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Free events in Santa Cruz County

348 upcoming, showing the next 60. In person only, on purpose.

Everything on the calendar that costs nothing to attend.

Sep
28

CHP Age Well, Drive Smart

📍 Santa Cruz Public Libraries
🕒 12:30 PM · See listing

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.

Community Free Details →
Sep
28

The Spoken Experience

📍 Capitola Branch Library
🕒 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM · FREE

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!

Art & Culture Free 📍 Capitola Details →
Sep
28

Environmental Studies Seminar Series | Lightning Talks by ENVS Faculty

📍 Interdisciplinary Sciences Building
🕒 1:25 PM – 2:30 PM · See listing

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

Education Free 📍 UCSC Details →
Sep
28

Crafternoons

📍 275 Main St Ste 100
🕒 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM · See listing

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

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Sep
28

The Cruz Room: Hosted Board Game Night

📍 The Cruz Room
🕒 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM · FREE

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

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Sep
28

Open Mic · Every Monday 5-8p

📍 The Ugly Mug
🕒 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM · See listing

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!

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Sep
28

Queer & Trans Yoga Hosted by Sapphire Yoga Collective @ TDC

📍 The Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County, 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
🕒 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM · FREE

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

LGBTQ+ Wellness 📍 Midtown Details →
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Sep
28

Hosted Board Game Night at The Cruz Room

📍 The Cruz Room
🕒 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM · FREE

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.

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Sep
28

Ronstadt Revolution: Linda Ronstadt Tribute

📍 The Audrey Stanley Grove at DeLaveaga Park
🕒 7:00 PM · See listing

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

Sep
28

Joseph Fink, The Nudge

📍 Santa Cruz
🕒 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM · See listing

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...

Art & Culture Free Details →
Sep
29

Planning for the Future

📍 Watsonville Senior Center
🕒 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM · FREE

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.

Community Free 📍 Watsonville Details →
Sep
29

Downsizing Without the Overwhelm: 10 Simple Steps to Start Today

📍 Scotts Valley Senior Center
🕒 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM · FREE

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.

Sep
29

Felton Farmers' Market

📍 St. John's Catholic Church grounds
🕒 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM · FREE

Tuesdays, May through October — over 30 years running, and the second-oldest market in the county (started in 1987). Regional farms set up tents full of fresh produce, meats, eggs, artisanal bread, and seafood, connecting you straight to the people who grow your food. Run by SCCFM since 2009, with deep ties to Felton. The kind of market regulars call a second home.

+ 4 more dates →
Sep
29

Trivia Tuesdays at Discretion

📍 Discretion Brewing
🕒 6:30 PM – 8:07 PM · See listing

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

Food & Drink Free 📍 Soquel Details →
+ 4 more dates →
Sep
30

Coffee with Provost Aims McGuinness

📍 Merrill College Office
🕒 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM · FREE

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

Education Free 📍 UCSC Details →
+ 12 more dates →
Sep
30

Vinyasa Yoga with Yogi Laxman Panthi

📍 Soulcare Studios
🕒 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM · $25

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.

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Sep
30

The Mindful U: Finding Calm, Clarity + Connection in a Chaotic World

📍 UC Santa Cruz
🕒 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM · FREE

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

Education Wellness 📍 UCSC Details →
Sep
30

Moving in Harmony with Life - Self-care Exercises for Vitality and Balance

📍 Hummingbird Valley
🕒 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM · FREE

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.

Wellness Free Details →
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Sep
30

Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers' Market

📍 Cedar St & Church St
🕒 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM · FREE

Wednesdays, 1–5 pm, year-round. Our biggest and oldest market is a block off Pacific. Open since 1990, with farms that helped build the organic movement. Eat with the seasons: fruits, vegetables, flowers, and pasture-raised meats, plus some of the county's most diverse food stalls, naan and curry, Eritrean dishes, pupusas, crepes, and long-ferment breads. Fill your bags, then stay for a meal

+ 2 more dates →
Sep
30

Motion Pacific: Dance for PD

📍 Motion Pacific at The Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center
🕒 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM · FREE

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.

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Sep
30

Make & Explore @ Garfield Park

📍 Garfield Park Branch Library
🕒 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM · See listing

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!

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Sep
30

Wig Out Wednesday

📍 Big Basin Vineyards Tasting Room + Wine Bar
🕒 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM · FREE

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.

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Sep
30

Gay Beach Volleyball (Outside Community Series)

📍 Court 16, Santa Cruz Main Beach Volleyball, 270 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
🕒 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM · FREE

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! .

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Sep
30

Cat & Cloud 10 Year Anniversary Party

📍 Cat & Cloud Coffee
🕒 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM · FREE

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.

Food & Drink Free Details →
Sep
30

Santa Cruz: Wednesday Night Sailboat Races

📍 Santa Cruz Harbor
🕒 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM · FREE

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.

+ 1 more date →
Sep
30

Free Pub Trivia

📍 Britannia Arms
🕒 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM · FREE

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!

Community Free 📍 Capitola Details →
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Sep
30

Reiki Sound Bath with Dallas McKenzie & Jessica McCord

📍 Soulcare Studios
🕒 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM · FREE

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

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Oct
1

Guided Mindfulness for Queers and Friends Hosted by TDC @ TDC

📍 1117 Soquel Ave.
🕒 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM · FREE

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.

LGBTQ+ Wellness 📍 Midtown Details →
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Oct
1

Open Archives

📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
🕒 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · See listing

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]

+ 2 more dates →
Oct
1

Far West Fungi: Myco-Mixer

📍 Far West Fungi
🕒 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM · FREE

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!

Food & Drink Free 📍 Westside Details →
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Oct
1

Mariposa de la Comunidad LGBTQ+ De Watsonville (Hosted by TDC @ Watsonville Library)

📍 Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St STE 100, Watsonville, CA 95076, USA
🕒 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM · FREE

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.

LGBTQ+ Community 📍 Watsonville Details →
Oct
1

Shanty Shack Brewing: Trolley Drops Jug Band

📍 Shanty Shack Brewing
🕒 5:45 PM – 7:30 PM · FREE

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.

Community Free Details →

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