Santa Cruz Events Radar

This ocean-themed festival offers a perfect mix for art lovers and beach enthusiasts at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

• Dates & Details: November...

Music Performances

• 🔥 After the Dark Starts: Hip Hop/Rap/RnB concert at The 418 Project on July 25 from 7 PM to 11:59 PM as part of the What Is...

• September 12, 5:30-8:30pm: 21+ event at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk's Aloha Terrace
• Menu & drinks: Pretzels, schnitzel buffet, brews, wines plus...

United Way Santa Cruz County and the County Office of Education launch the 17th annual Stuff the Bus campaign on July 1 to provide 2,500 backpacks for...

Catch After the Dark Starts at The 418 Project, a new series celebrating RnB, Rap, and Hip Hop through local artists and community connection.

• Date...

Aldous Harding takes the stage at Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz on September 29, 2026 at 8 PM.

Tickets are available now on the PromoTix resale...

Family Activities

• Summertime Farm Fun: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds introduces free recurring 2nd Saturday on the Farm events with farm-animal...

Free classical music alert: Catch the Cabrillo Festival Performance on July 28 at 7pm, where four under-30 composers will see their works performed by...

• Free family day: July 11 from 11am-2pm at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville
• Kid favorites: Summer crafts, puppet shows, Kid’s Drive-a-Tractor, and hay wagon rides
• Farm vibes: Live animals plus vintage tractors and local ag history displays

Celebrate Independence Day with Watsonville's annual Spirit of Watsonville 4th of July Parade on Saturday, July 4, starting at 12:30 PM. Thousands...

The Santa Cruz Beach Train offers a standout family-friendly outing on July 2, winding from the redwoods through scenic gorges and historic tunnels straight to the Beach Boardwalk.

Food Truck Friday returns to Monterey Ave Park on July 10, 2026 from 4:30-7:30 PM. Enjoy trucks including Tacos El Jesse, live music by Al James Band, and a beer garden hosted by Santa Cruz Roller Derby—every second Friday this summer.

Head to Skypark on August 2 for a free day of 60s nostalgia celebrating Scotts Valley's 60th, with storytelling at 10:30am, birthday dessert at 11:30am, plus activities, booths, food trucks, and music all afternoon.

Music & Nightlife

• 🔥 Flor de Caña Dance Party: Moe's Alley hosts a Latin music dance party with Flor de Caña on July 17, 2026, doors at 8pm,...

Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation is filling July with free, family-friendly events highlighting outdoor fun and community connection.

• Lawn Bowling...

Catch World Cup matches on the big screen at 11th Hour by day and After Hours at night through July 19, complete with good drinks and a room full of fans yelling together.

The Great Morgani (Frank Lima) brings his colorful legacy to a July 11 book signing at the Aptos Farmers Market. From a Soquel chicken ranch to...

Mark your calendar for a sizzling Latin music night at Moe's Alley on July 17. Local favorites Flor de Caña return for a high-energy dance party...

Moe's Alley will host 43 concerts across 2026-2027 with a wide range of genres from artists such as Messer Chups, giving music fans plenty of time to plan ahead.

Santa Cruz County's food and drink events August 2-8 feature a lively mix including live music, pie-eating and costume contests, a carnival, plus family-friendly arts, crafts and dance performances.