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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 β†’

Things to do today Around the county Surf report Newsletter

In-person only, on purpose. Everything here is something you can actually show up to. No screens, no streams.

β˜… Featured this season

The Kick Off - Sonivore Listening Lounge, Oct 9 β˜… Featured Event
Fri, Oct 9, 2026 Β· 7:00 PM

The Kick Off - Sonivore Listening Lounge

πŸ“ 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 Crew…

Art & Culture Music πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz Details β†’
Afrobeats Nite at the IAS at Institute of the Arts and Sciences, Oct 8 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. In…

Education πŸ“ Westside
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Adventure Night at Rio Theatre, Oct 10 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 Festival…

Art & Culture πŸ“ Midtown
THE GUITARSONISTS at The Crepe Place, Oct 8 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 πŸ“ Midtown
Blue Lemonade at Discretion Brewing, Oct 8 Coming up
Thu, Oct 8, 2026 Β· Discretion Brewing

Blue Lemonade

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 and…

Music πŸ“ Soquel

β˜€οΈ Happening today

Thursday, October 8

Thursday'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.

64 events on today. No plans required, just go. See the full day β†’

9:00 AM
$150
Women in Business Summit
πŸ“ Mission Springs
Community
10:00 AM
See listing
Bay Tree Building Furniture Sit Test Open House
πŸ“ McHenry Library
Education
10:30 AM
See listing
Wings Birth Certificate & Notary Services
πŸ“ Downtown Branch Library
Community
10:30 AM
$26.45
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
πŸ“ Roaring Camp Railroads
Cultural Event
10:30 AM
See listing
Rabid Reader Book Discussion Group @ La Selva Beach
πŸ“ La Selva Beach Branch Library
Community
10:30 AM
See listing
Storytime and Stay & Play @ Downtown
πŸ“ Downtown Branch Library
Community
11:00 AM
See listing
Dual Demons Tech
πŸ“ The 418 Project
Community
11:00 AM
See listing
Preschool Storytime & Craft @ Felton
πŸ“ Felton Branch Library
Community
11:00 AM
See listing
Preschool Story Time @ Live Oak
πŸ“ Live Oak Branch Library
Community

What's happening

Filter by category, date, or area. Everything listed is in person, county-wide.

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Showing 30 of 2838 upcoming events

Oct
8

Mah Jongg Club

πŸ“ Aptos Branch Library
πŸ•’ 2:00 PM Β· See listing

Play Mahjong with fellow enthusiasts! Beginners welcome with weekly Hong Kong Style lessons. Other styles offered too. Tiles provided or bring your own.

Community Free πŸ“ Aptos & Seacliff
Oct
8

Far West Fungi: Myco-Mixer

πŸ“ Far West Fungi
πŸ•’ 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Β· FREE

Far West Fungi’s Santa Cruz Store & CafΓ© is launching Myco-Mixers, Enjoy an afternoon of food, fun, and fungi! Each Myco-Mixer will feature complimentary bites…

Food & Drink Free πŸ“ Westside
Oct
8

Fall 2026 Afterschool & Maker Sundays at SCMS!

πŸ“ Santa Cruz Maker Studios
πŸ•’ 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Β· $37

Fall Semester Maker Classes (August 11, December 20, 2026) Join us for a semester of hands-on creativity at SC Maker Studios! Students explore 3D printing…

Community Family πŸ“ Westside
Oct
8

Pokemon @ LOLA

πŸ“ Santa Cruz Public Libraries
πŸ•’ 3:00 PM Β· See listing

Bring your decks and get ready to play

Community Family πŸ“ Midtown
Oct
8

Girls Who Code @ Scotts Valley

πŸ“ Santa Cruz Public Libraries
πŸ•’ 4:00 PM Β· See listing

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, learning…

Community Education πŸ“ Scotts Valley
Oct
8

SPCA Junior Animal Care Team

πŸ“ Santa Cruz SPCA
πŸ•’ 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Β· $75

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 Animal…

Family Education πŸ“ Midtown
Oct
8

Shingu Arts & Cultural Exchange

πŸ“ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
πŸ•’ 4:00 PM – 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 artists…

Community Cultural Event πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz
Oct
8

Tech CafΓ©: Doodle Pens

πŸ“ Main Library
πŸ•’ 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM Β· See listing

A casual tech-themed cafe session where participants can explore digital art tools and doodle with digital pens.

Community Art & Culture πŸ“ Watsonville
Oct
8

UCSC: Fall Exhibitions

πŸ“ UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences
πŸ•’ 5:00 PM – 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 whose…

Community Free πŸ“ Westside
Oct
8

Congo Dance Class

πŸ“ The 418 Project
πŸ•’ 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Β· See listing

A weekly Congo dance class in Santa Cruz. Participants learn traditional African dance movements in a group setting at The 418 Project.

Dance Cultural Event πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz
Oct
8

Congolese

πŸ“ The 418 Project
πŸ•’ 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Β· See listing

A dance session centered on Congolese movement, held at a Santa Cruz arts space. For dancers curious to explore rhythm, style, and cultural tradition through…

Community Cultural Event πŸ“ Downtown Santa Cruz
Oct
8

THE GUITARSONISTS

πŸ“ The Crepe Place
πŸ•’ 5:30 PM Β· See listing

A live set from The Guitarsonists, bringing blues and R&B to a local stage.

Music πŸ“ Midtown
Oct
8

Blue Lemonade

πŸ“ Discretion Brewing
πŸ•’ 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Β· See listing

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 and…

Music Food & Drink πŸ“ Soquel
Oct
8

AA/PI/SWANA Community Welcome: Hatch Into Your Next Chapter!

πŸ“ Colleges Nine and John R. Lewis College Multi-purpose Room
πŸ•’ 6:00 PM – 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) ⋆.˚⟑ ΰ£ͺ…

Education Cultural Event πŸ“ UCSC

2808 more events further out

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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.

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