Oct
8
Girls Who Code is a nation-wide organization dedicated to teaching girls not only the language and skills of coding, but about finding their confidence, learningβ¦
Santa Cruz Scene: What's happening in Santa Cruz County
From the waves to the redwoods, it's all happening here.
Santa Cruz Scene (santacruzscene.com) is a free daily calendar of in-person events across Santa Cruz County, California.
See what's on this weekend βIn-person only, on purpose. Everything here is something you can actually show up to. No screens, no streams.
β Featured this season
β
Featured Event
Fri, Oct 9, 2026 Β· 7:00 PM
The Kick Off - Sonivore Listening Lounge
π Sonivore Β· Downtown Santa Cruz Β· $25
THE KICK OFF is a one-night fundraiser for the Sonivore Listening Lounge at 701 Front Street. DJs, live performances, visual art by Made Fresh Crewβ¦
Art & Culture
Music
π Downtown Santa Cruz
Details β
β
Featured
Thu, Oct 8, 2026 Β· UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
Afrobeats Nite at the IAS
Join us for a night of dancing, joy, and community organized by Afrobeats Nite Santa Cruz featuring DJ Mai Girl and DJ Monk Earl. Inβ¦
Education
π Westside
β
Featured
Sat, Oct 10, 2026 Β· Humble Sea at The Wharf
House on the Wharf
House on the Wharf is a free, all ages afternoon and evening of music, food, and beer at Humble Sea on the Santa Cruz Wharfβ¦
Music
π Beach & Boardwalk
β
Featured
Sat, Oct 10, 2026 Β· Rio Theatre for the Performing Arts
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Adventure Night
Rio Theatre & Sante Adairius Midtown Portal team up to support Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship Join us for the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festivalβ¦
Art & Culture
π Midtown
Coming up
Thu, Oct 8, 2026 Β· The Crepe Place
THE GUITARSONISTS
A live set from The Guitarsonists, bringing blues and R&B to a local stage.
Music
π Midtown
βοΈ Happening today
Thursday, October 8Thursday's got a steady library hum to it: Wings Birth Certificate & Notary Services sets up at the Downtown Branch, while little ones can tumble into Storytime and Stay & Play just down the hall. Up in Scotts Valley, Astrophotography With Keith Kirk makes the case for looking up tonight. If you'd rather ride than read, Roaring Camp Railroads runs its Redwood Forest Steam Train through the San Lorenzo Valley. Cap the day at Discretion Brewing in Soquel, where Blue Lemonade plays starting at 5:30, pint in hand.
54 events on today. No plans required, just go. See the full day β
11:00 AM
See listing
Dual Demons Tech
π The 418 Project
Community
11:00 AM
FREE
Open Studios Preview Exhibition
π m.k. contemporary art gallery
Art & Culture
12:00 PM
FREE
UCSC: Victor βMarka27β Exhibition
π UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
Art & Culture
12:00 PM
FREE
Carlos Motta: When Time Stands Still
π UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
Education
12:00 PM
FREE
Pumpkin Patch & Winter Veggies
π Love Apple Farms
Community
1:00 PM
See listing
Aptos Hybrid Book Discussion Group
π Aptos Branch Library
Community
2:00 PM
See listing
In-person Tech Help @ Boulder Creek
π Boulder Creek Branch Library
Community
2:00 PM
See listing
Mah Jongg Club
π Aptos Branch Library
Community
2:00 PM
FREE
Far West Fungi: Myco-Mixer
π Far West Fungi
Food & Drink
What's happening
Filter by category, date, or area. Everything listed is in person, county-wide.
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Cultural Event
Showing 30 of 2782 upcoming events
Oct
8
Stop by each week for a new creative craft.
Oct
8
Junior Animal Care Team (Ages 11+) Ready to level up your animal skills? If you love animals and want real, hands-on experience, the Junior Animalβ¦
Oct
8
Shingu Arts & Cultural Exchange
π Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
π 4:00 PM β 6:00 PM Β· See listing
Join the City of Santa Cruz Sister Cities for an afternoon celebrating traditional Japanese and Japanese-inspired arts, crafts, and culture! A special delegation of artistsβ¦
Oct
8
A casual tech-themed cafe session where participants can explore digital art tools and doodle with digital pens.
Oct
8
Conversations in EspaΓ±ol - Community club to foster fluency
π Garfield Park Branch Library
π 4:30 PM Β· See listing
This club is designed for intermediate-level participants, so if you're just starting out, you might find it a bit challenging at first.
Oct
8
130th Anniversary Celebration of the Santa Cruz County Law Library
π Santa Cruz
π 4:30 PM β 6:00 PM Β· FREE
Join us for a friendly reception to celebrate 130 years of the Santa Cruz County Law Library!
Oct
8
UCSC: Fall Exhibitions
π UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
π 5:00 PM β 8:00 PM Β· FREE
The Institute of the Arts and Sciences (IAS) is pleased to announce its Fall/Winter season of exhibitions. On view are exhibitions highlighting two artists whoseβ¦
Oct
8
A weekly Congo dance class in Santa Cruz. Participants learn traditional African dance movements in a group setting at The 418 Project.
Oct
8
A dance session centered on Congolese movement, held at a Santa Cruz arts space. For dancers curious to explore rhythm, style, and cultural tradition throughβ¦
Oct
8
Persephone Restaurant Thursday Night Pasta Special
π Persephone Restaurant
π 5:00 PM β 8:30 PM Β· $40
Every Thursday along with our regular menu we offer a prix fixe pasta dinner! Enjoy three courses starting with a fresh farmers market mixed greenβ¦
Oct
8
Bruce H. Jennings in conversation with Mayor Fred Keeley
π UCSC Haybarn
π 5:30 PM β 7:30 PM Β· FREE
Join us and Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley for a conversation with Author Bruce H. Jennings about his new book, Revolutionary Science: The Struggle forβ¦
Oct
8
A live set from The Guitarsonists, bringing blues and R&B to a local stage.
Music
π Midtown
Oct
8
Motion Pacific: Adult Intermediate Modern
π London Nelson Community Center
π 5:30 PM β 7:00 PM Β· See listing
This is Motion Pacific's Adult Intermediate Modern class for adult dancers.
Oct
8
5:30-7:30pm Blue Lemonade is an Americana band based out of Santa Cruz/Santa Barbara playing both originals and covers from bluegrass and folk to blues andβ¦
Oct
8
Our Community Reads: Voting Party
π Scotts Valley Branch Library
π 6:00 PM β 8:00 PM Β· FREE
The VOTE is here at last! Join us to pick the 2027 OCR book for our community!
Oct
8
AA/PI/SWANA Community Welcome: Hatch Into Your Next Chapter!
π Colleges Nine and John R. Lewis College Multi-purpose Room
π 6:00 PM β 8:30 PM Β· See listing
Hatch into your next chapter on Thursday, October 8th from 6-8:30pm at the College 9 and John R. Lewis College Multipurpose Room (MPR) β.Λβ‘ ΰ£ͺβ¦
Oct
8
The VOTE is here at last! Join us to pick the 2027 OCR book for our community!
Oct
8
Naturalist Night: The Story of Bones
π Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
π 6:00 PM β 8:00 PM Β· See listing
Hear the story of Phernado, the Mt. Lion, his life, his death, how he came to the UCSC Norris Center, and his second life teachingβ¦
Oct
8
Mattie Brice / Presentation on Post-Apocalyptic Video Games & Play
π The 418 Project
π 6:00 PM β 9:30 PM Β· See listing
A talk exploring post-apocalyptic video games and the cultural role of play, led by Mattie Brice.
Oct
8
INSPIRED BY NATURE: BEGINNING HANDBUILDING (3/5)
π Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center
π 6:00 PM β 8:30 PM Β· See listing
Kathryn Pierno
Oct
8
Join us at Bargetto Winery in Soquel on Thursday evenings for Live Music and Wine! 6-8PM No cover charge. Wine by-the-glass for purchase. Food willβ¦
Oct
8
The VOTE is here at last! Join us to pick the 2027 OCR book for our community!
Oct
8
β
Featured
Afrobeats Nite at the IAS
π UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
π 6:00 PM β 10:00 PM Β· See listing
Join us for a night of dancing, joy, and community organized by Afrobeats Nite Santa Cruz featuring DJ Mai Girl and DJ Monk Earl. Inβ¦
Oct
8
Swing into Fall with East Coast Swing Basics
π Capitola Recreation Center
π 6:30 PM β 8:45 PM Β· $59
If you love big band music, traditional or contemporary, then East Coast Swing is for you (7:00 Mondays starting Sept 17th). This is the basicβ¦
Oct
8
Creative Resilience: A Transformational Journey through the Five Elements
π Wisdom Center of Santa Cruz
π 6:30 PM β 8:00 PM Β· $60
Five weekly sessions starting Oct 8 - Nov 5. Join us in exploring this collection of simple and practical methods of transforming habits and emotionalβ¦
Oct
8
Ben Flocks is a saxophonist and storyteller with a clear, warm, and purposeful voice. A veteran performer and educator, Flocks has been lucky to playβ¦
Music
π Downtown Santa Cruz
Oct
8
7 - 10pm Β· Live improvisational modular synth performance by M31 Transport.
Music
π Westside
Oct
8
FREE IN-STORE EVENT: When free speech and access to information are threatened, the DIY scene rises to the challenge! Join Bookshop Santa Cruz staff andβ¦
Oct
8
The SLV Theatre Department is proud to present The Outsiders, a dramatic coming-of-age novel originally written by S.E. Hilton and adapted to stageplay by Christopherβ¦
2752 more events further out
Hosting something rad?
If it's happening in person anywhere in Santa Cruz County, whether it's a show, a market, a paddle-out, or a gallery night, we want it on the calendar. Submissions are free and reviewed by our editors.
Submit your event β