Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery August 13-September 19, 2026 Opening celebration and Artist Talk Saturday, August 15, 2-4:30 p.m Light refreshments will be served. Summer Gallery Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 1-5pm ReView: UC Santa Cruz Arts Alumni Exhibition features Arts Division alumni from the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas. Curated by Valรฉria Miranda, the Sesnonโs Director, ReView includes a wide variety of media and techniques highlighting the diversity of contemporary practice of alumni who graduated from 1972 to 2025. The exhibition title alludes to the portfolio critique process and suggests ideas of reflection and reevaluationโwhether revisiting past work, rethinking materials, or tracing how a practice evolves over time. This exhibition celebrates the creative path of artists who began their journeys at UC Santa Cruz. United by shared roots yet defined by distinct paths, the participating alumni reflect the lasting influence of the Arts Division programs. Their works speak to the spirit of inquiry, experimentation, and perseverance that has long shaped the universityโs artistic community. ReView presents an opportunity for the campus and larger community to see the professional practice of these artists who continue to build on the creative foundation that they received at UCSC and to inspire our current students, offering visualization of their own future artistic journeys after graduation. ReView offers a unique opportunity for returning alumni to celebrate their creative expressions while reconnecting with classmates and the university community. Admission is free and open to the public. More Information
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.
โ Featured this season
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Featured Event
Open House Tour at the New Puppetry Institute!
Important News from The Puppetry Institute Like many arts organizations, weโve been navigating the realities of a challenging economic landscape. Running two separate locations has become increasingly difficult, and after a great deal of thought weโve made the decision to move from our previous location and reopen our art school inside our MIDDLEOF space, unit D-06 in the Capitola Mall. While change is never easy, we truly believe this move creates something exciting. By bringing everything together under one roof, weโll be able to continue offering our incredible workshops while also having enough space for our interactive puppetry installations, art gallery, and live performances. It allows us to create a home where imagination, education, and immersive art can exist side by side. These are difficult times for the arts, and organizations like ours are constantly finding creative ways to keep the magic alive. We believe this move will help ensure that we can continue sharing our unique brand of creativity, storytelling, and wonder with the Central Coast community weโre proud to call home for the past 10 years Thank you to everyone who has supported us through every chapter of this journey. Your encouragement, attendance, donations, and belief in what we do continue to make all of this possible. Weโre excited for this next adventure and canโt wait to welcome you into this new chapter of The Puppetry Institute. Learn more about who we are and what we do please visit us Sept 4th from 4-7pm for a tour of our classroom and our magical 5000 sq ft
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Featured
43rd Annual Capitola Art & Wine Festival
Stroll the festival with friends and family, sipping exceptional wines from Santa Cruz Mountain wineries while admiring the artistic talents of over 100 fine artists. Sway to live music and be inspired by local dance groups while taking in the ocean breeze and breathtaking view of the Monterey Bay. Feed your cravings with tantalizing cuisine from local food purveyors, and cruise through the Artisans Marketplace for locally handcrafted goods. If that isnโt enough, Capitola Village is filled with restaurants for every taste and charming boutiques to satisfy a shopperโs dream. Art, wine, music, and gourmet cuisine in the enchanting beach-side setting of Capitola Villageโฆsummerโs last hurrah, and truly a weekend in paradise! This event is from 10am to 6pm on Saturday, September 12 and from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, September 13. See link to the event in the orange box above.
Coming up
Ceremony of Sound: Sound Bath Practitioner Certification Course
โก Ceremony of Sound โก Breath+Onenessโ 100-hour Sound Healing Certification Course Get Certified in 4 weekends over 4 months โจ Designed for beginner and intermediate musicians, healers, yoga teachers, therapists, and anyone who wants to use resonance and vibration in their offerings, ceremonies, and classes. โข Add to your current career or start a new one as you share your gift of sound healing with the world โข Become who you are meant to be! Follow your purpose, passion, and artistic expression into the embrace of sound healing ๐ต๐ต๐ต _____________________________ ๐ Fall Session 2026 | 4 Weekends over 4 Months All days are 8:30am-5:30pm 9/4-9/6 10/3-10/4 11/7-11/8 12/4-12/6 ๐ EARLY BIRD pricing! Register by May 31st to save $250 on tuition. ๐ In order to provide each participant with personal feedback and to cultivate deep and meaningful relationships with our cohort, we keep the group size limited. Register early for early bird pricing and to reserve your spot! Staff teachers: Lead Teacher: Dallas McKenzie Co-Lead Teacher: Adron Beene Support Teachers: Alex Harrison, Sam David, and Carrie Arlah Burr _____________________________ This course is for you if you want to: - Initiate or expand your relationship with music, sound, resonance, and vibration - Deepen your ability to heal and offer healing to others - Play many different instruments (including renowned brands Meinl Sonic Energy and Crystal Tones crystal singing bowls) and develop further with the ones you resonate with most - Set and hold ceremonial space through prayer, intention, and sound - Take people on journeys, sound baths, potent yoga classes, and more - Explore vibrational healing instruments such as Crystal Tones crystal bowls, your voice, drums, flute, digeridoo, chimes, gong, and much more - Deepen and expand your self-expression and artistry - Connect with an intimate group of no more than 15 students along with your mentors and teachers for ample individualized attention and personal practice _____
Coming up
September First Friday @ Treehouse Dispensary!
Photo: Ariel Taylor with artwork Deeper FIRST FRIDAY at TREEHOUSE! Celebrate the last month of Summer with us! Community over everything. <3 We offer specials on our featured cannabis brands, discounts on artists who have work on display, and a penny wheel for you to spin when you spend over $50! Specials run all day! Resident Artists on Display: Cole Lemke (aka Chump Magic), Ariel Taylor, Brittany Costanzo, & Mio Kamstra-Brown Featured Cannabis Brands (Some will be here in person from 11:00am โ 1:00pm!): โข Allswell โข Arcata Fire โข Auntie Aloha โข BLOOM โข Daze Off โข Glass House Farms โข Give Thanks/ Stony's Reserves โข Greenline โข Habitat โข Heavy Hitters โข Jetty โข Kanha โข KwikEase โข Maven Genetics โข Not Your Father's โข Pabst โข Pacific Stone โข PLUS โข Punch โข Pure Beauty โข Raw Garden โข Shooters โข Space Craft โข St. Ides โข. UpNorth โข Follow us on Instagram @treehousedispensary_sc! Head to our website for all the details! www.OurTreehouse.io ยท (831) 471-8289 ยท 3651 Soquel Drive, Soquel CA ยท C10-0000105-LIC ยท 21+ only please We can't wait to see you there! ๐ Swing by to look at the art on our walls & take advantage of our dope deals!
Coming up
Free First Friday
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. First Friday hours are 12-8pm. See you then!
โ๏ธ Happening today
Friday, September 493 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 30 of 128 upcoming events ยท from 2026-09-05 ยท to 2026-09-06
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Birding for Beginners
Learn all about life histories, behaviors, field markings, etc. On this 1-mile walk, you will make specific observations about characteristics that will certainly help you quack the case for many bird identifications! Make sure to bring binoculars and weather appropriate attire. For this month, meet in front of the Henry Cowell Visitor Center, near the redwood loop trail. Free event. The vehicle day-use fee is $10. Hold on to that receipt! Once you have paid for parking at one state park or beach, you have paid for parking at all of them, and there are over 14 in Santa Cruz County alone!
For many of us the upcoming Labor Day is the end of summer. That may be but that is hardly the end of the most delicious produce available anywhere. There are still many summer fruits and certainly a wide variety of beautiful vegetables to be had. Come out and talk to the vendors about new and interesting recipes to delight your palate and your eye. More sites and times are available at https://www.montereycfb.com
Zen Meditation. Open to all. Free of charge.
Young Ladies Institute Fall Rummage Sale!
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!
Please join Vets 4 Vets Santa Cruz and Save Our Shores to help keep our coastline pristine. Itโs a great way to connect with neighbors and protect our local marine life. We provide gloves, bags, fresh donuts, and hot coffee. Meet us at the East Cliff Drive parking lot.
Come get your hands dirty and help native plants thrive in some of the parkโs 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. Weโll 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 parkโs native habitat healthy and thriving! ๐ฟ 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.
Enjoy Dynomite Farmโs show-quality dahlia beds for intimate, unhurried cutting experiences where you and your friends have the field to yourselves. No crowds. No rushing. Just you, your people, and a thousand flowers. Companion passes are available for guests who want to join the fun, explore the farm, and take in the beauty without cutting flowers. Friendly chickens roam the property, there are swings for little ones.
Motion Pacific: Adult Beginning Ballet
This is a mixed-level ballet class for adult ballet dancers with Elizebeth Randall Rains.
Enjoy another season of: ๐ U-Pick Apples ๐ Pumpkins ๐ณ Beautiful Orchard Views ๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ Family Fun Apples are notorious for not reading travel itineraries. Please double check on what is ready to be picked before you go!
From Trees to Shining Seas โ 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. Todayโs 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.
Elkhorn Slough: Free Tour of the Preserve
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 โ 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!
Ben Lomond County Park: Village Market
Held on the first Saturday of each month from June through October, this vibrant market offers fresh produce, handmade crafts, delicious foods, and live music. Enjoy family-friendly activities and meet talented local creators. Whether youโre shopping for unique goods, savoring local flavors, or simply soaking in the atmosphere, the Village is a must-visit event.
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 SoulCollageยฎ 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, SoulCollageยฎ 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 SoulCollageยฎ cards! We use scissors, glue, and images cut from magazines to create our cards. Youโll take home several finished cardsโand 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
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.
On Saturday, September 5, we're filling a 20,000sq ft event space with an absolutely stacked lineup of restaurants, breweries, coffee shops, makers, artists, and assorted businesses from Santa Cruz and beyond.
Collective Santa Cruz and DoubleMeatPlease from Instagram are brining together some of the best restaurants, breweries, coffee shops, food trucks, pop ups, and local makers from all over Santa Cruz County. And theyโre packing them in a BRAND NEW VENUE thatโs 20,0000sq ft! Your favorite food spots/makers, and so many bangers you canโt wait to see! All in one spot. All for one day!
Wilder Ranch State Park: Living History Dairy Ranch
Go on a trip back in time to experience what life would have been like on a working dairy ranch in the early 1900s. At this living history event, costumed docents will guide you through the past and take you into historic homes, barns, and workshops. Learn all about the park partners and how they help Wilder Ranch and experience old-fashioned crafts, activities, and games at this family-friendly event. Rain cancels. Free event. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. Hold on to that receipt! Once you pay for parking at one state park, you have paid for all of them for the day, and there are over 14 in Santa Cruz County alone!
First Saturday Tours are a wonderful way to introduce yourself to the Arboretum or to deepen your understanding of the Arboretumโs 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. You might learn more 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 extreme weather and climate conditions.
Saturday, September 05 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm Join us each Saturday morning for a relaxing time crafting with your neighbors.
Saturday, September 05 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm In partnership with the Volunteer Center Literacy Program
Go explore the harbor shops, restaurants and experiences with very little car traffic! Passengers may be picked up and dropped off at the following locations: X1 Gate (northeast harbor) AA Dock (southwest harbor) Launch Ramp (southeast harbor) Please visit the Port Districtโs website to view the map for all water taxi pick-up and drop-off locations in the harbor. Visitor parking is available for water taxi passengers in the north harbor near X Dock.
First Saturday Tours are a wonderful way to introduce yourself to the Arboretum or to deepen your knowledge of the Arboretumโs 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.
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.
Come join Librarian Emily for stories, songs, and lots of fun for preschoolers and their caregivers in our beautiful Scotts Valley Library Branch every Friday at 11:30am. Please note the time change!
Saturday, September 05 2026 10:30am - 11:30am Step into a world of imagination with stories, rhymes, and songs for children ages 0โ8, shared with families and caregivers in a warm, welcoming space.
Harvest Vine and Wine Walk with French Worker's Lunch
Join us at our Santa Cruz Mountains winery for seasonal hikes through the vines and finish with a Provenรงal Workerโs lunch paired with wine.
Saturday, September 05 2026 10:30am - 11:15am ยกAcompรกรฑanos en nuestro nuevo horario, cada primer sรกbado del mes!
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