Holiday events continue this weekend with performances of The Nutcracker, Winterpalooza, Holidays on the Ranch, and a few more local artisan shopping events.
Even the Warriors are spreading the holiday cheer with a festive ugly sweater t-shirt giveaway (yeah, you read that right).
There are plenty of non-holiday events to choose from too, including a food truck event and a rockin’ anniversary celebration.
Holiday Events in Santa Cruz
Want to jump straight to the best holiday events? We’ve got you covered with the two guides below…
Holiday Event Guide
Catch every holiday event in Santa Cruz County with our Santa Cruz Holiday Event Guide.
Holiday Craft Fairs & Shopping Events
There are dozens of local craft fairs and shopping events in Santa Cruz County, many of which take place this weekend. You’ll find them all here.
Friday
Etienne Charles & Creole Soul: A Creole Christmas
When: 12/16 at 7:30 pm
Where: Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Cost: $25/Advance $30/Door – 1/2 Price for Students (5% city tax and service charge additional)
Celebrate the holidays with Trumpeter Etienne Charles and his band as they put a fresh Caribbean inspired jazz twist on holiday classics from the Carribean, American and European holiday songbooks.
3rd Friday: Winterpalooza
When: 12/16 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
Cost: $5 General, $3 Students, Seniors and Kids, FREE for MAH Members and Children under 4
Every family has a toy train lover young or old, and often both! Bring the whole crew down for the opening of the Toy Trains exhibit, hands-on crafts, gift shopping at the Teen Art Market, and a performance by the multigenerational choir Hark, the Family of Carolers.
Santa Cruz Warriors vs. Northern Arizona Suns
When: 12/16 at 7:00 pm
Where: Kaiser Permanente Arena
Cost: $20 – $68
What’s more festive than an ugly holiday sweater? How about an ugly sweater T-shirt!
The Santa Cruz Warriors will be sharing the holiday cheer this Friday night with this giveaway presented by New Bohemia Brewing Company.
The Nutcracker
When: 12/16 at 8:00 pm, 12/17 at 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm, 12/18 at 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
Cost: $15 – $58
Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre presents the Nutcracker at the Civic Auditorium. This classic holiday show features a full professional orchestra and over 70 local performers.
Sweet Treat tickets are available for the Saturday and Sunday shows. These special tickets include photo opportunities with the Nutcracker characters, and free cookies from Pacific Cookie Company prior to the performance.
Also on Friday
- Iamsu @ The Catalyst
- Joe Ferrara @ Shadowbrook Restaurant
- LIVE music Sambassa Brazilian Jazz Trio @ Little Owl Italian Kitchen
- The Carolyn Sills Combo 6th Annual Santa is Real Show! @ Don Quixote’s
- The John Michael Band @ Crow’s Nest
- Melvin Seals & The Jerry Garcia Band @ Moe’s Alley
- The Wail Aways, Ghost Train @ The Crepe Place
- Banda Menguerese @ The Catalyst
- Tsunami (Classic Rock, R&B) @ Severino’s
- Agape Dance Academy Nutcracker @ Aptos High
- Rock of Ages FREE Chanukah Concert with the Rock Shabbat Band! @ Temple Beth El
- Strike Out Hunger and Bowl for FREE! @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Holiday Train Rides @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Bitch ‘n Stitch Sewing Class @ Tannery Arts Center
- Argentine Tango Dancing @ Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center
- SMALL WORKS @ Radius Gallery
- TECH Teach-In: Basic Microsoft Excel @ Santa Cruz Public Libraries – Downtown Branch
- Stand with Standing Rock: A Popup Fundraiser @ Midtown Cafe
- Watsonville Farmers Market @ Downtown Watsonville
- Watsonville Queer Youth Meet-up @ First Christian Church
Want to see all the best events in Santa Cruz every weekend? Click here to get these Weekend Roundup posts delivered straight to your inbox.Saturday
Holidays on the Ranch
When: 12/17 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Wilder Ranch State Park
Cost: Free with $10 day-use parking per vehicle
Enjoy an old-fashioned holiday celebration at Wilder Ranch. The Holidays on the Ranch Festival takes you back to a simpler time with crafts, games, and music from the early 20th century. Get in the spirit and dress in your best turn-of-the-century costume and hop on a draft-horse carriage ride!
Free Family Movie – Polar Express
When: 12/17 from 10:00 am to 11:45 am
Where: Del Mar Theatre
Cost: Free
Support Second Harvest Food Bank and catch a holiday classic on the big screen this Saturday at the Del Mar.
Artisan’s Holiday Market
When: 12/17 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Homeless Garden Project Downtown Store, Santa Cruz Art Center
Cost: Free
Find an extensive collection of handcrafted gift items sourced from the Homeless Garden Project’s certified organic farm and created by Project trainees. Gifts include bath and body products, beeswax candles, dried floral wreaths, and goods from over twenty artisans.
Holiday Artisan Food & Gift Market
When: 12/17 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Food Lounge
Cost: Free Admission
It’s not too late to shop local and take care of all your holiday needs, from unique gifts to food and holiday staples. Shop locally-made jewelry, body products, candles, scarves, textiles, and art. Artisan foods include olive oil, jams, honey, chocolate, and mole. There will also be fresh foods to enjoy such as baked goods, empanadas, and meat pies.
Food Trucks at East Cliff Brewing
When: 12/17 from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: East Cliff Brewing Company
Cost: Free Admission
East Cliff Brewing will play host to the latest food truck event this Saturday. Enjoy cask conditioned ales and draught beers and grab some grub from the Holopono or Ate3One food trucks.
This event is weather permitting, so check @foodtrucksagogo for updates if it’s wet outside.
The Nutcracker
See description under Friday
Also on Saturday
- The Album Leaf + Rituals of Mine Live @ The Catalyst
- The Expendables @ The Catalyst
- Riviere & Adler @ Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn
- Claudio Melega in the Rockroom Lounge @ Shadowbrook Restaurant
- Live Music @ The Little Owl Italian Kitchen & Bar @ Little Owl Italian Kitchen
- Santa Cruz’s Dead @ Don Quixote’s
- Soulwise @ Crow’s Nest
- The Redlight District, Ginger & Juice, Eric Morrison & The Mysteries, Wild Iris @ Moe’s Alley
- Ken Emerson & Jim “Kimo” West – Slackers in Paradise Tour @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- El Duo, Scotty Maxx @ The Crepe Place
- The Album Leaf @ The Catalyst
- D’ oh Bros (Classic Rock) @ Severino’s
- We Are California Grown Holiday Sale
- Agape Dance Academy Nutcracker @ Aptos High
- Christmas with the Chorale @ Holy Cross Church
- Academy of Arcana Holiday Festival @ Academy of Arcana
- 2nd Annual Merry Spikemas Roundnet Tournament @ The Beach
- Victorian Horse Drawn Carriage Rides @ Downtown Santa Cruz
- Gift Making Workshops @ Tannery Arts Center
- Strike Out Hunger and Bowl for FREE! @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Holiday Train Rides @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Animal Shelter Relief Rescue Adoption Fair @ Pet Pals Discount Pet Supplies
- BirchBark Foundation @ Surf City Coffee @ Surf City Coffee Company
- Sandy Paws Adoption Event @ Sandy Paws – Capitola Mercantile
- Monarch Butterfly Tours @ Natural Bridges State Beach
- Coffee Talk and Crafts @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Wildflower Walk! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Meteor Trail Hike @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Guided Redwood Grove Walk @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Drop-in Family Craft @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Guided Elephant Seal Walks @ Año Nuevo State Park
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
Moe’s Alley 25 Year Anniversary Celebration
When: 12/18 at 4:00 pm
Where: Moe’s Alley
Cost: $16 advance, $20 day of show
Help Moe’s celebrate 25 years of live music this Sunday night. Mighty Mike Schermer & The Soul Drivers will headline with special guests Chris Cain, Tommy Castro and Randy McDonald.
The Nutcracker
See description under Friday
Also on Sunday
- Agape Dance Academy Nutcracker @ Aptos High
- Toby Gray Highway Buddha @ The Reef Bar & Restaurant
- Rich & The Rhythm Roustabouts at Swing Set Lounge @ Pacific Arts Complex
- Wendy Treat’s First CD Release Party @ Don Quixote’s
- The Sea Wolves @ The Catalyst
- The Box @ The Blue Lagoon
- Live Comedy @ Crow’s Nest
- Holiday Train Rides @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Christmas with the Chorale @ Holy Cross Church
- ‘Tis The Season…Christmas Favorites with Solmaaz Adeli and Jon-Mark @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Strike Out Hunger and Bowl for FREE! @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Academy of Arcana Holiday Festival @ Academy of Arcana
- Wildflower Walk! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Guided Redwood Grove Walk @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Guided Adobe Tours (afternoon) @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Monarch Butterfly Tours @ Natural Bridges State Beach
- Guided Elephant Seal Walks @ Año Nuevo State Park
- Sunday Seaside Crafts @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Live Oak Farmers Market @ 15th and Eastcliff Dr.
Featured Upcoming Event
What: Elephant Seal Guided Walks
Where: Año Nuevo State Park
When: December 15 – March 31
This weekend marks the opening of the elephant seal breeding season at Año Nuevo. You can enjoy guided tours from Dec. 15 – Mar. 31. Reservations fill up quickly so be sure to secure your spot soon.
Reservations can be made here or by calling 1-800-444-4445
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the links for the agape dance co. nutcracker are faulty; please fix
Thanks for letting us know. The links have been fixed.