• Sanctuary Saturday

    Discover all the fun ways you can get into your sanctuary at the Exploration Center’s Sanctuary Saturday! View fishing-inspired paintings by local artist Amadeo Bachar, meet and greet with the artist himself, and enjoy a variety of family friendly activities from local organizations like seaweed printing. This event is free and open to all ages, hosted at the Sanctuary Exploration Center from 2-4pm (artist keynote at 2pm). For more information, reach out to us at [email protected]

  • World Arts Festival 2024

    Celebrate the diversity and richness of our community at this year’s World Arts Festival! On Sunday June 23rd from 1-5PM, Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center offers free family-friendly performances outdoors at the Tannery Arts Center. The festival includes dance and music performances by new and beloved Santa Cruz and Bay Area artists, including White Hawk Indian Council, Antara Asthaayi Dance, Raizes do Brasil Capoeira, Senderos, and more. Artisans and vendors will be selling traditional crafts and wares, with food and beverages from Areparia831 and My Mom’s Mole.

  • Public Works Touch-a-Truck Event

    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!

  • Francisco Jiménez, The Circuit Graphic Novel

    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.

  • Spring Art Market at Tannery Arts Center

    Join us for a vibrant celebration of art, music, and community at the Spring Art Market! Hosted by the Arts Council Santa Cruz County, this free family-friendly event features an array of local artisans and makers showcasing their unique creations. Explore captivating artworks, enjoy live music performances, indulge in delicious food from food trucks, and engage in fun children’s activities. With something for everyone, the Spring Art Market promises a memorable experience for all. Don’t miss out!

  • The SLV Music & Art Festival

    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!

  • Downtown Santa Cruz: Earth Day Celebrations

    Earth Day 2024 will be held at beautiful Downtown Santa Cruz on Cooper St, Pacific Ave, and Abbott Square. Local businesses and organizations will gather for a day of fun and environmentally focused activities and education. This event will feature: – Live music from Coffee Zombie Collective – Face Painting from Brenda’s Facepainting – MotherSong with Joya Winwood (singalong for families with babies) shows at 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – Samba Stilt Walkers from Emotiv Dance – Photobooth – Local vendors – Educational booths This free, family-friendly event will have many activities for kids to take part in, like the interactive Passport Program where kids can earn…

  • February 2024

    Santa Cruz Symphony Offers Family Concert

    Here’s a concert that will please the entire family, and inspire young audiences toward future musical experiences. The delightful and humorous musical creation, Carnival of the Animals by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns will take families and young music lovers on a tour through a variety of animal behavior in the form of four short movements. Plenty of imaginative parody of the animal kingdom is showcased in a masterpiece originally written in 1886, but not performed in public until 1922, a year after the composer’s death. Many believe that the Carnival of the Animals, which highlights stringed instruments, gave inspiration to the John Williams score for the Harry Potter films. This…

  • First Friday Boulder Creek

    A free monthly mountain street fair in the name of creation & community. Local art, music and food lining the sidewalks of historic downtown Boulder Creek, California A Family friendly event – please visit our website for more details.

  • Live Oak Jack Rabbit 1-Mile Run & Student Art Contest FUNdraiser

    The 3rd annual Live Oak Jack Rabbit 1-Mile Run and Student Art Contest FUNdraiser will take place on Sunday, April 14th, at Shoreline Middle School on 17th Avenue in Santa Cruz, CA. Opening ceremonies begin at 8:00 AM. Registration for the 1-mile races on the USATF-certified track are open to the public online at: http://tinyurl.com/LOJR2024 The first wave of runners takes off at 9:00 AM and races continue every 15 minutes through 11:45 AM. Race registration fee is $10 per runner with the funds raised going to support the art program for the Live Oak School District students. All are invited to join this community fun run for the 1-mile…

  • TherapyWorks Capitola 1 Year Anniversary & Ribbon Cutting

    Join us in celebrating our 1 year anniversary at our Capitola office! Event details: • Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Witness the official kick-off as we cut the ribbon to celebrate a successful year in Capitola. • Meet the Team: Get to know the faces behind our dedicated team who have been providing care to kids, teens, adults, and couples in our community. • Office Showcase: Explore our comfortable and modern office space. Discover how we’ve created an environment focused on providing the best support and care. • Coffee& Refreshments: Enjoy a delightful spread to kickstart your day on a positive note. • Community Support: Learn about our ongoing commitment to supporting…

  • Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School Open House

    Truly Major: Middle School Open House! Learn more about how middle school students develop essential skills, explore new interests, and deepen friendships—all at the heart of their journey at Santa Catalina. Our students and faculty will provide a unique and immersive experience for student visitors while also offering invaluable insights to parents.

  • Tannery Arts Center Winter Art Market 2023

    A Festive Celebration of Local Art and Culture The Tannery Arts Center welcomes you to experience the world of local artistry and creativity at the 11th annual Winter Art Market. This heartwarming celebration is not just an event; it’s an immersive creative experience. Discover local artistry, engage with our vibrant community, and support the creative entrepreneurs who make our town flourish. New Highlights This Year: Join Josefina Rocha and youth students from the Arts Council Mariposa teaching artist program, for a free and fun craft activity alongside a youth art exhibit. Enjoy an exciting lineup of musicians curated by Everyone’s Music School. Experience the offerings of Kintsugi, a new culinary…

  • February 2023

    Heroes of the Storm

    While you and your family were sheltering from torrential rains, Manuel Rodriguez, 50, and his brother Joel, 58, were digging underground conduits to help restore power to Aptos. Not only was the work torturous in horrid conditions, but the two were far from their homes in San Luis Obispo County working six days a week, staying in a mobile home in Watsonville and driving back south for one day to see their wives and children. And, to make matters worse, the retaining wall around Joel’s house in Atascadero had collapsed and friends there were helping him out with sand bags. He figures there was at least $15,000 to $20,000 of…

  • February 2023

    How You Can Help the Storm Cleanup

    The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz is organizing storm cleanup efforts in Felton Grove for the next several weeks. To sign up to be an emergency response volunteer, request flood clean-up assistance, or donate to the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County and support its efforts, visit scvolunteercenter.org. For more information call 831.427.5070. This Google Map set up by Coastal Watershed Council leader Laurie Egan has a number of contacts for area cleanup supervisors: bit.ly/3j37NjfThe Community Foundation Santa Cruz County has launched a disaster fund to help residents and small business owners. The money will go to nonprofits serving vulnerable populations. Donations will also go to small businesses in coordination…