With a wide range of free events taking place year-around, there’s always something to celebrate in Santa Cruz County every weekend. See what’s happening in Santa Cruz County and check out events here!
🍎 Sweet Water Farms U-Pick Apple Orchard 🍎 Spend a beautiful day at Sweet Water Farms in Watsonville picking your own apples straight from the orchard! Bring family and friends to enjoy crisp apple varieties, pumpkins, and a taste of fall in the countryside. This is a family-run orchard that loves welcoming visitors—perfect for kids, […]
This regional festival is a celebration of the organic farming that surrounds the central coast valleys. It will offer delicious, educational and interactive experiences to celebrate the rich and growing industry. The event features: - Local Organic Farmers Market - Local Art Vendors - Vegan and Vegetarian food options and dishes made with locally sourced […]
10:30 AM - 2:30, Saturdays and Sundays, October 4th and 5th, 11th and 12th, 26th and 24th, 26th.
On the Main Stage: 11:12pm–12:00pm: White Hawk Indian Council for Children 12:30–1:40pm: Sambada 2–3pm: Ancestree Activities 11-3pm Apple pressing for cider Pumpkin and produce sales Apple pie baking contest (more details here) Face painting Pumpkin painting Bouquet making Tractor rides 1:45pm Medicinal Plant Walk with Darren Huckle (meet at Louise Cain Gatehouse near main stage) and more! UCSC’s American […]
Step back in time at the Wilder Ranch State Park Harvest Festival! Enjoy living history demonstrations, crafts, games, live music, food, heritage apple tasting with the California Rare Fruit Growers Association and more! Although this event is free, parking is $10. Hold on to your receipt! Once you have paid for parking at one state […]
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.
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 […]
Once a year for eight days local food culture is celebrated as chefs showcase their creative talents. Guests dining at participating restaurants can enjoy a fixed-price, three-course dinner menu for $45, $55 or $65. Each menu includes choices of each: appetizer, entree and dessert. These dinner specials are always a great value as chefs strive […]
Go to the ballet in your Halloween costume! It doesn’t have to be a Nutcracker-related. There will be a Costume Contest, and the winner will get an awesome prize! So be sure to dress to impress for this nightmarish event. While their usual Nutcracker Production includes all ages from 4 to 104, this event has […]
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!
This October look forward to another vibrant gathering to gather and celebrate life and death. For years, the team at the MAH has had the opportunity to experience, grow, and share Día de los Muertos with more and more of Santa Cruz County. Plan ahead for the Día de los Muertos community celebration of traditional […]
Bring the family to Santa Cruz Maker Studios for an afternoon full of Halloween fun. Kids and parents alike can come in costume, enjoy free snacks and drinks, and dive into hands-on crafts you’ll get to take home. We’ll have four exciting projects to choose from: Haunted House Building – Make your very own spooky, […]
Every Halloween, the Santa Cruz Police Department and the City of Santa Cruz close down Pacific Avenue for kids to trick or treat! Watch for signs in the windows of participating businesses.
The Halloween Aptos Chamber Parade is creeping into town, and you won't want to miss it! Enjoy a fang-tastic time behind the New Leaf Community Market in the Aptos Village as the ghouls and goblins take over the streets. Dress up in your most creative and spine-chilling costumes and bring your family and friends. There […]
Little witches, goblins, ghosts, superheroes and their parents can enjoy trick-o-treating on the beautiful Santa Cruz Wharf. Stroll the Wharf and visit your favorite businesses for sweet surprises. Special guests will hand out candy and provide photo opportunities galore for kids (and kids at heart)! Snap a scenic family photo at the photo booth overlooking […]
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!
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Event is free, day-use parking fee is $10.
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.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Get in the holiday spirit by bringing the family to ride the Redwood Forest Steam Train through the wintry redwoods to Bear Mountain. Sip hot cider while greeting Santa Claus. In town, enjoy winter-themed activities. ACTIVITIES Visit from Santa Hot Cider Winter Themed Activities DATES November 28 - 30 December 6 - 7 December 13 […]
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 […]
See the 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2024 NBA G League Franchise of the Year on their home turf! The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Santa Cruz Warriors Beanie! More than half of NBA players boast NBA G League experience, so this is your chance to see elite professional basketball at an affordable […]
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 […]
Take a walk around historic Capitola Village and fill your box with delicious holiday cookies from participating stores! Enjoy this family friendly stroll! Follow the link in the orange button above for the Eventbrite tickets to purchase ahead of time, or go to the Capitola Candy Company on 205 Capitola Ave to purchase your box […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
