Santa Cruz California Entertainment & Events

Special Events

• Santa Cruz Mineral and Gem Show
  Corner of Center & Church • Santa Cruz, CA 95060
  Held at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
  831-688-8086
  This annual two-day event that occurs in April features gem and mineral jewelry, gifts, 20 dealers, over 50 exhibits, demonstrations, a treasure wheel, and door prizes. The Santa Cruz Mineral & Gem Society's Santa Cruz Mineral and Gem Show will take place April 25 & 26, 2009. more...

Night Life

• Catalyst, The
  1011 Pacific Avenue • Santa Cruz, CA 95062
  831-423-1338
  Monterey Bay's premier nightclub featuring a 5,000 square foot dance hall, pool tables, a shuffleboard table, a 100 foot long bar with a large selection of beer and liquor, and music from well known artists. more...

• Callahan's Pub
  507 Water Street • Santa Cruz, CA 95062
  831-427-3119
  Pub and cocktail lounge featuring blues on Thursdays and punk and rock music from Friday to Sunday. A hub for motorcyclists. Open until 2:00 a.m.

• Kuumbwa Jazz Center
  320-2 Cedar Street • Santa Cruz, CA 95060
  831-427-2227
  Established in 1975, this internationally recognized nonprofit nightclub offers its own jazz series, as well as an open venue for presenters to utilize. The Cafe offers organic and healthy fare.  more...

• Moe's Alley
  1535 Commercial Way • Santa Cruz, CA 95062
  831-479-1854
  This nightclub features live world, blues, jazz, reggae, and more seven nights a week as well as a full bar. India's Clay Oven offers Indian fare for you to enjoy while you attend a performance.  more...

• Crepe Place, The
  1134 Soquel Avenue • Santa Cruz, CA 95062
  831-429-6994
  Neighborhood bar offering unique drinks and daily happy hour, not to mention the best crepes around. Enjoy the HD sports bar area or the live music and entertainment.

Concerts & Performances

• Santa Cruz County Symphony
  307 Church Street • Santa Cruz, CA 95060
  831.462.0553
  This symphony presents exotic and contemporary music, as well as familiar and new music, throughout their season. more...

• Santa Cruz Chorale
  P.O. Box 272 • Santa Cruz, CA 95061
  831-427-8023
  This diverse group of singers, who live throughout the Santa Cruz area, performs a wide variety of music from the 16th century to modern day music. more...

Plays & Productions

• Shakespeare Santa Cruz
  1156 High Street • Santa Cruz, CA 95064
  831-459-2159
  This repertory theater company that is in residence at the University of California performs from July through August. Performances are held at the UCSC Theatre Arts Mainstage and outdoors in the Festival Glen. more...

• Rio Theatre
  1205 Soquel Avenue • Santa Cruz, CA 95062
  831-423-8209
  This theatre is a venue for music, dance, and theatre productions, as well as a lecture hall and educational venue. more...

Art Exhibits

• Art on the Wharf
  Located at Municipal Wharf
  831-420-5273
  More than 40 artists will be displaying original paintings, photography, and other works in this outdoor showcase of fine art which takes place in July. Live jazz entertainment provided.

Festivals & Fairs

• Santa Cruz Baroque Festival
  P.O. Box 482 • Santa Cruz, CA 95060
  Located at UCSC Music Recital Hall
  831-457-9693
  Each season, usually running from February through May, this Italian Folk and Baroque festival features sonatas and tarantellas from Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Europe; the festival explores Baroque music from its roots to its final flowerings, as well as offering some performances that blend modern ideas and twists with traditional baroque music and instrumentation. more...

• Juneteenth Celebration
  301 Center Street • Santa Cruz, CA 95060
  Louden Nelson Community Center
  831-420-6177
  Join in the one day celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation, a tradition among African-Americans, during this festival which takes place in June. Highlights include food, crafts, music, and speakers.

• Japanese Cultural Fair
  103 Emmett Street • Santa Cruz, CA 95060
  Located at Mission Plaza Park
  831-462-4589
  This one day fair takes place in June and features colorful performing arts, crafts, ethnic demonstrations, martial arts, a variety of Japanese food, folk dancing, and rice pounding. more...

• Aloha Outrigger Races and Polynesian Festival
  Located at Santa Cruz Wharf
  831-420-5273
  Discover the excitement of outrigger canoe racing, designed for new and novice paddlers during this festival that takes place in August. The festival follows the race and features fresh flower leis, Hawaiian shaved ice, Maori face painting, and dance performances.

• Omega Nu's Ducky Derby and Carnival
  Friendship Gardens in Harvey West Park
  831-479-4070
  This annual event, held in April, offers an afternoon of fun for the whole family, including rubber duck races, a carnival, food, live music, and local entertainment. more...

• Santa Cruz Blues Festival
  Aptos Village Park
  * 10 performers over two days in anatural amphitheater surrounded by oaks and redwoods near the Pacific Ocean.* State-of-the-art sound system and staging.* Artist booth for audience meet-and-greet and autographs.* Booths for purchasing Santa Cruz Blues Festival memorabilia, new and vintage music, and more.* Food booths serving a variety of cuisine, including BBQ, Asian, Mexican, and Cajun among other choices.* Adult-beverage booth serving Budweiser, Bud Light, and Red Hook beers, Bacardi O3, Seagrams Coolers, and Wente Vineyards wine.* Children’s entertainment areawith face painting and balloon twisting.* A portion of festival proceeds to benefit a local charity.  more...

• Old-Fashioned Independence Day Celebration
  1401 Old Coast Road • Santa Cruz, CA 95060
  Located at Wilder Ranch State Park
  831-426-0505 or 831-423-9703
  Celebrate Independence Day as people did in 1909 years ago at historic Wilder Ranch and enjoy live music, food, crafts, a children's parade, hayrides, and games.
  Sponsored By: California State Parks

Marathons & 10K Runs

• Fourth of July 10K Firecracker Race
  Located at Harvey West Park
  831-439-7049
  The Firecracker 10K (or children's 1K) is the most scenic and challenging course in Santa Cruz. It starts and finishes in Harvey West Park.

Sporting Events

• Santa Cruz Longboard Club Invitational
  1011 Steamer Lane • Santa Cruz, CA 95060
  831-684-1551
  Each year in late near Memorial Day, surf clubs from California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii compete in six amateur divisions during this two-day event.

• Roughwater Swim
  323 Church Street • Santa Cruz, CA 95060
  Located at Municipal Wharf
  831-420-6015
  This legendary one mile ocean swim around the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf is held annually in August.