Annual Events

Reading In the Redwoods
Library Felton
Join our monthly book club!
Date: Every Su and Sa from 2:00pm to 4:30pm

Reading in the Redwoods book group meets monthly at the Felton Library on the fourth Wednesday at 6:15 pm.

 

Copies of the book are usually available at the Felton branch library.

For more information call 427-7708 or drop by the branch.

 

To be added to the book group email list, please call 831-427-3151.

Ranch History Tours
State Park Wilder Ranch
History comes alive at Wilder Ranch State Park on the weekends
Date: Every Su and Sa at 1:00pm
Ages: All Admission Fees: $10 parking

Ranch History Tours

Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm

Monday, September 3 at 1pm

Discover what life was like a century ago on this innovative dairy ranch. This hour-long tour includes the 1897 Victorian home, 1859 Gothic Revival farmhouse, 1896 water-powered machine shop, barns and other historic buildings. Event is free; parking is $10. Please call the park to confirm at (831) 426-0505. Event made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks.

 

Mission Be Mindful Educator Training
Mission Be
K-5 Mindful Educator Training for Parents, Educators and Administration
Date: Every day (Jul 20-Jul 22) from 9:00pm to 5:30pm
Admission Fees: $335 (%50 off Scholarships available)

Our Mindful Educator Training is a 2.5 day workshop that offers personal mindfulness practices as well as certification in our 12 week in-school mindfulness curriculum.

 

Expect to deepen your own personal practice, connect with peers, and go home with a clear and comprehensive curriculum to share in your classroom, school or home.

 

Friday July 20th at 5:30pm - 9:00pm

 

Fri - Sun, July 20-22

Fri, July 20, 5:30pm - 9:00pm

Sat, July 21 (hours coming)
Sun, July 22, (start time coming) until 5:00pm

 

Half Moon Bay State Beach
State Park Half Moon Bay Beach
Junior Rangers, Campfire Programs, Guided walks
Date: Every day (Jun 29-Aug 31) from 11:00am to 3:00pm

Junior Rangers

Fridays and Saturdays at 3pm

Discover the fascinating secrets of the beach! Explore, practice outdoor skills, and play games as you learn about plants, animals, geology, and more. This one-hour program is designed for kids ages 7-12. Sorry parents, this program is for kids only! Please register your child 15 minutes before the program begins at the Francis State Beach Visitor Center. Please be sure your child is dressed for active play in the outdoors. Event is free; day-use fee for vehicles is $10. Events made possible by Coastside State Parks Association, and California State Parks.

 

Campfire Program

Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30pm

Join us in our new campfire center for an evening of song and story. Serenade the glittering stars and learn about beach ecology, creatures of the ocean or stories of the park while relaxing by the beach. Event is free; day-use fee for vehicles is $10. Event made possible by Coastside State Parks Association and California State Parks.

 

Guided Walk: Burleigh Murray Ranch State Park

Sunday, July 22 at 10am 

Journey back in time to discover the lives of early pioneers on this two-mile stroll along Mills Creek at Burleigh Murray Ranch State Park. Meet at the Burleigh Murray parking lot located on Higgins-Purisima Road 1.5 miles east of Highway 1. Bring water and snacks; close toed shoes, layer clothing, and binoculars recommended. Appropriate for children age seven and older accompanied by parent. Rain cancels. For information call (650) 726-8819 or email HMBparksvolunteer@parks.ca.gov.

 

Guided Walk: Sequoia Audubon Trail

Sunday, July 1 at 10am

Sunday, July 15 at 1pm

Join us for a one-mile stroll along the California Coast into the Pescadero Marsh, a popular bird watching location.  Meet at the Pescadero State Beach central parking lot located on Highway 1, one-quarter mile north of Pescadero Creek Road in Pescadero. Bring water, and snacks; close toed shoes, layer clothing, sunscreen and binoculars recommended. Children age 7 and older are welcomed, accompanied by parent. No pets. Rain cancels. For information call (650) 726-8819 or email HMBparksvolunteer@parks.ca.gov.

 

Guided Walk: McNee Ranch, Montara State Beach

Saturday, July 14 at 10am

Join us for a two-mile stroll along the California coast and enjoy stunning views, remnants of the long-gone Ocean Shore Railroad and WWII era bunker. Meet at Gray Whale Cove State Beach Parking Lot on Highway 1 just south of Devil's Slide. Bring water and snacks; close toed shoes, layer clothing, and binoculars recommended. Children age 7 and older are welcomed, accompanied by parent. All pets must be on leash. Rain cancels. For information call (650) 726-8819 or email HMBparksvolunteer@parks.ca.gov

Life on the Ranch Day - The Early Days on a Dairy Farm
State Park Wilder Ranch
Experience the Victorian era!
Date: Every Su and Sa
Ages: All Admission Fees: Free
Special Instructions: Weekends from 11:00am-3:00pm, tours of the ranch houses at 1:00pm

Life on the Ranch Day - The Early Days on a Dairy Farm
Saturday, August 11 from 11am to 3pm

 

Wilder Ranch State Park invites you to experience old-time activities from its rancho, dairy farm, and cowboy rodeo days. Hands-on activities and living history presentations may include butter churning, ice cream making, roping skills, and demonstrations in the ranch buildings. Come for a picnic on the lawn and follow it up with a game of tug of war, sack races, hoops, stilts, and Wilder Ranch's famous old-fashioned bubbles! This event is appropriate for all ages. Event is free; parking is $10. Please call the park to confirm at (831) 426-0505. Event made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks.

 

Tour the Pacific Migrations Center
State Park New Brighton
Self-guided tour highlights history of Pacific Rim migrations
Date: Every Su, Tues, Wed, Th, Fri and Sa from 10:00am to 4:00pm
Ages: 7-12

 Tour the Pacific Migrations Visitor Center at New Brighton State Beach

Come explore the Pacific Migrations Visitor Center at New Brighton State Beach. This free mini-museum highlights the history of Pacific Rim migrations and how they have influenced the Monterey Bay area. 

The exhibits explore the contributions of Chinese fishers, who established fishing camps on the Monterey Bay coastline beginning in the 1850s. Fishers dried and shipped most of their catch to markets up and down the coast, as well as across the Pacific. Chinese fish merchants also sold their fresh catch in local towns. China Beach, as New Brighton was known at the time, lasted until the mid-1880s. 

The center, which is supported by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Sundays. It also includes a ParkStore, offering nature and history-themed merchandise for sale. All proceeds benefit local parks and beaches.

Self-guided tours of the Pacific Migrations Visitor Center are free. Docent-led tours are available for groups. Contact Jean Bernard at the Visitor Center, 831-464-5620, to schedule. Parking at New Brighton State Beach is $10 and supports the park. New Brighton State Beach is located at 1500 Park Ave. in Capitola

Book Sale at Aptos Library
Library Aptos
Support your libraries by coming to the Aptos Book Sale and finding new life-changing books
Date: The 3rd Sa of every month from 11:00am to 3:00pm
Ages: 6yrs & up Admission Fees: Free
Special Instructions: January-July and September-October

Monthly Book Sale @ Aptos Branch: 3rd Saturday of every month, 11 AM - 3 PM

Come browse a wide ranging collection from fiction to children's books, audio books to CD's. Our non-fiction covers subjects from A-Z: cookbooks, gardening, health & well-being, poetry, and travel among a myriad of other subject areas. Join us on Saturdays in the Aptos Library meeting room as the Aptos Chapter of the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries (Aptos FSCPL) hosts monthly book sales throughout the year (January-July and September-October). The books and media sold are selected from library donations.

 

Carmel Bach Festival
Carmel Bach Festival
Two favorites, but check the entire calendar
Date: Every day (Jul 14-Jul 28)

The Carmel Bach Festival presents two of its most popular chamber concerts at Monterey's San Carlos Cathedral on Thursdays, July 19 and 26, at 5:00. 

The program features Bach Festival orchestra members in Trio Sonatas by Vivaldi and Bach, principal trumpet Robert Farley performing two Baroque trumpet sonatas, and principal keyboardist Andrew Arthur as organ soloist in a concerto by Handel.

San Carlos Cathedral is said to be the most historically significant building in Monterey. It's the oldest building in the city, and the oldest continuously operating church in the state. It's the earliest  California building designed by an architect, and, in 1849, became the state's first cathedral. Extensive conservation and restoration projects in recent years brought the Cathedral back to its original glory.

 

San Carlos Cathedral Tickets

Evening Art Program
State Park Henry Cowell
Activities will range from sketching and watercolor to nature journaling and more
Date: Every Sa at 1:00pm

Evening Art Program
Mondays and Tuesdays from 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Join us in the campfire center for a family friendly arts and crafts program. All ages welcome. Topic changes week to week and activities will range from sketching and watercolor to nature journaling and more! Meet at the Henry Cowell Redwoods Graham Hill Campground, located off Graham Hill Road in Scotts Valley. No experience necessary. Event is free; parking is $10. Events made possible by Mountain Parks Foundation and California State Parks.

State Park Pigeon Point Light Station
Date: Every Su, Fri and Sa at 10:00am
Ages: All

The Pigeon Point Lighthouse is currently under repair, but that doesn't mean that the First Order Fresnel Lens can't shine! The Fresnel lens, the original lighthouse beacon, will light up once again from its temporary home in the Visitor Center. As dusk settles, the 24 beams of light provide a dramatic glimpse of how the lighthouse once guided ships passing by this rocky coastline. Bring a flashlight and join us for a unique experience. For more information, call the park at (650) 879-2120 or go online to www.Parks.CA.gov/PigeonPoint. Event is free. Events made possible by Coastside State Parks Association and California State Parks.

* Please note the lighthouse will NOT be lit. The original lighthouse beacon, the First Order Fresnel lens, will be lit but in its temporary location inside the Visitor Center. The lighthouse is being repaired and is currently not accessible to the public.

Free Daily Entertainment
Beach Boardwalk
World-class magicians, acrobats, jugglers, and comedians-all performing FREE at two stages inside the park.
Date: Every day (Jun 18-Aug 17) from 12:00pm to 6:00pm

FREE Daily Entertainment

 

Engaging performers invite you to be a part of the show!

World-class magicians, acrobats, jugglers, and comedians-all performing FREE at two stages inside the park.

Neptune's Stage located next to Pirate Ship.
Cave Train Stage located near Cave Train.

The Entertainers and the Schedule

Potluck & Dance
Pie Ranch
Pie Ranch Community Work Day, potluck dinner, and rollicking barn dance in the roadside barn
Date: The 3rd Sa of every month from 6:00pm to 10:00pm

BARN DANCE

 

6:00pm / Potluck Dinner followed by music and dancing (7:00 pm)
Reservations and information

The potluck brings a few dozen people out, each with a dish they’ve brought to share.

Cost for the dance is $15–20 per person on a sliding scale; everyone contributes what they can! PLEASE NOTE THAT AN RSVP IS RECOMMENDED but not required and is helpful for our own planning purposes. Nobody will be turned away.

The 7pm Dance lasts 3 hours and features the County Line Pickers (Jim Davies, bass; Joni Davies, guitar; Hide Kawatsur, mandolin; Ken Clarkson, banjo; Luke Abbott and Nancy Vail, fiddle) with caller Andy Wilson to lead the do-si-dos and more!

To encourage a friendly family atmosphere and encourage safe driving on Hwy 1, the potluck and barn dance are alcohol-free events. Please register using the "Sign Up" button at the top of this page and note that we can only accommodate groups of 10 or less. Our office is closed on Saturday and Sunday so the latest RSVP we can accept is the Friday before the barndance, by 3pm.

All Disabilities Parent Support Group
SPIN
'All Disabilities' Parent Support Group
Date: The 3rd Sa of every month from 10:00am to 12:00pm

'All Disabilities' Parent Support Group for any parent of a child with any type of disability
Meets the 3rd Saturday of the month from 10am-12pm at 820 Bay Ave. Capitola
Like our Facebook page and receive info. on up coming meetings.

For more info or to RSVP, please call and leave a message at 423-7713 or email Heidi Lister at hlister@spinsc.org

NOTE: Child care is NOT provided at these meetings.

JUNIOR POLICE ACADEMY
Scotts Valley Police
Provides students with alternatives to drugs, violence, and other illegal activities through exciting events and educational pro
Date: Every day (May 1-Aug 3)

Special Instructions: June 18-22, July 9-13, July 30-Aug 3

Scotts Valley Police Department·

Registration is now open for all three of our 2018 Junior Police Academy sessions!

 

Dates are currently scheduled for June 18-22, July 9-13 and July 30-Aug 3

 

Our Junior Police Academy has been running since 2000. We offer three week-long sessions, each with room for twenty students. Our program reaches out to students entering 6th, 7th and 8th grades.

 

Registration, cost and further information can be found at the link below, or by calling Det. Mike Birley at 831-440-5656.

https://www.scottsvalleypd.com/juvenile-programs

Carnival of Cultures
Bay Area Carnival
Guaranteed to have your feet tapping and itching to dance all day long!
Date: 07/21/2018 from 11:00am to 6:00pm

Carnival of Cultures Cupertino

Guaranteed to have your feet tapping and itching to dance all day long! Carnival of Cultures is the Bay Area's premier festival showcasing the diversity of our resident community.

 

The delicious array of food representing the different cultures that make up the SF Bay Area is complemented by music, dance, shopping and exciting activities for the entire family. Visit the world without getting on a plane or going on a road trip! The festival will represent the variety of food, music, art and merchandise from each culture.

 

Enjoy live contemporary music and dance performances and get to know fellow Bay Area residents.

 

Entry to the festival is FREE. Parking is FREE.

 

The Carnival of Cultures Cupertino is brought to you by the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce and is powered by Eventscoop.

We encourage you to RSVP here and you will be entered into a drawing for some fun prizes! You must be present at the event to win!

Family Arts & Crafts- Garfield Park
Library Garfield
Date: Every Sa from 11:00am to 1:00pm
Ages: 3-6

Get crafty! A Do-It-Yourself craft will be ready and waiting for families, independent-minded kids and teens! Children 8 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Brainfuse - Homework Help
Libraries
Brainfuse: Free online homework help for students of all ages.
Date: Every day

Free Academic Help at All Levels.

 

Brainfuse offers live online tutoring in elementary, middle school, high school, college, and adult education.

 

Live Tutoring: Students draw or type their question in our online classroom and receive live homework assistance from a Brainfuse-certified tutor. Our tutors don't simply give answers but help students master underlying academic concepts.

 

SkillSurfer: SkillSurfer includes an extensive library of Brainfuse-created lessons, video tutorials, and practice tests in a wide range of academic subjects, and further integrates them with live tutoring.

Community Poetry Circle
Library Scotts Valley
Date: The 3rd Sa of every month from 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Ages: All Admission Fees: Free

Community Poetry Circle @ Scotts Valley (2:00 PM-4:00 PM)

Poetry gives rise to the full expression of self. Join the circle for this free monthly workshop on the 3rd Saturday of the month. All levels welcome. No preregistration required.

Do It Yourself Craft
Library La Selva Beach
Date: Every Sa from 1:30pm to 4:30pm
Ages: 3-6

Do-It-Yourself Craft @ La Selva Beach Library (1:30 PM-4:30 PM)

Join the fun on Saturdays between 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm.

MBARI's 2018 Open House
MBARI
Highlights include science exhibits, technology demonstrations, deep-sea videos, presentations about our research, robotic subma
Date: 07/21/2018 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Ages: All
Special Instructions: Moss Landing, halfway between Santa Cruz and Monterey off Highway 1.

MBARI's 2018 Open House

During this free event, our staff, scientists, and engineers will share their knowledge and enthusiasm about oceanographic research at this special event. Highlights include science exhibits, technology demonstrations, deep-sea videos, presentations about our research, robotic submarines, and children's activities. This free event is fun for the whole family!

MBARI is located in Moss Landing, halfway between Santa Cruz and Monterey off Highway 1. The Moss Landing power plant is a visible landmark just inland of Moss Landing Harbor. From Highway 1, turn west (toward ocean) onto Moss Landing Road. Turn on Sandholdt Road and cross the bridge. MBARI is on the west side of the road. 

 

FOOD: Food and beverages will not be available at MBARI. However, there are several restaurants within walking distance. There are also several benches around MBARI that you can use to picnic with your family as well as access points to the beach.

 

2018 PRESENTATIONS in the PACIFIC FORUM:
12:15 - An introduction to MBARI ~ Chris Scholin
12:45 -  Eavesdropping on the deep ~ Susan von Thun
1:15 - Discovering Nemo: The joy of recognizing a new species ~ Linda Kuhnz
1:45 - The secret life of sponges: They're not just for your dirty dishes! ~ Amanda Kahn
2:15 - A day in the life of an ROV pilot ~ Ben Erwin
2:45 - Eavesdropping on the deep ~ Susan von Thun (REPEAT)
3:15 - Discovering Nemo: The joy of recognizing a new species ~ Linda Kuhnz (REPEAT)
3:45 - The secret life of sponges: They're not just for your dirty dishes! ~ Amanda Kahn (REPEAT)
4:15 - Swimming in data: How ocean observations are improving our lives ~ Patrick Daniel

 

2018 PRESENTATIONS in the VIDEO TENT:
12:00 - 12:20 Video tour of the R/V Western Flyer and R/V Rachel Carson
12:30 - 12:50 LIVE: Mysteries of the Deep
01:00 - 01:20 LIVE: Mysteries of the Deep
01:30 - 01:50 Video tour of the R/V Western Flyer and R/V Rachel Carson
02:00 - 02:20 LIVE: Mysteries of the Deep
02:30 - 02:50 LIVE: Mysteries of the Deep
03:00 - 03:20 Video tour of the R/V Western Flyer and R/V Rachel Carson
03:30 - 03:50 LIVE: Mysteries of the Deep
04:00 - 04:20 LIVE: Mysteries of the Deep)
04:30 - 04:50 Video tour of the R/V Western Flyer and R/V Rachel Carson

Arboretum Tour of What's in bloom
Arboretum
Free guided tour with paid admission, $3
Date: Every Sa

Special Instructions: $5 for Adults and $2 for Children (6 to 17 years old), and free under 6

Join staff & docents on a tour of what's in bloom.

Free Guided Tour, 1st Saturday, every month, Free with your Arboretum admission. 

 

Admission to the Arboretum

• The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum is open from 9:00 to 5:00 every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. A visit is worthwhile any time of the year.
• $5 for Adults and $2 for Children (6 to 17 years old), and free under 6.
• Free to those going only to shop at Norrie's.
• Free to UCSC students
• Free to Friends of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum members and Arboretum volunteers
• Free to members of gardens participating in the American Horticulture Society (AHS) Reciprocal Admissions Program
• Free on first Tuesday of each month, Community Day.
• Docent-lead tours can be arranged by advance request. The $10 per person cost includes admission to the Arboretum.

 

Monterey Contra Dance
Monterey Country Dance Community
Join us for a fun evening of dancing
Date: The 3rd Sa of every month from 7:00pm to 10:00pm

Special Instructions: Check website for verifying dates

Monterey Country Dance Community holds contra dances most first and third Saturdays (in December, our dances may vary due to the holiday season) at the YMCA of the Monterey Peninsula, at 600 Camino El Estero in Monterey, unless otherwise noted in our schedules and calendars.  Come alone or bring a friend - beginners are always welcome!  If you'd like to support MCDC, please consider becoming a Member (a minimum $25/year sponsorship helps us to continue these wonderful dances).

 

Schedule: 6:40pm Newcomers' Orientation

• 7pm to 10pm Contra Dance

Admission Prices for regular dances:

• $12 for nonmembers (of any sister organization)
• $10 for members of MCDC or sister organization (including BACDS & CDSS)
• $5 for full-time students and active military, with ID

Check out our Calendar for details and dates. 

Not sure what Contra Dance is?
See videos and learn more by checking out our About Contra Dance page. If you're feeling nervous about learning how to contra dance, we even have links to beginning dancers' training videos on YouTube - they are a wonderful help, though nothing replaces dancing as a way to learn.
Please be aware that some of our dancers are sensitive to fragrances - we respectfully request that everyone please be thoughtful and not use products with fragrance prior to a contra dance.  Thank you!

Little Rangers Portola
State Park Portola Redwoods
Explore Portola Redwoods State Park
Date: Every Su and Sa at 10:00am

Little Rangers

Saturdays and Sundays at 10am

All 3 to 6 year olds and their families are invited to learn, play, and laugh together at this 30 minute program. Activities, songs, stories, and silliness will help our youngest visitors find a connection to the redwood forest and all of its inhabitants. Adult supervision is required and participation is encouraged. Meet at the visitor center. Free event. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. For more information, call (831) 291-8273. Event made possible by Portola and Castle Rock Foundation and California State Parks.

Tales to Tails - Central
Library Central
Date: Every Sa from 10:00am to 11:30am
Admission Fees: Free

Tales to Tails - Downtown (10:00 AM-11:30 AM)

Trained therapy dogs will be available at the Library to be attentive, non-judgmental reading partners for children reading aloud. Children have individual 20-minute time slots to sit with a dog and read.

 

Contact pro@santacruzpl.org or 831.427.7717 to reserve a spot.

View similar upcoming events: Programs for Kids, Early Literacy, Tales to Tails