Año Nuevo State Park: Self-Guided Hikes in Seal Viewing Area
Año Nuevo State Park
650.879.2025 | www.parks.ca.gov
Stroll over sand dunes, enjoy beautiful ocean views, and gain a unique opportunity to view Northern elephant seals on this 3-mile, 2.5-hour self-guided trail! Layered clothing, closed-toed shoes, and rain/wind gear are strongly advised. Bring water. Food, umbrellas, and strollers are not permitted inside the preserve.
No pets are allowed in the park. Free event. The vehicle day-use fee is $10. For more information, please call 650.879.2025.
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Roaring Camp Railroads
831.335.4484 | www.roaringcamp.com
Depart daily and travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves, and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad, and the forest. (One hour roundtrip).
In the 1880s, narrow-gauge steam locomotives were used to haul giant redwood logs out of the mountains. Roaring Camp’s steam engines date from 1890 and are among the oldest and most authentically preserved narrow-gauge steam engines providing regularly scheduled passenger service in America.
*Check website for train departure times and tickets
Midtown Fridays!
1111 Soquel Ave
Come Celebrate all the vibrancy of Midtown at our Summer Block Party, happening every Friday!
Food – Artists – Live Music – Vendors
The summer series of free events will feature the talents of 25 local bands! Plus, eventgoers will enjoy a selection of local eats as well as the opportunity to check out the work of local artists and vendors. Midtown Fridays start June 3rd and run through to September 30th.
- Sept. 2 – The Joint Chiefs
- Sept. 9 – Papiba & Friends
- Sept. 16 – Anthony Arya Band
- Sept. 23 – Sweet Voodoo
- Sept. 30 – The Grand Finale
Chaminade Resort & Spa: Live Music with The View
Chaminade Resort and Spa
831.475.5600 | www.chaminade.com
Join us high above Santa Cruz for live music with The View six nights a week!
Enjoy popular local artists, great food, and craft cocktails with panoramic views of Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay.
Four Points Scotts Valley: Friday Night Live Music
Four Points by Sheraton Santa Cruz Scotts Valley
8314381500 | www.facebook.com
Enjoy our Best of Brews and bites at the Four Points Scotts Valley!
CHAMINADE RESORT & SPA: Vine to View Dinner Series “Duckhorn Vineyards”
Chaminade Resort and Spa
831.475.5600 | www.chaminade.com
This season’s Vine to View Dinner Series is better than ever! Join us on our patio from 6 pm – 9 pm for a four-course dinner prepared by Executive Chef Avram Samuels and his culinary team. Enjoy locally sourced ingredients perfectly paired in an idyllic setting overlooking Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay featuring Duckhorn Vineyards.
Westside Farmers’ Market
Westside Farmers’ Market
831.454.0566 | santacruzfarmersmarket.org
The Westside Farmers’ Market is open for business! Come see us at the corner of Hwy 1 & Western Drive for a wide selection of fruits and veggies, medicinal tinctures and salves, tasty breakfast, sustainable seafood, and more! Open every Saturday from 9am to 1pm.
Open Studios Art Tour: North County
Various locations
Open Studios is your opportunity to explore creativity in Santa Cruz County. For 35 years, our goal has been simple: connect artists with people who love art. For the first three weekends in October, artists from the redwoods to the bay open their studios so that friends, neighbors, and strangers from near and far can discover art in this stunning county.
Wilder Ranch State Park: Historic Ranch Ground Tour
Wilder Ranch State Park
831.423.9703 | thatsmypark.org
Discover what life was like a century ago on this innovative dairy ranch. This hour-long tour includes the 1896 water-powered machine shop, horse barn, uniquely constructed 1860s cow barn, 1858 farmhouse, and 1897 Queen Anne Victorian home. Pre-registration required at www.santacruzstateparks.as.me
Santa Cruz Comedy Festival 2022
London Nelson Park
831-425-1234 | www.eventbrite.com
The 9th Annual Santa Cruz Comedy Festival returns to beautiful London Nelson park, outdoors, and ready to present 2 hours of headliners!
Roaring Camp Railroads: Moonlight Train Dinner Party
Roaring Camp
831.335.4484 | www.roaringcamp.com
Treat yourself to an evening of fun and relaxation at Roaring Camp’s Moonlight Steam Train Dinner Party. Start with a hearty BBQ dinner followed by a leisurely train ride aboard vintage railway cars.
ACTIVITIES
- Hearty BBQ Dinner
- Campfire
- Live Music
- Line Dancing
Wargin Wines: Wine & Live Music
Wargin Wines – Soquel
831-708-9463 | www.warginwines.com
Join us Saturdays on the patio to enjoy the sunset, live music, and wine by the glass. Light snacks are available. Different local musicians every week. Check our calendar for most upcoming musicians. Free with wine purchase.
Corralitos Farm & Garden Market
Corralitos Cultural Center
831.254.2669 | corralitoscultural.org
The Farm & Garden Market is a small, friendly, open-air market made up of local farmers and gardeners who grow within about a five-mile radius of Corralitos.
The market is open to all of our friends and neighbors who grow anything from a garden to a good backyard fruit tree.
Westside Marketplace
University Business Park (The Old Wrigley Building)
The Westside Marketplace — every First Sunday at The Wrigley!
Featuring LOCAL art, handmade & vintage shopping + Food Trucks & pop-ups, and LIVE MUSIC…all outdoors at the Old Wrigley Parking Lot, 2801 Mission Street, Santa Cruz.
FREE admission!
FREE & easy parking!
Friendly leashed pups are welcome!
11-4
Presented by your friends at Food Trucks A Go Go & Santa Cruz Mountains Makers Market.
For more info, foodtrucksagogo.com & scmmakersmarket.com
We’ll see you there!
Wilder Ranch State Park: Historic Ranch Ground Tour
Wilder Ranch State Park
831.423.9703 | thatsmypark.org
Discover what life was like a century ago on this innovative dairy ranch. This hour-long tour includes the 1896 water-powered machine shop, horse barn, uniquely constructed 1860s cow barn, 1858 farmhouse, and 1897 Queen Anne Victorian home. Pre-registration required at www.santacruzstateparks.as.me
Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers’ Market
Downtown Farmers’ Market
831.454.0566 | santacruzfarmersmarket.org
Our largest and oldest market is situated in the heart of Downtown Santa Cruz, one block off of Pacific Avenue. In addition to a substantial variety of farm products, this market offers a great selection of local artisan foodstuffs, delicious baked goods, and currently many unique, high-quality options for grab-and-go lunch and dinner. Shopping at the Wednesday market is a wonderful way to support local farms and bring home the best produce available.
Wednesday Night Sailboat Races
Santa Cruz Harbor
831.475.6161 | www.santacruzharbor.org
Wednesday Night Sailboat Races begin in April and run through fall ending in October. Wednesday Night Races begin at 6:30 pm – 8 pm.
Harbor restaurants & the beach are great viewing areas to watch the sailboat races against the setting sun.
First Friday Santa Cruz
Various locations in Santa Cruz County
831.425.1234 | firstfridaysantacruz.com
FIRST FRIDAY ART TOUR ✨
Every First Friday Evening from 5pm-9pm at various locations in Santa Cruz County.
Plan your First Friday night and visit participating venues in Downtown, the Tannery Arts Center, Midtown, Westside, Eastside, Felton, and Ben Lomond!
Get out and support the arts!
Find the full listing of participating artists and venues + all of the details on our website, firstfridaysantacruz.com
Popular First Friday Destinations Include:
Curated Pop-Up Gallery
Botanic & Luxe
The MAH
The Tannery Arts Center Galleries and Studios
Radius Gallery
Santa Cruz Art League
Treehouse Dispensary
Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center
*More details about all of the upcoming First Friday events can be found on our website, firstfridaysantacruz.com
Ready…ENGAGE!
First Friday is a free event and is perfect for enthusiastic Art Goers or those just looking to have a fun and enjoyable evening checking out the art scene is Santa Cruz. We are pleased to provide this opportunity and promote this event for the many talented Santa Cruz Artists exhibiting their work.
Open Farm Tours
Whiskey Hill Farms
831.722.4455 | www.openfarmtours.com
Do you love local food and farms? Want to get to know your farmer better and get a behind-the-scenes look into our regions vibrant working agricultural landscape? During the 2022 Open Farm Tours, you can meet the farmers and learn what it takes to bring your favorite high-quality local farm products to your plate. All farms implement sustainable agriculture practices & are family owned.
The greatest part about Open Farm Tours is learning what makes every farm unique. Press apples for fresh juice at one farm, taste over 10 varieties of figs at another and then head over to another farm to pick tomatoes. Touring farms is a fantastic outdoor family activity to do together and October is a great time to get out and explore!
West Cliff: Outdoor Market
Lighthouse Point
831.420.5270 | brotherspromotions.com
Come enjoy our outdoor market with unique artisans and food trucks while taking in the spectacular view of the ocean. This one-of-a-kind market will be held in two parking lots along West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz. This is always a popular spot for locals and tourists, as it overlooks the famous Steamer Lane surf spot. The market will feature hand-crafted gifts, and admission is FREE!
We will also be giving away free tokens every hour to random shoppers. The tokens can be used towards any vendor of your choice. So come down and get your free gift!
Roaring Camp Railroads: 3rd Annual Brewgrass Festival
Roaring Camp Railroads
831.335.4484 | www.roaringcamp.com
Roaring Camp the 3rd Annual Brewgrass Festival featuring local breweries, music from favorite bluegrass artists, and food from our popular local food trucks. Back this year- VIP Brewgrass Tasting Train roundtrip from Santa Cruz to Roaring Camp. Line-up Info Coming Soon.
ACTIVITIES
- Optional Tasting Train
- Live Music
- Craft Beer & Cider
- Local Food Vendors
- Free Kids Activities
Agricultural History Project: 2nd Saturday on the Farm
Agricultural History Project Center and Museum
831.724.5898 | aghistoryproject.org
2nd Saturday on the Farm, a family event that focuses on a particular area of agriculture. Visitors can participate in the regular activities of the Ag History Project plus others related to the day’s special focus. We host over 2,500 visitors each year at 2nd Saturday on the Farm.
Open Studios Art Tour: South County
Various locations
Open Studios is your opportunity to explore creativity in Santa Cruz County. For 35 years, our goal has been simple: connect artists with people who love art. For the first three weekends in October, artists from the redwoods to the bay open their studios so that friends, neighbors, and strangers from near and far can discover art in this stunning county.
Monte Foundation 27th Anniversary Fireworks Extravaganza!
Capitola Village
A wonderful family event featuring a spectacular fireworks display. So pack a snack, bring your beach or camping chair, bring a friend and/or your family, and head for Capitola Beach, or the wharf, or the bluffs surrounding Capitola, and enjoy the wonder, awe, and majesty of the Monte Foundation Fireworks Extravaganza. Remember the “Ooohs” and “Ahhhs” as you look skyward!
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Bites and Brews
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
831.423.5590 | beachboardwalk.com
Enjoy top Bay Area craft beers paired with delicious foods inspired by Boardwalk private event Chef Scott Meyer!
$30 Beer & Food Flight*
3 Food Items
3 Beer Tastes
$20 Beer Flight
4 Beer Tastes
$15 Bites & Brews T-Shirt
$15 Bites & Brews Trucker Hat
*Season Pass Member Special
- Specific food items are rotated each week and are inspired by the Boardwalk’s private event chef Scott Meyer. Beers are recommended to complement the food items, but guests are welcome to mix and match.
- Beer comes in 6-oz. tastes for flights.
- Additional food is available for purchase along the Boardwalk and at Barbary Coast Restaurant.
- IDs WILL BE CHECKED, you must be 21 years or older to consume alcoholic beverages.
- Please don’t drink and drive. Use Uber, Lyft, taxi, or contact a sober driver.
Roaring Camp Railroads: Thomas and Percy’s Halloween Party
Roaring Camp
831.335.4484 | www.roaringcamp.com
Dress up for Halloween with favorites Thomas and Percy, for a 20-minute train ride, entertainment, and fun-filled activities for the entire family.
ACTIVITIES
- Face Painting
- Storytelling
- Train Play Tables
- Cookie Decorating
- Coloring
- Pick a Pumpkin
Open Studios Art Tour: All County
Various locations
Open Studios is your opportunity to explore creativity in Santa Cruz County. For 35 years, our goal has been simple: connect artists with people who love art. For the first three weekends in October, artists from the redwoods to the bay open their studios so that friends, neighbors, and strangers from near and far can discover art in this stunning county.
Downtown Santa Cruz: Makers Market
Downtown Santa Cruz: Pacific Ave. between Cathcart St & Lincoln St
831.246.0926 | scmmakersmarket.com
EVERY THIRD SUNDAY! Come on out for some fresh air and crafty goodness! 10am-5pm on Pacific Ave at Lincoln St in Downtown Santa Cruz.
This market hosts a wide range of locally handmade goods! You can find some of your favorite Santa Cruz makers here AND brand new makers…the variety of work at the market is AMAZING!
Located on the 1100 block of Pacific Ave. between Cathcart and Lincoln Streets near New Leaf and alongside so many amazing downtown restaurants.
Friendly leashed pups are welcome!
13 Days of Halloween on the Wharf
Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf
831.420.5725 | www.cityofsantacruz.com
Join us for 13 days of frightful fun on the Santa Cruz Wharf!
Take part in the Great Pumpkin BINGO Hunt, snap a photo at our scenic photo booth, and enjoy festive Wharf specials ALL 13 days! It all kicks off October 19!
- The Great Pumpkin BINGO Hunt – All 13 Days
- Join the the Great Pumpkin BINGO Hunt!
- Take your Bingo Card to the Wharf any day during the 13 Days of Halloween on the Wharf.
- Find hidden pumpkins on the Wharf. Match their ghoulish image on your bingo card and stamp your card.
- Can you find them all?!
- Photo Booth on the Wharf Stage – All 13 Days: Snap a festive photo with your family with the scenic Monterey Bay and Lighthouse as your backdrop.
- Wharf Specials – All 13 Days – Enjoy fabulous, unique specials from restaurants and gift shops perfectly catered to the Halloween theme.
- Trick-o-Treating on the Wharf – October 31, 3:00 – 6:00 pm. Bring the family to show off your creative costumes and trick-o-treat at Wharf businesses.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Chili Cook-Off
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
831.423.5590 | beachboardwalk.com
Bring your appetite and join the fun as both professional and amateur chefs work their culinary magic and compete for the title of Best Chili!
Cook-Off Schedule
- 9am-10am: Chef’s prep (no heat)
- 10am-1pm: Chili cook time
- 10am: Tasting kits go on sale
- 1pm: Public tasting begins
- 4pm: Winners announced at the Neptune’s Stage (beachside of Neptune’s Kingdom)
London Nelson Center: Halloween
Louden Nelson Community Center
831.426.4724 | www.cityofsantacruz.com
Haunted House and Mask Making Festival on Saturday, October 22nd
- Haunted House and Mask Making
- Mask Making from 12-4pm
- Family-friendly Haunted House from 12-3pm (FREE)
Chaminade Resort & Spa: Fall Festival
Chaminade Resort and Spa
831.475.5600 | www.chaminade.com
Fall into fun this season as we welcome cooler temperatures, s’mores weather, and Chaminade’s 2nd Annual Fall Festival on Friday, October 29!
The festival will feature:
- Haunted Forest
- DJ Music
- Family Games
- Costume Contest
- Food and Drinks featuring local vendors
- Humble Sea Brewery
- Bargetto Winery
- Cash Bar
- Bonfire and S’mores kits for $15
Space is limited. Purchase your tickets here today!
- Adults & Children 4+: $40
- Children under 4: FREE
Admission Includes:
- (1) Food Ticket
- (1) Drink Ticket (Valid for Alcoholic or Non-Alcoholic Beverage)