Outdoor
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
Farley’s Christmas Wonderland
Farley’s Christmas Wonderland 108 Seaview Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesThis is a walk-in Christmas display located in the midtown of Santa Cruz, CA. Their exhibit is very traditional: lots of Christmas trees, garlands, sleighs, an elf village, miniature village’s, and a log cabin that Santa uses for his rest stops. Being Irish, where you have elves you have fairies, so there is a fairy grotto with 2 waterfalls and fairies that can be viewed on special nights. Also, on those special nights, there is a special California version of snow here!
Santa Cruz Harbor Beach: Sons of the Beach Ukulele Sing Along
Santa Cruz Harbor Beach 2222 E Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesThe Santa Cruz Harbor offers visitors many attractions, but perhaps the most surprising is regular free concerts from hundreds of crooning ukulele players. For more than 20 years, the Santa Cruz Ukulele Club has assembled enthusiasts of the mini, four-string Hawaiian guitar with regular gatherings around town. The most popular is likely the Saturday morning gathering at Harbor Beach, behind the Crow’s Nest. Stop by and enjoy the aloha shirt-wearing orchestra of strumming players who belt out familiar songs such as California Dreaming and Margaritaville. Bring whatever you would bring for a day at the beach, and if you have a ukulele bring that too. Hope 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
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.
Natural Bridges State Park: Free Public Tidepool Tours
Natural Bridges State Beach 2531 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesExplore the ocean without getting your feet wet on this exciting tidepool tour! Join an interpretive docent to climb up the rocky trail and out to view the amazing animals that make their home in Santa Cruz tidepools. King Tides tidepool tours will be held on January 10, 11, 12 @ 3pm. King Tides are when the ocean’s tides are the lowest they will be that year, so it’s one of the best times to go tidepooling!
Downtown Santa Cruz: Antiques Faire
Downtown Santa Cruz Antique Faire Lincoln Street (between Pacific and Cedar), Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesThe Santa Cruz Antique Faire is on the 2nd Sunday of every month from 8am-6pm. 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.
Natural Bridges State Park: Free Public Tidepool Tours
Natural Bridges State Beach 2531 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesExplore the ocean without getting your feet wet on this exciting tidepool tour! Join an interpretive docent to climb up the rocky trail and out to view the amazing animals that make their home in Santa Cruz tidepools. King Tides tidepool tours will be held on January 10, 11, 12 @ 3pm. King Tides are when the ocean’s tides are the lowest they will be that year, so it’s one of the best times to go tidepooling!
Early Bird Tour
Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserach Reserve 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville (Royal Oaks), CA, United StatesAmateur and expert birders alike will find a place on the Early Bird Tour! Local guides lead these 2-3 mile walks, sharing the life histories of the birds that call Elkhorn Slough home, and giving tips on identifying species.