Dig deeply into this season’s Shakespeare productions with a special weekend of lectures, discussions and hands-on activities. In partnership with UCSC’s Shakespeare Workshop and The Humanities Institute, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about each play during the day and then enjoy the production that same evening. This year, Weekend with Shakespeare will be held at the Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park on August 8th (Much Ado About Nothing) and August 9th (Macbeth). Admission is free to all, but seating is limited. Please register below to reserve your seats. Schedule for Weekend with Shakespeare Saturday, 8/8 – Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare 11:00 a.m. – Welcome (Sean Keilen, UCSC) 11:15 a.m. – Actor Panel (Charles Pasternak and members of the company, SCS) 12:15 p.m. – Boxed lunch (courtesy of Shakespeare Workshop) 1:00 p.m. – Visiting Scholar (Eli Simon, UC Irvine) 2:00 – End of program Sunday, 8/9 – Macbeth by William Shakespeare 1:00 a.m. – Welcome (Sean Keilen, UCSC) 11:15 a.m. – Actor Panel (Charles Pasternak and members of the company, SCS) 12:15 p.m. – Boxed lunch (courtesy of Shakespeare Workshop) 1:00 p.m. – Visiting Scholar (Eli Simon, UC Irvine) 2:00 – End of program Sean Keilen is Professor of Literature and UC Santa Cruz, the founder of Shakespeare Workshop, and Head of Dramaturgy at Santa Cruz Shakespeare. Charles Pasternak is Artistic Director at Santa Cruz Shakespeare, before which served as Artistic Director of The Porters of Hellsgate Theatre Co in Los Angeles for over fifteen years. He has had a wide-ranging career as an actor and director at theatres across this country including American Players Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, three seasons with The Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis and four with Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Eli Simon is a Chancellor’s Professor of Drama at UC Irvine, where he has served as chair and head of actin
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
Coming up
Second Sunday AVALON VISIONS PSYCHIC FAIR
Come to the Second Sunday AVALON VISIONS PSYCHIC and HEALING ARTS FAIR where an array of intuitive professionals is available for your consultation, as well as market stalls filled with inspiring good for purchase. Join us for good vibes the Second Sunday of every month at 2815 Porter Street in Soquel. See you there!
Coming up
Take Out: Rhythms Within
Take Out: Rhythms Within performance at Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center.
Coming up
Whiskers & Brews
12:00-3:00pm Animal Shelter Relief is coming back to our Beer Garden! Grab a beer, meet adorable adoptable animals, and learn about what ASR does to help our local furry friends. Stay for live music afterwards from 3-5pm! ASR is an all-volunteer, non-profit, 501(c)(3) animal rescue based in Santa Cruz, CA. Their mission is to relieve overcrowded animal shelters through rescue, thereby reducing euthanasia. Formed in 2008, Amy Strickland along with 2 former co-workers from the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter started Animal Shelter Relief rescue, the ONLY local animal rescue focusing on cats and special needs animals, that existed at the time. The founders knew what help was needed at the County Animal Shelter and formed a rescue to meet those needs and relieve the overcrowding.
Chamber Choir Auditions
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.
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Showing 420 of 431 upcoming events · from 2026-08-08 · to 2026-08-15
Dig deeply into this season’s Shakespeare productions with a special weekend of lectures, discussions and hands-on activities. In partnership with UCSC’s Shakespeare Workshop and The Humanities Institute, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about each play during the day and then enjoy the production that same evening. This year, Weekend with Shakespeare will be held at the Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park on August 8th ( Much Ado About Nothing ) and August 9th ( Macbeth ). Admission is free to all, but seating is limited. Please register below to reserve your seats . Schedule for Weekend with Shakespeare Saturday, 8/8 – Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare 11:00 a.m. – Welcome (Sean Keilen, UCSC) 11:15 a.m. – Actor Panel (Charles Pasternak and members of the company, SCS) 12:15 p.m. – Boxed lunch (courtesy of Shakespeare Workshop) 1:00 p.m. – Visiting Scholar (Eli Simon, UC Irvine) 2:00 – End of program Sunday, 8/9 – Macbeth by William Shakespeare 1:00 a.m. – Welcome (Sean Keilen, UCSC) 11:15 a.m. – Actor Panel (Charles Pasternak and members of the company, SCS) 12:15 p.m. – Boxed lunch (courtesy of Shakespeare Workshop) 1:00 p.m. – Visiting Scholar (Eli Simon, UC Irvine) 2:00 – End of program Sean Keilen is Professor of Literature and UC Santa Cruz, the founder of Shakespeare Workshop , and Head of Dramaturgy at Santa Cruz Shakespeare . Charles Pasternak is Artistic Director at Santa Cruz Shakespeare , before which served as Artistic Director of The Porters of Hellsgate Theatre Co in Los Angeles for over fifteen years. He has had a wide-ranging career as an actor and director at theatres across this country including American Players Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, three seasons with The Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis and four with Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Eli Simon is a Chancellor’s Professor of Drama at UC Irvine, where he has served as chair and head
Scotts Valley Farmers' Market
Every Saturday from late spring through fall, a circle of regional farms, local food businesses and makers set up their stands in Scotts Valley — 9 to 1, sun on the redwoods. It's been running since 2009 alongside the City of Scotts Valley, and it's grown into the kind of seasonal ritual you plan your weekend around. Come for the shopping, stay for the slowing down. The market doubles as a resource for nutritious food and agricultural education, and a gathering place for families, friends and neighbors — whether you're a weekly regular or just passing through the mountain town for the morning. Find it all amid the stalls: organic vegetables, fruits and herbs; pasture-raised chicken and duck eggs; flowers, artisanal meats, fresh bread and seafood; pastries; and ready-to-eat plates you can dig into right there with the music going.
Saturday mornings at Cabrillo College in Aptos, 8 to noon. A certified farmers' market with the week's fresh produce and plenty of free parking. Show up early and shop the good stuff first.
Zen Meditation. Open to all. Free of charge.
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.
Classic cars and coffee every Saturday morning, in East Lake Village Shopping Center. It doesn't get much better. Come walk around the expansive parking lot, look at some beautifully restored cars, drink delicious coffee, and visit with your community. Stay awhile and enjoy one of the many great eateries in the shopping center!
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Sandhills Guided Hike
Sandhills Tour - Hike around an ancient seafloor?! Yes please! On this 1.5 mile hike through the Santa Cruz Sandhills, we'll be meandering through sandy soils on the mountain top, about 800' above present-day sea level! Join us on August 8th at 9:00 am to explore this beautiful landscape and learn about the rare and unique things that call it home. RSVP for this event here . Let's plan to meet in the campground parking lot (located off Graham Hill Rd.). We hope to see you there! Hard rain cancels.
Come enjoy picking your own organic strawberries and/or flowers at the campus farm! When: U-picks will take place on Saturdays from 9am to 12pm, July 11–August 22, or while supplies last. PLEASE NOTE that u-pick will not occur on Saturday, July 4. Where: Free parking will be available in the Hay Barn lot or lot 115/116 during u-pick hours. Please do not park in the dirt lot at the farm’s back gate. Please walk to the check-in table near the strawberries/flowers at the farm to pre-pay and collect your u-pick container(s). We will have directional signage displayed. There is one ADA parking spot on the farm. The UCSC Farm has uneven, hilly terrain. If you require accommodations to fully participate, please email [email protected] and we will do our best to accommodate. Cost: UCSC students with valid ID get 25% off produce. Strawberry pints – $4 each Strawberry flats (12 pints) – $44 Flowers – $25 for 32oz deli container Flower buckets – $75 Payment: Credit card payments only (you will need a smartphone to scan a QR code and enter your card info manually). Dogs are not allowed on the UC Santa Cruz campus (service animals are OK).
This is a mixed-level ballet class for adult ballet dancers with Elizebeth Randall Rains.
Pacific Plankton Walk
Join us for a morning filled with plankton! These are the microscopic organisms that produce half the oxygen we breathe (phytoplankton) and the zooplankton, that form the base of the food chain. We will be going out to the Santa Cruz Wharf to collect the plankton and take data on the physical conditions. We will then go to a lab at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Center to look closely at our subjects (plankton) under the microscopes. REGISTER About the Speaker Jane Silberstein received her undergraduate degree in science (emphasis on marine science) at UCSC, and later obtained her graduate degree at Moss Landing Marine Labs in Invertebrate Marine Ecology. She has spent the last 40 years learning and teaching about the marine life in the bay and ways to engage audiences with this information. Jane has been teaching about plankton for 10 semesters at Cabrillo College with a program called the Pacific Plankton Program, and worked on plankton projects for many years at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Accessibility and Logistics There will be two parts in this program (field work and lab portion) — Please note that transportation between venues is not provided, so plan accordingly. Dress in comfortable layers, long pants, hat, sunglasses,and closed-toe shoes (no flip-flops or sandals). Please plan to bring any water and snacks you will want during the program. Please bring a notebook if you have one, otherwise, we’ll bring paper, to draw and describe the amazing microscopic drifters we find in the Monterey Bay! Capacity : 20 Ticket Price: $35 General | $25 Student Discounts : $5 member discount Age limit: 10+. Youth must be accompanied by an adult.
You will be going out to the Santa Cruz Wharf to collect the plankton and take data on the physical conditions. You will then go to a lab at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Center to look closely at your subjects (plankton) under the microscopes. These are the microscopic organisms that produce half the oxygen you breathe (phytoplankton) and the zooplankton, that form the base of the food chain.
Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center: Plankton Walk
You will be going out to the Santa Cruz Wharf to collect the plankton and take data on the physical conditions. You will then go to a lab at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Center to look closely at your subjects (plankton) under the microscopes. These are the microscopic organisms that produce half the oxygen you breathe (phytoplankton) and the zooplankton, that form the base of the food chain.
0 booked, 4 available Glazing
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Sandhills Tour
Get ready to hike around an ancient seafloor! On this 1.5 mile hike through the Sandhills, which will last approximately 2 hours, participants can meander through sandy soils on the mountain top, about 800 feet above present day sea level. Explore this beautiful landscape and learn about the rare and unique things that call it home. The hike is recommended for ages 8 and up. Children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Plan to meet in the parking lot of the campground (located off Graham Hill Rd.).
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.
Writing Circle: Open to the writer in each of us, this group allows for creative exploration in a supportive space right where you are. Each session is a surprise. Your creations are prompted by writing activities and the stories of your life—bring your notebook and invite your muse. Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month, 10 am to 12 noon at WomenCARE’s Soquel office.
Explore a creative practice that transforms emotions into meaningful expression. Through guided prompts and artistic exploration, participants will develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, and deeper connection to their inner experience. No artistic experience is necessary and all materials are provided.
The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Join Certified Zentangle Teacher Lisa Hoesing for an introductory workshop and monthly meetup to practice the method. The monthly meetup will take place on the second Saturday of each month in the Ow Community Room. All supplies will be provided at the event, thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Capitola Library . Periodic workshops to welcome new beginners will also take place. Take a look
Seymour Center’s Seaside Storytime
Get ready to set sail on a storybook adventure! 📚 ✨ It’s the ultimate weekend treat to spark big imaginations, foster a love for nature, and nurture the next generation of ocean heroes! 🌊 🐚 📖 Our friends at Bookshop Santa Cruz have hand-selected a collection of books about the environment that are perfect for young readers. We hope to see you there! Join Seaside Storytime on the second Saturday of every month!
Help Shape Your Neighborhood Coastline How should Santa Cruz prepare for coastal flooding, erosion, and sea level rise over the next 30 years? Join the City of Santa Cruz for an interactive community workshop focused on the future of our coastline. Community members have helped shape the conversation about the future of Santa Cruz's coastline through previous workshops, open houses, and outreach efforts. Now it's time to evaluate potential coastal resilience strategies for West Cliff, Main Beach, Cowell Beach, East Cliff, and Seabright Beach. Participants will take part in a guided tabletop exercise to explore options, discuss tradeoffs, and share feedback that will help inform future planning. Conversation Date August 8, 2026 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Bay View Elementary School Focus Area: West Cliff Light refreshments will be provided. Learn more and register at santacruzca.gov/resilient-coast Additional Date August 3, 2026 5:30–7:30 p.m. London Nelson Community Center Focus Areas: Main/Cowell Beaches and East Cliff/Seabright Beach
In this two-part short story workshop, writers will explore how to shape a story from an initial idea into a more focused, compelling draft. Register here: https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16763798 We’ll look at what makes a story feel alive on the page, with an emphasis on helping each writer better understand what their story is really about. Participants will have the opportunity to share their work, receive constructive feedback, and discuss practical strategies for strengthening a draft. The workshop is designed to be supportive, thoughtful, and generative, whether you are starting a new story, revising an existing one, or trying to figure out where a piece wants to go next. Writers of all experience levels are welcome. The goal is not to leave with a perfect story, but to leave with a clearer sense of direction, stronger tools for revision, and renewed confidence in the work. Devin Shoop is an MFA candidate and a published author. Photo credit: Aaron Burden.
Write Queer, a creative writing group @TDC
Write Queer, a creative writing group Date: May 9, and the Second and Fourth Saturdays Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 Noon Cost: Free Location: The Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Ages: 18+ Join Jesse and Peggy for all or part of this series, running from March through May. Unleash your creativity at Write Queer, an 18+ group for writers of all levels. Respond to provided prompts, or bring your own projects. Meetings include writing time, optional sharing and positive feedback. Please bring a pen and paper or a laptop. .
Saturday, August 08 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm In partnership with the Volunteer Center Literacy Program
Starting in April, on both Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend of each month, the City of Santa Cruz staff will lead tours of Loch Lomond Reservoir on the Newell Jewell (pontoon boat). The tours start at 11AM on both days and lasts about an hour. Attendance is limited to 25 people and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The Loch Lomond Recreation Area is a 180-acre reservoir and part of the 2,800-acre watershed land holdings that the City of Santa Cruz Water Department manages in the Newell Creek watershed. It is open daily from late March through mid-October when the park closes for the season.
Agricultural History Project
Bring your friends, family and neighbors and come out to enjoy good old-fashioned activities such as spinning wool, cheese making, wooden cow milking and ice cream making! You can even drive a tractor and go on a hayride. Local Santa Cruz County 4-H clubs will be hosting their Annual Spring Fair. This action-packed day is admission free, and donations are gladly accepted. It’s fun for the whole family! Activities include: Farm Animals to see and pet Ice cream making the old-fashioned way Butter churning Fresh cheese making Rope making Hay wagon rides with tractors Wooden cow milking Hay cutting from real oats, wheat and barley Kids (real) tractor driving Puppet Show Old-fashioned hoops Crafts and so much more! 2025 Schedule: March 8th – Birds, Bees & Butterflies April 12th – Easter on the Farm with Egg Hunt May 10th – Springtime on the Farm June 14th – Olden Days on the Farm July 12th – Summertime Fun on the Farm August 9th – Round-Up at the Ranch September 13th – Visit Yesterday’s Farm during the Santa Cruz Fair October 11th – Tractor-or-Treat November 8th – Harvest on the Farm December 13th – Holidays on the Farm
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.
Saturday, August 08 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm Join us each Saturday morning for a relaxing time crafting with your neighbors.
No set up - nothing special just stage space
Saturday, August 08 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm Big stories, tiny prices! Browse our pop-up book sale packed with great finds. $5 a bag!! Every purchase supports the Aptos Library. Stop by, snag a stack, and support your library today!!!
Staff offers a guided adobe tour centered on the experiences of Native communities in the Santa Cruz mission providing insight into daily life, cultural change, and the impacts of the mission system. Visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the resilience and enduring presence of Indigenous people in the region. Reservation Link:
Explore a western pond with City Water Resources Analyst, Jenny Viera. As essential ecosystem engineers, turtles maintain ecological balance, such as cycling nutrients and creating burrows for other wildlife. Protecting them also preserves biodiversity and cultural heritage. The monthly “Loch Walks” are included in the entry fee for the Recreation Area. There is a $10.00 charge per vehicle for entrance to the park. Walk participants are encouraged to dress for variable weather conditions and to wear proper footwear for hiking on dirt trails and for changes in elevation. The Loch Lomond Recreation Area is a 180-acre reservoir and part of the 2,800-acre watershed land holdings that the City of Santa Cruz Water Department manages in the Newell Creek watershed. Loch Lomond serves as Santa Cruz City’s only drinking water reservoir. To RSVP for the Loch Walk, please call 831 335-7424.
Western Pond Turtle Conservation with Santa Cruz Water Department
Learn about the western pond turtle at Loch Lomond Reservoir during a free presentation led by City Water Resources Analyst Jenny Viera as part of the Newell Jewell School Interpretive Program. The talk will also include a pontoon boat tour and is part of the Santa Cruz Water Department’s Loch Lomond Learning Series. The event takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8. Space is limited; call 831-335-7424 to reserve a spot.
Wilder Ranch State Park: Guided Coastal Nature Walk
On this 2.5-mile, 2-hour family-friendly walk, you will explore the plants, animals, and geology of the Santa Cruz County coastal bluffs. Bring water, a hat, closed-toe shoes, layered clothing, and binoculars if available. Pre-registration required at the link in the orange button above. Meet next to the park map in the main parking lot. Rain cancels. Free event. Vehicle day-use fee is $10.
Veraison Vine and Wine Walk with French Worker's Lunch
Join us at our Santa Cruz Mountains winery for seasonal hikes through the vines and finish with a Provençal Worker’s lunch paired with wine.
Roberts Ranch Vineyards: Wine & Déjeuner d’Ouvrier
In the Provençal tradition, enjoy a to tour the cellar and vineyard property with the stewards of this special place! After a seasonal walk & talk around the property, you’ll gather on the Terrace for French Worker’s Lunch paired with featured wines.
Saturday, August 08 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm In this two-part short story workshop, writers will explore how to shape a story from an initial idea into a more focused, compelling draft.
Discover the calming and creative power of music 🎶 Our beginner-friendly harp lessons offer a peaceful space to learn something new, connect with sound, and explore music in a supportive group setting. No experience is needed, and instruments are provided. 🗓 1st & 3rd Saturdays 🎵 All levels welcome ⚠️ Limited to 10 spots—advance booking recommended
Saturday, August 08 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm The Zentangle Method is a fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Join Certified Zentangle Teacher Lisa Hoesing for an introductory workshop and monthly meetup.
“Confluence”: where separate currents meet. This beautiful exhibition pairs the work of Santa Cruz artists Susana Arias and Glenn Carter, on view August 7 through September 13 at M.K. Contemporary Art Gallery. “Confluence” is exhibited alongside of 25+ local and regional artists whose work we adore. Live improvisational jazz music from “The Leftovers” at the opening on the First Friday of August from 6-8PM
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!
Celebrate our 12th Anniversary with.. THIRTY of OUR favorite breweries! Live Music + Food + Merch All you can responsibly drink! Advance 21+ tickets $50 | $65 day of Friendly dogs allowed on leash
Nationally recognized Pit-Masters and local Grill Gurus alike battle it out for cash prizes, trophies and the honor of having their secret recipes voted Best BBQ at the Roaring Camp Cook-Off. Come hungry and vote for your favorite to win the People’s Choice award. Want more than a taste? BBQ vendors will be ready to serve full plates of a variety of BBQ favorites and sides. Enjoy your lunch time on both days from noon to 3:30pm! Activities: Live Music Local Breweries Lawn Games Bounce Houses Kids Activities Gold Panning Pedal Tractors
The Second Annual Santa Cruz Jug Band Festival Thursday August 6th – Sunday August 9th, 2026 Free admission for all events! Contact [email protected] Jug band music is scrappy, soulful, and a little unexpected — The songs are an energetic and artful blend of old-time jazz with blues and gospel. It can be played using washboards, jugs, kazoos; anything that can be turned into an instrument - or guitar, banjo, and brass - it’s the kind of music that makes you stop and smile! Calendar of events: Thursday August 6th, 5:45-7:30 pm at Pono Hawaiian Grill. 120 Union St. Downtown Santa Cruz. · Join the Trolley Drops at their monthly jug band sing and play along. Bring your voice and/or instruments and your good humor. Lyrics projected on the wall. It’s free. Friday August 7th, 6-9 pm at Abbott Square Market and the MAH, 725 Front St. Santa Cruz · 6 pm in the MAH lecture hall: “The Wild & Wacky History of Jug Band Music”, a presentation by the Trolley Drops. · 7 pm at Abbott Square: The Puffball Collective plays dance music, “Prohibition to Psychedelia: Jug Band Roots as Rock.” Saturday August 8th, Noon-9 pm at Abbott Square. 725 Front St. Santa Cruz · Five bands will play one hour sets with sing-alongs or solo performances between sets. · Alphabetically the bands are: The Rivertown Skifflers The Quake City Jug Band The San Lorenzo Valley Ramblers The Trolley Drops The Washboard Rhythm Company Sunday August 9th, 2-5 pm at Shanty Shack Brewing. 138 Fern St. Santa Cruz. · Jug Band Happy Hour: various members of the five Jug Bands will perform some of their favorite songs in a more intimate setting.
Confluence: where separate currents meet. The exhibition brings together two distinct practices, each shaped by its own materials, process, and point of view - meeting at a single point within the gallery. Carter's work begins from a place of not knowing, letting intuition guide the encounter between material and chance. Arias describes her work as primitive contemporary, presenting her sculptures as if they belonged in a history museum - objects that carry the weight and presence of relics. Together, their work forms a quiet conversation about what separate paths can become when they meet. "Susana and Glenn each bring such a deeply distinctive artistic voice to their work," said Rose Sellery, exhibition curator. "Confluence explores the fertile ground where two creative currents meet. Their work remains unmistakably their own, yet in conversation with one another it reveals new layers of meaning, beauty and possibility." Confluence is shown alongside work from more than 25 local and regional artists whose work the gallery is proud to represent, reflecting M.K. Contemporary's ongoing commitment to the Santa Cruz arts community. The exhibition opens with a First Friday reception on August 7, featuring live improvisational jazz from The Leftovers. The public is invited to attend.
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!
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
Saturday, August 08 2026 12:00pm - 5:00pm Adults need playtime, too! Come play some new or old favorite tabletop games. Bring your own or play some of the library's games. No prior gaming experience is necessary. 18+. Every 2nd Saturday.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Talk, Film Screening, & Ceremony
Please join us to hear Victor Kimura of Watsonville share about his family's experiences in Hiroshima and Japanese internment camps, followed by a short film, paper crane folding, and a ceremony marking the U.S. bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We'll meet at 1 PM at RCNV for a screening of Collateral Damage, a 35-minute documentary created by RCNV staff and volunteers about construction of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial located near the Santa Cruz Clock Tower. After the screening we’ll fold paper cranes and march to the memorial to lay the cranes around it. Victor Kimura will be joining us to share stories about his family who were in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb dropped. His mother and father, born in Watsonville and Petaluma, respectively, were imprisoned in Arizona’s Poston Camp during World War II. Victor was 6 months old when his family moved back to Freedom in 1945.
Companions of the Sun A Lecture by Scholar Dr. Farima B
Learn about the origins and practice of Iranian dance in this talk and performance by Dr. Farima Berenji. She will discuss Iranian rituals and beliefs in relation to dance, as well as how Iranian culture has impacted global music and dance traditions. There will be a short performance and audience participation dance as part of the program. Registration is recommended, and walk-ins are welcome. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16520725 Rooted in one of the world's oldest civilizations, the traditions of Iranian/Persian sacred dance and music embody the profound wisdom of our ancestors. Observing nature, the stars, and the rhythms of life, they crafted movements expressing love, strength, and spiritual transcendence. These rituals continue to inspire cultures worldwide, preserving a legacy of mysticism and artistic expression. Author Dr. Farima Berenji presents her research upon the evolutionary origins and practice of Iranian rituals, beliefs, and dances, exploring how Iranian culture permeated global music and dance traditions, developing distinctly from its sister nations. All this is explored in her book Companions of the Sun. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.
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]
Saturday, August 08 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm Write a poem in a creative and supportive environment.
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!
Through the hands-on exploration of a bustling beehive on Chaminade's grounds, you will learn about the intriguing world of honey bees in a way that very few get to experience. Your hive tour, led by Northern Roots Bee Co.’s professional beekeepers, will include suiting up in beekeeping attire and learning about the different roles and contributions that bees make in the colony. We’ll finish the experience with a honey tasting where participants delight in the nuanced flavors of varietal honeys. This experience is open to overnight resort guests and community members.
Saturday, August 08 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm Learn about Iranian rituals and beliefs in relation to dance, as well as how Iranian culture has impacted global music and dance traditions.
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.
Wine, Charcuterie, and Crushpad Concert at Roberts Ranch with Samba Cruz
Join us for live music, 5 boutique wines & charcuterie at our ridge top winery!
Quiet Revolution: Fashion Sketches of the 1950's by Barb Bartels
Barb Bartels began studying fashion design at Parsons School of Design in New York at eighteen, where she developed her skills in garment design, fashion illustration, and pattern making during a transformative era in American fashion. There she received critiques and mentorship from pioneering designer Claire McCardell, whose innovative approach emphasized comfort, movement, simplicity, and clothing designed for the realities of women’s lives. The watercolor sketches featured in Quiet Revolution were created during Barb’s years at Parsons and reflect the influence of that remarkable period. Their graceful lines and expressive silhouettes capture a moment when American fashion embraced elegance through simplicity and ease. After completing her second year at Parsons, Barb chose to marry and raise a family before returning to the fashion industry in the 1970s. She designed and created patterns for Esprit and Gunne Sax before building a successful freelance career in design and pattern making in Los Angeles. These sketches represent both the beginning of Barb’s creative journey and a pivotal moment in fashion history. They reflect the spirit of a quiet revolution—one that reimagined how women dressed with grace, comfort, confidence, and freedom—and stand as a lasting record of her artistic vision and lifelong love of design.
Kanekoa At The Pono Hawaiian Grill, Santa Cruz
Kanekoa, band of limitless possibilities, is one of Hawaii’s premier live music experiences, selling out shows wherever they perform.
Stax Johnson is an independent rock and blues artist based out of California's Central Coast. With B3 hammond organs coupled with smooth guitar licks and deep rooted back beats, he transcends musical genres while incorporating pieces of the blues, rock and roll, and soul into a style all his own. Stax Johnson and his band have performed at various festivals and venues across the U.S. with artists that include Robbie Krieger of The Doors, Chris Isaak, Leon Russell, The Pointer Sisters, The Guess Who, John Mayall, Charlie Musselwhite, Ratt, Greg Kihn, Blues Traveler, Y&T, and The Blue Oyster Cult. Stax Johnson & Company includes Manny Castro(bass guitar and vocals), Robbie Bohn (lead guitar and vocals), Brad Burchell (drums), and Stax Johnson(guitar, keys, vocals, and harmonica).
Saturday, August 08 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm Learn about volunteer opportunities and how teens like you can create change in your library! Followed by a chill activity and free snacks (and get your volunteer hours just for showing up)! ACT now!
Roberts Ranch: Wine Tasting and Crushpad Concert
Acoustic musical guests make for a lively accompaniment to the afternoon! Enjoy a tasting of 5 of the current Roberts Ranch wines complete with abundant charcuterie boards! Meats, cheeses, crackers, nuts, fruits, chocolate and even warm appetizers make appearances at this lovely and casual tasting experience. (See Seltzer & Charcuterie option for those not partaking in the wine tasting.) Your tasting begins at the crush pad where you will sign in and get your first pour and plate of charcuterie. From there you are welcome to find a comfortable spot to enjoy the views. Pace your tasting and food experience according to your preference. Enjoy a flavorful and relaxing afternoon! Attended children and well-behaved pups are welcome to join. Please sign up for a child’s ticket so they can be prepared with snacks and drinks for the kids.
You won't want to miss CASA of Santa Cruz County's premier fundraising event, Imagine! All proceeds raised go towards our programs supporting children and youth in the foster care and/or juvenile probation systems of Santa Cruz County. Joyous welcome festivities include youth performances, music, raffle, photo booth, and more, while enjoying complimentary appetizers, beverages, and great conversation. Enjoy a scrumptious full-course dinner prepared and served family style by the student chefs at Cabrillo's Culinary Arts program as we celebrate some amazing youth of our community. This is followed by our ever-exciting live auction that you won't want to miss! And concludes with dessert, and dancing. Purchase your tickets today!
Saturday, August 08 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm Downtown Library Youth Chess Club. Open to players ages 6 to 18. Instructor is Chess Master Gjon Feinstein.
Santa Cruz Civic Center: Youth Festival Performance
Hear the future of new music in this free chamber concert of original works programmed, produced, performed and presented by our adventurous 16–24-year-old Youth Ensemble. FREE!
Hear the future of new music in this free chamber concert of original works programmed, produced, performed and presented by our adventurous 16–24-year-old Youth Ensemble. FREE!
Phamily Time, presented by Phreeborn is back with a summer edition you won’t want to miss. There will be something for everyone, so bring the whole phamily! Get tickets for the whole day celebration here: TICKETS
5:30-7:30pm Jazz quartet based in Santa Cruz, CA. Death And Saxes is: John Bouwsma - Tenor Saxophone Harrison Brand - Guitar Jamie Brudnick - Upright Bass Ben Sibley - Drums
Game Night for Trans and Non-binary Young Adults @TDC
Game Night for Trans and Non-binary Young Adults, hosted by TransFamilies Date : Saturday, August 8 Time : 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Location : The Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz Ages : Young adults 18+ Welcoming all Trans and Non-binary young adults (18+) for board games, cards, laughter, and friendship. Pizza and drinks provided. Please bring your favorite game or two to share. .
A screening of the film "Elvira Notari: Beyond Silence" at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz. A documentary exploring the life of a pioneering filmmaker.
A crowd favorite band that is 3 generations deep! Playing classic Hawaiian music as well as contemporary. Hula is a must!
Karaoke for hub and hub adjacent folx Hosted by Tal
Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium: Music Exploring Control
A genre-expanding program examining power, agency, and the forces that shape contemporary life. Clarice Assad‘s Kontrol (Festival Commission, world premiere), featuring violinist Philippe Quint, is a genre-defying work for narrator, projections, violin, and orchestra that interrogates the role of technology in human autonomy. Defending Greenwood (Movement III: June 1, 1921) (West Coast premiere) by Jackson A. Waters—winner of the 2026 Cabrillo Emerging Black Composers Prize—bears witness to the Tulsa Race Massacre, countering historical erasure through musical testimony and remembrance. Merging the Viennese waltz with electronic dance music, Hannah Ishizaki’s Spin (West Coast premiere), evokes motion, disorientation, and suspended time. As elegant triple-meter gestures collide with pulsing, club-like rhythms, the piece blurs past and present, creating a dizzying soundscape that feels both nostalgic and uncannily immediate. Dan Dediu‘s Concerto for Orchestra (U.S. premiere) closes the program with a virtuosic and celebratory showcase of the ensemble, dedicated to Cristian Măcelaru in recognition of their long-standing artistic collaboration.
First & Third Fridays Community Drumming Class With Jim Greener
Subject: Come Drum, Connect, and Celebrate Life — Now Twice a Month! Dear Friends, Due to continuing requests from our growing circle, I’m very excited to expand our Community Drumming Classes in Soquel Village from gathering on the third Friday of each month to meeting on the FIRST and THIRD FRIDAYS, beginning February 6th! Where: The Congregational Church of Soquel (the white church with the steeple) Parish Hall 4951 Soquel Dr., Soquel, CA When: First & Third Fridays of every month 7:00–8:30 pm Doors open at 6:30 pm Donation: $10 I provide hand drums and percussion instruments, and you’re always welcome to bring your own favorites. All levels of experience are warmly welcome at this family-friendly gathering! For beginners, I offer a few fun and easy tips for playing hand drums and percussion instruments, while exploring universal foundation rhythms. From there, I add more advanced elements for experienced players, guiding the group through a step-by-step Rhythm Journey that I've conducted globally for thousands of corporate and community sessions over the past four decades. Along the way, I also demonstrate how rhythm can become the foundation for a playful, positive Life Practice... reinforcing powerful Life Rhythms and supportive patterns of attitude and action. Together, we cultivate a strong, joyful Groove ... the powerful state of entrainment known as the Zone and Flow... personally, and as a community. Gathering in rhythm is one of humanity’s oldest ways of celebrating life, beginning when our ancestors first gathered around the fire... clapping hands, stomping feet, and howling at the stars... we have used rhythm to connect, empower and rejoice. Every beat reminds us that we are part of something ancient and beautiful, linking us across generations and cultures! We humans are at our best when we come together to celebrate the miracle—the blessing—of life, and to uplift and empower one another. Come play! Many Blessings, Jim
Have you never done line dancing before? Never fear! Wendy will lead you through a variety of line dances. Go enjoy lively dancing and a fun time. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Beer, wine, sodas and snacks will be available for purchase.
🤠 Grab your boots and join us for a night of line dancing! 💃🕺 The Ben Lomond Village Alliance invites you to an evening of music, dancing, and community at Park Hall on Saturday, August 8! Whether you're a seasoned dancer or have never tried line dancing before, Wendy's Mountain Line Dance will guide you through the steps. All ages and experience levels are welcome! 📅 Saturday, August 8 🚪 Doors open: 6:30 PM 🎶 Dancing: 7:00–8:30 PM 📍 Park Hall, Ben Lomond 🎟️ $10 (tickets available online and at the door) Beer, wine, soft drinks, and snacks will be available by donation. Bring your friends, meet your neighbors, and enjoy a fun summer evening together. We can't wait to see you on the dance floor! For tickets and more information, visit BenLomondVillage.org.
Conducted by Cristian Măcelaru Clarice Assad: Kontrol (Philippe Quint, Violin) (Festival Commission & world premiere) Jackson A. Waters: Defending Greenwood (West Coast premiere) Hannah Ishizaki: Spin (West Coast premiere) Dan Dediu: Concerto for Orchestra (U.S premiere) A genre-expanding program examining power, agency, and the forces that shape contemporary life. Clarice Assad‘s Kontrol (Festival Commission, world premiere), featuring violinist Philippe Quint, is a genre-defying work for narrator, projections, violin, and orchestra that interrogates the role of technology in human autonomy. Defending Greenwood (Movement III: June 1, 1921) (West Coast premiere) by Jackson A. Waters—winner of the 2026 Cabrillo Emerging Black Composers Prize—bears witness to the Tulsa Race Massacre, countering historical erasure through musical testimony and remembrance. Merging the Viennese waltz with electronic dance music, Hannah Ishizaki’s Spin (West Coast premiere), evokes motion, disorientation, and suspended time. As elegant triple-meter gestures collide with pulsing, club-like rhythms, the piece blurs past and present, creating a dizzying soundscape that feels both nostalgic and uncannily immediate. Dan Dediu‘s Concerto for Orchestra (U.S. premiere) closes the program with a virtuosic and celebratory showcase of the ensemble, dedicated to Cristian Măcelaru in recognition of their long-standing artistic collaboration.
A young, wholesome, and seemingly normal couple, Brad and Jan, set out to visit their old professor, but their plans change when a large storm causes their car to go flat. Desperate to get out of the rain, they find an old castle that is home to Dr. Frank-N-Furter. From there, the night only becomes weirder. That night will be one they and the audience will not forget. This cult classic continues to entertain crowds, and this run is no different. Audience members can purchase interactive goodie bags with their tickets and participate in a costume contest. Goes until August 22.
Mickey Avalon has no shortage of street cred or endless raw raps about male prostitution or smoking crack. Avalon’s early home life reeked of addiction, and he left his father for the streets of Hollywood, California. Slinging weed and trying to find purpose, Avalon even dabbled in orthodox Judaism (his grandmother is a holocaust survivor). A marriage and a family got pushed aside for their own personal raging heroin addiction. But Avalon’s story and music is all about overcoming the odds and pushing past great struggles. Ever since Avalon showed up on MySpace Records with the single, “Jane Fonda,” he have been on the frontline of music’s edge. Punk, Hip Hop, Rap, Glam and Mickey Avalon. -DNA; Good Times Santa Cruz
South Dakota-born Shawn Colvin broke out in a big way right from the beginning of her recording career. Colvin’s remarkable debut album, 1989’s Steady On appeared on the Billboard 200 chart, spawning a hit single and earning her a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Since then, Colvin has continued to cultivate an ardent fan base, one that includes critics and a diverse audience of music lovers. Two more Grammy Awards, an ASCAP Pop Music Award and an Americana Trailblazer Award have all followed. These days Colvin concentrates more on live performance than recording. Her last release of new material was 2018’s The Starlighter. -Bill Kopp; Good Times Santa Cruz
Fishhook ROCKS The Crow's Nest this Saturday, August 8th. Dance Party!
Hey, Fishhook Fans! Fishhook is back at The Crow's Nest in Santa Cruz on Saturday, August 8th. We are the band that does not let up on the gas! 🎸🎼 You will hear all your favorite songs "leveled up" the FISHHOOK way! And you will experience some of the best Rock and Roll in town. 😉 Let's Party! And bring your friends too. The show starts at 8:00 PM. Address: The Crow's Nest 2218 E Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz Check our website for upcoming events, and join our mailing list to find out what we are up to. http://fishhooktheband.com Visit our Fishhook Store at Zazzle. Get your official Fishhook swag! https://www.zazzle.com/store/fishhook_band - FISHHOOK
Fridays & Saturdays 8pm-10pm through October. Opening weekend July 10-11! Experience the magic once again as this beloved art and light installation returns to the Santa Cruz Mountains for its second year. Lighted lanterns hang high overhead surrounded by thousand year old redwoods that are uplit to create a unique and awe-inspiring retreat back to nature.
Live music by WoodMill at Henfling's of Ben Lomond.
Free beachside event featuring live music, BBQ, and cold drinks. A relaxed evening by the water with food and entertainment.
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.
Saturday, 8:00 PM - Performing with "WOODMILL"
Hailing from the vibrant Monterey Bay Area music scene, JAM and the Buttered Biscuits have been serving up a delicious blend of bluesy funk rock music since the Fall of 2024. Formed to bring frontman Jeffrey A. Meyer's (JAM) two solo albums to the stage, the recipe has been evolving ever since. While Meyer's "Wilder Times" and "Colors of the Mind" albums served as the basis of the repertoire, the group has added a new flavor to the work and new songs along the way. Leo MacDonald was among the first to join—bringing smooth buttery bass lines—with drummer, Cliff Nichols, and his driving rhythmic grooves on the pots and pans following closely behind. Meyer’s guitar and vocals are complemented by Fernando Giraldo’s fiery lead guitar work and the indispensable blues and country seasoning provided by Brad Kava on harmonica. With their Monterey Bay roots, JAM and the Buttered Biscuits are a must see act on California's Central Coast. You can catch them up and down the coast including Santa Cruz, Monterey, the San Francisco Bay Area, Morro Bay and beyond.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Star Walk Tour
Star Walks - Astronomy-based program where participants are guided up to the observation deck, where they will participate in activities and learn about the night sky. This involves a 1 mile round trip hike. Meet in the campfire center of the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park campground. RSVP for this hike here .
Groovesters! Shake off the cold at Joe's in Boulder Creek! Join us on August 8th from 8:30pm to 11:30pm and warm up those dancin' shoes! Saturday, August 8 The Groovy Judy Band Grooves! Joe’s Bar 13118 State Route 9 Boulder Creek, CA 831-338-9417 8:30pm – 11:30pm 21+ FREE
This nighttime experience will bring you a magical and immersive perspective on the ancient forest at Roaring Camp. During the 0.8-mile loop walk, you will view 26 unique, lighted lanterns, hung approximately 50 feet above the ground. The lanterns were crafted by local artists including Anna Bobisuthi, Roaring Camp’s resident blacksmith, and Chris Butler, who also created the lighting design for Sequoias at Night. Tickets are available at the link in the orange button above. Kids under two enter for free. Roaring Camp’s food services and gift shop will be open.
Henry Cowell Redwoods SP: Guided Star Walk
Enjoy this astronomy-based guided hike where you will be guided up to the Observation Deck, perched on an ancient seabed, over 800 feet above sea level and 17 miles from the beach. You will participate in activities and learn about the night sky. This involves a 1 mile round trip hike. Meet at the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground. Follow the link in the orange button above to RSVP. Although this event is free, it costs $10 to park at State Parks. If you plan to visit any other state park earlier in the day, hold on to that receipt! Once you have paid for parking at one state park for the day, you have paid for them all. There are 14 state parks in Santa Cruz County alone!
Peoples Disco is back featuring DJ PNUT & DJ D. STROSaturday, August 8, 2026Show: 8pm*No Cover*21+This is a free event, but it is strictly 21 and over, so remember your ID!
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
Dig deeply into this season’s Shakespeare productions with a special weekend of lectures, discussions and hands-on activities. In partnership with UCSC’s Shakespeare Workshop and The Humanities Institute, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about each play during the day and then enjoy the production that same evening. This year, Weekend with Shakespeare will be held at the Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park on August 8th (Much Ado About Nothing) and August 9th (Macbeth). Admission is free to all, but seating is limited. Please register below to reserve your seats. Schedule for Weekend with Shakespeare Saturday, 8/8 – Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare 11:00 a.m. – Welcome (Sean Keilen, UCSC) 11:15 a.m. – Actor Panel (Charles Pasternak and members of the company, SCS) 12:15 p.m. – Boxed lunch (courtesy of Shakespeare Workshop) 1:00 p.m. – Visiting Scholar (Eli Simon, UC Irvine) 2:00 – End of program Sunday, 8/9 – Macbeth by William Shakespeare 1:00 a.m. – Welcome (Sean Keilen, UCSC) 11:15 a.m. – Actor Panel (Charles Pasternak and members of the company, SCS) 12:15 p.m. – Boxed lunch (courtesy of Shakespeare Workshop) 1:00 p.m. – Visiting Scholar (Eli Simon, UC Irvine) 2:00 – End of program Sean Keilen is Professor of Literature and UC Santa Cruz, the founder of Shakespeare Workshop, and Head of Dramaturgy at Santa Cruz Shakespeare. Charles Pasternak is Artistic Director at Santa Cruz Shakespeare, before which served as Artistic Director of The Porters of Hellsgate Theatre Co in Los Angeles for over fifteen years. He has had a wide-ranging career as an actor and director at theatres across this country including American Players Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, three seasons with The Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis and four with Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Eli Simon is a Chancellor’s Professor of Drama at UC Irvine, where he has served as chair and head of actin
Dig deeply into this season’s Shakespeare productions with a special weekend of lectures, discussions and hands-on activities. In partnership with UCSC’s Shakespeare Workshop and The Humanities Institute, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about each play during the day and then enjoy the production that same evening. This year, Weekend with Shakespeare will be held at the Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park on August 8th ( Much Ado About Nothing ) and August 9th ( Macbeth ). Admission is free to all, but seating is limited. Please register below to reserve your seats . Schedule for Weekend with Shakespeare Saturday, 8/8 – Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare 11:00 a.m. – Welcome (Sean Keilen, UCSC) 11:15 a.m. – Actor Panel (Charles Pasternak and members of the company, SCS) 12:15 p.m. – Boxed lunch (courtesy of Shakespeare Workshop) 1:00 p.m. – Visiting Scholar (Eli Simon, UC Irvine) 2:00 – End of program Sunday, 8/9 – Macbeth by William Shakespeare 1:00 a.m. – Welcome (Sean Keilen, UCSC) 11:15 a.m. – Actor Panel (Charles Pasternak and members of the company, SCS) 12:15 p.m. – Boxed lunch (courtesy of Shakespeare Workshop) 1:00 p.m. – Visiting Scholar (Eli Simon, UC Irvine) 2:00 – End of program Sean Keilen is Professor of Literature and UC Santa Cruz, the founder of Shakespeare Workshop , and Head of Dramaturgy at Santa Cruz Shakespeare . Charles Pasternak is Artistic Director at Santa Cruz Shakespeare , before which served as Artistic Director of The Porters of Hellsgate Theatre Co in Los Angeles for over fifteen years. He has had a wide-ranging career as an actor and director at theatres across this country including American Players Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, three seasons with The Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis and four with Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Eli Simon is a Chancellor’s Professor of Drama at UC Irvine, where he has served as chair and head
Tri Santa Cruz is one of the most fun and scenic events on the west coast. The race has a sprint and international (Olympic) distance triathlon, with relays and aquabike categories for both races. There is a special, non-competitive Family & Friends wave for people who are new to triathlon or just want to have a fun day. The sheltered swim and flat bike and run course make this a perfect place for a first race. The bike ride is a totally closed course and both the bike and run courses follow the coastline to create one of the most scenic races around! It also makes cheering on your athlete a vacation itself!
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Highlights Loop Guided Hike
Highlights Loop Guided Hike- Want to experience the different ecosystems in Henry Cowell State Park first hand? Look no further than this diverse loop through an old-growth redwood forest and the unique Santa Cruz Sandhills. On this guided hike, we will gain 500 feet over 4.5 miles in about 3 hours. Come prepared with good walking shoes and water. Let's plan to meet in front of the Visitor Center at 9:00 am. RSVP here to save your spot!
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.
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.
Downtown Santa Cruz: Antiques Faire
The Santa Cruz Antique Faire is on the 2nd Sunday of every month from 9am-5pm, weather permitting. Vendors offer an eclectic blend of antiques and unique items, vintage clothing, collectibles and more! Visit the Antique Faire on Lincoln Street between Pacific and Cedar.
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.
Join artists Gina Athena Ulysse and Nicolás Dumit Estévez Raful Espejo Ovalles Morel for a day-long contemplative retreat. Schedule of events: 10am-1pm Where Are We Going? A 6-mile walk spanning all locations of Redwoods Rasanblaj from the UCSC Quarry to Variance Objects and the MAH in downtown Santa Cruz, and ending at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences. Please bring water and appropriate footwear. Meet at the UCSC Quarry at 10am. Attendees are also welcome to join at the MAH at approximately 11:30am. 1pm-2pm Lunch A light lunch will be provided for those who plan to join for both the conversation and walk. 2pm-3:30pm It Was Never Meant To Be Secular A dialogue at the IAS galleries between Gina Athena Ulysse and Nicolás Dumit Estévez Raful Espejo Ovalles Morel.
0 booked, 4 available Glazing
We are lucky to live in Santa Cruz County, a place most people would love to visit. That makes it the perfection destination for travelers from Workaway. Workaway connects travelers who want to truly experience the culture of the places they visit with hosts who could use some extra help around the house. Longtime hosts Julie and Kischka will talk about how hosting Workaway travelers can lead to cultural exchange and lasting friendships, and Roy and Quin from the Netherlands will share their experiences as Workaway guests. Whether you’re curious about becoming a host or setting off as a traveler, come discover what makes Workaway such a rewarding way to connect with the world. As always, our Sunday Assembly program will also feature small group activities, inspiring readings, and of course, a potluck. Please bring your curiosity, your open heartedness, and a dish to share.
Wing Chun martial arts classes with instructor Marcus at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, meeting multiple times per week.
Join Perch Sauna at the Davenport Roadhouse for a Dip & Drip — an ocean cold plunge at Davenport Beach followed by a cedar sauna session. Come for the plunge, stay for the sauna, or do both, moving between cold, heat, and fire at your own pace. Between sessions, warm up by the fire with hot cocoa and mallows from Gelatin Glow, and enjoy a complimentary drink from Best Day Brewing. What to bring: Towel, swimsuit, water bottle Included: Sauna session, complimentary Best Day Brewing beverage
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)
Join Perch Sauna at the Davenport Roadhouse for a Dip & Drip — an ocean cold plunge at Davenport Beach followed by a cedar sauna session. Come for the plunge, stay for the sauna, or do both, moving between cold, heat, and fire at your own pace. Between sessions, warm up by the fire with hot cocoa and mallows from Gelatin Glow, and enjoy a complimentary drink from Best Day Brewing. What to bring: Towel, swimsuit, water bottle Included: Sauna session, complimentary Best Day Brewing beverage
Really Really Free Market
Description: Tianguis Realmente Gratuito. Todo es gratis. Really Really Free Market - every second Sunday - 11am - 2pm. No money. No trades. Everything is free. This gathering is not about the "stuff" we give and take, but more about how we can freely give and receive from each other. This is a form of anti-capitalist mutual aid where everyone is invited to participate and share care. ¡Todo es gratis! No intercambio de dinero, no negocios, no trueques. Trae lo que gustes, toma lo que necesites. Este mercado gratuito es basado en una economía de regalar. Learn more about the Santa Cruz Really Really Free Market (RRFM) and RRFMs in general - go to link in bio https://instagram.com/rrfm_ and http://journal.subrosaproject.org/2022/09/really-really-free-market-info-history.html Please wear a mask for community care. with the Really Really Free Market Crew ([email protected]) http://www.subrosaproject.org/ // https://www.facebook.com/subrosaproject // https://www.instagram.com/subrosa_space
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.
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
Come to the Second Sunday AVALON VISIONS PSYCHIC and HEALING ARTS FAIR where an array of intuitive professionals is available for your consultation, as well as market stalls filled with inspiring good for purchase. Join us for good vibes the Second Sunday of every month at 2815 Porter Street in Soquel. See you there!
“Confluence”: where separate currents meet. This beautiful exhibition pairs the work of Santa Cruz artists Susana Arias and Glenn Carter, on view August 7 through September 13 at M.K. Contemporary Art Gallery. “Confluence” is exhibited alongside of 25+ local and regional artists whose work we adore. Live improvisational jazz music from “The Leftovers” at the opening on the First Friday of August from 6-8PM
12:00-3:00pm Animal Shelter Relief is coming back to our Beer Garden! Grab a beer, meet adorable adoptable animals, and learn about what ASR does to help our local furry friends. Stay for live music afterwards from 3-5pm! ASR is an all-volunteer, non-profit, 501(c)(3) animal rescue based in Santa Cruz, CA. Their mission is to relieve overcrowded animal shelters through rescue, thereby reducing euthanasia. Formed in 2008, Amy Strickland along with 2 former co-workers from the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter started Animal Shelter Relief rescue, the ONLY local animal rescue focusing on cats and special needs animals, that existed at the time. The founders knew what help was needed at the County Animal Shelter and formed a rescue to meet those needs and relieve the overcrowding.
Sunday, August 09 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm Local chapter of a global secular (non-religious) movement of people who meet to celebrate life together in congregations and communities around the world. Meets 2nd Sunday of the month 11am to 1 pm.
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!
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
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!
Take Out: Rhythms Within performance at Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center.
Travel Ready: Gourmet Cuisine for Your Healthy Treks
Do you struggle to find tasty, healthy food while traveling, camping, or backpacking? With good preparation, it doesn't have to be that way!
Enjoy summer weekend afternoons at the beautiful Nicholson Vineyards! Saturdays from noon to 5pm – Enjoy perusing art from local artists Sundays from 1pm to 4pm – Enjoy listening to local musicians Pack a picnic spread, gather your friends and family, and sip on their refreshing summer wine flight, featuring the best of our warm-weather selections. Book your reservation today! July 11 & 12: The Clay Chalet and music by Dos Bros July 18 & 19: Indigo and Vine and music by Jo Coleman July 25 & 26: Sour Sammy Sourdough and music by Six String Mixtape August 1 & 2: Scout and Sea and music by Half Pass August 8 & 9: Lili Arnold Studios and music by Eden Edell August 15 & 16: Desert Moon Design and music by Kip Allert August 22 & 23: Papelline Jewelry and music by Zach Bailey August 29 & 30: Anna Gail Designs and music by Jeff Smith September 5 & 6: All You Knead and music by Cake Party!
Wilder Ranch State Park - 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]
Jug band music is scrappy, soulful, and a little unexpected — The songs are an energetic and artful blend of old-time jazz with blues and gospel. It can be played using washboards, jugs, kazoos; anything that can be turned into an instrument – or guitar, banjo, and brass – it’s the kind of music that makes you stop and smile! Click the link in the orange button above for more details. August 6 from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm: Pono Hawaiian Grill at 120 Union Street in Santa Cruz August 7 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm: Museum of Art and History at 725 Front Street in Santa Cruz August 7 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm: Abbott Square at 118 Cooper Street in Santa Cruz August 8 from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm: Abbott Square at 118 Cooper Street in Santa Cruz August 9 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm: Shanty Shack Brewing at 138 Fern Street in Santa Cruz
The Second Annual Santa Cruz Jug Band Festival Thursday August 6th – Sunday August 9th, 2026 Free admission for all events! Contact [email protected] Jug band music is scrappy, soulful, and a little unexpected — The songs are an energetic and artful blend of old-time jazz with blues and gospel. It can be played using washboards, jugs, kazoos; anything that can be turned into an instrument - or guitar, banjo, and brass - it’s the kind of music that makes you stop and smile! Calendar of events: Thursday August 6th, 5:45-7:30 pm at Pono Hawaiian Grill. 120 Union St. Downtown Santa Cruz. · Join the Trolley Drops at their monthly jug band sing and play along. Bring your voice and/or instruments and your good humor. Lyrics projected on the wall. It’s free. Friday August 7th, 6-9 pm at Abbott Square Market and the MAH, 725 Front St. Santa Cruz · 6 pm in the MAH lecture hall: “The Wild & Wacky History of Jug Band Music”, a presentation by the Trolley Drops. · 7 pm at Abbott Square: The Puffball Collective plays dance music, “Prohibition to Psychedelia: Jug Band Roots as Rock.” Saturday August 8th, Noon-9 pm at Abbott Square. 725 Front St. Santa Cruz · Five bands will play one hour sets with sing-alongs or solo performances between sets. · Alphabetically the bands are: The Rivertown Skifflers The Quake City Jug Band The San Lorenzo Valley Ramblers The Trolley Drops The Washboard Rhythm Company Sunday August 9th, 2-5 pm at Shanty Shack Brewing. 138 Fern St. Santa Cruz. · Jug Band Happy Hour: various members of the five Jug Bands will perform some of their favorite songs in a more intimate setting.
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.
Moes Alley Presents a rockin Sunday matinee with Gary Blackburn Band! Sunday, August 9, 2026Doors: 1pm / Show: 2pm$15 in advance / $20 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====Gary Blackburn BandGary Blackburn Band based in Santa Cruz, CA., and the Monterey Bay brings their high energy roots rock based in the Rock, Country, Blues genres. The Gary Blackburn Band currently performs at music venues up and down the Central Coast and Bay Area, blending old school with contemporary, the band will weave a musical journey up on the stage, and you will be dancing! Fronted by Santa Cruz local, and celebrated veteran singer songwriter, Gary Blackburn, the band performs familiar rocking covers along with a few of Garys originals. You can hear one of Garys country tunes, Carolina on KPIG 107.5 Freedom, California. With Gary on guitar and lead vocals, the band also features, Sean Woodward, lead guitar, mandolin, harmony vocals, Kevin Taylor, keyboards, harmony vocals, Dan Waller, bass, harmony vocals, and Tom Duncan, drums. The Gary Blackburn Band brings it yall, come have some fun!
Join Coleen Douglas--biologist turned nature communicator--for this FREE event. This 90-minute experience features a brief discussion indoors, then a short walk outside the library on paved pathways to be with the trees and to practice communicating. Author of the book "Nature Spirits Want To Talk With Us," Coleen provides practical step-by-step guidance and a sense of magic and fun to lead you into deeper connection with nature. www.coleendouglas.com
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 JADe is an Acoustic Trio performing in the Santa Cruz / Bay Area, playing acoustic rock, adult contemporary, beautiful ballads and more from the 60's to present. They feature 3 lead vocals with fabulous harmonies, 2 guitars, flute and melodica.
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.
Read to the Rescues ✨with Pregnant Mare Rescue 🐴💛Give your little one a magical experience… reading aloud alongside a gentle rescue horse. This peaceful moment helps kids build confidence, grow empathy, and create a special bond with our beautiful horses.📖💬 It’s a one-on-one reading time in a calm, supportive space; perfect for young readers and parents who’d love to learn more about our sanctuary.
Frontier Sunday: Craig Rayburn Band
Frontier Sunday: Craig Rayburn Band
Join us for an unforgettable evening of jazz and stories from Ukraine at the Songrise Andrey Chmut Benefit Concert at the picturesque Bargetto Winery. All proceeds will benefit Songrise International’s vital music programs and initiatives for youth globally. Enjoy a wonderful afternoon with live jazz, a festive dinner, fine wines, silent and live auctions, and the chance to make a meaningful difference!
A show
Sunday August 9th - SubRosa presents a fantfabulous show with... * Lashfull - brown n proud centcal 2 piece - @lashfull.ca ** Half Calf - 2-piece what are we?-core queer emo based in Oakland - @halfcalfca *** Egress - Oakland emo I think - @egress510 **** seeyouatwork! - emo shit? East Oakland - @seey0uatwork ***** Gay Eldest Daughter - queer folk from the central coast - @gayeldestdaughter Doors 6pm & Music 7pm // $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 p
Silent meditation.
Presented by: Ruby Hernandez, Adron Beene, Susan von Thun or Erin Carlson-Jones with Joyce Leonard. Each Sunday, one of the musicians performs a sound bath. This is a meditative experience where participants are immersed in sound vibrations produced by instruments like gongs and singing bowls. The goal is to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and enhance mental clarity by allowing the sounds to wash over the body and mind. Joyce offers Reiki, providing a moment of personal attention, inviting you to settle more fully into stillness and the healing experience.
SC Civic Auditorium: Music Festival Grand Finale
The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music season concludes with a luminous program looking toward collective possibility, resilience, and belonging. Ascending Creatures (West Coast premiere) by Festival newcomer, Eunike Tanzil, draws inspiration from the coordinated flight of birds, exploring the interplay between individuality and unity through motion and sound. Through interlocking musical lines and evolving textures, Tanzil emphasizes the power of collective movement. Lisa Bielawa’s Pulse (West Coast premiere), featuring violinist Tessa Lark, unfolds as a driving, heartbeat-like concerto, weaving rhythmic intensity and American musical threads into a shared sense of motion and momentum. Drawing on Lark’s deep roots in Appalachian fiddle traditions, the work evokes the spirit of folk dance and storytelling, blending vernacular musical language with Bielawa’s contemporary orchestral voice. Celebrating marriage equality with both joy and remembrance, Rainbow Promise (U.S. premiere) honors the struggle that made it possible. Composed by Elena Kats-Chernin, the piece rings with a spirit of pure celebration and joy, but not without offering reflection on the struggle that made such celebration possible. Sean Shepherd‘s Wanderlust (West Coast premiere) closes the season with an homage to movement and belonging by “an exciting composer of the new American generation” (New York Times). A self-proclaimed “well-treated vagabond,” Shepherd composed Wanderlust as an homage to his cosmopolitan experiences across the U.S., the U.K., and Europe, representing both his paradoxical, palpable sense of rootlessness and his desire to sink roots, pulling inspiration from disparate places and searching for the idea of home. POST-SEASON REFLECTION—following the Grand Finale Former (1993-1995) U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove joins the Festival for a special closing reflection, performing original poetry honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. alongside Samuel Barber’s Adagio
A comedy night at Crow's Nest, featuring stand-up performances.
HOPE AS OUR BANNER - GRAND FINALE, 2026 CABRILLO FESTIVAL
Conducted by Cristian Măcelaru Eunike Tanzil: Ascending Creatures (West Coast premiere) Lisa Bielawa: Pulse (Tessa Lark, Violin) (West Coast premiere) Elena Kats-Chernin: Rainbow Promise (U.S. premiere) Sean Shepherd: Wanderlust (West Coast premiere) The season concludes with a luminous program looking toward collective possibility, resilience, and belonging. Ascending Creatures (West Coast premiere) by Festival newcomer, Eunike Tanzil, draws inspiration from the coordinated flight of birds, exploring the interplay between individuality and unity through motion and sound. Through interlocking musical lines and evolving textures, Tanzil emphasizes the power of collective movement. Lisa Bielawa’s Pulse (West Coast premiere), featuring violinist Tessa Lark, unfolds as a driving, heartbeat-like concerto, weaving rhythmic intensity and American musical threads into a shared sense of motion and momentum. Drawing on Lark’s deep roots in Appalachian fiddle traditions, the work evokes the spirit of folk dance and storytelling, blending vernacular musical language with Bielawa’s contemporary orchestral voice. Celebrating marriage equality with both joy and remembrance, Rainbow Promise (U.S. premiere) honors the struggle that made it possible. Composed by Elena Kats-Chernin, the piece rings with a spirit of pure celebration and joy, but not without offering reflection on the struggle that made such celebration possible. Sean Shepherd‘s Wanderlust (West Coast premiere) closes the season with an homage to movement and belonging by “an exciting composer of the new American generation” (New York Times). A self-proclaimed “well-treated vagabond,” Shepherd composed Wanderlust as an homage to his cosmopolitan experiences across the U.S., the U.K., and Europe, representing both his paradoxical, palpable sense of rootlessness and his desire to sink roots, pulling inspiration from disparate places and searching for the idea of home. SEASON REFLECTION – with support from Bookshop Santa C
Rita Dove, Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music
TICKETED EVENT AT THE CIVIC: The 2026 Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music concludes with a special appearance by poet Rita Dove, presented with the support of Bookshop Santa Cruz in honor of ou...
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
A young, wholesome, and seemingly normal couple, Brad and Jan, set out to visit their old professor, but their plans change when a large storm causes their car to go flat. Desperate to get out of the rain, they find an old castle that is home to Dr. Frank-N-Furter. From there, the night only becomes weirder. That night will be one they and the audience will not forget. This cult classic continues to entertain crowds, and this run is no different. Audience members can purchase interactive goodie bags with their tickets and participate in a costume contest. Goes until August 22.
Classic guitar riffs, bright percussion, and twangy vocals, The Beat Farmers’ discography holds a seminal place in the 1980s Roots Rock and Americana scene. Beginning in 1983 in San Diego, the band played bar gigs, refining their craft before catching the attention of a Los Angeles audience. Carrying a sense of play, often leaning into goofy lyricism and a boozey stage-presence, their musicianship shines through uninhibited sets. The original lineup was spearheaded by legendary Country Dick Montana, who passed in 1995. The band carries on his spirit with Joey Harris leading vocals, Jarry Raney on guitar, Rolle Love on bass, and Joel Kmak on drums. -Shelly Novo; Good Times Santa Cruz
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.
Little Rangers programs at Natural Bridges State Beach are happening this summer! This free program is best for 3 to 6-year-old kids and includes hands-on activities, play-acting and sharing. Parents or caregivers are required to stay and encouraged to help facilitate the fun and games. Themes this summer include insects, beach exploring, bird watching and nature art. Parking is $10 and helps Friends support the park. One reservation per family and please write in the names and ages of participating children.
Monday, August 10 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.
In this practice group, you'll get an introduction to many different approaches to meditation and receive guidance on which practices might be best suited for you. Second Monday of the month meetings. You’ll have an opportunity to practice with a group and get the support you need to start a regular practice of your own. Claire is a certified meditation teacher and Stanford CCARE Ambassador of Compassion.
Monday, August 10 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, August 10 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.
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!
Monday, August 10 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm In this practice group, you'll get an introduction to many different approaches to meditation and receive guidance on which practices might be best suited for you. Second Monday of the month meetings.
Loops at the Library - Knit/Crochet @ Garfield Park Branch
Monday, August 10 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm Join us every 2nd Monday at the Garfield Park Branch for a yarn party.
Monday, August 10 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, August 10 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.
Monday, August 10 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm Are you stuck with a technology question? You can make a free appointment with a tech savvy library staff member!
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.
A Softball specific weekly clinic designed to keep our gloves and our feet smooth on defense. This clinic is held once a week at Jade Street Park by our college level coaches that are working on fundamentals, form, and execution. Clinic is for 12+ athletes.
Monday, August 10 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm A poetry workshop anyone who would like to establish a writing practice in a safe and encouraging environment.
-Natalie
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
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
Motion Pacific: Adult Beginning Jazz Fusion
This is Motion Pacific's Beginning Jazz Fusion class for adult dancers.
SPIN IT UP: INTERMEDIATE POTTER'S WHEEL (2/5)
4 booked, 2 available Chris Finnie
A weekly Afro-Brazilian dance class focusing on rhythm and movement.
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
Come join us! Mondays @ 6pm Yoga 7pm Meditation and Sound Healing ❤️🩹 $10 a class, no one will be turned away 🫶
August Slugs and Steins with Professor Barbara Rogoff
Learning to be Community-Minded How do children learn to be part of a community, attentive to what’s going on around them and pitching in to help out? Barbara Rogoff builds on her 50+ years researching and participating with a Mayan community in Guatemala to make the case that people everywhere can learn from Indigenous cultural values of relationality and responsibility, which are commonly enacted in everyday family and community life. An important practice in many Indigenous-heritage communities of the Americas is including children collaboratively in the endeavors of family and community life even in the youngest years. In the process, young children often collaborate skillfully and help without being asked, developing community-mindedness through their shared contributions. Barbara Rogoff is UCSC Foundation Distinguished Professor of Psychology at UCSC. She investigates cultural aspects of children’s learning and how communities arrange for learning, finding especially sophisticated collaboration, attention, and community-mindedness among children from some Mexican and Indigenous communities of the Americas. She is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Education, and a Fellow of professional organizations in psychology, anthropology, and education. She has received Distinguished Lifetime Contributions Awards from international research organizations as well as the Chemers Award for Outstanding Research, from UCSC. She has held the University of California Presidential Chair and Fellowships of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Kellogg Foundation, Spencer Foundation, and the Exploratorium, and served as Editor of Human Development. A cat that lives at a University in Pakistan is named in her honor (the cat’s name: “Doctor Barbara Rogoff”). Her award-winning books include Learning Together: Children and Adults in a School Community; The Cultural Nature of Human Development; and Developing
Starman SF: David Bowie Tribute
Starman SF is a glorious tribute to the legend, the music, the icon — David Bowie, celebrating the life, music, and transformative influence of David Bowie, while capturing the essence of his iconic performances and groundbreaking sound. Through their heartfelt renditions of Bowie’s greatest hits, the band strives to bring his timeless artistry to new audiences, ensuring that his spirit continues to inspire for generations to come. One night only: Monday, August 10 @ 7PM. Santa Cruz Shakespeare's Monday Night Revels are special, eclectic performances held on Monday nights—traditionally a "dark" night with no mainstage plays—at the Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park. These events feature diverse entertainment, including comedy, music, and cabaret-style shows, offering a lively, intimate alternative to the main repertory season
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.
Sports at Felton Music Hall on Monday, August 10th 2026 Tickets: https://tixr.com/e/190600
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.
Event date: August 11, 2026 Event Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: 275 Main Street, Suite #100 Watsonville, CA 95076
Qigong with 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. August Activities: August 4: Tote Bag Painting activity with Nic Get your beach bag ready and customize your own tote bag with Nic. All supplies provided. August 11: Qigong with Tara Settle the mind and body and engage in gently movement. All levels welcome. August 18: “Word is Out - Stories from Some of Our Lives” (1977) documentary viewing and discussion with Nic One of the most important LGBTQ+ documentaries ever made, it is considered the first documentary about gay people by gay people. Though it is criminally under-watched, Word is Out had a huge impact, even on pioneers like Vito Russo. This film was made by six LGBTQ+ filmmakers and features interviews with 26 LGBTQ+ pe
Volunteer Information Session - Every 2nd Tuesday of the Month
Do you love plants, the environment, and helping your community? The UCSC Arboretum & Botanic Garden has a wonderful crew of staff, students, and volunteers ready to welcome you. Opportunities include working to care for our gardens and greenhouses and staffing our gift shop and retail plant nursery. To learn more, join us at one of our monthly information sessions. We meet at Norrie's Gift & Garden Shop at 10am and take a walk through the gardens to learn more about the Arboretum and to visit a few of our volunteer groups at work. You can fill out an interest form to let us know you'll be coming or just meet us at the gift shop. To find a link to the form and learn more, visit: https://arboretum.ucsc.edu/get-involved/become-a-volunteer/ If you have questions, need a different day, and/or have mobility issues, please email [email protected] Thank You!
Visit Watsonville Public Library for a FREE Health Screening, no appointment needed! ~ Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley invites library patrons to take advantage of this opportunity to check in on their health and learn more about their risk for conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Screenings will take place on the second Tuesday of each month from July through December, between 10:00am-12:00pm at the Main Library. Tuesday, July 14: Diabetes Tuesday, August 11: Blood Pressure Tuesday, September 8: Diabetes Tuesday, October 13: Cholesterol Tuesday, November 10: Diabetes Tuesday, December 8: Blood Pressure This project is supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. This program is supported by Rural Health Connections. Audience: All ages ESPAÑOL ¡Visite la Biblioteca Pública Watsonville para una evaluación de salud GRATUITA, no necesita cita! ~ Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley invita a los usuarios a aprovechar esta oportunidad para revisar su estado de salud y aprender más sobre su riesgo de padecer enfermedades como la diabetes y la presión arterial alta. Los exámenes de salud se llevarán a cabo el segundo martes de cada mes, de julio a diciembre, de 10:00am-12:00pm en la Biblioteca Principal. martes 14 de julio: Diabetes martes 11 de agosto: Presión arterial martes 8 de septiembre: Diabetes martes 13 de octubre: Colesterol martes 10 de noviembre: Diabetes martes 8 de diciembre: Presión arterial Este proyecto cuenta con el apoyo total o parcial del Instituto de Servicios de Museos y Bibliotecas de los Estados Unidos (IMLS) bajo las disposiciones de la Ley de Servicios y Tecnología Bibliotecaria, administrada en California por el Bibliotecario Estatal. Este programa cuenta con el apoyo de Rural Health Connections. Audiencia: Para todas las edades
Volunteer Information Sessions at the Arboretum Do you love gardens and gardening? The UCSC Arboretum & Botanic Garden has a wonderful community of staff, students, and volunteers, ready to welcome you. Opportunities include staffing our gift shop & retail nursery and working to care for our gardens and greenhouses. To learn more, join us at one of our monthly information sessions. They go for about 45 minutes and include an easy walk through the gardens. To attend, please fill out our simple volunteer interest form at the bottom of our volunteer webpage found here: https://arboretum.ucsc.edu/get-involved/become-a-volunteer/ If you need a different day and/or have mobility issues please let us know in the “Notes” section of the Interest Form. Thank You!
Come Join Us for Toddler Tumble Time! We’ll be sharing some of our educational collection items. Bring your little ones to explore and learn about science. Don’t miss out on the fun! ¡Acompáñenos en la Hora de Juegos para Pequeñitos! Compartiremos una selección de artículos de nuestra colección educativa. Venga con sus pequeños a explorar y aprender sobre la ciencia. ¡No se lo pierda! The event is ADA accessible. Materials will be provided. These programs are funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services. Estos programas son financiados por el Programa de Subvenciones de Equidad al Aire Libre, creado a través AB 209 y administrado por la Oficina de Subvenciones y Servicios Locales de Parque Estatales de California.
Tuesday, August 11 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, August 11 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.
Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia
Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging. Join us to learn about the impact of Alzheimer's, the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia, stages and risk factors, current research and treatments available for some symptoms, and Alzheimer's Association resources.
Tuesday, August 11 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, August 11 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging.
0 booked, 4 available Glazing
Tuesday, August 11 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm Housing navigation services for people experiencing homelessness.
Join our book club every second Thursday to explore great reads and share engaging conversations with fellow book lovers. A book club organized around discussing the “hot topic” titles in the news, and book buzz— the controversies, the new classics or perhaps overexposed. Registration required: https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16749444
Tuesday, August 11 2026 12:15pm - 2:15pm Join a health book club with educational discussions led by Dr. Rabia Barkins, a licensed holistic health practitioner. Improve overall health with lifestyle changes to diet, exercise, and more.
Conversations in Español - Community club to foster fluency
Tuesday, August 11 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.
Tuesday, August 11 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm Join our book club every second Tuesday to explore great reads and share engaging conversations with fellow book lovers.
Tuesday, August 11 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm Practice your English and make new friends!
In this workshop, you will: Learn the ways you can manage your time and avoid procrastination/burnout. The Successful Slug Workshop series, hosted by Learning Support Services Peer Coaches, are open to all UCSC undergraduate students and focus on academic skills and tools to support your success as a student. At each workshop, you will be introduced to a topic, engage in active learning, be given resources to begin implementing the same day, and have an opportunity to learn more if you are interested. 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 .
Event date: August 11, 2026 Event Time: 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM Location: 2021 Freedom Blvd Freedom, CA 95019 Watsonville, CA 95076
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, August 11 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.
Event date: August 11, 2026 Event Time: 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM Location: 275 Main Street, Suite #100 Watsonville, CA 95076
Wing Chun martial arts classes with instructor Marcus at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, meeting multiple times per week.
Kaika Class: Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian Dance
A class for learning Hula and Tahitian dance, exploring the culture and traditions of Hawaiian and Polynesian performance.
Fishhook ROCKS the Santa Cruz Wharf Summer Concert! Let's Party!
Hey Fishhook Fans, We will be rocking the Free Santa Cruz Wharf Summer Tuesday Night Live at the Wharf Commons stage on Tuesday, August 11th! This outdoor festival is free and open to all ages! If you have never been there, then expect a treat! It's an absolutely beautiful location with panoramic views of Monterey Bay, and the sunsets are not to be missed! Don't miss it! As you may know, we are the band that does not let up on the gas! Hear all your favorite songs "leveled up" the FISHHOOK way! You know we deliver the best Rock and Roll in town. Location: 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA Let's Party! And bring your friends too. The show starts at 6:00 PM and ends at 8:00 PM.
Come to Peoples Coffee, the official Santa Cruz location for the Southmost events for the Golden Gate Gamemakers! Come join us as a branch under GGG known as Game Designers of Santa Cruz! It’s a relaxed chance to try new board games and card games, get feedback on your own prototypes if you are a game designer, and get advice on the games industry. New designers and interested players welcome! Please be courteous to other designers and stay to test their games if you are bringing your prototype to be tested. We run a small raffle thru the sign in sheet each night for participants to win new and used board game prizes. This is also Peoples Coffees first events they have held! They are generously keeping all services of food and drink available through the entire 6pm to 10pm event! They normally close at 5:30. Thank you Peoples Coffee! For all of our events at Peoples, affogatos (ice cream and espresso) are half off! We now have a Game Library located inside Peoples for anyone to use any time they are open! **Cost** This is a completely free event! Attendees are encouraged to buy some delicious drinks and food from Peoples Coffee. **Parking / Travel** You can park in the main parking lot in front of Peoples Coffee. There is a also side parking behind Peoples, and around the residential area. You are also free to park across the street near Salsas Taco Bar. See GGG’s full code of conduct here. Up-to-date details and our many other events can be found at meetup.com/playgoldengate Point of contact and organizer: Courtney Laschkewitsch
“Confluence”: where separate currents meet. This beautiful exhibition pairs the work of Santa Cruz artists Susana Arias and Glenn Carter, on view August 7 through September 13 at M.K. Contemporary Art Gallery. “Confluence” is exhibited alongside of 25+ local and regional artists whose work we adore. Live improvisational jazz music from “The Leftovers” at the opening on the First Friday of August from 6-8PM
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 !
Henry Kaiser, Bob Bralove, John Hanrahan, Jennifer Burnes, Nathan Moore
3 booked, 4 available Kathryn Pierno
Travel Ready: Gourmet Cuisine for Your Healthy Treks
Do you struggle to find tasty, healthy food while traveling, camping, or backpacking? With good preparation, it doesn't have to be that way!
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 recurring dance class in Santa Cruz. Check with the venue for specific style and level.
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
Award-winning novelist Clifford Mae Henderson returns with Lost in Sound: A Mystery, a thrilling whodunit set in the fictional coastal town of Tres Ojos. A mystery unravels in this unlikely sleepy beach town where tech millionaires brush past homeless encampments. When a neurodivergent landlocked pirate, Captain Eddie, is accused of murder, an unlikely and delightfully eccentric crew bands together to help the captain. The case spirals into a high-profile circus when the victim turns out to be the estranged sister of a country music legend. Henderson brings warmth, wit, and a deep social conscience to the page. -Shelly Novo; Good Times Santa Cruz
0 booked, 7 available
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 . .
Master Class: Gaw Vang Williams - Dynamics & Tone for Vocal Storytelling
Gaw Vang Williams is a vocalist and educator from Sacramento, California. She became the director of the vocal jazz program at Sacramento State University in 2014, where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and Master of Music in Voice Performance. She began teaching in 2004, serving as a music instructor at various high schools and music organizations. In Dynamics & Tone for Vocal Storytelling, Williams will lead participants through the exploration of different vocal tones, and demonstrate how storytelling naturally shapes vocal dynamics. Williams is a sought-after clinician and adjudicator for festivals and workshops throughout the United States. She currently serves as the President of the California Alliance for Jazz and is the vocal jazz traveling clinician for the Monterey Jazz Festival. Can’t make it in-person? You can stream it! Click here to register.
Free live music every Tuesday night with the Del Mar Trio at Callahan's in Santa Cruz.
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
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.
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
Wednesday, August 12 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.
Event date: August 12, 2026 Event Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Location: 2021 Freedom Blvd Freedom, CA 95019 Watsonville, CA 95076
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)
Wednesday, August 12 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm A 12 week series on Wednesdays from 10:30AM-12PM that introduces foundational digital literacy concepts and teaches useful digital skills.
A bilingual storytime for toddlers with stories, songs, and rhymes in English and Spanish, promoting early literacy and language skills.
Event date: August 12, 2026 Event Time: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Location: 2021 Freedom Blvd Freedom, CA 95019 Watsonville, CA 95076
Moving in Harmony with Life - Self-care Exercises for Vitality and Balance
Instructors: Alexandra Johnson, MD, Kevin Johnson and Dena Ehrlich We spend much of our time being sedentary, lost in our minds. Yet each movement you make throughout your day is an opportunity to be present. Self-Breema exercises are simple and dynamic, and offer a direct experience of body-mind connection. As you practice in class, you increase your ability to be present during your day. You will leave class nurtured, revitalized, and with newfound positivity! You are also welcome to drop in to this class in person at Hummingbird Valley (free of charge; no registration required). Registration for the online attendance of this class is available via the ticket link. Registering for in-person or online is completely free.
Join us Wednesday, May 21st from 12:00 PM- 1:00 PM at California Coffee for an informative and uplifting workshop you won't want tfor suo miss! Our featured guest speaker, Manas S. Kshirsagar, AD, MS a NAMA Board Certified Ayurvedic Doctor with years of experience in holistic wellness and healing, will be presenting "Tools for Stress and Anxiety". With today's fast-paced world and the stress levels many of us are unduring, this workshop will offer valuable insight, practical tools and wellness strategies to help bring more balance, peace and calm into our daily lives. Lunch Special Available: Half Sandwich + Chips just $9.99 California Coffee, 9105 Soquel Dr., Aptos, CA 95003 cacoffeeaptos.com Thank you from myself Sylvia Reyes, and my amazing team for supporting our small business and community events!
Online via Zoom – Register to receive Zoom details Preparing for an upcoming career fair or networking event? Join us for this virtual session on Wednesday, August 12, at 12:00 noon (Pacific Time) , designed to help participants make the most of their next opportunity to connect with employers. Featuring talent acquisition leader and UC Davis alumnus Alexander Reyes, MBA, this session will provide an insider’s perspective on how recruiters evaluate candidates and what helps job seekers stand out at career fairs and recruitment events. Attendees will gain practical strategies for strengthening their resumes, developing an effective elevator pitch, and approaching employer conversations with confidence. Whether attending the upcoming HireUC Alumni Career Summits or another recruitment event, participants will leave with actionable tips to help them prepare, connect, and make a lasting impression. This session is intended for alumni, recent graduates, and job seekers at all career stages . By the end of this session, attendees will be able to: Apply resume best practices to better align their materials with employer expectations. Identify strategies for preparing for career fairs and recruitment events. Develop an elevator pitch that communicates their skills, experiences, and career goals. LEARN MORE & REGISTER This webinar is hosted by UC Davis and is open to all UC alumni
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
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.
Community Poetry Circle With Magdalena Montagne
Wednesday, August 12 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm Join the circle and write a poem in a supportive and creative environment.
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, August 12 2026 2:00pm - 5:00pm Are you stuck with a technology question? You can make a free appointment with a tech savvy library staff member!
Wednesday, August 12 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) creates a welcoming, safe, and inclusive space for teens of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Enjoy activities, snacks and meet new friends & allies!
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.
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
This is a clinic for Softball Athletes 12+, designed specific to athletes by athletes. Throughout three 4-week sessions, athletes will focus on every aspect of becoming a complete offensive player. We'll cover hitting mechanics, swing fundamentals, approach at the plate, pitch selection, live pitching, front toss, situational execution, base running, and the mental side of the game.
A regular tango class in Downtown Santa Cruz, offering a way to learn Latin dance in a social, cultural 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 weekly beginning hip hop house dance class. Participants will learn foundational movements, rhythms, and combinations in a structured, studio setting.
Using the fabrica and partial courtyard. Please don’t schedule loud activities in subrosa at the same time. Contact person— [email protected]
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
Using the fabrica inside space. Please don’t book noisy stuff at this time. Contact person is elaina.
MUD SLINGING: BEGINNING WHEEL THROWING (3/4)
0 booked, 6 available Chris Finnie
A weekly event at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, focused on setup activities. Details are sparse.
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
Motion Pacific: Advanced Contemporary Jazz
This is Motion Pacific's Advanced Contemporary Jazz Dance class for adults.
Sometimes, musical prodigies pop up in unlikely places. John-Roberts made his first TV appearance at 13-years-old on The Ellen Show. The last two years have been locked in at warped speed and John-Robert is traveling the stages of the world. Playing traditional folk and Appalachian country and peppering it with the vernacular of the 21st Century, the songs range from stripped down ballads into sonic explorations. This isn’t the Cosmic Cowboy of The Burrito Brothers, but more the cool Lyle Lovett of younger years. John-Roberts makes it all his own with vocals that crackle and sparkle. With Maryland singer/songwriter MyKey. -DNA; Good Times Santa Cruz
A weekly evening of tango in Santa Cruz, offering a chance to learn, dance, and connect with a new community.
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.
Swing and western swing from New Orleans at the Crow's Nest.
Angelo De Augustine returns with Angel in Plainclothes, his fifth album and most inspired work yet—a deeply felt rendering of his multi-year journey of healing and renewal. The record showcases De Augustine’s powerful melodies and poignant lyrics across tracks like the haunting elegy “Empty Shell,” the hopeful “Spirit of the Unknown,” and standout psychedelic country piece “Mirror Mirror.” Themes explore life’s fragility, second chances, and picking up the pieces after an undiagnosed illness forced him to re-learn basic abilities: “I’m trying to figure out who I am now,” De Augustine says. “I feel like I may have been given a second chance at life, and I’d like to live it.” Angelo De Augustine Website (((folkYEAH!))) Website info/tickets/questions: [email protected]
Moes Alley presents the versatile and formidable bluesman, Davy Knowles! Wednesday, August 12, 2026Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm$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====DAVY KNOWLESWhether playing acoustic, mandolin, national steel, or screaming electric guitar, Davy Knowles has an unmistakable style.Since bursting on to the scene with his band Back Door Slams critically acclaimed album Roll Away in 2007 (I heard the spirit of Jimi Hendrix Patrick McDonald - Seattle Times), Davys star has only risen. His sophomore release Coming Up For Air was produced by the legendary Peter Frampton (Davy already has a recognizable style. Hes definitely the gunslinger guitarist of the 21st century,- Peter Frampton), with subsequent tours seeing him supporting and sharing the stage with acts such as Jeff Beck, The Who, Joe Bonamassa, Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Thorogood, Brian Setzer, the Sammy Hagar-fronted supergroup Chickenfoot, and guitar hero Joe Satriani who called Davy My favorite modern Bluesman. Knowles has several top-5 Billboard Blues charting albums under his belt, high profile TV appearances (Jimmy Kimmel Live and CBS Good Morning America among others), and has been praised with high accolades from heroes and press alike - but its not just the music industry who has taken note. Knowles was also the very first artist in history to perform live to the International Space Station directly from mission control in Houston TX, and has had his music taken to the Space Station by two astronauts, Nicole Stott and Ron Garan, on their missions orbiting Earth.Never one to be satisfied or to sit still, Knowles has explored multiple genres and styles, from the hard-hitting 70s classic rock influenced album Three Miles From Avalon, to
Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery August 13-September 19, 2026 Opening celebration and Artist Talk Saturday, August 15, 2-4:30 p.m Light refreshments will be served. Summer Gallery Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 1-5pm ReView: UC Santa Cruz Arts Alumni Exhibition features Arts Division alumni from the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas. Curated by Valéria Miranda, the Sesnon’s Director, ReView includes a wide variety of media and techniques highlighting the diversity of contemporary practice of alumni who graduated from 1972 to 2025. The exhibition title alludes to the portfolio critique process and suggests ideas of reflection and reevaluation—whether revisiting past work, rethinking materials, or tracing how a practice evolves over time. This exhibition celebrates the creative path of artists who began their journeys at UC Santa Cruz. United by shared roots yet defined by distinct paths, the participating alumni reflect the lasting influence of the Arts Division programs. Their works speak to the spirit of inquiry, experimentation, and perseverance that has long shaped the university’s artistic community. ReView presents an opportunity for the campus and larger community to see the professional practice of these artists who continue to build on the creative foundation that they received at UCSC and to inspire our current students, offering visualization of their own future artistic journeys after graduation. ReView offers a unique opportunity for returning alumni to celebrate their creative expressions while reconnecting with classmates and the university community. Admission is free and open to the public. More Information
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.
BEGINNING/INTERMEDIATE SEWING (3/6)
1 booked, 8 available Katy Kenyon-Abel
0 booked, 4 available Glazing
Event date: August 13, 2026 Event Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Location: 275 Main Street, Suite #100 Watsonville, CA 95076
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. View our Community Agreements for Diversity Center groups.
Thursday, August 13 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!
Rabid Reader Book Discussion Group @ La Selva Beach
Thursday, August 13 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm Join our book club every second Thursday to explore great reads and share engaging conversations with fellow book lovers.
Thursday, August 13 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm Wings provides free birth certificates and notary services for people experiencing homelessness.
“Confluence”: where separate currents meet. This beautiful exhibition pairs the work of Santa Cruz artists Susana Arias and Glenn Carter, on view August 7 through September 13 at M.K. Contemporary Art Gallery. “Confluence” is exhibited alongside of 25+ local and regional artists whose work we adore. Live improvisational jazz music from “The Leftovers” at the opening on the First Friday of August from 6-8PM
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!
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, August 13 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm Come join Librarian Jackie for stories, songs, and lots of fun for preschoolers and their caregivers in our lovely Felton Community Room every Thursday at 11am, followed by a craft!
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
Working Hard Isn’t Enough: The Unspoken Rules That Shape Your Career
Working Hard Isn’t Enough: The Unspoken Rules That Shape Your Career With Ricky Koo Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026 | Noon PT Virtual via Zoom Hosted by UCLA Alumni Association, open to all UC alumni As a first-generation immigrant, career coach Ricky Koo was taught to work hard, stay humble, and let results speak. Sound familiar? Here’s the thing: You can be great at your job and still be misunderstood, overlooked or underestimated. In this webinar, Ricky Koo — a first-generation immigrant who rose through the ranks to become a corporate executive before building his own professional coaching business — breaks down what actually shapes how you’re perceived at work, and how to take control of your professional narrative without being fake, loud or political in ways that feel misaligned. This isn’t about self-promotion. It’s about self-definition. Learn More & Register
Re/View: Alumni Exhibition -- UC Santa Cruz
Opening celebration and Artist Talk on Saturday, August 15, 2-4:30pm. Light refreshments will be served. Re/View: Alumni Exhibition ReView: UCSC Arts Alumni Exhibition, on view August 13-September 19, 2026, features Arts Division alumni from the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas. Curated by Valéria Miranda, the Sesnon’s Director, includes a wide variety of media and technique highlighting the diversity of contemporary practice of alumni who graduated from 1972 to 2025. The exhibition title alludes to the portfolio critique process and suggests ideas of reflection and reevaluation—whether revisiting past work, rethinking materials, or tracing how a practice evolves over time. This exhibition celebrates the creative path of artists who began their journeys at UCSC. United by shared roots yet defined by distinct paths, the participating alumni reflect the lasting influence of the Arts Division programs. Their works speak to the spirit of inquiry, experimentation, and perseverance that has long shaped the university’s artistic community. ReView presents an opportunity for the campus and larger community to see the professional practice of these artists who continue to build on the creative foundation that they received at UCSC and to inspire our current students, offering visualization of their own future artistic journeys after graduation. ReView offers a unique opportunity for returning alumni to celebrate their creative expressions while reconnecting with classmates and the university community. Admission is free and open to the public. Summer Gallery Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 1-5pm
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]
Thursday, August 13 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm The Aptos Library Book Discussion Group meets 2nd Thursdays, 1-2:30pm, in-person or via Zoom. Adult readers choose thought-provoking fiction & nonfiction. Email [email protected].
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, August 13 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm Are you stuck with a technology question? You can make a free appointment with a tech savvy library staff member!
Thursday, August 13 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, August 13 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm Make and explore STEAM possibilities at Felton Branch Library! Age 6+
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
A tech cafe at the Watsonville Main Library where participants can experiment with Sphero robots.
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!
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.
A weekly Congo dance class in Santa Cruz. Participants learn traditional African dance movements in a group setting at The 418 Project.
The Joint Chiefs perform at Crow's Nest in Santa Cruz, California.
Conversations in Español - Community club to foster fluency
Thursday, August 13 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm This club is designed for intermediate-level participants, so if you're just starting out, you might find it a bit challenging at first.
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
Motion Pacific: Adult Intermediate Modern
This is Motion Pacific's Adult Intermediate Modern class for adult dancers.
5:30-7:30pm Northern California songwriter Aaron Blyth is a little bit everything. Raised on the beaches of Hawaii and in the Mountains of the Pacific Northwest, his music is as diverse and eclectic as his background. Pulling from strong influences of Folk, Rock, Blues and Funk, this singer/songwriter blends his favorite flavors into a uniquely energetic sound. From his days of playing Tom Petty covers at bonfire parties in high school, to playing with his band Soul Plain in college, Aaron has been spreading his music around California for the last 12 years. The music has a positive message and energy that is both sonically simple yet lyrically deep.
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
We are a 5-piece group led by LA-based guitarist and vocalist Ladi Oyediran, with the rest of us in Dallas: myself, Kayla Scales on keyboard and vocals, backed by Jelen Farrow on drums, Aaron Payton on bass, and Rafael Powell on saxophone. Our set can be an hour of originals up to two hours, including covers from SZA and Rex Orange County. We make R&B, Rock, and Soul for fans of The Internet and Steve Lacy.
INSPIRED BY NATURE: BEGINNING HANDBUILDING (1/5)
3 booked, 4 available Kathryn Pierno
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
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
Free jazz nights every other Thursday at Abbott Square Market. All ages welcome to enjoy local jazz artists in an outdoor plaza setting.
A Santa Cruz Premiere! Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Dear Evan Hansen comes to Santa Cruz for the first time in a fully staged production with a live orchestra. The musical follows Evan Hansen, a lonely high school student struggling with social anxiety who longs to feel like he belongs. After a misunderstanding following the death of a classmate, Evan finds himself caught in a lie that unexpectedly brings him closer to the grieving family—and gives him the connection he’s always wanted. But as the truth becomes harder to hide, Evan must face the consequences of the choices he’s made. Filled with unforgettable songs by Academy Award, Grammy, and Tony-winning songwriting team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman), Dear Evan Hansen is a moving story, with both humor and deep emotionality, about friendship, family, forgiveness, and the universal desire to be seen and accepted. Recommended for ages 13 and up. Contains themes of suicide, grief, mental health, and strong emotional content.
FREE Event: Invitation to a Calmer, Happier You
Free Holistic Class: Your Invitation to a Calmer, Happier You On Thursday, August 13, 2026, the public is invited to a free introductory class in a practice that reduces stress, helps the body heal, quiets the mind, and opens the heart, ultimately gifting the practitioner with the experience of unconditional love. The free event will be held on the beach below Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz from 7:00 to 8:15 pm. Beach access stairs are on 20th Avenue with street parking on East Cliff between 18th & 19th Avenue and any side streets. The practice, called Sheng Zhen, includes moving and non-moving meditation; the Thursday class will focus on meditative movements done standing up led by local teachers Edward Willey and Kathy Welch. Anyone interested in inner peace, physical or emotional healing, spiritual awakening or creating a more peaceful, harmonious world is encouraged to attend. The event is hosted by Sheng Zhen Santa Cruz, which is also hosting a five-day retreat for Sheng Zhen teachers and practitioners from around the country who want to deepen their practice. Retreat participants will be at the public event. For more information about Sheng Zhen and the nonprofit organization, visit www.shengzhenamericas.org For more information about the Thursday event or ongoing Sheng Zhen classes offered in Santa Cruz, contact Kathy Welch at [email protected].
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.
To say that singer Marina Crouse is a jazz musician is technically true. However, it’s also a vast understatement of her talents. This Bay Area musician can sing the poetry of jazz, the emotions of the blues and the romance of traditional Mexican boleros. Her 2022 album Canto de Mi Corazon (Song of my Heart) is a testament to that. It’s her first all-Spanish album and it dares anyone with ears not to shed a tear at least once while listening. It’s beautiful, sad, ecstatic, and timeless, much like the artist herself. This evening, be prepared for a true Bay Area gem. -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz
A young, wholesome, and seemingly normal couple, Brad and Jan, set out to visit their old professor, but their plans change when a large storm causes their car to go flat. Desperate to get out of the rain, they find an old castle that is home to Dr. Frank-N-Furter. From there, the night only becomes weirder. That night will be one they and the audience will not forget. This cult classic continues to entertain crowds, and this run is no different. Audience members can purchase interactive goodie bags with their tickets and participate in a costume contest. Goes until August 22.
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
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
Get ready to Return to the Redwoods ! Reconnect with friends, family, and fellow alumni as you explore the beauty of UC Santa Cruz. From the kick-off party and Stars & S’mores to hikes, workshops, and family-friendly fun, this weekend offers something for everyone. Ticket, housing, and registration details will be shared in early 2026—stay tuned! You won’t want to miss it.
Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery August 13-September 19, 2026 Opening celebration and Artist Talk Saturday, August 15, 2-4:30 p.m Light refreshments will be served. Summer Gallery Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 1-5pm ReView: UC Santa Cruz Arts Alumni Exhibition features Arts Division alumni from the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas. Curated by Valéria Miranda, the Sesnon’s Director, ReView includes a wide variety of media and techniques highlighting the diversity of contemporary practice of alumni who graduated from 1972 to 2025. The exhibition title alludes to the portfolio critique process and suggests ideas of reflection and reevaluation—whether revisiting past work, rethinking materials, or tracing how a practice evolves over time. This exhibition celebrates the creative path of artists who began their journeys at UC Santa Cruz. United by shared roots yet defined by distinct paths, the participating alumni reflect the lasting influence of the Arts Division programs. Their works speak to the spirit of inquiry, experimentation, and perseverance that has long shaped the university’s artistic community. ReView presents an opportunity for the campus and larger community to see the professional practice of these artists who continue to build on the creative foundation that they received at UCSC and to inspire our current students, offering visualization of their own future artistic journeys after graduation. ReView offers a unique opportunity for returning alumni to celebrate their creative expressions while reconnecting with classmates and the university community. Admission is free and open to the public. More Information
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.
Roaring camp will be open to the public for viewing of the California Blacksmith Association as they demonstrate how they push the boundaries of hot metal and bring ancient techniq ues to life . While it is free to go view the talent and dedication of these smithies , you will be hard pressed to pass up a train ride ! Consider purchasing before you go to beat the crowds and make yourself the hero to your group.
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]
Henry Cowell - Fuel Reduction Workday
Fuel Reduction Workday - This is a Fuel Reduction Workday, in which we manually clear fallen debris in select areas of the Redwood Grove, and by doing so, reduce the fuel load and restore old-growth habitat. Park staff will facilitate organizing this debris into brush piles. Participants should be prepared to help with a fair deal of manual labor. This workday will meet in front of the Visitor Center. If possible, please bring work gloves. Park offers a limited supply. Click here to RSVP and be sure to cross reference the above details with the date of your choice!
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.
Event date: August 14, 2026 Event Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Location: 275 Main Street, Suite #100 Watsonville, CA 95076
Art for Healing: Using the power of the creative process to provide support, insight and a deeper relationship with yourself in a safe and nurturing environment. No art experience necessary. All art supplies provided.Meets 2nd Friday of the month, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. (Space is limited so please check with WomenCARE re: availability) Facilitated by Dayna Lea
“Confluence”: where separate currents meet. This beautiful exhibition pairs the work of Santa Cruz artists Susana Arias and Glenn Carter, on view August 7 through September 13 at M.K. Contemporary Art Gallery. “Confluence” is exhibited alongside of 25+ local and regional artists whose work we adore. Live improvisational jazz music from “The Leftovers” at the opening on the First Friday of August from 6-8PM
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
Friday, August 14 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm We are knitting at Live Oak Library on Fridays.
Friday, August 14 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm Join our Bridge Club for friendly games and social fun, open to players of all skill levels.
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.
Re/View: Alumni Exhibition -- UC Santa Cruz
Opening celebration and Artist Talk on Saturday, August 15, 2-4:30pm. Light refreshments will be served. Re/View: Alumni Exhibition ReView: UCSC Arts Alumni Exhibition, on view August 13-September 19, 2026, features Arts Division alumni from the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas. Curated by Valéria Miranda, the Sesnon’s Director, includes a wide variety of media and technique highlighting the diversity of contemporary practice of alumni who graduated from 1972 to 2025. The exhibition title alludes to the portfolio critique process and suggests ideas of reflection and reevaluation—whether revisiting past work, rethinking materials, or tracing how a practice evolves over time. This exhibition celebrates the creative path of artists who began their journeys at UCSC. United by shared roots yet defined by distinct paths, the participating alumni reflect the lasting influence of the Arts Division programs. Their works speak to the spirit of inquiry, experimentation, and perseverance that has long shaped the university’s artistic community. ReView presents an opportunity for the campus and larger community to see the professional practice of these artists who continue to build on the creative foundation that they received at UCSC and to inspire our current students, offering visualization of their own future artistic journeys after graduation. ReView offers a unique opportunity for returning alumni to celebrate their creative expressions while reconnecting with classmates and the university community. Admission is free and open to the public. Summer Gallery Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 1-5pm
Friday, August 14 2026 12:30pm - 2:30pm Are you stuck with a technology question? You can make a free appointment with a tech savvy library staff member!
Watsonville Farmers' Market
Event date: August 14, 2026 Event Time: 02:00 PM - 09:00 PM Location: Peck Street and Union Street Watsonville, CA 95077
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, August 14 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm Sharpen your word skills and enjoy friendly competition at our Scrabble Club - fun for all levels.
Friday, August 14 2026 2:00pm - 3:15pm This month's book will be James by Percival Everett.
Friday, August 14 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm Are you stuck with a technology question? You can make a free appointment with a tech savvy library staff member!
Friday, 3:30 PM - with Pattie Gilbert
Friday, August 14 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.
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.
Live music, food and wine overlooking the Lester Family Vineyards in the heart of Pleasant Valley. Friday, June 12 from 5-8pm: Music by Alex Lucero Band and Food by SnB Food Truck Friday, July 3 from 5-8pm: Music by B-Movie Kings and Food by Happy Dog Friday, July 10 from 5-8pm: Music by Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash and Food by Uncle Papa’s BBQ Friday, August 14 from 5-8pm: Music by Nautical Thrust and Food by Italia Fire Friday, September 18 from 5-8pm: Music by James Durbin & The Lost Boys and Food by SC Eatery Sunday, October 4 from 3-6pm: Music by Jive Machine and Food by High End Comida
Opening Reception: Rhythms Within
Opening reception for 'Rhythms Within' at Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center.
Free summer block party in Midtown Santa Cruz featuring live music, food trucks, local artists, makers, and family fun.
5:30-7:30pm Harpin' and Clark are Jon Troutner and Peter Clark. They are a guitar and harmonica duo playing Americana, jazz, blues, ragtime, country and folk. Mixing carefully selected traditional and popular tunes with original songs, their combination of chromatic and blues harmonica and fingerstyle guitar provides a uniquely listenable musical experience. Jon and Peter have been developing their craft and entertaining Santa Cruz audiences for over forty years.
Rebecca Coupe Franks / Trumpet Nancy Heth / Vocals and Piano
Brian Fitzgerald Jazz Trio
Pole Fitness 101/Functional Movement + Fundamentals + Dance
Pole Fitness 101 is more than just aerial training. Get movement training you’ll use for life! ✅Pole technique with dance & fitness modules ✅Functional conditioning ✅Mobility & flexibility training ✅High level Xpert Xpole certified (L1-L4) ✅FRC certified Mobility Specialist (FRCms) Drop in on one class or attend the fully programmed module for 7 weeks! Fridays 6 pm. www.ohanastudiosantacruz.com
Watsonville Rainbow Youth Beach Bonfire! @ Palm Beach State Park
Rainbow Youth Beach Bonfire D Name: Watsonville Rainbow Youth Beach Bonfire! Date: Friday, August 14 Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm Location: Palm Beach State Park, Watsonville Ages: 11-17 RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/tdcrainbowbonfire Event Description: Have fun, toast marshmallows and hot dogs, play beach games, and more! Bring anything that helps you enjoy the beach - games, towels, etc. NOTE: we will not be swimming. Questions? [email protected] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Accessibility Information: Music will be playing, so bring headphones if you are sound sensitive! We will have vegan and meat hot dogs, vegan and regular marshmallows, and beverages. The bathrooms at the beach are gendered, but we will be going in groups and a staff member will stand outside the bathroom you choose to use and prevent others from coming in while you use it. Enter through the parking lot near the restrooms. Follow signs for the bonfire. This bea
When it comes to the underground hip hop greats, there are several lists one can compile, but all would include Atmosphere. Formed in 1996 by rapper Slug and DJ Ant in Minneapolis, Atmosphere has been dropping bars, knowledge and beats to hip hop lovers throughout the world. They were part of the original collective that would later form Rhymesayers record label, which would later sign acts like Living Legends, Murs, Aesop Rock, Brother Ali, Evidence, and Dilated Peoples. To see them is a blessing, but to see Atmosphere with the Bay’s The Pharcyde, DJ Abilities, Abstract Rude, and Plain Ole Bill is one night people will be talking about for years to come. -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz
Head to the Quarry Amphitheater to see the underground hip hop duo, Atmosphere! Ant and Slug are widely celebrated as pioneers of independent and underground hip-hop. This concert features an iconic collective of underground hip-hop royalty—including The Pharcyde, DJ Abilities, Abstract Rude, and Plain Ole Bill—all performing in a majestic redwood forest setting. The Quarry Amphitheater was carved from a former limestone quarry in the 1960’s. The unique terraced asymmetrical design allows for amazing sightlines as you throw your hands up with towering redwoods all around you. You won’t want to miss seeing Atmosphere at this venue! Locals Love: The unique venue. First Timers Miss: Bringing a blanket or towel to keep comfortable in a redwood micro-climate. Insights: The Quarry Amphitheater is inside UCSC, so parking fees and lot usage are unpredictable. There are public e-bike stations on campus and throughout Santa Cruz and Capitola. Watch to see if a rally bus is available for the event.
A Santa Cruz Premiere! Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Dear Evan Hansen comes to Santa Cruz for the first time in a fully staged production with a live orchestra. The musical follows Evan Hansen, a lonely high school student struggling with social anxiety who longs to feel like he belongs. After a misunderstanding following the death of a classmate, Evan finds himself caught in a lie that unexpectedly brings him closer to the grieving family—and gives him the connection he’s always wanted. But as the truth becomes harder to hide, Evan must face the consequences of the choices he’s made. Filled with unforgettable songs by Academy Award, Grammy, and Tony-winning songwriting team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman), Dear Evan Hansen is a moving story, with both humor and deep emotionality, about friendship, family, forgiveness, and the universal desire to be seen and accepted. Recommended for ages 13 and up. Contains themes of suicide, grief, mental health, and strong emotional content.
Stax Johnson is an independent rock and blues artist based out of California's Central Coast. With B3 hammond organs coupled with smooth guitar licks and deep rooted back beats, he transcends musical genres while incorporating pieces of the blues, rock and roll, and soul into a style all his own. Stax Johnson and his band have performed at various festivals and venues across the U.S. with artists that include Robbie Krieger of The Doors, Chris Isaak, Leon Russell, The Pointer Sisters, The Guess Who, John Mayall, Charlie Musselwhite, Ratt, Greg Kihn, Blues Traveler, Y&T, and The Blue Oyster Cult. Stax Johnson & Company includes Manny Castro(bass guitar and vocals), Robbie Bohn (lead guitar and vocals), Brad Burchell (drums), and Stax Johnson(guitar, keys, vocals, and harmonica).
Death & Saxes is Santa Cruz’s premier straight-ahead jazz quartet. Founded by saxophonist John Bouwsma, a Santa Cruz native and Kuumbwa education program alum, Death & Saxes interprets standards and classic jazz compositions as well as original songs and arrangements. Behind Bouwsma’s tenor is a rhythm section of Alameda’s own Harrison Brand on guitar, as well as longtime Santa Cruz jazz veterans Jamie Brudnick on upright bass, and Ben Sibley on drums. Together, Death & Saxes consistently creates exciting performances with dynamic solos, creative musical conversations, and incorporating a wide variety of musical styles. Full Court Press is a “nuclear fusion band” formed in Santa Cruz, mixing jazz with rock, funk, and beyond for their electrifying sets. Death & Saxes Full Court Press (Ticket Includes 5% City of Santa Cruz Admission Tax)
In August 2026, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead will be playing at Actors’ Theatre in Santa Cruz. Written by the late Tom Stoppard, this classic midcentury masterpiece is one of his earliest plays but also likely his best known. Written as a comedy, the work shares substantially with Samuel Beckett’s absurdist style, particularly Waiting for Godot. Performances from August 13th to August 30th, 2026, running Thursday through Sunday. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two minor characters in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Stoppard crafts an ingenious backstory for these characters, which becomes an exploration of the meaning of life (or death), woven into Shakespeare’s greatest play. The two collegiate friends find themselves traveling to Elsinore, encountering a roving band of actors, a prince (maybe mad), pirates, and never manage to get a grip on anything - even which of them is which. Santa Cruz local talents Chris Salem (Cabaret with Renegade Theater) will be playing Rosencrantz, and Zed Warner (The Addams Family with Mountain Community Theater) will be playing Guildenstern. A host of other fantastic Santa Cruz talents will take on the remaining roles of Shakespeare’s Hamlet including Ward Willats, Ian Dyer, Andy Waddell, Jennifer Stanford, Kevin Karplus, Juno Aliah, Raven Voorhees, Nick Bilardello, Brad Roades, Tom Boyle and Benjamin Canant. Tickets will go on sale July 1st, for an admission fee of $40, $35 for students and seniors, Thursday tickets will be 2-for-1, and there are plans for rush tickets to be available an hour before curtain. Today, audiences can go to https://randg.live/ or follow on instagram @randg.sc for production updates, announcements, and ticket information.
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
A young, wholesome, and seemingly normal couple, Brad and Jan, set out to visit their old professor, but their plans change when a large storm causes their car to go flat. Desperate to get out of the rain, they find an old castle that is home to Dr. Frank-N-Furter. From there, the night only becomes weirder. That night will be one they and the audience will not forget. This cult classic continues to entertain crowds, and this run is no different. Audience members can purchase interactive goodie bags with their tickets and participate in a costume contest. Goes until August 22.
Fridays & Saturdays 8pm-10pm through October. Opening weekend July 10-11! Experience the magic once again as this beloved art and light installation returns to the Santa Cruz Mountains for its second year. Lighted lanterns hang high overhead surrounded by thousand year old redwoods that are uplit to create a unique and awe-inspiring retreat back to nature.
Mountain Community Theater's New Works Weekend is a celebration of local storytelling through eight original ten-minute plays. This year's lineup spans comic farce, dark comedy, and supernatural romp, with writers tackling everything from a psychic radio show and the ghost of Mae West to an escaped memory care patient, a time-traveling surgeon, and Old King Cole's throne room. Featured readers include MCT veterans Naomi Bowers, Tiffany Cesarin, Shireen Doyle, and Hannah Eckstein. Each performance is followed by a talkback with the writers, directors, and readers, offering a rare window into the craft behind the curtain. Goes until Aug 16. -Shelly Novo; Good Times Santa Cruz
The Polish Ambassador at Felton Music Hall on Friday, August 14th 2026 Tickets: www.prekindle.com/promo/id/-2852527949146904920
A concert from the John Michael Band.
This nighttime experience will bring you a magical and immersive perspective on the ancient forest at Roaring Camp. During the 0.8-mile loop walk, you will view 26 unique, lighted lanterns, hung approximately 50 feet above the ground. The lanterns were crafted by local artists including Anna Bobisuthi, Roaring Camp’s resident blacksmith, and Chris Butler, who also created the lighting design for Sequoias at Night. Tickets are available at the link in the orange button above. Kids under two enter for free. Roaring Camp’s food services and gift shop will be open.
Moes Alley presents Bay Area funk-fusion collective Afrolicious!Friday, August 14, 2026Doors: 8pm / Show: 9pm$20 in advance / $25 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====AFROLICIOUSThe Afrolicious live experience is, in a nutshell, a joyous and raucous celebration of life. The Afrolicious sound combines inspiring lyrics, funky bass lines, and a powerful horn section while retaining the soul and feel of classic funk, disco, Latin, and Afrobeat melodies. Audiences looking to dance, be inspired, or celebrate life have found Afrolicious as their perfect conduit.Afrolicious is a band custom fit for this moment when joy and unity are needed more than ever. The genuine passion, love, funk and energy at an Afrolicious event is something folks feel long after the event is over. It is a kind of feeling one wants to go out and spread around because it feels so good! Afrolicious is ready to be a part of that healing and uplifting energy the people need as we all emerge from a truly difficult and challenging time.
Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery August 13-September 19, 2026 Opening celebration and Artist Talk Saturday, August 15, 2-4:30 p.m Light refreshments will be served. Summer Gallery Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 1-5pm ReView: UC Santa Cruz Arts Alumni Exhibition features Arts Division alumni from the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas. Curated by Valéria Miranda, the Sesnon’s Director, ReView includes a wide variety of media and techniques highlighting the diversity of contemporary practice of alumni who graduated from 1972 to 2025. The exhibition title alludes to the portfolio critique process and suggests ideas of reflection and reevaluation—whether revisiting past work, rethinking materials, or tracing how a practice evolves over time. This exhibition celebrates the creative path of artists who began their journeys at UC Santa Cruz. United by shared roots yet defined by distinct paths, the participating alumni reflect the lasting influence of the Arts Division programs. Their works speak to the spirit of inquiry, experimentation, and perseverance that has long shaped the university’s artistic community. ReView presents an opportunity for the campus and larger community to see the professional practice of these artists who continue to build on the creative foundation that they received at UCSC and to inspire our current students, offering visualization of their own future artistic journeys after graduation. ReView offers a unique opportunity for returning alumni to celebrate their creative expressions while reconnecting with classmates and the university community. Admission is free and open to the public. More Information
Zen Meditation. Open to all. Free of charge.
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.
Celebrate Bookstore Romance Day at Bookshop Santa Cruz: Camp Daydream is in session! Join us this Bookstore Romance Day for a day full of camp-inspired activities! Bunk-up with fellow romance...
Join Save Our Shores for a beach cleanup at Cowell & Main Beach! Registration is required, click here to register. Meet Up Location: Please meet us at the base of the stairs to Cowell Beach, on the right side of the wharf entrance. Facilities & Accessibility: Restrooms and drinking fountains are available onsite. Metered parking in the lot is limited, surrounding streets have additional metered parking available, please plan accordingly. How to Prepare: All volunteers must register to participate, register here. We recommend that all volunteers wear closed-toed shoes, dress in layers, wear sun protection, and bring a filled reusable water bottle. Save Our Shores encourages volunteers to avoid single-use plastics at our cleanups. All cleanup materials are provided, including buckets, grabbers, and gloves. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own. You can download the Save Our Shores Marine Tally App (Apple, Google) in advance of the cleanup and use it to record the debris you collect, or you can use the paper data cards that we will provide at the event. Every participant must complete a volunteer waiver. We will have waivers available at the event, however, participants are encouraged to complete this paperwork in advance to save time and bring it with you on the day of the event. Anyone under the age of 18 will require a parent or guardian’s signature on this document. Volunteers under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult (guardian) for the duration of the event. If you have additional questions, please check our FAQ page. This event is in partnership with:
This event is all about personal health and conscious economics. We're offering a full day event where attendees can sample movement classes, place-based workshops and more, from a dozen local small businesses. Our goal? To give you an affordable opportunity to discover as many local healing outlets as possible and promote those dedicating their lives to helping others. NOTE: Though we call ourselves a "festival", this will be a more intimate event, taking place at a private redwood estate in Scotts Valley with a maximum of 100 guests. We hope you'll take the time to connect with others, especially any practitioner who amazed you. Catered lunch from Julia's Vegetarian Restaurant + live music is included in the ticket
Come enjoy picking your own organic strawberries and/or flowers at the campus farm! When: U-picks will take place on Saturdays from 9am to 12pm, July 11–August 22, or while supplies last. PLEASE NOTE that u-pick will not occur on Saturday, July 4. Where: Free parking will be available in the Hay Barn lot or lot 115/116 during u-pick hours. Please do not park in the dirt lot at the farm’s back gate. Please walk to the check-in table near the strawberries/flowers at the farm to pre-pay and collect your u-pick container(s). We will have directional signage displayed. There is one ADA parking spot on the farm. The UCSC Farm has uneven, hilly terrain. If you require accommodations to fully participate, please email [email protected] and we will do our best to accommodate. Cost: UCSC students with valid ID get 25% off produce. Strawberry pints – $4 each Strawberry flats (12 pints) – $44 Flowers – $25 for 32oz deli container Flower buckets – $75 Payment: Credit card payments only (you will need a smartphone to scan a QR code and enter your card info manually). Dogs are not allowed on the UC Santa Cruz campus (service animals are OK).
Classic cars and coffee every Saturday morning, in East Lake Village Shopping Center. It doesn't get much better. Come walk around the expansive parking lot, look at some beautifully restored cars, drink delicious coffee, and visit with your community. Stay awhile and enjoy one of the many great eateries in the shopping center!
This is a mixed-level ballet class for adult ballet dancers with Elizebeth Randall Rains.
Santa Cruz Schnauzer Meet Up Saturday, August 15th at Ocean View Dog Park. Bring your schnauzer, or schnauzer mix, or terrier. All sizes are welcome. This event starts at 9:30 am. We will take a group photo at 10:30, and disperse soon after. Meet at the off leash area. Please keep your pet on leash until you find us. Come for the socialization. Stay for the fun.
-Elle
Wellness Day at Scotts Valley Art, Wine & Beer Festival
TherapyWorks, in collaboration with the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce, is excited to announce the first-ever Wellness Day at this year’s Scotts Valley Art, Wine & Beer Festival! As the host of Wellness Day, TherapyWorks is honored to help create a dedicated space highlighting local health, wellness, prevention, education, and community care providers. This new festival experience is designed to bring meaningful visibility to the many organizations, practitioners, and businesses supporting the well-being of individuals and families throughout Scotts Valley and the greater Santa Cruz County community. Although Wellness Day is a brand-new addition to the festival for 2026, the vision for creating a dedicated health and wellness experience has been in the works for years. We are so excited to finally bring this idea to life. Interested in applying to be a Wellness Vendor? To reserve your vendor space, please complete the registration form and submit your payment below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjcET4ItwBlluPZRk8-IgUym6a53UXyxPZ81jna8e7J0S0cA/viewform?usp=send_form
We are coming together as a community to steward Tyrrell Park through the City’s Adopt-A-Park program. At the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, you gain new wisdom about local ecology, native plants, and sustainable gardening while connecting with nature outdoors. It’s time to get your hands dirty! Join us and volunteer in the Museum’s Garden Learning Center and Pilkington Creek.
Scotts Valley Art, Wine, and Beer Festival is back in the beautiful park setting of Skypark in Scotts Valley. This premier summer festival in the Santa Cruz Mountains has something fun for everyone! The fun includes over 100 artists, live music, kid zone, food trucks, Cops Car Show on Saturday, Dog Day on Sunday, beer, wine, and more! Don’t miss this summer favorite with free admission in Scotts Valley! Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm
Henry Cowell Redwoods SP: Basket Weaving Workshop
During this program, you will be introduced to a craft used by indigenous peoples around the world: coiled basketry. CA basketry is some of the most ornate in the world, and this opportunity will pique your interest in learning more about, and supporting traditional arts. This 2-hour workshop will teach you how to weave your very own basket out of local Ponderosa Pine needles! Not recommended for children under the age of 12. All materials are supplied, and no previous experience is necessary. The class size is limited to 15. Please click the orange button above to register ahead. Although this event is free, it costs $10 to park in a state park. Hold on to your receipt! Once you pay to park at one state park for the day, it is good for all of the state parks! There are 14 state parks in Santa Cruz County alone!
Rancho del Oso: Guided Hike- Marsh Trail/Hoover Loop Trail
Join us on a 0.5-1.5 mile tour based on group preference. Trails available are the Marsh Trail, the Hoover Loop Trail, or both. Our Nature and History Center will be open to explore immediately after the walk. Register Here
Balance Your Nervous System with Breema - Bodywork & Self-Care Exercises
With so many things requiring our attention each day, it can be difficult to find balance. This can lead to nervous system dysfunction, indicated by fatigue, overwhelm, anxiety, insomnia, and even illness. Breema Bodywork, Self-Breema Exercises, and the Nine Principles of Harmony offer practical tools to balance your nervous system, and bring more presence and vitality into your life. In this workshop you will learn: —Simple partner Breema bodywork exercises that are as nurturing to give as to receive —Self-Breema exercises that can be practiced throughout the day to harmonize and balance your mind, body, and feelings —Breema’s Nine Prinicples of Harmony that support you to discover a new energy, clarity, and enthusiasm for life! This workshop is ideal for those new to Breema’s transformational perspective on ways to live simply and meaningfully, as well as those with prior experience! Each workshop offers new material that will support you to have a more balanced, harmonious, and grounded perspective on life. Please be comfortable sitting, moving, and working on a well padded floor. $50 if paid by August 5 (use coupon code EARLYBIRD), $60 thereafter. For more information please contact the Breema Center: 510-428-0937 or [email protected] Continuing Education may be available for this event. Visit breema.info/ce for more information and to sign up. Instructors: Alexandra Johnson, MD, Denise Berezonsky and Dena Ehrlich
A fun and easy-to-learn way of drawing structured patterns to create beautiful images. The Zentangle Method makes drawing patterns, or tangles, accessible to almost anyone of all ages since tangles are created from basic pen strokes. If you can write your name, you can create art with Zentangle. As you draw tangles you will likely experience increased focus, calm, creativity and well-being. For those of you who attended the Introductory Zentangle class on February 20, this class will also introduce Zentangle and review the Zentangle Method. However, we will be doing variations of previously taught tangles and/or new tangles, so you will create a completely different Zentangle tile than before. Meets the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.Facilitated by Cynthia Balthaser.
Seymour Center’s Art in the Aquarium
Dive into your creative side and make a splash with us! 🎨🌊 Bring the whole family and unleash your inner artist while surrounded by fascinating ocean life. Whether you’re a budding painter or just looking for a fun weekend activity, you’ll leave with your very own sea-inspired masterpiece to take home! 🐠✨ Join us on the third Saturday of every month for a fun art project with a talented Seymour volunteer!
In this two-part short story workshop, writers will explore how to shape a story from an initial idea into a more focused, compelling draft. Register here: https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16763798 We’ll look at what makes a story feel alive on the page, with an emphasis on helping each writer better understand what their story is really about. Participants will have the opportunity to share their work, receive constructive feedback, and discuss practical strategies for strengthening a draft. The workshop is designed to be supportive, thoughtful, and generative, whether you are starting a new story, revising an existing one, or trying to figure out where a piece wants to go next. Writers of all experience levels are welcome. The goal is not to leave with a perfect story, but to leave with a clearer sense of direction, stronger tools for revision, and renewed confidence in the work. Devin Shoop is an MFA candidate and a published author. Photo credit: Aaron Burden.
Finding Shape, Color & Composition in Everyday Materials Collage begins with learning to see. In this introductory, hands-on workshop, participants will explore the elements of design and principles of composition using found papers, photographs, maps, botanical imagery, magazines, and printed ephemera. Through demonstrations and guided exercises, you'll learn how framing, cropping, layering, repetition, and thoughtful composition can transform ordinary materials into dynamic works of art. We'll explore visual concepts, including the Rule of Thirds, the Fibonacci Sequence (Golden Spiral), balance, rhythm, contrast, and focal point, as we create several collage studies and one finished piece. Participants will mat and frame one completed collage to take home, ready to display. Techniques Explored ● Elements of design: shape, line, color, texture, pattern, and negative space ● Framing and cropping to discover strong compositions ● Layering, repetition, and abstraction using found papers and photographs ● Creating balance, rhythm, movement, and focal points ● Editing and refining compositions through scale, contrast, and placement Materials A wide selection of found papers, magazines, photographs, vintage ephemera, maps, botanical imagery, and collage tools will be provided. Participants are also encouraged to bring personal photographs, paper scraps, or printed materials they'd like to incorporate into their work. About Gina Gina Gaiser is an Oakland-based artist working in photography, collage, and digital media. Her work begins with photographs of the built environment and the natural world, where she is drawn to overlooked patterns, textures, and structures. She cuts apart and reassembles these images into layered compositions that explore repetition, abstraction, and transformation. She earned a BA in Studio Art from the University of California, Santa Cruz, studied printmaking and art history at Il Bisonte in Florence, Italy, and received an MFA in Digital Media,
Everyone will have a blast at this end-of-summer celebration – take the whole family, including your dog! Enjoy local craft beer, wine, great food, ice cream, games, music and fun in the pool for adults, children and your dog too! Sign up for your dog’s swim time before the event.
Saturday, August 15 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm In partnership with the Volunteer Center Literacy Program
Saturday, August 15 2026 10:00am - 2:00pm Join us each Saturday morning for a relaxing time crafting with your neighbors.
Wilder Ranch State Park: Guided Coastal Nature Walk
On this 2.5-mile, 2-hour family-friendly walk, you will explore the plants, animals, and geology of the Santa Cruz County coastal bluffs. Bring water, a hat, closed-toe shoes, layered clothing, and binoculars if available. Pre-registration required at the link in the orange button above. Meet next to the park map in the main parking lot. Rain cancels. Free event. Vehicle day-use fee is $10.
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.
Staff offers a guided adobe tour centered on the experiences of Native communities in the Santa Cruz mission providing insight into daily life, cultural change, and the impacts of the mission system. Visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the resilience and enduring presence of Indigenous people in the region. Reservation Link:
11th Annual Parks & Rex Dog Pool Party Fundraiser!
Join Santa Cruz County Parks Department and the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter for the 11th Annual Parks & Rex Dog Pool Party FUNdraiser at the Simpkins Family Swim Center! Everyone will have a blast at this end-of-summer celebration with great food, music, and fun in the pool for adults, children, and your dog, too! Get your ticket now and join in on the fun on Saturday, August 15th, 2026 from 11 AM to 4 PM! All proceeds will benefit County Parks youth programs and Animal Shelter programs. Plus, don't miss out on our amazing raffle with prizes worth up to $1,600! Learn more at bit.ly/parksandrexinfo Ticket information: Adults are $15 presale/ $20 day of and kids are $5 presale/ $10 day of. Dogs are free!Sign up for your presale tickets and tickets for dog swims all on Rec.us. One presale swim time per dog and a minimum of one handler to one dog is required. Additional human tickets are available as “Tickets Without Dogs”. Entry tickets are for the whole event, but your dog’s 20-minute swim window will be indicated on your ticket. You can check in with WoofPack day of for additional swim times, subject to availability
American Legion Gilroy Post 217 Veterans Potluck BBQ
All South Santa Clara County veterans are welcome to a potluck BBQ and social gathering sponsored by American Legion Gilroy Post 217. Location is the Mount Madonna County Park "Hilltop" picnic area. We will provide the fire, barbecue utensils, garlic bread, and ice. Bring something to BBQ and something to share (side dish), your favorite beverage, utensils, and if you have one, a folding chair. A BIG WELCOME TO ALL VETERANS - COME VISIT AND ENJOY!!! Learn about your local American Legion Gilroy Post 217 at: www.americanlegion217.org
Saturday, August 15 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm In this two-part short story workshop, writers will explore how to shape a story from an initial idea into a more focused, compelling draft.
The Saltwater Market - Vintage - Thrift - Upcycle Come by the Santa Cruz Harbor 2222 East Cliff Drive on Saturday August 15 from 12-4pm The market will feature local vintage resellers, clothing vendors, artists, and makers, transforming the Santa Cruz Harbor into an open-air shopping experience with a distinctly coastal vibe.
“Confluence”: where separate currents meet. This beautiful exhibition pairs the work of Santa Cruz artists Susana Arias and Glenn Carter, on view August 7 through September 13 at M.K. Contemporary Art Gallery. “Confluence” is exhibited alongside of 25+ local and regional artists whose work we adore. Live improvisational jazz music from “The Leftovers” at the opening on the First Friday of August from 6-8PM
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!
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
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!
Are You Game? Lancelot's Merry Band of Gamers
Adults need playtime, too! Come play some new or old favorite tabletop games. Bring your favorite board game or play some of Lancelot's games. No prior gaming experience is necessary. This program is for adults 18+. We will meet every first and third Saturday of the month in the Barbara Gorson Multipurpose Room at the Capitola Branch Library.
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]
Re/View: Alumni Exhibition -- UC Santa Cruz
Opening celebration and Artist Talk on Saturday, August 15, 2-4:30pm. Light refreshments will be served. Re/View: Alumni Exhibition ReView: UCSC Arts Alumni Exhibition, on view August 13-September 19, 2026, features Arts Division alumni from the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas. Curated by Valéria Miranda, the Sesnon’s Director, includes a wide variety of media and technique highlighting the diversity of contemporary practice of alumni who graduated from 1972 to 2025. The exhibition title alludes to the portfolio critique process and suggests ideas of reflection and reevaluation—whether revisiting past work, rethinking materials, or tracing how a practice evolves over time. This exhibition celebrates the creative path of artists who began their journeys at UCSC. United by shared roots yet defined by distinct paths, the participating alumni reflect the lasting influence of the Arts Division programs. Their works speak to the spirit of inquiry, experimentation, and perseverance that has long shaped the university’s artistic community. ReView presents an opportunity for the campus and larger community to see the professional practice of these artists who continue to build on the creative foundation that they received at UCSC and to inspire our current students, offering visualization of their own future artistic journeys after graduation. ReView offers a unique opportunity for returning alumni to celebrate their creative expressions while reconnecting with classmates and the university community. Admission is free and open to the public. Summer Gallery Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 1-5pm
Saturday, August 15 2026 12:00pm - 5:00pm Come join the magical world of D&D storytelling, where you can be a bard, a wizard, or a barbarian for a few hours and let your creativity run free.
Saturday, August 15 2026 12:00pm - 5:00pm Play tabletop board games and have some fun!
Saturday, August 15 2026 12:00pm - 4:00pm Scrapbooking group meets every third Saturday of the month.
Get ready to splash some color and ink as you create your own summer bouquet masterpiece with Heidi Michelle!
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!
A Special Science Saturday Series We're hatching something new this spring. Guest educators from 4-H Youth Development, University of California are taking over one Saturday a month for a six-session series exploring science through studying the incredible, edible egg. Kids will use microscopes, conduct buoyancy experiments, and yes ...even try walking on eggs. This UC-developed curriculum goes deeper than our usual Science Saturday format, with small group investigations and structured lessons that build on each other week to week. Great for homeschool families who want documented STEM learning, and for any curious kid who likes getting messy with science. Grades K–6. Registration Coming Soon! March 21 | April 18 | May 16 | June 20 | July 18 | August 15 About 4-H Youth Development, University of California 4-H is the nation's largest positive youth development organization, with an international presence reaching nearly 6 million young people. As the youth program of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H helps kids build life skills through hands-on projects in science, agriculture, leadership, and more.
A Santa Cruz Premiere! Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Dear Evan Hansen comes to Santa Cruz for the first time in a fully staged production with a live orchestra. The musical follows Evan Hansen, a lonely high school student struggling with social anxiety who longs to feel like he belongs. After a misunderstanding following the death of a classmate, Evan finds himself caught in a lie that unexpectedly brings him closer to the grieving family—and gives him the connection he’s always wanted. But as the truth becomes harder to hide, Evan must face the consequences of the choices he’s made. Filled with unforgettable songs by Academy Award, Grammy, and Tony-winning songwriting team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman), Dear Evan Hansen is a moving story, with both humor and deep emotionality, about friendship, family, forgiveness, and the universal desire to be seen and accepted. Recommended for ages 13 and up. Contains themes of suicide, grief, mental health, and strong emotional content.
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
Nothing Like Normal A Local Author Talk With Martha Graham-Waldon
Nothing Like Normal is a tender coming of age story about growing up with an older sister who developed schizophrenia at the tender age of 15. The recently released 2nd edition continues the story with a tender epilogue as the author unites with her sister’s daughter, revealing how joy can arise even out of tragedy and pain. This book will resonate with anyone who has struggled with the pain of schizophrenia or a chronic illness in a loved one, while inspiring hope and healing as well. Presented in honor of August's National Wellness Month. Registration encouraged, walk-ins welcome. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16578258 Light refreshments will be provided.
Join us each third Saturday, April through August, for a series of heritage demonstrations.
2:00-4:00pm Special Afternoon Show! Based out of New Orleans, LA, The Silver Lining Serenaders play traditional jazz and swing as well as Western swing and jug band music. Bringing harmonies and fresh arrangements to tunes from the first half of the 20th century.
Saturday, August 15 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm Join the circle and write a poem in a creative, supportive environment. No experience necessary.
Through the hands-on exploration of a bustling beehive on Chaminade's grounds, you will learn about the intriguing world of honey bees in a way that very few get to experience. Your hive tour, led by Northern Roots Bee Co.’s professional beekeepers, will include suiting up in beekeeping attire and learning about the different roles and contributions that bees make in the colony. We’ll finish the experience with a honey tasting where participants delight in the nuanced flavors of varietal honeys. This experience is open to overnight resort guests and community members.
Meet the Author Martha Graham-Waldon, author of the memoir Nothing Like Normal—Surviving a Sibling’s Schizophrenia will be presenting the 2nd edition of her book at the Scotts Valley Library on Saturday, August 15 at 2pm. Nothing Like Normal is a tender coming of age story about growing up with an older sister who developed schizophrenia at the tender age of 15. The recently released 2nd edition continues the story with a tender epilogue as she unites with her sister’s daughter, revealing how joy can arise even out of tragedy and pain. This memoir is a powerful story of survival, resilience, and self-discovery. It speaks to anyone who has experienced the impact of mental illness within a family, offering validation, understanding, and ultimately hope.
Saturday, August 15 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm Nothing Like Normal is a tender coming of age story about growing up with an older sister who developed schizophrenia at the tender age of 15.
Queer Movie Club at TDC
Queer Movie Club Date: Every third Saturday of the month Time: 3:00 - 5:00 pm Location: The Diversity Center Ages: 18+ Cost : Free! Join us for a movie matinee! We’ve got popcorn, snacks, and a big screen, and we’re ready for some fun and conversation. For more information, check the newsletter or call us at the Center at 831-524-5422.
Enjoy a pleasant evening on the farm at Monkeyflower Ranch. We invite you and your friends to come out for a tour of our sheep dairy farm and cheesemaking facility and then to enjoy a farm dinner on our garden patio. Farmer, cheesemaker and chef Rebecca King will be preparing a 4 course meal served family style. The dinner will feature our Garden Variety Cheese sheep cheeses and products; pork, lamb and eggs from our farm; and organic produce from nearby farms. Wine and Beer will be available for sale by the glass or BYOB ($10 corkage fee). Farm tour at 5pm. Dinner at 6pm. Please no dogs.
5:30-7:30pm Live music in the Beer Garden from local singer/songwriter & surfboard crafter, Ashley Lloyd + Special Guests - every 3rd Saturday!
A film screening of *Chac, The Rain God* at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz. A cinematic experience for film and spirituality enthusiasts.
The Musers are the rascal Megan McLaughlin, bass sage Tom Kuhn, and lilting Leslie Jackson. Together they provide a safe space to get goofy. The Musers harken back to The Banana Slug String Band and even farther back to The New Zoo Revue. But instead of Freddie, Henrietta and Charlie, it’s Megan, Tom and Leslie. The Musers intentionally seek a playful level of songwriting and engagement with the audience. The Musers are a great palate cleanser, like a mouthful of lime sorbet to replace the banter of monkey chatter that takes up our days. Time to expand your joy with music. -DNA; Good Times Santa Cruz
A night of Improv comedy. 6 troupes, 16 performers . Buckets of fun all for your enjoyment.
The Musers (self)
Somewhere in-between the tropical lounges of 1930s Los Angeles and the honky tonk beer joints of rural 1950s California, you'll find Poi Rogers. Hailing from Santa Cruz, CA, the duo performs vintage country & cowboy music, Hawaiian steel guitar ballads and trail songs. Gerard Egan and Carolyn Sills are both inductees into the Sacramento Western Swing Hall of Fame, and Carolyn is the current Academy of Western Artists Western Swing Female Vocalist of the Year. They front the award winning five piece band, The Carolyn Sills Combo, which has released three albums to date. Poi Rogers features Gerard doubling on standard guitar and his 1954 Fender triple neck steel guitar with Carolyn on standup bass, their timeless harmonies anchoring the show.
Late Night @ the MAH: Black Tie Roller Ball
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND Rollerskate/Dance Party Elegance on Wheels Break out your best attire and dancing skates for a one-of-a-kind, Late Night @ the MAH: rollerskating edition. Experience the Solari Gallery transformed into a skating rink for one night only. Vendors, performances and more to be announced. This event is 21+. All rollerskates must have toe stops or jam/skate plugs to be granted entry. We welcome inline skates/ rollerblades as well. Waivers will be required to sign upon entry. Drinks available for purchase and will be permitted outside galleries. Late Night @ the MAH is a series of after-hours happenings at the museum featuring music, performance, and film by an array of artists.
Ani DiFranco was indie before it was cool. The New York-born singer-songwriter was an independent artist before it was practical for most. But DiFranco has always done things her way, with artistic principle rather than profit as a foundational goal. She’s a hero to her legion of fans both for her outside-the-machinery approach to her art as well as her dedicated activism, and of course her emotionally direct lyrics. With two dozen studio albums (and even more live releases) to her credit, DiFranco has a deep catalog from which to draw at her lively, engaging shows. Valerie June opens. -Bill Kopp; Good Times Santa Cruz
Pull up a bar stool for 3rd Saturday evenings in the Beer Garden with local singer/songwriter & surfboard shaper Ashley Lloyd + special guests!
In August 2026, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead will be playing at Actors’ Theatre in Santa Cruz. Written by the late Tom Stoppard, this classic midcentury masterpiece is one of his earliest plays but also likely his best known. Written as a comedy, the work shares substantially with Samuel Beckett’s absurdist style, particularly Waiting for Godot. Performances from August 13th to August 30th, 2026, running Thursday through Sunday. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two minor characters in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Stoppard crafts an ingenious backstory for these characters, which becomes an exploration of the meaning of life (or death), woven into Shakespeare’s greatest play. The two collegiate friends find themselves traveling to Elsinore, encountering a roving band of actors, a prince (maybe mad), pirates, and never manage to get a grip on anything - even which of them is which. Santa Cruz local talents Chris Salem (Cabaret with Renegade Theater) will be playing Rosencrantz, and Zed Warner (The Addams Family with Mountain Community Theater) will be playing Guildenstern. A host of other fantastic Santa Cruz talents will take on the remaining roles of Shakespeare’s Hamlet including Ward Willats, Ian Dyer, Andy Waddell, Jennifer Stanford, Kevin Karplus, Juno Aliah, Raven Voorhees, Nick Bilardello, Brad Roades, Tom Boyle and Benjamin Canant. Tickets will go on sale July 1st, for an admission fee of $40, $35 for students and seniors, Thursday tickets will be 2-for-1, and there are plans for rush tickets to be available an hour before curtain. Today, audiences can go to https://randg.live/ or follow on instagram @randg.sc for production updates, announcements, and ticket information.
Fridays & Saturdays 8pm-10pm through October. Opening weekend July 10-11! Experience the magic once again as this beloved art and light installation returns to the Santa Cruz Mountains for its second year. Lighted lanterns hang high overhead surrounded by thousand year old redwoods that are uplit to create a unique and awe-inspiring retreat back to nature.
Mountain Community Theater's New Works Weekend is a celebration of local storytelling through eight original ten-minute plays. This year's lineup spans comic farce, dark comedy, and supernatural romp, with writers tackling everything from a psychic radio show and the ghost of Mae West to an escaped memory care patient, a time-traveling surgeon, and Old King Cole's throne room. Featured readers include MCT veterans Naomi Bowers, Tiffany Cesarin, Shireen Doyle, and Hannah Eckstein. Each performance is followed by a talkback with the writers, directors, and readers, offering a rare window into the craft behind the curtain. Goes until Aug 16. -Shelly Novo; Good Times Santa Cruz
Widely considered a feminist icon, Grammy winner Ani DiFranco is the mother of the DIY movement, being one of the first artists to create her own record label, Righteous Babe Records, in 1990. She has released 23 albums traversing folk, punk, hip-hop, soul and electronic genres and addressing a range of autobiographical, political and social issues. Her latest music releases include Unprecedented Sh!t (2024) and the 30th anniversary edition of her seminal album Not A Pretty Girl (2025). DiFranco is also an author and Broadway performer. Her memoir No Walls and the Recurring Dream was a New York Times Top 10 best seller in 2019, and her children’s books The Knowing and Show Up and Vote are out now. Her next book The Spirit of Ani is out in March 2026. In addition, DiFranco completed a 5-month run on Broadway as ‘Persephone’ in Hadestown in 2024. Ani DiFranco is bringing the Spirit of Love across America with a special stop in Santa Cruz. Longtime fans and new listeners will use this much-needed time to gather and recharge while celebrating Ani’s music, which is the soundtrack of so many lives.
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.
Live music from Burnin Vernon at the Crow's Nest in Santa Cruz, a casual waterfront venue with an ocean view.
Penny & Sparrow at Felton Music Hall Saturday, August 15th 2026 21+ / 7pm Doors / 8pm Show Tickets: www.prekindle.com/promo/id/-2852527949150809829
The RIO Theatre Hosts a live concert performance featuring SNAIL on Saturday August 15th 2026. 8 PM. Doors open at 7:00 PM.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Star Walk Tour
Star Walks - Astronomy-based program where participants are guided up to the observation deck, where they will participate in activities and learn about the night sky. This involves a 1 mile round trip hike. Meet in the campfire center of the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park campground. RSVP for this hike here .
This nighttime experience will bring you a magical and immersive perspective on the ancient forest at Roaring Camp. During the 0.8-mile loop walk, you will view 26 unique, lighted lanterns, hung approximately 50 feet above the ground. The lanterns were crafted by local artists including Anna Bobisuthi, Roaring Camp’s resident blacksmith, and Chris Butler, who also created the lighting design for Sequoias at Night. Tickets are available at the link in the orange button above. Kids under two enter for free. Roaring Camp’s food services and gift shop will be open.
Henry Cowell Redwoods SP: Guided Star Walk
Enjoy this astronomy-based guided hike where you will be guided up to the Observation Deck, perched on an ancient seabed, over 800 feet above sea level and 17 miles from the beach. You will participate in activities and learn about the night sky. This involves a 1 mile round trip hike. Meet at the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground. Follow the link in the orange button above to RSVP. Although this event is free, it costs $10 to park at State Parks. If you plan to visit any other state park earlier in the day, hold on to that receipt! Once you have paid for parking at one state park for the day, you have paid for them all. There are 14 state parks in Santa Cruz County alone!
Moes Alley Presents El Sol - Salsa and Latin Music Dance Night! Show date: Saturday, August 15, 20268pm doors / 8:30pm dance lesson / 9pm show$15 in advance / $20 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====EL SOLEl Sol is a 10-piece band devoted to Salsa music - especially Salsa Dura NY-style. We play original arrangements of classic 70s songs from Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, and Willie Colon as well as Latin standards. Our two singers, two trombones, flute, bongo, conga, timbale, keyboards and bass create an infectious groove that will bring you to the dance floor.
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