Sun
Nov
15
The County's best selection of menorahs, candles, dreidles, affordable gifts for everyone. Your one-stop shop for Hanukkah. Decorations, paper plates, novelty items, books, chocolate gelt…
Cultural events in Santa Cruz County
36 upcoming. In person only, on purpose.
Heritage celebrations, cultural festivals, and traditions from the communities that make up the county.
Sunday, Nov 15
Sun
Nov
15
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
When: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM · Price: $26.45
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…
+ 45 more dates →Sun
Nov
15
UCSC: Victor “Marka27” Exhibition
Where: UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
When: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM · Price: FREE
“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…
+ 22 more dates →Sun
Nov
15
Quail Hollow Ranch: Ranch House Tour
Where: Quail Hollow Ranch County Park
When: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Price: FREE
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…
Sun
Nov
15
Wilder Ranch: Historic Grounds Tours
Where: Wilder Ranch State Park
When: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM · Price: FREE
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…
+ 25 more dates →Monday, Nov 16
Mon
Nov
16
With a career spanning more than twenty years and six studio albums, Las Migas have become one of the most internationally acclaimed Spanish bands. They…
Tuesday, Nov 17
Tue
Nov
17
Displacements of Cubanidad: Drag, Pageantry, and Diasporic Representation -A Huerta Center Brown Bag presentation with Jennifer Gottlieb
Where: Huerta Center Conference Room (Casa Latina)
When: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
In this talk, Jennifer interrogates how Cuban identity is performed, disciplined, and made legible within globalized media systems that simultaneously celebrate diversity and constrain it…
Tue
Nov
17
Kids Class: Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian Dance
Where: The 418 Project
When: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Weekly kids' classes in traditional hula and Tahitian dance, led by Te Hau Nui School at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz.
Tue
Nov
17
Kaika Class: Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian Dance
Where: The 418 Project
When: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
A hula and Tahitian dance class for those interested in learning traditional Polynesian movement.
+ 5 more dates →Tue
Nov
17
Wahine Advanced Class: Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian Dance
Where: The 418 Project
When: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Advanced hula and Tahitian dance class for experienced dancers. Part of Te Hau Nui School's curriculum.
+ 5 more dates →Wednesday, Nov 18
Wed
Nov
18
Entre Nosotras: Open to Spanish-speaking women with cancer at all stages, from diagnosis through treatment and the healing process. Groups are led in Spanish and…
Wed
Nov
18
A regular tango class in Downtown Santa Cruz, offering a way to learn Latin dance in a social, cultural setting.
Wed
Nov
18
TCB-The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing
Where: Rio Theatre for the Performing Arts
When: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Price: FREE
Screening and Conversation Join Visualizing Abolition at the Rio Theatre for a screening of TCB, The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing, followed by a…
Thursday, Nov 19
Thu
Nov
19
Native American Heritage Month Storytime @ Felton
Where: Felton Branch Library
When: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Today we celebrate Native American Heritage month though stories, songs, rhymes, and lots of fun!
Thu
Nov
19
Learn about the Pasifika student experience in higher education on Thursday, November 19th from 4:30-6:30pm at the Mary Holmes Fireside Lounge (Cowell), as we reflect…
Thu
Nov
19
A dance session centered on Congolese movement, held at a Santa Cruz arts space. For dancers curious to explore rhythm, style, and cultural tradition through…
+ 2 more dates →Thu
Nov
19
A weekly Congo dance class in Santa Cruz. Participants learn traditional African dance movements in a group setting at The 418 Project.
+ 4 more dates →Thu
Nov
19
The Humanities Institute is proud to present The Seventeenth Annual Morton Marcus Poetry Reading featuring California Poet Laureate, Lee Herrick. Lee Herrick is the first…
Friday, Nov 20
Fri
Nov
20
TWDCC’s Deep Roots Dance Fest Nov 20-21
Where: Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center
When: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM · Price: $25
Deep Roots Dance Fest is a celebration of heritage, innovation, and artistic evolution. Each year, artists of the African Diaspora draw inspiration from traditional dance…
+ 1 more date →Saturday, Nov 21
Sat
Nov
21
Watsonville Woman’s Club: Holiday Native Arts Market
Where: Watsonville Woman's Club
When: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM · Price: FREE
Enjoy the second Holiday Native Arts Market in Santa Cruz County! Buy made in the USA by from a variety of indigenous artisans. There will…
Wednesday, Nov 25
Wed
Nov
25
See our Practices and Pujas page for more information on weekly pujas. Tara is the female deity who embodies the enlighten activities of all the…
+ 1 more date →Thursday, Nov 26
Thu
Nov
26
Every year, International Student Services and Programming invites faculty and staff to host international students for Thanksgiving dinner. This wonderful opportunity allows our UCSC faculty…
Monday, Nov 30
Mon
Nov
30
A weekly Afro-Brazilian dance class focusing on rhythm and movement.
Wednesday, Dec 2
Wed
Dec
2
Santa Cruz Civic Center: A Taste of Ireland Christmas
Where: Civic Auditorium
When: 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM · Price: $39.9
A Celtic Christmas is the gift nobody expects but everyone remembers. The night out you’ve been meaning to book. The memory you’ll make with the…
Thursday, Dec 3
Thu
Dec
3
Aesthetic Breach: Past and Present Struggles for Justice in North African Comics
Where: Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery
When: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM · Price: FREE
This exhibition brings together comics and graphic narratives from Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, introducing a broad range of contemporary artists while centering the works…
+ 2 more dates →Thu
Dec
3
Mariposa de la Comunidad LGBTQ+ De Watsonville (Hosted by TDC @ Watsonville Library)
Where: Watsonville Public Library
When: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
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+…
+ 1 more date →Sunday, Dec 6
Sun
Dec
6
Wintersongs with Kitka - SANTA CRUZ
Where: Peace United Church of Christ
When: 7:30 PM – 9:15 PM · Price: $33.85
Seasonal Songs of Comfort and Joy from Balkan, Baltic, Caucasian, and Slavic Lands
Thursday, Dec 10
Thu
Dec
10
Please join Temple Beth El for a Chanukah Story Hour! We'll gather together to read stories and sing songs. Perfect for families with children of…
Family
Cultural Event
Thu
Dec
10
The three-time, GRAMMY-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra is one of the finest music ensembles around. They have performed at many of the great performing arts centers…
Saturday, Dec 12
Sat
Dec
12
Thursday, Dec 17
Thu
Dec
17
Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas recreates the joy and innocence of a night before Christmas in a remote farmhouse in his native parish of Teampall…
Thu
Dec
17
Tomáseen Foley's A Celtic Christmas
Where: Music Center Recital Hall
When: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM · Price: $49.87
A winter holiday celebration of Irish Music, Dance, Song, and Storytelling. A Celtic Christmas is now in it's 31st year touring nationally!
Saturday, Dec 19
Sat
Dec
19
THE NUTCRACKER, REIMAGINED FOR SANTA CRUZ December 19-20, 2026 • Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium 1pm & 5pm Santa Cruz Dance Theater’s The Nutcracker reimagines this…
Sat
Dec
19
Join us for a special celebration of Yalda, the ancient Persian festival of the Winter Solstice.
Wednesday, Dec 30
Wed
Dec
30
Victor ‘Marka27’ Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá
Where: UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
When: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
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…
Saturday, Jan 16
Sat
Jan
16
Join us for the 5th Annual SWANA Con, hosted at UC Riverside on January 16-17, 2027. SWANA Con is an annual conference dedicated to Southwest…
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