Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Bites and Brews
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesAt Brews at the Beach near Neptune’s Kingdom, indulge in top Bay Area craft beers paired with delicious local foods, while enjoying FREE live music! Thursday and Friday evenings from 4-8pm. October 10: “Southern Comfort” October 17-18: “Pub Bites” October 24-15: “Mexican Plates” October 31-November 1: “All-American Grub” November 7-8: “Street Food” November 14-15: “BBQ Bites” November 21-22: “Almost Turkey Time”
Santa Cruz Harbor: Winemakers Sail
Santa Cruz Harbor 135 5th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesChardonnay Sailing Charters features a different local winery every Friday evening from May through October. Enjoy the fabulous wines provided and entice your palate with complimentary hours-d’oeuvres while taking in the stunning views of the California coastline. Learn about the local wineries and the art of winemaking. Watch the sunset, raise your glasses, and give a toast to a wine tasting at its finest!
Wilder Ranch State Park: Guided Coastal Birding Walk
Wilder Ranch State Park 1401 Coast Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesOn this 2.5 mile hike, be prepared to walk on uneven surfaces, with many stops to view the many birds, plants, and scenery along the way. You will help each other spot and identify birds! Bring your binoculars if you have them, clothes for variable weather, and good walking shoes. Meet next to park map in Wilder Ranch main parking lot. *Rain cancels. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. For more information, call (831) 426-0505. Follow links below for the required free registration.
Wilder Ranch State Park – Birding Walk
On this 2.5 mile hike, be prepared to walk on uneven surfaces, with many stops to view the many birds, plants, and scenery along the way. You will help each other spot and identify birds! Bring your binoculars if you have them, clothes for variable weather, and good walking shoes.Sign up here!Meet next to park map in Wilder Ranch main parking lot. Rain cancels. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. For more information, call (831) 426-0505.
Potter the Otter Exhibit
Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery 1855 41st Avenue, Suite C10, Capitola, CA, United StatesThe Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery is thrilled to announce a season of celebration in honor of its 10th anniversary and a decade of discovery in our community. Join us for the exciting kick-off event as we unveil the "Potter the Otter: A Healthy Adventure" traveling exhibit. Dive into adventure with Potter the Otter™ on his quest to be healthy and strong! This hands-on interactive exhibit, spanning over 1,500 sq ft, brings the beloved First 5 children's books to life through the power of play. Built by The San Jose Children's Discovery Museum for preschool and kindergarten-age children this exhibit is enjoyable for all interested in living a healthy life. August 24th-November 11th Open to the public Fridays & Saturdays 10:00 AM-2:00 PM Public Admission: $3 Museum Members: Free Sponsored by First 5 Santa Clara, First 5 Santa Cruz, Omega Nu, New Leaf Community Markets, & Capitola Kids Dentistry
Museum of Discovery: Potter the Otter
1855 41st Ave Ste J05, across from Wetzel’s Pretzels in the Capitola Mall 41st Avenue, Capitola, United StatesThe Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery is thrilled to announce a season of celebration in honor of its 10th anniversary and a decade of discovery in our community. Enjoy the exciting kick-off event as they unveil the “Potter the Otter: A Healthy Adventure” traveling exhibit. Dive into adventure with Potter the Otter™ on his quest to be healthy and strong! This hands-on interactive exhibit, spanning over 1,500 sq ft, brings the beloved First 5 children’s books to life through the power of play. Built by The San Jose Children’s Discovery Museum for preschool and kindergarten-age children this exhibit is enjoyable for all interested in living a healthy life. August 24th-November 11th Fridays & Saturdays 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Roaring Camp Railroads 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA, United StatesTravel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
Natural Bridges State Beach: Monarch Butterfly Self Guided Tours
Natural Bridges State Beach 2531 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesStroll through the Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve and be on the lookout for every splash of orange on the walk! The monarch migration is variable, please check the website or contact the park at (831)423-0871 to find out the current population. To arrange a tour for groups of 10 or more, please visit www.thatsmypark.org. Events made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks. Parking near the trail accessible entrance is $10.
Pajaro Valley Arts: Mi Casa es Tu Casa
Pajaro Valley Arts 37 Sudden Street, Watsonville, CA, United StatesMi Casa es Tu Casa is an annual Pajaro Valley Arts exhibit inspired by the traditional holiday of Día de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead celebrated in Mexico and beyond through altars to remember and honor those who have passed. This cherished tradition brings together families, communities and friends as they prepare to welcome the spirits back each year. PVA has invited artists, community groups and local residents “into our home” to construct altars, installations, and more to celebrate and pay homage to our ancestors. Opening reception will be held Sunday, November 3 from 1-3pm. The exhibit will be on display until December 1. The Gallery hours on Sudden Street are Wednesday-Sunday from 11am to 4pm.
Felix Kulpa Gallery: ‘Mining the Plastocene’ Opening Reception
Felix Culpa Gallery Elm Street, Santa Cruz, United StatesSanta Cruz Mountain erstwhile resident and international artist, Tara de la Garza, transforms her own yearly consumption of plastic into minimalist sculptures that challenge our notion of worth and waste. This solo show, spanning two galleries, includes LED light forms with pillars embedded with plastic, monumental origami sculptures crafted from a year’s collection of window envelopes. A blending of nature and the built world, recycled 3D printed shelves hold miniature gardens of Santa Cruz driftwood and beach plastic. The November 1st opening aligns with Santa Cruz First Friday, giving visitors the chance to engage with themes of waste and sustainability while enjoying the lively local art scene. The Opening Reception is free and open to the public on November 1, from 5 pm to 8pm. The exhibit will be on display throughout the month of November, Thursday through Sunday from 11am to 6pm
Downtown Santa Cruz: “Encounter” Art Exhibition
m.k. contemporary art gallery Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesEnjoy a captivating new exhibition featuring the works of eight talented artists from Santa Cruz and the wider bay area. The exhibition will run through November 24th, 2024. “Encounter” explores the moment of convergence—where materials, ideas, and experiences collide. Each piece captures the ephemeral nature of these intersections, provoking curiosity and inviting viewers into a space of contemplation and connection. The work challenges perception, inviting introspection while offering intimate yet expansive reflections on the world around us. Exhibition Dates: October 4th – November 24th, 2024 Closed Mondays through Wednesdays. Open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5:00 PM M.K. Contemporary Art invites art lovers and the general public to experience this powerful collection of works in person. The gallery is located in Downtown Santa Cruz, easily accessible to visitors from across the Bay Area.
Watsonville: Farmers Market
Downtown Watsonville CA, United StatesThe Watsonville Farmers Market is every Friday afternoon from 2-7 all year round at the City Plaza in Downtown Watsonville. Don’t miss out on the wonderful locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers. Bring your appetite as there are tons of delicious prepared foods to try.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Bites and Brews
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesAt Brews at the Beach near Neptune’s Kingdom, indulge in top Bay Area craft beers paired with delicious local foods, while enjoying FREE live music! Thursday and Friday evenings from 4-8pm. October 10: “Southern Comfort” October 17-18: “Pub Bites” October 24-15: “Mexican Plates” October 31-November 1: “All-American Grub” November 7-8: “Street Food” November 14-15: “BBQ Bites” November 21-22: “Almost Turkey Time”
Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Colligan Theater 1010 River Street, Santa CruzFeaturing a Live Orchestra! Join us under the sea with this classic tale of love and adventure. Ariel, King Triton's youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea. Directed by Miakela Reed, musically directed by Ruby Cook Fernandes and choreographed by Whitney James-Heskett, this show will have you singing and dancing all the way home. Don't miss out - buy your tickets now for this family friendly spectacular.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Colligan Theater 1010 River Street, Santa CruzFeaturing a Live Orchestra! Join us under the sea with this classic tale of love and adventure. Ariel, King Triton's youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea. Directed by Miakela Reed, musically directed by Ruby Cook Fernandes and choreographed by Whitney James-Heskett, this show will have you singing and dancing all the way home. Don't miss out - buy your tickets now for this family friendly spectacular.