Tis’ the season for an evening of joy and holiday cheer inside The Grove: Santa Cruz Event Center! Enjoy exclusive time with Santa, cookie decorating, and a viewing of the iconic holiday movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Mark your calendar For these can't miss local events
From concerts to cultural events, Santa Cruz is alive with activities celebrating everything from art and fashion to food and film. Here are a few rad events worth adding to your social calendar.
Dream Inn Presents Breakfast with Santa
Dec 12, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join us for the 8th annual Breakfast with Santa, with new special guest Mrs. Claus! Enjoy full ocean views, a breakfast buffet, a full bar (for the parents, not the elves), cookie decorating, arts & crafts, face painting, story time, a visit and songs with Santa, and a surprise Christmas story reading!
The Grove, Santa Cruz Event Center 400 Beach Street Santa Cruz, CA
The Grove: Movie With Santa
Dec 06, 2026 | 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Santa Cruz Harbor 135 5th Avenue Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz Harbor: Lighted Boat Parade
Dec 05, 2026 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
The Lighted Boat Parade features 50 beautifully decorated power and sailboats parading through the Santa Cruz Harbor. Limited viewing is available from the Murray Street bridge, from the East Harbor launch ramp, and from a variety of harbor paths. Charter boats are available.
Downtown Santa Cruz Pacific Avenue & Cooper Street Santa Cruz, CA
Downtown Santa Cruz: Holiday Parade
Dec 05, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The traditional holiday parade is the official kickoff for the winter holidays celebration. Bring the family or participate! The parade route starts at the intersection of Laurel Street and Pacific Avenue and ends at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and Water Street.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 400 Beach Street Santa Cruz, CA
SC Beach Boardwalk: Hot Rods at the Beach
Nov 07, 2026 | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Check out hundreds of sweet hot rods, street rods, vintage, muscle, custom, and classic cars in the Boardwalk Parking Lot. Free admission!
Seymour Marine Discovery Center 100 McAllister Way Santa Cruz, CA
Seymour Center: Marine Science Festival
Nov 08, 2026 | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Ms. Blue is back! The Great Blue Whale skeleton’s return to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center with a day of ocean discovery, hands-on activities, and family fun!
Santa Cruz Veterans Memorial Building 846 Front Street Santa Cruz, CA
Downtown Santa Cruz: A Christmas Carol
Dec 03, 2026 | 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Tickets are on sale for Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s production of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, a festive holiday tradition for the whole family. audiences can expect a theatrical, music-filled adaptation of this classic play. Adapted by Charles Pasternak and directed by Alicia Gibson, A Christmas Carol stars Mike Ryan as Ebenezer Scrooge.
The Grove 400 Beach Street Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz Sea Glass & Ocean Art Festival
Nov 07, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
18th annual art market in the historic Grove event center at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk!
New Brighton School Washburn Avenue Capitola, California 95010
Capitola: Plein Air Festival
Daily | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Artists set up their easels on the wharf, shore, and streets of beautiful Capitola, to paint live for four days. You’ll find hundreds of paintings on display, for sale, and entered into competition.
See More
