Santa Cruz Events: December 28th

Happy Holidays!

Our roundup of events is lighter than usual this weekend, as we all recover from Christmas and get ready for New Year’s.

If you’re entertaining out of town guests, see our top picks for things to do this weekend, plus a day-by-day guide of music, nature walks, and more:

Things To Do With Family This Weekend

Toy Trains at the MAH

When: 12/21 – 1/6 (closes early at 3pm on Christmas Eve and closed New Years Day)
Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
Cost: Free

Calling all model train lovers, young and young at heart: Bring the whole crew down to marvel at these mighty mini machines, speak with experts, master the controls, and even bring your own toy train to put on the track!

Get more info here.

Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train

When: 12/26 – 12/31
Where: Train Departs from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Cost: Adults: $33, Children: $28

All aboard! The Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train is your chance to enjoy some old fashioned holiday cheer aboard vintage train cars. Sip hot spiced cider as you listen to holiday music, partake in carols, and visit with Santa Claus.

Get more info here.

Holiday Lights Train Photo Credit: Native Santa Cruz

Bowl for Free at the Boardwalk Bowl

When: Daily through Dec. 31
Where: Boardwalk Bowl
Cost: Free with donation (shoe rental not included)

Bowl for free and for a good cause when you bring canned food donations to help “Strike Out Hunger” at the Boardwalk Bowl. Donations go to Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County to help feed local families.

Get more info here.

Tour the Monarch Grove at Natural Bridges

When: Dec 29 & 30, at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm
Where: Natural Bridges State Beach
Cost: Day use parking $10

There’s still time to visit the monarchs at the their winter home, the eucalyptus grove at Natural Bridges State Beach. No reservation is necessary for groups fewer than 10.

Get more info here.

Visit the UCSC Arboretum

When: Open daily (closed Dec. 28)
Where: UC Santa Cruz Aboretum
Cost: $5 for Adults and $2 for Children (6 to 17 years old), and free under 6.

The arboretum is a wonderful place to visit and take in a diverse collection of plants as well as native plants from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and California.

Get more info here.

Boardwalk Holiday Ice

When: Open now through January 6, 2019
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Cost: $14.95 per 1-hour session, skate rental included

Save yourself a trip over the hill and get your holiday ice skating on in Santa Cruz! In addition to an ice rink, the Boardwalk’s winter festivities include a craft cottage, classic holiday movies, and magical snowfall at the top of each hour. Select rides and games will also be in operation.

Get more info here.

Farley’s Christmas Wonderland

When: Through New Year’s Eve. See website for hours.
Where: 108 Seaview Ave.
Cost: Donations accepted

Tucked away in Seabright is a one-of-a-kind local neighborhood attraction: Farley’s Christmas Wonderland. Pat Farley, a local Seabright resident, creates an elaborate Christmas-themed oasis each year in his front yard and opens it up for the public to walk through and view. If you’re looking for a uniquely local Christmas experience to share with family then consider stopping by Farley’s Christmas Wonderland.

Visit the Farley’s Christmas Wonderland website or Facebook page for more information.

Go on a Bucket List Hike

If you want to share some of the best of what Santa Cruz County has to offer with your out-of-town guests, then a hike just might be the answer. Here are two of our favorite ‘bucket list’ hikes. One features sandhills up in the redwoods while the other includes breathtaking waterfalls.

Berry Creek Falls: Big Basin’s Bucket List Hike

Three waterfalls within a mile of each other…that’s what we call a Santa Cruz Life experience. This is a true bucket list item and we want to help you cross it off your list.