Display of Events from October 22 – April 21, 2027 – Visit Santa Cruz County

Upcoming Events

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!

Halloween skeleton sitting on the guard rail of the Santa Cruz wharf during Halloween

Oct 22

October 19 @ 8:00 am - October 31 @ 8:00 pm PDT

Santa Cruz Wharf: 13 Days of Halloween

Santa Cruz

Oct 22

October 21 - October 28

Santa Cruz Restaurant Week 2026

Santa Cruz

Thousands crowd around a giant bloom that smells like a corpse

Oct 23

Multiple Event Dates

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

UCSC Arboretum: Corpse Flower Bloom

Santa Cruz

Redwoods Roaring Camp train

Oct 23

Multiple Event Dates

10:30 am - 3:00 pm

Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train

Felton

A cluster of Monarch Butterflies at Natural Bridges State Beach.

Oct 23

Multiple Event Dates

11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Natural Bridges SB: Monarch Butterfly Self Guided Tours

Santa Cruz

FREE

Oct 23

Multiple Event Dates

12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

UCSC: Carlos Motta Exhibition

Santa Cruz

FREE

Artist standing behind a plant and some objects

Oct 23

Multiple Event Dates

12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

UCSC: Victor “Marka27” Exhibition

Santa Cruz

FREE

Oct 23

Multiple Event Dates

2:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Watsonville: Farmers Market

Watsonville

Oct 23

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

County Sheriff’s Office: Trunk or Treat

Santa Cruz

FREE

Film Poster of Lost Boys a free movie at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Oct 23

7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

The 418 Project: The Lost Boys

Santa Cruz

Giant lanterns and dramatically lit redwoods

Oct 23

Multiple Event Dates

8:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Roaring Camp: Sequoia Lights

Felton

Oct 24

Multiple Event Dates

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cabrillo College: Aptos Farmers Market

Aptos

Oct 24

Multiple Event Dates

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Scotts Valley: Farmers Market

Scotts Valley

FREE

Oct 24

Multiple Event Dates

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Westside Santa Cruz: Farmers Market

Santa Cruz

mushrooms growing from clover

Oct 24

9:30 am - 1:00 pm

Quail Hollow Ranch: Habitat Hike

Felton

Oct 24

Multiple Event Dates

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Elkhorn Slough: Free Tour of the Preserve

Watsonville

FREE

Flyer to promote the Boardwalk Chili cook-off

Oct 24

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

SC Beach Boardwalk: Chili Cook-Off

Santa Cruz

Roaring Camp Day Out With Thomas the tank engine

Oct 24

Multiple Event Dates

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Roaring Camp: Thomas and Percy’s Halloween Party

Felton

An old Vaquero in front of a model T in an apple orchard

Oct 24

Multiple Event Dates

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Luz del Valle Farm: U-Pick Apples

Aptos

Oct 24

Multiple Event Dates

11:00 am - 1:30 pm

Wilder Ranch State Park: Guided Coastal Nature Walk

Santa Cruz

FREE

Oct 24

Multiple Event Dates

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Henry Cowell Redwoods SP: Redwood Grove Guided Walk

Felton

FREE

Small portions of different styles of mac and cheese in single serving sample cups

Oct 24

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Santa Cruz Portuguese Hall: Vegan Mac Down

Santa Cruz

Oct 24

12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Santa Cruz MAH: Dia de los Muertos

Santa Cruz

FREE

Oct 24

Multiple Event Dates

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Wilder Ranch State Park: Historic Ground Tours

Santa Cruz

FREE

Oct 24

Multiple Event Dates

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Wilder Ranch: Historic Grounds Tours

Santa Cruz

FREE

Oct 24

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Downtown Watsonville: Candy Crawl

Watsonville

FREE

Three chefs being featured at the dinner

Oct 24

4:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Dream Inn Santa Cruz: Oceanfront Dinner

Santa Cruz

Oct 24

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

The Catalyst: Surf City Line Dance

Santa Cruz

Cartoon witches and batts dancing and flying in the sky

Oct 24

October 24 @ 7:00 pm - October 25 @ 1:30 am PDT

Brookdale Lodge: Witches Ball

Brookdale

Drone view over the Santa Cruz coastline with a San

Oct 25

6:00 am - 2:00 pm

Santa Cruz Marathon

Santa Cruz

Artichokes at the Farmer's Market

Oct 25

Multiple Event Dates

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Live Oak: Farmers Market

Santa Cruz

FREE

A river beach next to an old train bridge over the river.

Oct 25

Multiple Event Dates

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Henry Cowell Redwoods SP: Cable Car Beach Stroll

Felton

FREE

Oct 25

Multiple Event Dates

10:30 am - 5:00 pm

Castro Adobe State Historic Park: Open House

Watsonville

FREE

Clippers with spider webs and spooky designs all around it

Oct 25

11:00 am - 7:00 pm

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds: Halloween Barber Contest

Watsonville

Oct 25

Multiple Event Dates

3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Ideal Bar and Grill: Salsa by the Sea

Santa Cruz

FREE

full moon above trees

Oct 25

Multiple Event Dates

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Quail Hollow: Full Moon Hike

Felton

FREE

Images of board games

Oct 26

Multiple Event Dates

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

The Cruz Room: Hosted Board Game Night

Santa Cruz

FREE

Oct 27

Multiple Event Dates

1:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Felton: Farmers Market

Felton

FREE

Man with an acoustic guitar

Oct 27

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Peace United Church of Christ: Ernest Aines Folk Singer

Santa Cruz

Oct 28

Multiple Event Dates

12:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Downtown Santa Cruz: Farmers Market

Santa Cruz

The characters of Dr. Malcolm Crow and Cole Sear walking down a treelined street that looks like downtown Santa Cruz

Oct 28

7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

The Grove: Showing of The Sixth Sense

Santa Cruz

Black and white artsy image of an older musician in a suit

Oct 28

8:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Santa Cruz Civic Center: Musician Lyle Lovett

Santa Cruz

images of mushroom dishes

Oct 29

Multiple Event Dates

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Far West Fungi: Myco-Mixer

Santa Cruz

FREE

Oct 30

Multiple Event Dates

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Wilder Ranch State Park: Guided Coastal Birding Walk

Santa Cruz

FREE

Sugar skulls with candles against an orange background

Oct 30

3:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Roma Park: Mercado de Muertos

Watsonville

FREE

A collage of photos showing instagram foot shots and crowds having fun

Oct 30

October 30 @ 4:00 pm - November 1 @ 10:00 pm PDT

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds: 805 Night Market

Watsonville

Food truck patrons on a fall day

Oct 30

4:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Skypark: Halloween Food Trucks

Scotts Valley

FREE

Oct 30

Multiple Event Dates

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Skypark: Food Truck Friday

Scotts Valley

Oct 31

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Santa Cruz Harbor: Witches SUP

Santa Cruz

Image to the entrance to the walk through fright walk attraction at the boardwalk

Oct 31

12:00 pm - 7:00 pm

SC Beach Boardwalk: Halloween

Santa Cruz

Cartoon ghosts and Halloween decorations

Oct 31

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Aptos Village: Halloween Parade

Aptos

FREE

A family with a dog taking a selfie in the middle of a tree lined downtown street

Oct 31

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Downtown Santa Cruz: Trick-or-Treat

Santa Cruz

FREE

Oct 31

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Santa Cruz Wharf: Trick or Treating

Santa Cruz

FREE

a pirate skeleton looking down from the mast of a boat in the harbor

Oct 31

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Santa Cruz Harbor: Trick-Or-Treat

Santa Cruz

FREE

Dog dressed as a Chuckie doll.

Oct 31

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Abbott Square: Dog Halloween Costume Contest

Santa Cruz

FREE

A jack-o-lantern on a black background

Oct 31

4:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Abbott Square: Halloween Bash

Santa Cruz

FREE

Poster for a Halloween party

Oct 31

October 31 @ 5:00 pm - November 1 @ 2:00 am PDT

Mission West: Halloween Party

Santa Cruz

Oct 31

October 31 @ 8:30 pm - November 1 @ 12:00 am PDT

Joe’s Bar: Halloween Dance Party

Boulder Creek

FREE

Oct 31

October 31 @ 8:30 pm - November 1 @ 12:30 am PDT

Chaminade Resort and Spa: Vampire Ball

Santa Cruz

Kids doing a bike rally where cars usually drive in downtown Watsonville

Nov 1

12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Watsonville Plaza: Day of the Dead Open Streets

Watsonville

FREE

Nov 2

November 2 - November 8

Capitola: Plein Air Festival

Capitola

FREE

Depression era finery and home made instruments

Nov 5

Multiple Event Dates

5:45 pm - 7:30 pm

The Crepe Place: Trolley Drops Jug Band

Santa Cruz

FREE

Nov 6

Multiple Event Dates

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

First Friday Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

FREE

Nov 6

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Downtown Boulder Creek: Giving Thanks Party

Boulder Creek

FREE

Nov 7

8:00 am - 4:00 pm

SC Beach Boardwalk: Hot Rods at the Beach

Santa Cruz

FREE

Various colors of seaglass

Nov 7

November 7 @ 10:00 am - November 8 @ 5:00 pm PST

The Grove: Sea Glass and Ocean Art Festival

Santa Cruz

Nov 7

Multiple Event Dates

11:00 am - 12:15 pm

UCSC Arboretum: First Saturday Tours

Santa Cruz

Nov 7

Multiple Event Dates

11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Wilder Ranch State Park: Living History Dairy Ranch

Santa Cruz

FREE

Black & White photo of the antique faire at Downtown Santa Cruz

Nov 8

Multiple Event Dates

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Downtown Santa Cruz: Antiques Faire

Santa Cruz

A blue whale skeleton

Nov 8

11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Seymour Center: Marine Science Festival

Santa Cruz

Drawing of goat with words affiliated with farms written within the drawing of the goat

Nov 13

November 13 @ 10:00 am - November 14 @ 3:00 pm PST

County Fairgrounds: Antique and Artisan Fair

Watsonville

Folk musicians on a stage calling out a room full of people contra dancing.

Nov 13

November 13 @ 7:00 pm - November 14 @ 9:30 pm PST

Park Hall: Contra Dancing

Ben Lomond

Nov 14

Multiple Event Dates

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Sandhills Tour

Scotts Valley

FREE

Art of a blue octopus

Nov 14

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

La Selva Beach: Holiday Fair

La Selva Beach

FREE

Nov 14

Multiple Event Dates

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

AnnieGlass: Holiday Ornament Making

Watsonville

Nov 14

7:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Rio Theatre: Mountain Film Tour

Santa Cruz

Makers Market flyer for Downtown Santa Cruz

Nov 15

Multiple Event Dates

10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Downtown Santa Cruz: Makers Market

Santa Cruz

FREE

Nov 15

11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Hotel Paradox: Beach Please Fair

Santa Cruz

FREE

Nov 15

Multiple Event Dates

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Quail Hollow Ranch: Ranch House Tour

Felton

FREE

Wine glass etched "Downtown Santa Cruz" for Downtown SC Wine Walk event

Nov 15

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Downtown Santa Cruz: Fall Wine Walk

Santa Cruz

artsy activist photo

Nov 18

6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Rio Theatre: Film Screening and Conversation

Santa Cruz

FREE

Seastars in the tidepools at Natural Bridges. Photographed by Liz Birnbaum, The Curated Feast

Nov 24

Multiple Event Dates

4:17 pm - 4:53 pm

Santa Cruz County: King Tides

FREE

Nov 26

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

The View at Chaminade: Thanksgiving

Santa Cruz

Nov 26

12:00 pm - 5:30 pm

High Tide at La Bahia: Thanksgiving

Santa Cruz

Nov 26

November 26, 2026 @ 12:00 pm - January 3, 2027 @ 7:00 pm PST

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Winter Wonderland

Santa Cruz

FREE

Santa Claus at Roaring Camp

Nov 27

Multiple Event Dates

10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Roaring Camp Railroads: Holiday Tree Walk

Felton

Nov 27

November 27 @ 10:00 am - November 28 @ 4:00 pm PST

West Cliff: Holiday Outdoor Market

Santa Cruz

Nov 27

Multiple Event Dates

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train

Santa Cruz

Fairgrounds Holiday Lights

Nov 27

Multiple Event Dates

5:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds: Holiday Lights

Watsonville

Celtic dancers mid air in red and green costumes in front of Christmas stage designs

Dec 2

7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Santa Cruz Civic Center: A Taste of Ireland Christmas

Santa Cruz

Dec 3

Multiple Event Dates

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Downtown Santa Cruz: A Christmas Carol

Santa Cruz

A jug band dressed in holiday gear

Dec 3

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

The Crepe Place: Twistmas Caroling

Santa Cruz

Pets and children in ugly sweaters

Dec 4

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Downtown Boulder Creek: Market and Ugly Sweater Contest

Boulder Creek

FREE

Santa posing for a photo with the ocean in the background with a cute dog

Dec 5

Multiple Event Dates

9:00 am - 11:00 am

Chaminade Resort and Spa: Breakfast With Santa

Santa Cruz

Dec 5

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Downtown Santa Cruz: Holiday Parade

Santa Cruz

FREE

Light green on dark green cartoon of a market and a Christmas tree

Dec 5

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Aptos Village Green: Holiday Market and Tree Lighting

Aptos

FREE

Boulder Creek Tree Lighting

Dec 5

2:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Downtown Boulder Creek: Winter Festival

Boulder Creek

Dec 5

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Santa Cruz Harbor: Lighted Boat Parade

Santa Cruz

Dec 6

11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Hallcrest Vineyards: Holiday Market

Felton

FREE

Dec 12

10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tannery Arts Center: Winter Art Market

Santa Cruz

FREE

Dec 12

11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Wilder Ranch State Park: Victorian Holiday Experience

Santa Cruz

FREE

People enjoying faux snow

Dec 12

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Santa Cruz Wharf: Winter on the Wharf

Santa Cruz

FREE

Dec 13

11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Felton Covered Bridge: Holiday Market

Felton

FREE

Dec 17

Multiple Event Dates

12:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Santa Cruz MAH: Toy Trains

Santa Cruz

FREE

Dec 17

December 17, 2026 @ 12:00 pm - January 3, 2027 @ 10:00 pm PST

Capitola Mall: Flynn Creek Circus

Capitola

Dec 19

Multiple Event Dates

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Cabrillo College: Nutcracker Ballet

Aptos

A cartoon pelican sitting on the shoulder of a lady in a swim cap and goggles. Waves and surfboards are reflected in the goggles, and presents are coming out of the pelican beak.

Dec 20

11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Hotel Paradox: Holiday Market

Santa Cruz

FREE

Boulder Creek Reindeer Run

Dec 24

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Boulder Creek: Reindeer Run

Boulder Creek

Dec 25

11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Seacliff Inn: Christmas Day Buffet

Aptos

Dec 26

December 26 @ 6:30 pm - December 31 @ 7:30 pm PST

Roaring Camp: New Years Train

Felton

A composite of a single basketball player taken from different decades

Jan 15

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

KP Arena: Harlem Globetrotters Tour

Santa Cruz

Chef during Santa Cruz Clam Chowder cook-off in 2019

Feb 20

February 20, 2027 @ 1:00 pm - February 21, 2027 @ 4:00 pm PST

46th Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off

Santa Cruz

Mar 4

March 4, 2027 - March 13, 2027

Watsonville Film Festival

Watsonville

Ballerinas dressed as flowers with a wild pop culture elaborate colorful set

Apr 21

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

SC Civic Auditorium: Romero Britto’s Alice in Wonderland

Santa Cruz