Display of Events from July 24 – 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!

Shakespeare in the Park

Jul 24

July 12 - September 19

Audrey Stanley Grove: Shakespeare In The Park

Santa Cruz

Museum of Art and History

Jul 24

July 19 - August 19

Museum of Art and History: The Art of the Game

Santa Cruz

Women in a field of flowers, holding bouquets of flowers.

Jul 24

Multiple Event Dates

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Dynomite Farm: Private Dahlia U-Cut Experience

Santa Cruz

Jul 24

Multiple Event Dates

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Santa Cruz Beach Train

Felton

Jul 24

Multiple Event Dates

2:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Watsonville: Farmers Market

Watsonville

Jul 24

Multiple Event Dates

5:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Midtown Santa Cruz: Friday Summer Block Parties

Santa Cruz

FREE

Jul 24

6:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Henry Cowell Redwoods SP: Moonlight Madness

Felton

FREE

Jul 24

Multiple Event Dates

7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Cabrillo Crocker Theater: Sister Act, The Musical

Aptos

Jul 24

Multiple Event Dates

8:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Audrey Stanley Grove: Much Ado About Nothing

Santa Cruz

Performers at the boardwalk

Jul 24

Multiple Event Dates

8:30 pm - 9:30 pm

SC Beach Boardwalk: Evenings on the Colonnade

Santa Cruz

FREE

Giant lanterns and dramatically lit redwoods

Jul 24

Multiple Event Dates

8:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Roaring Camp: Sequoia Lights

Felton

An amusement park that looks blocky as though it were created in the Minecraft universe

Jul 24

9:00 pm - 11:00 pm

SC Beach Boardwalk: Free Minecraft Movie on the Beach

Santa Cruz

FREE

Jul 25

All day

SC Beach Boardwalk: National Carousel Day

Santa Cruz

Jul 25

Multiple Event Dates

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cabrillo College: Aptos Farmers Market

Aptos

Jul 25

Multiple Event Dates

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Scotts Valley: Farmers Market

Scotts Valley

FREE

Jul 25

Multiple Event Dates

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Westside Santa Cruz: Farmers Market

Santa Cruz

Jul 25

Multiple Event Dates

10:30 am - 5:30 pm

Noble Harvest Farm: Lavender U-Pick

Aptos

Jul 25

Multiple Event Dates

11:00 am - 1:30 pm

Wilder Ranch State Park: Guided Coastal Nature Walk

Santa Cruz

FREE

Demonstrator showing an owl to an audience

Jul 25

11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Museum of Natural History: Summer Festival

Santa Cruz

FREE

Jul 25

Multiple Event Dates

11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Santa Cruz Harbor: Free Water Taxi

Santa Cruz

FREE

Ariel view of the vineyards and the ranch beyond

Jul 25

Multiple Event Dates

12:00 pm - 12:30 pm

Lester Estate Wines: Guided Hike

Aptos

Jul 25

Multiple Event Dates

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Henry Cowell Redwoods SP: Redwood Grove Guided Walk

Felton

FREE

Shuttle on a tree lined street

Jul 25

Multiple Event Dates

12:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Downtown Santa Cruz: Shuttle to Wharf

Santa Cruz

Jul 25

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Annieglass Craftbar: Color Theory Collage Workshop

Watsonville

Rose wine glasses against a bright blue sky.

Jul 25

Multiple Event Dates

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Nicholson Vineyards: Summer Series

Aptos

An image of a deck with a binoculars and a view of the ocean in the distance.

Jul 25

Multiple Event Dates

8:45 pm - 11:00 pm

Henry Cowell Redwoods SP: Guided Star Walk

Scotts Valley

FREE

Runners on paved road by the beach

Jul 26

All day

Wharf to Wharf Race

Capitola

Jul 26

July 26 - August 9

SC Civic Auditorium: Festival of Contemporary Music

Santa Cruz

Artichokes at the Farmer's Market

Jul 26

Multiple Event Dates

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Live Oak: Farmers Market

Santa Cruz

FREE

Images of board games

Jul 27

Multiple Event Dates

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

The Cruz Room: Hosted Board Game Night

Santa Cruz

FREE

Jul 27

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Bookshop Santa Cruz: History of Suits

Santa Cruz

FREE

Jul 27

Multiple Event Dates

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Abbott Square: Comedy Night

Santa Cruz

FREE

A dragon overshadowing characters

Jul 27

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Audrey Stanley Grove: Shakespearian Actors Play Live DnD

Santa Cruz

Jul 28

Multiple Event Dates

1:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Felton: Farmers Market

Felton

FREE

Jul 28

Multiple Event Dates

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Audrey Stanley Grove: Live Drama in the Redwoods

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Wharf Summer Concert

Jul 28

Multiple Event Dates

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Santa Cruz Wharf: Live Concert Series

Santa Cruz

FREE

Jul 28

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Santa Cruz Civic Center: Cabrillo Festival Performance

Santa Cruz

FREE

Jul 29

Multiple Event Dates

12:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Downtown Santa Cruz: Farmers Market

Santa Cruz

Jul 29

Multiple Event Dates

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Capitola: Summer Twilight Concerts

Capitola

FREE

Jul 29

Multiple Event Dates

6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Santa Cruz: Wednesday Night Sailboat Races

Santa Cruz

FREE

Jul 29

Multiple Event Dates

6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Abbott Square: Trivia Night

Santa Cruz

FREE

images of mushroom dishes

Jul 30

Multiple Event Dates

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Far West Fungi: Myco-Mixer

Santa Cruz

FREE

Jul 30

Multiple Event Dates

5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Crow’s Nest: Free Beach BBQ Parties and Concerts

Santa Cruz

FREE

Jul 30

Multiple Event Dates

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Bargetto Winery: Music in the Courtyard

Soquel

FREE

Family in lawn chairs watching an outdoor screen with twinkle lights

Jul 30

Multiple Event Dates

8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Seabright Ave: Free Outdoor Movie Night

Santa Cruz

FREE

Jul 30

Multiple Event Dates

8:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Free Live Music

Santa Cruz

FREE

Jul 31

Multiple Event Dates

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Wilder Ranch State Park: Guided Coastal Birding Walk

Santa Cruz

FREE

Tahitian dancers performing in front of a sunset overlooking the ocean with an audience around tables.

Jul 31

July 31 @ 12:00 pm - August 1 @ 6:00 pm PDT

County Fairgrounds: Aloha Music and Arts Festival

Watsonville

FREE

Jul 31

Multiple Event Dates

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Skypark: Food Truck Friday

Scotts Valley

Jul 31

Multiple Event Dates

6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Santa Cruz Boardwalk: Summer Luau

Santa Cruz

Movie characters resting with flying dinosaurs in the sunset over the ocean

Jul 31

9:00 pm - 11:00 pm

SC Beach Boardwalk: Free Jurassic Park on the Beach

Santa Cruz

FREE

Arranged flowers in vases and local tote bags arranged beautifully

Aug 1

Multiple Event Dates

10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Ben Lomond County Park: Village Market

Ben Lomond

FREE

People enjoying the outdoor lawn for the fair

Aug 1

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

La Selva Beach: Books and Brews Summer Fair

La Selva Beach

FREE

Aug 1

Multiple Event Dates

11:00 am - 12:15 pm

UCSC Arboretum: First Saturday Tours

Santa Cruz

People dressed with strawberries, a strawberry pike and a contest

Aug 1

August 1 @ 11:00 am - August 2 @ 7:00 pm PDT

Annual Watsonville Strawberry Festival

Watsonville

FREE

Aug 1

Multiple Event Dates

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Annieglass Craftbar: Glass Coasters Workshop

Watsonville

Band on a festival stage with crowds and a caboose enjoying the sunshine

Aug 1

1:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Roaring Camp Railroads: Brewgrass Festival

Felton

Art supplies on a table beneath a forest canopy

Aug 2

Multiple Event Dates

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Chaminade Resort and Spa: Nature Journaling

Santa Cruz

Aug 2

Multiple Event Dates

10:30 am - 2:00 pm

Castro Adobe State Historic Park: Open House

Watsonville

FREE

Illustrated depiction of the expedition with folks on horseback and walking through California hills.

Aug 2

10:30 am - 3:00 pm

Castro Adobe: Anza 250th Anniversary Celebration

Watsonville

FREE

Old timey images from Scotts Valley

Aug 2

10:30 am - 5:00 pm

Skypark: Scotts Valley 60th Celebration

Scotts Valley

FREE

Aug 2

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

SC Civic Auditorium: Free Family Orchestral Concert

Santa Cruz

FREE

Home made crazy kazoo

Aug 6

August 6 @ 5:45 pm - August 9 @ 7:30 pm PDT

Abbott Square: Jug Band Festival

Santa Cruz

FREE

Cartoon balloons and carnival decorations

Aug 7

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Downtown Boulder Creek: Summer Carnival

Boulder Creek

FREE

Aug 7

Multiple Event Dates

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

First Friday Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

FREE

A view of giant kelp from the sea floor

Aug 7

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Museum of Natural History: Seaweed Summer

Santa Cruz

FREE

Aug 7

9:00 pm - 11:00 pm

SC Beach Boardwalk: Movie on the Beach “The Goonies”

Santa Cruz

FREE

Plankton in a microscope

Aug 8

9:30 am - 1:00 pm

Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center: Plankton Walk

Santa Cruz

Aug 8

Multiple Event Dates

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Sandhills Tour

Scotts Valley

FREE

A turtle peeking out of a pond in Felton

Aug 8

11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Loch Lomond: Turtle Loch Walk

Felton

FREE

pontoon group boat at a dock with redwoods in the background

Aug 8

Multiple Event Dates

August 8 @ 11:00 am - August 9 @ 12:00 pm PDT

Loch Lomond Recreation Area: Boat Tours

Felton

FREE

Aug 8

Multiple Event Dates

11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Roberts Ranch Vineyards: Wine & Déjeuner d’Ouvrier

Ben Lomond

Aug 8

Multiple Event Dates

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Roberts Ranch: Wine Tasting and Crushpad Concert

Ben Lomond

Aug 8

3:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Santa Cruz Civic Center: Youth Festival Performance

Santa Cruz

FREE

Cartoon outlines of country line dancers

Aug 8

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Ben Lomond Park Hall: Country Line Dancing

Ben Lomond

Aug 8

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium: Music Exploring Control

Santa Cruz

Athletes on the beach ready to start the Santa Cruz Triathlon

Aug 9

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tri Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

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

Aug 9

Multiple Event Dates

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Downtown Santa Cruz: Antiques Faire

Santa Cruz

Aug 9

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

SC Civic Auditorium: Music Festival Grand Finale

Santa Cruz

Aug 11

August 11 @ 6:00 pm - September 17 @ 8:00 pm PDT

M. K Art Gallery: Confluence

Santa Cruz

FREE

Aug 14

August 14 @ 9:00 am - August 15 @ 5:00 pm PDT

Roaring Camp: Blacksmith Hammer In

Felton

FREE

A view of the vineyards from the concert set up area

Aug 14

Multiple Event Dates

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Lester Estate Wines: Summer Sundowner Concerts

Aptos

Ant of Atmosphere screaming into the crowd with lights behind him

Aug 14

6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Quarry Amphitheater: Atmosphere

Santa Cruz

Aug 15

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Henry Cowell Redwoods SP: Basket Weaving Workshop

Felton

FREE

Cars at Scotts Valley Art & Wine Beer Festival

Aug 15

August 15 @ 10:00 am - August 16 @ 5:00 pm PDT

Scotts Valley: Art, Wine, and Beer Festival

Scotts Valley

FREE

Golden retriever in the pool at Simkins

Aug 15

11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Simpkins Swim: Parks and Rex Pool Party

Santa Cruz

Ani playing an acoustic guitar.

Aug 15

8:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Santa Cruz Civic Center: Ani DiFranco

Santa Cruz

Aug 16

All day

SC Beach Boardwalk: National Roller Coaster Day

Santa Cruz

Makers Market flyer for Downtown Santa Cruz

Aug 16

Multiple Event Dates

10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Downtown Santa Cruz: Makers Market

Santa Cruz

FREE

Aug 17

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Bookshop Santa Cruz: Family Vacation Mystery Reading

Santa Cruz

FREE

Aug 19

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Bookshop Santa Cruz: Steve Hawk

Santa Cruz

FREE

A group of people in the redwood forest

Aug 22

Multiple Event Dates

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Chaminade Resort and Spa: Forest Therapy

Santa Cruz

Aug 22

Multiple Event Dates

5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Roaring Camp Railroads: Starlight Evening Dinner Party

Felton

Steam train at Roaring Camp for their Moonlight Train Dinner Party

Aug 22

Multiple Event Dates

5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Roaring Camp Railroads: Moonlight Train Dinner Party

Felton

Aug 26

Multiple Event Dates

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Esplanade Park: Dueling Pianos

Capitola

FREE

Aug 28

7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Esplanade Park: Free Zootopia 2 at the Beach

Capitola

FREE

A crowd of people eating at long tables in a farm field with the ocean in the background.

Aug 29

4:00 pm - 9:00 pm

UCSC: Farm to Fork Dinner

Santa Cruz

Flyer to promote the event "Pawsh Retreat"

Aug 30

12:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Chaminade Resort and Spa: Pawsh Retreat

Santa Cruz

FREE

Aug 31

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Audrey Stanley Grove: Rockapella

Santa Cruz

Sep 3

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Bookshop Santa Cruz: Lives of Buddhist Women

Santa Cruz

FREE

Cut-out cartoon style shops and carts

Sep 4

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Downtown Boulder Creek: Block Party

Boulder Creek

FREE

Sep 4

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Rio Theatre: Ocean Film Festival World Tour

Santa Cruz

Sep 4

7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Esplanade Park: Free Minecraft Movie at the Beach

Capitola

FREE

Two food bloggers with camera lights and audio equipment around them smiling and pointing at a gigantic burger on a plate.

Sep 5

11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Hwy 17 Studios: All Star Food Fest

Santa Cruz

FREE

Public Image Ltd. band photo

Sep 5

8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Rio Theatre: Public Image Ltd.

Santa Cruz

athletes on a beach

Sep 12

7:00 am - 6:00 pm

Moran Lake Beach: Pro Skimboarding Competition

Santa Cruz

FREE

Sep 12

9:00 am - 11:00 am

Loch Lomond: Fall Birding Loch Walk

Felton

FREE

View of Capitola Village and beach from beach steps. Photographed by Daniel Gorostieta

Sep 12

September 12 @ 10:00 am - September 13 @ 5:00 pm PDT

43rd Annual Capitola Art & Wine Festival

Capitola

FREE

Beer steins and pretzels

Sep 12

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

SC Beach Boardwalk: Octoberfest

Santa Cruz

Sep 13

All day

Ironman 70.3

Santa Cruz

People shaka waving while holding drinks and plates of food on a sailboat

Sep 13

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Chardonnay Charters: Luau Sail

Santa Cruz

he band with an orange background

Sep 14

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Audrey Stanley Grove: Surf City All-Stars

Santa Cruz

Aerial view of the Santa Cruz County Fair

Sep 16

September 16 @ 12:00 pm - September 20 @ 10:00 pm PDT

Santa Cruz County Fair

Watsonville

Sep 18

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Chaminade Resort and Spa: Moon Dinner

Santa Cruz

Flyer with individuals on an outrigger during the Santa Cruz Wharf Outrigger Race

Sep 19

8:00 am - 2:00 pm

Santa Cruz Wharf: 34th Annual Aloha Outrigger Races

Santa Cruz

Sep 19

2:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Bonny Doon: Art Wine and Beer Festival

Santa Cruz

FREE

Cartoon image of classic cars with a steam engine behind them, and flanked by redwood trees

Sep 20

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Roaring Camp: Roarin’ The Redwoods Car Show

Felton

FREE

Country duo standing in front of bright jeep headlights

Sep 25

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Chaminade Resort and Spa: Thompson Square

Santa Cruz

Images of a kid holding up a fish, a kid making a sandcastle, paddleboard racers and evening lighted boats on the water.

Sep 26

September 26 @ 8:00 am - September 27 @ 5:00 pm PDT

Capitola: Beach Festival

Capitola

FREE

Sep 26

11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Soquel: Taste of Soquel Festival

Soquel

Sep 26

12:00 pm - 4:30 pm

SC Beach Boardwalk: Fiesta en la Playa

Santa Cruz

A fancy lady and her fancy dog both dressed as fancy ghosts ready to shop

Oct 2

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Downtown Boulder Creek: Treat Walk

Boulder Creek

FREE

Oct 3

12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Scotts Valley: Multicultural Fair

Scotts Valley

FREE

Two individuals overlooking the ocean with two pelicans flying over

Oct 9

October 9 - October 11

Santa Cruz County: Monterey Bay Festival of Birds

Fighting cage with writing that is within the event written over the image

Oct 9

4:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Kaiser Permanente Arena: Legacy Fighting Alliance

Santa Cruz

A teal poster of the band names with gothic stylized font

Oct 10

6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Quarry Amphitheater: Acid Bath

Santa Cruz

Hiker on a mountain

Oct 10

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Rio Theatre: Banff Film Festival Adventure Night

Santa Cruz

Colorful fireworks coming off the Capitola Wharf, lighting up the colorful Venetians and the ocean

Oct 12

8:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Capitola Wharf: Fireworks Extravaganza

Capitola

FREE

The Del Mar Historical Theatre Marquee with lights showing the opening night of the Santa Cruz Film Festival

Oct 14

October 14 - October 18

Various SC Theaters: Santa Cruz Film Festival 2026

Santa Cruz

Bonnie Raitt, holding a guitar on stage with a Santa Cruz sign behind her

Oct 14

7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Santa Cruz Civic Center: Bonnie Raitt

Santa Cruz

Flyer to promote the Boardwalk Band Review

Oct 17

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

SC Beach Boardwalk: Band Review

Santa Cruz

Oct 17

October 17 @ 11:00 am - October 18 @ 5:00 pm PDT

Open Studios Art Tour: All County

FREE

Oct 17

12:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Downtown Santa Cruz: Halloween Mask Making Festival

Santa Cruz

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

Drone view over the Santa Cruz coastline with a San

Oct 25

6:00 am - 2:00 pm

Santa Cruz Marathon

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

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

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

Oct 31

4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Santa Cruz Harbor: Trick-Or-Treat

Santa Cruz

FREE

Nov 6

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Downtown Boulder Creek: Giving Thanks Party

Boulder Creek

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 15

11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Hotel Paradox: Beach Please Fair

Santa Cruz

FREE

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

Nov 24

Multiple Event Dates

November 24 - November 26

Santa Cruz County: King Tides

Nov 26

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

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Winter Wonderland

Santa Cruz

FREE

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

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

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

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

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