Evidence of good times on Independence Day inevitably ends up on our beautiful beaches. Consider participating in the beach cleanup at Moran Lake Beach in Live Oak at 9 a.m. Sunday, hosted by nonprofits Vets 4 Vets and Save Our Shores, to help keep our natural spaces beautiful and trash-free. – Lily Belli
Here are more upcoming local events you might be interested in:
Thursday, July 2
- Jazz Nights | 6:30 p.m. @ Abbott Square Market | Free
- An Evening with Nashville Americana duo Goldpine | 7 p.m. @ Ugly Mug CoffeeHouse | $20
- Ellis Bullard | 8 p.m. @ Moe’s Alley | $18
Friday, July 3
- Free First Friday | Noon @ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History | Free
- Live at the Lane | 2 p.m. @ Lighthouse Point Lawn | Free
- Event Santa Cruz Midtown Fridays Summer Block Party | 5 p.m. @ 1111 Soquel Ave. | Free
- Music in the Plaza @ 6 p.m. @ Downtown Watsonville | Free
- “Escaping Queens” | 7 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Actors’ Theatre | $32-$35
Saturday, July 4
- Santa Cruz Firecracker 10K/5K/1K | 8 a.m. @ Harvey West Park | $15-$54
- Boulder Creek Fourth of July Parade | 10 a.m. @ Downtown Boulder Creek | Free
- Seabright Santa Cruz Fourth of July Parade | 10 a.m. @ Seabright | Free
- Scotts Valley Fourth of July Parade & Block Party | 11 a.m. @ 5060 Scotts Valley Dr. | Free
- Wilder Fourth of July | 11 a.m. @ Wilder Ranch State Park | Free w/$10 parking
- Spirit of Watsonville Fourth of July Parade | 12:30 p.m. @ Downtown Watsonville | Free
- Fire in the Sky | 4:30 p.m. @ Watsonville Regional Airport | Free
- Fourth of July Fest 2026 – Silent Disco with DJ Ethan Stone | 8 p.m. @ The Catalyst | $5-$20 (BYO Bluetooth headphones $5 / headphones included $20)
- Evan Hatfield, Morillo, Mycelial | 8 p.m. @ Felton Music Hall | $27
Sunday, July 5
- Beach Cleanup | 9 a.m. @ Moran Lake Beach | Free
- Watsonville Community Bike Ride | 11 a.m. @ 150 Westridge Dr. | Free
- Corralitos Farm and Garden Market | 11 a.m. @ Corralitos Farm and Garden Market | Free
- FIFA World Cup screening: Brazil vs. Norway | 1 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History | Free
- Karaoke with Moondog | 3 p.m. @ Fast Eddy’s Billiards Dart Room | Free
