anyone driven by passion and purpose. Live lectures are video-recorded and shared on the CreativeMornings online platform. CreativeMornings Santa Cruz was born out of a love of this town as well as a desire to see our creative community unite and cross-pollinate. From Bonny Doon to Watsonville, our county is full of artists, innovators, and people making inspired choices in the ways they approach their lives and their work. Our goal is to bring them together IRL and…watch the magic happen!
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.
Wilder Ranch State Park: Guided Coastal Birding Walk
On this 2.5 mile hike, be prepared to walk on uneven surfaces, with many stops to view the many birds, plants, and scenery along the way. You will help each other spot and identify birds! Bring your binoculars if you have them, clothes for variable weather, and good walking shoes. Meet next to park map in Wilder Ranch main parking lot. *Rain cancels. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. For more information, call (831) 426-0505.
Cypress Health Institute Certified Massage Therapist Program
Elimination of “Duration of Status” Virtual Town Halls
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].
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]
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.
0 booked, 4 available Glazing
Resource Recovery Public Summer Tours
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.
The first annual Aloha Music & Arts Festival Santa Cruz will take place Friday, July 31, and Saturday, Aug. 1, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, bringing together local musicians, hula schools, artists, food vendors, and community organizations for a weekend celebrating Hawaiian, Polynesian, and Pacific cultures. Gates open daily at 11 a.m. Admission to the festival is free. Donations are welcome. Parking will be available for $20 per vehicle. No in-and-out privileges will be allowed, and re-entry fees will be enforced. Produced by Victor Ohana Productions LLC, the festival aims to celebrate the Spirit of Aloha while creating a new cultural tradition for the Central Coast community. Organizers say the event was created to strengthen connections among local Polynesian communities, while offering residents and visitors a new summer cultural experience in Santa Cruz County. “This festival is about bringing people together through music, dance, food, art, and community,” said Marie Victor, founder of Victor Ohana Productions. “Santa Cruz has deep cultural and historical connections to Hawaiʻi through surf culture and the ocean lifestyle. We wanted to create an event that celebrates those shared influences while showcasing the incredible local talent we have here in Northern California.” Rather than featuring a national headliner, the festival will spotlight local bands and performers from throughout Santa Cruz County and the surrounding region. Organizers said the focus of the event is community participation and cultural authenticity. Festival attendees can expect: ● Food vendors featuring Pacific-inspired cuisine ● Local arts, crafts, and merchandise vendors ● Information booths from community nonprofits and organizations ● Family-friendly cultural activities and entertainment Local Live Music ● Victor Ohana 3 Generations ● Ho' Omana ● Hunawai ● Kanalu ● Laule'a Hawaiian Band ● Ka La'i O Mele ● George Kahumoku Jr (Grammy Award Winner in
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.
Storytelling for the Screen: A Writers' Intensive
Dive into crafting killer screen stories & boost your writing skills with fellow creatives at our educational, hands- intensive 3 day class!
Friday, July 31 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm We are knitting at Live Oak Library on Fridays.
Friday, July 31 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm Join us for an hour of fun, inclusive, and creative activities and social opportunities for adults with developmental differences and their caregivers every last Friday of the month!
Friday, July 31 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm Join our Bridge Club for friendly games and social fun, open to players of all skill levels.
County Fairgrounds: Aloha Music and Arts Festival
Feel the rhythm of Hawaiian Music with live performances both Friday and Saturday. Enjoy Polynesian inspired dance and vibrant performances throughout the festival. Savor a curated selection of local food vendors serving up dishes and community favorites. Browse a vibrant marketplace of local artisans, handcrafted goods, and unique finds from vendors across the county. Open from noon to 6pm both Friday and Saturday. Although the event entry is free, parking at the venue is $20 per vehicle.
Spring Exhibitions at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences
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
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.
Friday, July 31 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.
Friday, July 31 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm Join us for great stories and a fun craft. Ages 4-6
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.
Friday, July 31 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm Sharpen your word skills and enjoy friendly competition at our Scrabble Club - fun for all levels.
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.
Friday, July 31 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm S.T.E.A.M Projects. Explore Your World
Sacred Return Retreat offers a trauma-informed container for ceremony, breathwork, yoga, sound healing, and deep inner work. Facilitated in collaboration with Dr. Leta Jussila and Dallas McKenzie at Sacred Owl Land, this immersive retreat supports healing, transformation, and personal growth through intentional preparation, ceremony, and integration.
Friday, July 31 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.
Legendary Santa Cruz-based artist Jim Phillips first solo show
Renown graphic artist Jim Phillips will present his first-ever one-man solo show of new artworks. The exclusive show represents first time ever the celebrated artist has shown his work at a solo exhibit in his hometown. Jim's graphics and surf and skate-themed artworks are a global cultural phenomenon, with millions of fans drawn to the Santa Cruz Red Dot and Screamong Hand, which he created in 1985. Jim's legacy has seen the prolific creating iconic surf and skate graphics, advertising, rock posters and drawings and paintings for a global clientele.
A Show!
Happydays Show Alex Bottomlining
Head to Skypark in Scotts Valley for the area’s largest food truck festival! Lots of excitement, more food vendors, the fabulous SVEF Beer & Wine Garden, amazing Live Music and face painting! Music Lineup: • April 24 (Starts 4:30 PM) — Music by Shady Rest Band • May 29 — Music by The Swag Tones • June 26 — Music by Fire Peach • July 31 — Music by Identity Problem • August 28 — Music by Cringe • September 25 (Starts 4:30 PM) — Music by Paperback Ryders • October 30 (Starts 4:30 PM) — Music by Dadbeats
Free summer block party in Midtown Santa Cruz featuring live music, food trucks, local artists, makers, and family fun.
Midtown Santa Cruz: Friday Summer Block Parties
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.
Kickoff of the Watsonville Strawberry Festival on Main Street, featuring the start of a weekend celebrating the region's berry harvest.
5:30-7:30pm The Paperback Ryders are an acoustic harmony power-trio. Accurate harmonies from many notable bands.
A theater production of the musical Dear Evan Hansen.
RSVP for Friday, July 31, 2026, 5:30 - 8 PM (Doors Open 5 PM) "Desperado: The Real Story" Tales of Rough Frontier Justice Film Written & Directed by Scott Deal Park Hall Community Center 9400 Mill Street, Ben Lomond, CA 95005 "Desperado: The Real Story" film shows crimes and cities where they happened. Mountain Community Theater actors and locals play Outlaws Black Bart, Juan Soto and Lewis Dreibelbis for their resemblance to historic villains, victims and lawmen. $20 General, $15 Senior & Youth ORDER TICKETS: [email protected] zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/desperado-the-real-story Website & QR Code: KSLV.tv *Concessions are available during the intermission. *Proceeds Benefit the Park Hall Sprinkler System. INVITE FRIENDS!
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