Show Mother Earth a little love and appreciation during Earth Day this Saturday. Downtown Santa Cruz features the biggest bash at its annual Earth Day Celebrations from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Cooper Street and in Abbott Square, with live music from SambaDá, free kids activities and eco-friendly vendors. In Live Oak, visit the Live Oak School District Farm at Del Mar Elementary School for Earth Day on the Farm, a free event from 9 a.m. to noon with a farmers market, plant sale, face painting, vermiculture demonstration and bike rodeo with Ecology Action. – Lily Belli
Thursday, April 16
- Sons & Daughters of Italy Watsonville Monthly Dinner Meeting | 5 p.m. @ Watsonville Woman’s Club | $20-$25
- Downtown Santa Cruz: Dance Week | 5 p.m. @ Downtown Santa Cruz | Free
- 2026 Annual Awards Gala Celebration: Waves of Impact | 5:30 p.m. @ The Grove | $180-$200
- Tales of Ben Lomond History Series: Part 3 | 7 p.m. @ Park Hall | $25
Friday, April 17
- Tropical Flowers Watercolor Workshop | 10 a.m. @ Palace Art & Office Supply | $44.52
- Ripple Effect Santa Cruz Arts Festival | Noon @ Multiple locations | Free
- Watsonville Ohana Day | 3 p.m. @ Watsonville Youth Center | Free
- Santa Cruz Swing Festival | 6 p.m. @ Portuguese Hall | $35-$145
- All About Theatre Presents “Disney’s The Lion King Jr” | 6:30 p.m. @ Colligan Theater | $22-$30
- George Kahumoku Jr. & Jim “Kimo” West | 7 p.m. @ Kuumbwa Jazz | $42-$65
- First & Third Fridays Community Drumming Class With Jim Greener | 7 p.m. @ Congregational Church of Soquel | $10-$20
- Redwood Records Presents: Joel Cusumano, Julian Never & RIP Florence | 8 p.m. @ The Crepe Place | $10
Saturday, April 18
- Big Stick LogJam | 7 a.m. @ Pleasure Point | Free
- Earth Day on the Farm | 9 a.m. @ Live Oak School District Farm/Del Mar Elementary School | $15 per family
- Healthy Kids Day · Día de los Niños Saludables | 10 a.m. @ Pajaro Park | Free
- Santa Cruz Chili Cook off | 11 a.m. @ VFW Post 7263 | $20/free for veterans
- Downtown Santa Cruz: Earth Day Celebrations | 11:30 a.m. @ Cooper Street | Free
- Drag Story Time | 2 p.m. @ Branciforte Branch Library | Free
- Heritage Demonstrations | 2 p.m. @ San Lorenzo Valley Museum | Free
- Grooves & Grub Fest | 4 p.m. @ Midtown Community Center | Free
- Cement Ship, Suicide Heaven, Alecia Haselton & Birdcalls | 7 p.m. @ Felton Music Hall | $24.17
- (((folkYEAH!))) Presents – Throwing Muses w/ Artsick | 9 p.m. @ Moe’s Alley | $36.95
Sunday, April 19
- Fascial Maneuvers: Upper Body Expansion | 11 a.m. @ Breath + Oneness | $35
- Building Ecological Homes for the Unhoused — Community Fundraiser | 2 p.m. @ Vino by the Sea | Donation – pay what you can
- The Tipping Point: Marea Ensemble Pop Up Show | 4 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History | Free
- Discovery Dinner at 1440: Acu-Yoga | 4:30 p.m. @ 1440 Multiversity | $81.88
- Gillian Welch & David Rawlings Play Grateful Dead Acoustic Reckoning | 7 p.m. @ Quarry Amphitheater | $79.03-$152.86
