Santa Cruz County Events by Month

Information about events in Santa Cruz County organized by the month during which each event usually takes place.

January Events in Santa Cruz County
- Fungus Fair of Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz)
- Surfing America Prime West at Steamer Lane (Santa Cruz)
- Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival (Santa Cruz Boardwalk)
- Santa Cruz Mountains Wineries Passport Day (3rd Sat Jan)
- Elephant Seals at Anu Nuevo: Breeding Season (Dec-Mar) guided only
- Monarch Butterflies at Natural Bridges, more at Lighthouse State Beach (Nov-Jan)
- California Gray Whale Migration

February Events in Santa Cruz County
- Clam Chowder Cook-Off and Festival
- Romance in the Redwoods Hike (Big Basin State Park)
- Baroque Festival of Santa Cruz (series, various locations)
- Elephant Seals at Anu Nuevo: Breeding Season (Dec-Mar) guided only
- California Gray Whale Migration

March Events in Santa Cruz County
- Paddlefest of Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz County Symphony Family Concert
- Baroque Festival of Santa Cruz (series, various locations)
- Elephant Seals at Anu Nuevo: Breeding Season (Dec-Mar) guided only
- California Gray Whale Migration

April Events in Santa Cruz County
- Santa Cruz Half Marathon
- Dance Week of Santa Cruz
- Ducky Derby Rubber Ducky Race
- Baroque Festival of Santa Cruz (series, various locations)
- Santa Cruz Mountains Wineries Passport Day (3rd Sat Apr)
- Wednesday Night Sailboat Races (Apr-Oct)
- Elephant Seals at Anu Nuevo: Molting Season (Apr-Aug) self guided, permit

May Events in Santa Cruz County
- Baroque Festival of Santa Cruz (series, various locations)
- Blues Festival of Santa Cruz (Aptos)
- Greek Food and Cultural Festival (Santa Cruz)
- Wednesday Night Sailboat Races (Apr-Oct)
- Elephant Seals at Anu Nuevo: Molting Season (Apr-Aug) self guided, permit

June Events in Santa Cruz County
- Highland Games and Scottish Renaissance Festival (Watsonville)
- Japanese Cultural Fair
- Woodies on the Wharf
- Wednesday Night Sailboat Races (Apr-Oct)
- Elephant Seals at Anu Nuevo: Molting Season (Apr-Aug) self guided, permit

July Events in Santa Cruz County
- 4th of July in Santa Cruz County
- Wharf to Wharf Run (Santa Cruz to Capitola)
- Santa Cruz Mountains Wineries Passport Day (3rd Sat Jul)
- Wednesday Night Sailboat Races (Apr-Oct)
- Elephant Seals at Anu Nuevo: Molting Season (Apr-Aug) self guided, permit

August Events in Santa Cruz County
Beer Festival of California (Aptos)
- Watsonville Strawberry Festival (Watsonville)
- Aloha Outrigger Races and Polynesian Festival (Santa Cruz Whaarf)
- Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music - Roaring Camp Summer Gathering of Mountain Men
- Roaring Camp Santa Cruz Mountains Sol Fest
- Wednesday Night Sailboat Races (Apr-Oct)
- Elephant Seals at Anu Nuevo: Molting Season (Apr-Aug) self guided, permit

September Events in Santa Cruz County
- Capitola Begonia Festival and Floating Parade
- Big Kahuna Triathlon
- Capitola Art and Wine Festival
- Labor Day in Santa Cruz County
- Monterey Bay Birding Festival
- Monterey Bay Master Gardeners Garden Tour
- Santa Cruz County Fair
- Santa Cruz Follies (Santa Cruz)
- Santa Cruz Triathlon
- Thunderbirds on the Wharf
- Watsonville Air Show and Fly-In
All Star Dog Run
- Wednesday Night Sailboat Races (Apr-Oct)
- Elephant Seals at Anu Nuevo: "Return to Saa" Season (Sep-Nov) self guided, permit

October Events in Santa Cruz County
- Santa Cruz Boardwalk Chili Cook-Off
- Open Studios Art Tour (Cultura Council of SC County_
- Octoberfest (Hospice of Santa Cruz County)
- Monte Foundation Fireworks Extravaganza (Seacliff SB, Aptos) Problems
- Pacific Rim Film Festival (Del Mar and Rio Theaters)
- Wednesday Night Sailboat Races (Apr-Oct)
- O'Neill Coldwater Classic Surfing Competition (Steamers Lane)
- Roaring Camp Halloween Ghost Train
- Roaring Camp Harvest Faire and Steam Festival

November Events in Santa Cruz County
- Santa Cruz Film Festival
- Santa Cruz Mountains Wineries Passport Day (3rd Sat Nov)
- Taste of Santa Cruz
Monarch Butterflies at Natural Bridges, more at Lighthouse State Beach (Nov-Jan)
- Elephant Seals at Anu Nuevo: "Return to Saa" Season (Sep-Nov) self guided, permit

December Events in Santa Cruz County
- Lighted Boat Parade by the Santa Cruz Yacht Club
- Nutcracker Ballet by Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre
- Train to Christmas Town
- Roaring Camp Chanukah Train (Beach Boardwalk)
- Roaring CampHoliday Lights Train (Beach Boardwalk)
- Roaring Camp Holiday Tree Walk
- Monarch Butterflies at Natural Bridges, more at Lighthouse State Beach (Nov-Jan)
- California Gray Whale Migration (Winter months)
- Elephant Seals at Anu Nuevo: Breeding Season (Dec-Mar) guided only

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Santa Cruz County Travel Guide

Central Coast of California

Coastal Regions of California

Northern California Travel Guide

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