Featured artist exhibition at Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center in Ben Lomond.
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
Treehouse Dispensary First Friday
First Friday: Costume Party Edition 👻 Friday, October 2 · 7–10 PM · 21+ Treehouse is hosting our first-ever cannabis consumption event, and we're kicking it off with a costume party. Come as you are, or come as someone (or something) else entirely. Spooky season starts here. Live music by Junebug (8–9:30 PM) Folk-fusion fingerstyle guitar from a one-woman band. Junebug also tap dances and plays harmonica, autoharp, kazoo, trumpet, ukulele, and banjo, so expect the unexpected. Artists & Makers Market (7–10 PM) Browse and shop work from local artists and makers: Art by Dejon, Cyanide Cyn, Mori Mysterium, Mountain Medusa, Stitch and Story, Penning Beads, WilderWilds, Corals Tiny World, Hermelinda, and Potato Studios. Stash Jar Making (7–10 PM) Puff, puff, craft. Stop by our free DIY station and decorate a one-of-a-kind stash jar to keep your favorite flower fresh and stylish. All supplies provided. Just bring your creativity. Cannabis Elixirs 🍹 Sip, sip, hooray. Enjoy refreshing cannabis elixirs while you get crafty and catch the show. Free to attend. Costumes strongly encouraged. Must be 21+ with valid ID. Treehouse Dispensary · 3651 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz We're proud to offer everyday savings for our community: New Members: 10% off your first order Wisdom Discount (65+): 5% off Medical Patients: 10% off Students & Teachers: 20% off with valid ID Veterans: 20% off *Please note that discounts do not stack with other deals. Ask staff for exclusions.
Coffee with the Curators
Grab a cup of coffee and hang out with a MAH curator! Coffee with the Curators is a morning at the museum where you can chat, ask questions, and hear behind-the-scenes stories about the exhibitions and collections. Coffee and good conversation are complimentary with museum admission.
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
Coming up
Open Mic · Every Monday 5-8p
you Are A Star! Come share what you love · what you are working on Every Monday 5pm - 8pm · Lottery signups begin @5:15 One 5 minute song or two 3 minute songs We welcome: Poetry · Spoken Word · Music · Originals & Covers Hosted by SteveV Beer, Coffee, Tea and Cafe Snacks are always available. Non-performers are always welcomed & Appreciated We Cannot Wait to see you!
Hosted Board Game Night — 2026-09-28
6 - 8pm · Hosted Board Game Night — open & hosted games, library of 30+ games, raffle, merch, and a Learn to Play demo at 6:30pm. Taught on the spot.
☀️ Happening today
Monday, September 2847 events on today. No plans required, just go.
What's happening
Filter by category, date, or area. Everything listed is in person, county-wide.
Showing 480 of 513 upcoming events · from 2026-09-27 · to 2026-10-04
The Santa Cruz Triathlon, originally called the Tin Man Triathlon and then the Sentinel Triathlon, was founded in 1982, eight years after the first triathlon raced in San Diego. Our first annual race, held on October 16, 1983, started a tradition that brings triathletes together from near and far.
Restore balance on the Santa Cruz coast at La Bahia Hotel & Spa. This September 25–27, join us for a two-night wellness retreat designed to calm the nervous system, release burnout, and restore your energy. Led by Santa Cruz yoga instructor and wellness educator Marissa Victoria, the retreat blends yoga, meditation, sound healing, a guided wellness workshop, nourishing cuisine, and restorative time at the spa, pool, and beach. Through thoughtfully guided movement, mindfulness, and restorative practices, you'll reconnect with yourself and gain practical tools to support lasting well-being. You'll leave feeling refreshed, renewed, and inspired long after the retreat ends as you experience the Art of Unwinding. $3,000 for one guest | $1,500 for an additional guest sharing a Standard King guestroom.
Theme: Toy Takeover Schedule of Events: Saturday, Sept 26: Little Wharf 3-Miler Fun Run, Sand Sculpture Contest, Cornhole on the Beach, Children's Art, Scavenger Hunt, Music at the Beach, Lighted Nautical Parade on Soquel Creek, Drone Show following Nautical Parade Sunday, Sept 27 Fishing Derby, Paddleboard Race, Ukuleles at the Beach, Horseshoes on the Sand, Chalk Art on the Seawall, Rowboat Races Visit event website for details: capitolabeachfestival.com
Experience the Bio-Vibe Table at SoulCare Studios, a gentle, non-invasive wellness experience using sound frequencies and soothing vibrations to encourage relaxation, release tension, and support overall balance. Simply lie down comfortably while the table delivers vibrations throughout the body, creating an opportunity to slow down, rest, and reset. ✨ Potential Benefits: • Encourages deep relaxation • Supports better sleep • Helps relieve muscle & joint tension • Supports a calmer nervous system • Helps reduce everyday stress Sessions & Pricing: 🌿 60-Minute Full-Body Session: $120 Package of 4: $400 🌿 30-Minute Focused Session: $65 Package of 4: $200 📅 Available Wednesdays & Sundays Other days are available upon request. 📍 SoulCare Studios 8035 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA Scan the QR code on the flyer to book your session.
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.
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.
Youth Robot Series - Santa Cruz Maker Studios
Youth Robot Series at Santa Cruz Maker Studios Join us for our 3-week Robot Series designed for youth (ages 7-12) who love building, problem-solving, and technology. Each Sunday, students will work through exciting engineering challenges while building and programming their very own robot. Time: 3 Sunday Sessions 10am -12pm for youth (7-12 years old). Please see available sessions. Cost Overview: $245 per series (includes all robot materials) Register Here: https://scmakerstudios.com/robot-series-registration-form/
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.
Docent-led tours of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve are every Saturday AND Sunday, at 10 am and 11 am. Tours are on a first-come, first-serve basis – visitors may sign up at the Visitor Center front desk, or call ahead the morning of using the phone number (831) 728-2822. The Docent will craft a walk that meets the groups needs and abilities.
Henry Cowell Redwoods SP: Cable Car Beach Stroll
Interested in observing and comparing old growth and second growth redwood forests? How about walking by the river and learning about what plants grow alongside it? Enjoy a guided stroll to Cable Car Beach! You will meet at the Redwood Visitor Center and be out for an hour and a half. Easy to moderate pace. Under 2 miles roundtrip. Meet at the nature store. Although this event is free, parking at a state park is $10. Hold on to that receipt! Once you have paid for parking at one state park, you have paid for parking at all of them! There are 14 in Santa Cruz County alone.
Enjoy another season of: 🍎 U-Pick Apples 🎃 Pumpkins 🌳 Beautiful Orchard Views 👨👩👧👦 Family Fun Apples are notorious for not reading travel itineraries. Please double check on what is ready to be picked before you go!
Ticket price includes 1 pound of apples in addition to what you pick during your timed hour on the farm. Click the link in the orange button above to reserve your hour time slot. Apples are notorious for not reading travel itineraries. Please double check on what is ready to be picked before you go!
A learning experience or workshop related to dirt biking or off-road activities.
Earth Friendly Gardening: Protecting Wildlife & the Environment
Join the UC Master Gardeners of Monterey, San Benito & Santa Cruz Counties for this hands-on summer workshop at the UCSC Arboretum! Classes are free with paid admission, but registration is required to attend. You are welcome to take one, two, or all four classes which occur on the last Sunday of the month, June through September. Your garden can do more than look beautiful – it can help protect the environment and support local wildlife. Discover simple, practical ways to create a healthier, more sustainable landscape by providing food, water, and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other beneficial creatures. Learn how to reduce pesticide and fertilizer use, conserve water, and work with nature to grow a thriving garden that’s easier to maintain and better for the world around you. Classes are free for UCSC Students or with an Arboretum membership which includes free admission to the gardens as well as a whole host of great benefits. Consider becoming a member today by visiting our website: arboretum.ucsc.edu
Earth Friendly Gardening: Protecting Wildlife & the Environment
Join the UC Master Gardeners of Monterey, San Benito & Santa Cruz Counties for this hands-on summer workshop at the UCSC Arboretum! Classes are free with paid admission, but registration is required to attend. You are welcome to take one, two, or all four classes which occur on the last Sunday of the month, June through September. Your garden can do more than look beautiful - it can help protect the environment and support local wildlife. Discover simple, practical ways to create a healthier, more sustainable landscape by providing food, water, and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other beneficial creatures. Learn how to reduce pesticide and fertilizer use, conserve water, and work with nature to grow a thriving garden that's easier to maintain and better for the world around you. Classes are free with an Arboretum membership which includes free admission to the gardens as well as a whole host of great benefits. Consider becoming a member today by visiting our website: arboretum.ucsc.edu
It’s our 10th Anniversary! Join us in celebrating at the Santa Cruz – Live Oak Glass Pumpkin Patch, in the beautiful heirloom garden of the Live Oak Grange! Chris and his pumpkin crew have been working all summer long to create a bountiful harvest of beautiful hand-blown pumpkins and gourds in every size and color. Locally grown and locally blown in our Davenport glass studio! This is a family-friendly, dog-friendly, and inclusive event, open to all art lovers and pumpkin enthusiasts. Plenty of free parking. No purchase required – all are welcome to come enjoy the awesome array of pumpkins (no two are alike!) and the charming beauty of the Grange Gardens. 10am – 4pm both Saturday and Sunday. Location: 1900 17th Ave. Santa Cruz, CA. Out back behind the green Grange Hall, in the Garden. Come pick your favorite!
0 booked, 4 available Glazing
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
Joy of Dance: September Dance Series at Soul Care Studios
Move your body, feed your soul, and experience the Joy of Dance this September at Soul Care Studios! 💃✨ Explore three unique styles of movement with three instructors throughout the month. Come for one style or experience them all! 💃 Dance of Brazil & Beyond with Marsea Marquis Fridays | 10:30–11:30 AM September 4, 11, 18 & 25 🌿 Restorative Movement & Dance with Rita Rivera Saturdays | 10:30–11:30 AM September 12, 19 & 26 🥁 African Inspired Dance with Deb Voisin Sundays | 11:30 AM–12:30 PM September 13, 20 & 27 These classes offer opportunities to move, express yourself, connect with others, and experience the joy of dance in a welcoming community. 📍 Soul Care Studios 8035 Soquel Drive, Aptos 📞 831-535-8517
Wing Chun martial arts classes with instructor Marcus at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, meeting multiple times per week.
A Rare Opportunity to Learn from a 50+ Years Tibetan Buddhist Master
🌿 A rare opportunity to learn from a master with more than five decades of Buddhist study, practice, and teaching. This September, Land of Medicine Buddha is deeply honored to welcome Khen Rinpoche Lobsang Wangdu for an extraordinary three-week teaching series. For those unfamiliar with Tibetan Buddhism, teachers of Rinpoche’s generation and depth of training are becoming increasingly rare. He spent more than 20 years immersed in the rigorous study of Buddhist philosophy, debate, and meditation at Sera Je Monastic University, followed by advanced Vajrayana training at Gyume Tantric College. Today, he serves as Abbot of Segyü Tantric College. What makes this visit especially precious is the chance to encounter these teachings directly from someone who has devoted his entire life to studying, practicing, and preserving them within a living lineage. You do not need to be Buddhist or an experienced practitioner to benefit. Across three weeks, Rinpoche will guide us through some of Buddhism’s most essential teachings, including Lamrim, emptiness, bodhicitta, Buddha nature, mind training, and transforming anger, culminating in a White Tara Long Life Empowerment and retreat, with the opportunity to receive or renew the Bodhisattva Vows. 🙏 Whether you are simply curious about Buddhism, looking for practical wisdom for everyday life, or have practiced for many years, this is an exceptional opportunity to experience these teachings at their source. ✨ Join us for one evening, a weekend retreat, or the full three-week journey.
It's a family-friendly fiesta at the beach! Come celebrate the vibrant traditions of the Latino community all weekend long. Enjoy the lively sounds of mariachi, dazzling folklórico dance performances, and a free beach concert on Saturday, followed by Salsa by the Sea on Sunday. Plus, experience all the excitement of Boardwalk rides and games, along with Latin-inspired food and beverage offerings throughout the park. -- ¡Es una fiesta familiar en la playa! Vengan a celebrar las vibrantes tradiciones de la comunidad latina durante todo el fin de semana. Disfruten de mariachi, presentaciones de bailarines folklóricos y un concierto gratis en la playa el sábado, seguido de Salsa by the Sea el domingo. Además, vive toda la emoción de los juegos mecánicos y las atracciones del Boardwalk, junto con una variedad de alimentos y bebidas inspirados de la cultura latina disponibles a través del Boardwalk. ¡Vamos a la playa! Visite bit.ly/Fiesta-en-la-Playa para obtener más detalles. EVENT SCHEDULE Saturday, September 26 • 11am-8pm: Rides Open & Flavorful Latino Food Offerings Available • 11am, 11:45am, & 12:30pm: Mariachi Santa Cruz on Colonnade Stage • 1pm, 1:30pm, & 2pm: Angeles Danzantes on Main Stage • 5pm-6:30pm: Band Maguey on Main Stage Sunday, September 27 • 12pm-7pm: Rides Open & Flavorful Latino Food Offerings Available • 3pm-6:30pm: Salsa by the Sea with DJ @its_dancing_time
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
Auditions are OPEN for “COOL YULE” — our festive Christmas spectacular! 🎶❄️ We’re looking for talented and enthusiastic singers, dancers, and performers 50 years of age and older to join this year’s holiday cast! ⭐ Big holiday energy 🎤 Great music 💃 Fun choreography 🎄 One seriously COOL Christmas show! 📅 Auditions: September 27th, 2026 ⏰ Time: 11AM-2PM 📍 Location: 222 Market Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Contact Sandi Jo for the music tracks 831 359-1601 Whether you’re a seasoned performer or ready to take the stage for the first time, come audition and be part of the magic! 🎅 Bring your talent. Bring your holiday spirit. Bring your “COOL YULE”!
We will be hosting the Open Studios Preview Exhibition, showcasing the work of all the 330+ Santa Cruz County Open Studios Artists who are participating in the program
How do your Teen Girls respond to questions from 'stranger' adults, or even humans just a bit older? Be sure they know what to look for in different situations that could easily compromide their safety. Not all questions are innocent. In fact, that's how predators get your Teen Girls to trust them. They'll learn how to respond to Teen Boys too. Be sure they have the proper training to know how to deal with these situations, as well as know where to strike to stop a predator (it's not 'kick them in the balls')...we'll demystify all the myths, teach them the 'ploys' perps use, and give them the skills necessary to be safe. Click the link to register them before 9/20 to get the early bird reg investment of $133! After 9/20 investment is $153.
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!
Teen Robot Series at Santa Cruz Maker Studios Join us for our 3-week Robot Series designed for teens (ages 11-17) who love building, problem-solving, and technology. Each Sunday, students will work through exciting engineering challenges while building and programming their very own robot. Time: 3 Sunday Sessions 12:30-2:30pm for teens (11-17 years old). Please see available sessions. Cost Overview: $245 per series (includes all robot materials) Register Here: https://scmakerstudios.com/robot-series-registration-form/
Join us at Aroma Restaurant 831 for Oktoberfest live beneath the redwoods in the heart of Ben Lomond, California! Two days of reveling outdoors with special German-inspired dishes, delicious drink specials, and dancing to live music! Heralding the Ben Lomond Tyrolean Inn days of yore, don your lederhosen and dirndls enter our costume contest for "Best Dressed Bavarian"! The fun happens 12:30 to 8:30 Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, 2026! Expanded patio seating and buffet style dining! Plenty of bier and drink specials, too! Show us your muscles at our beer stein holding competition! Enjoy the harvest of late summer as we turn toward golden autumn days!
As a volunteer docent for the County of Santa Cruz Park system, Richard James has researched the colorful history of Quail Hollow Ranch for years. His new tour, “Within These Walls: Ghosts of the Past at Quail Hollow,” condenses more than 151 years into roughly two hours. Learn about its history from transporting Abraham Lincoln to the Watermelon King to Sun-Kissed Ranch, the founding of Sunset Magazine, and beyond. For ages 16 and up. Space is limited for this free activity. Participants may register in advance at the link in the orange button above or call 831-454-7941.
Discover what life was like a century ago on this innovative dairy ranch. This hour-long tour includes the 1896 water-powered machine shop, horse barn, uniquely constructed 1860’s cow barn, 1858 farmhouse, and 1897 Queen Anne Victorian home. Meet at the visitor’s center. This tour is free. Parking in Day-use lot is $10. Hold on to that receipt! Once you have paid for parking at one state park or beach, you have paid for the day at all of them! There are over 14 in Santa Cruz County alone. For more information, email [email protected] or call (669)758-1963. Click the link in the orange button above to reserve your spot!
Rite Life - A Writing Group Amongst the Dead
This monthly series of writing workshops in Evergreen Cemetery is facilitated by local poet Gabriel Kittle-Cervine. Rite Life is a workshop that blends the act of automatic writing, with our individual practices of ancestor veneration, to confront that which haunts us, and to celebrate that which allows us to live. The workshop was born in 2016 from the vision of a profound poet and spiritual teacher named Honeysun, just a couple of years before she passed beyond this life. Her initial concept for the Rite Life workshop is preserved in the way it's practiced today; still facilitated by Gabe, her friend and pupil, alongside a bright circle of local writers and practitioners of craft. Learn more at www.blankmetafour.com or follow @unclegabe831 on Instagram. All ages welcome, and we'll be there rain or shine-see y'all in the cemetery!
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]
Agatha Christie Mysteries: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Sunday, September 27 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm Join Agatha Christie and Charles Dickens enthusiasts and Pickwick Club members for a series of online discussions about four beloved works of crime fiction and their influence on the mystery genre.
The Last Five Years, presented by Santa Cruz Shakespeare
Relationships are beautiful and complex things. They all have a beginning and an ending. Jason Roberts explores the complexities of relationships in his emotional musical, The Last Five Years. Cathy and Jamie are romantically involved for five years, and the audience watches it unfold from each perspective. Cathy’s view of the relationship will begin at the end and work its way back to the beginning, while Jamie’s perspective starts at the beginning of the relationship and moves to the end. The story features beautiful and clever music that explores the sacrifices and costs of relationships. Audiences will contemplate how relationships affect how we define ourselves. Goes until Oct 3. -Isabella Marie Sangaline
Henry IV Part One by William Shakespeare -- in the style of a live WWE show. Come cheer with Falstaff, boo that heel Hotspur, and witness the reigning champion, King Henry IV, pass on the title to the one true heir of the English throne. Booing, cheering, and rooting for your hero, highly encouraged. Join us as we transform the London Nelson theatre into a unique venue with floor seating around a raised wrestling ring. Hear the original text of Shakespeare is a new light, in the way it was meant -- direct, to the common masses, encouraging you to hoot, holler, and participate in the story that unfolds. Switching between arguments in the ring and a live camera backstage, with scenes and soliloquies punctuated by five fully staged fights, this show is like no Shakespeare play you've ever seen. Hosted by Angela Rangel, this full length production will include unique (and hilarious) merch, concessions you'll be allowed to consume in the theatre, and even the opportunity to craft your own pithy sign once you decide whose side you're really on. Sing along with Falstaff, jeer Hotspur's squad as they pass next to you, and watch the sweat fly from our fighting cast as you watch thus one weekend only production created by an amazing cast, crew, and creatives.
Sunday, September 27 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!
Bringing Harmony to Life - Breema Retreat Weekend
Please join us during this retreat weekend where you can discover self-care exercises, partner bodywork, and Nine Principles of Harmony. There are four relationships in our lives. By paying attention to them, we can bring more balance and harmony to everything we do. The first two relationships, our relationship to our body and our relationship to the outer world (job, money, friends, family), usually take most of our energy. The fourth relationship, our relationship to Existence, connects us to the greater meaning of life. To bridge these, Breema introduces us to a third relationship—the relationship to yourself. Through the third relationship, we connect mind and body, and learn to respond to life in ways that bring more harmony and balance to ourselves and those around us. In this weekend workshop, we will learn Breema bodywork and Self-Breema exercises, to acquire practical tools that can enable us to bring Breema’s harmonizing philosophy and principles into daily life. You can participate in the entire weekend, or attend just one or more of the four workshops. Pre-registration is recommended. Call or email the Breema Center for more information. Continuing Education may be available for this event. Visit breema.info/ce for more information and to sign up. Weekend Schedule Friday Open House: 6:30-7:00 Mini-sessions No Charge 7:00–8:30pm Class Workshop: Saturday: 9:30 am-12:30 pm 2:00-5:00 pm Sunday: 9:30 am-12:30 pm 2:00-5:00 pm Cost 10% discount if paid by September 15, 2026 — Use coupon code EARLYBIRD $200 for the weekend ($180 if paid by September 15) $60 per 3-hour workshop ($54 if paid by September 15) Meals are not included. Camping and limited accommodations are available onsite. Find suggestions here. Instructors: Jon Schreiber, Alexandra Johnson, MD, Kevin Johnson, Dena Ehrlich, Birthe Kaarsholm, Angela Porter, Roxanne Caswell, Alexis Mulhauser, Denise Berezonsky, Susan Mankowski, Ariadne Thompson and John Galloway
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.
Holy Eucharist Catholic Community Wine Tasting and Auction
Local wineries will be pouring. Appetizers will be served. $70 per person, must be 21
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.
3:00-5:00pm Heather Norquist has been singing as long as she can remember. She has performed at restaurants and cafes throughout Santa Cruz, and she enjoys singing a wide array of songs including classics from the swing era, bossa nova, French cafe music and pop classics. Heather's vocal style is subtle, warm and delicate as she shares these beautiful songs with her audience. Nelsen Hutchison is a guitarist, educator, and composer who regularly performs with luminaries of the gypsy jazz (Hot Club of SF), swing (Gunhild Carling), and straight-ahead jazz traditions. In addition to being an active performer, Nelsen also teaches courses in guitar at Skyline College and is pursuing his PhD in Cross-Cultural Musicology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Salsa By The Sea is a free, weekly outdoor salsa dancing event held near the wharf on Beach Street, at the Ideal Bar patio. The event runs all year long (except when it rains). Some weekends are Bachata by the Sea, with more bachata music played than salsa.
Art Lande (piano) — Günter Wehinger (flute) — Tim Wendel (guitar) WILLIAM WINANT - Percussion
“60 Years of California Art,” a Phoenix & Arabeth retrospective exhibit of drawings, paintings and collages at the Freedom Art Barn in Freedom (Watsonville). The show runs Friday to Sunday, September 25-27th, 3-8 PM. There will be selected images in various media on display, from a vast body of work created continuously between 1967 and 2026, all at the new arts venue located at 371 Calabasas Road in south county.. “Phoenix & Arabeth” is the pen/brush name of Phoenix Dr Now. Phoenix has been working full time in California arts since 1967. Listed in Who's Who in America, Phoenix is primarily known for intricate ink drawings and colorful paintings published in books and calendars under his nome de plume, but he has produced a much wider range of art and design works in various media, as this exhibit beautifully demonstrates.
Looking to meet other singles in a more intentional and authentic way? Join us at Soul Care Studios for Authentic Connecting for Singles, an afternoon designed to create space for genuine conversation, meaningful connection, and community. Step beyond traditional small talk and spend time getting to know others in a relaxed and welcoming environment. 📅 Sunday, September 27 ⏰ 3:30–6:30 PM 💰 $30 per person 🎟️ Pre-registration required 🥨 Light snack provided 📍 Soul Care Studios 8035 Soquel Drive, #35 Aptos, CA For more information or to register, contact Catherine Anderson at [email protected]. Payment is available via Venmo or by scanning the QR code on the flyer.
🌕 Full Moon Sound Bath & Guided Meditation 80-Minute Experience | Spa Santangelo, Felton, CA + Online Join Melissa at each Full Moon for a deeply restorative journey designed to help you reconnect, release, and restore your inner balance. Step into a serene, supportive space and allow yourself to fully unwind. This immersive experience combines the healing vibrations of a live sound bath, guided meditation, journaling, and fire release to bring a deeper sense of peace and balance. You’ll be guided through Melissa’s Mystic Meditations—a thoughtfully curated journey inspired by the energy of the Full Moon: 🌕 Full Moon — LET GO Release what no longer serves you, clear stagnant energy, and create space for what’s next. The Full Moon offers an opportunity to reflect on what has come to fruition and consciously release what you’re ready to leave behind. Through meditation, sound, journaling, and fire release, allow yourself to let go and make room for renewed balance and clarity. Whether you join us in person at Spa Santangelo in Felton, CA, or online from the comfort of your own home, come exactly as you are. In-person groups of up to 10 guests are welcome. Gather your friends, family, or community and share this beautiful experience together. 📚 Extend Your Wellness Journey Continue exploring your path with offerings from The Groovy Goddess, including: ✨ In-person & online sessions 📚 Books 🎧 Guided meditations 🌿 Online transformational courses ✨ Come as you are. Leave feeling lighter, grounded, peaceful, and renewed—ready to move forward with greater clarity.
A monthly open mic night at the 418 Project featuring music, theatre, and spoken word performances.
6 - 10pm · Carla Re hosts an amazing Karaoke all over the Bay Area. This is her first time here at The Cruz Room. Come join the fun!
Silent meditation.
🥂 🎨 9/27 🍻🍹🍸 STIMULATE YOUR SENSES AT @missionwest.bar WITH A MULTI SENSORY CREATIVE EXPERIENCE: PAINT & SIP with LIVE MUSIC BY DJ CAPPUCCINO & shop local artisans | 6pm-8pm 🖼️ This is A GUIDED LOCAL LANDSCAPE ACRYLIC PAINTING WORKSHOP EXPERIENCE: 🖌️ Explore shading, depth, & layering techniques. As well as many tips to help you feel comfortable using creative materials. 🎨 ALL SUPPLIES INCLUDED As you sip a delicious beverage by MISSION WEST BAR you will be guided through creating your own unique work of art. Music will make you want to move and groove while you paint. You’re not glued to your seat so feel free to get up and dance. In addition, Local artisans @suzyrad @artbysunes @deelighteddesigns will have there unique and hand made goods for you to shop after the event. This is a moment to connect with yourself and mingle with the local community in a completely safe space to be yourself and let loose! ALL PARTICIPANTS 21+ RECEIVE DRINK SPECIALS 🍻🍸🍹🥂🍾 LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE 💸 $45 or 2 for $85 🎟️ RSVP TXT “MWEST” [818.489.0988](tel:818.489.0988) 💫 GOOD VIBES ONLY ✌🏼 🌙 ALL ARE WELCOME 21+ 🫶 🌞 RELAX & UNWIND ✨ 🌟 CONNECT WITH YOURSELF & THE COMMUNITY ⚡️ UNLEASH YOUR INNER CHILD & AWAKEN YOUR SPIRIT 🌬️ BREATHE, BE PRESENT & LIVE IN THE MOMENT! 🐦🔥 ACTIVATE YOUR WELL BEING 🧠 🫀 ENGAGE IN A MINDFUL & INTENTIONAL EXPERIENCE 🎨 Creative self care & a healing meditative wellness experience through art, music and community! 🫶 This space is completely safe. Here to help guide, support, & encourage your unique creative expression experience! ✨✨✨ 🙏 🙌 Grateful to be collaborating with local businesses, local artists, & local musicians to create unique and unforgettable MULTI SENSORY CREATIVE EXPERIENCES for ALL our community to enjoy! 🫶✨ Art therapy Paint & Sip Creative expression Acrylic workshop Art & wellness Support local #santacruzevents #santacruz #santacruzart #santacruzartist #artisthedeeperyou
Needs SubRosa collective member to host
Fiddling Cricket & Canyon Acoustic Society Concert Series 2025 HoneyBee Deby Benton Grosjean and Pamela Benton Playing together all of thier lives Sat, 9/27, 7.00pm (6.30pm Doors); $25 adv / $30 dr reservations at [email protected] or 408 499 9441 (text or voice) HoneyBee is a Duo of Twin Musicians, Deby Benton Grosjean, and Pamela Benton. Classically trained on violin and piano, both are singer / songwriters, twin fiddlers plus, Pamela adds guitar to their performances. Individually, they each have recorded CD's of their own available on "CD Baby", and other internet music sites / stores. Deby and Pamela have played a lifetime of musical experiences exploring many music genres. In their Duo HoneyBee, they fuse these genres to create an original sound. Since childhood, music has been central in their lives and enjoyed singing and playing several instruments together. For three consecutive years as youths, Deby and Pamela received top awards in MTAC ensemble competitions, both first place, and command performance. Also as youths they sang in choir and performed in the California Youth Symphony and San Jose Light Opera. Money collected at the door. Beer, wine, coffee, etc available, plus the regular Ugly Mug food AT THE UGLY MUG CAFE 4640 Soquel Dr, Soquel, CA 95073 Contact Fiddling Cricket at 408 499 9441 or for reservations or more information. Reservations still pay at the door, by cash or check. Food and Drink: Beer, wine, coffee, tea and soft drinks available. Usual coffee shop food. (if you wish, bring your own wine and pay corkage)
Ode to The Dying Senses: An Immersive Dance-Theater Experience
Ode to the Dying Senses is an immersive dance-theater experience combining live singers and SCDT's Project Company dancers. The evening begins as you enter and explore a space immersed in total darkness. What follows invites you to reconnect with your senses in a show like nothing you've ever seen. With only 15 tickets per show, this is an exclusive event you won't want to miss.
Private Lives by Noel Coward, presented by Santa Cruz Shakespeare
There’s a thin line between love and hate and sometimes, it’s the barrier between balconies. That’s the premise of Noel Coward’s Private Lives. Two divorced lovers find themselves spending their new honeymoons next door to one another at the same hotel. Both are egotistical, passionate, and selfish, so how are they going to manage to live next to each other at a hotel? Better yet, how are they going to live without each other? This laugh-out-loud comedy is rich, witty and as sharp as Cupid’s arrow. See the play on Friday, September 4th for a matinee preview or check out one of the multiple showings through October 4th. -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz
Spafford at Felton Music Hall on Sunday, September 27th 2026 Tickets: https://tixr.com/e/190917
Formed in San Jose in 1990, Sleep just might be the best American doom metal band of all time. After all, this three-piece wrote one of the most epic songs ever, the 63-minute marijuana-fueled opus, “Dopesmoker.” Even more epic is the legend behind the song, with the band using all the money the label gave them for an album on weed and returning with one long song. However, the band has recently run into some controversy as the bassist, Al Cisneros, is currently the only original member. But fear not weedians, because Uncle Al is still headed to the smoke-filled lands with Dale Crover (Melvins) on drums and Bubba Dupree (Void) on guitar. -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz
Cypress Health Institute Certified Massage Therapist Program
Grab a cup of coffee and hang out with a MAH curator! Coffee with the Curators is a morning at the museum where you can chat, ask questions, and hear behind-the-scenes stories about the exhibitions and collections. Coffee and good conversation are complimentary with museum admission.
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
Monday, September 28 2026 10:00am - 1:00pm This 6-session series is an opportunity to evaluate your skills, talents and experiences through a new lens.
Monday, September 28 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, September 28 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm Join us Mondays 10:30am-12pm at Aptos Library for social Bridge! All skill levels welcome. Enjoy fun, friendship, and mental stimulation.
Monday, September 28 2026 10:30am - 11:30am A time for free play for children with a participating adult.
Monday, September 28 2026 10:30am - 11:30am Join us for Storytime for ages 0-5 featuring songs, rhymes, lap bounces, and stories. After Storytime, stay for Stay & Play!
Monday, September 28 2026 11:00am - 11:45am Join Aquarium staff for an ocean-themed sensory play time
Come join a community of readers who meet the 4th Monday of each month to hear poetry and discuss its curious powers. Come join a community of readers who meet the 4th Monday of each month to hear poetry and discuss its curious powers. Discussions facilitated by Paola Bruni, Elaine Fletcher Chapman, and Jessica Cohn. Registration encouraged. Walk-ins welcome. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/14321587 Poets in 2026 January 26 Joy Harjo February 23 Billy Collins March 23 Eavan Boland April 27 Arthur Sze May 18 * Emily Dickinson June 22 Gary Snyder July 27 Dean Young August 24 Lucille Clifton September 28 Sharon Olds October 26 Juan Felipe Herrera November 23 Ada Limon December 28 Jericho Brown *Note: Third Monday in May because of Memorial Day
Monday, September 28th, The Spoken Experience meets at a new time: 1 p.m. This community of readers gathers on the fourth Monday in the Capitola library to read a featured poet’s work. For September, the focus will be on the poems of the incomparable Sharon Olds. Local poets Paola Bruni, Elaine Fletcher Chapman, and Jessica Cohn facilitate the conversation, and you'll enjoy the company of the nicest bunch of people you could meet on any Monday. Join us!
Environmental Studies Seminar Series | Lightning Talks by ENVS Faculty
In person and via Zoom ( Meeting ID : 978 5545 8946, Passcode : 454736) . If you are unable to stream the talk live and need to access a recorded version, please contact Stacy Philpott at [email protected] . A UC Santa Cruz email address is required to access the recording. Host: Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela Speaker #1: Hannah Waterhouse Title: Building Cover Cropping Communities of Practice on California’s Central Coast Abstract: California’s agricultural communities face the dual challenges of increasingly variable and limited irrigation water supplies, alongside persistent groundwater quality degradation from nitrate leaching that has imperiled drinking water for nearly one million residents of rural communities in the state. These challenges come together most acutely in California’s Central Coast region, the “Salad Bowl” of the U.S., where intensive, high-value vegetable and berry production dominates. The benefits provided by adding winter cover crops to these annual cropping systems are considered essential to improving groundwater quality, but perceptions among farmers and policymakers that cover crops consume too much water make a formidable barrier to adoption in this Mediterranean climate. Indeed, less than 5% of cropland on the Central Coast is cover cropped, with the majority left fallow over the winter season to devastating effects including erosion and loss of fertility, pollution of surface and groundwater, and flooded fields which can delay agronomic operations. In this research we address the question of how farmers in Mediterranean, semi-arid climatic regions can implement cover cropping in a water scarce environment while meeting water quality regulatory goals. Through both controlled trials and on-farm, participatory research, we aim to determine how different cover crop management practices affect the balance between water regulation and provisioning and water quality protection, as well as the supply of nitrogen (N) for cash crops. We have formed a
Monday, September 28 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, September 28 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.
The Family Service Agency of the Central Coast announced that The Upscale-Resale Nonprofit Daisy Store will celebrate autumn with a week-long sale. Everything in the store is 50% off. All proceeds benefit Family Service Agency programs.
Monday, September 28 2026 12:30pm - 2:30pm Join CHP's free Age Well, Drive Smart class for seniors 65+. Learn safe driving tips, self-assessment tools, and how aging impacts driving. Taught by CHP officers. Register at (831) 219-0200.
Monday, September 28 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!
Monday, September 28 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm Come join a community of readers who meet the 4th Monday of each month to hear poetry and discuss its curious powers.
An afternoon craft session at the library, offering a relaxed space to work on creative projects.
Crafternoons are back! ✂️ Get craft with family. Drop in to the Main Library between 2-5pm every Monday and Wednesday to make a craft together. Slow down, work with your hands, and get creative! Bring the family and join us for some creative fun! Audience: Families ¡Regresan las tardes de manualidades! ✂️ Se le invita a la Biblioteca Principal de 2-5pm todos los lunes y miércoles para hacer una manualidad en familia. ¡Tómense su momento para relajarse, trabajar con las manos y dejar volar su creatividad! ¡Traigan a toda la familia y disfruten juntos de una tarde creativa! Audiencia: Familias
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.
PAWS Afterschool Club (Ages 7–10) Looking for something fun to do after school? Love animals? Join PAWS and discover what it takes to care for shelter animals while making new friends and learning through hands-on activities! Each week, children enjoy one hour of fun animal-themed education and activities, followed by one hour socializing with our shelter animals. They’ll learn about animal behavior, responsible pet care, shelter life, and safe animal handling before putting their new knowledge into practice by spending quality time helping our cats and dogs feel loved and confident. Children begin with PAWS Foundations, a three-week introductory program. After graduating, they become PAWS Ambassadors, returning for additional sessions to build new skills, spend more time with the animals, and take on greater responsibilities as they progress toward becoming future Santa Cruz SPCA volunteers. PAWS Foundations: Monday 4pm-6pm (September – May) PAWS Ambassadors: Wednesday 4pm-6pm (September – May)
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, September 28 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm Practice reading to a certified therapy dog! Registration is required.
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
-Natalie
Monday, September 28 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm A poetry workshop anyone who would like to establish a writing practice in a safe and encouraging environment.
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
you Are A Star! Come share what you love · what you are working on Every Monday 5pm - 8pm · Lottery signups begin @5:15 One 5 minute song or two 3 minute songs We welcome: Poetry · Spoken Word · Music · Originals & Covers Hosted by SteveV Beer, Coffee, Tea and Cafe Snacks are always available. Non-performers are always welcomed & Appreciated We Cannot Wait to see you!
Motion Pacific: Adult Beginning Jazz Fusion
This is Motion Pacific's Beginning Jazz Fusion class for adult dancers.
A weekly Afro-Brazilian dance class focusing on rhythm and movement.
6 - 8pm · Hosted Board Game Night — open & hosted games, library of 30+ games, raffle, merch, and a Learn to Play demo at 6:30pm. Taught on the spot.
SPIN IT UP: INTERMEDIATE POTTER'S WHEEL (3/5)
0 booked, 6 available Chris Finnie
Come join us! Mondays @ 6pm Yoga 7pm Meditation and Sound Healing ❤️🩹 $10 a class, no one will be turned away 🫶
Come and learn about the flourishing resistance camp currently halting border wall construction along the so-called US-Mexico border in southern Arizona! We will give a timeline around the events taking place at the border, the tactics used by protesters, and what we can learn from the fight to save Grandmother Tree. Masking encouraged. -Elle
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
Hosted Mic'd Board Games 6 - 8 Game taught at 6:30pm. Trivia 8 - 10 The Game Night Collective is a Santa Cruz-based board game community that creates welcoming, hosted tabletop events where people can discover new games, meet new friends, and enjoy structured game nights without needing prior experience. Unlike a typical board game meetup where players are expected to know games or organize themselves, The Game Night Collective provides a curated experience. Each event includes a library of 30+ board games, guided game teaching, hosted featured games, community announcements, raffles, and opportunities to connect with other players. Whether you arrive alone or with a group, the goal is to make it easy to sit down and start playing. The flagship event takes place every Monday at The CRUZ Room, where attendees can enjoy open gaming, learn two featured games taught by founder Courtney Laschkewitsch, participate in trivia, browse the Merch Chest, and become part of Santa Cruz's growing tabletop gaming community. At its core, The Game Night Collective exists to bring people together through board games. It combines the structure and consistency of a trivia company with the creativity, strategy, and social connection of modern tabletop gaming, creating a space where newcomers and experienced gamers alike can feel welcome.
Henry IV Part One by William Shakespeare -- in the style of a live WWE show. Come cheer with Falstaff, boo that heel Hotspur, and witness the reigning champion, King Henry IV, pass on the title to the one true heir of the English throne. Booing, cheering, and rooting for your hero, highly encouraged. Join us as we transform the London Nelson theatre into a unique venue with floor seating around a raised wrestling ring. Hear the original text of Shakespeare is a new light, in the way it was meant -- direct, to the common masses, encouraging you to hoot, holler, and participate in the story that unfolds. Switching between arguments in the ring and a live camera backstage, with scenes and soliloquies punctuated by five fully staged fights, this show is like no Shakespeare play you've ever seen. Hosted by Angela Rangel, this full length production will include unique (and hilarious) merch, concessions you'll be allowed to consume in the theatre, and even the opportunity to craft your own pithy sign once you decide whose side you're really on. Sing along with Falstaff, jeer Hotspur's squad as they pass next to you, and watch the sweat fly from our fighting cast as you watch thus one weekend only production created by an amazing cast, crew, and creatives.
Salsa or ChaCha Mondays, 9/21 & 28, in Capitola
2 Mondays of Latin Social Dance in September, Salsa, level1 and Cha Cha level 2, at the Mid County Social Center in Capitola with Becky Adams. 6:15-7:15 - Salsa social dance for the absolute beginner. If you love the music, come join us to learn the basics of this fun dance. 7:30-8:30 - ChaCha 2, will move you into fun, useable Intermediate combinations to add to your social dance repertoire. If you know Cha Cha basics, or have taken Salsa 2 and know the 'triple step' come and join us. Singles or couples all ages welcome.
Motion Pacific: Adult Intermediate Contemporary Jazz
This is Motion Pacific's intermediate level contemporary jazz dance class.
6:30pm · Playtest the game Catfish at 6:30pm! Learn how to play with co-designer, Jeremy Parker, & help shape this game! Compete against other cats in this party card-lane battler! Host: Jeremy Parker. Local Designer! Part of Hosted Board Game Night (6 - 8pm) — library of 30+ games, raffle, merch & a Learn to Play featured game demo at 6:30pm with The Game Night Collective. Trivia 8 - 10pm.
Come hang out in the secret garden and have some laughs, EVERY MONDAY NIGHT. Featuring comedians from all over the area and beyond.
Enhancing Energy, Increasing Vitality - Bodywork & Self-care Exercises
A new 6-week series, beginning Monday, September 14. Each session builds on the one before it, inviting you to let go of tension, balance your nervous system, and learn how you can move through life without draining your energy during unexpected or uncomfortable events. It’s for the busy parent who feels depleted, the professional who is chronically tired, those healing from a stressful time of life, and anyone wishing to relate to life with more positivity, energy and enthusiasm. In the non-judgmental atmosphere of Breema, the series will support you to: —notice where you drain energy and fall into habitual patterns, relationships, fear, and anxiety —discover new, more harmonious ways of relating to these aspects of ourselves —learn simple bodywork treatments that support you to be present, and that you can practice on friends and family, and Self-Breema exercises that you can do during the day $20 per class or $100/series Open to all levels You’ll need to be reasonably comfortable moving and working on a padded floor with other participants. Wear comfortable long pants and socks. No fragrances, please. Class dates include: 9/14, 9/21, 9/28, 10/5, 10/19, 10/26. Please note no class 10/12 due to Breema Intensive in Oakland. For more information, please contact Hummingbird Valley Retreat Center at (510) 455-8008, or by emailing us at [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, Kevin Johnson and Dena Ehrlich
Ronstadt Revolution: Linda Ronstadt Tribute
For those lucky enough to grow up listening to Linda Ronstadt, it isn’t hyperbole to refer to her as the Queen of Country Rock. Bringing that big personality to the stage takes a special performer and Natalie Amaya tributes Ronstadt with note perfect renditions of Ronstadt’s songs from every part of her career. Amaya appeared on American Idol and tours throughout Northern California with several bands. “Blue Bayou” will give you chills, remembering one of the greatest performers of the last 100 years. -DNA; Good Times Santa Cruz
FREE IN-STORE EVENT: Bookshop Santa Cruz welcomes New York Times bestselling author Joseph Fink (Welcome to Night Vale, Alice Isn't Dead) for a reading and signing of The Nudge, a new horror novell...
Contact Improv dance session at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, offered weekly on Mondays.
8 - 10pm · Weekly trivia night — gather your team and come test your knowledge!
Soft Pastel Painting runs in six week intervals taught by instructor Sarah Orre. A short demo will be taught the first class meeting with reference photos that will teach color theory, underpainting, texture, layering, and movement. Students are encouraged to bring additional reference photos for inspiration. Participants bring their own soft pastels (not oils), and sanded paper. The remainder of the class meetings are used for studio time. The last day we have a group peer review to discuss our work and give and receive feedback.
Cypress Health Institute Certified Massage Therapist Program
Join us for a drop-in clinic to plan for your future at the Watsonville Senior Center! Registration is optional, and not required! Receive on-site assistance and information on Advance Healthcare Directives, simple wills, and Powers of Attorney. For ages 60+ residing in Santa Cruz or San Benito county.
Trans Day of Remembrance Trans Memorial Quilt Contributions (Craft Day) - 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. September Activities: September 1: LGBTQIA2S+ Jeopardy with Nic Come back for another round of Jeopardy! Pick your teams and play for prizes! September 8: Movie Bingo - “But I’m a Cheerleader” with Nic Watch along and play a round of the TDC class movie bingo! September 15: Music Bingo - Songs About Places Music bingo is back - this time featuring only songs about places. All fun, no competition! September 22: Demystifying Preplanning: A Workshop with Santa Cruz Memorial Though no one likes to talk about preplanning memorials, it’s important to make sure your wishes are followed and that your loved ones don’t need to deal with more uncertainty. Come have a stress-free and enlig
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
The Family Service Agency of the Central Coast announced that The Upscale-Resale Nonprofit Daisy Store will celebrate autumn with a week-long sale. Everything in the store is 50% off. All proceeds benefit Family Service Agency programs.
Tuesday, September 29 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, September 29 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, September 29 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, September 29 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm Join us Tuesdays at Aptos Library to learn, play, and compete in Backgammon! All skill levels welcome - enjoy strategy, fun, and friendly competition in a relaxed social setting.
Tuesday, September 29 2026 10:30am - 11:30am Baby Story Time is a sweet introduction to stories, songs, rhymes, and lap play, thoughtfully designed to nurture early literacy and bonding.
Tuesday, September 29 2026 10:30am - 11:00am A fun and interactive dance program for children ages 2-5. Come dance with us!
Tuesday, September 29 2026 11:00am - 11:25am Come join Librarian Emily for stories, songs, and lots of fun for toddlers and their caregivers in our beautiful, newly-renovated Scotts Valley Library Branch every Tuesday at 11am.
Tuesday, September 29 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm Puppets, Songs and toys, Oh My!
Latin American & Latino Studies Ph.D. Program Information Sessions
An interdisciplinary department that centers the interconnected experiences and perspectives of Latin American and Latinx communities. This program provides rigorous training in disciplinary and interdisciplinary theory and research methods to investigate transnational processes that link the Americas. We especially invite applications from students interested in: Transnationalisms, Migration, and Displacement Intersectionality, Identities, and Inequalities Culture, Power, and Knowledge Collective Action, Social Movements, and Social Change Session 1: Tuesday, September 29, noon-1pm Learn about our interdisciplinary and hemispheric approach and major research areas Hear from faculty and graduate students about their scholarship Ask questions about the program and UC Santa Cruz Session 2: Tuesday, November 17, noon-1pm Learn about the Ph.D. program curriculum and structure Hear from the Graduate Director and Graduate Program Coordinator Ask questions about the application process RSVP to one or both sessions using our Google Form >>
Student Health Services Scavenger Hunt
Welcome to UCSC! Explore UCSC Student Health Services (SHS), collect stamps at each department, and win free swag plus entry into a grand prize drawing! Drop by the Student Health Center for an interactive Scavenger Hunt to get familiar with all the health and wellness resources available to you on campus. Pick up your official Scavenger Hunt Passport at the Welcome Table, then tour stations across the facility—including the Medical Clinic, Pharmacy, CAPS, Insurance Office, Lab, and X-Ray. Meet our staff, learn how to access services, and get your passport stamped along the way. Event Highlights • Free SHS Swag: Complete all stations to take home water bottles, chapstick, lens cleaner, toothbrushes, stickers, and stress balls. • Grand Prize Drawing: Every finished passport earns an entry to win a $50.00 Amazon gift card ! • Open to All: Available to all UCSC students with no advance registration required. Event Details • Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2026 • Time: 12–2 p.m. • Location: UCSC Student Health Center (Welcome Table at Main Entrance) • Cost: Free! 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 .
0 booked, 4 available Glazing
Tuesday, September 29 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm Housing navigation services for people experiencing homelessness.
Downsizing Without the Overwhelm: 10 Simple Steps to Start Today
Join us for the second session in Living on Your Terms, a four-part series presented by Heart Centered Transitions on smart planning for the next chapter. Each session stands on its own, so come to one or join us for all. Handouts from previous sessions will be available at the Senior Center. Downsizing Without the Overwhelm: 10 Simple Steps to Start Today Downsizing can feel overwhelming—especially when you don’t know where to begin. In this practical, interactive session, we’ll break the process into manageable steps to help you get started and keep moving forward. You’ll learn: Where to begin when you don’t know where to start Practical strategies for deciding what to keep, give, donate, or let go How to make steady progress without becoming overwhelmed You don’t have to be planning a move to benefit. Downsizing now can help simplify your home and your life—and make future decisions easier.
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.
The Felton Farmers’ Market is a treasured weekly gathering May through October, now running for over 30 years. We appreciate the dedicated customers who call this market a second home. Your support of regional agriculture and small, local businesses makes a difference. The Felton Farmers’ Market was started in 1987 and is the second oldest 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, September 29 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm Practice your English and make new friends!
Fall Semester Maker Classes (August 11 – December 20, 2026) Join us for a semester of hands-on creativity at SC Maker Studios! Students explore 3D printing, laser engraving, woodworking, sewing, robotics, beading, arts & crafts, and more, creating projects to take home each week. All materials are included (except electronic robot components). Weekly Class Times: Youth (Ages 6½–12) Tuesdays: 3:00–5:00 PM Wednesdays: 1:00–3:00 PM & 3:00–5:00 PM Thursdays: 3:00–5:00 PM Sundays: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM Teens (Ages 11–17) Sundays: 12:30–2:30 PM Register for the full semester to reserve your spot [https://scmakerstudios.com/fall-semester-2026/], or join us for individual Maker Sunday drop-in sessions [https://scmakerstudios.com/sunday-maker-registration/]. Spaces are limited!
Youth Bloom Studio Art with Sarah Orre, nurtures creativity, confidence, and curiosity through hands-on learning. Each class encourages young artists to explore new materials, techniques, and ideas while building foundational art skills in a supportive studio environment. From painting and drawing to air dry clay and mixed media, students learn to see like artists and express their own unique voice. Enroll in as many sessions as you like!
Tuesday, September 29 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm Make and explore STEAM possibilities at Scotts Valley Branch Library! .
R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @Garfield Park
Tuesday, September 29 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713
R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ Live Oak
Tuesday, September 29 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. R.E.A.D. ofrece instrucción individual de comprensión lectora para los grados 1 a 12.
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.
Junior Animal Care Team (Ages 11+) Ready to level up your animal skills? If you love animals and want real, hands-on experience, the Junior Animal Care Team gives you the chance to go behind the scenes at the Santa Cruz SPCA! Start with a three-week training program where you’ll learn how to safely support shelter animals and prepare for your role on the team. Each session includes one hour of hands-on animal care projects—creating enrichment, preparing supplies, and helping support the shelter team—followed by one hour socializing with our shelter animals. After graduating, you’ll become a Junior Animal Care Team Member, returning for ongoing sessions to build your skills, take on more responsibility, and make a real difference for animals in need. A progressive step before becoming an SPCA volunteer—perfect for future animal care professionals and passionate animal advocates! Junior Animal Care Team Training: Tuesday 4pm-6pm (September – May) Junior Animal Care Team Sessions: Thursday 4pm-6pm (September – May)
Tuesday, September 29 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.
Tuesday, September 29 2026 3:45pm - 5:45pm An exciting four-week STEM adventure designed for kids 8-12! This four-week series meets weekly from September 22nd through October 13th. Registration is required.
Kaika Class: Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian Dance
A weekly hula and Tahitian dance class with the Te Hau Nui school, exploring Polynesian movement and tradition.
Wing Chun martial arts classes with instructor Marcus at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, meeting multiple times per week.
A weekly music jam session in downtown Santa Cruz, featuring lights and fun for all musicians.
Wahine Advanced Class: Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian Dance
Advanced hula and Tahitian dance class for experienced dancers. Part of Te Hau Nui School's curriculum.
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.
Beginning adult ceramics with instructor Nora Sarkissian. Learn the basics of hand building, pinch, and coil. Nora will provide demos and projects as well as time for independent clay creation. Class is held at Redwood and Ranunculus downtown Felton. Tuesdays, 6-8:30 PM $234 for 6 weeks (7% service fee due at checkout) plus a $20 material fee due to instructor at first class Clay, glazes, and tools provided. Session I: August 18, 25, Sept 1, 8, 15, 22 Session II: Sept 29, October 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov 3
CHP Start Smart Driving Education for Teens & their Parents
Tuesday, September 29 2026 5:30pm - 7:00pm CHP's free Start Smart class helps teens and parents prepare for safe driving. Learn rules of the road, license requirements, and safe practices. Register with CHP Santa Cruz: 831-219-0200.
Get those gears turning, grab one of our 16 beers on tap, and join us for Trivia Tuesdays at Discretion! Every Tuesday 6:30-8:00pm. Hosted by Michael Cahalan. 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
Community Revels: The Santa Cruz Opera Project presents La Bohème The Santa Cruz Opera Project connects people to the beauty and power of opera by innovating and creating accessible experiences for all. La Bohème is a timeless masterpiece that inspired later works such as RENT and Moulin Rouge, and continues to captivate hearts and minds. Originally set in the bohemian quarters of Paris, this opera portrays the universal human experiences of passion, longing, and the pursuit of dreams. It serves as a reminder that the struggles, aspirations, and joys depicted within its framework transcend time and place. One night only: Tuesday, September 29 @ 7PM Santa Cruz Shakespeare's Community Revels are special performances by local area artists, held on select Tuesday nights at the Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park, offering a lively, intimate alternative to the main repertory season.
0 booked, 7 available
"Party"
Presented by Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay
Come help us celebrate Téada’s 25th Anniversary of touring as one of Ireland's leading traditional bands! The five members of the band are fiddle player Oisín Mac Diarmada, button accordion player Paul Finn, Damien Stenson performs on flute, Samantha Harvey, piano/dance, Seán Mc Elwain who switches between the bouzouki and guitar and bodhrán player Tristan Rosenstock. You will undoubtedly recognize fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada, if you have attended an Irish Christmas In America concert. A leading exponent of Irish traditional music, Téada is driven by a fascination for the timeless, expressive force of music inherited from previous generations of musicians. An Irish band with a truly worldwide reach, Téada has frequently appeared as headliners at major music festivals throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Africa, Russia, Israel and Australia. Highlights include a 30,000-capacity stadium concert in Brittany, along with performances at Penang World Music Festival in Malaysia, Edmonton Folk Festival in Canada, Harare International Festival of the Arts in Zimbabwe, and the Milwaukee Irish Festival. The group also received an invitation from the Irish Embassy in Rome during 2008 to perform at a commemorative event marking the 400th anniversary of the landmark event in Irish history known as The Flight of the Earls. With engaging textural arrangements, Téada, which means "strings", will have you dancing in your seat. Tickets: celticsociety.org members: $27 non-members: $31.25 student/child: $15.25
Free live music every Tuesday night with the Del Mar Trio at Callahan's in Santa Cruz.
Aldous Harding:: Rio Theatre Santa Cruz 9/29
Aldous Harding comes to Santa Cruz for a special performance at Rio Theatre.
Busy
7pm sign-ups · Weekly pinball competition for players of all skill levels.
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
Experience the Bio-Vibe Table at SoulCare Studios, a gentle, non-invasive wellness experience using sound frequencies and soothing vibrations to encourage relaxation, release tension, and support overall balance. Simply lie down comfortably while the table delivers vibrations throughout the body, creating an opportunity to slow down, rest, and reset. ✨ Potential Benefits: • Encourages deep relaxation • Supports better sleep • Helps relieve muscle & joint tension • Supports a calmer nervous system • Helps reduce everyday stress Sessions & Pricing: 🌿 60-Minute Full-Body Session: $120 Package of 4: $400 🌿 30-Minute Focused Session: $65 Package of 4: $200 📅 Available Wednesdays & Sundays Other days are available upon request. 📍 SoulCare Studios 8035 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA Scan the QR code on the flyer to book your session.
Grab a free cup of coffee* and chat with Provost Aims at Coffee with the Provost! Most Wednesdays through the Fall Quarter! 9:00-11:00am Meet us for (free) coffee, tea, breakfast snacks and good conversation outside the Merrill College Office, across from the mailroom. *Fair trade, organic, local women owned Alta Organic Roasting Company
Start your Wednesday morning with movement, mindfulness, and authentic Himalayan yogic wisdom at Soul Care Studios. 🧘✨ Join Yogi Laxman Panthi for a weekly Vinyasa Yoga practice that reaches beyond the physical poses and creates space to connect the body, breath, and mind. With four decades of experience, Laxman has taught yoga and meditation around the world and trained hundreds of yoga teachers. Originally from Nepal, he brings authentic Himalayan yogic wisdom and decades of knowledge to each practice. Laxman is also co-author of The Pose and Beyond: Yoga Philosophy, Meditation, and Ancient Wisdom. 📅 Wednesdays ⏰ 9:15–10:15 AM 📍 Soul Care Studios | Aptos Come begin your Wednesday with an intentional hour of movement, breath, and connection.
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.
Wednesday, September 30 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.
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
The Family Service Agency of the Central Coast announced that The Upscale-Resale Nonprofit Daisy Store will celebrate autumn with a week-long sale. Everything in the store is 50% off. All proceeds benefit Family Service Agency programs.
A bilingual lap-sit storytime for babies and toddlers, with songs, rhymes, and books in English and Spanish.
Cyber-Seniors Digital Literacy Series
A 12 week series on Wednesdays from 10:30AM-12PM that introduces foundational digital literacy concepts and teaches useful digital skills. August 19: What is a VPN and Do You Need One? August 26: Smartwatches Made Simple September 2: AI Powered Art September 9: Music Streaming Made Simple September 16: Podcasts Made Easy: Listen to Your Favorite Topics Anytime September 23: Your Story, Your Legacy: Preserving Memories with Spoken Records September 30: Tech Settings That Help With Accessibility October 7: Using Emergency Features on Your Phone October 14: Intro to Facebook October 21: Intro to Instagram Registration required. Must register for each class individually. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/events?term=cyber+seniors&d=2026-07-30&r=range&start=2026-08-01&end=2026-11-01 Come join Dara Brady, a local instructor with the digital literacy organization Cyber-Seniors, for a weekly digital literacy course! Each class includes a lesson on the topics below, Q&A time, and one-on-one tech support. Participants are encouraged to bring a notebook, pen/pencil, and whatever tech device they want to learn on: (a laptop, tablet, and/or smart phone) and the charger for that device. If they don't have a device, they can still participate and Dara can get them one to use for the class. All classes run on Wednesday mornings from 10:30AM to 12PM in the Fireside Room except for the first and last sessions, which will take place in Study Room A.
Wednesday, September 30 2026 10:00am - 1:00pm This 6-session series is an opportunity to evaluate your skills, talents and experiences through a new lens.
Wednesday, September 30 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!
Preschool Storytime @ the Garfield Park Branch Library
Wednesday, September 30 2026 10:30am - 11:00am Join us at the Garfield Park Branch Library for Storytime!
Wednesday, September 30 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm Get ready to learn about planting your fall garden!
A bilingual storytime for toddlers with stories, songs, and rhymes in English and Spanish, promoting early literacy and language skills.
Wednesday, September 30 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. Classes conducted in-person with an instructor via Zoom.
Toddler & Preschool Storytime at Boulder Creek
Wednesday, September 30 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm Come join us for stories, songs, and lots of fun for toddlers, preschoolers and their caregivers in our beautiful Boulder Creek Library Branch every Wednesday at 11am.
Wednesday, September 30 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm Join us for great stories followed by a hands-on craft.
Preschool Storytime and Stay & Play @ Capitola
Wednesday, September 30 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm Join us for Story Time featuring songs, rhymes, and stories designed to help preschoolers develop early literacy skills.
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.
Engineering Teaching Community (Faculty)
During the chaos of a quarter, is it hard to find time to reflect and improve as an instructor? Would you like to be a part of an inclusive, supportive group of engineering instructors who do this in community? ETC is for sharing teaching experiences, classroom ideas, research on learning, and methods that support instructors and students. All are welcome, and lunch is provided. Please reach out to Jenny Quynn with questions.
The Mindful U: Finding Calm, Clarity + Connection in a Chaotic World
The Mindful U: Finding Calm, Clarity + Connection in a Chaotic World With Jessica Sanam Hekmat Thursday, Sept. 30, 2025 | Noon PT Virtual via Zoom Hosted by the UCLA Alumni Association, open to all UC alumni This interactive session, led by career coach Jessica Sanam Hekmat, invites participants to pause and reset to cultivate presence and self-awareness as they navigate professional and personal demands. We’ll explore practical mindfulness tools and reflective prompts designed to foster resilience, regulate stress and re-energize focus. The conversation will balance strategy and self-inquiry, and we’ll ground ourselves together in real time through guided breathwork, reflection, and visualization. Participants will leave with practical ways to reconnect to their values and sense of purpose, even when the external environment feels unpredictable. LEARN MORE & REGISTER
The Downtown Santa Cruz Market runs year-round on Wednesdays, 1-5pm year round. Our largest and oldest market, it is situated in the heart of Downtown Santa Cruz, one block off of Pacific Avenue. Established in 1990, many of the farms that sell here were and remain pillars of the organic and ecological farming movement. This is the place to eat with the seasons! The variety of fruits, vegetables, flowers, pastured meats and other products is swoon worthy. The Downtown Market also spotlights a large variety of up-and-coming, unique cultural food businesses. This weekly spot may serve up the most diverse selection of ethnic foods in the county including naan and curry, Japanese fermented misos, Eritrean dishes, crepes, El Salvadorean pupusas, traditional Italian cookies, fish and chips and long-ferment fresh breads. Shopping at the Wednesday market is a wonderful way to support regional responsible farms and small local businesses. Fill your grocery bags! Then sit down for a delightful meal and rest your weary arms.
Motion Pacific: Dance for PD
Dance for Parkinson’s at Motion Pacific is a class for people with Parkinson’s Disease and their caretakers. The class is based on the innovative and internationally renowned Dance for PD® program designed by the Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson Group. Trained Dance for Parkinson’s teachers use prompts and multiple dance styles to inspire movement, creative expression, and community. Dancers may sit in a chair, use a barre, or stand. Dance for Parkinson’s at Motion Pacific is open and free to the public. Classes are appropriate for anyone with Parkinson’s, no matter how advanced. Movement modifications will be made available and there is no dance experience required. Dance for Parkinson’s is offered every Wednesday from 1:00pm to 2:15pm, with the exception of the first Wednesday of the month, during which class is not held. Classes are offered in-person, in the Lobby at The 418 Project.
Wednesday, September 30 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm Scotts Valley Branch Library's fun program allows tweens and teens to relax, hang out with friends and play games!
Crafternoons are back! ✂️ Get craft with family. Drop in to the Main Library between 2-5pm every Monday and Wednesday to make a craft together. Slow down, work with your hands, and get creative! Bring the family and join us for some creative fun! Audience: Families ¡Regresan las tardes de manualidades! ✂️ Se le invita a la Biblioteca Principal de 2-5pm todos los lunes y miércoles para hacer una manualidad en familia. ¡Tómense su momento para relajarse, trabajar con las manos y dejar volar su creatividad! ¡Traigan a toda la familia y disfruten juntos de una tarde creativa! Audiencia: Familias
An afternoon craft session at the library, offering a relaxed space to work on creative projects.
Wednesday, September 30 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!
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!
Fall Semester Maker Classes (August 11 – December 20, 2026) Join us for a semester of hands-on creativity at SC Maker Studios! Students explore 3D printing, laser engraving, woodworking, sewing, robotics, beading, arts & crafts, and more, creating projects to take home each week. All materials are included (except electronic robot components). Weekly Class Times: Youth (Ages 6½–12) Tuesdays: 3:00–5:00 PM Wednesdays: 1:00–3:00 PM & 3:00–5:00 PM Thursdays: 3:00–5:00 PM Sundays: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM Teens (Ages 11–17) Sundays: 12:30–2:30 PM Register for the full semester to reserve your spot [https://scmakerstudios.com/fall-semester-2026/], or join us for individual Maker Sunday drop-in sessions [https://scmakerstudios.com/sunday-maker-registration/]. Spaces are limited!
Wednesday, September 30 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm Every week we will have a new project idea for you to build or explore.
R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ Capitola
Wednesday, September 30 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713
R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ Branciforte
Wednesday, September 30 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. R.E.A.D. ofrece instrucción individual de comprensión lectora para los grados 1 a 12.
R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ La Selva Beach
Wednesday, September 30 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713
R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ Boulder Creek
Wednesday, September 30 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713.
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.
PAWS Afterschool Club (Ages 7–10) Looking for something fun to do after school? Love animals? Join PAWS and discover what it takes to care for shelter animals while making new friends and learning through hands-on activities! Each week, children enjoy one hour of fun animal-themed education and activities, followed by one hour socializing with our shelter animals. They’ll learn about animal behavior, responsible pet care, shelter life, and safe animal handling before putting their new knowledge into practice by spending quality time helping our cats and dogs feel loved and confident. Children begin with PAWS Foundations, a three-week introductory program. After graduating, they become PAWS Ambassadors, returning for additional sessions to build new skills, spend more time with the animals, and take on greater responsibilities as they progress toward becoming future Santa Cruz SPCA volunteers. PAWS Foundations: Monday 4pm-6pm (September – May) PAWS Ambassadors: Wednesday 4pm-6pm (September – May)
Wednesday, September 30 2026 3:30pm - 5:30pm Learn how to craft, build, and survive in the world of Minecraft.edu. Ages 8 to 18
BioCharger & Vibrational Sound Table Healing Happy Hour
Take a midweek pause and recharge your energy ✨ Join us for BioCharger & Vibrational Sound Table Healing Happy Hour—a unique experience designed to support relaxation, recovery, and energetic balance. This drop-in session allows you to unwind, reset your nervous system, and leave feeling refreshed and aligned. 🕒 Wednesdays | 4:30–6:00 PM 💲 $25 per session ⚠️ Limited to 15 spots—reserve early
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.
Wednesday, September 30 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm Lego Fun for Kids
Environmental Professionals Networking & Happy Hour
A casual happy hour for environmental professionals to connect, collaborate, and grow the community.
The Ultimate Business Mixer: Entrepreneurs, Professionals & Local Leaders
Build relationships, grow visibility, and meet the people who can help move your business forward.
The World Cafe: Food, Tea, and Conversations that Matter
The World Café — food, tea, and conversations that matter. Every other Wednesday, 5–7pm, RCC Dining Hall. All students welcome, every college and major. Free with a meal plan, or pay at the door. This quarter: Sept 30 — Conversation Café: What conversations matter to you this year? Oct 14 — Activism Café: How can we be more effective agents of social change? Oct 28 — Mental Health Café: How can we thrive together? Nov 11 — Immigration & ICE Café: What do we owe each other when neighbors are at risk? Hosted by the Right Livelihood Center at UCSC.
Join us for our TEN YEAR BIRTHDAY PARTY on Wednesday, Sept 30th, 5:30-8:30PM at the Cat & Cloud Roastery Lot (719 Swift St). DJ, food on sticks, games, a dunk-the-founders dunk tank, and an array of fun activities.
A weekly beginning hip hop house dance class. Participants will learn foundational movements, rhythms, and combinations in a structured, studio setting.
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! .
Sip & Draw: Butterflies In Flight
Butterflies are known for intricate wing patterns and flitting flight patterns. They are also indicators of the health of our environment and ecosystems, especially those that migrate across our state and region. Join Megan Gnekow, a local scientific illustrator, for an evening exploring the beauty and resilience of some of our most famous flying friends as you sip on wine, beer or seltzer water of your choice. With materials provided by the instructor, you will practice techniques for illustrating them accurately in colored pencil. For your illustrations, Megan will provide specimens and photographs to help illuminate the details needed to create accurate and life-like illustrations. PROGRAM FULL – Email [email protected] to join the waitlist About the Speaker Megan Gnekow is an artist and scientific illustrator whose work focuses on ecological relationships that support special-status species in California. She represents the 7th generation of her family with deep ties to Santa Cruz. She has supported the Art of Nature exhibit as both a juror and participant since 2010. Megan is the Chair of the Collections Committee and a member of the Governance Committee, where her work in civil rights for the University of California helps support the museum’s ongoing efforts to build an inclusive, welcoming museum for all. Capacity : 20 Ticket Price: $40 General Discounts : $5 Off Members Age limit : 12+, Kids must be accompanied by adults Accessibility and Logistics This program will take place indoors at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. Refreshments will be provided. Parking is available on Pilkington and street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood. Please allow a few extra minutes to find parking and get settled before the program begins. Cancellation Policy
Watsonville City Council candidate forum: District 5 & 7
Hear directly from the candidates running for city council. Presented by Lookout Santa Cruz and the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce
Let's Talk Endometriosis: Below the Belt Film Screening & Discussion
Join Nurture Santa Cruz & Points for Wellness for an evening of supportive conversations about endometriosis and the challenges of it.
Motion Pacific's Melissa Contemp. Jazz class series at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, CA, running weekly through November.
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
Grainne Hunt
Join us every Tuesday night at Britannia Arms Capitola for FREE Pub Trivia! Two games. Two chances to win. Prizes handed out twice! 🧠 Game 1: 7–8 PM 🏆Game 2: 8–9 PM 💰 FREE to play Bring your friends, build a team, or come solo and join the fun. Test your knowledge, enjoy a pint, and compete for prizes at Britannia Arms Capitola!
7 - 9pm · Weekly bluegrass jam with local musicians.
Acclaimed Irish Singer Songwriter to perform at Ugly Mug Café in Soquel
Ireland-based singer-songwriter, Gráinne Hunt, will be performing at at Ugly Mug Café in Soquel on Wednesday 30th September. Acclaimed singer-songwriter Gráinne Hunt is thrilled to announce her upcoming US tour, a journey through vibrant venues in Washington, Oregon, California, Utah and New Mexico! In addition to the West Coast tour dates, Gráinne has been invited to showcase at FARM Folk Alliance and there will be a show in St Paul, MN too. The tour kicks off on the 10th September and features intimate performances at renowned venues, community spaces and listening audience-favourite rooms. Performing as a duo with San Diego’s Jules Stewart on drums and vocals, the pair create a sound that’s been compared to The Indigo Girls and Brandi Carlile - rich harmonies, heartfelt stories, and magnetic onstage chemistry. Together, they’ve been described as “the bi-continental queer folk duo you didn’t know you needed in your life.” Gráinne’s tour is gratefully supported by Culture Ireland and the Irish Department of Culture, Communications and Sports.
Cyrille Aimée (Surreal MA) is a FrenchDominican vocalist and actress. Winner of the Montreux Jazz Festival's Vocal Competition, the Sarah Vaughn International Jazz Vocal Competition and finalist in the Thelonious Monk Vocal Competition, Aimée is—in the words of Will Friedwald of The Wall Street Journal—"one of the most promising jazz singers of her generation." In the same Wall Street Journal feature (which included vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant), Friedwald declared both to be “astonishing creative singers, with a brilliant sound, fresh ideas, impeccable rhythm and an overall approach that honors tradition without being shackled to the past." Aimée was born in Fontainebleau, France, to a French father and Dominican mother. Her introduction to jazz was the result of the fortuitous location of her upbringing, the village SamoissurSeine—the same place where legendary gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt had lived. Every June for decades, gypsies have descended upon Samois, setting up caravans in nearby meadows for the annual Django Reinhardt Festival. During those June nights many years ago, after her parents would fall asleep, a young, curious Aimée would climb out her bedroom window and wander into the gypsy encampments. Aimée would sing by the fire with Django’s descendents and began to fall in love with the gypsy way of life—scampering home before the sun rose. Explained Aimée, "I was hypnotized by gypsy music which made me want to tap my feet; music that swings makes me so happy." As a teenager, Aimée performed in various Parisian cafés and clubs. When her family moved to Singapore, she remained in Paris to attend the American School of Modern Music. She also auditioned for "Star Academy," a kind of French "American Idol." Selected to be one of 16 semifinalists, Aimée had second thoughts when handed a contract that tied her up every which way for years—including the songs to sing. This was too much for her gypsy spirit—so she quit. The French media so pursued
An evening of live music with Don Caruth and Ted Welty, with dinner available.
Private Lives by Noel Coward, presented by Santa Cruz Shakespeare
There’s a thin line between love and hate and sometimes, it’s the barrier between balconies. That’s the premise of Noel Coward’s Private Lives. Two divorced lovers find themselves spending their new honeymoons next door to one another at the same hotel. Both are egotistical, passionate, and selfish, so how are they going to manage to live next to each other at a hotel? Better yet, how are they going to live without each other? This laugh-out-loud comedy is rich, witty and as sharp as Cupid’s arrow. See the play on Friday, September 4th for a matinee preview or check out one of the multiple showings through October 4th. -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz
Reiki Sound Bath with Dallas McKenzie & Jessica McCord
Give yourself a midweek opportunity to rest, reset, and reconnect at SoulCare Studios. ✨ Join Dallas McKenzie and Jessica McCord for a weekly Reiki Sound Bath, combining the calming experience of immersive sound and vibration with Reiki energy work. Settle into a comfortable space and allow yourself to slow down as soothing sounds create an atmosphere for relaxation, mindfulness, and restoration. ✨ What to Expect: • Immersive sound and vibration • Reiki energy work • Deep relaxation and mindfulness • A peaceful space to unwind and reconnect • A restorative midweek reset No previous experience with Reiki, meditation, or sound baths is necessary. Come as you are and give yourself an hour dedicated to rest and intentional self-care. 📅 Wednesdays ⏰ 7:30–8:30 PM 📍 SoulCare Studios | 8035 Soquel Drive, Aptos
With white face paint and clown smiles, The Rat Utopia Experiment takes the center ring with their style of “circus” rock. This girl-fronted, grunge-heavy band from Washington is stepping out of their home state after graduating and gaining an impressive underground following. Inspired by favorite movements from the 90s, like riot grrl, noise rock, and triphop, they’re loud, brash, and emotional. With a love of theatrics and a passion for punk, they blend political lyrics with high-energy performances. Their sound and color dominate the room and their storytelling and intricate lyrics wrench the heart. -Shelly Novo; Good Times Santa Cruz
Moes Alley presents Thelma & The Sleaze with special guests Micah Schnabel & Vanessa Jean Speckman!Wednesday, September 30, 2026Doors: 7pm // Show: 8:00pm$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====THELMA & THE SLEAZEThelma and the Sleaze is an independent all-female, queer southern rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. The group is the brainchild of lead vocalist and guitar player Lauren LG Gilbert and features an evolving cast of A-team players to back her up for an unforgettable live experience.LG is the embodiment of hustle. As the driving force behind Thelma and The Sleaze, she is the songwriter, the visionary, the take-no-shit-from-anyone front woman that is single handedly keeping rock and roll alive. Thelma and The Sleaze has been touring the US for years building a legion of fans, affectionally called her creepers. The growing social media presence, the hit podcast, the features with Yamaha Guitars are really all the result of her incredible songwriting, visceral guitar playing, and the guts to deliver on her vision of what Rock and Roll should be.LG has also launched two successful seasons of their Podcast Queen of Shit Mountain. Each episode features legendary musicians such as Tanya Tucker, Brittany Howard, Juliana Hatfield, Kate Pierson, Lori Barber, Patty Schemel, Mary Ramirez and Margo Price.MICAH SCHNABEL & VANESSA JEAN SPECKMANMicah Schnabel and Vanessa Jean Speckman are a modern day folk and punk duo rebelliously and joyfully reporting from the front lines of present day America. Jim Carroll colliding with Patti Smith in the alley back behind the donut shop that used to be a Taco Bell. As a combined artistic force the duo have played with Frank Turner, Lucero, John Moreland, Tim Barry, Chuck Ragan an
Purchase tickets here Show 8pm ***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. Bar and food will be open at 5pm.
Thursday, October 01 2026 12:00am - 11:59pm Find all 13 monsters and win a prize!
BEGINNING/INTERMEDIATE SEWING (3/6)
1 booked, 8 available Katy Kenyon-Abel
0 booked, 4 available Glazing
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
The Family Service Agency of the Central Coast announced that The Upscale-Resale Nonprofit Daisy Store will celebrate autumn with a week-long sale. Everything in the store is 50% off. All proceeds benefit Family Service Agency programs.
A bilingual storytime for toddlers, with stories, songs, and activities in two languages to support early literacy.
Guided Mindfulness for Queers and Friends Hosted by TDC @ TDC
Well-being offering: Guided Mindfulness Group Date: Weekly on Thursdays Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Location: The Diversity Center 1117 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz Ages: Adults and teens welcome Cost: FREE Program description: Give your brain a break, and reconnect with the present moment, using guided breathing and mindfulness techniques. All LGBTQ+ people and allies are welcome. If you have questions about this well-being offering, please contact Tara Maxon, Wellbeing Coordinator, at: [email protected] View our Community Agreements for Diversity Center groups.
We will be hosting the Open Studios Preview Exhibition, showcasing the work of all the 330+ Santa Cruz County Open Studios Artists who are participating in the program
Guided Mindfulness for Queers and Friends Hosted by TDC @ TDC
Well-being offering: Guided Mindfulness Group Date: Weekly on Thursdays New Time! 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Location: The Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz Ages: Adults and teens welcome Cost: FREE Program description: Give your brain a break, and reconnect with the present moment, using guided breathing and mindfulness techniques. All LGBTQ+ people and allies are welcome. View our Community Agreements for Diversity Center groups. .
Thursday, October 01 2026 10:30am - 11:30am For ages 0-5
Thursday, October 01 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm Join us for a drop-in needlework group every first Thursday at La Selva Beach Branch Library.
Thursday, October 01 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm Wings provides free birth certificates and notary services for people experiencing homelessness.
Thursday, October 01 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm Join Aquarium staff for some bilingual, ocean-learning fun through stories, songs, and movement followed by a craft.
Thursday, October 01 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm Songs and Stories
Thursday, October 01 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!
Thursday, October 01 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm Join Dr. Illana Berger, Roshi, a Zen teacher and spiritual elder guide with more than 25 years of experience for this four week course on the spirituality of aging.
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]
Conversations in Español - Community club to foster fluency
Thursday, October 01 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.
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, October 01 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.
Fall Semester Maker Classes (August 11 – December 20, 2026) Join us for a semester of hands-on creativity at SC Maker Studios! Students explore 3D printing, laser engraving, woodworking, sewing, robotics, beading, arts & crafts, and more, creating projects to take home each week. All materials are included (except electronic robot components). Weekly Class Times: Youth (Ages 6½–12) Tuesdays: 3:00–5:00 PM Wednesdays: 1:00–3:00 PM & 3:00–5:00 PM Thursdays: 3:00–5:00 PM Sundays: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM Teens (Ages 11–17) Sundays: 12:30–2:30 PM Register for the full semester to reserve your spot [https://scmakerstudios.com/fall-semester-2026/], or join us for individual Maker Sunday drop-in sessions [https://scmakerstudios.com/sunday-maker-registration/]. Spaces are limited!
Make & Explore Barrio Science STEAM Workshops
These hands-on science workshops introduce Next Generation Science Standards skills through interactive projects. Led by Barrio Science Workshop's Salvador Lua and his team of dedicated volunteers, each week will feature a different theme-focused project, covering subjects such as biology, ecology, engineering, art, chemistry, physics and more. Bring your curiosity and prepare to be inspired! All materials and instructions will be provided. Register here: https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/events?term=explore&l=Capitola+Branch&r=range&start=2026-09-01&end=2026-10-31
R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ Downtown
Thursday, October 01 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713.
Thursday, October 01 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm Learn how to craft, build, and survive in the world of Minecraft.edu.
Thursday, October 01 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm Make and explore STEAM possibilities at Felton Branch Library! Age 6+
Thursday, October 01 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm Bring your decks and get ready to play
Girls Who Code is a nation-wide organization dedicated to teaching girls not only the language and skills of coding, but about finding their confidence, learning teamwork and the drive to succeed in the world, especially in science and technology. Girls and non-binary youth will be invited to get together and learn coding skills while having fun, challenging themselves and creating friendships. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/events?term=girls+who+code&r=range&start=2026-09-01&end=2026-12-31
R.E.A.D.: Read Every Amazing Detail @ Live Oak Library Annex
Thursday, October 01 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading and comprehension instruction for readers 1st through 12th grade.
Thursday, October 01 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713.
Thursday, October 01 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12. By appointment only. Please, no drop-ins! To make an appointment, call 831-427-7713
Junior Animal Care Team (Ages 11+) Ready to level up your animal skills? If you love animals and want real, hands-on experience, the Junior Animal Care Team gives you the chance to go behind the scenes at the Santa Cruz SPCA! Start with a three-week training program where you’ll learn how to safely support shelter animals and prepare for your role on the team. Each session includes one hour of hands-on animal care projects—creating enrichment, preparing supplies, and helping support the shelter team—followed by one hour socializing with our shelter animals. After graduating, you’ll become a Junior Animal Care Team Member, returning for ongoing sessions to build your skills, take on more responsibility, and make a real difference for animals in need. A progressive step before becoming an SPCA volunteer—perfect for future animal care professionals and passionate animal advocates! Junior Animal Care Team Training: Tuesday 4pm-6pm (September – May) Junior Animal Care Team Sessions: Thursday 4pm-6pm (September – May)
Join us for Santa Cruz County’s largest job fair for a chance to meet with companies currently hiring for a broad range of positions!
A hands-on tech cafe where participants can experiment with doodle pens and creative digital tools.
Thursday, October 01 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm These hands-on science workshops introduce Next Generation Science Standards skills through interactive projects.
5 - 7pm · The owner of Sleight of Hand Pizza will be throwing & spinning pizza!
Virtual Author Talk with Dystopian Icon Veronica Roth
Thursday, October 01 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm Virtual Author Talk with #1 New York Times and International Bestselling Author of the Divergent series.
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!
A weekly Congo dance class in Santa Cruz. Participants learn traditional African dance movements in a group setting at The 418 Project.
Thursday, October 01 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm Stop by each week for a new creative craft.
Thursday, October 01 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm Girls Who Code is a nation-wide organization dedicated to teaching girls not only the language and skills of coding, but about finding their confidence, learning teamwork and the drive to succeed.
Motion Pacific: Adult Intermediate Modern
This is Motion Pacific's Adult Intermediate Modern class for adult dancers.
5:30-7:30pm Slingshot Improv Trio didn't so much form as detonate slowly over two decades - a controlled explosion of shared history, deep grooves, and accumulated musical mischief that the Bay Area never quite saw coming but probably should have. Bassist Pete Novembre and drummer Bret Bailey formed the funk-jam powerhouse Elephino back in 1999. Bret and guitarist Matt Hartle formed Shady Groove in 2001. All three had played together as hired guns countless times before the lightbulb moment when someone finally said: what if we did our own thing? Matt Hartle (China Cats, Painted Mandolin, Shady Groove, Grateful Sundays with the Hartle Gold Band) is widely regarded as one of the premier guitarists in the Bay Area - a fluid, soulful firecracker with a degree in Jazz Performance whose playing draws comparisons to Jerry Garcia, Carlos Santana, and Steve Kimock, yet remains unmistakably his own. Pete Novembre (OM Trio, Coffee Zombie Collective, Aza, Elephino) is the kind of bass player other musicians talk about after the show - a Santa Cruz readers' poll Bronze medalist for Best Musician whose previous band OM Trio was voted Best Jazz Band in San Francisco in 2001. Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Bret Bailey (Shady Groove, Elephino, BlissNinnies, Cosmic Pinball), raised on New Orleans jazz, brings a rhythmic intuition that makes the whole thing breathe. Together, they've shared stages with Stanley Jordan, Henry Kaiser, Melvin Seals, Donna Jean Godchaux, Joe Craven, Ike Willis, Mark Karan, and many more - a collective résumé that hints at just how far their musical instincts can travel. And travel they do. With a big map and no planned destination, this trio of seasoned improvisers from the jazz, funk, and jamband worlds use song and structure the way spacecraft use planets: not to land and stay, but to slingshot around and be propelled back out into the galaxy. During their mostly-improv shows, a familiar song could materialize at any time. Or not. All we
Mariposa de la Comunidad LGBTQ+ De Watsonville (Hosted by TDC @ Watsonville Library)
Biblioteca Watsonville Primer jueves del mes, 5:30-7:30pm Facilitado por Roselyn Macias el primer jueves de cada mes ¡Bienvenidos al grupo Mariposa de la Comunidad LGBTQ+ de Watsonville del Centro de Diversidad! ¿Tiene 18 años o más, se siente solo, sin apoyo? O quieres conocer a otros como tú. Lo encontraste. Aquí obtendrá recursos, apoyo, capacitaciones y tendrá nuevas conexiones en la comunidad. Watsonville Library Every first Thursday of the month, 5:30-7:30pm Facilitated by Roselyn Macias on the first Thursday of the month Welcome to The Diversity Center’s Spanish-speaking LGBTQ+ support group in Watsonville ! Are you 18 or older, feel alone, unsupported, or want to meet others like yourself? You found us. Here you will get resources, support, trainings, and make new connections in your community.
Enjoy a Jug Band Jam hosted by the Trolley Drops Jug Band! It’s fun and it’s free. The songs they play are hokum blues, folk jazz & novelty tunes from the 1920-30s. That’s Jug Band Music! Song books will be passed out. Everyone is encouraged to bring your voices, ukes, jugs, kazoos, washboards, guitars, fiddles, etc. all instruments or no instruments are welcome. Bring your good humor. Sing and play along, or just sit back and watch the craziness. Know a jug band song? You can lead it! Shanty Shack in October will be serving beer, wine, cider, sodas, & food from the SC Eatery food truck.
Join us at Bargetto Winery in Soquel on Thursday evenings for Live Music and Wine! 6-8PM No cover charge. Wine by-the-glass for purchase. Food will be available for purchase by Taquizas Gabriel Open seating, no reservations required. No outside food is permitted. For more info please call: (831) 475-2258
INSPIRED BY NATURE: BEGINNING HANDBUILDING (2/5)
0 booked, 7 available Kathryn Pierno
Join us at Bargetto Winery in Soquel on Thursday evenings for Live Music and Wine! 6-8PM No cover charge. Wine by-the-glass for purchase. Food will be available for purchase. Open seating, no reservations required. No outside food is permitted. For more info please call: (831) 475-2258
Ever been inspired to drop everything and create when visiting an exhibition at the MAH? Join us for a Drop-In Drawing session in the gallery from 6-8pm on the first Thursday of every month. This is not a formal lesson, but an opportunity to bring in your own art supplies and sketch what you see. Dry media only (no markers or paint). All ages welcome. Free with admission. The museum will provide stools, feel free to bring a cushion or folding chair if space allows. Groups of 5+ please give advanced notice by emailing [email protected] . Drop-In Drawing Calendar 2025 September 4 - Art Forum Gallery / Ed Penniman: Landscapes of Home October 2 - Art Forum Gallery / Ed Penniman: Landscapes of Home November 6 - Art Forum Gallery / Ed Penniman: Landscapes of Home December 4 - Art Forum Gallery / Ed Penniman: Landscapes of Home 2026 January 1 - NONE (New Years Day) February 5 - Solari Gallery / Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship March 5 - Solari Gallery / Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship Comment end
If you love big band music, traditional or contemporary, then East Coast Swing is for you (7:00 Mondays starting Sept 17th). This is the basic Swing dance and is universal generally recommended for beginning swing dancers. It can be smooth or fast and is a circular swing dance. Jump in this fall with Becky Adams through Capitola Recreation, and get ready for your next event, big or small.
The Last Five Years, presented by Santa Cruz Shakespeare
Relationships are beautiful and complex things. They all have a beginning and an ending. Jason Roberts explores the complexities of relationships in his emotional musical, The Last Five Years. Cathy and Jamie are romantically involved for five years, and the audience watches it unfold from each perspective. Cathy’s view of the relationship will begin at the end and work its way back to the beginning, while Jamie’s perspective starts at the beginning of the relationship and moves to the end. The story features beautiful and clever music that explores the sacrifices and costs of relationships. Audiences will contemplate how relationships affect how we define ourselves. Goes until Oct 3. -Isabella Marie Sangaline
(((folkYEAH))) Presents: PEARL AND THE OYSTERS Live On the Grden Stage
Pearl and the Oysters perform live on the garden stage at The Crepe Place, blending pop-rock with a lively outdoor atmosphere.
FREE IN-STORE EVENT: Bookshop Santa Cruz welcomes Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Miriam Pawel for a reading and signing of her new book California Dreams: The Making and Remaking of the Universi...
Come kick off the weekend early with The Thursday Night Wine Down. Grab a glass of wine at Cocoa Vino in Capitola Village and settle in for a musical journey through chill house music. I'll be playing a laid-back mix of jazz, deep, and melodic house from 7–9 PM. Bring some friends and hang out. Thursday Night Wine Down Music by Ryan James Cocoa Vino | Capitola Village 7–9 PM
7 - 10pm · Live improvisational modular synth performance by M31 Transport.
Straight out of Yemen comes El Khat, a self-proclaimed homemade junkyard band. The humor and ingenuity are that most of the instruments are recycled plastic, metal, and wood. This dynamic three-piece creates a cinematic mindscape that feels like you’re drifting over the sands of the Arabian Desert. But this isn’t spa music; it’s like Frank Zappa and a ’70s progressive rock band melded with an ancient rhythm. Multi-instrumentalist Eyal El Wahab leads the charge with a message of humanity over nation. El Khat is named after the chewed speedy drug khat and the music has a kick to it. -DNA; Good Times Santa Cruz
Bookshop Santa Cruz and The Humanities Institute welcome Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Miriam Pawel for a reading and signing of her new book California Dreams: The Making and Remaking of the University of California —an epic story of one of the world’s elite public universities, its sweeping social impact, and hopeful lessons about endurance in troubled times. Your RSVP helps us plan for your arrival and keep in touch with any changes. Thank you for registering! Distinguished by its founding mission as an engine of upward mobility, the University of California—a constitutionally independent public trust—is a great American experiment that has persevered through fraught battles over access, funding, and leadership. The University has been at the nexus of nearly every public policy debate and social movement since the Civil War, from women’s rights to student protests, from academic freedom to affirmative action, shaping policies that reverberate throughout the United States. California Dreams narrates UC’s rise and resilience through the lens of those whose lives it has transformed-in particular, five pioneering graduates whose diverse paths underscore why the University remains, in the words of Berkeley graduate Joan Didion, “California’s best idea of itself.” At a time of staggering inequality and uncertainty, as higher education faces unprecedented threats, that role has never been more crucial. Drawing on extensive research in ten archives and dozens of interviews, California Dreams weaves together the linked history of the school and state in all its drama, significance, and humanity; the result is a magisterial narrative of both a remarkable public institution of higher education, and also California itself. Miriam Pawel is an award-winning reporter and editor who spent twenty-five years working for Newsday and the Los Angeles Times . She is the author of The Browns of California: The Family Dynasty that Transformed a State and Shaped a Nation , which was
Trivia On Tap @ Steel Bonnet Brewery in Scotts Valley
Thursday, October 01 2026 6:30pm - 8:00pm Test your trivia knowledge with Victor or Brian. We ask 30 questions about a random array of subjects. Who's better at doling out trivia than librarians?
THEATRE OF HORRORS: Grand Guignol documentary screening
A documentary screening exploring the history of the Theatre of Horrors and the Grand Guignol style of theatrical horror.
THEATRE OF HORRORS The Sordid Story of Paris' Grand Guignol Film Screening
Santa Cruz Theatrical Premiere – New Documentary! THEATRE OF HORRORS: THE SORDID STORY OF PARIS’ GRAND GUIGNOL (2025, Severin Films, 89 min. Dir. David Gregory.) In 1897, in a back alley in the seedy Pigalle district of Paris, a former chapel turned small performance space became a theatrical institution forged in naturalism, controversy and grisly spectacle. Over the next 65 years, it would actively provoke revulsion, celebration and begrudging global esteem. More than a half century after its final performance, the Grand Guignol remains one of the most wildly misunderstood and profoundly influential traditions in entertainment history. From horror films to tabloid journalism, avant-garde theater to the true-crime genre, France’s ‘Theater of Death’ is still slicing, gouging, and spurting its pervasive way through culture both high and low. Or as the BBC recently declared, “Even if there were no ghosts onstage, this unusual little Parisian theater continues to haunt us today.” In the new documentary by award-winning producer/director/editor David Gregory – whose previous explorations of transgressive entertainment include LOST SOUL: THE DOOMED JOURNEY OF RICHARD STANLEY’S ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU, BLOOD & FLESH: THE REEL LIFE & GHASTLY DEATH OF AL ADAMSON, ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE and SUZZANNA: THE QUEEN OF BLACK MAGIC – and narrated by international genre icon Barbara Steele – legendary star of BLACK SUNDAY, THE PIT & THE PENDULUM, THE GHOST and more – discover the history, mystery, and ongoing socio-cultural impact of what may be France’s most infamous export. “I’ve been fascinated by The Grand Guignol since childhood,” says Gregory. “But despite brief mentions in horror history books and deep scholarly studies, my search for a cinematic exploration of the subject had consistently proved unrewarding. Even my interactions with French genre filmmakers revealed their own superficial knowledge of the Theater’s significance. It’s all led me to dig deeper and discover the
A live set by Big Bad Wolf with fault and in the main act.
Indexical presents an evening of live electronic music with Joshua Kit Clayton and David Zicarelli. About the Artists Joshua Kit Clayton is a Portland, Oregon based electronic musician and computer programmer whose work ranges from abstract and experimental soundscapes to dancefloor focused tools for adventurous deejays. He first gained recognition in the late 1990s and early 2000s, amid the cross-pollination of electronic music that gave rise to glitch, microsound, and dub techno, and has releases on the Cytrax, -scape, and Mille Plateaux imprints. A longtime developer at Cycling '74, he has also been a major contributor to Max, the visual programming environment widely used in sound and media arts. David Zicarelli is the founder of Cycling '74, a music software company. He has been living and working in Santa Cruz since 1994.
Purchase tickets here Show 8pm // 21+ ***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. Bar and food will be open at 5pm.
Color Green and Cold Water Law Firm share a bill of rock and alternative sounds.
First Friday is our monthly $10 coworking day at NextSpace Working alone sucks... NextSpace is not only a coworking space in the heart of downtown Santa Cruz, but a thriving community of individuals who are passionate about their work and eager to connect with others. NextSpace offers a variety of resources and events to help you grow your business and build relationships. Whether you're a freelancer, entrepreneur, or remote worker, you'll find a supportive and inspiring environment at NextSpace. If you are curious about coworking, this is a great time to try it out! For just $10 (normally $30), you'll enjoy complimentary coffee and tea, speedy internet, space to work, and meet a welcoming & vibrant community. Wrap the day up by joining for happy hour at precisely 3:58pm. We look forward to seeing you here at the coolest coworking space!
19th Annual Fall Mixer and Small Business Summit
Be inspired. Get support. Network with small business owners.
Leave your mark on Santa Cruz history by volunteering at the historic Evergreen Cemetery every Friday from 9:30am-12pm. No need to register, just show up ready to work! All ages are welcome to help, including high school students seeking community service hours. Tools and work gloves will be provided. Please bring a mask and your own bottled water. For more information, email [email protected]
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
The Family Service Agency of the Central Coast announced that The Upscale-Resale Nonprofit Daisy Store will celebrate autumn with a week-long sale. Everything in the store is 50% off. All proceeds benefit Family Service Agency programs.
Mindfulness Meditation: Guided meditation & talk with a facilitator Description:For women newly diagnosed, recovering, or coping with the effects of cancer or chronic illness. Meeting Time: 1st and 3rd Friday of every month, 11:00am - noon Facilitator: Claire Schneeberger
Produce Pop-Up is a twice-weekly organic farmstand open to all members of the UC Santa Cruz community. The program is dedicated to increasing access to fresh, healthy, and affordable organic produce, with offerings sourced from the UCSC Farm and other local organic growers. Academic year hours and locations: Beginning Oct. 2 Wednesdays: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at McHenry Library Fridays: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Science and Engineering Library How does it work? Just stop by during open hours to browse and pick up fresh produce! Items are available at low or no cost to support student food access. Stay updated on produce availability and locations by following Produce Pop-Up Instagram . For questions, email [email protected] or visit the Center for Agroecology website .
We will be hosting the Open Studios Preview Exhibition, showcasing the work of all the 330+ Santa Cruz County Open Studios Artists who are participating in the program
Friday, October 02 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm A time for free play for children with a participating adult.
Friday, October 02 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm Join us for lively conversations and thoughtful insights at our monthly movie discussion group.
Friday, October 02 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm We are knitting at Live Oak Library on Fridays.
Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still
Carlos Motta’s When Time Stands Still, the artist’s second solo show with the IAS , features new and recent installations, videos, and sculptures highlighting the artist’s preoccupation with the historical and aesthetic productions of difference and marginalization that shape the present. The selection of artworks in the exhibition explore the unsettling experience of living in a time that seems violently stuck on repeat. Archetypal figures from art history (a fool, a siren, a witness, a victim) reappear in the current moment as containers of time, bringing the past of imperialism, colonization, and displacement into a present marked by the rise of anti-immigration politics, climate injustice, and other forms of disposability. Some works challenge this violent repetition of time. The clock moves, if gruelingly, in an endurance-based video performance, No One , 2025. For forty-six minutes, the artist undertakes to keep his eyes open, witnessing, withstanding, confronting, and resisting the bombardment of images, both historical and otherwise, that normalize harm. In another video work, Gravity , 2024, performers enact rescue carries, supporting each other until they can’t bear the weight. Together, the artworks act as a proposal about how to rethink time—how to slow time—with a poetic and aesthetic cadence that might counter the numbing reverberations of living in the present. When Time Stands Still is organized as part of Visualizing Abolition, an arts-based initiative that reaches across prison borders to create a future free of prisons. Carlos Motta (b. 1978, Colombia) is a multidisciplinary artist whose work has been shown widely nationally and internationally. Solo exhibitions venues include the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona; Nikolaj Kunsthal, Copenhagen; Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá; Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, OH ; Röda Sten Konsthall, Gothenburg, Sweden; Galeria Vermelho, São Paulo; Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM); Tate Modern, London; and
Victor ‘Marka27’ Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá
Organized in partnership with the Center for Art and Advocacy, located in Brooklyn, New York, Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá ( Not From Here, Not From There ) by multidisciplinary artist Victor ‘Marka27’ Quiñonez features a wide range of artworks that issue a bold declaration of dual belonging, including altars, an elaborately immersive botanica, paintings referencing visual symbolism drawn from textiles, graffiti and community traditions, and, in a series called I.C.E. Scream , large, brightly colored resin sculptures in the shape of melting Mexican paletas (popsicles). As the exhibition title suggests (a phrase widely used in bilingual and bicultural communities), these artworks reflect the artist’s interest in the experience of living between worlds even as violent notions of nationalism and identity pervade. Accompanying the exhibition, Elevar la Cultura , an immersive sculptural installation featuring a twenty-two-foot-tall pyramid built from ice coolers adorned with ancestral textiles, sacred symbols, and mural work will be on view at Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos (1817 Soquel) November 7, 2026- March 7, 2027. As Quiñonez explains, this sculpture epitomizes the contradictions of living—and laboring—as an immigrant in the United States: “Most people see the cooler as a tool for leisure…for barbecues, tailgating, and celebrations. But for immigrant communities, the cooler is a tool and symbol for opportunity and independence. In every major city, you see families and vendors selling fruit, food, and water out of these coolers on the streets and in subway stations. They’re a necessity for survival and a way to start an honest living,” the artist shares. The Institute of Arts and Sciences will be the second venue to successfully present Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá to the public. First organized by Boston University Art Galleries and curated by Kate Fowle in September of 2025, the exhibition debuted to critical acclaim before gaining national attention after its abrupt removal from
Make the MAH your first stop this weekend with FREE First Friday. Explore all three floors of the museum and see our latest exhibitions, check out our giftshop, and hangout among art and history! Then stay into the night dancing to live music out in Abbott Square. ALSO: Get a sneak peek of the MAH's new holiday market, Frost Fest! First Friday hours are 12-8pm. See you then!
Friday, October 02 2026 11:00am - 2:00pm This 6-session series is an opportunity to evaluate your skills, talents and experiences through a new lens.
Friday, October 02 2026 11:30am - 12:00pm Come join Librarian Emily for stories, songs, and lots of fun for preschoolers and their caregivers in our beautiful, newly-renovated Scotts Valley Library Branch every Friday at 11:30am.
Friday, October 02 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm Join us for great stories and a fun craft. Ages 4-6
Friday, October 02 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm Join us at the Downtown Library and enjoy free jazz music by local musicians.
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.
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, October 02 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm Sharpen your word skills and enjoy friendly competition at our Scrabble Club - fun for all levels.
Predictions of the EL Nino weather seems dire and we can look forward to much rain this fall. Even so the markets will be open and featuring all those good autumnal fruits and veggies. When the sun is shining and when it’s not there will still be good things to eat and enjoy at every Market. Come out and see what’s new and delicious. More markets are listed at https://www.montereycfb.com
Friday, October 02 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, October 02 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm S.T.E.A.M Projects. Explore Your World
Un Pueblo Unido: Art as Collective Care
Join the Santa Cruz Museum for a free public Zine-Making activity, with access to our ongoing exhibitions! Presented in connection with a pop-up project on Oaxacan Languages of the Transnational Central Coast with the UC Santa Cruz Humanities Institute , this interactive activity will invite museum visitors to share personal stories or reflections on language, identity, and belonging. *More information on the Oaxacan Languages Pop-Up will be available soon
Legendary artist Jim Phillips First Solo Show
Renown graphic artist Jim Phillips is presenting his first-ever solo show of new works, unveiling 15 new large scale art prints in addition to 30 hand-dipped pen and ink drawings produced from 1983 until 2023. Exhibit runs through October 31. Gallery Hours: Thursday – Saturday 1-4 pm or by appointment (831) 234-6813.
Join us for Week Without Driving 2026 from Oct. 1-8 as Cruzin’ Together Santa Cruz County brings our community together to explore transportation accessibility, mobility, and connection. This regional initiative encourages community members to experience how transportation barriers impact many residents every day, including older adults, youth, people with disabilities, and transit-dependent community members. 📍 Community Event: Capitola Mall (in front of the transit center) Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 4 PM – 7 PM The event will feature: 🚲 E-bike test rides 🚌 Transportation resources 🎨 Family-friendly activities 🤝 Community organizations 🛣 Mobility and accessibility information Learn more and get involved: cruzintogetherscc.org
Join us at The Green Spot Santa Cruz on Friday, October 2, from 4–8 PM for our final First Friday event of the year! We’re excited to welcome back Nico from Zardi Creations as our featured artist. Come shop their unique handmade creations and support local art. Enjoy live music by Billy Reese from 5–7 PM while you browse, shop, and enjoy the evening. We’ll also have live stained glass happening on site, giving you a chance to watch this beautiful craft being created right in front of you. And, of course, our charcuterie cups will be available to enjoy throughout the evening. Bring your friends and come celebrate our last Friday Friday of the year with local art, live music, creativity, and good food. We’d love to see you there! Friday, October 2 | 4–8 PM The Green Spot Santa Cruz
Calling all Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, and Seniors—this exciting overnight adventure is just for you! Includes: • Camping Under the Stars on the Boardwalk • Exclusive Free Play in the Arcade • Dinner & Breakfast • Outdoor Movie • Exclusive time on the Looff Carousel & Pirate Ship Friday night • Sand Sculpture Competition • Event Patch • Ride Wristband for Saturday • Discounted Parking Package Price: $99.95 per person Deadline September 27, 2026, or until full. Register today! bit.ly/Fall-Girl-Scout-Overnight
Join us for Week Without Driving 2026 from Oct. 1-8 as Cruzin’ Together Santa Cruz County brings our community together to explore transportation accessibility, mobility, and connection. This regional initiative encourages community members to experience how transportation barriers impact many residents every day, including older adults, youth, people with disabilities, and transit-dependent community members. 📍 Community Event: Capitola Mall (in front of the transit center) Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 4 PM – 7 PM The event will feature: 🚲 E-bike test rides 🚌 Transportation resources 🎨 Family-friendly activities 🤝 Community organizations 🛣 Mobility and accessibility information Learn more and get involved: cruzintogetherscc.org
Friday, October 02 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.
First Friday opening reception at the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center, a chance to view new art and mingle in a casual gallery setting.
This group show presents paintings, textile art, scientific images and a tour of the historic sanctuary and labyrinth garden. Artists presented are Dana Schmidt, Jessica Puccinelli, Hanife Esengil, Quinton Brail and Savannah Smith. Please join us for an evening of art and community. On Saturday, join us for the first annual Porchfest and art exhibit.
Beth Shields, Lynne Todaro, Melissa West, Joan Hellenthal and Linda Fillhardt show their exceptional and diverse work for First Friday at Gallery 125 at The Tannery Art Center.
Santa Cruz First Friday at Gallery 125 at The Tannery from 5pm to 7pm. Paintings, prints, sculpture, pastels, cards, at all sizes, styles, and price ranges. Come see us!
Head to Downtown Boulder Creek to enjoy the 4th Annual Treat W alk where both artists and merchants will be handing out candy and treats to the kiddos . Although you are welcome to break out your Halloween costume early, it is not required . Perhaps you will find some art or craft to enhance your entrance to Downtown Boulder Creek at the end of the month!
Join us for a community event honoring Domestic Violence Awareness Month through socializing, creative projects, and our art exhibition!
First Friday at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, featuring artist-led offerings and community connection. Focus on supporting BIPOC, women, and artists.
First Friday: Museum of the Macabre
Join us as we kick off Museum of the Macabre, a month where we explore the strange, the eerie, and the curious side of nature. Enjoy a special Cabinet of Curiosity exhibit alongside live taxidermy demos, real snakes, spooky crafts and more! Enjoy FREE admission to the Museum all day with special activities indoors from 5-8pm. Costumes welcome! Featuring: Partners : The Center for Monster Studies, UCSC | The Norris Center for Natural History | Bay Area Herpetological Society Activities : Special Exhibit | Face Painting | Spooky Crafts! Food : Areperia 831 Drinks : Donation-based bar with wine, beer and non-alcoholic options
Performance by Samita Sinha and IAS Fall Exhibitions Openings
Join us Friday October 2, 5-6 pm, for a performance by internationally renowned vocal artist and composer Samita Sinha followed by an opening celebration from 6-8 pm of our fall exhibitions: Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still and Victor ‘Marka27’ Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá (Not From Here, Not From There), with the artists in attendance. 5-6pm Performance Samita Sinha will draw on her Indian vocal training to respond to new and recent artworks by Colombian-born artist Carlos Motta on view in When Time Stands Still, including a video in which the vocalist is featured. This and other works, including sculpture, installation, and endurance-based performance video, poetically—and powerfully— manifest the historical and aesthetic productions of difference and marginalization that inform current anti-immigration politics and climate injustices. Performing within the exhibition, Sinha will offer an embodied response through the multivalent and experiential language of vibration. 6-8pm Celebration Following the performance will be a celebration for the opening of Victor ‘Marka27’ Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá (Not From Here, Not From There), a multimedia exhibition with paintings, sculpture, and installation exploring issues of migration and belonging— and which gained national attention after it was abruptly censored by the University of North Texas. These opening events are free and open to the public. Samita Sinha‘s performances and compositions have been commissioned by Asia Society, Performance Space, Danspace, Rubin Museum, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Queens Museum, Gibney Dance, and Western Front, and presented by The Kitchen, Wexner Center for the Arts, REDCAT, PICA, National Sawdust and others. She has received awards from National Endowment for the Arts, Fulbright Foundation, National Performance Network, and New York State Council on the Arts. Carlos Motta (b. 1978, Colombia) is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice documents the social condit
ARThropods:Multi media Giant insect exhibition
Sept 4 -Oct 30 13 artists from all over the state create unique interpretations of giant insects in a wide variety of media Artists include Ken Kalman Ruth Santee Alea Bone Stephanie Brockway Keith Millar Adon Valenziano ,Cynthia Siegel,Tara de la Garza ,Cheryl Moreno, Sarah Brothers Bot ,Beth Purcell, Helen Cole and Mary Tartaro- Curator Felix Kulpa Gallery Hours : thurs-sun 11 to 0
Rocky Wagers and Jack Howe bring together two distinctly different approaches to assemblage and the art of the found object. Through antique fragments, cast-offs, curious finds, and objects marked by time and use, each creates work with an unmistakably individual point of view. ROCKY WAGERS Rocky is set to bring some of the most unique creations to this September and October art show. He originally began his artistic career as a weaver, but his path shifted dramatically when he realized the artistic potential in worn-out items that most people simply labeled as “junk.” Turning his attention to antique assemblage, he began collecting broken parts and cast-offs from the Victorian era through the 1920s, transforming forgotten relics into striking, imaginative works of art. His creations are wildly eclectic, ranging from a demonic skull to a goblet made of women’s legs. For the September and October art show, Rocky’s work will prominently feature a wealth of beads and seashells. This specific aesthetic harks back to a 19th-century practice among sailors, who traditionally crafted pictures and notes framed in seashells to bring home to their loved ones. Rocky describes his creative process as something of a dream sequence. He hunts down individual components, often keeping them around for years with the steady confidence that they will eventually find a purpose. Because he works primarily with historical fragments, he ensures that the legacy of his materials is preserved. JACK HOWE Santa Cruz artist Jack Howe creates assemblages from the accumulated evidence of everyday life—old photographs, antique objects, broken pieces, curious finds, and things that have acquired character through age and use. A longtime collector of antiques, Jack began making assemblage in the late 1980s, finding new possibilities in objects and fragments that might otherwise have been discarded. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which damaged much of his collection, further shaped this direction in
Featuring local photographer Daniel Nader photography and music by Free Elements. 5-7:30 at Santa Cruz Hostel on Beach Hill, 321 Main Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Beverages and lite appetizers provided.
First Friday Santa Cruz
On the first Friday evening of every month, Santa Cruz galleries, shops, and cultural venues open their doors to showcase the works of Santa Cruz County artists. With a block party-like vibe, the multi-venue event provides an opportunity to discover local creative talent in a fun and festive setting. Many venues entice attendees with yummy cheese-and-wine-filled spreads, while others have food trucks joining in on the fun.
Offshore Sounds First Friday in Santa Cruz. Late hours at the record shop with local vinyl DJs and new arrivals.
Head to Downtown Boulder Creek to enjoy the 4th Annual Treat W alk where both artists and merchants will be handing out candy and treats to the kiddos . Although you are welcome to break out your Halloween costume early, it is not required . Perhaps you will find some art or craft to enhance your entrance to Downtown Boulder Creek at the end of the month!
The Institute of the Arts and Sciences (IAS) is pleased to announce its Fall/Winter season of exhibitions. On view are exhibitions highlighting two artists whose explorations in video, installation, painting, and sculpture examine some of the most enduring and challenging issues of our time: Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still, a poetic and aesthetically rich exploration of the historical and aesthetic manifestations of difference and marginalization that inform current anti-immigration politics and climate injustices; and Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá (Not From Here, Not From There), which grapples with issues of migration and belonging—and gained national attention after it was abruptly censored by the University of North Texas. Also as part of IAS programming, an outdoor installation of Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez: Elevar la Cultura, a public sculpture project, will be at Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos November 7, 2026–March 5, 2027. An opening celebration for the exhibitions open on October 2, 2026, 5–8 p.m., with a performance by vocal artist and composer Samita Sinha, celebrations with the artists, and more. Elevar la Cultura opens at Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos on November 7, 2026, 2–6 p.m., with a celebration with the artist, featuring lowriders, free food, live entertainment, vendors, and more. The exhibitions and opening events are free and open to the public.
The main Preview Exhibition for Open Studios Santa Cruz County showcasing artwork from all participating artists, offering an opportunity to see artists’ work in person before setting out on the tour.
Fall Exhibitions Opening Celebration
To mark the opening of Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still, a poetic and aesthetically rich exploration of the historical and aesthetic manifestations of difference and marginalization that inform current anti-immigration politics and climate injustices, we invite you to a seated performance from 5-6 pm by internationally renowned vocal artist and composer Samita Sinha. For the performance, an embodied response to Motta’s evocative artworks, Sinha will draw in her Indian vocal training to create a multivalent and experiential language of vibration, offering a challenge, both beautiful and expansive, to the perceptual frameworks that normalize oppression. Following the performance, from 6-8 pm, will be a celebration for the opening of Victor ‘Marka27’ Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá (Not From Here, Not From There), a multimedia exhibition with paintings, sculpture, and installation exploring issues of migration and belonging— and which gained national attention after it was abruptly censored by the University of North Texas. These opening events are free and open to the public. Samita Sinha‘s performances and compositions have been commissioned by Asia Society, Performance Space, Danspace, Rubin Museum, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Queens Museum, Gibney Dance, and Western Front, and presented by The Kitchen, Wexner Center for the Arts, REDCAT, PICA, National Sawdust and others. She has received awards from National Endowment for the Arts, Fulbright Foundation, National Performance Network, and New York State Council on the Arts.
Opening Reception "Far Out" - Open Studios Satellite Preview Exhibition
Join us Friday, October 2, from 5:00–8:00 pm for the opening party of “Far Out,” Santa Cruz Art League’s Open Studios Satellite Preview Exhibit! Celebrate the artists participating in the 41st annual Open Studios Art Tour and get an early look at work from the North Coast and Santa Cruz Mountains before those “Far Out” studio doors open on October 10. Browse original artwork, meet fellow art lovers, and discover artists and studios to visit during the countywide tour. All work is for sale, and everyone is welcome. Free admission. Exhibit On View: Friday, October 2 at 5pm - Sunday, October 18 at 5pm First Friday Opening Reception: Friday October 2, 5 - 8pm
Opening Reception for “Dreaming in Color”
Join us on First Friday, October 2nd, from 5-7 pm at the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center in downtown Ben Lomond for the opening reception of our latest exhibit: Dreaming in Color. This two-woman show featuring Tina Masciocchi (painter) and Kathryn Pierno (ceramicist) translates internal emotions into a vivid external reality. Their artwork invites viewers to lose themselves in a rich, non-linear narrative where color serves as the primary language of the soul.
Natural History Museum: Macabre Halloween Party
All of October, the Natural History Museum will turn into the Museum of the Macabre! This First Friday party will be a family friendly event where you explore the strange, the eerie, and the curious side of nature. Enjoy a special Cabinet of Curiosity exhibit alongside live taxidermy demos, real snakes, spooky crafts and more! Enjoy FREE admission to the Museum all day with special activities indoors from 5-8pm. Costumes welcome! Featuring: Partners : The Center for Monster Studies, UCSC | The Norris Center for Natural History | Bay Area Herpetological Society Activities : Special Exhibit | Face Painting | Spooky Crafts! Food : Areperia 831 Drinks : Donation-based bar with wine, beer and non-alcoholic options
Chromatic Creatures: Paintings by Suzy Rad at Big Basin Vineyards Tasting Room
We’re open early and late! Catch us on either side of your evening or make a reservation (https://www.bigbasinvineyards.com/) and stay awhile… We have a lovely patio with fire-pit tables, and well behaved creatures are welcome! Suzy Radonsky is a self-taught Santa Cruz based acrylic painter specializing in neo-realistic wildlife and pet portraits that explore the spirit and presence of animals. Her work is driven by a deep fascination with the emotional and energetic connection between humans and the animal world. Suzy seeks to reveal their individuality, intelligence and soul. Her distinctive technique layers bold, unexpected color beneath intricate fur, feathers and scales, creating luminous depth and vibrancy. Using a distinctive layering technique she gradually builds fur, feathers and scales over bright colors, allowing light and energy to radiate to the surface. Recently diagnosed as Autistic, Suzy recognizes how her heightened sensory perception informs her work, allowing her to see and translate vivid color relationships with unusual intensity and nuance. Her paintings move beyond traditional realism toward a more intuitive representation of the natural world. https://www.suzyradarts.com/
Arts, Clothings, Music and Bubbles/Wines
Come joins us for a drink an evening of Arts featuring local artists. Clothings by OXY NUV ( New,Used, Vintage ) with our in house dj Kurtographer. Come mingle, grab a glass Bubbles, wines.
5:30-7:30pm Local Honey is a Santa Cruz-based band that drips with honey sweet harmony and hums with tight, inventive musicianship. Local Honey's repertoire pays homage to some of the the big voices of the last seven decades, including Big Mama Thornton, Rachael Price, Gladys Knight, Stevie Nicks, Grace Slick, and Amy Winehouse, among other divas. They seek out feel-good songs with strong vocals and infectious beats and make them their own. Though Local Honey is a new band, all of them are veterans of the Santa Cruz and Monterey music scenes. Members have worked with Honeytone, Ten O'Clock Lunch, Come Together, Backyard Birds, Menage, and Bay Bop. Over the years they've played in different combinations at many venues, including Michael's on Main, Chaminade, Davenport Roadhouse, Hallcrest Vineyards, Joe's Bar and the Food Lounge.
Trans Memorial Quilt Panel Craft Meet-Up @ The Fabrica
Name: Trans Memorial Quilt Panel Craft Meet-Ups Date: Friday, September 11, Friday, October 2, + Thursday, October 22 Time: 6:00 - 9:00 pm Location: September 11 @ The Diversity Center, October 2 @ The Fabrica, October 22 @ UCSC Ages: All ages RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/tdorcraft2026 Description: Craft for a cause! Create a fabric panel for a Trans Memorial Quilt, honoring trans lives lost in the last year. The panels will be sewn together and displayed at Trans Day of Remembrance 2026 on November 20 at 5:30 pm at London Nelson (Details about TDOR at the end of this RSVP!)
Every first and third Fridays at Cat Alley Street, our beat conductors take you on a high-style ride showcasing underground street sounds- Brought to you by Subterrestrials Records. Doors and Bar open at 6pm, Music at 9pm. No Cover, 21+
Rebecca Coupe Franks / Trumpet Nancy Heth / Vocals and Piano
First Friday Art Event: Trans Day of Remembrance Community Art Build
In collaboration with The Diversity Center and the Cantu Queer Resource & Community Center at UCSC, we are creating a patchwork banner and flag, inspired by the AIDS memorial quilt. This piece will be on display at the Trans Day of Remembrance vigil on November 20th. Join us to help make a quilt square to in remembrance of a trans person who passed away this year. Community members are invited to participate in creating quilt blocks with names. Supplies will be provided for embroidery, applique, fabric markers or puff paints. For more information about this event series, check out Fábrica events page
First Fright-day at Artisans & agency | Bats, Cats, Owls and Howls
October’s First Friday brings together a slightly spooky mix of creatures, characters, and things that go bump in the night — bats, black cats, owls, crows, ghosts, and a few other oddballs that feel right at home this time of year. Featuring work by Doug Ross, Janet Hill, Matt Adrian, Emily Uchytil, Diana Hartman, Mari Minjoe, and Jon Turner, the show moves from eerie to funny to wonderfully strange, with each artist bringing their own take on the season.
Open Studio Artists at Resource Center for Nonviolence
The Resource Center for Nonviolence is honored to host four artists for this year’s Arts Council Santa Cruz County Open Studio Art Tour. We hope you can join us for this special First Friday event to preview artwork by Lilie Pham, Isabelle Quinn-Rodriguez (isabellaqrodriguez.com), Arthur Waidhofer (arthurjw.com/art), and Karina North (karinakarinacabo.wixsite.com/northcanvas-gallery). Light refreshments will be served. Doors open at 5:30 PM.
Join us for First Friday at PATT Studio 107 at the Tannery on October 2, from 6–9 PM. Our October exhibition features the work of participating PATT members A.V. Pike, Frank Trueba, Jane Gregorius, Andrée LeBourveau, Cindy Haug, Lu Lee, and Janis O’Driscoll. Come enjoy an evening of art, meet the artists, and discover the creative work happening at the Tannery Arts Center.
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
7 - 9pm · Lazer Wolf on piano and drums, Rawley Fingers on baritone sax, and you never know who else might show up. Special guests are always a possibility at The Cruz Room!
With stories and fractured essays writer/actor Christopher Michael Palermo presents his unique perspective on the world as it is, was, and has always been.
Known for his dynamic acting and storytelling style, Christopher Michael Palermo shares his poignant and hilarious tales of growing up in Northern California in the 60s ,70s, and 80s, peppered with essays which ask important questions about the world as it is today. 7:00pm – 8:00pm on both Friday and Saturday
The SLV Theatre Department is proud to present The Outsiders, a dramatic coming-of-age novel originally written by S.E. Hilton and adapted to stageplay by Christopher Sergel. This production is directed by high school seniors Ryan Jones and Benjamin Rotte. Performance dates are October 2nd-10th.
Known for his dynamic acting and storytelling style, Christopher Michael Palermo shares his poignant and hilarious tales of growing up in Northern California in the 60s ,70s, and 80s, peppered with essays which ask important questions about the world as it is today. 7:00pm – 8:00pm on both Friday and Saturday
MISTAH FAB & PHILTHY RICH LIVE IN SANTA CRUZ
MISTAH FAB & PHILTHY RICH LIVE IN SANTA CRUZ ON THE "MOTION DETECTED" TOUR
Private Lives by Noel Coward, presented by Santa Cruz Shakespeare
There’s a thin line between love and hate and sometimes, it’s the barrier between balconies. That’s the premise of Noel Coward’s Private Lives. Two divorced lovers find themselves spending their new honeymoons next door to one another at the same hotel. Both are egotistical, passionate, and selfish, so how are they going to manage to live next to each other at a hotel? Better yet, how are they going to live without each other? This laugh-out-loud comedy is rich, witty and as sharp as Cupid’s arrow. See the play on Friday, September 4th for a matinee preview or check out one of the multiple showings through October 4th. -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz
Friday, Oct. 2nd – 7:30 PM – SMALL THEATER Illustrated Lecture: “HOW THE VISIONARIES OF EVERGREEN CEMETERY SHAPED SANTA CRUZ'S CREATIVE SOUL” – by Dr. Traci Bliss How did an isolated seaside town of only 3,500 residents become an unlikely cultural powerhouse? The answer lies at Evergreen Cemetery, where remarkable early artists, musicians, and educators rest within a stone's throw of one another. Discover their extraordinary, interconnected stories of sacrifice, heartbreak, bold ambition, and an unwavering belief that the arts could transform a community. Their influence not only endures but thrives in today's Santa Cruz. Award-winning professor, historian, and author Dr. Traci Bliss brings a uniquely personal perspective to Evergreen Cemetery. Her ancestors donated the land that promised Santa Cruz a burial ground welcoming to all, and more than two dozen relatives are buried there—including a beloved opera star who helped make Santa Cruz a center of musical life. Bliss's lifelong interest in cultural history solidified while an Art History major at Stanford University, which included extended study in Florence, Italy. She is the author of Evergreen Cemetery of Santa Cruz, designated a Goodreads Book, co-author of Santa Cruz's Seabright, and author of Big Basin Redwood Forest: Santa Cruz's Oldest State Park. As President of the Santa Cruz History Forum at the Museum of Art & History (MAH), she is dedicated to preserving and sharing the remarkable stories that shaped our community. Bliss will sign copies of Evergreen Cemetery of Santa Cruz at the conclusion of the event. The book is available at a 20% discount: $20 cash or check only. Tickets: $10 advance / $15 at the door. Doors open at 7:00 PM, lecture at 7:30 PM at The 418 Project, 155 South River Street, downtown Santa Cruz at the Dragons Gate.
Fire & Grace & Flamenco with special guests Fanny Ara and Ian Scarfe
Audiences are invited to journey across cultures, centuries, and traditions, where the elegance of Baroque music meets the spirit of folk music from around the world. Violinist Edwin Huizinga and guitarist William Coulter bring these musical worlds together, revealing the rhythms, stories, and shared humanity that connect them. For this special performance, Fire & Grace is joined by flamenco dancer Fanny Ara , whose powerful artistry fills the stage with movement, passion, and joy. They are also joined by pianist and harmonium player Ian Scarfe , a longtime friend of Huizinga, whose expressive playing adds rich color and depth to the evening. Experience a bit of Fire & Grace & Flamenco in advance via this video here on YouTube . ADMISSION Attend in person at the Music Center Recital Hall at UC Santa Cruz. Accessibility and visitor resources available here online. General admission tickets $49.87 plus service fees. Free for students (ticket required). Tickets for sale by event organizer William Coulter in advance and at the door through Eventbrite only . Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time. ADVISORIES The presentation is estimated at 2 hours. For more information, contact the event organizer directly or email [email protected]. PARKING Arts Lot #126 is the closest parking lot to the event. Parking prices and instructions to be announced. Learn more about parking at UCSC via Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS). ### This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law .
Fire & Grace & Flamenco with Special Guests Fanny Ara and Ian Scarfe
Audiences are invited to journey across cultures, centuries, and traditions, where the elegance of Baroque music meets the spirit of folk music from around the world. Violinist Edwin Huizinga and guitarist William Coulter bring these musical worlds together, revealing the rhythms, stories, and shared humanity that connect them. For this special performance, Fire & Grace is joined by flamenco dancer Fanny Ara, whose powerful artistry fills the stage with movement, passion, and joy. They are also joined by pianist and harmonium player Ian Scarfe, a longtime friend of Huizinga, whose expressive playing adds rich color and depth to the evening.
Dust off your boots, grab your friends, and join us as Wild West makes its long-awaited return to Santa Cruz. Wild West Country Night is officially returning to The 418 Project in Santa Cruz on Friday, October 2nd Get ready for an unforgettable night of country music, line dancing, beginner-friendly lessons, and nonstop fun on the dance floor. Whether you’re an experienced dancer or stepping onto the floor for the first time, everyone is welcome. No partner needed.Wild West Dance ambassadors are ready to guide you. Dust off your boots, grab your friends, and join us as Wild West makes its long-awaited return to Santa Cruz. The 418 Project — Santa Cruz Friday, October 2 Ages 18+ to enter Country music • Line dancing • Lessons • Social dancing • Immersive visual productions • New dance floors The 418 Project, 155 South River Street, downtown Santa Cruz at the Dragons Gate. Tickets $15 advance/ $20 at door
Felton Music Hall presents... Lost + Found 3: Chmura, zero point and WET PANTHER
Lost + Found 3: Chmura, zero point and WET PANTHER at Felton Music Hall on Friday, October 2nd 2026 Tickets at: https://www.prekindle.com/event/75727-lost-and-found-felton Event Description Lost + Found is back with a bass-driven, inclusive dance party. Our goal is to create a safe space for self expression by building community and protecting our dance floors. Artist Bios Chmura Chmura has become one of the fastest growing acts in a new generation of bass talent that prioritizes lush, deeply moving soundscapes. His name is becoming synonymous with powerful studio content and thrilling live performances. From Red Rocks to Lightning in a Bottle, Untz Festival, Electric Forest, Shambhala and beyond, he’s shared the stage with renowned artists such as CloZee, Of The Trees, Ashez, Saturna, Jade Cicada, and more - solidifying his place as one of the scene’s most exciting creators. Listen to Chmura: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3lklyEZwBA2agqoBBiofOm?si=Ydpn4mTuRnu5hlF38I51-A -------- zero point With an ear for unique rhythms & big bass lines, zero point brings the bounce. With festival appearances at High Vibe and Unison, a direct tour support run with Skysia and releases on Gravitas recordings, zero point is earning his keep as a breakout artist in 2026. Listen to zero point: https://open.spotify.com/artist/01FrY7ADQlorpdhqH1j7qr?si=TomQ0Y0zRLStkJAIuDmh7g -------- WET PANTHER Blending bold, booty shaking basslines with high energy emotional moments, a WET PANTHER set consists of a few ingredients: ratchet stank faces, ethereal undertones and a sprinkle of tasteful, singalong earworms. In his sets you can expect to hear a range of bass, dubstep, UKG, grime, DnB, and intimately curated rap and vocal edits that bridge the gap between today's hype IDs and yesterday's cult classics. With a new release on Tabula Rasa Records and a forthcoming EP on the horizon, WET PANTHER is paving his path in the bay area bass scene. Listen to WET PANTHER: https://open.spotify.com/artist
The Swag Tones bring a live set of rock, funk, soul, and R&B to a Santa Cruz venue on the water. Seven dollars cover, a night of groove-heavy music.
Soda Blonde, an indie rock band, performs at The Crepe Place.
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.
Born from a stream of consciousness, maybe written from the top of a mountain or in the middle of a storm, Fruit Bat songs warm the soul. Delightfully pared down, lead Eric D. Johnson builds from a canvas of vintage rock guitar and soul-stirring rhythms. With an over-25-year career under his belt, Johnson has turned the weight of the past into “a holy vision of what could be and couldn’t be and could have been,” in the latest Fruit Bats album, The Landfill. Vulnerable poetry about love, doubt, and growth, this is some of Johnson’s most personal work, and some of his most collaborative. -Shelly Novo; Good Times Santa Cruz
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.
Moe's Alley Presents: Diggin Dirt *Special Two-Night Pass
Are you ready for a weekend-long funk party! Well then, we got you! Diggin Dirt is hitting Moes for two nights. Special guests to be announced. Save money buying a two-night pass!*Limited quantities available*Special Two-Night Pass for Oct. 2nd and Oct. 3rdDoors: 8pm / Show: 9pm$4021+* 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====DIGGIN DIRTFrom behind the redwood curtain of Humboldt County, California, the seven piece funk-soul band Diggin Dirt has carved out a niche as a live party not to be missed. Shoveling their own path, Diggin Dirt has seen sustained growth over the past few years, with multiple national tours and festival stops at Jam Cruise, High Sierra, Hulaween, Same Same but Different, Live Oak, Cascade Equinox, Joshua Tree Music Festival and many more. Per a 2024 Jam Cruise writer, This was the soul music I grew up with in the 60s and 70s, but I confess I wasnt expecting [Diggin Dirt] to be throwing it down this hard. This group is impossibly tight, and Zach Alder might be the best soul shouter Ive ever heard, and Ive heard a few. Their infectious sound is fueled by blazing horns, searing guitars and a relentlessly driving rhythm section, and tying it all together is the bands frontman who launches the ensemble into rarefied air with his pipes, charisma and natural-born soul. With flashes of James Brown or Sly and the Family Stone, Otis Redding or Tower of Power, the bands sound is both familiar and yet refreshingly original, layering psychedelic rock, Motown soul, afrobeat and even reggae atop a thick foundation of late-60s inspired funk.
From one perspective, Twin Temple (Alexandra and Zachary James) is a classic rock ‘n’ roll duo with a sound inspired by the form’s early stars. But from another perspective, the L.A. duo, who launched in 2017, is as provocative as Marilyn Manson or Ghost. The couple’s open practice of Satanism has earned them as much attention as have their four albums (one titled God is Dead). The band had been touring as the opener for Charley Crockett, but in July the country star booted Twin Temple from the bill, saying, “I thought they were like Black Sabbath, but they ain’t. Not today, Satan.” -Bill Kopp; Good Times Santa Cruz
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Predictions of the EL Nino weather seems dire and we can look forward to much rain this fall. Even so the markets will be open and featuring all those good autumnal fruits and veggies. When the sun is shining and when it’s not there will still be good things to eat and enjoy at every Market. Come out and see what’s new and delicious. More markets are listed at https://www.montereycfb.com
Established in 2009 with the City of Scotts Valley, this market has become a seasonal treasure to the local community and to those visiting the area looking for a place to slow down and unwind. Here, every Saturday 9am-1pm, from late spring through the fall, a circle of regional farms, local food businesses and other makers set up their stands to offer shoppers and diners an array of delicious edibles. The market is a resource for nutritious food and agricultural education, providing a gathering place for families, friends and neighbors. Whether your a weekly shopper or just passing through, find what you’re looking for amidst the robust selection of organic vegetables, fruits, herbs, pasture-raised chicken and duck eggs, flowers, artisanal meats, breads, seafood, pastries and ready-to-eat cuisine.
Zen Meditation. Open to all. Free of charge.
Come get your hands dirty and help native plants thrive in some of the park’s most popular day-use areas and trails! Volunteers will water and weed around previously planted native plants while removing invasive and non-native vegetation, including ice plant, Himalayan blackberry, English ivy, mustard, wild radish, and other weeds. We’ll use hand tools like hori horis, Pulaskis, hand clippers, and loppers, plus 5-gallon buckets and other equipment to haul water to thirsty plants. Ages 8 and older are welcome! Minors must be accompanied by an adult and bring a signed waiver. Snacks will be provided, but we recommend bringing a personal lunch. Want something extra? Steamers Lane Coffee Supply has food, snacks, and refreshments available for purchase. Come lend a hand, get some fresh air, and help keep the park’s native habitat healthy and thriving! 🌿 REGISTER HERE: https://volunteer.calparks.org/opportunity/a3tJw000002qFeXIAU/lighthouse-field-state-beach Meeting Location: 644-670 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Google Link : https://goo.gl/maps/Wowc8kYVpneDUKoV7 The most convenient parking is in the lots near Steamer Lane Coffee Supply. There is also street parking available on Pelton Ave if the lot is full. Carpooling is recommended. Meet in the open field immediately behind Steamer Lane Supply. Volunteer event signs will be posted at the entrances to the parking lots to help guide volunteers to the correct location.
The Westside Farmers’ Market takes place every Saturday, year round at the corner of Hwy 1 and Western Drive. Here we serve the communities of the west end of Santa Cruz including Bonny Doon, the North Coast and the University of California, Santa Cruz campus. Sitting on the northern edge of Santa Cruz’s greenbelt this market is a great launching location for a day outdoors at Natural Bridges beach, Wilder Ranch or any adventure spot up the coast. It is also just a hop, skip and a jump, or bike ride, from Downtown. A community hub for over 15 years, the Westside Market showcases a great selection of 100% certified organic produce, artisan foods, beer, body products, tinctures, sustainable seafood, pasture raised meats, flowers and eggs along with cook-to-order cultural meals, live local music and a full espresso bar operated by Syllable. With an abundance of free parking and accessibility on its side, this market makes for a convenient and celebratory Saturday morning outing any time of the year.
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!
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).
Watsonville Wetlands Watch Fall Native Plant Sale
Watsonville Wetlands Watch hosts its Annual Fall Native Plant Sale on Saturday, October 3rd, from 9:00am-1:00pm at the Fitz Wetlands Educational Resource Center at Pajaro Valley High School, located at 500 Harkins Slough Road in Watsonville. The sale features over 80 species of locally-adapted native and drought tolerant plants that attract birds, bees, and butterflies and help save water. Proceeds from the sale support their on-going wetlands restoration and education programs. The plant list is available at watsonvillewetlandswatch.org.
The Ben Lomond Village Alliance is launching the 2026 Village Market, an expanded and reimagined version of last year’s Wee Kirk Market, bringing new energy to the San Lorenzo Valley. The season kicks off Saturday, June 6 at Ben Lomond County Park on Mill Street and continues on the first Saturday of each month through October, creating a consistent space for the community to gather. The market will feature a wide mix of local vendors, including fresh produce, prepared foods, artisans, and craft makers, along with live music and children’s activities designed to make each event welcoming for all ages. With its new location offering more space and a scenic setting, the Village Market builds on last year’s success while creating an even more vibrant and inclusive environment to connect, support local businesses, and celebrate the creativity and character of Ben Lomond.
Join Thrill the World Santa Cruz for free community dance classes and spooky Halloween performances! Learn Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” choreography—no dance experience required—and join us for the official worldwide Thrill the World dance on October 24 at 3 PM in Downtown Santa Cruz.
Docent-led tours of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve are every Saturday AND Sunday, at 10 am and 11 am. Tours are on a first-come, first-serve basis – visitors may sign up at the Visitor Center front desk, or call ahead the morning of using the phone number (831) 728-2822. The Docent will craft a walk that meets the groups needs and abilities.
Ticket price includes 1 pound of apples in addition to what you pick during your timed hour on the farm. Click the link in the orange button above to reserve your hour time slot. Apples are notorious for not reading travel itineraries. Please double check on what is ready to be picked before you go!
Take a free, guided tour of the 30-acre organic UCSC Farm. Visitors can enjoy touring the organically managed greenhouses, hand-worked garden beds, orchards, row crop fields, and children’s garden, while learning about the history of the site and the basic concepts of organic farming and gardening. Perched on a meadow near the campus entrance, the farm also offers spectacular views of the Monterey Bay. Heavy rain cancels. Tours will take place from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the following dates (please RSVP for the tour of your choice): Saturday, July 11 Saturday, August 1 Saturday, September 12 Saturday, October 3
Call to register or if you have questions: 457-2273 Location will vary so call for details The facilitator will bring photos. You are responsible for purchasing materials (see below). Discover your Wisdom with SoulCollage® Let's explore our inner selves. Using images, imagination and intuition, you will begin to create your own personal deck of collaged cards. Part art project, part spiritual practice, SoulCollage® allows you to deepen your understanding of yourself and tap into your inner wisdom that can guide you on important life decisions. In a fun, creative, and relaxed environment, you will create cards that will reveal parts of your personality, your archetypes, and other guides, allies, and challengers. We will talk about the ways you can use your personal deck of collaged cards to tap into your inner wisdom. No art experience necessary. Anyone can create SoulCollage® cards! We use scissors, glue, and images cut from magazines to create our cards. You’ll take home several finished cards—and no doubt a love for this creative process! Please bring with you : * Scissors * Glue stick (best kind is Pioneer glue stick) * 8 x 5 mat board * Pen & Notebook
UCSC: Free Guided Farm Tour
Take a free, guided tour of the 30-acre organic UCSC Farm. Visitors tour organically managed greenhouses, hand-worked garden beds, orchards, row crop fields, and the children’s garden while learning about the history of the site and the basic concepts of organic farming and gardening. Perched on a meadow near the campus entrance, the farm also offers spectacular views of the Monterey Bay. Heavy rain cancels. Free and open to the public. RSVP required.
We're turning ONE! Celebrate the Pilates Social with Pilates, Prosecco & local vendors
Climb aboard emergency vehicles, buses, and construction equipment! Explore hands-on STEM learning stations, watch pumpkins smashed from towering heights, and grab lunch at the BBQ & Beer Garden.
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
Climb aboard the emergency vehicles, buses, and construction equipment that keep our community moving! Explore hands-on STEM learning stations, watch pumpkins smashed from towering heights, and grab lunch at our BBQ & Beer Garden. Come support the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery while inspiring the next generation of essential workers our community needs! October 3, 2026 | 10:30 AM–3:00 PM | Capitola Mall | Admission is Free
The Family Service Agency of the Central Coast announced that The Upscale-Resale Nonprofit Daisy Store will celebrate autumn with a week-long sale. Everything in the store is 50% off. All proceeds benefit Family Service Agency programs.
Join Sewing for Kids Downtown! A different hand sewing project is offered each month. October's project is a pumpkin. Project supplies are limited to the first 25 participants. Sewing for Kids meets on the first Saturday of the month from 10:30 to 11:30 am. No sewing experience needed. No registration required. https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/events?n=30&term=sewing&r=range&start=2026-10-03&end=2027-05-01
Climb aboard the emergency vehicles, buses, and construction equipment that keep our community moving! Explore hands-on STEM learning stations, watch pumpkins smashed from towering heights, and grab lunch at our BBQ & Beer Garden. Come support the Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery while inspiring the next generation of essential workers our community needs! October 3, 2026 | 10:30 AM–3:00 PM | Capitola Mall | Admission is Free
Saturday, October 03 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm Join us each Saturday morning for a relaxing time crafting with your neighbors.
First Saturday Tours are a wonderful way to introduce yourself to the Arboretum or to deepen your knowledge of the Arboretum’s plant collections. Each tour is a little different depending on the time of year, the interests of the tour guide, and the people who join in. For example, you might learn about the birds and mammals that make this land their home or about the amazing physical adaptations that plants have evolved to better deal with our extreme weather and climate conditions. Tours are free with paid admission. Admission is always free for current UCSC Students and Arboretum members.
Saturday, October 03 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm In partnership with the Volunteer Center Literacy Program
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.
Calling all Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, and Seniors—this exciting overnight adventure is just for you! Includes: • Camping Under the Stars on the Boardwalk • Exclusive Free Play in the Arcade • Dinner & Breakfast • Outdoor Movie • Exclusive time on the Looff Carousel & Pirate Ship Friday night • Sand Sculpture Competition • Event Patch • Ride Wristband for Saturday • Discounted Parking Package Price: $99.95 per person Deadline September 27, 2026, or until full. Register today! bit.ly/Fall-Girl-Scout-Overnight
Join us harvesting Tomatoes and making Tart Tatin & Syrup!
First Saturday Guided Tours at the UCSC Arboretum
Discover the stunning beauty of the UCSC Arboretum & Botanic Garden on a guided tour! Led by our docents, you’ll explore our world-class plant collections and learn about our history, our unique Mediterranean climate, and the work we do to conserve and display the world’s incredible biodiversity of plants. When: First Saturday of every month Cost: Free with paid admission (Members get in free!) Reserve your spot(s) by registering on our website at: forms.gle/767hWuW9JpAuRiwD9 Walk-ins are welcome. Please note that registration forms are updated the Tuesday after the previous tour. Consider becoming a member! Membership includes free admission, local nursery discounts, and reciprocal entry to 345+ gardens nationwide. For more information, please visit our website.
We will be hosting the Open Studios Preview Exhibition, showcasing the work of all the 330+ Santa Cruz County Open Studios Artists who are participating in the program
Come tour brand new homes, meet our lender, and learn about a special 4.99% rate available right now. Face painting, food, and more fun! Join us Saturday, October 3rd from 11am to 4pm for a special open house event at Hillcrest! This is a family friendly, free event for anyone curious about this community, whether you're actively house hunting or just want to see what's new in the neighborhood. Bring the kids for free face painting, enjoy some food while you're here, and take your time touring the homes. A lender will be on site to answer your questions and walk you through financing, including a special rate of 4.99% available right now. It's a great chance to get real answers about what buying at Hillcrest could actually look like for you. No appointment needed, just stop by any time between 11 and 4. We'd love to see you there!
Saturday, October 03 2026 10:15am - 12:30pm Join Saturday Shakespeare at Aptos Library for five lively sessions with guest experts, group readings, and discussions, ending with a shared play viewing. Attend in person or on Zoom!
Saturday, October 03 2026 10:30am - 11:15am ¡Acompáñanos en nuestro nuevo horario, cada primer sábado del mes!
Saturday, October 03 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm Have you been hankering for an in-person book club? Join us on the first Saturday of the month from 10:30AM-12PM in our cozy Fireside Room for a friendly book discussion group.
Saturday, October 03 2026 10:30am - 11:30am Step into a world of imagination with stories, rhymes, and songs for children ages 0?8, shared with families and caregivers in a warm, welcoming space.
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, October 03 2026 10:30am - 11:30am Join Sewing for Kids Downtown! A different hand sewing project is offered each month. October's project is a pumpkin. Project supplies are limited to the first 25 participants.
Santa Cruz Porchfest is a free, all-ages, one-day music event that turns downtown porches into stages. Wander the neighborhood, follow the sound, and discover your new favorite band on a neighbor’s front steps. On the day: Several bands playing on porches across downtown. (Including the Santa Cruz County Visitor Center) Music from 12 to 6pm, with sets running about an hour each. Walk the route at your own pace — bring water, a friend, a kid. Food and drinks at local spots along the way.
Harvest Festival returns to Downtown Santa Cruz. There will be throwing up tents, popping popcorn, stacking hay bales and setting up a slew of silly, throw-back games and fun activities for all of you. Think of a sweet nook version of county fair meets a school fair but, filled with local farms and businesses. The Harvest Festival offers tons of activities for all ages, including: Carnival Games ~ Enjoy classic carnival games! Mechanical Bull Who’s gonna try it? Wreath Making Station, sponsored by the Santa Cruz Warriors Striker, Glitter Tattoos, sponsored by Pacific Cookie Co. Face Painting, sponsored by Go Ask Alice Plinko, Froggy Fly, sponsored by Game Santa Cruz Corn Hole & Foosball, sponsored by the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz.. Food ~ Savor delicious fall flavors! Popcorn, sponsored by Downtown Association of SC Churros by La Casa de Churros Live Music Garden Variety Cheese Farm Animal Meet & Greet ~ Rebecca King brings baby sheep, ewes and chicks for viewing & handling. And more! See link in orange button above.
Aptos Village Park: Gourmet Grazing on the Green
Held at beautiful Aptos Village Park, Gourmet Grazing on the Green is a fabulous day of fine wine, craft beer, gourmet food and live music! Spend the afternoon sampling the delicious flavors from dozens of the finest local restaurants, wineries and breweries.
The Scotts Valley Multicultural Fair is a free celebration aimed at broadening our understanding and appreciation for multiculturalism and diversity. There will be: Live musical acts from all different backgrounds and influences. Dance troupes performing captivating routines; with audience participation encouraged! Food vendors to explore. A fashion show to show-case traditional clothing of different cultures. Art displays representing different cultures and age groups. Booths displaying and offering activities representing different cultures.
Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still
Carlos Motta’s When Time Stands Still, the artist’s second solo show with the IAS , features new and recent installations, videos, and sculptures highlighting the artist’s preoccupation with the historical and aesthetic productions of difference and marginalization that shape the present. The selection of artworks in the exhibition explore the unsettling experience of living in a time that seems violently stuck on repeat. Archetypal figures from art history (a fool, a siren, a witness, a victim) reappear in the current moment as containers of time, bringing the past of imperialism, colonization, and displacement into a present marked by the rise of anti-immigration politics, climate injustice, and other forms of disposability. Some works challenge this violent repetition of time. The clock moves, if gruelingly, in an endurance-based video performance, No One , 2025. For forty-six minutes, the artist undertakes to keep his eyes open, witnessing, withstanding, confronting, and resisting the bombardment of images, both historical and otherwise, that normalize harm. In another video work, Gravity , 2024, performers enact rescue carries, supporting each other until they can’t bear the weight. Together, the artworks act as a proposal about how to rethink time—how to slow time—with a poetic and aesthetic cadence that might counter the numbing reverberations of living in the present. When Time Stands Still is organized as part of Visualizing Abolition, an arts-based initiative that reaches across prison borders to create a future free of prisons. Carlos Motta (b. 1978, Colombia) is a multidisciplinary artist whose work has been shown widely nationally and internationally. Solo exhibitions venues include the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona; Nikolaj Kunsthal, Copenhagen; Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá; Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, OH ; Röda Sten Konsthall, Gothenburg, Sweden; Galeria Vermelho, São Paulo; Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM); Tate Modern, London; and
Victor ‘Marka27’ Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá
Organized in partnership with the Center for Art and Advocacy, located in Brooklyn, New York, Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá ( Not From Here, Not From There ) by multidisciplinary artist Victor ‘Marka27’ Quiñonez features a wide range of artworks that issue a bold declaration of dual belonging, including altars, an elaborately immersive botanica, paintings referencing visual symbolism drawn from textiles, graffiti and community traditions, and, in a series called I.C.E. Scream , large, brightly colored resin sculptures in the shape of melting Mexican paletas (popsicles). As the exhibition title suggests (a phrase widely used in bilingual and bicultural communities), these artworks reflect the artist’s interest in the experience of living between worlds even as violent notions of nationalism and identity pervade. Accompanying the exhibition, Elevar la Cultura , an immersive sculptural installation featuring a twenty-two-foot-tall pyramid built from ice coolers adorned with ancestral textiles, sacred symbols, and mural work will be on view at Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos (1817 Soquel) November 7, 2026- March 7, 2027. As Quiñonez explains, this sculpture epitomizes the contradictions of living—and laboring—as an immigrant in the United States: “Most people see the cooler as a tool for leisure…for barbecues, tailgating, and celebrations. But for immigrant communities, the cooler is a tool and symbol for opportunity and independence. In every major city, you see families and vendors selling fruit, food, and water out of these coolers on the streets and in subway stations. They’re a necessity for survival and a way to start an honest living,” the artist shares. The Institute of Arts and Sciences will be the second venue to successfully present Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá to the public. First organized by Boston University Art Galleries and curated by Kate Fowle in September of 2025, the exhibition debuted to critical acclaim before gaining national attention after its abrupt removal from
Harvest Festival returns to Downtown Santa Cruz. We'll be throwing up tents, popping popcorn, stacking hay bales and setting up a slew of silly, throw-back games and fun activities for all of you. Think of a sweet nook version of county fair meets a school fair but, filled with local farms and businesses. This vibrant community event is produced in partnership with The Downtown Association of Santa Cruz the Santa Cruz Community Farmers' Markets . The Harvest Festival offers tons of activities for all ages, including: Carnival Games ~ Enjoy classic carnival games! Mechanical Bull Who's gonna try it? Wreath Making Station, sponsored by the Santa Cruz Warriors Striker, Glitter Tattoos, sponsored by Pacific Cookie Co. Face Painting, sponsored by Go Ask Alice Plinko, Froggy Fly, sponsored by Game Santa Cruz Corn Hole & Foosball, sponsored by the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz.. Food ~ Savor delicious fall flavors! Popcorn, sponsored by Downtown Association of SC Churros by La Casa de Churros more announced soon. Live Music ~ Wreath Making ~ Enjoy this free fall craft sponsored by the Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Market. Garden Variety Cheese Farm Animal Meet & Greet ~ Rebecca King brings baby sheep, ewes and chicks for viewing & handling.
Free Multicultural Celebration: culture booths, performances, fashion show, international food, free activities & crafts. All ages welcome! Join us for the 5th Annual Scotts Valley Multicultural Fair — a completely free, family-friendly celebration of culture, community, and connection! This beloved nonprofit event is held on Saturday, October 3, 2026 from 12–4pm at Skypark in Scotts Valley, and is made possible entirely by volunteers and donations. Whether you're a longtime local or new to the area, there's something for everyone: 🌍 Interactive culture booths showcasing traditions from around the world 🎭 Vibrant live performances curated by renowned choreographer Tandy Beal 👗 An international fashion show celebrating global style and heritage 🎨 Hands-on activities and crafts free for all ages 🍜 Delicious international food from a variety of vendors 🤝 A welcoming space for all families, youth, and community members Now in its 5th year, the Multicultural Fair was founded to broaden understanding and appreciation of different cultures, and to build positive connections — especially for our youth. Through fun and festivity, this event celebrates community joy, unity, and belonging in Scotts Valley and beyond. Interested in participating in the fair? You can host a cultural booth, walk in the fashion show, become a sponsor, join as a food vendor, or volunteer. Email us at [email protected] or visit www.scottsvalleymulticulturalfair.com to learn more! Come as you are. Bring your family. Celebrate with us!
SANTA CRUZ TRANS POTLUCK
SANTA CRUZ TRANS POTLUCK - Saturday May 2nd, 12pm - 3pm at SubRosa (703 Pacific Ave in downtown Santa Cruz). Trans ppl!!! Bring ur friends! * Make Trans Friends * Share Food * Build Community Community announcements at 2pm. This can include things like board game nights or dinners, more formal planned events, or a milestone you feel like sharing with the community! This is a dry space (no alcohol) - Masks encouraged (available at SubRosa). Send feedback or suggestions to: [email protected] —@@@@@— SubRosa is a collectively run anarchist community space - a place to meet people, share resources and ideas, challenge our assumptions and act on our passions. Let’s create together the world(s) we want to live in now. @subrosa_space And SubRosa is part of the Hub Community Center at 703 Pacific Ave in downtown Santa Cruz - a constellation of projects that support skill-sharing, appropriate re/use of resources, and interconnected, creative communities - since 1994! More about the Hub i
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!
Santa Cruz Porchfest is a free, all-ages, one-day music event that turns downtown porches into stages. Wander the neighborhood, follow the sound, and discover your new favorite band on a neighbor’s front steps. On the day: Several bands playing on porches across downtown. (Including the Santa Cruz County Visitor Center) Music from 12 to 6pm, with sets running about an hour each. Walk the route at your own pace — bring water, a friend, a kid. Food and drinks at local spots along the way.
Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá
“Ni de aquí, ni de allá” (“neither from here, nor there”), is a phrase commonly used by bilingual, bicultural communities. In the exhibition the phrase becomes a bold declaration of dual belonging against a violent notion of nationalism and identity. Through paintings, immersive installations, sculptural works, and a curated soundscape, Marka27 invites gallery goers into a vibrant, layered world where street culture meets Indigenous tradition, and personal memory collides with collective truth and activism. Curated by internationally recognized curator Kate Fowle, this exhibition is organized in partnership with The Center for Art & Advocacy and as part of Visualizing Abolition, an arts-based initiative that reaches across prison borders to contribute to the unfolding collective story and alternative imagining underway to create a future free of prisons.
Carlos Motta’s When Time Stands Still features new and recent installations, videos, and sculptures highlighting the artist’s preoccupation with the historical and aesthetic productions of difference and marginalization that shape the present. The selection of artworks in the exhibition explore the unsettling experience of living in a time that seems violently stuck on repeat. Archetypal figures from art history (a fool, a siren, a witness, a victim) reappear in the current moment as containers of time, bringing the past of imperialism, colonization, and displacement into a present marked by the rise of anti-immigration politics, climate injustice, and other forms of disposability. Some works challenge this violent repetition of time. The clock moves, if gruelingly, in an endurance-based video performance, No One, 2025. For forty-six minutes, the artist undertakes to keep his eyes open, witnessing, withstanding, confronting, and resisting the bombardment of images, both historical and otherwise, that normalize harm. In another video work, Gravity, 2024, performers enact rescue carries, supporting each other until they can’t bear the weight. Together, the artworks act as a proposal about how to rethink time—how to slow time—with a poetic and aesthetic cadence that might counter the numbing reverberations of living in the present. When Time Stands Still is organized as part of Visualizing Abolition, an arts-based initiative that reaches across prison borders to create a future free of prisons. About the Artist Carlos Motta (b. 1978, Colombia) is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice documents the social conditions and political struggles of sexual, gender, and ethnic communities, challenging normative discourses through acts of self-representation. His work has been the focus of several survey exhibitions.
Harvest Festival returns to Downtown Santa Cruz. There will be throwing up tents, popping popcorn, stacking hay bales and setting up a slew of silly, throw-back games and fun activities for all of you. Think of a sweet nook version of county fair meets a school fair but, filled with local farms and businesses. The Harvest Festival offers tons of activities for all ages, including: Carnival Games ~ Enjoy classic carnival games! Mechanical Bull Who’s gonna try it? Wreath Making Station, sponsored by the Santa Cruz Warriors Striker, Glitter Tattoos, sponsored by Pacific Cookie Co. Face Painting, sponsored by Go Ask Alice Plinko, Froggy Fly, sponsored by Game Santa Cruz Corn Hole & Foosball, sponsored by the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz.. Food ~ Savor delicious fall flavors! Popcorn, sponsored by Downtown Association of SC Churros by La Casa de Churros Live Music Garden Variety Cheese Farm Animal Meet & Greet ~ Rebecca King brings baby sheep, ewes and chicks for viewing & handling. And more! See link in orange button above.
Steel Bonnet's 11th. Anniversary Party!
Steel Bonnet celebrates 11 years on Saturday, October 3rd from 12-9pm. Live music, food trucks, activities and delicious beer ALL DAY LONG!! Mark your calendars. More info to come!
UCSC: Victor “Marka27” Exhibition
“Ni de aquí, ni de allá” (“neither from here, nor there”), is a phrase commonly used by bilingual, bicultural communities. In the exhibition the phrase becomes a bold declaration of dual belonging against a violent notion of nationalism and identity. Through paintings, immersive installations, sculptural works, and a curated soundscape, Marka27 invites gallery goers into a vibrant, layered world where street culture meets Indigenous tradition, and personal memory collides with collective truth and activism. Curated by internationally recognized curator Kate Fowle, this exhibition is organized in partnership with The Center for Art & Advocacy and as part of Visualizing Abolition, an arts-based initiative that reaches across prison borders to contribute to the unfolding collective story and alternative imagining underway to create a future free of prisons. ABOUT THE ARTIST: Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez is a renowned visual artist working at the intersections of contemporary art, graffiti, vinyl toys, fashion and design, and art activism.
Held at beautiful Aptos Village Park, Gourmet Grazing on the Green is a fabulous day of fine wine, craft beer, spirits, gourmet food, live music and more! Spend the afternoon sampling the delicious flavors from dozens of the finest local restaurants, wineries and breweries. parking & shuttle service Parking is limited at the Aptos Village Park. We encourage guests carpool and use ride share. We also provide parking at Cabrillo College parking lot K and our shuttle service will bring you to and from the event approximately every 15 minutes. Shuttle service runs from 11:30-5pm. Limited handicap parking is available at the park. If you uber, drop off is at the top of the park. what to bring In years past the weather has been warm and sunny. We recommend wearing layered clothing, a sun hat, and sunscreen. The event provides shaded tents, table umbrellas and chair for guests to sit, eat and relax. The perimeter of the park is often grassy and shaded, feel free to bring a blanket if you care to relax picnic-style. *Service animals only please. All pets must be on leash at all times, and we ask that you respect other guests personal space. *Refund & Cancellation Policy We have a no refund policy unless we have to cancel. Tickets are transferable. In the event of cancellation we will provide you with a refund or give you the option to donate to the cause!
Saturday, October 03 2026 12:00pm - 5:00pm Play tabletop board games and have some fun!
Saturday, October 03 2026 12:00pm - 4:00pm Join SCPL at the Downtown Santa Cruz Harvest Festival!
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]
Discover what life was like a century ago on this innovative dairy ranch. This hour-long tour includes the 1896 water-powered machine shop, horse barn, uniquely constructed 1860’s cow barn, 1858 farmhouse, and 1897 Queen Anne Victorian home. Meet at the visitor’s center. This tour is free. Parking in Day-use lot is $10. Hold on to that receipt! Once you have paid for parking at one state park or beach, you have paid for the day at all of them! There are over 14 in Santa Cruz County alone. For more information, email [email protected] or call (669)758-1963. Click the link in the orange button above to reserve your spot!
Saturday, October 03 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm Manifest your visions, desires, and dreams through the art of Soul Collage!
September is California Wine Month, and this year, there is plenty to celebrate. It has been a fascinating growing season in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Harvest arrived an incredible three to four weeks ahead of schedule, making 2026 one for the books already. Join us over Labor Day weekend for our September First Saturday and experience the vineyard at one of our favorite times of year. As the summer fog begins to roll back from the coast and sunshine fills our valleys, September brings some of the most beautiful days to the Santa Cruz Mountains. Come spend the afternoon with us, taste our estate wines and new releases, take in the vineyard views, and celebrate California Wine Month right where the wine begins. First Saturday at Rosscienda Vineyard Saturday, September 5 | 1–5 PM Aptos • Santa Cruz Mountains
Bill Trimpi, better known as Mr. Bill, has been educating local students and telling stories for the past 50 years. But for the last 35, he has also connected with hundreds of students at Soccer Camp. He just put out a new children’s book, Out of the Box. To celebrate its release, there will be an afternoon of puppetry, fun, and creativity. Along with the puppet show, there will be a Santa-Cruz-themed activity book filled with non-competitive games. It also includes the story of Soccer Camp and several of Trimpi’s original stories, including “Surfer Cat,” “Stumpy the Tree,” and “Star Girl.” The new book will be available to purchase and Trimpi will happily sign them. -Isabella Marie Sangaline; Good Times Santa Cruz
Pros & Cons of State Ballot Propositions
Learn the pros and cons of the 14 statewide propositions on the November ballot. From the Billionaire Tax Act to voting restrictions, at this free public event you’ll hear a nonpartisan review of the issues by a panel of speakers from the League of Women Voters of Santa Cruz County. Be ready to cast your informed vote when your ballot arrives in the mail. Co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters Santa Cruz County and American Association of University Women.
A Road of Her Own: Author Visit with Kimberly Gomes
Local author Kimberly Gomes will share her new book, A Road of Her Own. In this work of Autofiction, meet Mira. She writes about the dead. Now she’s ready to finally live. At twenty-nine, Mira is stuck writing obituaries, caring for a once-wild, now-blind mother, and living in a fish-scented apartment that smells like failure—until a last chance artist fellowship offers a shot at something more. With a camera in her hand and nothing left to lose, she hits the road alone, crossing America’s national parks, skydiving, unraveling, and meeting women who remind her what it means to want, to risk, and to live. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is recommended, and walk-ins are welcome. Register at https://santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16461290. KIMBERLY GOMES is a writer, songslinger, and creativity coach. She’s the author of the poetry collection Love Notes to the Body (Dancing Girl Press, 2019). Her debut novel, A Road of Her Own, was a semi-finalist for the 2022 Black Lawrence Press Prose Book Award. Her work has been named a top personal essay of 2021 by Entropy Magazine, and has been featured in The San Francisco Chronicle and Sunset Magazine. When she’s not creating, you can find Kimberly hiking mountains, plotting her next passport stamp, and swing dancing with people she loves. ___ The views and opinions expressed by presenters in Santa Cruz Public Libraries programs are their own and do not constitute an endorsement by Santa Cruz Public Libraries or its member jurisdictions. Los puntos de vista y opiniones expresadas por los presentadores de programas en las Bibliotecas Públicas de Santa Cruz son propias y no constituyen en un respaldo o reflejo de la postura de las Bibliotecas Públicas de Santa Cruz ni de sus jurisdicciones miembro.
Saturday, October 03 2026 1:00pm - 3:30pm A joint meeting between the League of Women Voters and AAUW to discuss the initiatives on the November ballot.
Saturday, October 03 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm In this workshop for teens, we'll explore how poets borrow and invent forms to help break them free. Come for the workshop and stay for the pizza!
REFUGE: Voices of Courage and Resilience Book Launch Celebration
Come celebrate the launch of REFUGE: Voices of Courage & Resilience for Our Fractured World at the Resource Center for Nonviolence in Santa Cruz. This anthology brings together more than 100 writers and artists responding to the emotional, political, and spiritual challenges of our time—including 22 writer and artists from Santa Cruz County. We’ll spend the afternoon bringing the pages of REFUGE to life, sharing a selection of writing and art that reflects the heart and breadth of the collection. REFUGE combines essays, poetry, photography, painting, drawing, fiber art, sculpture, and other visual work. Its contributors explore grief and uncertainty, resistance and creativity, beauty and wonder, and the ways people continue to find meaning and hope in these difficult times.
Saturday, October 03 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm A safe space to explore questions and feelings about dying
Saturday, October 03 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm Local author Kimberly Gomes shares her new book.
Come out to the 1st Annual Santa Cruz Porchfest in downtown on Sat. October 3rd from 12-6pm. Free. Blü Egyptian plays at Calvary Church, 532 Center St.
Placeholder for possible Porch Fest event
Saturday, October 03 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm Come enjoy work from the Watercolor Class at the Scotts Valley Senior Center and meet the artists.
🌑 New Moon Sound Bath & Guided Meditation 80-Minute Experience | Spa Santangelo, Felton, CA + Online Join Melissa at each New Moon for a deeply restorative journey designed to help you reconnect, set meaningful intentions, and restore your inner balance. Step into a serene, supportive space and allow yourself to fully unwind. This immersive experience combines the healing vibrations of a live sound bath, guided meditation, journaling, and fire release to bring a deeper sense of peace and balance. You’ll be guided through Melissa’s Mystic Meditations—a thoughtfully curated journey inspired by the energy of the New Moon: 🌑 New Moon — BRING IN Set intentions, plant new seeds, and invite the energy, experiences, and possibilities you want to cultivate. The New Moon offers an opportunity for reflection and new beginnings. Take time to turn inward, become clear about what you want to welcome into your life, and intentionally create space for what comes next. Whether you join us in person at Spa Santangelo in Felton, CA, or online from the comfort of your own home, come exactly as you are. In-person groups of up to 10 guests are welcome. Gather your friends, family, or community and share this beautiful experience together. 📚 Extend Your Wellness Journey Continue exploring your path with offerings from The Groovy Goddess, including: ✨ In-person & online sessions 📚 Books 🎧 Guided meditations 🌿 Online transformational courses ✨ Come as you are. Leave feeling grounded, centered, inspired, and renewed—with fresh intentions for the journey ahead.
Saturday, October 03 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm Youth ages 9-17 are invited to design and make a custom keychain, coaster, or fridge magnet to take home. Parent, guardian or responsible adult required to be present for the duration of workshop.
The Institute of the Arts and Sciences (IAS) is pleased to announce its Fall/Winter season of exhibitions. On view are exhibitions highlighting two artists whose explorations in video, installation, painting, and sculpture examine some of the most enduring and challenging issues of our time: Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still, a poetic and aesthetically rich exploration of the historical and aesthetic manifestations of difference and marginalization that inform current anti-immigration politics and climate injustices; and Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá (Not From Here, Not From There), which grapples with issues of migration and belonging—and gained national attention after it was abruptly censored by the University of North Texas. Also as part of IAS programming, an outdoor installation of Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez: Elevar la Cultura, a public sculpture project, will be at Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos November 7, 2026–March 5, 2027. An opening celebration for the exhibitions open on October 2, 2026, 5–8 p.m., with a performance by vocal artist and composer Samita Sinha, celebrations with the artists, and more. Elevar la Cultura opens at Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos on November 7, 2026, 2–6 p.m., with a celebration with the artist, featuring lowriders, free food, live entertainment, vendors, and more. The exhibitions and opening events are free and open to the public.
Get your tickets for Santa Cruz High School's 60th Reunion on Saturday, October 3rd at the Portugurese Hall in Harvey West Park. Socializing! No Host Bar! Mexican Buffet Dinner! Music & Dancing. $50 per person. Please purchase tickets by August 31!
5:30-7:30pm Love Creek is a folk-rock/jam band from Santa Cruz, California. Current band members consist of Malakai Lawton (vocals/guitar), Alex Bahler (lead guitar), Ryan Jensen (bass/vocals), Ed Levy (keys), and Rob Borella (drums). Love Creek pulls from a musical headwaters of jam band and folk rock influences, creating original material that is both heartfelt and powerful, both lyrically and instrumentally. Along with a growing repertoire of original songs, Love Creek also performs music written by artists such as: Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers Band, Jerry Garcia Band, The Cure, Van Morrison, Marshall Tucker Band, Rusted Root, America, as well as many others. Catch them every 1st Saturday of the month!
MindTravel October Live-to-Headphones Piano Experience in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz at sunset: immersive live-to-headphones piano by Murray Hidary. Mindful concert in nature. Join us.
Saturday, 6:00 PM
Saturday, October 03 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm Youth ages 9-17 are invited to design and make a custom keychain, coaster, or fridge magnet to take home. Parent, guardian or responsible adult required to be present for the duration of workshop.
Understory (Nicole Wilson)
The SLV Theatre Department is proud to present The Outsiders, a dramatic coming-of-age novel originally written by S.E. Hilton and adapted to stageplay by Christopher Sergel. This production is directed by high school seniors Ryan Jones and Benjamin Rotte. Performance dates are October 2nd-10th.
7 - 9pm · Cousin Dave
Ode to The Dying Senses: An Immersive Dance-Theater Experience
Ode to the Dying Senses is an immersive dance-theater experience combining live singers and SCDT's Project Company dancers. The evening begins as you enter and explore a space immersed in total darkness. What follows invites you to reconnect with your senses in a show like nothing you've ever seen. With only 15 tickets per show, this is an exclusive event you won't want to miss.
An Evening of Group Astrology Readings For the Venus Retrograde
Sat., October 3rd – 7:00 PM – SMALL THEATRE An Evening of Group Astrology Readings for the Venus Retrograde Join us for an evening of storytelling, insights—possible tears and many laughs. Astrologers Blair Bogin, Camirin Farmer and Vivi Henriette break down the current sky and the upcoming Venus Rx into simple language anyone can understand. Along the way, we’ll pull charts from the audience opening to share insights and open the stage to your stories and collective wisdom. To participate, please come prepared with your birth time, date and location. ABOUT YOUR ASTROLOGERS: BLAIR Blair Bogin is an astrologer, video artist, teacher, coach and community theater-maker. She is the Director of Planets, Planets, Planets, an alt-comedy astrology theater troupe in LA and produces a lot of experimental horoscopes and films. She’s been a consulting astrologer since 2013 alongside her studies in physical theater clown, hermetic mysticism and somatic trauma therapy. She teaches and writes on many topics and trains other astrologers and mystics at Your Life Is Enormous, an astro-coaching school. CAMIRN Camirin Farmer is a nonbinary, queer, black performer & astrologer based in Los Angeles, CA. In 2020 Camirin began to fuse their appreciation for astrology, and comedic practice with their astrology based advice show Your Virgo Friend, Camirin on the streaming website Eternal Family. In 2023 Camirin began a more serious study of astrology under the tutelage of Sisterbride, née Blair Bogin, and also joined the clown astrology group Planets Planets Planets directed by Blair Bogin. They have been interviewed on the astrology podcast TALKTALKTALK by Vivi Henriette, and participated on a panel about The Astrology of Los Angeles and the Entertainment Industry during the first Annual Los Angeles Astrology Festival. They are currently an adjunct professor in the Comedy Department of the USC School of Dramatic Arts. Camirin believes that comedy can be a pure container for strong truths. V
The Last Five Years, presented by Santa Cruz Shakespeare
Relationships are beautiful and complex things. They all have a beginning and an ending. Jason Roberts explores the complexities of relationships in his emotional musical, The Last Five Years. Cathy and Jamie are romantically involved for five years, and the audience watches it unfold from each perspective. Cathy’s view of the relationship will begin at the end and work its way back to the beginning, while Jamie’s perspective starts at the beginning of the relationship and moves to the end. The story features beautiful and clever music that explores the sacrifices and costs of relationships. Audiences will contemplate how relationships affect how we define ourselves. Goes until Oct 3. -Isabella Marie Sangaline
Catch Understory’s much anticipated live show at Ugly Mug-- original acoustic phunkadelic folk music in one of our favorite intimate venues.
With stories and fractured essays writer/actor Christopher Michael Palermo presents his unique perspective on the world as it is, was, and has always been.
A classical orchestral performance of Scheherazade by the Santa Cruz Symphony.
Mama's Broke performs folk and roots music with close harmonies and acoustic instrumentation.
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.
This alt rock act from Baton Rouge might still be fledgling (last year saw their first headline tour), but they are already making waves. Their song “Virginia” was co-written by Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra, their song “The Fence” was produced by Cage the Elephant’s Brad Shultz, and last year Coldplay’s Chris Martin attended their show at Vanderbilt University. Their tone borrows elements from The Strokes with 1990s college rock for a sound that’s familiar but still fresh and catchy. So, it’s kind of wild to find out they just dropped their debut full-length on September 18th, which only confirms this group has much more in store for hungry ears. -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz
Sometimes stripped down is better than gussied up. That being said, any fan of TV’s Top Chef also knows that if it’s not going to be fancy, then it has to be perfect or else it falls flat and becomes plain ol’ basic. It’s a concept that electronic musician Marielle V Jakobsons is familiar with, even if she doesn’t watch the show. Her stripped-down, ambient music is miminal but not basic. She plays with the space within each song to create a sound that’s light, moving and somehow also deeply personal. That makes The Tannery’s Indexical the perfect place to see her perform. -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz
A casual live-music night on the coast, with an energetic band mixing originals and covers.
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.
Moe's Alley Presents: Diggin Dirt *Special Two-Night Pass
Are you ready for a weekend-long funk party! Well then, we got you! Diggin Dirt is hitting Moes for two nights. Special guests to be announced. Save money buying a two-night pass!*Limited quantities available*Special Two-Night Pass for Oct. 2nd and Oct. 3rdDoors: 8pm / Show: 9pm$4021+* 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====DIGGIN DIRTFrom behind the redwood curtain of Humboldt County, California, the seven piece funk-soul band Diggin Dirt has carved out a niche as a live party not to be missed. Shoveling their own path, Diggin Dirt has seen sustained growth over the past few years, with multiple national tours and festival stops at Jam Cruise, High Sierra, Hulaween, Same Same but Different, Live Oak, Cascade Equinox, Joshua Tree Music Festival and many more. Per a 2024 Jam Cruise writer, This was the soul music I grew up with in the 60s and 70s, but I confess I wasnt expecting [Diggin Dirt] to be throwing it down this hard. This group is impossibly tight, and Zach Alder might be the best soul shouter Ive ever heard, and Ive heard a few. Their infectious sound is fueled by blazing horns, searing guitars and a relentlessly driving rhythm section, and tying it all together is the bands frontman who launches the ensemble into rarefied air with his pipes, charisma and natural-born soul. With flashes of James Brown or Sly and the Family Stone, Otis Redding or Tower of Power, the bands sound is both familiar and yet refreshingly original, layering psychedelic rock, Motown soul, afrobeat and even reggae atop a thick foundation of late-60s inspired funk.
Race Details Entry Fee: Adults are $20 and kids 12 and under are $15 Date: Oct. 17, 2026 Start Time: 8:00 AM Location: East Upper Field, UCSC Learn more about Race the Flame and register today! About the Race: In an effort to increase public awareness and preparedness for wildfire season, University of California, Santa Cruz has partnered with the City of Santa Cruz to host the first Race the Flame taking place on Oct. 17, 2026. Join the award-winning emergency preparedness run/walk at UC Santa Cruz! Last year the City of Santa Cruz’s Race the Wave earned a CAPIO Award for Excellence—and this year we’re putting a new emergency scenario to the test. If you had to escape a wildfire in Santa Cruz how long would it take you to run or walk to reach safety? Would you know which way to go? Here’s your chance to test yourself and gain knowledge about wildfires and their impact on our community. At the finish line, an emergency preparedness fair will highlight the importance of having enough supplies and a plan to care for yourself and your household during the first 72 hours after a disaster.
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.
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.
Time to Party with Thomas the Tank Engine, for a 25 minute train ride, entertainment, and fun filled activities for the entire family. Please note: The first weekend is Thomas the Train only—Percy joins us for the second, third, and fourth weekends!
Surfrider Santa Cruz Launches Fundraising Beach Cleanup-a-Thon
Surfrider Foundation Santa Cruz is inviting community members to join its Fundraising Beach Cleanup-a-Thon at Rio Del Mar State Beach on Sunday, October 4, from 9:00 to 11:00 AM. The event will bring volunteers together to remove trash from the beach while raising funds to support Surfrider Santa Cruz’s local programs and free community cleanups. The concept is simple: participants sign up for the cleanup and ask friends, family, and coworkers to pledge donations based on the total amount of trash collected. After the cleanup, Surfrider volunteers will weigh the collective total of trash removed, and participating sponsors will make donations based on the Chapter-wide total. Supporters can also set a cap on their donation amount (for example, no more than $50). “Every piece of trash we remove makes a difference, but when our community comes together, we can make an even bigger impact,” said Darcie Connell, Co-Chair and Volunteer Coordinator of Surfrider Santa Cruz. “This event gives people a fun way to get involved while helping fund the programs that keep our beaches clean and protect our local coastline.” Surfrider Santa Cruz is a 100% volunteer-run Chapter. Funds raised through the Cleanup-a-Thon will support local programs including beach cleanups, Blue Water Task Force water quality testing, and other efforts to protect the Santa Cruz coastline. Participants are encouraged to invite friends, family, and coworkers to support the event by making pledges through the Chapter’s fundraising form. The more trash the community removes collectively, the greater the potential impact. Event Details What: Fundraising Beach Cleanup-a-Thon When: Sunday, October 4, 2026 | 9:00–11:00 AM Where: Rio Del Mar State Beach, 110 Aptos Beach Dr., Aptos, CA Who: Community members of all ages are welcome Sign up for the cleanup: https://x.gldn.io/e/RgfHrCx5j1b Pledge your support: https://forms.gle/KvjEm1WKTrfYosyN7 For more information, visit santacruz.surfrider.org. About Surfrider Fo
Experience the Bio-Vibe Table at SoulCare Studios, a gentle, non-invasive wellness experience using sound frequencies and soothing vibrations to encourage relaxation, release tension, and support overall balance. Simply lie down comfortably while the table delivers vibrations throughout the body, creating an opportunity to slow down, rest, and reset. ✨ Potential Benefits: • Encourages deep relaxation • Supports better sleep • Helps relieve muscle & joint tension • Supports a calmer nervous system • Helps reduce everyday stress Sessions & Pricing: 🌿 60-Minute Full-Body Session: $120 Package of 4: $400 🌿 30-Minute Focused Session: $65 Package of 4: $200 📅 Available Wednesdays & Sundays Other days are available upon request. 📍 SoulCare Studios 8035 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA Scan the QR code on the flyer to book your session.
Ticket price includes 1 pound of apples in addition to what you pick during your timed hour on the farm. Click the link in the orange button above to reserve your hour time slot. Apples are notorious for not reading travel itineraries. Please double check on what is ready to be picked before you go!
Docent-led tours of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve are every Saturday AND Sunday, at 10 am and 11 am. Tours are on a first-come, first-serve basis – visitors may sign up at the Visitor Center front desk, or call ahead the morning of using the phone number (831) 728-2822. The Docent will craft a walk that meets the groups needs and abilities.
Youth Robot Series - Santa Cruz Maker Studios
Youth Robot Series at Santa Cruz Maker Studios Join us for our 3-week Robot Series designed for youth (ages 7-12) who love building, problem-solving, and technology. Each Sunday, students will work through exciting engineering challenges while building and programming their very own robot. Time: 3 Sunday Sessions 10am -12pm for youth (7-12 years old). Please see available sessions. Cost Overview: $245 per series (includes all robot materials) Register Here: https://scmakerstudios.com/robot-series-registration-form/
Professional craftspeople from around the bay area offer seconds and overstock at incredibly low prices! Choose from a huge selection of decorative and functional pottery, blown and slumped glass, jewelry and more by nationally know artisans.
Wing Chun martial arts classes with instructor Marcus at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, meeting multiple times per week.
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
Bargetto Winery’s Courtyard Yoga with Alison Trybom Lucas. Elevate your Sunday ritual with Courtyard Yoga and a taste of Bargetto wine! $25 includes yoga class and a glass of Bargetto wine after class! Please bring your own mats and props. All levels welcome. Class is 60 minutes and starts at 10:45am in Bargetto Winery’s Creekside courtyard! Limited To 20 guests. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: https://bargetto.orderport.net/wines/EVENTS
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
Picnic of Memory at Evergreen Cemetery
Gatherings: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm | 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm Food is a bridge between worlds. It carries ritual, lineage, and presence across time. Picnic of Memory weaves local lore, historical crops, forgotten recipes, and global mourning traditions into a living gesture of remembrance. During the Victorian period, gathering for a picnic beside loved ones in the cemetery was a common, cherished way to honor the departed, weaving remembrance into the fabric of everyday life. From this practice to global traditions like Dia de los Muertos, Japanese Obon, and Korean Chuseok, sharing a meal at the threshold of death remains an ancient, human way to soften the veil. The Experience: Picnic of Memory transforms Evergreen Cemetery into an immersive experience combining site-specific walking installations with individual heirloom picnic baskets. Guests are also welcome to bring their own food & drinks to enjoy during the picnic gathering. Conceived of by Liz Birnbaum, founder of The Curated Feast, as a return to place-based culinary storytelling, Picnic of Memory invites you on a contemplative walk through site-specific installations before gathering on the lawn for a shared picnic. Baskets are crafted by Chef Jessica Yarr of The Grove in Felton, featuring local and historical flavors, and logistics and sourcing support thanks to Seth Heitzenrater of La Posta.
For information and registration click here: cherryvaleartfarm.com 🍒 See you this Fall! $75 - Oct 4th, 2026, 11:00 am -1:00 pm Deadline to Register is Sept. 27th, 2026 Dive into Autumn 2026 with our Pumpkin Succulent Workshop, and learn to create a unique arrangement of succulents and seasonal foliage atop a festive pumpkin base. During this workshop, we will visit our neighbors at Soquel U-Pick to select pumpkins, enjoy a selection of coffee, teas, and seasonal baked goods, and craft a lively decoration to spruce up your home all season long. Adults & Youth, minimum age 10, ages 10-13 must be accompanied by an adult. All materials are provided. 4900 Cherryvale Ave, Soquel CA 95073
Carlos Motta’s When Time Stands Still features new and recent installations, videos, and sculptures highlighting the artist’s preoccupation with the historical and aesthetic productions of difference and marginalization that shape the present. The selection of artworks in the exhibition explore the unsettling experience of living in a time that seems violently stuck on repeat. Archetypal figures from art history (a fool, a siren, a witness, a victim) reappear in the current moment as containers of time, bringing the past of imperialism, colonization, and displacement into a present marked by the rise of anti-immigration politics, climate injustice, and other forms of disposability. Some works challenge this violent repetition of time. The clock moves, if gruelingly, in an endurance-based video performance, No One, 2025. For forty-six minutes, the artist undertakes to keep his eyes open, witnessing, withstanding, confronting, and resisting the bombardment of images, both historical and otherwise, that normalize harm. In another video work, Gravity, 2024, performers enact rescue carries, supporting each other until they can’t bear the weight. Together, the artworks act as a proposal about how to rethink time—how to slow time—with a poetic and aesthetic cadence that might counter the numbing reverberations of living in the present. When Time Stands Still is organized as part of Visualizing Abolition, an arts-based initiative that reaches across prison borders to create a future free of prisons. About the Artist Carlos Motta (b. 1978, Colombia) is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice documents the social conditions and political struggles of sexual, gender, and ethnic communities, challenging normative discourses through acts of self-representation. His work has been the focus of several survey exhibitions.
Sunday, October 04 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm Advisory Council of Teens (ACT) is the SCPL young adult advisory group. ACT is open to all Santa Cruz County young adults, ages 12-18.
Victor ‘Marka27’ Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá
Organized in partnership with the Center for Art and Advocacy, located in Brooklyn, New York, Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá ( Not From Here, Not From There ) by multidisciplinary artist Victor ‘Marka27’ Quiñonez features a wide range of artworks that issue a bold declaration of dual belonging, including altars, an elaborately immersive botanica, paintings referencing visual symbolism drawn from textiles, graffiti and community traditions, and, in a series called I.C.E. Scream , large, brightly colored resin sculptures in the shape of melting Mexican paletas (popsicles). As the exhibition title suggests (a phrase widely used in bilingual and bicultural communities), these artworks reflect the artist’s interest in the experience of living between worlds even as violent notions of nationalism and identity pervade. Accompanying the exhibition, Elevar la Cultura , an immersive sculptural installation featuring a twenty-two-foot-tall pyramid built from ice coolers adorned with ancestral textiles, sacred symbols, and mural work will be on view at Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos (1817 Soquel) November 7, 2026- March 7, 2027. As Quiñonez explains, this sculpture epitomizes the contradictions of living—and laboring—as an immigrant in the United States: “Most people see the cooler as a tool for leisure…for barbecues, tailgating, and celebrations. But for immigrant communities, the cooler is a tool and symbol for opportunity and independence. In every major city, you see families and vendors selling fruit, food, and water out of these coolers on the streets and in subway stations. They’re a necessity for survival and a way to start an honest living,” the artist shares. The Institute of Arts and Sciences will be the second venue to successfully present Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá to the public. First organized by Boston University Art Galleries and curated by Kate Fowle in September of 2025, the exhibition debuted to critical acclaim before gaining national attention after its abrupt removal from
Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still
Carlos Motta’s When Time Stands Still, the artist’s second solo show with the IAS , features new and recent installations, videos, and sculptures highlighting the artist’s preoccupation with the historical and aesthetic productions of difference and marginalization that shape the present. The selection of artworks in the exhibition explore the unsettling experience of living in a time that seems violently stuck on repeat. Archetypal figures from art history (a fool, a siren, a witness, a victim) reappear in the current moment as containers of time, bringing the past of imperialism, colonization, and displacement into a present marked by the rise of anti-immigration politics, climate injustice, and other forms of disposability. Some works challenge this violent repetition of time. The clock moves, if gruelingly, in an endurance-based video performance, No One , 2025. For forty-six minutes, the artist undertakes to keep his eyes open, witnessing, withstanding, confronting, and resisting the bombardment of images, both historical and otherwise, that normalize harm. In another video work, Gravity , 2024, performers enact rescue carries, supporting each other until they can’t bear the weight. Together, the artworks act as a proposal about how to rethink time—how to slow time—with a poetic and aesthetic cadence that might counter the numbing reverberations of living in the present. When Time Stands Still is organized as part of Visualizing Abolition, an arts-based initiative that reaches across prison borders to create a future free of prisons. Carlos Motta (b. 1978, Colombia) is a multidisciplinary artist whose work has been shown widely nationally and internationally. Solo exhibitions venues include the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona; Nikolaj Kunsthal, Copenhagen; Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá; Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, OH ; Röda Sten Konsthall, Gothenburg, Sweden; Galeria Vermelho, São Paulo; Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM); Tate Modern, London; and
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!
Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá
“Ni de aquí, ni de allá” (“neither from here, nor there”), is a phrase commonly used by bilingual, bicultural communities. In the exhibition the phrase becomes a bold declaration of dual belonging against a violent notion of nationalism and identity. Through paintings, immersive installations, sculptural works, and a curated soundscape, Marka27 invites gallery goers into a vibrant, layered world where street culture meets Indigenous tradition, and personal memory collides with collective truth and activism. Curated by internationally recognized curator Kate Fowle, this exhibition is organized in partnership with The Center for Art & Advocacy and as part of Visualizing Abolition, an arts-based initiative that reaches across prison borders to contribute to the unfolding collective story and alternative imagining underway to create a future free of prisons.
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