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Santa Cruz Events

What's happening in Santa Cruz: festivals, concerts, farmers markets and holiday events in Santa Cruz and along the coast.

Category:AllArt & Wine / Food & DrinkArts & CultureFarmers MarketFestivalHoliday & SeasonalMarket / BazaarMusic & ConcertsSportsStreet Fair / Open Streets

55 events

Capitola Plein Air

Capitola Plein Air

Capitola Village and Esplanade Park, Santa Cruz
Nov 2-8, 2026; Quick Paint Sat Nov 7 at Esplanade Park; exhibition and sale details TBD
Mi Casa es Tu Casa: Paths of Remembrance

Mi Casa es Tu Casa: Paths of Remembrance

Pajaro Valley Arts, Santa Cruz
Oct 27 to Dec 7, Tuesday to Saturday 11am-4pm; opening reception Sun Nov 1, 12-3pm
Santa Cruz Sea Glass & Ocean Art Festival

Santa Cruz Sea Glass & Ocean Art Festival

The Grove event center, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz
Sat-Sun Nov 7-8, 2026, 10 AM-5 PM
UC Santa Cruz Women's Basketball Home Opener

UC Santa Cruz Women's Basketball Home Opener

UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz
Sat Nov 7, 2026, 1:00 PM vs. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
UC Santa Cruz Men's Basketball Home Opener

UC Santa Cruz Men's Basketball Home Opener

UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz
Fri Nov 13, 2026, 3:00 PM vs. Lewis & Clark
La Selva Beach Holiday Fair

La Selva Beach Holiday Fair

La Selva Beach Clubhouse, Santa Cruz
Sat Nov 14, 2026, 10 AM-4 PM
Downtown Santa Cruz Fall Wine Walk

Downtown Santa Cruz Fall Wine Walk

Santa Cruz
Sun Nov 15, 2026, 2 PM to 5 PM; check-in at Oswald Restaurant, 121 Soquel Ave, 1:30 to 3:30 PM
Coney Island Christmas (Mountain Community Theater)

Coney Island Christmas (Mountain Community Theater)

Park Hall, Santa Cruz
Nov 20 - Dec 13, 2026; showtimes TBD
Cruz Holiday Lights Train

Cruz Holiday Lights Train

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (in front of the Merry-Go-Round), Santa Cruz
Nov 27-28, Dec 5-6 and Dec 12-23; departures 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM (60-minute round trip)
Farley's Christmas Wonderland

Farley's Christmas Wonderland

Farley's Christmas Wonderland, Santa Cruz
Nightly Nov 27, 2026 - Jan 1, 2027, 5:30-8:30 PM (later just before Christmas; closed when raining)
Holiday Tree Walk at Roaring Camp

Holiday Tree Walk at Roaring Camp

Roaring Camp Railroads, Santa Cruz
Nov 27-29, Dec 5-6, 12-13 and 19-23, 2026; times TBD
Sparky's Holiday Lights

Sparky's Holiday Lights

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Santa Cruz
Select dates Nov 27–Dec 24, 2026; nightly hours TBD
Santa Cruz Mountains Holiday Makers Market

Santa Cruz Mountains Holiday Makers Market

Felton Community Hall, Santa Cruz
Sat, Nov 28, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Ben Lomond Tree Lighting

Ben Lomond Tree Lighting

Ben Lomond County Park, Santa Cruz
Sun Nov 29, 2026, 4:30-7 PM
A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland (Santa Cruz)

A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland (Santa Cruz)

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz
Wed Dec 2, 2026, 7:30-10 PM (doors 6 PM)
A Christmas Carol (Santa Cruz Shakespeare)

A Christmas Carol (Santa Cruz Shakespeare)

Veterans Memorial Hall, Santa Cruz
Dec 3-24, 2026 (preview Dec 3, opens Dec 4); most shows at 2 PM and/or 7 PM; Dec 24 at 11 AM, 2 PM and 6 PM
Come From Away (Renegade Theater Co.)

Come From Away (Renegade Theater Co.)

London Nelson Community Center, Santa Cruz
Dec 4-19, 2026; showtimes TBD
Heritage Holiday Craft & Gift Fair

Heritage Holiday Craft & Gift Fair

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Santa Cruz
Fri-Sat Dec 4-5, 2026, noon-9 PM
Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade

Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade

Downtown Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz
Sat Dec 5, 2026, 10 AM
Santa Cruz Harbor Lighted Boat Parade

Santa Cruz Harbor Lighted Boat Parade

Santa Cruz Harbor, Santa Cruz
Sat Dec 5, 2026, 5:30 PM (rain or shine)
Watsonville Holiday Factory Sale

Watsonville Holiday Factory Sale

El Pájaro CDC Kitchen Incubator and participating locations, Santa Cruz
Sat, Dec 5, 2026, 9 AM to 4 PM
Hallcrest Vineyards Holiday Market

Hallcrest Vineyards Holiday Market

Hallcrest Vineyards, Santa Cruz
Sun Dec 6, 2026
Noche de Brillo

Noche de Brillo

Downtown Watsonville, Santa Cruz
Sun Dec 6, 2026; times TBD
Isaiah J. Thompson: A Guaraldi Holiday

Isaiah J. Thompson: A Guaraldi Holiday

Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz
Tue Dec 8, 2026, 7 PM (doors 6 PM)
Chanukah Train

Chanukah Train

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz
Thu Dec 10, 2026, 5:00 PM
Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Salsa Navidad

Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Salsa Navidad

Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz
Thu Dec 10, 2026, 7 PM and 9 PM (doors and dinner 6 PM for the 7 PM show)
Christmas Celebrations at Mount Hermon

Christmas Celebrations at Mount Hermon

Mount Hermon Conference Center, Santa Cruz
Dec 11-13 and Dec 18-19, 2026; concerts Fri-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2:30 PM; buffet Fri-Sat 5-6:30 PM, Sun 11:30 AM-1 PM; craft boutique Fri-Sat 1:30-7:30 PM, Sun 11 AM-3 PM
The Naughty List Holiday Pub Crawl

The Naughty List Holiday Pub Crawl

Downtown Santa Cruz bars (check-in: Downtown Info Kiosk), Santa Cruz
Fri Dec 11, 2026, 6-9 PM; check-in at the Downtown Info Kiosk
How The Grouch Stole Christmas Tour

How The Grouch Stole Christmas Tour

The Catalyst, Santa Cruz
Sat Dec 12, 2026, 9 PM (doors 8 PM)
Tannery Winter Art Market

Tannery Winter Art Market

Tannery Arts Center, Santa Cruz
Sat Dec 12, 2026, 10 AM-5 PM
Holiday Market at Felton Covered Bridge Park

Holiday Market at Felton Covered Bridge Park

Felton Covered Bridge Park, Santa Cruz
Sun, Dec 13, 2026; hours not posted yet
Tomáseen Foley's A Celtic Christmas (Santa Cruz)

Tomáseen Foley's A Celtic Christmas (Santa Cruz)

UCSC Music Center Recital Hall, Santa Cruz
Thu Dec 17, 2026, 7:30 PM
Krampus Celebration at The 418 Project

Krampus Celebration at The 418 Project

The 418 Project (Large Theater), Santa Cruz
Sat Dec 19, 2026, 6-9 PM
Nutcracker: Experience the Magic (Santa Cruz City Ballet)

Nutcracker: Experience the Magic (Santa Cruz City Ballet)

Crocker Theater, Cabrillo College, Santa Cruz
Sat-Sun, Dec 19-20, 2026, 1 PM and 4:30 PM each day
The Nutcracker (Santa Cruz Dance Theater)

The Nutcracker (Santa Cruz Dance Theater)

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz
Sat-Sun, Dec 19-20, 2026, two performances each day; showtimes not posted yet
Hotel Paradox Holiday Market

Hotel Paradox Holiday Market

Hotel Paradox, Santa Cruz
Sun Dec 20, 2026, 11 AM-5 PM
Boulder Creek Reindeer Run

Boulder Creek Reindeer Run

Junction Park, Santa Cruz
Thu Dec 24, 2026, 9 AM to noon
New Year's Train

New Year's Train

Roaring Camp Railroads, Santa Cruz
Dec 26-31, 2026; times TBD
Santa Cruz Fungus Fair

Santa Cruz Fungus Fair

Santa Cruz
Fri-Sun Jan 8-10, 2027; hours TBD
8 Tens @ Eight Festival

8 Tens @ Eight Festival

Santa Cruz
Jan 15-Feb 14, 2027; performance times TBD
Aptos Farmers Market

Aptos Farmers Market

Cabrillo College, Santa Cruz
Every Saturday, 8 AM to 12 PM, year-round
Candlelight Concerts (Fever)

Candlelight Concerts (Fever)

Venues across San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland (e.g. St. Ignatius Church, Temple Emanu-El, Brava Theater, Fairmont San Francisco), All Bay Area
Year-round; many dates each month. See the organizer's calendar for shows and venues.
Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still

Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still

Institute of the Arts and Sciences, UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz
Oct 2, 2026 to Mar 7, 2027; Wednesday to Sunday, 12-5 PM (closed Monday and Tuesday)
Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers Market

Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers Market

Cedar St & Church St, Santa Cruz
Every Wednesday, 12:30 PM to 5 PM, year-round
First Friday Boulder Creek

First Friday Boulder Creek

Downtown Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz
First Friday of the month, 5 PM - 8 PM, April - December
First Friday Santa Cruz Art Tour

First Friday Santa Cruz Art Tour

Galleries and art spaces countywide (Downtown Santa Cruz hub), Santa Cruz
Year-round · First Friday of every month, evenings (hours vary by venue, typically 5 PM to 8 PM)
High Score: Vintage Arcade and Midway Games

High Score: Vintage Arcade and Midway Games

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz
Oct – Jan · Mon 9 AM-1 PM; Thu-Fri 12-8 PM; Sat-Sun 12-6 PM
Live Oak Farmers Market

Live Oak Farmers Market

15th Ave & East Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz
Every Sunday, 9 AM to 1 PM, year-round
Scotts Valley Farmers Market

Scotts Valley Farmers Market

Graham Plaza, Santa Cruz
Saturdays, 8 AM - 12 PM, May 2 - November 21
Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá

Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez: Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá

Institute of the Arts and Sciences, UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz
Oct – Mar · Wednesday - Sunday, 12 PM - 5 PM (closed Monday and Tuesday)
Westside Santa Cruz Farmers Market

Westside Santa Cruz Farmers Market

Mission St. Extension and Western Drive, Santa Cruz
Every Saturday, 9 AM to 1 PM, year-round
UC Santa Cruz Women's Basketball 2026-27 Season

UC Santa Cruz Women's Basketball 2026-27 Season

UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz
Home games Nov 7, 2026 – Feb 9, 2027, plus the C2C conference tournament in Santa Cruz Feb 25–27, 2027; see team schedule
Santa Cruz Warriors 2026-27 Season at Kaiser Permanente Arena

Santa Cruz Warriors 2026-27 Season at Kaiser Permanente Arena

Kaiser Permanente Arena, Santa Cruz
Home opener Fri Nov 13, 2026, 7 PM vs. San Diego Clippers; home games through regular-season finale Sat Mar 27, 2027; see team schedule
UC Santa Cruz Men's Basketball 2026-27 Season

UC Santa Cruz Men's Basketball 2026-27 Season

Kaiser Permanente Arena and UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz
Home games Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 23, 2027; see team schedule for dates and times
Winter Wonderland at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Winter Wonderland at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz
2026 dates coming soon