Growing Up in Santa Cruz

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

Seacliff Inn: Sip and Stroll

Seacliff Inn 7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos

Every third Thursday, join Seacliff Inn for a Sip & Stroll event where local artists come together to show and sell their works. What goes better with art than wine? The featured winery of the month will be offering tastings of three varietals for you to enjoy in the company of your most creative Aptos neighbors.

Santa Cruz Harbor: Winemakers Sail

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

Chardonnay 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!

$82

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

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.

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

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

Native Plant Garden Workday at Henry Cowell

Native Plant Garden Workday - This is a Native Plant Garden Workday, in which remove non-native plants from the garden, install new signage, prune select plants, and restore habitat. This workday offers an incredible opportunity to familiarize yourself with native plants in the area! Participants should be prepared to spend a few hours on hands and knees yankin' some weeds.This workday will meet in front of the Nature Store. If possible, please bring work gloves and a hand trowel. Park offers a limited supply.Click here to RSVP and be sure to cross reference the above details with the date of your choice!

Watsonville: Farmers Market

Downtown Watsonville CA, United States

The 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 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

Rio Theatre: The Fab Four Ultimate Tribute

Rio Theatre 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, CA, United States

If you want to experience the best Beatles tribute ever, you won’t want to miss The Fab Four-The Ultimate Tribute. The 2024 tour brings their all-new show to the stage, celebrating The Beatles’ first visit to the USA, with performances from the Ed Sullivan show and the Meet The Beatles album, as well as the Beatles’ greatest hits of every era.   The Emmy Award Winning Fab Four is elevated far above every other Beatles Tribute due to their precise attention to detail. With uncanny, note-for-note live renditions of Beatles’ classics such as “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Yesterday,” “A Day in The Life,” “Twist And Shout,” “Here Comes The Sun,” and “Hey Jude”, the Fab Four will make you think you are watching the real thing.   Their incredible stage performances include three costume changes representing every era of the Beatles ever-changing career, and this loving tribute to the Beatles has amazed audiences in countries around the world.

$49 – $149.80

Santa Cruz: Turkey Trot

Westside Research Park Delaware Avenue, Santa Cruz, United States

Go on.  Earn that feast!  Flat, fast out and back courses that begin & end on Delaware Street by the back entrance to Natural Bridges. A run with spectacular ocean views!  10k, 5k, and kids 1k all offered.   Signature Santa Cruz Track Club finisher socks for all 5k and 10k finishers.   Prizes for top three overall. 

$6.30 – $54

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