Ring in the New 2023 Year in Santa Cruz County! Check below for some fun New Year’s Eve celebrations, January 1st – First Day Hikes, and more!
NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAY LIGHTS TRAIN
December 26 – December 31, 2022
Bring in the new year aboard the New Years Holiday Lights Train. Ride vintage train cars beautifully decorated with holiday lights through the streets of Santa Cruz. Light-up hula hoopers and a live DJ will keep spirits bright and help bring in 2023 right.
NEW YEAR’S EVE DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ
December 31, 2022
Ring in the New Year in Downtown Santa Cruz! NYE celebrations are happening at Rosie McCann’s, Red Restaurant & Bar, Lupulo, The 418 Project – “Gathering in Gratitude,” Catalyst Club, Cafe Mare, Ulterior (Motiv), the Blue Lagoon, Abbott Square, and more! Check their site for more info and individual event times.
NYE AT ABBOTT SQUARE MARKET
December 31, 2022 @ 6pm – 12am
Live music throughout the night at Abbott Square! Mak Nova, Phreeborn, and Mokili Wa are going to be performing through the entire night! Kick of 2023 with some great tunes and good vibes!
BRUNO’S BAR AND GRILL NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
December 31, 2022 @ 9pm
Join Bruno’s for New Year’s Eve! Dancing and live music by UTurn – and no cover charge!
CANTINE WINEPUB
December 31, 2022
Have you made your plans for NYE yet? Come by Cantine for a smashing good time! @djstoneyg, champagne toast, party favors! No reservations, no cover!
NEW YEAR’S EVE AT CHAMINADE RESORT & SPA
December 31, 2022
Ring in 2023 at Chaminade while dancing the night away with live music from The Joint Chiefs (Bay Area Funk and Classic R&B), assorted desserts, a balloon drop and complimentary champagne toast at midnight! Cash bar for additional drinks. 9pm – 1am – $25 plus tax & gratuity – or FREE ticket with New Year’s Dinner reservation (7pm & 9:30pm seatings only). (Click here for more information including dinner reservations)
NEW YEAR’S EVE AT PARADOX
December 31, 2022
Have a sensational start to your New Year’s celebrations at Hotel Paradox with dinner at Solaire and live music by Lindsey Wall! Reservations highly recommended.
NEW YEAR’S EVE PARY AT THE BOARDWALK BOWL
December 31, 2022 @ 9:30pm – 12:30pm
Toast the New Year in with a glass of champagne or apple cider at the Boardwalk Bowl! Price is $165 per lane (up to 5 per lane) and includes party favors, shoe rentals, and Atomic Bowling plus, the big countdown! Call (831) 426-3324 to make your reservation. Act quickly, lanes sell out fast!
STATE PARKS FIRST DAY HIKES
January 1, 2023
Kick off the new year with us with the Annual First Day Hikes! California State Parks will participate at parks across the state in this national-led effort that encourages individuals and families to experience the beautiful natural and cultural resources found in the outdoors with a seasoned guide so that they may be inspired to take advantage of these treasures throughout the year. See the participating Santa Cruz County State Parks below!
Park: Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Where: Ocean View Summit
Time: 9 a.m.
Parking: Former headquarters area parking lot. Reservation for parking must be made 24 hours prior to arrival here. Vehicle day-use fee is $8. Fee is paid during the reservation process.
What to expect: Join us for a hike up to one of Big Basin’s lookouts! This is a fun-for-all hike with some incline up to the summit. We will go at an enjoyable pace and stop along the way to smell the flowers we may come across. Participants will get to see an overview of the park post-2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire and learn about the park’s flora and fauna. Once reaching the summit, visitors can see the ocean if it’s a clear day!
Length of hike: 4 miles for about 3 hours.
Ages: 6 and up preferred. Children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Preparation: Dress in layers and bring rain gear if needed. Wear good hiking boots/shoes. Bring lunch, snacks, and plenty of water as there is no drinking water or food at the park. Trekking poles recommended if you have them!
Special instructions: Meet at the interpretive center at the former site of the Nature Museum and Gift Store, past the entrance kiosk. Pre-registration for the hike is required. The hike is cancelled if there’s heavy rain.
Park: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Where: The park will have three hikes: Fall Creek Trail to the Barrel Mill; Powder Mill Fire Road to Observation Deck; and Redwood Grove.
Time: 9, 10 and 10:30 a.m.
Parking:
– For Fall Creek Trail, meet at the Fall Creek parking lot (located off Felton Empire Grade.)
– For Powder Mill Fire Road, meet at the Campground parking lot (located off Graham Hill Road.)
– For Redwood Grove hike, meet at Main visitor parking lot (located off Highway 9.)
Vehicle day-use fee is $10.
What to expect:
– Fall Creek Trail hike at 9 a.m.: Explore Fall Creek on this five-mile, moderately graded hike. The hike will follow Fall Creek to the historic Barrel Mill site. This hike is ~5 miles and will last approximately 4 hours. It is recommended 8 and up. Children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
– Powder Mill Fire Road to Observation Deck hike at 10 a.m.: Participants get ready to hike around an ancient seafloor. On this 1.5 mile hike, which will last approximately 2 hours, through the Santa Cruz Sandhills, participants can meander through sandy soils on the mountain top, about 800 feet above present day sea level. Explore this beautiful landscape and learn about the rare and unique things that call it home. The hike is recommended for 6 and up. Children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
– For Redwood Grove hike at 10:30 a.m.: Hear some of the riveting stories of the park’s history, including the movies created in the old-growth redwood grove and how visionary environmentalists saved it from being logged. This 1 mile hike will last about 1.5 hours and is recommended for ages 12 and up. Children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Preparation: Dress in weather-appropriate clothing. Bring warm layers. Wear good hiking boots/shoes. Bring water and snacks.
Special instructions: Pre-registration for the hike is required here.
Park: Natural Bridges State Beach
Where: Two hikes meeting at the Visitor Center.
Time: 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Parking: Main parking lot. Vehicle day-use fee is $10.
What to expect:
– For 11:30 a.m. hike: Explore several of the 12 habitats found within the state beach. Participants will start in the Monarch Grove where we will look for monarch butterflies and great horned owls. We will continue past the vernal pond where we may see birds and hear frogs. After that, we will enter the meadow which is a good place to look for Natural Bridges’ herd of deer. Continue through willow habitat and then into sandy dunes and finish on the beach. All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
– For 1 p.m. hike: Start with a presentation on tide pool animals and food webs and then head out to the tide pools to explore during the low tide for sea stars, sea urchins, snails, limpets, chiton, and more! This hike involves walking up steep rocky hills and climbing up onto the tide pool shelf. It is not suitable for strollers. It also requires the ability to climb up steep rocky terrain. Wear shoes with good grip on the soles, and at least a strap for the heel to avoid wet feet or slips and falls! Please, no flip flops or crocs without a heel strap. The hike is recommended for ages 7 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Length of hike: 1 mile; 1.5 hours.
Preparation: Dress in layers and bring binoculars if you have them.
Special instructions: There is a short section of the hike where there are some large steps up over rocks. This hike is not suitable for strollers. Pre-registration is required here.
CANCELLED DUE TO DOWNED TREES AND POOR ROAD CONDITIONS
Park: The Forest of Nisene Marks
Where: Loma Prieta Grade Trail and Aptos Creek Road
Time: 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Parking: George’s Picnic Area. Vehicle day-use parking fee is $8.
What to expect: Visit the site where the town of Loma Prieta was located and the hidden spot deep in the redwood forest where marine fossils can be found. We will encounter the remains of the old lumber mill, follow the trail of the ghost trestles, and learn about the wonders of our coast redwoods and the traits that make them survivors.
Length of hike: 4 miles, 3 hours.
Ages: 10 and up preferred. Children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Preparation: Dress in layers and wear good hiking boots/shoes. Bring water and snacks.
Special Instructions: Meet at George’s Picnic Area. It is located about one mile past the entrance station and is right before the steel bridge. Limited parking—carpooling is encouraged! Pre-registration is required here.
Park: Wilder Ranch State Park
Where: Old Cove Landing Trail.
Time: 11 a.m.
Parking: Main Wilder Ranch parking lot. Vehicle day-use fee is $10.
What to expect: Discover the coastal side of Wilder Ranch. On this three-hour family-friendly walk, participants can explore the plants, animals, and geology of our coastal bluffs. Learn about the different people who have called this place home.
Length of hike: 2.5 miles; 3 hours.
Ages: All ages welcome. Children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Photo courtesy of Crystal Birns