Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Live Earth Farm: U-Pick Strawberries

Live Earth Farm 1275 Green Valley Road, Watsonville, CA, United States

Spots are limited for 2 hours at 10am, and 12:30 on Saturdays & Sundays. Dates are subject to change without notice.  Discounts apply to produce the more you pick! Bring buckets, boxes, or other containers to harvest into, or purchase containers from them for a small fee. Make sure to dress accordingly – layers, hats, sunblock. Load up the kids, pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it!

Event Series Storybook Stroll

Storybook Stroll

Scotts Valley Branch Library 251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley, CA, United States

Take a fantastical stroll through an inspiring, imaginative world where anything can happen: leaves turn into fish, cats fly with wings, frogs eat rainbows, and dreams become visible. “If” is a visual feast that children and adults will enjoy on this year’s Storybook Stroll on the Scotts Valley Library's Patio.

Free

Bookshop Santa Cruz: Frederik G. Pferdt

Bookshop Santa Cruz 1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz

Frederik G. Pferdt, renowned global thought leader and Google’s first Chief Innovation Evangelist, will discuss What’s Next Is Now: How to Live Future Ready. Pferdt introduces a forward-thinking mind-state that will help you navigate ambiguity and uncertainty with intention, transform problems and challenges into profound opportunities, and create exactly the future you want to see.

Free

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Fall Creek Guided Hike

Fall Creek Unit Trailhead, Felton Empire Rd, Felton, CA 95018, USA

The Fall Creek unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods is extraordinary, and we want to explore it with you! On this multi-mile hike, we'll be meandering along Fall Creek to the historic Barrel Mill and Lime Kiln sites. Join us on June 19th at 9:00am to explore this beautiful creek system and learn a bit about its history.RSVP for this event here!We'll meet in the main parking lot of Fall Creek (located off Felton Empire Grade).

Half Moon Bay State Beach – Junior Rangers

Francis Beach Amphitheater, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, USA

During this 1-hour program for ages 7 to 12, kids become Junior Rangers by participating in hands-on activities to earn prizes while learning how to protect the natural world! Activities vary from nature walks, to games, to nature-inspired crafts and are based on a different theme each week. Register in advance here. Walk-ins are welcome. Meet at the amphitheater at the north end of the campground.Program is free. Vehicle day-use fee is $10.

Abbott Square: Paint Night

Abbott Square 725 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA

Follow along with local artist, Ana of Follow the Sun, to create your own tropical beach inspired masterpiece! In just two hours you will be guided, step by step, in creating our painting of the day. Great for complete beginners and seasoned creatives alike. You have the freedom to add your personal touch – tweak the colors & composition, or just follow along with the instruction! We will learn and practice various painting techniques as we go, with plenty of room for creativity. One-on-one help is always available & all supplies are included – 16″x20″ canvas, paint, brushes, and aprons. We will be set up outside on the patio! Grab a drink from Front & Cooper & a meal from one of the many eatery options while you paint. Grab a friend, a drink, and let’s create!

$35

Capitola: Summer Twilight Concerts

Esplanade Park Capitola Village, Capitola, CA, United States

Bring chairs, jackets, a picnic supper, and the family to enjoy free live music and the sunset! Concerts begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and take place at the Esplanade bandstand. Visit local restaurants and pick up dinner to go and enjoy a picnic at the beach! Suggested to bring low back chairs or picnic blanket for seating. *No dogs or alcohol in the park or on the beach. June 12: Spun (Funky Rock) June 19: Pacific Roots (Reggae Rock) June 26: Ribsy’s Nickel (Rock/Reggae) July 3: Dirty Cello (Blues & Rock) July 10: Mike Hammar & The Nails (Contemporary Blues) July 17: Extra Large (Original Pop) July 24: The Joint Chiefs (R&B, Soul, American Roots) July 31: Dolce (Old School, R&B, Soul, American Roots) August 7: Space Heater (Funk/Dance/Jam) August 14: The Inciters Band (60’s Style Original Soul) August 21: Cowboys After Dark (Classic Rock/Funk) August 28: Alex Lucero (Soul/Americana)

Free

Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery: Comedy Night

Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing 402 Ingalls Street #27, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

The Microbrewery that makes organic beers and serves them in a dog-friendly biergarten is bringing back the Wednesday night comedy shows! Catch the best comedians from far and wide every week. 

Wilder Ranch State Park – Rail Trail Groundbreaking Ceremony

Wilder Ranch State Park, 1401 Coast Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA

Rail Trail Groundbreaking CeremonyThursday June 20 from noon to 1:30 pmConstruction of Segment 5 of the Rail Trail will getunderway this summer, connecting Wilder Ranch State Park to the town ofDavenport, 8 miles north of Santa Cruz. Join us for the groundbreaking ceremonyof this exciting expansion on June 20! In addition to the ceremony andspeeches, activity booths and light refreshments will be available. For more information, visit www.sccrtc.org/seg5

UCSC: Farmstand

Cowell Ranch Hay Barn 1156 High St., Santa Cruz, CA, United States

The Center for Agroecology Farmstand is open to all and features organic vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers grown at the UCSC Farm and Chadwick Garden. Find the Farmstand at the Cowell Ranch Hay Barn near the base of campus every Thursday from 12:30-6pm, beginning June 20 and continuing through September 26, 2024.

Santa Cruz Harbor: Free Water Taxi

Santa Cruz Harbor 135 5th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

The free, inner-harbor water taxi operates between 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM, on summer weekends and holidays.  In addition to weekend service, the water taxi will operate on Thursday evenings during the Crow’s Nest beach barbecues from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM.  Passengers may be picked up and dropped off at the following locations:  X1 Gate (northeast harbor)  AA Dock (southwest harbor)  Launch Ramp (southeast harbor)  Please visit the Port District’s website to view the map for all water taxi pick-up and drop-off locations in the harbor. Visitor parking is available for water taxi passengers in the north harbor near X Dock. 

Free

Westside Humble Sea: Astronomy on Tap

Humble Sea Brewery 820 Swift Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Head to the Humble Sea Brewing Co. for a free event out of this world!  There will be astro trivia and prizes.  Learn about the Shadow the Scientists initiative, which allows the general public to follow and understand live observations with the largest telescopes in the world!

Bookshop Santa Cruz: Elizabeth Acevedo

Bookshop Santa Cruz 1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz

Elizabeth has a talent for performance, so her appearance in Downtown Santa Cruz for the paperback release of her bestselling novel, Family Lore, is bound to be entertaining! The story, if it is not already on your shelf, is of one Dominican American family told through the voices of its women.

Free