The best arts & culture spots in Santa Cruz County

From fossils and local geology to flora, fauna, and the people who’ve called this coast home, Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History makes our backyard feel epic. This summer’s seaweed focus brings lectures, art workshops, and one-of-a-kind walks that are perfect for curious locals and kids who collect pockets of sand.

From the Santa Cruz newsletter, October 15, 2026

If you’ve been itching to trade screen time for grout time, Community Arts and Empowerment rallies neighbors to co-create mosaic public art through hands-on workshops and community builds. It’s creative place making with real staying power, and a very good excuse to see your tiles turn into town pride this week.

From the Morgan Hill newsletter, August 5, 2026

Step into San Lorenzo Valley Museum, Grace Episcopal Gallery for Retrospect, a 50-year look at the valley’s stories, plus hands-on heritage demos that make pre-internet know-how feel cool again. It’s the chillest way to get your local-history fix this week without doomscrolling.

From the Santa Cruz newsletter, August 6, 2026

From curated art glass and tools to handcrafted sun catchers, Kiss My Glass in Santa Cruz is the local spot for supplies, one-of-a-kind gifts, and hands-on classes in copper foil, lead came, fusing, mosaics, lampworking, and glass beadmaking.

From the Santa Cruz newsletter, September 30, 2026

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History is serving up bilingual, hands-on exhibitions and community vibes, from Santa Cruz Guitar Company: The First 50 Years to thought-provoking installations like N'ap Balansé (Saved by…) and Jason Peters. Swing by for creative meetups, Yappy Hours, and the Queerstory self-guided tour.

From the Santa Cruz newsletter, October 7, 2026

Rio Theatre keeps the calendar stacked with the good stuff... intimate concerts, smart film nights, and those bucket-list artists you swear you'd catch next time. With Built to Spill, Stephen Malkmus, Laurie Anderson, and more rolling in soon, consider this your cue to make plans this week.

From the Santa Cruz newsletter, October 22, 2026