Santa Cruz hosts an array of events for people of all ages during the Halloween weekend. From costume parties to Dia de los Muertos community celebrations, there is something for everyone.
Halloween in Santa Cruz
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Flash Mob Performance (Oct 31)
Downtown Santa Cruz
NextStage Productions, a Performing Arts Senior Theatre, is planning a devilish demonstration Downtown Santa Cruz on Halloween, starting at 3 p.m. on Pacific Avenue. It is a Flash Mob! Everyone is welcome to Ghost Busters dance as a spectator participant and show the community the vitality of active seniors. Meet the gang at 2:30 p.m. at the corner of Cooper St. and Pacific Ave.
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Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-a-Long (Oct 30)
Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz
Sometimes bringing your kids to Pacific Avenue on Halloween can be a terrible fright, and not for the right reasons, either. Fear not, parents trying to keep it all PG—Santa Cruz Performing Arts offers a kid-friendly sing-along to Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas this Hallow’s Eve. Come dressed up in your most creative costume for a chance at winning prizes for the scariest and original creations, and sing along with the master of fright and demon of light. Presented by the Family Theatre Project, all funds will go towards performing arts education for youth within the Santa Cruz community. Starts: 7 p.m. Tickets $10
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Trick-or-Treat Downtown Santa Cruz (Oct 31)
Downtown Santa Cruz
Bring your gals and ghouls to downtown Santa Cruz for trick- or-treating at local shops starting at 2:30 p.m. Fun ends at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Avenue will be closed to traffic. Get there early if you want all the candy.
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Marine Masquerade (Oct 31)
Seymour Discovery Center, 100 Shaffer Rd., Santa Cruz
For an educational Halloween night, venture to the Seymour Discovery Center for a magical mystery marine masquerade adventure that includes scavenger hunts, creature crafts, flashlight tours to a whale skeleton, costume parade, and more. The fun starts at 6:00 p.m. Call 459-3799 for more details. Tickets are $8 Adults, $6 Students/Seniors, Children 2 and under free.
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Halloween Bash & Surf Contest After Party (Oct 31)
Ideal Bar and Grill, 106 Beach St., Santa Cruz
Halloween Bash with DJ Juan Burgandy. Cover benefits Grind Out Hunger, a local nonprofit. Costume Contest will award $500 in cash and prizes to the most amazing costumes. Zombie Drink Specials. Mystery Photo Booth. This is a 21 years and older event. Dress code is enforced. Fun starts at 9:30 p.m. after the Coldwater Classic surfing competition.
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20th Annual Freaker's Ball (Oct 31)
Cocoanut Groove Ballroom, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz
If there’s one time a year where the true freaks are allowed to come out creeping and crawling, it’s Halloween. And thankfully, Cocoanut Grove is all about the freaks. That’s why they’re throwing a ghoulishly good time for this the twentieth annual Freaker’s Ball this All Hallow’s Eve for all the thrills and chills that you could ask for. A host of electronic DJs will keep the line between earthly realm and devilish fun blurred—including Ill Gates, Otto Von Schirach, NastyNasty, DJ Shawna, Little John, KMLN and Gaudi. Monster mash the night away in your finest costumed apparel with the Coconut crew—and make sure to get a little freaky, if you’re 21 and over, of course. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased locally at Streetlight Records on Pacific Avenue or online at EventBrite.
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Dia de Los Muertos Community Festival (Nov 1)
Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH), 705 Front St., Santa Cruz
Not all Halloween fun has to take place at night. In order to get there before the kids crash from candy comas, it’s probably best to celebrate during the remaining daylight hours—like at the MAH, where families can take part in traditional Mexican crafts such as tissue paper flowers, dance to live music, enjoy performances by Grupo Folklorico Los Mejicas, and get their faces painted by Mariposa’s Art. The Dia de los Muertos festivities will be followed by a procession to Evergreen Cemetery—a time to reflect and celebrate in whatever way you choose with loved ones, community members, food and music. Fun starts at 3 p.m. at the MAH; procession to cemetery begins at 4:45 p.m.
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Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos Performance (Nov 1)
Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz
New Music Works Ensemble and the Cabrillo Latin Music Ensemble, present a musical celebration honoring the souls of the departed and an interweaving of traditional songs and rituals from Mexico, Columbia and the United States. Features a costume contest and altar for offerings. Bring keepsakes to add to the altar. Music by living and late composers, Gabriella Ortiz, Orlando Jacinto Garia, Peter Garland, Peter Sculthorpe, Henry Cowell, and Philip Collins. Tickets $10-$20. Purchase tickets at brownpapertickets.com. Show starts at 8 p.m.
