Events in Santa Cruz today

Scrumptious brings its award-winning British-style fish and chips to the Felton Farmers Market, cooked to order and served hot. Recognized by Good Times readers for four consecutive years as Santa Cruz’s Best Take Out and Best Seafood, Scrumptious also offers shrimp, bangers, and three loaded chip dishes, including a vegan option. Enjoy the market atmosphere with live music, café seating, face painting, and a friendly local vibe while you pick up dinner.

Local players gather for a weekly One Piece tournament, competing for pirate bragging rights. The entry fee is $10.

Experience a freeform movement space hosted and DJed by Daniel Mollner at the Palomar Ballroom in downtown Santa Cruz. Dance in the way that feels right for you, whether staying in your own flow or connecting with others, and consider staying for the full two hours. Doors close after the first hour. Admission is $20, cash only, paid at the door. Kids dance free, and birthday week dancers receive free entry. Participants are asked to take responsibility for their own health and safety and to support a respectful, alcohol and drug free environment with no conversation on the dance floor. Everyone is welcome, including People of Color, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Same-Gender Loving people, seniors, and neurodiverse participants. All bodies, shapes, sizes, ages, and abilities are invited to move and be themselves.

Open to all ages, this event is free to play and offers the chance to win prizes.

Martha High's Funky Divas team up with Fred Wesley and The New JBs for a high energy celebration of the hits they performed with the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. The lineup heads back to Kuumbwa Jazz Center with a dynamic set of those hits. Two shows are scheduled.

Thompson Square brings a Nashville-style night to the courtyard at Chaminade Resort & Spa, pairing the energy of a large-scale performance with the closeness of an intimate show beneath the stars. The duo, celebrated with awards and multi-platinum success, takes the stage in an outdoor setting that keeps the audience near the music. More than a standard concert, it offers a true taste of Nashville in a beautiful resort courtyard. All ages are welcome. Tickets and overnight packages are available.

Enjoy an inviting evening of contra dancing at Santa Cruz Live Oak Grange with caller Koren Wake and live music by The Nettles. The band features Laura Brophy on fiddle, Kev Nettles on guitar, Michael Proctor on bass, and Julie Bennett on drums. A brief newcomers introduction gets things started, followed by a full night of dancing. Admission is a sliding scale of $15 to $30, with all proceeds supporting operating costs and the performers. It is pay what you can, and no one is turned away for lack of funds. Please bring cash if possible, with Venmo or PayPal available when needed. Only the caller, musicians, and sound technician are paid, and community help with setup, cleanup, or a short door shift is appreciated. The dance is alcohol free, drug free, and smoke free. It is also scent free to accommodate those with chemical sensitivities, so avoid scented products on clothing and belongings. The community prioritizes consent, communication, and safety, and harassment is not tolerated; assistance is available from managers, the sound technician, or the caller if any concerns arise. Attendees are asked to stay home if unwell or if they have tested positive for COVID 19, and to understand the inherent risk of illness when participating. If the main lot is full, overflow parking is available nearby at Harbor Light Church, which has an arrangement for extra parking. Comfortable, light clothing and clean, non marking dance shoes are recommended.

Colby Acuff brings a live show to the Felton Music Hall stage. Tickets are available for purchase.

Enjoy a welcoming yoga session on the sand that is suitable for all experience levels. Breathe with the ocean air, settle into the earth, and move together under the open sky. This gathering is donation based, pay what you can. Please bring a mat and water, and come with an open heart.

Scrumptious, honored by Good Times as Santa Cruz’s Best Takeout and Seafood for five consecutive years, brings its classic British fish and chips to Humble Sea Brewing Co. The menu includes the signature fish and chips along with shrimp and bangers. There are also three loaded chip options, including one for vegan diners. Ordering through DoorDash and Uber Eats is enabled at the brewery while Scrumptious is on site.

The fifth installment of this offbeat cabaret series brings together an eclectic lineup of poets, actors, musicians and singers, dancers, and stand-up comics. Expect surprises that could range from mind reading to fire eating or contortion, all in a setting that invites unexpected moments to unfold. Attendees are welcome to bring a picnic and their favorite beverages and settle in for performances by artists who share their craft out of passion. This is a pay-what-you-can event, with no one turned away for lack of funds. Proceeds support the Performer’s Fund to bring in professional talent and to help with upkeep and equipment improvements. Wheelchair access can be arranged with advance notice for those with mobility needs. The gathering takes place at a private residence in the Seabright neighborhood, where respectful behavior helps keep live performances going. The venue is smoke free, with a designated smoking area on the front porch. Dogs are not permitted. Parking may require a short walk of a block or two, and attendees are asked to be considerate of neighbors.

A family dance glow party at The Grove: Santa Cruz Event Center features a DJ, plenty of dancing, magic, face painting, and food for a fun-filled experience. Tickets will go on sale, with more details to come.

Spend an evening in the forest that starts at Roaring Camp with a hearty barbecue dinner and a slice of homemade-style apple pie. After dinner, board a historic steam train and ride to the mountain top for music and hot cider.

Laurie Anderson brings The Republic of Love to the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz, presented by (((folkYEAH!))) and the Crepe Place. Born from an invitation to a multidisciplinary festival in Vienna that examined the rise of fascism in Europe, this evolving program looks at the relationship between government and love through music, storytelling, and history. The evening features Anderson works such as Big Science and Language Is a Virus, alongside words and ideas from American artists and thinkers including Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, John Cage, Gertrude Stein, William S. Burroughs, and Allen Ginsberg. Anderson performs on electronics, voice, and violin with Sexmob and guests, including Steven Bernstein on trumpet, Briggan Krauss on alto saxophone, Doug Wieselman on guitar and woodwinds, Tony Scherr on bass, and Kenny Wollesen on drums and percussion, with Mazz Swift and Christina Courtin providing backing vocals and violin. Open to all ages. All sales are final.

Fall Ball League brings together boys and girls divisions at Branciforte Middle School for skill-building lacrosse sessions designed for both newcomers and experienced athletes. Participants move through small-group stations and structured clinics where returning players can sharpen technique, improve spacing and field awareness, and try new skills without the pressure of interclub competition. New players receive dedicated instruction on fundamentals to build confidence and stick skills, then blend into shared drills and friendly scrimmages that tie everything together.

Settle into a soothing sound bath guided by Taia Sound Healing, where sacred instruments foster deep relaxation, meditation, and restoration. The session concludes with warm tea. To reserve a spot, contact Ariella Laver at 650-9969484 or ariellabresler@gmail.com. The cost is $15 by cash or Venmo, and walk-ins are welcome. Please bring your own mat and anything else you need to stay comfortable.

Scrumptious is at Humble Sea Brewing Co. with its award-winning seafood, celebrated by Good Times with Santa Cruz's top takeout and seafood honors for five years running. The menu highlights classic British fish and chips. Other offerings include shrimp and bangers, along with three loaded chip dishes, one designed for vegan diners. Door Dash and Uber Eats ordering is available at the brewery while Scrumptious is on site.

NextStage Productions presents a storytelling program about chance encounters and the perspective changes they spark. Directed by Brad Roades in the spirit of The Moth Radio Hour, the event features two separate casts sharing personal stories on stage. It takes place at Actor's Theater in Santa Cruz. Admission is $20 at the door.

Felton Music Hall hosts Spafford for a night of adventurous improvisation and expansive jams. Known for creating music in the moment, the band relies on a shared musical language and a broad palette of influences, from 90s alternative rock to Steely Dan and The Crystal Method, so every performance becomes its own journey. Their track record includes a long run of sold out headline shows and standout appearances at major festivals such as Bonnaroo and Firefly. Spafford is also marking the release of Cat Shop, available on streaming services, with physical editions on double vinyl and CD. The vinyl pressing includes exclusive demos and a special Fire Alarm Jam that can be heard only on that format.