Ring in 2026 in Santa Cruz County! Check below for some fun New Year’s Eve celebrations plus, First Day Hikes on January 1st!
HIGH TIDE AT LA BAHIA HOTEL & SPA: TOAST TO THE COAST WITH US – NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER
December 31, 2025 @ 5pm – 9pm
Ring in the New Year at High Tide with an exceptional multi-course celebration. The evening begins with a refined twist on a Tamago Sando paired with caviar, followed by poached Maine Lobster and California Squab roasted in a pistachio crust. For your main course, choose between luxurious Australian Wagyu or an elegant Rack of Lamb. Conclude the experience with a decadent Yuzu–matcha White Chocolate Bomb or an Artisanal Cheese Plate. Each course showcases our Pacific Rim–inspired culinary perspective, inviting you to toast to the coast as you welcome the year ahead.
Guests may enhance their celebration with an optional bottle of champagne to cheers in the New Year. Served from 5pm – 9pm, $175 per person. For reservations, please call 877.724.4180 or make reservations online here.
BOULDER CREEK REC CENTER: NOON YEAR’S EVE
December 31, 2025 @ 10:30am – 12:30pm
Calling all families with littles aged 0-5! Ring in the new year in style with the toddler-mom team, Robin and Brooke! Enjoy a fancy dance party, a photo booth, crafts, cupcakes, light snacks and a countdown to Noon complete with a balloon drop! Robin and Brooke will take the work out of celebrating New Year’s with your kids. Celebrate early and be able to head to bed at a reasonable time!
BROOKDALE LODGE VIRTUAL FIREWORKS NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
December 31, 2025 @ 6pm – 12:30am
Get ready to dance the night away as you ring in the New Year with a bang at the Brookdale Lodge – it’s gonna be lit! New Year’s Eve at River Run – “In the Midnight Hour” Get ready for an unforgettable night under the redwoods with live music by Redwoods Groove, a midnight Champagne Toast, savory global tapas, and virtual fireworks!
FORK AND CORK: RIO ROAD NEW YEAR’S EVE
December 31, 2025 @ 7pm – 10pm
You cannot get more Capitola vibes than you do with this event. Fork& Cork is a beachy bar featuring a wine list with craft beer options, a firepit for chilly evenings and a patio for dogs. Rio Road is an eclectic quartet known for its mix of light rock, blues, and popular tunes. The band’s name is a nod to the local area.
VINO BY THE SEA: NYE PARTY WITH SPUN
December 31, 2025 @ 7pm – 12:30am
Vino by the Sea, upstairs at the Santa Cruz Wharf, is having a New Years Eve party with live music from Spun! Enjoy a night of dancing with Spun, balloon drop, champagne toast, plus two drinks of your choice. Or, add in a dinner that includes an appetizer, salad, champagne risotto, champagne mousse, all paired with wine.
RIO THEATRE: LOS LOBOS NEW YEAR’S SHOW
December 31, 2025 @ 8pm – 12am
Los Lobos are a groundbreaking American band known for fusing traditional Mexican music with rock, country, folk, R&B, and other vernacular styles. They gained international fame with their cover of “La Bamba” in 1987 and have continued to release acclaimed albums, earning multiple Grammy Awards.
BRUNO’S BAR AND GRILL: NYE ROARING 20’S SPEAKEASY
December 31, 2025 @8pm – 12:30am
Step behind the velvet rope for a Roaring ’20s–inspired celebration. Bruno’s will transform into an upscale speakeasy featuring live music by Fire Peach, craft cocktails, dancing, and a sparkling midnight toast.
CROW’S NEST: NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
December 31, 2025 @ 8pm – 12:30am
Go ring in the new year overlooking the beautiful Santa Cruz Harbor with high-energy dance set to live music from Matt Masih & The Messengers (Funk, Soul, Groove with horns). There will be DJ sets before, in between and after the live music sets, a champagne toast and party favors.
INN AT PASATIEMPO: NEON NEW YEAR’S PARTY
December 31, 2025 @ 8:30pm – 12:30am
“Dress To Impress”, if you choose, this years theme is 1980’s “Miami Vice”, Pastel Suave, 80’s Neon Glamour. Enjoy an evening of music, hors d’oeuvres, party favors, photobooth and a no host bar.
MOE’S ALLEY: JIVE MACHINE NYE PARTY
December 31, 2025 @ 8:30pm – 12:30pm
Ring in the new year at Moe’s Ally with Jive Machine, Floratura and Coffee Zombie Collective! There will be a countdown with a champagne toast, photo booth and more! Throw on your best party duds and dance the night away! 21+ only.
SC ART EXPRESSIONS: LUMINA NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
December 31, 2025 @ 9pm – 12:30am
The celebration will feature DJs, hourly ball drop countdowns for US time zones, and open bar, immersive projections, and stunning art. Follow the link above to get tickets in advance as this is a small venue.
CHAMINADE RESORT & SPA: NEW YEAR’S EVE
December 31, 2025 @ 9pm – 1am
Dance the night away to live music by The Alex Lucero Band at Chaminade’s 21+ New Year’s Eve Party. Spend your evening ringing in 2026 while enjoying a champagne toast, assorted light bite desserts and a cash bar.
DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ: GRATEFUL DEAD NYE CELEBRATION
December 31, 2025 @ 9pm – 12:30am
The China Cats are a Grateful Dead tribute band based in Santa Cruz and are known for their creative jams and ability to capture the spirit of the Dead’s live shows. Liquid Light Productions will be adding a light show, and there will be a balloon drop from the rafters of the gorgeously restored 1930’s era Chris Matthews Ballroom. Dress to the nines! There will be champagne at the Shakedown Street vendor market, and a fully decked out evening of dancing and merrymaking.
THE CATALYST: JESSE DANIEL NYE CELEBRATION
December 31, 2025 @ 9pm – 1am
The title of internationally acclaimed Jesse Daniel’s latest country album refers to the mountains creeks and redwoods of his home here in Santa Cruz County. Join in welcoming the Son of San Lorenzo back home! Experience Santa Cruz County through the eyes of one of the country’s greatest singer story tellers.
JOE’S BAR: NEW YEARS EVE PARTY
December 31, 2025 @ 9:30pm – 12:30am
Rock ‘n’ Roll filled night of originals and covers meets A sonic melting pot of psychedelic rock, folk, blues and more… Local bands New Horizons and Northern Disconnection will be playing! If you haven’t been to Joe’s, you haven’t been to Boulder Creek!
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY KING TIDES
January 1-3, 2026
Check the tide charts before your first day hike! These naturally occurring and predictable events are when the highest and lowest tides hit our shores and create an even more dramatic coastline. At high tide, the powerful wave often crash against seawalls and extend beyond their usual borders. The extreme low tides expose tide pools rarely seen. Both create for dramatic photos starting off 2026!
FIRST DAY HIKES
January 1, 2026 (various times)
Kick off the new year with a First Day Hike at one of Santa Cruz County’s state parks! Hikes range in location, geography, and difficulty. Find first day hikes at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Castle Rock State Park, and Wilder Ranch State Park. Check the California State Parks website for more on reservations, times, trail and habitat information, and more.
THE FOREST OF NISENE MARKS STATE PARK: 1ST DAY HISTORY WALK
January 1, 2026 @ 9am – 1pm
Enjoy a four mile, four hour walk at George’s Picnic Area and take Loma Prieta Grade Trail to the Porter House site to 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. Participants will encounter the remains of the old lumber mill, follow the trail of the ghost trestles and learn about the wonders of the giant redwoods and their survival. Meet at Georges Picnic Area near the Winter Gate.
HENRY COWELL REDWOODS STATE PARK: 1ST DAY REDWOOD GROVE WALK
January 1, 2026 @ 11am – 12:30pm
Enjoy a special guided walk through the Redwood Grove to talk about coast redwoods and to experience the forest together. On this 1-mile stroll, you will be chatting with a guide about life histories, ecology, etc. and sharing a wonderful adventure among these giants.
HENRY COWELL REDWOODS STATE PARK: 1ST DAY CABLE CAR BEACH HIKE
January 1, 2026 @ 1pm – 2:30pm
Interested in observing and comparing old growth and second growth redwood forests? How about walking by the river and learning about what plants grow alongside it? Enjoy a guided stroll to Cable Car Beach! You will meet at the Redwood Visitor Center and be out for an hour and a half. Easy to moderate pace. Under 2 miles roundtrip.
HENRY COWELL REDWOODS STATE PARK: 1ST DAY SANDHILLS HIKE
January 1, 2026 @ 3pm – 5pm
Enjoy a mile and a half guided walk from the mixed forest through the sandhills to the Observation deck and back. You will reflect on how the land teaches us renewal and resilience along with fun gentle qi gong inspired movements. All ages welcome. Moderate pace. Meet at the campground parking lot/kiosk off of Graham Hill Road.
NEW BRIGHTON STATE BEACH: FIRST DAY KING TIDES HIKE
January 1, 2026 @ 3pm – 4:30pm
Go start the New Year by safely exploring king tides at New Brighton State Beach with a guide. Enjoy a lower tide than can ever be seen in summer while on a 2-mile roundtrip adventure from New Brighton State Beach to Capitola. You will encounter interesting geological features in a coastal bluff, 5-million-year-old whale fossils, and tide pool creatures. You will return to New Brighton around 4:30 PM and may remain on the beach until sunset. Steady rain cancels this event.