Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Civic Auditorium: Beauty and the Beast

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium 307 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Step into the enchanted world of the Broadway classic, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature. The stage version, performed by youth from aged 4 to 18, includes all of the wonderful songs you know and love, along with new songs to surprise you!  The play is 2 and a half hours long.  There will be performances on:  Friday at 10am  Friday at 7pm  Saturday at 2pm  Saturday at 7pm  Sunday at noon  Sunday at 5pm

$21.25 – $52.50

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Bites and Brews

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

At 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” 

$24 – $38

Pleasure Point: Surf Competition

Pleasure Point County Park E Cliff Drive and 33rd Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

This weekend, head to Pleasure Point Hook to cheer on the Santa Cruz Scholastic Surf League competition. Throughout the season, they organize a series of five exciting events, carefully designed to test the mettle of the participants and create a thrilling atmosphere for spectators. Middle and high school surfers will compete in divisions for boys and girls in both Shortboard and Longboard disciplines, recognizing and celebrating the diverse talents that make up our surfing community.

Free

Live Oak: Farmers Market

Live Oak Farmers’ Market 15th Street & East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Started in 2000, this neighborhood market has grown to be a weekly event that is loved and depended on by the communities of Live Oak, Pleasure Point and Capitola. Here the atmosphere is bumping with families, cyclists, beach goers, locals, visitors, the young and the old. Shoppers find an excellent selection of organic produce from regional farms. The tables are stacked high with tree-ripened fruits, greens, fresh bread, pastries, nuts and legumes, sustainable seafood, pasture-raised organic meats and seasonal flowers. Many visitors spend hours at the market, filling their bags with berries, chicories and bagels – then moving onto a unique meal from one of the accomplished cooks that sell at the market. Sunday brunch offerings include traditional Michoacan Mexican dishes, gyoza, savory and sweet crepes and farm-driven meals that spotlight the harvest in clean, creative and bright arrangements. Watsonville-based Hidden Fortress Coffee provides that hot, comforting cup of goodness that brings us back to the simple pleasures of life. This is your Sunday destination.

Half Moon Bay – Guided Walk at Burleigh Murray Ranch

Join State Park Docents on a leisurely two-hour walk. Take a journey back in time along Mills Creek at Burleigh H. Murray Ranch State Park. This walk will be a 2.5 miles round trip hike with only a small gain in elevation. Along the way you will learn about the lives of early pioneers and farming families who first settled here in the 19th century.  Enjoy one of our area’s hidden treasures. Meet in the parking lot. For more information, call (650) 726-8814.Click here to make your reservation today!

Elkhorn Slough: Free Tour of the Preserve

Elkhorn Slough Reserve 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville, CA, United States

Docent-led tours of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve are every Saturday AND Sunday, at 10 am and 11 am. Tours are on a first-come, first-serve basis – visitors may sign up at the Visitor Center front desk, or call ahead the morning of using the phone number (831) 728-2822. The Docent will craft a walk that meets the groups needs and abilities.

Free

Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train

Roaring Camp Railroads 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA, United States

Travel 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.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park: A Guided Walk in the Woods

Big Basin Redwoods State Park 21600 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek, CA, United States

Join a Volunteer Docent or State Park Interpretive Staff on a guided walk through the iconic Redwood Loop at Big Basin!This program is a 1 hour walk on a 0.6 mile, flat and easy trail designed for all ages. Learn about the natural and cultural history of Big Basin and how the forest is growing since the 2020 CZU Lightening Complex Fire. Each docent and staff person has their own niche and is excited to share their passion with you!Participation is free, however, a $10 vehicle day-use fee will be charged upon arrival, or you can reserve a parking spot by clicking here. Please plan to meet at the temporary visitor center area located next to the restrooms at 10:45 am. Bring your own water or purchase water from Parking Kiosk as there is no running water, electricity or cell service at Big Basin!For more information, questions, or concerns, please contact [email protected] here to Register

Natural Bridges State Beach: Monarch Butterfly Self Guided Tours

Natural Bridges State Beach 2531 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Stroll 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.

Free

Pajaro Valley Arts: Mi Casa es Tu Casa

Pajaro Valley Arts 37 Sudden Street, Watsonville, CA, United States

Mi 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.

Free

Felix Kulpa Gallery: ‘Mining the Plastocene’ Opening Reception

Felix Culpa Gallery Elm Street, Santa Cruz, United States

Santa 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

Free

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Redwood Loop Tour

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 101 N Big Trees Park Rd, Felton, CA, United States

Coast Redwoods offer a 100% satisfaction guaran-treed! Every Saturday at 12:00pm, we are taking folks on a guided walk through the Redwood Grove to talk about coast redwoods and to experience the forest together. On this 1-mile stroll, we will be chatting about life histories, ecology, etc. and sharing a wonderful adventure among these giants. Click here to RSVP. Let's plan to meet in the front of the Visitor Center, we hope you can join us!

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Redwood Loop Tour

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton, CA 95018, USA

Coast Redwoods offer a 100% satisfaction guaran-treed! Every Saturday and Sunday at 12:00pm, we are taking folks on a guided walk through the Redwood Grove to talk about coast redwoods and to experience the forest together. On this 1-mile stroll, we will be chatting about life histories, ecology, etc. and sharing a wonderful adventure among these giants. Click here to RSVP. Let's plan to meet in the front of the Visitor Center, we hope you can join us!

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Redwood Loop Tour

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 101 N Big Trees Park Rd, Felton, CA, United States

Every weekend day at noon, the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks will be taking folks on a guided walk through the Old Growth Redwood Grove to talk about coast redwoods and to experience the forest.  On this 1-mile stroll, you will be chatting about life histories, ecology, etc. and sharing a wonderful adventure among those old-growth giants over 200 feet tall. They say that the Coast Redwoods offer a 100% satisfaction guaran-treed!

Free

Downtown Santa Cruz: “Encounter” Art Exhibition

m.k. contemporary art gallery Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Enjoy 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.

Free