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Seymour Marine Discovery Center: Younger Lagoon Reserve Tour

Seymour Marine Discovery Center: Younger Lagoon Reserve Tour

Younger Lagoon Reserve 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

This 90-minute, behind-the-scenes hiking tour takes visitors into Younger Lagoon Reserve adjacent to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Part of the University of California Natural Reserve System, Younger Lagoon Reserve contains diverse coastal habitats and is home to birds of prey, migrating sea birds, bobcats, and other wildlife. Come and see what scientists are doing to track […]

Scotts Valley Skypark: Sidewalk Chalk Contest

Skypark 361 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley, United States

Artists of all ages will be transforming the sidewalks of Skypark into a colorful outdoor gallery! There will be youth, adult and even group categories to enjoy! Want to know who won the contest?  Well, you will have to stick around for Music in the Park, enjoy live music, food vendors and other family activities! […]

Free

Chaminade Resort and Spa: Pawsh Retreat

Chaminade Resort and Spa 1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Chaminade Resort & Spa welcomes you and your furry friends to our dog-friendly property for an afternoon of play, treats and pup-worthy pampering. Enjoy activities like Photo Booths, Pet Portraits, Paint-Your-Pet, a Fashion Show Competition, Pet Massage, Dog Pools, an Agility Course and more! Vendors/partners include Santa Cruz SPCA, Santa Cruz Animal Shelter, Peace of […]

Free

Garrahan Park: Splashfest

Garrahan Park, Boulder Creek 15555 Hwy 9, Boulder Creek, United States

🎉 SPLASHFEST at Garrahan Park 💦 Dive into a day of water-filled fun! Enjoy a family-friendly event featuring: Water Wall – Experiment and play with an interactive setup of tubing, funnels, and pouring stations Waterball Arena – Like paintball, but with reusable water balloons! Water Balloon Fights – Classic fun for all ages Sprinklers & […]

$10

Watsonville Airport: Fire in the Sky

Watsonville Municipal Airport 100 Aviation Way # A, Watsonville, CA, United States

This free community event helps you kick off Labor Day weekend celebrations! Watsonville's Airport Open House includes first responder aviation assets, local agri-business flight departments, antique aircraft, flyovers, parachute flag jump, live music, free Kidz Zone, food vendors and a fireworks show! Parking and admission are free.

Free

Scotts Valley: Multicultural Fair

Skypark 361 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley, United States

The Scotts Valley Multicultural Fair is a free celebration aimed at broadening our understanding and appreciation for multiculturalism and diversity. There will be: Live musical acts from all different backgrounds and influences. Dance troupes performing captivating routines; with audience participation encouraged! Food vendors to explore. A fashion show to show-case traditional clothing of different cultures. […]

Free

Felton Farmers Market: Apple-A-Day Festival

Felton Farmers' Market 120 Russell Ave, Felton, CA, United States

Apples grow all over Santa Cruz County and are delicious, hardy and loved for endless reasons. Celebrate them at the market where a flurry of activities ignites your pallet, curiosity and silliness. Santa Cruz Cider heads to Felton for apple cider pressing and tasting. Whether you are four or 94, you can have a turn […]

Free

Santa Cruz County Fair

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds 2601 East Lake Avenue, Watsonville, CA, United States

12:00 PM - 10:00 PM, Wednesday - Friday 12:00-11:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds: Agricultural History Project

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds: Agricultural History Project

Agricultural History Project Center and Museum 2601 East Lake Avenue, Hwy 152, Watsonville, CA, United States

Bring your friends, family and neighbors and come out to enjoy good old-fashioned activities such as spinning wool, cheese making, wooden cow milking and ice cream making! You can even drive a tractor and go on a hayride.  Local Santa Cruz County 4-H clubs will be hosting their Annual Spring Fair.  This action-packed day is […]

Free

Santa Cruz Wharf: 33rd Annual Aloha Outrigger Races

Santa Cruz Wharf 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

The Pu Pu 'O Hawaii Outrigger Club is ready to race! These short-course outrigger races are designed especially for the new or novice paddlers. Come out and support the racers as well as enjoy hula performances by Kūhai Hālau O Mehanakealohakalaua'eikapoli Pā 'Ōlapa Kahiko.    

Capitola: Little Wharf Race

East Cliff Village Shopping Center East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, California, United States +1 more

This downhill, coastal three-mile race is a great opportunity to run fast and take in the beauty of the Santa Cruz and Capitola coastline.  Early Fall presents some of the best weather in the county, so you are likely going to experience beautiful weather out on the course.  Race finishers get food, water, a finishers […]

$64 – $84

Capitola: Beach Festival

Capitola Village Capitola Village, Esplanade Park, Capitola, CA, United States

6:30 AM - 9:00 PM See website for details.

Free

Soquel: Taste of Soquel Festival

Congregational Church - Soquel, Parish Hall 4951 Soquel Drive, Soquel, CA, United States

Taste, sip and tap your toes as you sample local eateries, farms, breweries, vintners and musicians of the Soquel neighborhood! Enjoy kids' games, prizes and more!

Free

Downtown Boulder Creek: Treat Walk

lille æske arthouse California 9, Boulder Creek, California, United States

Head to Downtown Boulder Creek to enjoy the 4th Annual Treat Walk where both artists and merchants will be handing out candy and treats to the kiddos.  Although you are welcome to break out your Halloween costume early, it is not required.  Perhaps you will find some art or craft to enhance your entrance to Downtown […]

Free

Open Studios Art Tour: South County

11:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Saturdays and Sundays October 5th and 6th - North County; October 12th and 13th - South County; October 19th and 20th - All County

Santa Cruz County: Monterey Bay Festival of Birds

Mark the fall migration at one of the most beautiful places on the planet for the Monterey Bay Festival of Birds featuring field trips, workshops, family-fun activities, and keynote speakers. Activities are planned throughout the Monterey Bay area in Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Salinas, and Monterey.  Check out the website linked below to register for field […]

Free – $30

Santa Cruz Wharf: T-Birds on the Wharf

Santa Cruz Wharf 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Check out the Classic, Vintage and Retro Thunderbirds on display then stick around to enjoy fabulous shopping and/or grab a bite at one of the many fine local eateries with the best views in Santa Cruz!

Free
Natural Bridges State Beach: Welcome Back Monarchs Day!

Natural Bridges State Beach: Welcome Back Monarchs Day!

Natural Bridges State Beach 2531 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Enjoy welcoming the monarch butterflies back to the park, where they will spend the winter. There will be arts and crafts, active games for kids, live music, information booths on monarch butterflies and butterfly gardens, and more!   *This event is free. Parking is $10 to park in the day-use lot. For more information, call […]

Free

Simpkins Swim Center: Floating Pumpkin Patch

Simpkins Family Swim Center 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz, California, United States

The Santa Cruz County Parks Department hosts an annual Floating Pumpkin Patch at Simpkins Family Swim Center in Santa Cruz, California. The event allows people to swim and dive for pumpkins, which they can then decorate at a station with crafts. The event also includes games, prizes, and open swim time. 

$5 – $7

Santa Cruz Wharf: 13 Days of Halloween

Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Enjoy 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 […]

SC Beach Boardwalk: Chili Cook-Off

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

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!

$15

Boulder Creek: Downtown Trick or Treat

Boulder Creek Boulder Creek, CA, United States

Put on your silliest, scariest or wackiest costume and join the Boulder Creek Downtown Trick or Treat on Halloween!  Go by the Business Association table in front of the Sheriff Substation - you might find a surprise!

Watsonville Plaza: Dia de los Muertos

Watsonville Civic Plaza 275 Main Street, Watsonville, CA, United States

See community altars and live/dead performances. There will be family activities and a market of the dead. Celebrate this beautiful tradition featuring altars, live music and dance and hands-on activities.

Civic Auditorium: Cinderella World Ballet

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium 307 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Welcome to the magical world of Cinderella, coming to Santa Cruz this Fall!An enchanting story for all ages with a wonderful dose of humor, majesty of classical ballet and the promise of “happily ever after”.A part of the World Ballet Series, Cinderella is performed live by a multinational cast of 40 professional ballet dancers gathered […]

$32 – $95

Downtown Santa Cruz: Holiday Parade

Downtown Santa Cruz Pacific Avenue Between Water and Locust Streets, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

The traditional holiday parade is the official kickoff for the winter holidays celebration. One never knows exactly what to expect at the Parade, but you can be sure to expect the whole community to show up and have a great time. The man of the hour is welcomed back to Downtown Santa Cruz. Bring the […]

Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train

Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

A seasonal tradition returns to Santa Cruz with the Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train. Vintage excursion cars, adorned with thousands of colorful lights, roll through city streets past homes of Santa Cruz. Itinerary: Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Trains depart and return in front of Neptune’s Kingdom on the Boardwalk of Santa Cruz for a 60-minute […]

Santa Cruz MAH: Toy Trains

Santa Cruz MAH: Toy Trains

Santa Cruz MAH 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Get whisked away into the whimsical world of Toy Trains and enjoy this beloved annual pop-up exhibit at the MAH. Members of the Golden State Toy Train Operators will be on hand to once again share their amazing collection of toy trains at the MAH. The public is invited to view Toy Trains in the […]

Free

Santa Cruz Wharf: Winter on the Wharf

Santa Cruz Wharf 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Come enjoy holiday decorations, Wharf specials and see Santa arrive on the Wharf by a vintage fire engine!🎅 📸Take photos with Santa! ☃️ Checkout Wharf Business Specials! ❄️Play in the snow area with Elsa and Anna from Disney's Frozen! 🎈Enjoy custom balloon designs from Lee Balloons! 🎨 Get your face painted or feathers in your […]

Free

London Nelson Community Center: Santa Cruz Fungus Fair

London Nelson Community Center 301 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

The 2026 celebration will be at the London Nelson Community Center and feature hundreds of fascinating species from the area, uniquely displayed in a re-created woodland habitat. This unique Santa Cruz tradition will offer three days of fun, demonstrations, informative speakers, and fungus-forward activities for the whole family. 2-5pm on Friday. 9am to 6pm on […]

Free

SC Beach Boardwalk: Fun Run

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Swap out your flip flops for running shoes and join the fun with this family-friendly race through the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk! Run a 1k or a 5k, on this flat course and then enjoy what the boardwalk has to offer, including rides, games, & the beach! 1K- Ages 12 and Under 5K- Ages 4 […]