This is your very last weekend to celebrate Christmas (and Hanukkah!) Santa Cruz style, with trains, lights, and the Nutcracker.
Read on to see our picks for the best events in Santa Cruz this weekend.
Gabriella’s Snow Day
When: Friday, 12/19 at 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Where: Skypark in Scotts Valley
How Much: $10
The 3rd annual Gabriella’s Snow Day will take place on Friday at Sky Park in Scotts Valley. This charity event, organized by the Team G Foundation, benefits families with children who have been diagnosed with cancer. Snow will be the main attraction, but kids will also get to visit with Santa, and Anna and Elsa from Frozen. A bounce house, crafts, and special live performances round out what should be a fun day for families.
3rd Friday: Winterpalooza
When: Friday, 12/19 at 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: MAH
How Much: $3-$5
If you get disappointed when winter in Santa Cruz fails to bring blankets of snow and icy cheer, then this event is for you. Enjoy some crafts, make your own gift wrap, and be sure to bring your adolescents to the teen art market.
The Guitar Legend Returns To Moe’s Dick Dale + special guests The Concaves
When: Friday, 12/19 at 8:30 pm
Where: Moe’s Alley
How Much: $25-$30
Dick Dale is known as both the King of Surf Guitar and the Father of Heavy Metal. He’s also a Grammy nominee and he put together the soundtrack to Pulp Fiction, and he’s playing a small show at Moe’s Alley this Friday night.
Train to Christmas Town
When: Daily through Dec. 28 (except Christmas Eve & Christmas day)
Where: Train to Christmas Town Station, 765 Ohlone Parkway, Watsonville
How Much: $17-$50
Enjoy a train ride to the magical ‘Christmas Town.’ This adventure is based on the book, The Train to Christmas Town, and characters from the story accompany you on the train. Expect plenty of holiday festivities, including caroling, cookies and hot cocoa, and naturally, a visit with Santa Claus.
Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train
When: Friday, 12/19 through Sunday, 12/23
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
How Much: $22-$28
It’s a tradition in many families to drive around looking at holiday lights, but this year you can do something different and ride around inside of the lights. The Holiday Lights Train will light up the streets of Santa Cruz this weekend, and you can make a night of it by playing mini golf or arcade games at the Boardwalk afterwards.
The Nutcracker w/ Live Orchestra
When: Friday, 12/19 through Sunday, 12/21 at 4:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
How Much: $15-$55
Santa Cruz Ballet Theater is putting on a live staging of holiday classic The Nutcracker, complete with live orchestra. This is happening this weekend only, so don’t miss your chance to go!
Unsilent Night
When: Saturday, 12/20 at 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Abbott Square
How Much: Free
Make some noise this holiday season, courtesy of the MAH. Download the participatory tracks, bring some speakers or a boombox, and take part in this collaborative sound art that will travel throughout the streets of downtown Santa Cruz.
The English Beat: UK Ska Legends Return
When: Saturday, 12/20 at 9:00 pm
Where: Moe’s Alley
How Much: $25-$30
Classic 80s British Ska band The Beat are reuniting for a tour after decades of silence, and lucky ticket holders of the now show will catch them this Saturday night at Moe’s Alley.
Home and Hearth Holiday Fair
When: Saturday, 12/20 at 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Cabrillo College
How Much: Free
If you want to keep your last minute holiday shopping local, check out the Home and Hearth Holiday Fair at the Aptos Farmers Market, full of locally made crafts, skin products, jewelry and more. As they point out on their website, these aren’t gifts you can find at Macy’s!
House of Floyd The Pink Floyd Concert Experience
When: Saturday, 12/20 at 8:00 pm
Where: Don Quixote’s International Music Hall
How Much: $17-$20
If your only problem with Pink Floyd’s music is that you wish it were more danceable, you’ll definitely want to check out the Pink Floyd Concert Experience, where “House of Floyd” mix will invite all concertgoers to get on the dance floor.
Beach Cleanups
Additional events this weekend
Friday:
- Graphic Design Holiday Cards
- Dilated Peoples
- Slow Gherkin, Kepi Ghoulie, and the Cold Cuts – SOLD OUT!
- Cabrillo Latin Music Ensembles Concert
- Moonalice
- Misner and Smith, Joshua Lowe and the Juncos
Friday & Saturday
Saturday:
- Holiday Redwood Loop Walk: The Nutcracker
- The Sea Wolves
- The Klezmatics
- Historic Photo Processes Forum “Holiday Photographs”
- Joomanji featuring Salami Rose
- Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walks
Saturday & Sunday
Sunday:
Recurring Events You Can Find Every Weekend
- Free Wildlife Eco-Tours of the Santa Cruz Wharf (weekly event – every Saturday & Sunday)
- Tours of the Reserve at Elkhorn Slough (weekly event – every Saturday & Sunday)
- Santa Cruz Farmers Markets (weekly events)
- Live Comedy at the Crow’s Nest (weekly event – every Sunday night)
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