Thanksgiving guests will be arriving soon and the holiday shopping season officially starts next week. That probably means there’s a lot on that to-do list. But don’t worry, we have a fantastic lineup that will not only help you relax and enjoy time indoors and out this weekend, but you can even check some of that shopping off your list, too.
We have a little bit of everything on our list with holiday boutiques, workshops, performances, and even an anniversary celebration of a favorite historic lighthouse.
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Holiday events are just around the corner. If you want to get a head start on your holiday plans then check out our Holiday Guides where you’ll find what to do and where to shop this holiday season.
Jump to the Santa Cruz Holiday Guides
Friday
A Christmas Carol
When: 11/17 – 11/19 & 11/25 – 11/26. Check website for show times.
Where: Louden Nelson Community Center
Cost: $15 – $20
Christian Youth Theater presents this Broadway adaptation of the favorite Dickens classic. This performance puts a new spin on the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and the lesson he learns about what is truly important in life.
Also on Friday
- Jolly Llamas, Love Dimension & Love Jerks @ The Crepe Place
- August Sun, Light The Band, Urban Theory @ Don Quixote’s
- The Messiahs @ Crow’s Nest
- Painted Mandolin @ Moe’s Alley
- Gwar @ The Catalyst
- The Dip @ The Catalyst
- Wredhorse & Ginny Mitchell (Classic Rock) @ Severino’s
- Friday Night Live: Flypaper Blues @ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
- Bill Frisell’s Beautiful Dreamers @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Family Barn Dance @ Live Oak Grange
- UCSC Orchestra Concert Fall 2017 @ Music Center Recital Hall
- Community Drumming with Jim Greiner @ Inner Light Center
- Jewel Theatre Presents: Always… Patsy Cline @ The Colligan Theater
- The Gail Project: “An Okinawan-American Dialogue” @ Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery
- Live Oak Library Book Group @ Santa Cruz Public Libraries – Live Oak Branch Library 2380 Portola Drive
- Watsonville Farmers Market @ Downtown Watsonville
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
Arboretum Wreath and Gift Sale
When: 11/18 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: U.C. Santa Cruz Arboretum and Botanic Garden
Cost: Free
A visit to the arboretum is always a treat, so why not get some holiday shopping out of the way while you’re there? You’ll find carefully crafted dried flower works of art, as well as traditional and one-of-a-kind wreaths. If you’d rather go the DIY route, get inspired with a selection of plants, dried flowers, frames, wreath kits and wreath demonstrations.
Embracing the Dance
When: 11/18 at 7:30 & 11/19 at 2:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium / Henry J Mello Center
Cost: $29 – $85
The Santa Cruz Symphony presents a program of musical dance scores across time. Celebrate the music of Adams, Bernstein and Beethoven and enjoy a variety of music from West Side Story to a Beethoven’s 7th. This concert masterpiece has four movements and is approximately 40 minutes long.
Planet Cruz Comedy with Richard Stockton
When: 11/18 at 7:30 pm
Where: Rio Theatre
Cost: $20 advance, $25 door
Have some laughs and enjoy a night of comedy. This year’s theme is “Breach in the Wall” and features comedians Kermet Apio, Kellen Erskine and Kat Simmons, with special guest Reverend Deborah Johnson and local humorist Sven Davis. Live music by Planetoid Band.
Deb Perelman, Smitten Kitchen Every Day
When: 11/18 at 4:00 pm
Where: Bookshop Santa Cruz
Cost: Free
Meet the New York Times best-selling author and blogger at this signing event to kick off her new cookbook which is full of good food and plenty of humor. You can reserve a priority spot in the signing line by purchasing her new book with signing line voucher through Bookshop Santa Cruz.
145th Anniversary Celebration of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Photo by Don DeBold
When: 11/18 from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park
Cost: Free
Celebrate 145 years of this historic lighthouse with California State Parks and Coastside State Parks Association and find out more about the rich history. There will be food trucks, live music, tours, as well as a native plant sale. Plenty of activities for kids and information booths, too. Bring a flashlight and a warm jacket.
Santa Cruz Track Club’s Turkey Trot 2017
When: 11/18 from 7:45 am to 11:00 am
Where: 2300 Delaware Avenue
Cost: $45 for 5K & 10K – $5 for kids’ 1K
Trot along with Santa Cruz Track Club for a choice of either a 10K, 5K or a 1K ocean view race. The fun begins and ends on Delaware Ave by Natural Bridges State Park back entrance. There will be an award issued for each race.
Beginning Embroidery – Cactus
When: 11/18 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Where: Wallflower Boutique
Cost: $50
Spend an afternoon learning embroidery techniques and basic stitches while creating your own cactus themed wall hanging decoration. All supplies will be provided. Feel free to bring your own colors of floss if you prefer.
How to Install a Community Cupboard/Little Pantry
When: 11/18 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Private Home on the Westside
Cost: $5
Share some food and help support those in need in your community. This workshop will teach you how to build your own sturdy community cupboard/pantry to use curbside by your home.
Holiday Sale – Rocks, Gems, Minerals, Fossils, Jewelry, & More
When: 11/18 – 11/19 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Live Oak Grange
Cost: Free Admission
Prepare to be dazzled at The Santa Cruz Mineral and Gem Society holiday sale, where members will be displaying and selling their treasures, including rocks, minerals, fossils, gems, jewelry, lapidary arts, and more.
A Christmas Carol
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Saturday
- Dirty Cello and Coffee Zombie Collective @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Esoteric Collective: 40s to 60s Jazz @ Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn
- Isaac & The Haze @ Crow’s Nest
- KEZNAMDI + Santa Cruz Reggae All Stars, Cruzah & Selecta 7 @ Moe’s Alley
- Red Electric, The Fighting Murrays @ The Crepe Place
- Party Favor @ The Catalyst
- Anonymous That Dude @ The Catalyst
- Tsunami (Classic Rock, R&B) @ Severino’s
- The Deathless, Ground Score, The Complicators @ The Blue Lagoon
- La Selva Beach Holiday Fair @ La Selva Beach Clubhouse & Lawn
- Santa’s Shelves Craft Fair @ Felton Fire Station
- ART PARTY and SALE: works by Pearl Took @ The 418 Project
- Scotts Valley Farmers Market @ Scotts Valley Farmers’ Market
- Westside Farmers Market @ Westside Farmers’ Market
- Aptos Farmers Market @ Aptos Farmers’ Market
- Free Community Day at MOD @ Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery
- November Passport Day @ Various Locations Around Santa Cruz County
- City of Watsonville Nature Walks @ City of Watsonville – Nature Center
- Money Matters Series @ Scotts Valley Library
- Release, Renew, & Seed the Dream of 2018! Santa Cruz Hawaiian Sacred Site Restoration Benefit @ TriYoga 708 Washington Street Santa Cruz 95060
- Jewel Theatre Presents: Always… Patsy Cline @ The Colligan Theater
- Hidden Gems of Big Basin: Wildflowers and Other Plants Hike @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Basket Making Workshop @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- When Species Collide @ Rancho del Oso Unit
- Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tour @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Guided Redwood Grove Walk @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Old Cove Landing Coast Nature Walk @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Thankful for our Stewards @ Castro Adobe State Historic Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Skill and Luck @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
Watsonville Taiko Holiday Boutique
When: 11/19 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: Kizuka Hall in Watsonville
Cost: Free admission; Raffle Tickets $10
Support Watsonville Taiko and get a jump start on your holiday shopping! This family-friendly boutique features something for everyone—unique and creative holiday gifts from arts & crafts to theme baskets to gift certificates, and more. Try your luck at numerous raffle prizes, including the grand prize, an original, handmade Japanese Motif Quilt. Enjoy baked goods and snacks for purchase while you shop.
Book Launch: Between the Redwoods and the Bay: The Jewish Community of Santa Cruz County, California from the Gold Rush to the 21st Century
When: 11/19 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
Cost: Free
Join author George Fogelson for a talk and book-signing for this new publication for the MAH. You can learn more about the early Jewish settlers who arrived during the Gold Rush era and about the history of the Jewish community in Santa Cruz County from past to present day.
Holiday Sip & Sale
When: 11/19 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: An Epicurious Lifestyle
Cost: $10
Home to cooking classes, unique private events, and soirées, An Epicurious Lifestyle offers the opportunity to shop local, get your holiday gifts early, and, if you’re one of the first 50 to purchase a ticket, receive a swag bag filled with vendor goodies. Vendors include Mark Messa Designs, Linny’s Floral, Stacy Lynn Accessories (a Santa Cruz Life fave), Santa Cruz Stitchworks, and Goose’s Goodies. Enjoy complimentary appetizers and wine.
A Christmas Carol
See Description Under Friday Section
Embracing the Dance
See Description Under Saturday Section
Holiday Sale – Rocks, Gems, Minerals, Fossils, Jewelry, & More
See Description Under Saturday Section
Also on Sunday
- Tish Hinojosa 2pm Matinee @ Don Quixote’s
- Incendio @ Don Quixote’s
- Live Comedy @ Crow’s Nest
- Grammy Award Winning REBIRTH BRASS BAND @ Moe’s Alley
- The Myrrors, Human Furniture Company @ The Crepe Place
- Our Lady Peace – Celebrating 20 Years of Clumsy @ The Catalyst
- Glenn Travis @ The Catalyst
- The Box @ The Blue Lagoon
- Joe Ferrara @ The Cats Restaurant & Bar
- Cleanup Cowells Project @ Cowell Beach
- Science Sunday @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Sunday Seaside Crafts @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Jewel Theatre Presents: Always… Patsy Cline @ The Colligan Theater
- Santa’s Shelves Craft Fair @ Felton Fire Station
- The Road Less Traveled – A Dog-Friendly Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tour @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Drop-In Family Craft: Ramillettas @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Featured Upcoming Event
What: Climb for Fire Relief 2017
Where: Pacific Edge Climbing Gym
When: Sunday, Dec. 3rd 6 – 9 PM
Join in on a great cause with Pacific Edge and other Northern California climbing gyms in support of victims of the recent wildfires. There will be climbing opportunities for any level, from new to expert. A $20 donation is suggested at the door. There will be live music, a silent auction and a bake sale, too.
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