Celebrate the day of the dead in beautiful downtown Watsonville. Enjoy family friendly activities, local arts vendors, community ofrendas, art installations and more October 30th from 3-7 pm. Coco screening in the plaza from 7:00 to 9.

Enjoy a curated lineup of food vendors serving street food, desserts, and specialty drinks. With live entertainment and a curated maker market, every stop is built to be shared—friends, families, and first-timers welcome. You’ll find: 🍜 Street food + global-inspired eats 🍧 Desserts worth the stop (and the comeback) 🧋 Specialty drinks & refreshing sips 🛍️ Local makers + vendor…

Drop in to decorate a mask inspired by animals, nature or something spooky. All ages are welcome to make a creative addition to their Halloween costumes.

Collect candy from participating Boardwalk businesses and enter the costume photo contest. The package includes a collectible candy bag and a MyBoardwalk Card for games.

The Halloween Aptos Chamber Parade is creeping into town, and you won’t want to miss it! Enjoy a fang-tastic time behind the New Leaf Community Market in the Aptos Village as the ghouls and goblins take over the streets. Dress up in your most creative and spine-chilling costumes and bring your family and friends.  There will be costumes, candy, and…

Every Halloween, the Santa Cruz Police Department and the City of Santa Cruz close down Pacific Avenue for kids to trick or treat! Watch for signs in the windows of participating businesses.​

Trick-or-treat at Wharf businesses, enjoy a festive photo backdrop and watch a Thriller dance performance. Families can also take part in the Great Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt.

Bring the kiddos for trick-or-treating around the market With delicious food, festive drinks, live music, and plenty of Halloween cheer, this is one downtown celebration you won’t want to miss.

Calles Libres transforms downtown Watsonville into a vibrant, car-free space where people of all ages can walk, bike, roll, dance, connect, and celebrate everything that makes Watsonville unique. Inspired by Día de los Muertos, this free community event honors culture. Together you will: • 🚴 Bike, walk, skate, and roll through car-free streets • 🎶 Enjoy live music, dance, and…

InterAct Open Mic at Satori Arts. FREE community poetry jam featuring editor and contributor readings from Magpie On the Gallows anthology.Are you ready to get your poetry on? Join us on Nov 3, 2026 at Satori Arts for InterAct, a FREE open mic night, from 7-9 pm, featuring readings from editor and contributors of Magpie On the Gallows anthology.Magpie on…

See hundreds of hot rods, street rods, vintage, muscle, custom and classic cars at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Gates open at 7am, with show activities throughout the day and the show closing at 4:30pm.

Browse more than 50 sea glass and ocean-art makers in the historic Grove event center. Admission includes a chance to win a gift basket, and the event supports ocean conservation.

The Institute of the Arts and Sciences (IAS) is pleased to announce its Fall/Winter season of exhibitions. On view are exhibitions highlighting two artists whose explorations in video, installation, painting, and sculpture examine some of the most enduring and challenging issues of our time: Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still, a poetic and aesthetically rich exploration of the historical and…

Make your holidays extra special with our DIY Christmas ornaments! Decorate 4 frosted glass holiday-shaped ornaments with gold & silver decorations. Take them home with you that day! Finished ornaments make great gifts for friends and family. The image shows finished ornaments. There will be stencils for tracing directly onto the glass and inspiration for decorating the ornaments. This workshop…

Audiences are invited to the UC Santa Cruz Music Department Ensemble Showcase Concert.Information about this event is available at—https://events.ucsc.edu/event/music-ensemble-showcase-concert/—QUESTIONS?Contact [email protected] visitor information on the Arts Division website here

InterAct Open Mic at Satori Arts. FREE community poetry jam featuring Lisa Allen OrtizAre you ready to get your poetry on? Join us on November 17, 2026 at Satori Arts for InterAct, a FREE open mic night, from 7-9 pm, featuring poet Lisa Allen Ortiz.Lisa Allen Ortiz is the author of two poetry collections: Stem winner of the 2021 Idaho…

Head to the Rio Theatre for a screening of TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing, followed by a conversation with one of the film’s directors and producers, Louis Massiah and Gina Dent, Ph.D. TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing (2025, 105 minutes) is a biography of the influential writer, filmmaker and cultural worker, who…

UCSC Wind Ensemble presented by the Music department.Information about this event is available at https://events.ucsc.edu/event/ucsc-wind-ensemble-fall-2026/—QUESTIONS?Contact [email protected] visitor information on the Arts Division website here

Make your holidays extra special with our DIY Christmas ornaments! Decorate 4 frosted glass holiday-shaped ornaments with gold & silver decorations. Take them home with you that day! Finished ornaments make great gifts for friends and family. The image shows finished ornaments. There will be stencils for tracing directly onto the glass and inspiration for decorating the ornaments. This workshop…

California King Tides are coming to the shores of Santa Cruz County this winter! These naturally occurring and predictable events are when the highest and lowest tides hit our shores and create an even more dramatic coastline. At high tide, the powerful waves often crash against seawalls and extend beyond their usual natural borders. The extreme low tides, expose tide…

UCSC Orchestra - Copland's Billy the Kid and Tchaikovsky's Symphomy No. 5 in E minor, Op 64Information about this event is available at https://events.ucsc.edu/event/orchestra-fall-2026-27/—QUESTIONS?Contact [email protected] visitor information on the Arts Division website here

Celebrate the holidays at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on select dates with festive decorations, light shows, rides, arcade games, photos with Santa and seasonal treats. The Boardwalk lists the event from Nov. 26 through Jan. 3, noon–7pm, on select dates.

Ride vintage excursion cars decorated with thousands of holiday lights through Santa Cruz streets. The 60-minute trip includes holiday sing-alongs, live music, hot cider and a Santa visit. Trains depart from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk at 5pm and 6:30pm; additional departures may be added.

Shop a holiday outdoor market along West Cliff with local makers, artists and seasonal gifts. Check the event page for vendor and weather updates.

Ride the Redwood Forest Steam Train through the wintry redwoods to Bear Mountain, sip hot cider, greet Santa and enjoy winter-themed activities in the town of Roaring Camp.

UCSC Jazz Combos presented by the Music Department.The UCSC Jazz Combos present a fall concert under the direction of Charles Hamilton.More information will be available here: https://music.ucsc.edu/news-events/—ADMISSIONAttend in person at the Music Center Recital Hall at UC Santa Cruz.Free for UCSC students (ticket required).Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time.—ADVISORIESTicket holders not seated at least…

Bundle up in your tackiest holiday sweater and head to downtown Boulder Creek for arts and crafts, live music, food and drinks, plus an ugly sweater contest.

UCSC Concert Choir presented by the Music department.The UCSC Concert Choir present a fall concert under the direction of Nathaniel Berman.Information about this event will be available at https://events.ucsc.edu/—ADMISSIONAttend in person at the Music Center Recital Hall at UC Santa Cruz.Free for UCSC students (ticket required).Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time.—ADVISORIESTicket holders not seated…

Celebrate the season in Downtown Santa Cruz with a festive community parade featuring local groups, music, performers and holiday spirit. A family-friendly downtown tradition.

Watch beautifully decorated power and sailboats parade through the Santa Cruz Harbor shortly after sunset. Viewing is available from harbor paths and the East Harbor launch ramp; allow extra time for parking.

Shop local craft vendors, enjoy coffee, hot chocolate and cookies, take photos with Santa, watch performances and gather for the holiday tree lighting in Aptos Village.

UCSC Chamber Singers presented by the Music Department.The UCSC Chamber Singers present a fall concert under the direction of Michael McGushin.Information about this event will be available at https://events.ucsc.edu/—ADMISSIONAttend in person at the Music Center Recital Hall at UC Santa Cruz.Free for UCSC students (ticket required).Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time.—ADVISORIESTicket holders not seated…

Gather with family and friends for a holiday market with vendors, children’s activities, Santa, wine and seasonal fun at Hallcrest Vineyards.

UCSC Jazz Big Band presented by the Music Department.The UCSC Jazz Big Band present a fall concert under the direction of Charles Hamilton.Information about this event will be available at https://events.ucsc.edu/—ADMISSIONAttend in person at the Music Center Recital Hall at UC Santa Cruz.Free for UCSC students (ticket required).Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time.—ADVISORIESTicket holders…

Celebrate the season at historic Wilder Ranch with a Victorian-style holiday experience and family activities. The event is free; state park day-use parking is $10.

Enjoy holiday decorations and Wharf specials, see Santa arrive by vintage fire engine, take photos with Santa, play in a snow area, and enjoy balloons, face painting and other family activities.

InterAct Open Mic at Satori Arts. FREE community poetry jam featuring Veronica KornbergAre you ready to get your poetry on? Join us on Dec. 15, 2026 at Satori Arts for InterAct, a FREE open mic night, from 7-9 pm, featuring poet Veronica Kornberg.A Bay Area poet, Veronica Kornberg splits her time between Portola Valley and Pescadero. She is the recipient…