Pigeon Point-Lighthouse History Walk

Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Pigeon Point Rd, Pescadero, CA 94060, USA

Join us for a walking tour of the historic grounds of Pigeon Point Light Station. Meet by the fence in front of the first cottage. Hear tales of whalers, bootleggers, shipwrecks, the building of the lighthouse, the “Wickies” and their families, and the restoration of the tower (currently closed to the public). Visit the Fog Signal Building to view the magnificent First Order Fresnel lens and explore the exhibits. ADA accessible.Register for Lighthouse History Walk

Santa Cruz Mission – ParkStage Youth Performance

144 School St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA

The culmination of several weeks of hard work, students aged 8-13 will perform a dramatized historical story of Santa Cruz outdoors at our park. Students have rehearsed, researched, and learned history through the process of a performance that they present to the public. Our story for this Spring 2024 ParkStage is set in 1850's Santa Cruz, and follows a dramatized tale of how Eliza Farnham and Georgiana Bruce Kirby come to experience life in California. Arriving empty-handed to her late husband's land in Santa Cruz, Eliza is immediately thrust into a whirlwind of western society-- untrustworthy lawyers, reinvented men running from their pasts, forward thinking women, sharp-witted newspaper editors, and a Santa Cruz split between cultures, all while the temptation of gold lingers just beyond the mountains. These two women, remembered over 100 years after their time, find their own way and forge their own paths as they learn what freedoms the "frontier" might have to offer. This performance is free to the public, and will take place on the lawn at our historic state park Friday May 17th @ 6pm and Sunday May 19th at 4pm. Audience members are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs to sit on.

Public Works Touch-a-Truck Event

Center Street & Church Street Center Street & Church Street, Santa Cruz

The highly anticipated Santa Cruz Public Works Department Touch-a-Truck Event is almost here! Mark your calendar for Wednesday, May 22nd, from 12pm to 2pm at Center and Church Street in Santa Cruz. Climb aboard and explore a wide variety of vehicles up close! From heavy-duty trucks to specialized equipment, there's something for everyone to discover. You can also watch skilled operators showcase their finesse in a road-eo skills competition. Cheer on your favorites as they tackle challenging tasks! Don't miss out on this family-friendly event happening Wednesday, May 22nd, from 12pm to 2pm at Center and Church Street. See you there!

Free

The SLV Music & Art Festival

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

The 3rd annual SLV Music & Art Festival is an outdoor, community event that features performances by: SLVHS choir and bands, SLVMS bands, SLV Nature Academy Band, SLVE and BCE 5th grade bands, and the SLV Community Band! There is an art show and sale (by donation) put on by the SLVHS Art Department! There will be multiple food trucks and also silent and live auctions that support the SLV Music Boosters. Please come and celebrate community while supporting our growing student musicians and artists!

Free

Francisco Jiménez, The Circuit Graphic Novel

Sequoia High School in Freedom 229 Green Valley Road, Freedom

Bookshop Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education welcome bestselling author Francisco Jiménez (The Circuit) for a celebration of The Circuit Graphic Novel at Sequoia High School in Freedom. Poignantly told from a young boy's perspective, the popular and award-winning memoir centered on a Mexican family working California's fields is now a powerful graphic novel. Food and drinks provided by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. Please register for this free event on our website, purchase of book required to join the signing line.

Free

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Park Workday

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

This is a Fuel Reduction Workday, in which we manually clear fallen debris in select areas of the Redwood Grove, and by doing so, reduce the fuel load and restore old-growth habitat. Park staff will facilitate organizing this debris into brush piles. Participants should be prepared to help with a fair deal of manual labor.This workday will meet in front of the Visitor Center. If possible, please bring work gloves. Parks offers a limited supply. Click here to RSVP and be sure to cross reference the above details with the date of choice.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park: Guided Walk – Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

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

Come learn about the story of Big Basin: past, present, and future while wandering under the guardian old-growth redwoods that have seen it all! This program is a 1 hour walk on a 0.6 mile, flat and easy trail designed for all ages. We will be covering the cultural history of this unique area including Indigenous groups, loggers, and preservationists. Of course, we will also discuss natural history such as the amazing coast redwood and the CZU Lightning Complex Fire as well as the future of our park.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

Wilder Ranch State Park – Guided Coastal Walk

On this 2.5 mile family friendly walk, we’ll explore the plants, animals, and geology of our coastal bluffs. Bring water, hat, closed toe shoes, layered clothing, and binoculars if available. Sign up here!Meet next to park map in Wilder Ranch main parking lot. Rain cancels. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. For more information, call (831) 426-0505.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Redwood 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!

Santa Cruz Mission – Adobe Tour

144 School St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA

Join us 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 95060, USA

Want 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 [email protected]

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Tree ID

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

Learning about different tree species? How in-tree-guing! During this 1 mile walk, we'll be chattin' about a handful of trees that reside in the park, and giving you the tools you need to identify species during your future park visits. Beleaf us, it'll be a great time!This free program will meet in front of the Visitor Center and meander down River Trail and back through the Redwood Grove. Hard rain cancels! Hope to see you there! Click here to RSVP.

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!

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!