Family Friendly
Candy Cane Lane Christmas Pop-Up at Little Trends
Little Trends 1052 South Green Valley Road, Watsonville‘Tis the season for holiday shopping! Come join us at Little Trends in Watsonville on Sunday, December 3rd, 10am-2:30pm for a Candy Cane Lane Christmas Pop-Up. Santa & Mrs. Claus will be stopping by from 11am-2pm for photos. Christmas-themed story time and music for littles will run the entire event including a soft play area for littles and a bounce house. Come support local small businesses. Open to everyone, stroller-friendly and family-friendly! We cannot wait to see you there!
Tannery Arts Center Winter Art Market 2023
Tannery Arts Center 1070 River Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesA Festive Celebration of Local Art and Culture The Tannery Arts Center welcomes you to experience the world of local artistry and creativity at the 11th annual Winter Art Market. This heartwarming celebration is not just an event; it's an immersive creative experience. Discover local artistry, engage with our vibrant community, and support the creative entrepreneurs who make our town flourish. New Highlights This Year: Join Josefina Rocha and youth students from the Arts Council Mariposa teaching artist program, for a free and fun craft activity alongside a youth art exhibit. Enjoy an exciting lineup of musicians curated by Everyone’s Music School. Experience the offerings of Kintsugi, a new culinary community center and cafe, and pop-up space in studio 112 in the courtyard, serving food, beverages, and coffee all day from sprohaus. Admission: Free Event Produced By: Arts Council Santa Cruz County Tannery Arts Center
Castro Adobe State Historic Park: ‘Tis the Season
Castro Adobe State Historic Park 184 Old Adobe Road (off of Larkin Valley Road), Watsonville, CA, United States‘Tis the season of giving and the Castros were known to be generous people. Strangers were not strangers for long as the Castro family invited all to participate in a fiesta in the fandango room with live music, and of course there was food and drinks! Continue the tradition and click the link below to register to go to the Castro Adobe to explore the fandango room and to enjoy complimentary coffee in the cocina all while learning the traditions and customs of those who called Rancho San Andres home. Go as strangers and leave as friends!
Agricultural History Project: 2nd Saturday on the Farm
Agricultural History Project Center and Museum 2601 East Lake Avenue, Hwy 152, Watsonville, CA, United StatesFacilities are handicapped accessible.
Wilder Ranch State Park: Victorian Holiday Experience
Wilder Ranch State Park 1401 Coast Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, United States11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Event is free, day-use parking fee is $10.
Mushroom Market
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History 1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesIt’s mushroom season! Join local fungiphiles at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for a mushroom market just in time for the Holidays. Pick-up mushroom themed gifts for yourself or your loved ones while exploring local mushrooms and engaging in family-friendly activities during this FREE event. Free admission to the Museum all day! Mushroom ID station with the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz (bring your mushrooms!) Fungus forward food from Areperia 831 Mushroom products from Far West Fungi Santa Cruz Local artists including Alessandra Chapman, Sarah Brothers Bot, and The Fabrica …and more! Saturday, December 9, 2023 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tyrrell Park, 1305 E. Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz Outside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History Interested in contributing to our mushroom display? Mushrooms may be dropped off at the Museum during operational hours the week of the event (Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Enter through the main entrance and leave them with the staff person at the desk. The Museum is located at 1305 E. Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz. Accessibility Drop-by anytime 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to join the festivities! Admission to the Museum is free all day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is free throughout the neighborhood and bike parking is available at the corner of Pilkington Ave. and E. Cliff Dr. Biking, walking, or carpooling are all recommended. Restrooms and water fountains are available inside the Museum. Activities will be on somewhat lumpy grass.
Bookshop Santa Cruz: Meet the Grinch
Bookshop Santa Cruz 1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa CruzThe Grinch is back and ready to prove to the residents of Who-ville that he’s changed. This heartwarming sequel is written and illustrated in the style of Dr. Seuss’s beloved holiday classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The new book storytime reading is free and available to the public. If you and 4 others would like to take a photo with the Grinch himself, you can purchase tickets to the photo line on the day of the event or through the link below. Purchasing tickets to the photo line includes your own copy of the new book!
Acton Academy Santa Cruz Holiday Craft and Business Fair
Come support young entrepreneurs and their families at the 2nd annual Acton Academy Santa Cruz Holiday Craft and Business Fair. They will be selling art, crafts, wreaths, food, clothing, dog toys, plants, essential oils and more!
Christmas Services for all ages
Boulder Creek Community Church 12465 Highway 9, Boulder CreekChristmas services will be held on 12/24 at 9AM, 10:45AM, with a special Candlelight Service at 6PM. Children are invited to all services.
Winter Wonderland
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesGet in the holiday spirit – celebrate the season at the beach! Activities Include Selection of Boardwalk Rides, Games, and Arcades Festive Holiday Decorations and Lights (Including a 3-story tall Christmas tree!) Delicious Boardwalk Treats Photos with Santa (Operating Days: Nov. 24 – Dec. 24) Fire Pit Rentals & Holiday S’Mores Holiday Shopping Winter Wonderland Package (includes MyBoardwalk Card and one 6X8 printed photo with Santa. Available operating days Nov. 24 – Dec. 24) And don’t forget the breathtaking beach view! Hours and Dates 12pm – 5pm Thursday – Sunday: November 23-26 Saturdays – Sundays: December 2-10 Every Day: December 16-31 Special Dates December 2 & 3 – Mini Nutcracker performance at Colonnade Stage at 2pm December 10 & 11 – Roaming Carolers
Noon Years
Santa Cruz Childrens Museum of Discovery 1855 41st Ave C-10, Capitola, CA 95010, CapitolaRing in the New Year at Noon with MOD! Enjoy New Year crafts, a 'champagne' bar with all the fixings, dancing, and the big countdown at NOON complete with a MOD ball drop! We have limited room available and expect this event to sell out.
Children’s Museum of Discovery: Noon Year’s Eve
Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery 1855 41st Avenue, Suite C10, Capitola, CA, United StatesRing in the New Year at Noon with MOD! Enjoy New Year crafts, a kid friendly ‘champagne’ bar with all the fixings, dancing, and the big countdown at NOON complete with a MOD ball drop!
Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School Open House
Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School 1500 Mark Thomas Drive, MontereyTruly Major: Middle School Open House! Learn more about how middle school students develop essential skills, explore new interests, and deepen friendships—all at the heart of their journey at Santa Catalina. Our students and faculty will provide a unique and immersive experience for student visitors while also offering invaluable insights to parents.
Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School Open House
Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School 1500 Mark Thomas Drive, MontereyTruly Major: Middle School Open House! Learn more about how middle school students develop essential skills, explore new interests, and deepen friendships—all at the heart of their journey at Santa Catalina. Our students and faculty will provide a unique and immersive experience for student visitors while also offering invaluable insights to parents.
London Nelson Community Center: Santa Cruz Fungus Fair
London Nelson Community Center 301 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesThis year’s Fair will celebrate 50 years of mycological exploration since the inaugural event in 1974. The 2024 celebration will be at the London Nelson Community Center and feature hundreds of fascinating species from the area, uniquely displayed in a re-created woodland habitat. This unique Santa Cruz tradition will offer three days of fun, demonstrations, informative speakers, and fungus-forward activities for the whole family.