Holiday
Downtown Boulder Creek: First Friday and Ugly Sweater Contest
Boulder Creek Boulder Creek, CA, United StatesBundle up in the tackiest sweater you’ve ever been gifted for the holidays and head to the redwoods! As you look through arts and crafts, you will be treated to live music. There will be food and drink to purchase while you are there and watch out for the First Friday Boulder Creek Folks! You may just win a prize for the ugliest sweater!
Miracle on 34th Street
Park Hall Ben Lomond 9339 Mill Street, Ben LomondMountain Community Theater welcomes in the holiday season with their very own, “Miracle on 34th Street, the Play”, adapted by Mountain Community Theater from the novel by Valentine Davies, based upon the Twentieth Century Fox motion picture Miracle on 34th Street. Directed by Daria E. Troxell, this family friendly, heartwarming production will remind you of the magic of Christmas and the spirit of the season. The production takes place at Ben Lomond's historic Park Hall, 9400 Mill Street. Subscriber and tickets go are available now by visiting mctshows.org Please join us for an “Opening Night Reception” immediately following the performance on Friday, November 22. There will be a “Community Night” on Saturday, November 23, where all tickets are 2 for $25. Evening shows are at 7:30 p.m., not 8:00 p.m. Sunday matinees are at 2:00 p.m.
Rio Theatre: Big Band Holidays
Rio Theatre 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesThe Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) spreads holiday cheer on its annual Big Band Holidays tour. Rising star vocalists Ekep Nkwelle and Robbie Lee join the JLCO to bring Yuletide greetings to dozens of cities across the country. Under the music direction of JLCO trombonist Chris Crenshaw, the evening will feature soulful renditions of holiday classics, playful improvisation, and entertaining storytelling. Enjoyed by audiences of all ages, these uplifting performances create lasting memories that will keep you returning to Big Band Holidays for years to come. Please note: Wynton Marsalis will not appear with the JLCO on this performance.
Roaring Camp Railroads: Holiday Tree Walk
Roaring Camp Railroads 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA, United StatesGet in the holiday spirit by bringing the family to ride the Redwood Forest Steam Train through the wintry redwoods to Bear Mountain. Sip hot cider while greeting Santa Claus. In town, enjoy winter-themed activities. ACTIVITIES Visit from Santa Hot Cider Winter Themed Activities DATES November 29 – December 1 December 7 – 8 December 14 – 15 December 21 – 22
Felton: SantaCon
Emerald Mallard California 9, Felton, United StatesHo, ho, ho! They’re at it again! Start out at Humble Sea in Felton for the annual shenanigans in Downtown Felton. Part festive interaction with our community, part pub crawl — total silly fun! This is free to attend. No tickets or registration is required. 21+
Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesA seasonal tradition returns to Santa Cruz with the Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train. Vintage excursion cars, adorned with thousands of colorful lights, roll through city streets past homes of Santa Cruz. Itinerary: Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Trains depart and return in front of Neptune’s Kingdom on the Boardwalk of Santa Cruz for a 60-minute round-trip excursion. Check out the Roaring Camp website for day/time availability. ACTIVITIES Visit from Santa Live Music Hot-Spiced Cider Holiday Sing-Along DATES November 29 – 30 December 7 – 8 December 14 – 23
Museum of Natural History: Create a Living Holiday Wreath
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History 1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesDeck the halls and get into the holiday spirit by crafting a living botanical wreath. This course will satisfy both plant and art lovers alike; learn the science of epiphytes while you design and mount native flowers, succulents, and air plants. Create a masterpiece for your holiday decor or a treasured gift for a friend or family member, all wrapped up in a fun activity.
Night of Christmas
Santa Cruz Bible Church 440 Frederick Street, Santa CruzSanta Cruz Bible Church will be holding its community-wide event-a candlelight service with activities for kids a family treasure hunt, hot cocoa and treats, Christmas carols, and more!
Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas
UCSC Recital Hall 402 McHenry Rd, Santa Cruz, United StatesNow in its 29th season, Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas returns to Santa Cruz with its Irish musicians, dancers, and native Irish storyteller, Tomáseen Foley. A Celtic Christmas springs from the infinitely rich treasury of Ireland’s cultural heritage: a re-creation of a night before Christmas in the West of Ireland in the 1940s, before the advent of motorcar, the television, and the telephone. This year the tour welcomes acclaimed, world-travelled dancers Joseph Harrison and Lauren Beadle, both veterans of many touring performances including Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, and Feet of Flames. In this family-friendly recreation of age-old tradition, neighbors bring their fiddles, tin whistles, flutes, bodhráns, uilleann pipes, and most importantly their unshakeable sense of community for a night of traditional music, song, dance, and of course storytelling. The show’s Music Director is Grammy Award-winning guitarist and Santa Cruz resident William Coulter, an internationally recognized master of the steel-string guitar.
Holiday Craft Fair
Come and be part of the Action Academy Santa Cruz's 3rd Annual Holiday Craft Fair. Explore a variety of unique crafts, jewelry, home décor, and indulge in delicious food and sweets at 7979 Soquel Drive, Aptos. The fair is open to youth and adult vendors. Register by emailing [email protected]. actonsantacruz.org