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.
Downtown Santa Cruz: Antiques Faire
Downtown Santa Cruz Antique Faire Lincoln Street (between Pacific and Cedar), Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesThe Santa Cruz Antique Faire is on the 2nd Sunday of every month from 8am-6pm. Vendors offer an eclectic blend of antiques and unique items, vintage clothing, collectibles and more! Visit the Antique Faire on Lincoln Street between Pacific and Cedar.
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!
Santa Cruz Mission – Adobe Building Tour
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park 144 School St., Santa CruzJoin us at 1pm for a guided tour through Santa Cruz’s oldest building, the only remaining example of indigenous housing from the California Missions. Learn about the daily life of people who lived here, and ways in which the Spanish Mission system drastically impacted local native people’s culture and landscape.This is a FREE event open to the public, no reservations required. Call (831) 425-5849 for more information.
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
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!
Bookshop Santa Cruz: Meet the Grinch
Bookshop Santa Cruz 1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa CruzThe Grinch is back and ready to prove to the residents of Who-ville that he’s changed. This heartwarming sequel is written and illustrated in the style of Dr. Seuss’s beloved holiday classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The new book storytime reading is free and available to the public. If you and 4 others would like to take a photo with the Grinch himself, you can purchase tickets to the photo line on the day of the event or through the link below. Purchasing tickets to the photo line includes your own copy of the new book!