Nightlife in Santa Cruz

The Santa Cruz nightlife scene has long served as the gateway to the San Francisco Bay Area. Many of the world's top performers stop to play unforgettable, intimate shows in the city's clubs, bars and performing arts centers before heading up the coast to San Francisco.

Santa Cruz is home to a vibrant live music scene, comedy, DJ nights, karaoke, theater and dance with performances every night of the week.

There is world-class jazz at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center, indie-rock at The Crepe Place, world music at Don Quixote's and the latest bands and DJs at The Catalyst Club, Moe;s Alley and The Crow's Nest at the Santa Cruz Harbor.

The county's lively arts scene comes alive at night with monthly First Friday arts events in downtown Santa Cruz and weekly events at the Tannery Arts Center. Outside of the city of Santa Cruz, Capitola-by-the-Sea, Aptos and the SantaCruz Mountain communities of Felton and Boulder Creek offer an assortment of nightlife activities for a memorable night out.