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!

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UCSC: Harvest Festival

UCSC CASFS Farm and Garden 152 Farm Road, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Enjoy the annual Harvest Festival! Activities for all ages include face painting, flower pressing, pumpkin painting, cider pressing, tractor rides, live music treats from local food trucks, an apple pie bake-off, and more! Admission is $5 for the general public, with cash preferred at the gate. Entry is free for current UC Santa Cruz, Hartnell […]

Free – $5

Wilder Ranch State Park: Harvest Festival

Wilder Ranch State Park 1842 Coast Road, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Celebrate the fall at the Wilder Ranch State Park Harvest Festival! Enjoy living history demonstrations, crafts, games, live music, food and more! Taste history during the Heritage Apple Tasting hosted by the California Rare Fruit Growers Association! Rain cancels. Free event. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. Hold on to that receipt! Once you have paid […]

Free

Simpkins Swim Center: Floating Pumpkin Patch

Simpkins Family Swim Center 979 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA, 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.  This year, they have […]

$20

Santa Cruz Wharf: 13 Days of Halloween

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

Trick-or-Treating on Halloween Day (Friday, Oct. 31st) • Trick-or-Treat your way down the Wharf from 3PM to 6PM! Photo Booth on the Wharf Stage • Snap a festive photo with your family with the scenic Monterey Bay and Lighthouse as your backdrop. Wharf Specials • Enjoy fabulous, unique specials from restaurants and gift shops perfectly […]

Natural Bridges State Beach: Monarch Butterfly Self Guided Tours

Natural Bridges SB: Monarch Butterfly Self Guided Tours

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

Monarch migration is variable and population numbers and dates are different each year. The monarchs typically begin arriving in mid-October and leave by mid-February. At Natural Bridges, late October and all of November is often the best time to go for a walk and observe the monarchs. The Monarch Grove at Natural Bridges has been […]

Free
Hosted Board Game Night at The Cruz Room

The Cruz Room: Hosted Board Game Night

The Cruz Room 1520 Mission St., Santa Cruz, United States

The Game Night Collective provides a curated experience. Every Monday night with a library of 30+ board games, guided game teaching, hosted featured games, and prizes! Whether you arrive alone or with a group, the goal is to make it easy to sit down and start playing. Hosted mic'd board games 5 - 8 Trivia […]

Free

Santa Cruz Restaurant Week 2026

Multiple locations throughout Santa Cruz County Santa Cruz, CA, United States

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 […]

$45 – $65

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!

Santa Cruz MAH: Dia de los Muertos

Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

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 […]

Free
Castro Adobe State Historic Park: Open House

Castro Adobe State Historic Park: Open House

Castro Adobe State Historic Park 184 Old Adobe Road (off of Larkin Valley Road), Watsonville, CA, United States

If you love California history and our state’s cultural heritage, come celebrate with us at the Castro Adobe State Historic Park! Visit at the next open house. This tour that repeats every 90-minutes throughout the day will surely have you falling head over heels with all the park has to offer! This 90-minute tour is […]

Free
Quail Hollow: Full Moon Hike

Quail Hollow: Full Moon Hike

Quail Hollow Ranch County Park 800 Quail Hollow Road, Felton, CA, United States

Enjoy a quiet exploration of Quail Hollow Ranch, under the moonlight. On this guided hike on the lower trails, you can search for critters and meander through the forest. Bring flashlights and/or a headlamp (though you may try to hike without them), and some drinking water. Dress for the weather and wear good walking shoes. […]

Free

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds: 805 Night Market

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

Enjoy a curated lineup of food vendors serving street food, desserts, and specialty drinks. With live entertainment and a curated maker market, every stop is built to be shared—friends, families, and first-timers welcome. You’ll find: 🍜 Street food + global-inspired eats 🍧 Desserts worth the stop (and the comeback) 🧋 Specialty drinks & refreshing sips […]

$6.40

Aptos Village: Halloween Parade

Aptos Village County Park 100 Aptos Creek Rd, Aptos, United States

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 […]

Free

Santa Cruz Wharf: Trick or Treating

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

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 […]

Free

Watsonville Plaza: Day of the Dead Open Streets

Callaghan Park 225 Sudden Street, Watsonville, CA, United States

Calles Libres transforms downtown Watsonville into a vibrant, car-free space where people of all ages can walk, bike, roll, dance, connect, and celebrate everything that makes Watsonville unique. Inspired by Día de los Muertos, this free community event honors culture. Together you will: • 🚴 Bike, walk, skate, and roll through car-free streets • 🎶 […]

Free
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Winter Wonderland

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Winter Wonderland

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

Get in the holiday spirit – celebrate the season at the beach! Enjoy a festive stroll through dazzling holiday lights and decorations at no cost. If you’d like to hop on a ride, you can purchase individual ride tickets or a Ride Wristband for unlimited rides all day. Games, attractions, and photos with Santa are […]

Free
Roaring Camp Railroads: Holiday Tree Walk

Roaring Camp Railroads: Holiday Tree Walk

Roaring Camp Railroads 5400 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA, United States

Get in the holiday spirit by bringing the family to ride a Redwood Forest Steam Train through the wintry redwoods to Bear Mountain. Sip hot cider while greeting Santa Claus. In town, enjoy winter-themed activities. Choose your 75 minute train ride to start at 10:30am, noon, or 1:30pm. They usually sell out of tickets on […]

$28.57 – $44.47
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 […]

$38.11 – $48.71

Downtown Santa Cruz: Holiday Parade

Downtown Santa Cruz Pacific Avenue & Cooper Street, Santa Cruz, 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 […]

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

Capitola Mall: Flynn Creek Circus

Capitola Mall 1855 41st Avenue, Capitola, CA, United States

Flynn Creek Circus is an all-human spectacle. Look for the big tent at the Capitola Mall parking lot. Limited, free parking for attendees is available. Follow the link in the orange button above to select the best showtime for you! The Cricket & the Wren is a highly original, all-human fairytale that enchants through breathtaking […]

$36 – $54

Boulder Creek: Reindeer Run

Junction Park 13264 Middleton Avenue, Boulder Creek, CA, United States

The Annual Reindeer Run in Boulder Creek will be on Christmas eve!  Go work off that plum pudding and promote togetherness, silliness, and active lifestyle.  Bring your family. Bring your pet.  Walk or run the 5k around the beautiful mountain town of downtown Boulder Creek and Irwin Way while dressed in holiday attire!  Bring your […]

$45