Civic Events

July is Parks and Recreation Month

25 Jul 2026 July is Park and Recreation Month! 🌳 Since 1985, communities nationwide have celebrated the power of parks to build strong, healthy and connected communities. Join Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation all month long for special events and summer programs as we highlight The Power of Connection, Play, Community, Nature, Belonging and Well-Being.

Tagged as: , Community Event

Cabrillo Festival: In The Works Concert

28 Jul 2026 A concert of works performed by the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra penned by four under-30 composers and conducted by emerging conductors, all participating in the Conductors/Composers workshop. Free!

Paul Dooley's The Conductor's Spellbook
Gala Flagello's Bravado
plus a special performance from El Sistema Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street,  95060

Tagged as: , Community Event

Pilates Sculpt Classes (January - July 2026)

29 Jul 2026 Pilates Sculpt is a hybrid workout class - combining strength training, ballet-inspired moves along with elements of Pilates and stretching. This class is sponsored by the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation and Human Resource Departments. Employees and Community Members are all welcome. Our facilities are the Civic and LNCC depending on the day. Class is free but donations are welcomed.

Tagged as: , Community Event

Cabrillo Festival: On Freedom

31 Jul 2026 The 64th Cabrillo Festival opens with a program confronting the fault lines between democratic ideals and lived reality.

Vivian Fung's Festival commission
Philip Glass's Symphony No. 15 Lincoln
Pedro Emanuel Pereira's Clarinet Concerto

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street,  95060

Tagged as: , Community Event

Cabrillo Festival: Defiant Dreams

01 Aug 2026 The Festival's second concert centers voices of resistance and reclaimed identity.

Leilehua Lanzilotti's of light and stone
James Lee III's Shades of Unbroken Dreams
Sarah Hennies's Creative Lab Commission

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street,  95060

Tagged as: , Community Event

Cabrillo Festival: Family Concert

02 Aug 2026 Fun for all ages, interactive, and totally Free!

Paul Dooley's The Conductor's Spellbook
Gala Flagello's Bravado
plus a special performance from El Sistema Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street,  95060

Tagged as: , Community Event

Pilates Sculpt Classes (August - December 2026)

05 Aug 2026 Pilates Sculpt is a hybrid workout class - combining strength training, ballet-inspired moves along with elements of Pilates and stretching. This class is sponsored by the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation and Human Resource Departments. Employees and Community Members are all welcome. Our facilities are the Civic and LNCC depending on the day. Class is free but donations are welcomed.

16 more dates

Tagged as: , Community Event

Cabrillo Festival: Control

08 Aug 2026 Clarice Assad's Kontrol
Jackson A. Waters's Defending Greenwood
Hannah Ishizaki's Spin
Dan Dediu's Concerto for Orchestra

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street,  95060

Tagged as: , Community Event

Cabrillo Festival: Hope As Our Banner - Grand Finale

09 Aug 2026 The radiant season finale celebrates belonging, joy, and endurance.

Eunike Tanzil's Ascending Creatures
Lisa Bielawa's Pulse
Elena Kats-Chernin's Rainbow Promise
Sean Shepherd's Wanderlust

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street,  95060

Tagged as: , Community Event

Ani DiFranco w/ Special Guest Valerie June

15 Aug 2026 Presented by Pulse Productions
Widely considered a feminist icon, Grammy winner Ani DiFranco is the mother of the DIY movement, being one of the first artists to create her own record label, Righteous Babe Records, in 1990. She has released 23 albums traversing folk, punk, hip-hop, soul and electronic genres and addressing a range of autobiographical, political and social issues.

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street,  95060

Tagged as: , Community Event

43rd Annual Fiddle & Dance Extravaganza

04 Sep 2026 Alasdair Fraser’s 43rd Annual Fiddle & Dance Extravaganza
“A Night at the Dance”
Scottish Ceilidh Dance
With Alasdair Fraser, Rakish, and the Valley of the Moon Ceilidh Band

New England Contra
with Rodney Miller

Fiesta Castellana
with San Miguel Fraser

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street,  95060

Tagged as: , Community Event

Santa Cruz Welcome Week Rave

22 Sep 2026 EMD / Top 40 | 1900 Capacity | 18+

🚨 BACK TO SCHOOL PARTY 🚨

🥳 THE CITY’S BIGGEST 18+ BACK-TO-SCHOOL PARTY IS GOING DOWN FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY

🏙 WE’RE TAKING OVER THE TOP NIGHTCLUB IN THE CITY

🤯 BIG CROWD. BIG PRODUCTION. BIG FIRST NIGHT BACK.

💥 HOUSE • REMIXES • EDM ALL NIGHT 💥

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street,  95060

Tagged as: , Community Event

Bonnie Raitt

14 Oct 2026 Bonnie Raitt with special guest Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street,  95060

Tagged as: , Community Event

Hearts in the Parks Blood Drive- October

20 Oct 2026 Join Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation and the American Red Cross for a day of giving back at the Hearts in the Parks Blood Drive. Community members are invited to roll up their sleeves and help save lives by donating blood in a welcoming, park-filled atmosphere. This event brings together neighbors, families, and friends to support a vital cause while enjoying the spirit of community connection.

Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street,  95060

Tagged as: , Community Event