Annual Events

Hikes at Castle Rock
State Park Castle Rock
Discover expansive views, marvelous rock formations and great rock climbing opportunities
Date: Every day (Jun 1-Sep 30)

Special Instructions: Located on Highway 35, just 2.5 miles southeast of the junction with Hwy 9

EASY HIKES
Castle Rock Loop  Sat & Sun 11am
Trailhead: main parking lot; 1 mile loop; elevation gain 300 feet    
Ascend through Douglas-fir, madrone, and tanoak to see the park’s imposing namesake peak—a good spot for bouldering and roped climbs. The surrounding smaller rocks are a great playground for children.

Castle Rock Falls and Goat Rock Overlook Hike  Saturdays at 2:30pm

Join us on a 3-mile, 2.5-hour hike to Castle Rock, Castle Rock Falls and Goat Rock Overlook. We’ll discuss Castle Rock’s unique geology, rock climbing history, human impacts and important preservationists that helped give Castle Rock State Park the protections we have today. Please bring plenty of water, hiking shoes, snacks, a camera, and binoculars if you have them. Event is free; day use fee for vehicles is $8. Meet at the kiosk. Event made possible by California State Parks in partnership with Portola and Castle Rock Foundation.

 
   
MODERATE HIKES 
Ridge/Trail Camp Loop 
Trailhead: main parking lot, 5.15 miles, elevation gain 1,190 feet
Hike through the forest and past Castle Rock Falls and Goat Rock. Enjoy views of the San Lorenzo River Valley and glimpses of Monterey Bay. Learn about history, wildlife, and habitats at the Interpretive Shelter. Castle Rock Trail Camp has picnic tables, pit toilets, water and a rain shelter.  
  
Skyline/Loghry Woods/Saratoga Gap Loop
Trailhead: main parking lot; 6.1 miles roundtrip; elevation gain 750 feet 
Head through the forest past Castle Rock Falls and Goat Rock. Enjoy views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the San Lorenzo River with glimpses across to Monterey Bay if there’s no fog. Castle Rock Trail Camp has picnic tables, pit toilets, water, and a rain shelter. 
  
STRENUOUS HIKES  
Middle of the Park from the Gap Loop
Trailhead: Saratoga Gap; 9 miles roundtrip, elevation gain 1,530 feet. 
This challenging hike or run through the forest takes you past mountain and valley views with some glimpses of Monterey Bay on a clear day. Castle Rock Trail Camp has picnic tables, pit toilets, water and a rain shelter. Begin at Saratoga Gap and either go down Saratoga Toll Road Trail or across Skyline Trail (Bay Area Ridge Trail). Close the loop on the Loghry Woods and Travertine Springs trails.
   
Gap to Gap Loop
Trailhead: Saratoga Gap or Waterman Gap; 16.4 miles round trip, elevation gain 1,860 feet
A good workout for strong trail runners and hikers. You can also backpack and stay overnight at the Waterman Gap Trail Camp (reservations required). Trails are mostly wooded, with occasional views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. 
   
Skyline to the Sea Trailhead: dropoff at Saratoga Gap or park at main parking lot, pickup at Waddell Beach, 25.2–28.2 miles; elevation from 1,660–2,130 feet. 
One of the region’s most rewarding backpack options. Start on the spine of the Santa Cruz Mountains and descend to the ocean in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Camp at trail camps along the way. Two to four days of backpacking or four to eight hours of trail running.

 

Castle Rock Falls and Goat Rock Overlook Hike

Saturdays at 2:30pm

Join us on a 3-mile, 2.5-hour hike to Castle Rock, Castle Rock Falls and Goat Rock Overlook. We'll discuss Castle Rock's unique geology, rock climbing history, human impacts and important preservationists that helped give Castle Rock State Park the protections we have today. Please bring plenty of water, hiking shoes, snacks, a camera, and binoculars if you have them. Event is free; day use fee for vehicles is $8. Meet at the kiosk. Event made possible by California State Parks in partnership with Portola and Castle Rock Foundation.

 

Tales to Tails Aptos
Library Aptos
Date: Every Mon from 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Admission Fees: Free

Have you read to a dog through the Tales to Tails program at Santa Cruz Public Libraries?

You have plenty of time to participate in this fun reading activity with your family, so contact tales2tails@santacruzpl.org or 831.427.7717 to reserve your spot.

Pumpkin Patch, You Pick Pumpkins
Rodoni Farms
Great local place to pick your pumpkin right from the field and have fun in the corn maze!
Date: Every day (Sep 22-Oct 31)

Special Instructions: 4 miles North of Santa Cruz, California on Hwy. 1

Pumpkins are HERE!!

Pumpkins and fun are what it's all about! Come roam through the fields of pumpkins. There are so many varieties to choose from! We have hay bales, scary cutouts, and a 5 acre corn maze! We also have fresh Brussels sprouts on the stalk, artichokes, corn stalks, and gourds.
**Pumpkins are priced by size, not weight.

 

Choosing your pumpkin:
There are two methods of choosing your pumpkin to carve. The first way is my favorite. As you stroll through the pumpkin patch a certain individual pumpkin will jump out at you! That's the ONE! The other method is to have a pattern or face in mind and look for a pumpkin that will work with your design. Usually a large stem makes a nice addition to the pumpkin.
Remember!. The more unusual the better!

 

• Bring your camera! There are many fun photo spots!
• Come spend the day by the California coastline and hand pick your Halloween pumpkin!
• We are open every daily, 9 AM - 6 PM from October 1st through Halloween. After Halloween we will remain open on the honor system until Christmas.
• We are dog friendly. We kindly ask that you keep them on a leash at all times and pick-up after them, if need be.
• CASH OR CHECK ONLY PLEASE.

To schedule Pumpkin Patch field trips click here

Directions:
Our Pumpkin Patch, U Pick Em Pumpkins, is located at 4444 Coast Rd. (Hwy 1)

4 miles North of Santa Cruz, California on Hwy. 1. Take Mission Street through the center of town and continue on to Hwy. 1 towards San Francisco/ Halfmoon Bay. We are on the right side just after Dimeo Lane.

Google Science Fair
Google
Google Science Fair is an online science competition, open to students between the ages of 13 and 18 from around the world.
Date: Every day (Sep 13-Dec 12)

Google Science Fair is an online science competition, open to students between the ages of 13 and 18 from around the world.

 

You can sign up starting September 13th 2018 by visiting googlesciencefair.com and clicking on the Start your project button. If you're not sure where to start, you can get help by taking a look at our Student resources and checking out some out some of our previous winners.

 

 

This competition is open to full-time and home-schooled students around the world, between ages of 13 and 18 (these ages are slightly different in a few countries like Israel, South Korea and Europe). See the Official Rules for more details.

You can win amazing prizes.

 

Submissions close December 12th, 2018

Global finalists announced May 2019

The Great Big Boo!
Gilroy Gardens
Spooky-but-not-too-scary Halloween event
Date: Every day (Sep 21-Oct 28) from 5:00pm to 10:00pm

There are lots of fun things to "BOO" during Gardens@Night Halloween at Gilroy Gardens! As the sun sets, a mysterious glow illuminates the park for this spooky-but-not-too-scary Halloween event. Go trick-or-treating along the Boo Trail, "Do the Boo" at The Great Big Boo! live musical show, venture into the Spider's Lair (if you dare!), and enjoy your favorite rides in the dark. You'll also find fun food and Halloween treats plus craft beers and local wines at the Marketplace.

 

Buy Tickets Now: www.gilroygardens.org

 

The Great Big Boo!
Come "Do the Boo" with a charming cast of spooky characters in our all-new LIVE musical show playing nightly at Lakeside Amphitheater. Meet Vinnie the Vampire, Cranium the Mad Scientist, and Wendella the Witch on a wacky adventure to save Halloween.

 

Get your 2019 Premium Card now to enjoy Halloween@Night and all of the 2019 season: www.gilroygardens.org

Ride the Boo Train

Climb aboard for a 20-minute ride through the BOO-tiful park at night...with stops along the way to make this a very special BOO-tastic experience! Tickets available for an extra charge.

 

Open 5-10 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, September 21 - October 28.

Toddler Story Time
Library Live Oak
Date: Every Mon from 10:00am to 11:00am
Ages: toddlers & parents Admission Fees: Free

Toddler Time @ Live Oak (10:00 AM-11:00 AM)
Location: Live Oak Branch
Toddler Time is a weekly program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. Join us for early literacy practices involving music, movement, stories, rhymes and more for your child and you.

Sea Otter Awareness Week
Seymour Marine Discovery Center (at Long Marine Lab)
Sea Otter Awareness Week
Date: Every day (Sep 22-Sep 30) from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Ages: All ages. Admission Fees: $7 for children and $9 for adults

Sea Otter Awareness Week is an annual recognition of the vital role that sea otters play in the nearshore ecosystem. Each year, zoos, aquariums, natural history museums, marine institutions, filmmakers, researchers, academics, educators, and the public participate in various events and activities highlighting sea otters and their natural history and the various conservation issues facing sea otters. Join the Seymour Center as we celebrate Sea Otter Awareness Week from September 22 - 30, 2018.

Knitting @ the Library
Library Scotts Valley
Learn to knit
Date: Every Mon from 3:00pm to 4:30pm
Ages: 8 & up Admission Fees: Free

Learn to knit or bring your knitting and enjoy a friendly visit with other knitters. If you are new to knitting, please bring: needles (size 8 10" straight needles or a 24" circular needle) and one skein of worsted weight yarn in your favorite color. Ages 8-108

Live Oak Knitters
Library Live Oak
Knit, chat, learn, make new friends
Date: Every Mon from 11:00am to 1:00pm
Ages: All Admission Fees: Free

Get together with other knitters to knit, chat, and make new friends. No registration required. The group meets every Monday from 11am- 1pm. Call 427-7711 for more information.

30 Days of Doing
4-H
Inspire Kids to Do. We believe in empowering kids with the skills they need to succeed. In 4-H, mentors inspire kids to be True
Date: Every day (Sep 1-Sep 30)

30 Days of Doing is a chance for kids across the nation to do with purpose through hands-on learning. Through activities in agriculture, STEM, community service, healthy living and more, 30 Days of Doing will help kids gain the skills they need to be successful in life-and have fun along the way.

 

Plus, starting September 1 you could win a $10,000 scholarship for your kid - and your state 4-H program could receive $10,000 to inspire kids in the community!

 

Submit a photo that shows how your child inspires themselves or others to do with purpose for themselves, their family, their community, their country or the world. Check back September 1 for more details!

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.

Tech Talks
Library Aptos
Tech Talks about news and entertainment, travel, & health
Date: Every Mon from 10:30am to 12:00pm
Ages: Adults Admission Fees: Free

Special guest, Philip King, shares his favorite tech tools and tips that can enrich your life. Join as we explore and discuss the following topics:

9/10 - News and Entertainment
9/17 - Travel
9/24 - Health

Free! Coffee provided!