Monterey Bay Region

MONTEREY/SEASIDE - Feel the soul and rhythm this Sunday! Enjoy an afternoon of live Blues and R&B as the Minor Williams Band takes the stage, Sunday, Jan 12 from 3 PM - 6 PM. Let the music move you!

MONTEREY/SEASIDE - Get ready to live a night full of Afro-Peruvian music in Warango, an event that will transport you to the roots of Perú Negro!

BIG SUR - Join in celebrating the unique bounty of Big Sur with top chefs, local restaurants, and the finest wineries and breweries. This is a fantastic opportunity for culinary professionals to showcase their talents and connect with fellow food enthusiasts! Offering Four “Wild Foraging Walk and Talk” Hikes on Saturday, January 25th and Sunday, […]

MONTEREY - Get ready for a night of non-stop laughter and unpredictable fun at the Monterey History & Art at Stanton Center. Controlled Chaos Improv puts their own twist on traditional improvisational theatre. Quick wit and spontaneous energy are combined with truth in comedy to bring something fresh and fun to the stage! Grab your […]

FEB 5-9 CAMBRIA:  Festival events this year include: Emerging Filmmaker Night; Awards Night; Student Film Competition Block; Late Nite Cinema, and more!

SANTA CRUZ - Sip local wines while enjoying the fabulous boutique shops of Capitola Village. There will be approximately 20 shops throughout the Village that will be hosting various wineries from the area, with one shop hosting beer. With the purchase of your ticket, you will receive a Capitola Village Sip & Stroll logo glass […]

FELTON - Come warm up inside the beautiful Bret Harte Opera Hall for a day of great music, local comfort food and some of the best craft beer the area has to offer.

FEB 19 - FEB 20 FELTON:  The Easter Bunny makes a stop at Roaring Camp Railroad. Hop aboard the Redwood Forest Steam Train to Bear Mountain for an Easter Egg Hunt and participate in Easter activities in town.

MAR 1-20 SANTA CRUZ:  Come celebrate the beginning of hummingbird migration season with a visit to the Arboretum! This time of year, the Arboretum hosts both Anna’s and Allen’s hummingbirds, the two most common species in Northern California. “The density of hummingbirds—the number per area in the Arboretum—is ridiculously high,” says Bruce Lyon, professor of […]

SANTA CRUZ:  Get hooked on Santa Cruz County. Get hooked on zinfandel wine. Get hooked on a Mystery Series centered around both! At the Mortal Zin Mystery Series launch event, you will meet the author and a longtime resident of Santa Cruz County, Diane Schaffer. The Mortal Zin Mystery Series is rooted in her summer […]

MAR 6-8 WATSONVILLE:  The Watsonville Film Festival promotes Latin and indigenous cultural traditions with free events for the community throughout the year. The 13th annual festival officially begins with cinema for the people by the people on March 6th.

MAR 7 - MAR 9 MONTEREY:  The Jazz Bash By the Bay Monterey takes place in the Conference Center and Portola Hotel & Spa with 8 venues and 6 dance floors. Enjoy the colorful forms of American Classic Jazz including Traditional, Ragtime, Swing, Gypsy, and Blues.

SANTA CRUZ:  Make a fresh water pearl bracelet with sterling silver chain and a silver clasp. Santa Cruz jeweler, Lisa Dogget demonstrates and guides participant through the whole process. You will learn basic wire wrapping technique to connect the pearls to the chain. Lisa provides the all the tools and needed supplies i.e. silver chain, […]

SANTA CRUZ:  Get ready to hike around an ancient seafloor! On this 1.5 mile hike through the Sandhills, which will last approximately 2 hours, participants can meander through sandy soils on the mountain top, about 800 feet above present day sea level. Explore this beautiful landscape and learn about the rare and unique things that […]

MAR 8-9 SANTA CRUZ:  The Toyota USA Surfing Prime Series is the highest level of junior surfing in the nation, featuring the best under 18 surfers who have proven themselves in local and regional competitions. Head out to Lighthouse Point to watch them surfing in iconic Steamer Lane.

SANTA CRUZ: Celebrate Women’s History month by attending this free event paying tribute to the stories of remarkable women who have left an indelible mark on Santa Cruz County. There will be guest speakers, hands-on activities, Performances, and much more! By the end of the event, you will learn ways you can act right now […]

MAR 14-16 SCOTTS VALLEY:  The Hitchcock Festival offers a rich tapestry of activities, blending screenings of classics with insightful analyses and discussions. These sessions, led by film scholars and experts, provide a deeper understanding of Hitchcock’s work. The festival also features keynote talks, panel discussions, and a special fashion show inspired by the iconic styles […]

MONTEREY/SEASIDE - "Paradise Blue" a production by the UCSC African American Theater Troupe sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Foundation. Event held at Oldemeyer Center in Seaside. FREE.

MAR 15-16 MONTEREY:  Two days of stories, celebration and send-off festivities. Eighty-five years ago, the Western Flyer set sail for the Gulf of California with what the Monterey Peninsula Herald described as “perhaps the strangest crew ever signed aboard a local workboat”. Among them were renowned author John Steinbeck and marine biologist Ed Ricketts, embarking on the journey […]

SANTA CRUZ:  During this program, you will be introduced to a craft used by indigenous peoples around the world: coiled basketry. CA basketry is some of the most ornate in the world, and this opportunity will pique your interest in learning more about, and supporting traditional arts. This 2-hour workshop will teach you how to […]

MAR 22-23 SANTA CRUZ:  The National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) is one of the few national youth sports organizations that require its participants to maintain academic standards in order to compete. Head over to the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse on West Cliff Drive, and look out at the competing youth surfers in the iconic Steamer […]

MORGAN HILL: Immerse yourself in a Night of Old Italy! Your ticket includes: A delicious 5-course wine-paired dinner featuring finest selections. George Guglielmo will personally guide you through the evening, sharing the rich history behind each vintage. Gourmet cuisine crafted by Fire 4 Hire. An intimate evening in the elegant Indoor Heritage Room. SPACE IS LIMITED.

SANTA CRUZ:  Go outside and learn to paint gouache and watercolor landscapes while surrounded by nature as inspiration. This open-air art workshop will teach the techniques necessary to capture environmental perspectives through the creative use of negative space, layering, various stroke techniques, and more.

MAR 28-30 SANTA CRUZ:  The star event at the Santa Cruz Paddlefest (SCPF) is held at the world-famous Steamer Lane surf break found along West Cliff Drive in the heart of Santa Cruz, California. Paddle surfers have flocked to Santa Cruz from around the globe for over 33 years to surf, compete, and connect with […]

SANTA CRUZ:  Swap out your flip flops for running shoes and join the fun with this family-friendly race through the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk! Run a 1k or a 5k, on this flat course and then enjoy what the boardwalk has to offer, including rides, games,

SANTA CRUZ:  Make your own set of four tumblers or vases out of wine bottles or a glass vase! Annie will teach you how to “hot pop” the tops off of wine bottles, sand the edges, and create a beautiful set of recycled pieces.

SANTA CRUZ:  Dive deep into the Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains and discover more than 40 wineries – all in one location – at the 2025 Grand Wine Tasting! Explore the stunning grounds and breathtaking views of The Mountain Winery while you sip award-winning wines, and bid on more than 50 exciting silent auction […]

SANTA CRUZ:  The Vive Oaxaca Guelaguetza is an authentic cultural festival with food, music, dance, music, and crafts presented each spring by Senderos. This local festival is like the traditional fiestas celebrated each summer in Oaxaca, Mexico. Guelaguetza is a Zapotec word that means “a commitment of sharing and cooperation.” Guelaguetza is a celebration that […]

APR 9 - 16 MORGAN HILL/SAN MARTIN/GILROY/HOLLISTER/SAN JUAN BAUTISTA:  Film Festival events include: Filmmaker Competitions; Young Filmmaker Program, 40 & Up Filmmaking Workshop, and more!

APR 10 - APR 13 SALINAS:  A four-day "Celebration of Cycling," Sea Otter Classic is regarded as the largest and most comprehensive gathering of cycling enthusiasts in the world. Part recreational biking, part competitive event, part festival, part expo and 100 percent fun. This action-packed cycling extravaganza features amateur and pro cycling events as well as […]

APR 12 - APR 13 FELTON: Adults and kids alike will enjoy viewing California Central Coast on 30's large scale model railroad display. Watch model trains chugging through the Redwoods, around railroad bends and over the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Boardwalk with the miniature scale of the Central Coast spread out before them. During […]

APR 12-13 MONTEREY:  This free family friendly event will be held at and around Old Fisherman’s Wharf and the Custom House Plaza - Monterey State Historic Park. It includes fun and educational activities for all ages, musicians, and dozens of interactive marine-related interactive exhibits by numerous local and national organizations.

SANTA CRUZ:  Head to Quail Hollow Ranch for a quiet exploration under the moonlight. On this one-hour guided hike on the lower trails, you can search for critters and meander through the forest. Bring flashlights and/or a headlamp (though you may try to hike without them), and some drinking water. Dress for the weather and […]

SANTA CRUZ:  Just in time for Spring Break, head to the outdoor market with unique artisans while taking in the spectacular view of the ocean. This one-of-a-kind market will be held in two parking lots along West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz. This is always a popular spot for locals and tourists, as it overlooks […]

SANTA CRUZ:  Earth Day 2025 will be held at beautiful Downtown Santa Cruz on Cooper St, Pacific Ave, and Abbott Square. Local businesses and organizations will gather for a day of fun and environmentally focused activities and education. There will be live music, face painting, a photo booth, lots of food options from Abbott Square […]

SANTA CRUZ:  Enjoy a jewelry workshop with local artisan Lisa Schaffer Doggett. In this workshop you will learn to create a pair of gorgeous Sterling Silver or 14k Gold Fill earrings with Herkimer Diamonds. Lisa will teach you basic wire wrapping techniques, which include making hook and eye clasps, and an earring wire with basic […]