Guides

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While the rest of the country hunkers down during the winter months in order to stay warm, Santa Cruz is outside and celebrating the holiday season, thanks to a steady supply of blue skies and sunshine. The gracious weather and easily accessible venues make attending holiday events a pleasure. Santa Cruz County’s diverse and artistic community hosts an assortment of holiday events that will get people dancing, singing along or simply relishing in a new find at a holiday craft fair. Santa Cruz holiday events feature the traditional, the unique and the awe-inspiring. Here are a list of our favorite holiday events to get you started, be sure to check back regularly as we add more to the list. Top image courtesy of Shutterstock/Igor Bulgarin.

 

  • Winterfest (Dec. 11)

    Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz

    An evening of free live entertainment, open houses, and free movie showings for the entire family in downtown Santa Cruz. The annual event features a Main Stage at the Vets Hall Building on Front Street, with performances starting at 5 p.m. Stand-out acts include Foreverland, a 14-piece tribute to Michael Jackson, Santa Cruz Ballet Theater's Nutcracker dancers and the Salvation Army Band. The Del Mar Theatre will show kid-friendly holiday favorites like stop-action classics, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman, starting at 5:30 p.m. The downtown trolley will also be making an appearance to shuttle guests between the two locations between 5:30-8:30 p.m.

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  • The Nutcracker (Dec. 13-14)

    Henry J Mello Center, 215 East Beach Street, Watsonville

    Agape Dance Academy presents free Nutcracker performances as a gift to the community this holiday season. Families will enjoy this classic, timeless ballet performed by local talented adults and children. Featuring beautiful sets and costumes, it is a must see ballet, and for free, the ticket price cannot be beat.

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  • Christmas on the Farm (Dec. 13)

    Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave, Watsonville

    Agricultural History Project's 2nd Saturday on the Farm celebrates Christmas with crafts, caroling, hay wagon rides (weather permitting), and holiday fun for all ages. Located at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, the AHP is a family-friendly destination that introduces guests to what life was like on a vintage farm in the Pajaro Valley. This event is free.

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  • Gospel/Folk Choral Music Concert (Dec. 15)

    Cabrillo Samper Recital Hall, 6500 Soquel Dr, Aptos

    The holidays would not be as festive without a good choral music concert with a Santa Cruz twist. The annual concert is directed by Michael J. McGushin, and the program features choral music in gospel and folk music traditions. The concert is free but tickets are required for entrance. Tickets can be picked up at the box office up to an hour before the performance starts at 8 p.m.

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  • Rock of Ages Chanukah Concert (Dec. 16)

    Temple Beth El, 3044 Porter Gulch Road, Aptos

    Celebrate first light at Temple Beth El at their Rock of Ages Chanukah Concert and Community-wide Candle Lighting Celebration with the in-house Rock Shabbat band. Guests are invited to bring their menorah to the first night of Chanukah celebration, starting at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to sing along and dance and afterwards, sufganiyot (doughnuts) and dreydl!

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  • Home & Hearth Holiday Fair (Dec. 13, 20)

    Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College

    Get into the holiday spirit and shop local at the 9th annual Home & Hearth Holiday Fair at the Aptos Farmers Market Saturday, from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. Guest holiday vendors include Copper Moon Apothecary, Bee Mark & Moss, Earth-In Canteen, Jen Wren Designs, and Trellis & Vine.

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  • Holidays on the Ranch (Dec. 13)

    Wilder Ranch Cultural Preserve, 1401 Coast Road, Santa Cruz

    Go back in time and celebrate the holidays as they did more than one hundred years ago at Wilder Ranch State Park just north of Santa Cruz on Highway One. Featuring crafts, games, music and merriment, kids of all ages will have fun reliving the "old days." There will also be cookie decoration, wagon rides, wreath and candle making and living history demonstrations. Parking is $10 (unless you have a state park parking pass) and activities are free.

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  • Beloved Christmas Stories (Dec. 16)

    Scotts Valley Branch Library, 251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley

    Cherished Christmas stories and poems come alive as they are read aloud by local storytellers, Willing Suspension Armchair Theater, offering children of all ages (and young souls) to relish in the words made famous by Ogden Nash, Mark Twain, Robert Frost and others. Performance starts at 7 p.m. Cost is free.

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  • Gift Wrapping for a Cause (Dec. 19-22)

    Capitola Mall, 1845 41st Ave, Capitola

    Attention Last Minute Shoppers! Get your presents impeccably wrapped by local high school students while supporting a great cause. Santa Cruz County Interact student groups will be stationed near the Fountain in Capitola Mall offering gift wrapping for $1 (donation). Proceeds benefit Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County. Interact is the youth version of Rotary, committed to community service.

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  • Oberufer Shepherds' Play (Dec. 20)

    Louden Nelson Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz

    Originally written by Karl Julis Schroer in the mid-19th century, the Oberufer Shepherds’ Play is one of a trilogy of medieval plays that draws on ancient traditions and archetypal characters. Through a procession of vocalists, the story circles around the birth of Christ, told through the eyes of witnessing shepherds. Performed for generations all over the world, this tale is known as a unique humor-filled take on a warm-hearted classic.

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  • The 12 Acts of Christmas, Our Gifts to You (Dec. 21)

    418 Front St., Santa Cruz

    Aerial dance concert produced, directed, choreographed and performed by the kids of Wide Blue Yonder Dance Company. Audience participation, snacks and fun. Also serves as a fundraiser for The 418 Project.

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