When to Visit Santa Cruz County
With great year-round weather, there's no "best" time to visit Santa Cruz. With a calendar bursting with fun annual events and festivals, plus a climate that's great for enjoying the outdoors all year, Santa Cruz County welcomes visitors all throughout the year. Take a look at the season descriptions below, check out the Santa Cruz County Visitors Center for events and things to do, and pick the time of year that works best for your schedule. Whatever month you select to join us, you'll have a great vacation in Santa Cruz.
With great year-round weather, there's no "best" time to visit Santa Cruz. With a calendar bursting with fun annual events and festivals, plus a climate that's great for enjoying the outdoors all year, Santa Cruz County welcomes visitors all throughout the year. Take a look at the season descriptions below, check out the Santa Cruz County Visitors Center for events and things to do, and pick the time of year that works best for your schedule. Whatever month you select to join us, you'll have a great vacation in Santa Cruz.
Season by Season in Santa Cruz County
Summer
Summer is high season in Santa Cruz County. The beaches are full, outdoor concerts and beach events are in full swing, and most attractions are open every day. Mornings can be foggy in some of Santa Cruz's micro-climates, but the sun usually manages to burn through by the afternoon. Visit the Santa Cruz area in June, July, and August to catch most of the beach and water-focused activities, Don't forget your sunscreen because you probably won't see a drop of rain in Santa Cruz County in the summer.
Summer is high season in Santa Cruz County. The beaches are full, outdoor concerts and beach events are in full swing, and most attractions are open every day. Mornings can be foggy in some of Santa Cruz's micro-climates, but the sun usually manages to burn through by the afternoon. Visit the Santa Cruz area in June, July, and August to catch most of the beach and water-focused activities, Don't forget your sunscreen because you probably won't see a drop of rain in Santa Cruz County in the summer.
Fall
Ask Santa Cruzians, and they'll probably tell you their favorite season is fall in Santa Cruz. The summer visitors have left, the weather is some of the sunniest of the year, and there's tons to do. Join us in September, October, and November to enjoy uncrowded beaches and your choice of events, including the air show, festivals, triathlons, county fair, birding festival, art studio tours, film festival, wine tasting, and more. We usually see our first drops of rain in mid-autumn, so bring a small umbrella, just in case!
Ask Santa Cruzians, and they'll probably tell you their favorite season is fall in Santa Cruz. The summer visitors have left, the weather is some of the sunniest of the year, and there's tons to do. Join us in September, October, and November to enjoy uncrowded beaches and your choice of events, including the air show, festivals, triathlons, county fair, birding festival, art studio tours, film festival, wine tasting, and more. We usually see our first drops of rain in mid-autumn, so bring a small umbrella, just in case!
Winter
Winters in Santa Cruz are mild and are a great time to visit. Even the animals agree: Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles to overwinter in Santa Cruz eucalyptus groves, elephant seals return to north county beaches to spend the winter and find a mate, and visitors come from around the world to enjoy our relatively warm winter. If you're in Santa Cruz in December, January, or February, don't miss the holiday festivities, shopping at county stores and boutiques. It's our rainy season, which brings out the beautiful green on the hillsides, so don't forget an umbrella.
Winters in Santa Cruz are mild and are a great time to visit. Even the animals agree: Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles to overwinter in Santa Cruz eucalyptus groves, elephant seals return to north county beaches to spend the winter and find a mate, and visitors come from around the world to enjoy our relatively warm winter. If you're in Santa Cruz in December, January, or February, don't miss the holiday festivities, shopping at county stores and boutiques. It's our rainy season, which brings out the beautiful green on the hillsides, so don't forget an umbrella.
Spring
Spring comes early in Santa Cruz: daffodils are usually up by the time other parts of the country are still worrying about groundhogs seeing their shadows. By March, April, and May, Santa Cruz County is enjoying warm weather, sunny skies, and lots of outdoor activities. Visit the Santa Cruz area in the springtime to get a jump on summer sunbathing, enjoy the kayak surf festival, go whale watching, go wine tasting, or spend an afternoon at a music festival.
Spring comes early in Santa Cruz: daffodils are usually up by the time other parts of the country are still worrying about groundhogs seeing their shadows. By March, April, and May, Santa Cruz County is enjoying warm weather, sunny skies, and lots of outdoor activities. Visit the Santa Cruz area in the springtime to get a jump on summer sunbathing, enjoy the kayak surf festival, go whale watching, go wine tasting, or spend an afternoon at a music festival.
Climate
Santa Cruz County has many micro climes which can vary in temperature . The mountain regions tend toward cooler winters and hotter summers while Santa Cruz has mild weather throughout the year, enjoying a Mediterranean climate characterized by cool, wet winters and warm, mostly dry summers. Due to its proximity to Monterey Bay, fog and low overcast are common during the night and morning hours, especially in the summer.
Santa Cruz County has many micro climes which can vary in temperature . The mountain regions tend toward cooler winters and hotter summers while Santa Cruz has mild weather throughout the year, enjoying a Mediterranean climate characterized by cool, wet winters and warm, mostly dry summers. Due to its proximity to Monterey Bay, fog and low overcast are common during the night and morning hours, especially in the summer.
