Events - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Thu, Jul. 9

Sister Act, The Musical

Cabrillo Stage is a musical theatre company dedicated to presenting high-caliber, large-scale musical productions to the area. They are committed to the creation of musicals with Broadway-level production values. In this way, they foster educational opportunities while giving audiences the highest-quality family entertainment. They aim to be a destination point for the best of live theatre. Sister Act hits the…

Cabrillo College Crocker Theater, Aptos, CA

Thu, Jul. 16

Free Beach BBQ Parties and Concerts

Every Thursday throughout the summer, enjoy a family-friendly party on the beach at no charge! There will be local bands and DJs performing on the outdoor stage, providing music for dancing and socializing. There will be BBQ food and drinks for purchase all in a beachside setting providing stunning views of the ocean and Walton Lighthouse. Parking is limited in…

Santa Cruz Harbor Beach, Santa Cruz, CA

Thu, Jul. 16

Music in the Courtyard

Head to Bargetto Winery’s creekside courtyard in Soquel on Thursday evenings for Live Music and Wine! There is no cover charge and wine by the glass and light snacks are available for purchase. May 7, 2026: Alex Lucero May 14, 2026: James Durbin May 21, 2026: The Joint Chiefs May 28, 2026: Sambada June 4, 2026: Alex Lucero June 11,…

Bargetto Winery, Soquel, CA

Thu, Jul. 16

Jurrasic Jungle Book – A Three Hour Tour

Little People's Repertory Theatre Presents Jurassic Jungle Book: A Three-Hour Tour Little People's Repertory Theatre (LPRT) presents Jurassic Jungle Book: A Three-Hour Tour, an original rock musical by Jannine Chadwick, Directed by Daria Elise Troxell, Musical Direction Gabe House. During a sightseeing boat tour, seven passengers become castaways when their boat is shipwrecked on a tropical jungle island. The island…

Park Hall Ben Lomond, Ben Lomond

Thu, Jul. 16

Free Outdoor Movie Night

Grab some lawn chairs and some blankets and cozy up for this free movie night on Seabright! July 9: The SpongeBob Movie July 16: Legally Blonde July 23: Minecraft Movie July 30: Shrek August 6: Hoppers August 13: Goat

Murray St and Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz

Fri, Jul. 17

Gateway School’s July Jamboree

Join Gateway School for our July Jamboree! Field games, gladiator battles, water play, arts, crafts, games, and more! Izzy's icees and tacos. Free community event. All are welcome to join the fun!

Gateway School, Santa Cruz

Fri, Jul. 17

FIFA World Cup Activation

United Way presents FIFA World Cup Activations at Watsonville Youth Center with fun-filled activities! See below for each event detail: June 12, 2026 | FC Tournament Kick-Off – Celebrate the tournament kickoff with crafts, wellness, activities and healthy competition. July 9, 2026 | FC Tournament Semi-Finals – Join United Way for semi-final excitement, community activities, and mental wellness resources. July…

Watsonville Youth Center, Watsonville, CA

Sat, Jul. 18

Saturdays in the Soil

We are coming together as a community to steward Tyrrell Park through the City’s Adopt-A-Park program. At the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, you gain new wisdom about local ecology, native plants, and sustainable gardening while connecting with nature outdoors. It’s time to get your hands dirty! Join us and volunteer in the Museum’s Garden Learning Center and Pilkington…

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA

Sat, Jul. 18

Christian Festival

Enjoy free entertainment, food and much more for the whole family.

Aptos Village County Park, Aptos

Sat, Jul. 18

PlayStation FC26 Tournament

Join us for the in-person FC26 tournament at Watsonville Library, where the top teams will clash for championship glory and prizes. Register by June 5. Click the link below or here to register. GRAND PRIZE: 1 PS5 per person for the winning Team. Playstation 5’s donated by the San Jose Earthquakes Foundation. GRAN PREMIO: 1 PS5 para cada compañero de…

Watsonville Library, Watsonville, CA

Mon, Jul. 20

Hosted Board Game Night

Hosted Mic'd Board Games 5 - 8 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…

The Cruz Room, Santa Cruz

Mon, Jul. 20

Hosted Board Game Night

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

The Cruz Room, Santa Cruz

Tue, Jul. 21

Open Mic with Featured Poet Kaily Dorfman

InterAct Open Mic at Satori Arts. FREE community poetry jam featuring Kaily DorfmanAre you ready to get your poetry on? Join us on July 21, 2026 at Satori Arts for InterAct, a FREE open mic night, from 7-9 pm, featuring poet Kaily Dorfman.Kaily Dorfman was born and raised in Santa Cruz, California, and completed her MFA in poetry at UC…

Satori Arts, Santa Cruz, CA

Thu, Jul. 23

Free Beach BBQ Parties and Concerts

Santa Cruz Harbor Beach, Santa Cruz, CA

Thu, Jul. 23

Music in the Courtyard

Bargetto Winery, Soquel, CA

Thu, Jul. 23

Free Outdoor Movie Night

Murray St and Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz

Fri, Jul. 24

Moonlight Madness

Join us for an astronomy-themed evening at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. We'll be learning about the moon, stars, solar system, planets, all things astronomy, through activities, games, interactive models, etc. 6:00-8:00 - jazz music and interactive astronomy booths 8:00-9:00 - guest speaker presentation 9:00-10:00 - moonlight walk through the Redwood Grove 9:00-11:00 - telescope viewing with Santa Cruz Astronomy…

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton, CA

Mon, Jul. 27

History of Suits

Santa Cruz native (and former bookseller at Bookshop Santa Cruz!) Chloe Chapin will share her debut book, Suitable: The Sartorial Revolution and the Fashioning of Modern Men—the surprising story of how the plain black suit became a symbol of masculinity, democracy, and modernity. “Chapin’s colorful prose and eye for detail will forever change how we see the pantsuit and its…

Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz

Tue, Jul. 28

Cabrillo Festival Performance

A concert of works performed by the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra penned by four under-30 composers and conducted by emerging conductors. FREE! This year in residence are four early-career composers, Oswald Huỳnh, Kai Kubota-Enright, Paul Novak, and Zoe Verduin, participating in the Festival’s prestigious Conductors/Composers Workshop. Composers are mentored by artists in residence and will have their pieces performed by the Festival…

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz, CA

Wed, Jul. 29

Santa Cruz Shakespeare Family Days

Santa Cruz Shakespeare Family Days Santa Cruz Shakespeare is hosting Family Days with performances of Much Ado About Nothing on July 29 and Aug. 5. Kids age 12 and under are FREE with a paid adult ticket. Gates open at 10am show at noon. Prior to the performance, families can enjoy on-site activities and lunch at the Audrey Stanley Grove…

Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park, Santa Cruz, CA

Thu, Jul. 30

Ocean Alternative Parent Information Night

Parents, come learn more about Ocean Alternative, a K-8 independent study/homeschool program in Live Oak School District. We will explain how our public school program works and what we can offer families in the 26-27 school year.

Ocean Alternative Education Center, Santa Cruz, CA

Sat, Aug. 1

La Selva Beach Summer Fair

Craft booths, books, local beers, live music! Fifty craft vendors will sell jewelry, art, bags, pottery, garden art, specialty foods, soaps, clothing, books and more. Library Friends Used Book Sale will fill the courtyard with books for all ages and interests. Bake Sale and Prize Raffle of vendor donated crafts hosted by Library's Advisory Council of Teens. Sip local microbrews…

La Selva Beach Clubhouse, La Selva Beach, CA

Sat, Aug. 1

Books and Brews Summer Fair

Craft Fair with 50 unique arts and crafts booths. Huge book sale with books of all genres. Bake sale and prize raffle of vendor donations. Local craft beers on tap. Live music from That Country Feeling Band. Tacos el Jesse and S&B Burgers food trucks. Free admission! Contact: [email protected]

La Selva Beach Clubhouse, La Selva Beach, CA

Sun, Aug. 2

Scotts Valley 60th Celebration

Enjoy a full day of 60’s nostalgic vibes including storytelling, family-friendly entertainment, food trucks, and music! 10:30am: Storytelling 11:30am: Birthday Song & Dessert 12:00pm: Activities, Booths, Food Trucks and Fun

Skypark, Scotts Valley, CA

Sun, Aug. 2

2026 Cabrillo Festival

Led by Conductor-in-Residence Octavio Más-Arocas, the beloved free Family Concert features Paul Dooley‘s The Conductor’s Spellbook, an interactive musical adventure introducing audiences of all ages to the orchestra through playful storytelling, alongside Gala Flagello‘s vibrant fanfare Bravado. A “Tour of the Orchestra” invites curious minds of all ages to explore the instruments that bring the music to life. In a…

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz, CA

Sun, Aug. 2

Free Family Orchestral Concert

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz, CA

Tue, Aug. 4

InterAct Open Mic with Featured Poet Sam Regal

InterAct Open Mic at Satori Arts. FREE community poetry jam featuring Sam RegalAre you ready to get your poetry on? Join us on August 4, 2026 at Satori Arts for InterAct, a FREE open mic night, from 7-9 pm, featuring poet Sam Regal.Sam Regal is a poet, artist, and the Instruction and Exhibitions Librarian for Special Collections and Archives at…

Satori Arts, Santa Cruz, CA

Fri, Aug. 7

Summer Carnival

Enjoy games with prizes all along downtown Boulder Creek! There will be a kid zone, photo booth, vendors and more!

Boulder Creek, Boulder Creek, CA

Sat, Aug. 8

Agricultural History Project

Bring your friends, family and neighbors and come out to enjoy good old-fashioned activities such as spinning wool, cheese making, wooden cow milking and ice cream making! You can even drive a tractor and go on a hayride. Local Santa Cruz County 4-H clubs will be hosting their Annual Spring Fair. This action-packed day is admission free, and donations are…

Agricultural History Project Center and Museum, Watsonville, CA

Sat, Aug. 8

Youth Festival Performance

Hear the future of new music in this free chamber concert of original works programmed, produced, performed and presented by our adventurous 16–24-year-old Youth Ensemble. FREE!

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz, CA

Sat, Aug. 8

Country Line Dancing

Have you never done line dancing before? Never fear! Wendy will lead you through a variety of line dances. Go enjoy lively dancing and a fun time. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Beer, wine, sodas and snacks will be available for purchase.

Park Hall Ben Lomond, Ben Lomond

Sun, Aug. 9

Antiques Faire

The Santa Cruz Antique Faire is on the 2nd Sunday of every month from 9am-5pm, weather permitting. Vendors offer an eclectic blend of antiques and unique items, vintage clothing, collectibles and more! Visit the Antique Faire on Lincoln Street between Pacific and Cedar.

Downtown Santa Cruz Antique Faire, Santa Cruz, CA

Sun, Aug. 9

Music Festival Grand Finale

The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music season concludes with a luminous program looking toward collective possibility, resilience, and belonging. Ascending Creatures (West Coast premiere) by Festival newcomer, Eunike Tanzil, draws inspiration from the coordinated flight of birds, exploring the interplay between individuality and unity through motion and sound. Through interlocking musical lines and evolving textures, Tanzil emphasizes the power of…

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz, CA

Mon, Aug. 10

Hosted Board Game Night

The Cruz Room, Santa Cruz

Tue, Aug. 11

Board Game Playtesting

Come to Peoples Coffee, the official Santa Cruz location for the Southmost events for the Golden Gate Gamemakers! Come join us as a branch under GGG known as Game Designers of Santa Cruz! It's a relaxed chance to try new board games and card games, get feedback on your own prototypes if you are a game designer, and get advice…

Peoples Coffee, Santa Cruz, CA

Tue, Aug. 18

InterAct Open Mic with Featured Poet Kate O’Neill

InterAct Open Mic at Satori Arts. FREE community poetry jam featuring Kate O'NeillAre you ready to get your poetry on? Join us on August 18, 2026 at Satori Arts for InterAct, a FREE open mic night, from 7-9 pm, featuring poet Kate O'Neill.Kate O’Neill has been working for social change since Earth Day 1970. She holds degrees in Education (Ed.D.…

Satori Arts, Santa Cruz, CA

Tue, Sep. 1

InterAct Open Mic w/ David Allen Sullivan and Ignatius Valentine Aloysius

InterAct Open Mic at Satori Arts. FREE community poetry jam featuring David Allen Sullivan and Ignatius Valentine AloysiusAre you ready to get your poetry on? Join us on Sept. 1, 2026 at Satori Arts for InterAct, a FREE open mic night, from 7-9 pm, featuring David Allen Sullivan and Ignatius Valentine Aloysius as they read from their latest book, Everything…

Satori Arts, Santa Cruz, CA

Tue, Nov. 3

InterAct Open Mic with Readings from Magpie On the Gallows Contributors

InterAct Open Mic at Satori Arts. FREE community poetry jam featuring editor and contributor readings from Magpie On the Gallows anthology.Are you ready to get your poetry on? Join us on Nov 3, 2026 at Satori Arts for InterAct, a FREE open mic night, from 7-9 pm, featuring readings from editor and contributors of Magpie On the Gallows anthology.Magpie on…

Satori Arts, Santa Cruz, CA

Tue, Dec. 15

InterAct Open Mic with Featured Poet Veronica Kornberg

InterAct Open Mic at Satori Arts. FREE community poetry jam featuring Veronica KornbergAre you ready to get your poetry on? Join us on Dec. 15, 2026 at Satori Arts for InterAct, a FREE open mic night, from 7-9 pm, featuring poet Veronica Kornberg.A Bay Area poet, Veronica Kornberg splits her time between Portola Valley and Pescadero. She is the recipient…

Satori Arts, Santa Cruz, CA