The Santa Cruz County Fair is holding a contest to select a theme for the 2026 fair.
Watsonville / Pajaro
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Beyond the Super Bowl and the semiquincentennial: Your big sneak peek at 2026 entertainment events to come
You made it through a harrowing 2025 and a half-decade of challenge. Now, put aside your fears of catastrophic climate change, the collapse of American democracy, and AI data centers stretching from sea to shining sea — for just a moment — and plan some fun in the year ahead.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Watsonville residents take to the streets to criticize Trump administration’s attack on Venezuela
Nearly 40 Watsonville residents took to the streets Saturday afternoon to protest the Trump administration conducting a military attack on Venezuela that led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The U.S. military conducted large-scale air strikes in Caracas, the country’s capitol, early Saturday morning, and later captured Maduro and […]
Posted inRecreation & Sports
Booming girls’ flag football sees Aptos showcase next week
It’s a seven-on-seven game with less of the bruising action of regular football. As the sport takes off locally and around the country, a Santa Cruz County team takes on one from Monterey County.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Photo gallery: Looking back on 2025 through photos
Lookout staff photographer Kevin Painchaud gets a front-row view of the events, people, and food that make Santa Cruz such a unique and special place to live. He chose his favorite photos he captured in 2025.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Looking back at the businesses that opened in 2025
While 2025 saw many beloved businesses shutter, the year also welcomed many new ones, from retailers to restaurants, entertainment to fitness, all helping shape that uniqueness that is the Santa Cruz County business economy. As we close out the final day of the year, here’s a glance at some of the businesses we gained.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Watsonville resident who received liver transplant to participate in Rose Parade
A Watsonville teen will be one of seven organ transplant recipients to be honored in the Rose Parade in Pasadena on New Year’s Day by an organ procurement nonprofit, Donor Network West. The 18-year-old, along with several organ transplant recipients from Northern California and Nevada, will ride on the “Donate Life Float,” which highlights the […]
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Santa Cruz County business filings: Week of Dec. 30
Businesses operating in Santa Cruz County must register with the county clerk. Lookout Santa Cruz reviews the public filings from local businesses to report on new businesses starting in the area.
Posted inLatest News
Watsonville taps a 27-year department veteran to head the city’s firefighting and emergency medicine operations
The City of Watsonville has chosen Corey Schaefer, a 27-year fire department veteran, as its next chief, following the retirement of Rudy López who had been at the helm since 2019. Schaefer was first hired by the department in 1998 as a reserve firefighter. He rose through the ranks, serving as a firefighter, fire captain, […]
Posted inEducation
New Pajaro Valley Unified school board president surprises with management style
New PVUSD board president Carol Turley’s first meeting in the role was marked by frequent interruptions of fellow trustees and a stricter enforcement of agenda limits, leaving some board members and labor leaders frustrated and questioning her leadership style.