GUiSC accepts listings for family-oriented events that are free or cost less than $10, to be considered in the monthly calendar of events. Events costing more than $10 for non-profit originations or benefits will also be considered. GUiSC does not guarantee that a submitted event will be included in the calendar. The calendar editors will select calendar entries and photos.
Photos for the calendar may be submitted by email. Digital images must be high resolution, 200-300dpi.
Calendar Deadline: 15th of the month prior to publication. (i.e. May 15 for June issue)
Saturday 1
May Day Celebrated in many different cultures around the world. It is a day of unity, togetherness, and rebirth; a day for everyone to come together and celebrate life as we know it! A celebration of Spring!
May is Museum Month! May 1-31 The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is offering free admission for all throughout the month of May in honor of Museum Month! Learn more at santacruzmuseumsmonth.org.
Makers Market: The Art of Nature 11 am to 3 pm During this outdoor Makers Market, meet featured artists from our annual science illustration exhibit, The Art of Nature, watch them at work through live demonstrations at their booths, and support their work by going home with prints, stickers, cards, cups, and more! We will also have an illustration station so that you can create your own works of art inspired by the native plants in our Garden Learning Center. https://www.santacruzmuseum.org/5-1-makers-market-the-art-of-nature/”
Chaminade Resort: Sip & Shop Marketplace 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Join us for a Spring Marketplace featuring local vendors from around Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay! Sip wine and craft beers while shopping for artwork, handcrafted jewelry, candles, gifts, and more.
Tandy Beal and Company “KEEP ON TRUCKIN” Musicians Matt Hartle and Sunshine Garcia Becker will perform “Fun & Grateful-Driven Rock & Soul for All Ages” in the Felton Library parking lot. This series features world-famous artists in free, live 20-minute family shows, outdoors and safe on the back of a flatbed truck. See all Keep On Truckin’ artists for April-June performance dates in SC City Parks here.
Shop Local at the NEW Westside Marketplace! 1st Sundays at the Wrigley! Featuring LOCAL art, handmade & vintage shopping + Food trucks & pop-ups and LIVE MUSIC…all outdoors at the Old Wrigley Parking Lot on Mission. FREE admission! National Foster Care Month
World Fair Trade Day
Sunday 2
Virtual Younger Lagoon Reserve Tours Seymour Marine Discovery Center 10:30 am Younger Lagoon Reserve is now offering a virtual tour in both English and Spanish. This virtual tour follows the same stops as the Seymour Marine Discovery Center’s docent-led, in-person hiking tour, and is led by a UC Santa Cruz student! Virtual Younger Lagoon Reserve tours are free and open to the public. Access the tours, here: seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/visit/behind-the-scenes-tours/#youngerlagoon
Family Sangha Monthly Meditation Insight Santa Cruz 10:30am – 12pm Come help create a family meditation cooperative community! Parents will meet in the main room for about 40 minutes of silent meditation, followed by 10-15 minutes of discussion about life and mindful parenting. Kids will be in a separate volunteer-led room, playing and exploring mindfulness through games and stories. Parents may need to help with the kids for a portion of the hour, depending on volunteer turnout. All ages of children are welcome. Please bring toys to share. Quiet babies are welcome in the parents’ room. Donations (dana) are encouraged; there is no fee for the event.
National Brothers and Sisters Day Today is dedicated to the people who (we hope) made your childhood memorable — your siblings. They’ve been there for you during the good times. And they haven’t left your side through the bad
Monday 3
Constitution Memorial Day
National Paranormal Day
Tuesday 4
Food Waste Webinar Series City of Santa Cruz-Public Works 5pm-6pm Keep your cash out of the trash! Join this webinar series created by the City of Santa Cruz to learn all about wasted food and reducing waste in your life to keep cash out of the trash. Plus, be entered to win awesome prizes like a compost bin, and more, for attending! Did you know that there is not only a huge environmental impact from wasting food but that the average family of four will toss out $1,600 or more a year in wasted food! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/food-waste-webinar-series-tickets-144305368241
Dungeons & Dragons Tuesdays Attention 12-16yr olds — Adventure awaits! A friendly introduction to Dungeons & Dragons for players of all experience levels, led by an experienced player. Held every Tuesday from 3:30-6:30pm. Our Campaign lasts from May 4th to August 31st. Form a party, hunt for ancient treasures, and use your wits, magic, or brute force to battle kobolds, dragons, and more. Dungeons & Dragons is a game of adventure, imagination and near-limitless possibilities. If you’ve been curious but unsure how to start, it’s time to roll the dice and join this campaign. An experienced D&Der will guide you, and all the necessary materials & manuals will be provided. Parents: Please be prepared to briefly meet our volunteer who leads the program. Zoom Link will be emailed the day of the event – MAY 4th please register in advance so that we know who and how many to expect, Thank you!
Virtual Zoom Toddler Time by Julie 10:30 – 11 am Tuesdays Toddler Time is a weekly early literacy program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. Music, movement, stories, fingerplays, rhymes, and songs are a fun way for your child to learn. Register here: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/7590866. Let’s play and learn together!
National Teacher Day
Star Wars Day
Wednesday 5
Rockin’ Pop-Up (Virtual) 3-3:30 pm Geologists Gavin and Graham help us dig deep into geology with these monthly rock-talks! This month we’ll be taking a tour of our country’s great geological landmarks just in time for roadtrip season. Live on Facebook. https://www.santacruzmuseum.org/5-5-rockin-pop-up-great-geologic-landmarks/”
Cinco de Mayo
JavaScript Coding 3pm – 4 pm This program will follow the curriculum from Khan Academy called “Intro to JS: Drawing & Animation” It covers fundamental ideas of computer science, and helps students learn one of the most popular programming languages right now, JavaScript. The curriculum has 18 modules, each with a few videos, short readings, and hands-on activities. Notable modules include Drawing Basics, Variables, Functions, Looping, and Objects. Students are free to work at their own pace; for students who finish quickly, an advanced Khan Academy course is available. No prior programming experience is required. This class is open to students 8-18 years old. For more information please contact Julie Soto at [email protected]
National Astronaut Day
World Maths Day
Thursday 6
Virtual Open House Ocean Alternative School 5 – 6 pm Home-Based Independent Study & Ocean Online 831.475.0767 http://oc-losd-ca.schoolloop.com/ Call to preregister.
Salsa Suelta Free Zoom Session Louden Nelson Community Center 7pm Every Thursday Weekly free Zoom sessions in Salsa Suelta for experienced beginners and up. May include Cuban-styles such as Mambo, ChaChaCha, Afro-Cuban Rumba, Orisha, Son Montuno, and Salsa. No partner required, age 14+. Contact to get link: [email protected]
National Nurses Day we recognize the important role nurses play in our lives by celebrating National Nurses Day.
Friday 7
National Provider Appreciation Day
National Space Day
National Tourism Day
Saturday 8
National Coconut Cream Pie Day
World Migratory Bird Day
Sunday 9
Mother’s Day Moms don’t get days off, nor do they receive handsome salaries or generous pensions. Instead, their rewards come in the form of sticky kisses, necklaces made of elbow macaroni, and the satisfaction of seeing their children grow up to be happy, healthy adults. That’s probably not adequate compensation — so give Mom an extra hug on Mother’s Day.
Virtual Mother’s Day Run & Walk Ramsey Park 7am Mother’s Day Run and Walk for Hopeful Family Futures Outrun Family Homelessness Outrun family homelessness this Mother’s Day: join the 2021 Virtual Mother’s Day Run and Walk benefitting children and their parents at Pajaro Valley Shelter Services. At PVSS, families are working harder than ever before to outrun the pandemic – facing increased financial hardship and housing insecurity head-on. This year’s virtual event will support the growing needs of families experiencing homelessness in the Pajaro Valley. Join us in building hopeful family futures! Help PVSS raise $80k by Mother’s Day: Sustain the hope and efforts of the 136 children and their parents in PVSS’ care. Self-sufficient families are the backbone of our community. Let’s keep our community strong! Register, sponsor, donate at www.pvshelter.org to outrun family homelessness! Grab your family and register to run or walk the 10K/5K/1K – anytime, anywhere.
Monday 10
National Clean Your Room Day
National Shrimp Day
Tuesday 11
Virtual Zoom Toddler Time by Julie 10:30 – 11 am Tuesdays Toddler Time is a weekly early literacy program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. Music, movement, stories, fingerplays, rhymes, and songs are a fun way for your child to learn. Register here: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/7590866. Let’s play and learn together!
Dungeons & Dragons Tuesdays Attention 12-16yr olds — Adventure awaits! A friendly introduction to Dungeons & Dragons for players of all experience levels, led by an experienced player. Held every Tuesday from 3:30-6:30pm. See May 4
Wednesday 12
National Limerick Day
National Receptionists Day Receptionists have countless responsibilities depending on where they work. But they often act as the boss’ gatekeeper. So make sure you treat them well — especially if you have an important meeting with the CEO. Reports of bad behavior in the lobby tend to make their way to the executive suites. Don’t have an attitude when dealing with them. Who knows? They might just become the CEO one day.
Thursday 13
Tea with Teachers, a panel discussion with MMS elementary school teachers, May 13, 4:30-5:30 pm. Enjoy a cup of tea and join this Zoom discussion to hear from MMS teachers about the school’s first through fifth grade program. RSVP to [email protected] for the Zoom link
National Frog Jumping Day While the name itself may seem rather vague, its origins come from Mark Twain’s first published short story about a betting man and his pet frog. Did you know that there are approximately 7,300 species of frogs around the world and the most colorful ones are the most poisonous? National Frog Jumping Day is important because it brings literature to life, as well as brings awareness to different kinds of frogs and their impact within our ecosystem.
National Fruit Cocktail Day
National Apple Pie Day Grab a fork and a napkin, because it’s Apple Pie day. Talk about a holiday you can really sink your teeth into! Apple pie has become an indelible part of the American identity, to the extent that apple pie is considered one of the most American things in the world.
Friday 14
Top Dog Film Festival Virtual Screening Rio Theater Virtual Screening Rent for 48 hours: Starts Thursday, Ends on Monday, May 24. Celebrate the canine connection through this carefully curated collection of heartwarming stories about dogs and their people at the 2021 Top Dog Film Festival. The 2021Top Dog Film Festival presents a 2 hour cinematic celebration honoring the bond between dogs and their people. Filled with delightfully doggy moments of joy and celebration of our beloved canine companions. This carefully curated program of short canine-themed films is comprised of the most inspirational, heart-warming and entertaining stories about dogs and their human companions, from independent filmmakers around the globe. Get your tickets before they all sell out ““ you’d be barking mad to miss it! A portion of ticket sales benefit the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Locally sponsored by Pacific Paw, Santa Cruz Waves, SCC Animal Shelter
National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
National Dance Like a Chicken Day
Saturday 15
Downtown Felton Spring Open House and Sidewalk Sale Noon – 6pm Enjoy the beautiful shops Downtown Felton has to offer! There will be a sidewalk sale, raffle to win great prizes from participating shops, eat yummy food, and listen to some music! DowntownFelton.com
Saturdays in the Soil: Volunteer Gardening (Outdoors) 10 a.m. to noon It’s time to get your hands dirty! Join us for our monthly volunteer program in our native plant garden. Learn about native plants and sustainable gardening while coming together as a community (in a physically distanced manner!) to steward Tyrrell Park through the City’s Adopt-A-Park program. Space is limited and RSVPs are required. Email [email protected] to express interest. https://www.santacruzmuseum.org/saturdays-in-the-soil/
Virtual Meet the Doulas Presented by Birth Network of Santa Cruz County 4pm Learn about how doulas support families through the birth and postpartum experience during our current COVID19 situation. Preregister to join the FREE LIVE ZOOM EVENT:BirthNetSantaCruz.EventBrite.com
Goat Hill Fair: Unique Antique and Artisan Fair 10 am – 3 pm Goat Hill is a community event not to be missed. If you have a love for vintage ~ styling your home with old-style objects, wearing vintage jewelry & clothing, and collecting unique art and objects then this is somewhere you need to visit! We host the fair in May & November. The spring show for 2021 is May 15 & 16. Held at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville. We are back after the year of closure due to Covid and we are holding a safe event, using all precautions necessary. Bring your mask! 2 buildings and a large outdoor lawn area will be filled with vintage treasure. You can find gardens, rusty, French, farmhouses, industrial and more!
Walk for CASA Elkhorn Slough 9am Due to the Human Race going on pause this year, CASA of Santa Cruz County with the help of the Friends of CASA will be holding our own Walk for CASA! We are going virtual this year with a hybrid option on May 15, 2021. Walk or run ANYWHERE at ANYTIME or join us for a socially distant walk at Elkhorn Slough (1700 Elkhorn Road, Castroville) on May 15th, between 9am-noon. We will notify all in-person walkers of your walk time on May 3. All proceeds from this event support CASA of Santa Cruz County’s mission to match every foster youth referred to us with a trained volunteer Advocate within 20 days. COVID has been especially hard on our foster youth, with increased isolation, challenges with education, and homelessness.
International Astronomy Day celebrated twice a year, close to the first quarter moon of spring and fall — on May 15 and October 9, this year. We couldn’t be more thrilled to enjoy this day by doing all kinds of space-related activities.
International Day of Families Families—both traditional and non-traditional—are the foundation of society. Our most formative years are spent with our families and those people are likely the most important people in our lives, so they should be celebrated. Let’s spend time today finding ways to protect the family unit in society by starting at home with our own!
National Chocolate Chip Day
Peace Officers Memorial Day
National Armed Forces Day
Sunday 16
Downtown Felton Spring Open House and Sidewalk Sale Noon – 6pm Enjoy the beautiful shops Downtown Felton has to offer! There will be a sidewalk sale, raffle to win great prizes from particpating shops, eat yummy food and listen to some music! DowntownFelton.com
Goat Hill Fair: Unique Antique and Artisan Fair 10 am – 3 pm Goat Hill is a community event not to be missed. If you have a love for vintage ~ styling your home with old-style objects, wearing vintage jewelry & clothing, and collecting unique art and objects then this is somewhere you need to visit! We host the fair in May & November. The spring show for 2021 is May 15 & 16. Held at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville. We are back after the year of closure due to Covid and we are holding a safe event, using all precautions necessary. Bring your mask! 2 buildings and a large outdoor lawn area will be filled with vintage treasure. You can find gardens, rusty, French, farmhouses, industrial and more!
Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market 10am – 5pm Come on out and support local makers and artists at the Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market every THIRD Sunday of the month on Pacific Ave at Lincoln St! 10am-5pm We are now on the 1100 block of Pacific Ave. between Cathcart and Lincoln Streets near New Leaf and alongside so many amazing downtown restaurants. Support local and shop small with over 30 Santa Cruz County artists and makers! AND don’t forget to stop in and visit the downtown merchants and grab a bite to eat from the downtown restaurants.
National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day a time to pay tribute to those who have paved the way for the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender) community to obtain and continue to seek important legislation and rights. We have numerous elders to thank for the strides made over the last several decades towards equality. As with other civil rights movements, their work has not been easy. Their struggles and victories are marked by courage, persistence, passion, and authenticity so, today, we celebrate them.
Monday 17
National Walnut Day
Tuesday 18
Virtual Zoom Toddler Time by Julie 10:30 – 11 am Tuesdays Toddler Time is a weekly early literacy program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. See May 4
Dungeons & Dragons Tuesdays Attention 12-16yr olds — Adventure awaits! A friendly introduction to Dungeons & Dragons for players of all experience levels, led by an experienced player. Held every Tuesday from 3:30-6:30pm. See May 4
Wednesday 19
National Devil’s Food Cake Day
Thursday 20
National Be a Millionaire Day
Friday 21
National Endangered Species Day his is a day to consider the dwindling populations of certain animals and work together to help. Environmental conservation didn’t gain traction until the mid-1800s. America’s Endangered Species Act of 1973 sparked both domestic and international conservation by providing a framework for protection.
Saturday 22
Out and About: Nature Journaling (Outdoors) 10 a.m. – noon This new monthly series of family-friendly, small group get-togethers welcomes you to safely explore Santa Cruz’s diverse natural spaces. This month we’ll use nature journals at the Museum’s Garden Learning Center. Registration is required: https://www.santacruzmuseum.org/4-24-out-and-about-birding-at-neary-lagoon/
Sunday 23
National Taffy Day
Monday 24
National Brother’s Day
Tuesday 25
Virtual Zoom Toddler Time by Julie 10:30 – 11 am Tuesdays Toddler Time is a weekly early literacy program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. Music, movement, stories, fingerplays, rhymes, and songs are a fun way for your child to learn. Register here: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/7590866. Let’s play and learn together!
Dungeons & Dragons Tuesdays Attention 12-16yr olds — Adventure awaits! A friendly introduction to Dungeons & Dragons for players of all experience levels, led by an experienced player. Held every Tuesday from 3:30-6:30pm. See May 4
Wednesday 26
Reading in the Redwoods @Felton – Virtual Book Discussion The book for May is The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh Reading in the Redwoods book group meets monthly on the 4th Wednesday at 6:00 pm. https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/7182197
Stories for Bedtime Join us on Facebook or Youtube for Bedtime Stories presented by SCPL Librarian Jackie. On alternating weeks, Jackie will read bedtime stories, sing songs, and chant rhymes for families. New programs will be available every other Wednesday at 7:00 pm and on the library’s YouTube Channel after that.
Thursday 27
Virtual Open House Ocean Alternative School 5pm – 6pm Home-Based Independent Study & Ocean Online 831.475.0767 http://oc-losd-ca.schoolloop.com Call to preregister.
Friday 28
Ask Me Anything: Conversations From The Front Line Of Homelessness Housing Matters 9am Join Housing Matters’ Programs Staff in their newest webinar: “Ask Me Anything: Conversations from the Front Line Of Homelessness” . This is your opportunity to hear what is going on every single day to solve homelessness and ask all the questions you have about working to solve homelessness in our community.
Saturday 29
Learn About Composting Day
Sunday 30
National Mint Julep Day
Monday 31
Memorial Day a time to honor those who died while fighting in the U.S. Armed Forces. It’s a holiday steeped in somber American history and tradition. The day actually began as “Decoration Day,” following the Civil War, when mourners placed flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers.
