Family Friendly
Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds: Agricultural History Project
Agricultural History Project Center and Museum 2601 East Lake Avenue, Hwy 152, Watsonville, CA, United StatesBring 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 gladly accepted. It’s fun for the whole family! Activities include: Farm Animals to see and pet Ice cream making the old-fashioned way Butter churning Fresh cheese making Rope making Hay wagon rides with tractors Wooden cow milking Hay cutting from real oats, wheat and barley Kids (real) tractor driving Puppet Show Old-fashioned hoops Crafts and so much more!
Santa Cruz Beach Train
Roaring Camp Railroads 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA, United StatesFrom Trees to Shining Seas – 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. Today’s 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. Please note that the 4 p.m. train leaving Santa Cruz is one-way only. There is no return train to the beach.
Downtown Santa Cruz: Makers Market
Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market Pacific Ave and Lincoln St, Santa CruzVisit the Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market featuring 40+ local makers & artists in beautiful Downtown Santa Cruz! Located on the 1100 block of Pacific Ave. between Cathcart and Lincoln Streets, this monthly market hosts a wide range of locally handmade goods! *In the event of rain, the market will be held on the following Sunday
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Roaring Camp Railroads 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA, United StatesTravel 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.
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Roaring Camp Railroads 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA, United StatesTravel 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.
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Roaring Camp Railroads 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA, United StatesTravel 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.
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Roaring Camp Railroads 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA, United StatesTravel 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.
Seymour Marine Discovery Center: Younger Lagoon Reserve Tour
Younger Lagoon Reserve 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesThis 90-minute, behind-the-scenes hiking tour takes visitors into Younger Lagoon Reserve adjacent to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Part of the University of California Natural Reserve System, Younger Lagoon Reserve contains diverse coastal habitats and is home to birds of prey, migrating sea birds, bobcats, and other wildlife. Come and see what scientists are doing to track local mammals, restore native habitat, and learn about the workings of one of California’s rare coastal lagoons. A tour is offered on selected Thursdays and Saturdays of each month beginning at 10:30 AM. Younger Lagoon Reserve tours are free and open to the public. Space is limited to 18 participants. Advance reservations are highly recommended using the website link below. Tours are best suited for children 10 years of age and older. Participants must be physically able to walk up and down steep inclines. Water and weather protection is strongly suggested.
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Roaring Camp Railroads 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA, United StatesTravel 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.
Central Fire District Annual Open House
Bring your family and friends for a day of fun, learning, and community. Meet your Central firefighters, as well as representatives from American Red Cross, Capitola PD, Santa Cruz FireSafe Council, AMR, State Parks/Lifeguards, Monterey Search Dogs, Santa Cruz County CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams), and more! We have lots of fun activities for all ages, live demonstrations, food trucks, and a wealth of educational information for you and your families. Hope to see you there!
Watsonville EV Ride & Drive
Learn how you can save money by driving electric and qualify for up to $10,000 to help you make the switch! Ecology Action hosts the Monterey Bay Region's premiere EV Ride and Drive and EV Display shows. We are proud to present our FIRST ever EV Ride and Drive in Watsonville at the Watsonville Elks Lodge to celebrate National Drive Electric Week on Saturday October 5th, 2024. With both English and Spanish speaking EV experts available to help, attendees will be able to test drive the latest electric vehicles, peruse a variety of electrified cars on display, and talk to EV owners. Attendees are also invited to engage with family-friendly organizations and activities including a special E-Bike test ride orchestrated by our Watsonville Bike team. Kids will have the opportunity to decorate a helmet and take a spin or stride in the bike rodeo! Additionally, 15+ local community-based organizations will be in attendance to connect with you! Don’t miss this FREE family fun event with the opportunity to explore sustainable modes of transportation.
Rise Collective Grand Opening
816 bay ave. Capitola 95010 816 Bay Ave suite D, Capitola, CA, United StatesEvent Description: Grand Opening of Rise Collective Join us for the highly anticipated Grand Opening of Rise Collective, the newest social fitness club in Santa Cruz County! To celebrate, we're offering a day full of free wellness experiences, live music, and fitness fun for the whole community. Date: Saturday, October 19th Time: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Location: Rise Collective, Santa Cruz County Event Highlights: Complimentary wellness treatments, including Cryotherapy, Contour Pod Pro, and Zero Body Dry Float sessions, designed to rejuvenate your body and mind. Live Music from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM, setting the vibe with local talent. Free Swim Lessons for all ages—come dive into our swimming program! Free Personal Training sessions to help you meet your fitness goals. Free Group Fitness Classes throughout the day, including yoga, strength training, and more. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the club, meet our trainers, and experience the best in fitness, wellness, and community. Bring your friends, and let’s celebrate this exciting new space together! RSVP Today! For more details, visit www.risesantacruz.com or contact us at 831-999-0120, support@risesantacruz.com We can’t wait to see you there!
Wheelie Good Time
We invite you to join us at Felt St Park, located in the Live Oak area of Santa Cruz, California at 1904 Felt Street for the Inaugural Wheelie Good Time on Saturday, October 19 from 11:00am - 3:00pm! · Ecology Action and Bike Santa Cruz County are leading group bicycle rides with support from the Community Bike Collective to Felt St Park from Jade St Park and Frederick St Park. At Felt St Park, the Harbor High Bike Tech team will be available to help with repairs · The Santa Cruz Boardroom is facilitating a “Random Acts of Shredness” skateboard jam for all abilities – prizes awarded for positive attitude and smiles! Try skateboarding for the first time or shred the fun park · The local Impalas Car Club has some sweet classic cars to display and there is room for a few more on the Center for Spiritual Living parking area · The Young Outdoor Leaders of the County Park Friends organization are planning a performance, DJ Jahi will be supplying the tunes, and Areparia831 will have yummy food available to purchase · Confirmed organizations include Cradle to Career, Central Fire, American Medical Response, the Live Oak Education Foundation, and Cub Scouts Pack 676. There will be booths and family activities on the grassy lawn · Del Mar Elementary is planning a Trunk or Treat to be happening on their campus at the same time – it’s gonna be a Wheelie Good Time in Live Oak on Saturday, October 19! Event posters available to download here (please help spread the invitation!): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Ie3LrFx3vylreWi-ytzRDroR-4kd-c3K?usp=sharing Online auction coming soon - know a business that would like to participate? Template download here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jk3NH2Z7tAZl-E3CRCPEBXkAXJ1PDtva/view?usp=drive_link Ecology Action / Bike Santa Cruz County / Community Bike Collective group bicycle ride registration link & info: https://calendly.com/bikeevents/wheelie-good-time-ride/2024-10-19T11:00:00-07:00?month=2024-10&date=2024-10-19 Many generations of folks enjoy Felt St Park: from the playground and tot spot, to garden and skatepark, to grassy field and bocce courts, Felt St Park serves a vital role in the community. It is the site for after-school programs, youth soccer practices, birthday parties, team celebrations, and quinceañeras. Although Felt St Park is widely used and well-loved, it suffers from frequent graffiti and was impacted by recent vandalism. We are fundraising for colorful murals, improved shade, and needed repairs. Felt St Park needs help!
Apple Tasting at Wilder Ranch
Join the Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers on October 19 at Wilder Ranch State Park as we celebrate the season with our 2024 Apple Tasting! If you’ve always wanted to know what apples grow well in our area, and want to taste what freshly picked apples taste like, this event is for you! Bring your family and friends, too! You’ll have the opportunity to taste 70 + varieties of rare, historic apples, apples you know and love, and new locally-bred apples being trialed with the public.
Alice in Wonderland
Colligan Theater 1010 River Street, Santa CruzJoin us for an adventure into your imagination! On a perfect summer day in the park, Alice sees a White Rabbit hurrying by. Curious to know where he is going, Alice follows him into the dark tunnel, thus beginning her adventure. After the Doorknob counsels Alice to drink from a bottle then eat a cookie, Alice shrinks, thus allowing her to fit through a keyhole, beginning her adventures with the Wonderland creatures. The White Rabbit leads Alice into twin jabbering clowns, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, who teach her some manners. Then, she plays a wild game of musical chairs at the Mad Hatter's tea party. Following the advice of the Cheshire Cat, she ends up at the Mad Hatter's tea part along with the evil Queen of Hearts. Waking up, Alice realizes the entire story has been a dream!