Looking for more information on all the winter wildlife Santa Cruz County has to offer? Bookshop Santa Cruz welcomes author and Professor Adina Merenlender for a discussion about The California Naturalist Handbook, Second Edition. This go-to guide to California’s natural history has been updated with fresh insights and perspectives. Follow the link in the orange button above to RSVP.

Join us on a Tuesday morning for a visit and experience firsthand why Gateway was voted Best Elementary and Best Middle School in Santa Cruz. Explore Kindy Island--a special place where our youngest learners enjoy safe, imaginative play. Wander through the Life Lab outdoor classroom and observe what's growing and thriving, or dive into a middle school science experiment and…

Enjoy the Inaugural Museum of Art and History (MAH) 5 Minute Film Festival! The MAH has been collecting independent films that are 5 minutes in length or less. Purchase your tickets at the front desk of the museum, and watch the 15 best ones! Prizes and winners will be announced at the end!

We are coming together as a community to steward Tyrrell Park through the City’s Adopt-A-Park program. At the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, you gain new wisdom about local ecology, native plants, and sustainable gardening while connecting with nature outdoors. It’s time to get your hands dirty! Join us and volunteer in the Museum’s Garden Learning Center and Pilkington…

Espressivo – Santa Cruz’s “small, intense orchestra” – will perform. Guest conductor Alan Truong will lead the ensemble in an exciting program of music by George Enescu, Jean Francaix, and Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari. Two of the three performances are the last compositions before the composer died, making these their “swan songs”. Tickets are available through the link in the orange button…

Music by Enescu, Francaix, and Wolf-FerrariWhy we became musicians...Espressivo is the small, intense orchestra that is making big news in Santa Cruz County. Comprised of regional professional musicians, Espressivo presents select masterpieces of classical music composed for 12-26 players. Espressivo was founded in 2015 by Michel Singher after his career as a conductor of major international orchestras and opera companies.…

Music by Enescu, Francaix, and Wolf-FerrariWhy we became musicians...Espressivo is the small, intense orchestra that is making big news in Santa Cruz County. Comprised of regional professional musicians, Espressivo presents select masterpieces of classical music composed for 12-26 players. Espressivo was founded in 2015 by Michel Singher after his career as a conductor of major international orchestras and opera companies.…

Come discover Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School! Located in Monterey, Santa Catalina welcomes boys and girls in PreK-Grade 8. See for yourself how Catalina prepares students to lead lives of meaning and purpose. Take a campus tour, see classes in action, meet students and teachers, and enjoy a special Martin Luther King Jr. Day Assembly.

Inter|Act Open Mic at Satori Arts. FREE community poetry jam with featured poets from the Inter|Act CollectiveAre you ready to get your poetry on? Join us on January 20, 2026 at Satori Arts for Inter|Act, a FREE open mic night, from 7-9 pm, featuring poets from the Inter|Act collective! Come get to know the works of the inter|act collective who…

Voice Placements for new Cabrillo Youth Chorus members will be held on Wednesday, January 21 (4:00pm-5:30pm) at Cabrillo College. See cabrilloyouthchorus.org or contact us at [email protected] for more information.

Pacific Elementary School in Davenport is having an Open House Wednesday, January 21, 5:30-6:30 PM. Come visit our preschool through sixth grade classrooms and see for yourself why we are the school you wish you went to. Pacific Elementary School in Davenport is a public school (tuition-free) serving ~180 students. Families throughout the county choose Pacific for our: High-Quality Preschool;…

Following successful pilot programs in both private and public schools in 2025—including Imagination Lab in Palo Alto and Pacific Elementary School in Davenport—3DE Club is preparing to launch its online after-school hybrid entrepreneurship clubs across ten Santa Cruz County and Monterey Bay schools in 2026. The official launch event will be held at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and…

Join All About Theatre for our fabulous Spring Season - calling all 6-10 year olds. Disney's "The Lion King" is a show unlike any other - it has captivated the imagination of audiences around the world, and now you have the opportunity to bring the African savanna to life with Simba, Rafiki and an unforgettable cast of characters as they…

Enjoy a gentle 1 to 2 mile walk to learn all about banana slugs! Click the orange button above to register. Plan to meet at the temporary visitor center located next to the restrooms at 9:45 am. Bring your own water, or purchase water at the parking kiosk, as there is no running water, electricity or cell service at Big…

SANTA CRUZ MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CELEBRATES FOUNDER LAURA HECOX WITH FREE EVENT: OPEN HOUSE AND NATURALIST AWARD CEREMONY Santa Cruz, CA — The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History invites the community to step back in time and celebrate local history, science, and stewardship at a special open house honoring the birthday of the Museum's founder, Laura Hecox. Continuing…

Chicago: Teen Edition is a content-appropriate adaptation of the Broadway musical Chicago, set in the Roaring Twenties. It follows aspiring performers Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, who are in jail for murder and use the media to seek fame and freedom, highlighting themes of ambition, celebrity obsession, and a corrupt justice system through catchy songs and dance numbers. The Teen…

Seeking musical inspiration in the new year? We've got you covered! Jon Nakamatsu, known and beloved to Santa Cruz audiences for many years, once again brings his piano artistry to the stage. Now in his third decade of touring worldwide, the Van Cliburn medalist continues to draw critical and public acclaim for his intensity, elegance, and electrifying performances. Join us…

Go see the prize-winning historian and UC Santa Cruz professor Gregory O’Malley for a discussion about his new book The Escapes of David George: An Odyssey of Slavery, Freedom, and the American Revolution—the dramatic story of a Black man’s relentless search for freedom in Revolutionary America.

Inter|Act Open Mic at Satori Arts. FREE community poetry jam featuring Geraldine ConnollyAre you ready to get your poetry on? Join us on February 3, 2026 at Satori Arts for Inter|Act, a FREE open mic night, from 7-9 pm, featuring Geraldine Connolly!Geraldine Connolly has published five poetry collections including Province of Fire and Aileron. Her work has appeared in Poetry,…

The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) welcomes renowned psychologist and author Dr. Dacher Keltner for an evening exploring the science of awe and everyday wonder. Through an engaging presentation, Dr. Keltner will share how awe can counteract negativity, deepen connection, and transform daily life. A limited book signing will follow, with books available for purchase in the…

Fungus February First Friday invites you to dive into the fascinating world of fungi and the vital role they play in our local ecosystems. From underground networks to above-ground marvels, this evening celebrates the weird, wonderful, and essential world of mushrooms. The museum is open all day, but the festivities really begin after folks get home from work at 5pm.…

Sink your teeth into a midnight classic. Join Jamison Newlander (who played the character Alan Frog in the movie) for a special two-night event celebrating The Lost Boys at Landmark Theatre Santa Cruz. Before each midnight screening, Jamison will be on hand for a meet-and-greet and photo-op, along with exclusive event merch available before the show. Just before the film…

Enjoy learning about mushrooms and how to identify and differentiate between various species. Discuss mushroom picking and collecting etiquette, and various ways of identifying fungus genus and species – by shape, parts, and anatomy of a mushroom, color, smell, and tree associations! Participants will have time to explore, find, and closely observe and identify various fungi. After the walk, participants…

The Santa Cruz Antique Faire is on the 2nd Sunday of every month from 9am-5pm, weather permitting. 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.

Enjoy this annual celebration of early music as it sounded in its own time! Learn a bit about the joy of Baroque music with a festival that is an expedition through musical time. 2026 Season: January 31 @4pm: Musical Stories of Brass and Organ (532 Center St) February 8 @4pm: Organ Virtuoso Performance (126 High St, Santa Cruz) February 15…

Come to Peoples Coffee, the official Santa Cruz location for the Southmost events for the Golden Gate Gamemakers! Come join us as a branch under GGG known as Game Designers of Santa Cruz! It's a relaxed chance to try new board games and card games, get feedback on your own prototypes if you are a game designer, and get advice…

Parents, come learn more about Ocean Alternative, a K-8 independent study/homeschool program in Live Oak School District. We will explain how our public school program works and what we can offer families.