Upcoming Events

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

Felton Farmers Market: Pumpkin Decorating Bonanza

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

Welcome the fall and its fading light with free pumpkin decoration! At this annual tradition kids and adults alike will sit down to celebrate the harvest season, the coming holidays and the joy of playing with food. Rodoni pumpkins of all shapes and sizes will be dressed up with veggies, string, pipe cleaners, buttons and […]

Free

Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History: Festival of Monsters

Santa Cruz MAH 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States +1 more

The Festival of Monsters is an academic conference on the social and artistic research surrounding monsters.  The festival opens with Philosophy professor David Livingstone Smith, author of Making Monsters: The Uncanny Power of Dehumanization. He will give a free public keynote 5:30 p.m.  at the Museum of Art and History. There will be a day […]

Free

Downtown Santa Cruz: Halloween Mask Making Festival

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

Enjoy the 27th annual Halloween Festival, including mask-making, creepy carnival games, All About Theatre Halloween performances and Thriller dance.

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

County Sheriff’s Office: Trunk or Treat

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds 2601 East Lake Avenue, Watsonville, CA, United States +1 more

Join the county Sheriff's Department for their annual Trunk or Treat event! Decorated Trunks, candy, games, food vendors and more! Free parking and shuttle service will be provided at the Capitola Mall for the Live Oak location and this year they are expanding to the County Fairgrounds too!

Free

Downtown Watsonville: Candy Crawl

Historic Downtown Watsonville Main Street and E. Beach Street, Watsonville, CA, United States

Attention all ghouls and ghosts! 🧛‍♂️🕷️ Enjoy a hauntingly good time as you trick-or-treat your way through downtown Watsonville businesses! 🎃💀 Save the date and fill your bags with treats and memories that will last a lifetime! No pre-registration is required -- just show up! Please bring your own candy carrying container. If you would […]

Free

SC Beach Boardwalk: Halloween

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

Celebrate Halloween on Saturday, the 26th with trick-or-treating, a costume contest, and spooktacular Boardwalk fun! It's always free to enter the Boardwalk, but if you would like to receive a collectible Boardwalk bag with a punch card for trick-or-treating, follow the link in the orange button above! Head to the Main Entrance photo op banner […]

$12

Abbott Square: Dog Halloween Costume Contest

Abbott Square 118 Cooper St., Santa Cruz, CA, United States

It's your Fur Baby's time to shine!! Sign up your dog to model their costume on the Abbott Square stage during the Halloween Dog Costume Contest. Prizes for best costumes.  Follow the link in the orange button above for more details at the date gets closer.

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.

Santa Cruz: Turkey Trot

Westside Research Park Delaware Avenue, Santa Cruz, California, United States

Go on.  Earn that feast!  Flat, fast out and back courses that begin & end on Delaware Street by the back entrance to Natural Bridges. A run with spectacular ocean views!  10k, 5k, and kids 1k all offered.   Signature Santa Cruz Track Club finisher socks for all 5k and 10k finishers.   Prizes for top three […]

$6.30 – $54

Seabright: Farley’s Christmas Wonderland

Farley's Christmas Wonderland 108 Seaview Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

This is a walk-in Christmas display located in the midtown of Santa Cruz, CA. Their exhibit is very traditional: lots of Christmas trees, garlands, sleighs, an elf village, miniature village’s, and a log cabin that Santa uses for his rest stops. Being Irish, where you have elves you have fairies, so there is a fairy […]

Downtown Boulder Creek: First Friday and Ugly Sweater Contest

Boulder Creek Boulder Creek, CA, United States

Bundle up in the tackiest sweater you’ve ever been gifted for the holidays and head to the redwoods!  As you look through arts and crafts, you will be treated to live music.  There will be food and drink to purchase while you are there and watch out for the First Friday Boulder Creek Folks!  You […]

Free

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 […]

Downtown Boulder Creek: Winter Festival

Boulder Creek Boulder Creek, CA, United States

The Boulder Creek Winter Festival is a celebration of the holiday season, bringing together families and friends to enjoy a variety of activities and entertainment. From the enchanting tree lighting to the joyful music, hayrides, and crafts, there's something for everyone to create lasting memories. There will be live music, photos with Santa, a food […]

$5 – $20

Santa Cruz Harbor: Lighted Boat Parade

Santa Cruz Harbor 135 5th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

The Lighted Boat Parade features 50 beautifully decorated power and sailboats parading through the Santa Cruz Harbor. Limited viewing is available from the Murray Street bridge, from the East Harbor launch ramp, and from a variety of harbor paths. Charter boats are available. Remember to bring a reusable mug for the hot drinks and snacks […]

Hallcrest Vineyards: Holiday Market

Hallcrest Vineyards 379 Felton Empire Rd, Felton, CA, United States

Get your friends and family together for a free event full of fun vendors, kid's activities, Santa, wine and so much more! 

Free

Simpkins Swim Center: Holiday Market

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

Get ready for a festive extravaganza at the Holiday Market Winter Wonderland!  Building on the success of last year’s Splash with Santa event, The County Parks and Rec are bringing you even more excitement this year.  Explore their market filled with local vendors offering colorful and festive art and gifts for purchase, enjoy the live […]

Free

Tannery Arts Center: Winter Art Market

Tannery Arts Center 1010 River Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Get into the holiday spirit and explore Santa Cruz’s creative heart at the Annual Winter Art Market, presented by the Arts Council Santa Cruz County. Enjoy live music, tasty food, and festive family-friendly activities. Browse over 20 artist studios filled with handmade holiday gifts and meet guest artists and makers offering unique treasures. Highlights Live […]

Free

Ben Lomond: Wee Kirk Holiday Market

Historic Wee Kirk Church Central Avenue 9500, Ben Lomond, California, United States

Experience the magic of the season at the Wee Kirk Holiday Market, a special evening celebration inspired by traditional European Christmas markets. Enjoy an enchanting night of festive lights, local artisans, crafts, and seasonal delights. Shop for handcrafted gifts, savor warm drinks and delicious holiday treats, and enjoy the sounds of live music. With cozy […]

Free
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