Mushroom Market

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History 1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

It’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.

Free

Bookshop Santa Cruz: Meet the Grinch

Bookshop Santa Cruz 1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz

The 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 Creek

Christmas services will be held on 12/24 at 9AM, 10:45AM, with a special Candlelight Service at 6PM. Children are invited to all services.

Free

Winter Wonderland

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Get 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, Capitola

Ring 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.

$12 – $22

Children’s Museum of Discovery: Noon Year’s Eve

Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery 1855 41st Avenue, Suite C10, Capitola, CA, United States

Ring 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, Monterey

Truly 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, Monterey

Truly 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 States

This 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.

Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic

Santa Catalina School 1500 Mark Thomas Drive, Monterey

For seven years, a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs ... who just happened to be there too. Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic is for anyone who has never been destined to save the world. As the New York Times declared, "For Potterphiliacs who grew up alongside Potter and are eager to revisit that world, Puffs exudes a jovial, winking fondness for all things Harry!"

$10 – $15

Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic

Santa Catalina School 1500 Mark Thomas Drive, Monterey

For seven years, a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs ... who just happened to be there too. Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic is for anyone who has never been destined to save the world. As the New York Times declared, "For Potterphiliacs who grew up alongside Potter and are eager to revisit that world, Puffs exudes a jovial, winking fondness for all things Harry!"

$10 – $15

Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic

Santa Catalina School 1500 Mark Thomas Drive, Monterey

For seven years, a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs ... who just happened to be there too. Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic is for anyone who has never been destined to save the world. As the New York Times declared, "For Potterphiliacs who grew up alongside Potter and are eager to revisit that world, Puffs exudes a jovial, winking fondness for all things Harry!"

$10 – $15