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Annual Events in Santa Cruz County
There's always something happening in Santa Cruz! No matter what time of year you visit us, you can enjoy events featuring the natural beauty, arts, food, history, and wine of Santa Cruz County. Below is just a sampling of annual Santa Cruz events and things to do in the Santa Cruz area.
JANUARY
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Don't miss the approximately 20,000 gray whales as they pass by Santa Cruz on their annual migration between the Bering Sea in Alaska and Baja California.
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Natural Bridges Park's Monarch Grove provides a temporary home for up to 100,000 Monarchs each winter. From roughly mid-October through mid-February, the Monarchs form a "city in the trees." Visitors can view the over-wintering Monarchs by walking down the park's wheelchair and stroller-accessible boardwalk to an observation deck in the eucalyptus grove.
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Come to Santa Cruz and visit the kingdom of Fungi! Learn about the hundreds of beautiful and fascinating species of local fungi on display in a re-created woodland habitat. This unique Santa Cruz tradition features two days of fantastic fun with fungus for the whole family.
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Surfing America Prime is an invitation-only contest for the very best under-18 shortboard surfers in the mainland United States. Come down to Steamer Lane to check out the next generation of professional surfers.
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Visitors flock to Año Nuevo State Reserve to see the large colony of northern elephant seals that assembles here each winter. So named because of their large size and long pendulous noses on the males. These large animals spend most of their lives at sea, coming ashore only to molt, give birth, and mate.
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Celebrate all things chocolate with the finest vendors of confections that Santa Cruz and the Bay Area have to offer. Enjoy chocolate without the guilt - it's for a good cause!
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The Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association invites you to enjoy the wineries of this extraordinary appellation. Passport wineries open their doors on the third Saturday of January, April, July and November and many pour special wines or barrel samples.
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FEBRUARY
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The Santa Cruz Baroque Festival has been presenting regular concerts since 1974, bringing early music to Santa Cruz and other California audiences in hundreds of concerts. Baroque music opens the world of historic sound, and can lead both musician and audience on countless voyages of musical discovery. Experimenting with "new" ideas about "old" instruments and music, our Festival performers virtually travel through time.
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Are you seeking a unique romantic getaway, a special Valentine experience? On this easy, one-hour walk you’ll learn about the courtship, mating and reproduction behaviors of banana slugs, newts, woodpeckers, redwood trees and more as your guide reveals the mating rituals of some of the park’s most fascinating plants and animals and share stories of singing, dancing and even pre-nuptial gift-giving.
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Join the fun and excitement as talented chefs from throughout the West Coast compete for the glory of the BEST CLAM CHOWDER! More than just a culinary competition, the fun event has featured participants dressed as scuba divers, mermaids, and even as a “Clam Fairy.” Admission is free; visitors may purchase tasting kits to sample the clammy concoctions.
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Up to 25 Santa Cruz winemakers offer exclusive tastes of their wines and then join guests for an intimate gourmet meal in the spectacular setting of the Shadowbrook dining rooms, which are closed to the general public for this very special event.
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Don't miss the approximately 20,000 gray whales as they pass by Santa Cruz on their annual migration between the Bering Sea in Alaska and Baja California.
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Natural Bridges Park's Monarch Grove provides a temporary home for up to 100,000 Monarchs each winter. From roughly mid-October through mid-February, the Monarchs form a "city in the trees." Visitors can view the over-wintering Monarchs by walking down the park's wheelchair and stroller-accessible boardwalk to an observation deck in the eucalyptus grove.
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Visitors flock to Año Nuevo State Reserve to see the large colony of northern elephant seals that assembles here each winter. So named because of their large size and long pendulous noses on the males. These large animals spend most of their lives at sea, coming ashore only to molt, give birth, and mate.
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MARCH
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The largest paddle powered surf contest in the world, attracting some of the best paddle-powered wave magicians on the planet. Spectators can view the international champions do their magic on giant waves virtually in front them at Steamer Lane.
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Join the Santa Cruz County Symphony and the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre to experience the different instruments and sections of the orchestra in this annual concert designed to entertain young and old alike.
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Visitors flock to Año Nuevo State Reserve to see the large colony of northern elephant seals that assembles here each winter. So named because of their large size and long pendulous noses on the males. These large animals spend most of their lives at sea, coming ashore only to molt, give birth, and mate.
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Don't miss the approximately 20,000 gray whales as they pass by Santa Cruz on their annual migration between the Bering Sea in Alaska and Baja California.
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The Santa Cruz Baroque Festival has been presenting regular concerts since 1974, bringing early music to Santa Cruz and other California audiences in hundreds of concerts. Baroque music opens the world of historic sound, and can lead both musician and audience on countless voyages of musical discovery. Experimenting with "new" ideas about "old" instruments and music, our Festival performers virtually travel through time.
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APRIL
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The Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association invites you to enjoy the wineries of this extraordinary appellation. Passport wineries open their doors on the third Saturday of January, April, July and November and many pour special wines or barrel samples.
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The Santa Cruz Half Marathon consists of a 13.1-mile run/walk past breathtaking vistas of the Pacific coastline, through strawberry fields, past historic farm buildings, past incredible views of the rugged ocean bluffs, and back to the finish line festivities on Cowell's Beach.
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National Dance Week Santa Cruz is an annual centerpiece of the local dance repertoire, showcasing all forms of dance throughout the county with accessible performances, public exhibitions and free classes.
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A fun-filled day of activities with food, carnival games, live music, local entertainment and the highlight of the day: The racing of 10,000 rubber ducks down a man made waterway. Admission is free.
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The Santa Cruz Baroque Festival has been presenting regular concerts since 1974, bringing early music to Santa Cruz and other California audiences in hundreds of concerts. Baroque music opens the world of historic sound, and can lead both musician and audience on countless voyages of musical discovery. Experimenting with "new" ideas about "old" instruments and music, our Festival performers virtually travel through time.
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MAY
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A weekend of music in beautiful Aptos Village Park, featuring debuts of new groups, extra-long sets by performers, food, beer, wine. Fun for the entire family in beautiful surroundings.
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Santa Cruz Greek Festival lovers pack the streets at Center and Church Street all weekend while enjoying authentic Greek food and desserts, live Greek music, dancing, gifts and crafts, and a rock climbing wall for the kids! Over 30 years the Santa Cruz Greek Festival has grown from a small affair in our courtyard, to a huge block party alive with the sounds of live Greek Bouzouki music and the smells of delicious Greek specialties.
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The Santa Cruz Baroque Festival has been presenting regular concerts since 1974, bringing early music to Santa Cruz and other California audiences in hundreds of concerts. Baroque music opens the world of historic sound, and can lead both musician and audience on countless voyages of musical discovery. Experimenting with "new" ideas about "old" instruments and music, our Festival performers virtually travel through time.
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JUNE
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Santa Cruz Woodies puts on the famous "Woodies on the Wharf" each year in June. This event draws over 200 woodies, activities, and more, displayed in one of the most picturesque places on earth.
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Explore the History, Myth, & Legend of 16th century Scotland! Entertainment, music, arts, crafts, activities, games, food, ale, and more. Something for the whole family!
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Come to the Santa Cruz Harbor to watch this unofficial weekly spectacle of sailboats racing against the backdrop of the setting sun every week all summer long.
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Learn more about the diverse arts, craft, music, food, and culture of Japan in this popular, long-running festival.
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JULY
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Santa Cruz County is a great place to spend Independence Day! You can fill your morning with parades and pancake breakfasts at locations around the county and finish the day with a world-class fireworks show at Skypark. Have a fun and safe Santa Cruz 4th of July!
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The Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association invites you to enjoy the wineries of this extraordinary appellation. Passport wineries open their doors on the third Saturday of January, April, July and November and many pour special wines or barrel samples.
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Shakespeare Santa Cruz is a professional repertory company in residence at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The Festival is held annually in July and August at UC Santa Cruz. Plays are held indoors on the UCSC Theatre Arts Mainstage and outdoors among the redwoods in the beautiful Festival Glen.
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Come to the Santa Cruz Harbor to watch this unofficial weekly spectacle of sailboats racing against the backdrop of the setting sun every week all summer long.
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Outdoor painting in Scenic Santa Cruz County features local artists and guest artists painting “en plein air” at the Museum of Art & History.
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Thousands of runners from across America and around the globe return to Santa Cruz, California for the annual six-mile race to Capitola-by-the-Sea.
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AUGUST
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Shakespeare Santa Cruz is a professional repertory company in residence at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The Festival is held annually in July and August at UC Santa Cruz. Plays are held indoors on the UCSC Theatre Arts Mainstage and outdoors among the redwoods in the beautiful Festival Glen.
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Come to historic downtown Watsonville to enjoy delicious food, exciting carnival rides, wonderful entertainment and, of course, tasty strawberry treats.
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Designed especially for novice paddlers, the Celebrity Races are a chance to discover the excitement of outrigger canoe racing. The Polynesian Festival follows with a taste of the tropics- fresh flower leis, Hawaiian shaved ice, Maori face painting, print making and dance performances.
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The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, even at a seasoned 48 years old itself, is all about the new—the here and now of contemporary works for orchestra. During the first two weeks of August each year, audiences are joined by both preeminent and emerging composers, an orchestra of dedicated professional musicians led by famed conductor Marin Alsop, and renowned guest artists from across the globe to give voice to works which are rarely more than a year or two old.
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Come to the Santa Cruz Harbor to watch this unofficial weekly spectacle of sailboats racing against the backdrop of the setting sun every week all summer long.
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SEPTEMBER
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This annual festival features a whole weekend of celebrations, featuring a sand castle contest, float construction viewing, a concert, a movie on the beach, and the annual nautical parade, with begonia-covered barges floating down Soquel creek.
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Celebrate Labor Day Weekend at Watsonville’s 46th Annual Fly-in & Air Show. Enjoy chills and thrills by the dozen and delight your senses. There is something for everyone in the family to enjoy.
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The Capitola Art & Wine Festival combines Art, Wine, Music & Food all in Capitola Village by the Sea.
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The Big Kahuna starts and finishes near the historic Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz, CA. The courses are almost entirely coastal with breathtaking views of the rugged California coast, lighthouses and a dramatic finish at the main stage of the Beach Boardwalk.
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Whether you attend to enjoy the exhibits, food, and entertainment, or take part in the competition, fair memories last a lifetime. The Santa Cruz County faire features games, rides, displays, and livestock, It is a great event for the whole family.
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The Santa Cruz Follies is a large cast of talented performers — all 50 years and older — who puts on an original musical revue of song and dance. Our annual theatrical event has continued to attract dynamic and talented performers since 1955. The show is a two hour variety presentation of the talents and theatrical skills of members of this prestigious organization.
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Thunderbirds on the Wharf features the classic 1955-1957 and the 1958-1965 vintage Thunderbirds. Each year about 100 Thunderbirds and hundreds of people participate in the show. Spectators from throughout the area come to view the classic Thunderbirds, join in the events, and participate in the raffles.
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A self-guided tour of magical gardens in Santa Cruz, plus mini lectures on a variety of topics, raffles, plant sales, art gallery, book sale, and more.
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Designed for birders of all levels, as well as outdoor lovers, the festival offers a unique opportunity to explore, learn and appreciate world-class habitats such as the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, and Pinnacles National Monument. You’ll be able to go to outings in the mountains, shoreline, chaparral, sloughs and grasslands.
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Santa Cruz Triathlon is a non-profit event with a 1.5K swim around the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, a 40K bike ride along the coast, and a run along beautiful West Cliff Drive. The race proceeds benefit the Santa Cruz community.
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OCTOBER
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The Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County's Open Studios Art Tour takes place the first three weekends in October. From the redwoods to the sea, thousands of art enthusiasts visit with artists in their studios to see the creative process at work.
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There’s something for everyone at family-friendly Santa Cruz Oktoberfest: food, music, a drawing for cash prizes, silent and live auctions to benefit Hospice of Santa Cruz County. Admission is free.
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Come to the biggest, best beach party on the central coast! A wonderful family event featuring over 50 game and food booths, live entertainment and a fireworks display at Seacliff State Beach in Aptos.
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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!
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This is a family and children's Halloween event! Relive “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” this Halloween at Roaring Camp as you ride vintage railway cars through a Redwood forest. Named one of the Top 10 Halloween events by USA Today. Costumed actors re-enact scenes from the story as it's narrated during the one-hour and fifteen minute ride. Designed for young children and the young-at-heart, the event is a light and lively adaptation of the famous tale. A haunted house, games and costume contests add to the festivities.
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Natural Bridges Park’s Monarch Grove provides a temporary home for up to 100,000 Monarchs each winter. From roughly mid-October through mid-February, the Monarchs form a "city in the trees." Visitors can view the over-wintering Monarchs by walking down the park's wheelchair and stroller-accessible boardwalk to an observation deck in the eucalyptus grove.
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The Pacific Rim Film Festival features free American debut showings of films from countries such as Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Japan, China, Mexico, the Philippines and New Zealand. Begins second weekend in October at the Del Mar Theatre and Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz.
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Come to the Santa Cruz Harbor to watch this unofficial weekly spectacle of sailboats racing against the backdrop of the setting sun every week all summer long.
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This quintessential surf competition at Steamer's Lane in Santa Cruz blends adventure, exploration, surf, and competition.
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NOVEMBER
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The Santa Cruz Film Festival, an annual celebration of independent cinema and culture in California’s Greater Monterey Bay area, features more than 100 independent films and videos screening across downtown Santa Cruz.
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Natural Bridges Park’s Monarch Grove provides a temporary home for up to 100,000 Monarchs each winter. From roughly mid-October through mid-February, the Monarchs form a "city in the trees." Visitors can view the over-wintering Monarchs by walking down the park's wheelchair and stroller-accessible boardwalk to an observation deck in the eucalyptus grove.
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The Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association invites you to enjoy the wineries of this extraordinary appellation. Passport wineries open their doors on the third Saturday of January, April, July and November and many pour special wines or barrel samples.
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The Santa Cruz Association of REALTORS Housing Foundation holds this annual event at the Cocoanut Grove Grand Ballroom in Santa Cruz. Some of the best restaurants and wineries in Santa Cruz County offer samplings of delectable food and exquisite wines, and silent and live auctions make holiday shopping a snap.
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DECEMBER
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Sponsored by the Santa Cruz Yacht Club and including a canned food drive benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank, the Lighted Boat Parade features 50 beautifully-decorated power and sailboats parading through the Santa Cruz Harbor. Charter boats available. This is a family event with hot drinks and snacks available at various locations through the south harbor.
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Natural Bridges Park’s Monarch Grove provides a temporary home for up to 100,000 Monarchs each winter. From roughly mid-October through mid-February, the Monarchs form a "city in the trees." Visitors can view the over-wintering Monarchs by walking down the park's wheelchair and stroller-accessible boardwalk to an observation deck in the eucalyptus grove.
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Ride vintage excursion cars, adorned with thousands of colorful lights, as they roll through city streets past homes of Santa Cruz. Sing along to seasonal carols while sipping hot-spiced cider, listen to musical entertainment, and enjoy a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
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Visitors flock to Año Nuevo State Reserve to see the large colony of northern elephant seals that assembles here each winter. So named because of their large size and long pendulous noses on the males. These large animals spend most of their lives at sea, coming ashore only to molt, give birth, and mate.
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Enjoy this holiday classic, starring Guest Artists and alumni Melody Herrera and Lucien Postlewaite, with Conductor John Larry Granger and the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre Orchestra.
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Don't miss the approximately 20,000 gray whales as they pass by Santa Cruz on their annual migration between the Bering Sea in Alaska and Baja California.
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Look for the Chamber decal
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For more than 120 years, Santa Cruz Chamber members have been committed to improving our community for everyone who visits, works, or lives in Santa Cruz County.
For a list of local Santa Cruz Chamber member attractions, visit the Attractions section of the Chamber business directory.
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Events this Week and Beyond
For more ideas on what to do while you're in Santa Cruz, view the list of Year-Round Activites in Santa Cruz.
Looking for something to do this month? Check out the Santa Cruz monthly calendar of events»