Wilder Ranch State Park P – Holidays on the Ranch
Wilder Ranch State Park 1401 Coast Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesHolidays on theRanchSaturday,December 9 from 11 am to 3 pmCelebrate the winter holidays as folks did in Californio,Victorian, and early 20th century Santa Cruz at Wilder Ranch StatePark. Enjoy performances featuring the Lyric Victorian Carolers, sampleVictorian-era holiday goodies, watch live demonstrations in the blacksmith and machineshop, explore the historical houses, and participate in wreath and candlemaking and wood oven baking. Free event. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. For moreinformation, call (831) 426-0505 or email wilderranch@ports-ca.us. Event made possibleby Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks.
Museum of Natural History: Mushroom Market
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History 1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesIt’s mushroom season! Join local fungiphiles at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for a mushroom market just in time for the Holidays. Stock up on mushroom-themed gifts, explore a display of local mushroom species, and enjoy free family-friendly activities: Free admission to the Museum all day Natural dye activity using local mushrooms Game station Mushroom ID station (bring your mushrooms!) Fungus forward food Mushroom products Local artists featuring mushroom pottery, stickers, woodworking, jewelry, and more!
Winter Faire
Santa Cruz Waldorf School 2190 Empire Grade, Sants Cruz, CA, United StatesSanta Cruz Waldorf Winter Faire 2023 This will be a cozy day to craft, enjoy music, eat delicious food, and gather together with friends and family. We will have candle rolling, tea sachet making, wooden nature centerpieces, peg gnomes, and copper ornaments to hammer. 4th & 5th Grade Choir Performance Tasty soups will be made by the 7th Grade. 7th & 8th Grade Craft Sale 6th Grade will have a bake sale fundraiser. Other offerings include lovely music, storytellers in the Redwood Grove and roasted chestnuts! FREE Puppet Show Local vendors selling their crafts! FREE SHUTTLE AT UCSC BARN @ BAY & HIGH STREET LIMITED $15 ON CAMPUS PARKING www.santacruzwaldorf.org
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Redwood Tour
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 101 N Big Trees Park Rd, Felton, CA, United StatesCoast 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!
Annieglass: Holiday Ornament Making Workshop
Annieglass 310 Harvest Drive, Watsonville, CA, United StatesMake your holidays extra special with DIY Christmas ornaments! Decorate 4 frosted glass holiday-shaped ornaments with gold & silver decorations. Take them home with you that day! Finished ornaments make great gifts for friends and family. There will be stencils for tracing directly onto the glass and inspiration for decorating the ornaments. *This workshop is not appropriate for children under 10.
Wilder Ranch State Park – Ranch History Tour
Wilder Ranch State Park 1401 Coast Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesWant to learn about the rich dairy history of Wilder Ranch State Park? Dreamt of peeking inside our beautiful Victorian homes and barns? Join us weekly on Saturdays and Sundays for a 1.5 hour long tour of the historic buildings of Wilder Ranch! Meet at the visitor's center at 1 pm. Pre-register here or join us on the day-of. This tour is free. Parking in Day-use lot is $10. Questions? Call (831)426-0505 or email wilderranch@ports-ca.us
Sea to Sky Farm: Wreath Making
Sea to Sky Farm 6040 Bonny Doon Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesGo check out the Sea to Sky farm house, and learn to make a beautiful locally sourced, seasonal wreath to adorn your home for the winter months. They will have a base, wire, and all the greenery and floral materials on hand for use, and of course, expert help and instruction on hand!
Santa Cruz Art League: Curious Narratives Exhibition
Santa Cruz Art League 526 Broadway, Santa CruzThis exhibition will feature creations by Santa Cruz County artists Wendy Aikin, Judy Stabile, and Jean Sheckler Beebe. Curious Narratives is an expansion of Wendy Aikin’s installation The Curator’s Office which was part of The Museum of Curious Perceptions exhibition at Pajaro Valley Arts in 2018. Collaborating for the first time, Aikin, Beebe and Stabile are expanding on selected themed boxes with their interpretations of the characters depicted in Aikin’s assemblages. Through their media choices of sculpture, collage, assemblage, painting, found objects and fiber arts the artists are expanding upon these fictional characters and creating environments for their imagined lives. While their modalities of execution are widely varied, their creative electricity lights them up.
Natural Bridges State Park: Free Public Tidepool Tours
Natural Bridges State Beach 2531 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesExplore the ocean without getting your feet wet on this exciting tidepool tour! Join an interpretive docent to climb up the rocky trail and out to view the amazing animals that make their home in Santa Cruz tidepools. King Tides tidepool tours will be held on January 10, 11, 12 @ 3pm. King Tides are when the ocean’s tides are the lowest they will be that year, so it’s one of the best times to go tidepooling!
Natural Bridges State Beach – Tidepool Tour
Natural Bridges Visitor Center 2320 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesExplore the ocean without getting your feet wet on this exciting tidepool tour! Join us for some fun in the sun and meet the incredible creatures of the Natural Bridges Tidepools. Prepare to walk over slippery rocks, through sand and up hills on this tour. Our tidepools are part of a Marine Protected Area which means that the animals are protected and cannot be touched, picked up, or moved. Thank you for helping us preserve these animals and their home.Please Sign up ahead of time using this link: https://SantaCruzStateParks.as.me/?appointmentType=23305287Meet at the Visitor Center. Questions? Call 831-423-0871 or email naturalbridges@ports-ca.usThis tour is free. Parking is $10 and can be used in any State Park that day. Event is made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks.
Good Ol’ Fashioned Christmas Fun!
Boulder Creek Boulder Creek, CA, United States +1 moreFamilies with children through 5th grade are invited to make memorable ornaments, sing carols, decorate cookies, and hear a reading of the Christmas story. Email office@bccchurch.org or call 831-338-3700 for more information.
The Naughty List
Downtown Information Kiosk 1130 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CASanta's working on his list, but we already know which one you're on... Celebrate your status on The Naughty List with this fun holiday-themed pub crawl and scavenger hunt. On December 9th, Downtown bars are offering EXCLUSIVE drink discounts to ticket holders. There'll be exclusive access to naughty activities, bar games & raffle prizes at the end of the evening. Tickets are ONLY $10! This is the perfect event for your most festive and maybe questionable holiday attire! The Naughty List check in location is at the Downtown Info Kiosk: 1130 Pacific Ave. K2 Ticket holders will receive their event wristband and scavenger clues to find the night’s exclusive discounts and activities, after showing their age 21+ ID card. Participants can check-in starting at 5:30pm, and the event begins at 6PM. Check-in and ticket purchases close at 7:30pm. The event ends at 9pm, but many of the bars remain open much later than that. Only ticket buyers are eligible to win the prizes at the end of night raffle at 9pm. Location for this will be announced soon. Tons of great prizes include gift cards and swag from participating pub crawl establishments, and tons of Downtown Dollars. Participating bars and restaurants are within a 5-10 minute walk of each other. Most stops along the way will have food available to purchase along with drinks. This event is only for attendees 21 years of age or older. There is an ID check required for all participants – come prepared. Please drink responsibly and take public transportation or a rideshare home after the event. Online sales available until 3:00pm, December 9th. In-person sales from 3-7:30PM at our Info Kiosk, 1130 Pacific Avenue K2, Santa Cruz.
Breakfast with Santa
Ramsay Park 1301 Main St., WatsonvilleKick off the holiday season at Breakfast with Santa on Sunday, December 10, 2023, from 8am to 12pm at Ramsay Park, 1301 Main Street, Watsonville. A great breakfast, holiday games, raffle prizes and personal time with Santa makes a great day for the whole family. Book your tickets now on Eventbrite at https://rb.gy/n7pdbb. Enjoy a delicious breakfast of eggs, sausage, fruit, beverages, and all you can eat pancakes. Visit with Santa, share your list and take a photo, make an ornament, play reindeer games, spin the Xmas Wheel for fabulous prizes and participate in the raffle for great gifts from local merchants. Enjoy all the festivities for $6.00 per child and seniors, and $8 for adults. Children under 2 years old are free with a paying adult. Funds from Breakfast with Santa supports recreation scholarships for Watsonville youth wanting to participate in sports, art, dance, music, swim lessons and other recreation activities. Breakfast with Santa is hosted by the Recreation Advocates, Armada Pest, and Watsonville McDonalds. You can purchase tickets in advance at https://rb.gy/n7pdbb or on site. For more information about Breakfast with Santa, or to request financial support for youth recreation activities, contact us at recreationadvoc@gmail.com or call 831-722-6012. Recreation Advocates in a non-profit 501(C)3 charitable corporation.
Elkhorn Slough: Free Tour of the Preserve
Elkhorn Slough Reserve 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville, CA, United StatesDocent-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 below. The Docent will craft a walk that meets the groups needs and abilities.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Redwood Loop Tour
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 101 N Big Trees Park Rd, Felton, CA, United StatesCoast 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!