Do you love local food and farms? Want to get to know your farmer better and get a behind-the-scenes look into our regions vibrant working agricultural landscape? During the 2026 Open Farm Tours, you can meet the farmers and learn what it takes to bring your favorite high-quality local farm products to your plate. All farms implement sustainable agriculture practices & are family owned. The greatest part about Open Farm Tours is learning what makes every farm unique. Press apples for fresh juice at one farm, taste over 10 varieties of figs at another and then head over to another farm to pick tomatoes. Touring farms is a fantastic outdoor family activity to do together and October is a great time to get out and explore! Each ticket admits one car load of up to 5 people for both days.
From the waves to the redwoods, it's all happening here.
Live music, festivals, art walks, surf contests, trail days and everything in between.
In-person only, on purpose. Everything here is something you can actually show up to. No screens, no streams.
★ Featured this season
★ Featured Event
The Kick Off - Sonivore Listening Lounge
THE KICK OFF is a one-night fundraiser for the Sonivore Listening Lounge at 701 Front Street. DJs, live performances, visual art by Made Fresh Crew, and a first taste of Sonivore — just days before our Kickstarter closes. Donation-based entry. To RSVP in advance, pledge at least the minimum tier on Kickstarter, or Venmo a donation to @sonivoremusic with “Fundraiser” in the note. You can also donate at the door. Come through and help us bring the lounge to life.
★ Featured
Afrobeats Nite at the IAS
Join us for a night of dancing, joy, and community organized by Afrobeats Nite Santa Cruz featuring DJ Mai Girl and DJ Monk Earl. In addition to music, there will be vendors, food trucks, and late night showings of the exhibitions Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá and Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still . This event is FREE and open to the public. Afrobeats Nite at the IAS is a collaboration with 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. Jase “Monk” Earl is a Santa Cruz–based DJ, curator, cultural producer, educator, and writer whose understanding of community is rooted in Hip Hop culture and shaped by his upbringing in the immigrant-rich neighborhood of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. As the founder of Afroscope Promotions and founder, curator, and resident DJ of Afrobeats Nite Santa Cruz, he creates public spaces where African and diasporic music become catalysts for connection, cultural exchange, and collective celebration. DJ Mai Girl plays festivals, clubs, shows, and private events all over the West Coast and beyond. Her unique blend of genres and hand-picked selections– whether it be hip hop, soul, house, jazzy vibes, old school jams, Afro, Caribbean or Latin rhythms– keep people moving all night. She consistently plays one Stevie or Prince song every set to remind herself of why she started DJing in the first place.
★ Featured
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Adventure Night
Rio Theatre & Sante Adairius Midtown Portal team up to support Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship Join us for the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Adventure Night October 10th at 7 pm, Rio Theatre Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world! Join us when we screen this all new Adventure line up of films featuring BEST DAY EVER, the Audience Choice Award Winner and Best Film: Mountain Sports along with five other audience favorites. This year’s films are bound to showcase an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world. The Rio Theatre has been hosting the annual adventure night since 2013. Guaranteed to sell out! Visit https://www.riotheatre.com/events-2/2026/10/10/banffcentremountain for a complete list of films and tickets.
Coming up
Kishi Bashi:: Rio Theatre Santa Cruz 10/6
(((folkYEAH!))) presents KISHI BASHI Rio Theatre Santa Cruz, CA October 6, 2026 Doors 7pm / Show 8pm All Ages
Coming up
Dual Demons - CLASS
A recurring dance class in Santa Cruz. Check with the venue for specific style and level.
☀️ Happening today
Tuesday, October 655 events on today. No plans required, just go. See the full day →
What's happening
Filter by category, date, or area. Everything listed is in person, county-wide.
Showing 30 of 148 upcoming events · from 2026-10-10 · to 2026-10-11
Check out the Classic, Vintage and Retro Thunderbirds on display then stick around to enjoy fabulous shopping and/or grab a bite at one of the many fine local eateries with the best views in Santa Cruz!
Zen Meditation. Open to all. Free of charge.
Come enjoy picking your own organic strawberries and/or flowers at the campus farm! When : U-picks will take place on Saturdays from 9am to 12pm, July 11–August 22, or while supplies last. PLEASE NOTE that u-pick will not occur on Saturday, July 4. Where : Free parking will be available in the Hay Barn lot or lot 115/116 during u-pick hours. Please do not park in the dirt lot at the farm’s back gate. Please walk to the check-in table near the strawberries/flowers at the farm to pre-pay and collect your u-pick container(s). We will have directional signage displayed. There is one ADA parking spot on the farm. The UCSC Farm has uneven, hilly terrain. If you require accommodations to fully participate, please email [email protected] and we will do our best to accommodate. Cost: UCSC students with valid ID get 25% off produce. Strawberry pints – $4 each Strawberry flats (12 pints) – $44 Flowers – $25 for 32oz deli container Flower buckets – $75 Payment : Credit card payments only (you will need a smartphone to scan a QR code and enter your card info manually). Dogs are not allowed on the UC Santa Cruz campus (service animals are OK).
Classic cars and coffee every Saturday morning, in East Lake Village Shopping Center. It doesn't get much better. Come walk around the expansive parking lot, look at some beautifully restored cars, drink delicious coffee, and visit with your community. Stay awhile and enjoy one of the many great eateries in the shopping center!
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm In partnership with the Volunteer Center Literacy Program
Dress up for Halloween with favorites Thomas and Percy, for a 20-minute train ride, entertainment, and fun-filled activities for the entire family. ACTIVITIES Photos with Thomas, Percy & Sir Topham Hatt Thomas Train Play Tables Pick-A-Pumpkin Bounce Houses Bubble station Live Music with Peter Apel Mr. Miraculous the Magician AND MORE!
Learn the how, where and why fire is used to manage the natural landscape at the Central Coast Good Fire Fair on Saturday, Oct. 10. The fair is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton in Santa Cruz County. The event is sponsored by the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network & Santa Cruz Mountains Forests Program and California State Parks. "If conditions are right, you'll be able to see a prescribed fire carried out by local resource managers right in the heart of a Santa Cruz Mountains coast redwood grove" said Brian Woodward, UC Cooperative Extension forest advisor for Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. The Good Fire Fair will offer educational activities for children and adults: Learn how to safely build, tend and extinguish a campfire Watch a live prescribed fire of redwood understory growth (likely between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., depending on the weather and permitting safe and favorable conditions) Savor sandwiches, burgers and Venezuelan food from local food trucks Observe demonstrations and visit informative booths Learn how to make your home more resilient to wildfire Test your fire knowledge and win prizes “The event will also include organizations from across our region related to good fire, home hardening, and natural resource management, with lots of fun activities for those of all ages,” said Woodward. The event is free, but parking at the park is $10. No registration required.
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.
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:00am - 3:00pm Gently used books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, puzzles and games will be sold. Proceeds support the programs and activities at the Scotts Valley Branch Library.
Santa Cruz Maker Studios at the Seymour Center
Check out Santa Cruz Maker Studios at the Seymour Center. Hands-on Activities include: Build and test a seawall Make a wooden sea creature Ocean-themed 3D kits Create felt ocean ornamentsActivities included with admission. While supplies last.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Sandhills Tour
Get ready to hike around an ancient seafloor! On this 1.5 mile hike through the Sandhills, which will last approximately 2 hours, participants can meander through sandy soils on the mountain top, about 800 feet above present day sea level. Explore this beautiful landscape and learn about the rare and unique things that call it home. The hike is recommended for ages 8 and up. Children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Plan to meet in the parking lot of the campground (located off Graham Hill Rd.).
Writing Circle: Open to the writer in each of us, this group allows for creative exploration in a supportive space right where you are. Each session is a surprise. Your creations are prompted by writing activities and the stories of your life—bring your notebook and invite your muse. Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month, 10 am to 12 noon at WomenCARE’s Soquel office.
Meet your farmers and tour multiple local & family-owned farms on Saturday & Sunday, October 10th – 11th at Open Farm Tours! Learn what is involved in growing our food and get a behind-the-scenes look into our region’s vibrant working agricultural landscape. Participate in farm activities like apple juicing, tastings, U-Picks, workshops, demos & more. Learn about the sustainable agriculture methods used to grow our food and spend a day outside getting to know our farming community. Healthy food, farms and families is what we’re all about! Friends and Family Weekend Pass - $25 admits 1 carload of up to 5 people to farms both Saturday and Sunday.
The Land Speaks Community Folk Opera
A 4-act journey to heal our colonialist history through story, community singing and grief practices
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:00am - 1:00pm Join us each Saturday morning for a relaxing time crafting with your neighbors.
Learn to extract vibrant colors from cochineal, marigold, and indigo to create a range of hues for dyeing natural fiber yarns used throughout the workshop. Felise teaches not only the technical steps of the process, but also encourages a deep-rooted connection with nature, transforming the ancient alchemy of the art into a practice of presence. Explore frame loom tapestry weaving with naturally dyed yarns from Oaxaca. Samuel is a wisdom keeper who teaches through storytelling, connecting the art form to indigenous cosmology. This is a special opportunity to weave your own tapestry while learning about the ancient symbols encoding the oral history and beliefs of the Zapotec people.
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm Join us each Saturday morning for a relaxing time crafting with your neighbors.
Join us for a mini market on October 10th with local makers, vintage, art, treasures, tunes, and more!! 345 Swift Street, 10am-4pm. No place you'd rather be!
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.
Weaving / Colors: Traditional Zapotec Weaving and Natural Dyeing
Dive into the world of weaving and natural color. Learn to work a loom and to draw rich, living color from plants — two ancient, intertwined crafts. We’ll explore traditional weaving techniques alongside natural dyeing — cochineal, marigold and indigo — learning the history, materials, and hands-on practice of turning fiber and plant into finished cloth. Learn to extract vibrant colors from cochineal, marigold, and indigo to create a range of hues for dyeing natural fiber yarns used throughout the workshop. Felise teaches not only the technical steps of the process, but also encourages a deep-rooted connection with nature, transforming the ancient alchemy of the art into a practice of presence. Explore frame loom tapestry weaving with naturally dyed yarns from Oaxaca. Samuel is a wisdom keeper who teaches through storytelling, connecting the art form to indigenous cosmology. This is a special opportunity to weave your own tapestry while learning about the ancient symbols encoding the oral history and beliefs of the Zapotec people.
Meet local farmers and explore working farms while learning how food is grown. South County farms welcome visitors Saturday, followed by North County farms Sunday. Check the activity guide for individual schedules.
Saturday, October 10 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 10 2026 10:15am - 12:15pm A joint meeting between the League of Women Voters and AAUW to discuss the initiatives on the November ballot.
Seymour Center’s Seaside Storytime
Get ready to set sail on a storybook adventure! 📚 ✨ It’s the ultimate weekend treat to spark big imaginations, foster a love for nature, and nurture the next generation of ocean heroes! 🌊 🐚 📖 Our friends at Bookshop Santa Cruz have hand-selected a collection of books about the environment that are perfect for young readers. We hope to see you there! Join Seaside Storytime on the second Saturday of every month!
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.
Write Queer, a creative writing group @TDC
Write Queer, a creative writing group Date: May 9, and the Second and Fourth Saturdays Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 Noon Cost: Free Location: The Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Ages: 18+ Join Jesse and Peggy for all or part of this series, running from March through May. Unleash your creativity at Write Queer, an 18+ group for writers of all levels. Respond to provided prompts, or bring your own projects. Meetings include writing time, optional sharing and positive feedback. Please bring a pen and paper or a laptop. .
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:30am - 11:30am Celebrate different ways of learning and experiencing the world with a special storytime focused on dyslexia awareness.
Saturday, October 10 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.
Saturday, October 10 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm The Zentangle Method is a fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Join Certified Zentangle Teacher Lisa Hoesing for an introductory workshop and monthly meetup.
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