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Weekender: Today’s opportunities for good trouble, summer theater bursts onto the scene, Wallace J. Nichols paddle-out
Around Santa Cruz County arts & entertainment with Lookout correspondent Wallace Baine, including recommendations for things to do curated from the BOLO events calendar. Continue reading…
Santa Cruz County named the nation’s least affordable rental market for third straight year — and the gap has widened
Workers need to earn $80 an hour to comfortably afford the average rental in Santa Cruz County, named the country’s least affordable rental market for a third consecutive year, a new study finds. Continue reading…
‘It’s looking like a test run’: False ICE alarm at illegal cannabis operation readies community for potential immigration raids
When law enforcement raided a Royal Oaks cannabis warehouse Wednesday in connection with an illegal cannabis investigation, local activists mistook it for an immigration operation, demonstrating how the community’s rapid-response network springs into action when potential ICE threats emerge. Continue reading…
It’s a new start – or at least starting line – for the Wharf to Wharf
The ongoing closure of the Murray Street Bridge means this year’s Wharf to Wharf road race will start in Pleasure Point, going the edge of the Santa Cruz Harbor before joining the traditional course for its final 4 miles to Capitola Village. Continue reading…
In waters off Pleasure Point, a family’s maritime dream goes up in flames
A pre-dawn fire aboard a fishing vessel forced an 82-year-old captain and his adopted grandson to abandon not just their burning boat but their shared dream of passing down a professional legacy. Continue reading…
With bike-pedestrian ‘Whale Bridge’ open over Highway 1 at Chanticleer Ave., ribbon-cutting ceremony set for July 30
To celebrate the new bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing over Highway 1 at Chanticleer Avenue now open to the public, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission invites the community to a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 30 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the West Marine Center in Live Oak. Continue reading…
Best of Santa Cruz County events, July 18-20
Here are some events you may be interested in this weekend:
Friday, Jul. 18
- Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter 2026 Calendar Photo Contest! | 12 a.m. @ Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter
- “All the Pages Are My Days”: Print and Visual Culture of the Grateful Dead in Context | 12 a.m. @ McHenry Library
- Morning Hike at Bear Creek Redwoods | 9 a.m. @ Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
- Temple of Light: Breath + Oneness’ Crystal Bowl Certification Program | 9 a.m. @
Repeats once more on July 18
- Temple of Light: 3 Day Crystal Singing Bowl Training | 9 a.m. @ Breath + Oneness | $850 (Payment plans also accepted through our website)
- Evergreen Volunteer Days | 9 a.m. @ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
- Paper Mosaic | 10 a.m. @ New Museum Los Gatos | Free
- Redwood RX: 3D Mushroom Garden Sculptures | 10 a.m. @
Repeats once more on July 18
Saturday, Jul. 19
- Arboretum Members – Join us for Early Bird Saturday | 7 a.m. @ UCSC Arboretum and Botanical Garden
- Rooted in Nature Camping Trip | 8 a.m. @ Sunset State Beach
Repeats once more on July 19
- Jolly10K Fentanyl Awareness Fun Run | 8 a.m. @ Balzer Field | $45 (Registration includes a T-Shirt and a raffle ticket.)
- Aptos Farmers Market | 8 a.m. @ Cabrillo College | Free
- Redwood RX: Sunrise Qi Gong | 8 a.m. @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Big Basin Redwood State Park – Plant Walk | 9 a.m. @
Repeats once more on July 19
- 5th Annal Santa Cruz Mountains Classic Car Show | 9 a.m. @ Brookdale Lodge
- Cars and Coffee | 9 a.m. @ East Lake Village Shopping Center | Free
Sunday, Jul. 20
- Sunday Brunch Buffet | 9 a.m. @ Chaminade | $25 to $55
- Redwood RX: Connecting to Self and Nature: A BIPOC Yoga Experience in the Redwoods | 9 a.m. @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- San Jose State University “Dine for a Day” Scholarship Fundraiser | 9 a.m. @ Erik’s DeliCafe of Santa Cruz (Soquel Drive) | Free
- Petals & Parks | 10 a.m. @ Pinto Lake Park
Repeats once more on July 26
- Junior Rangers at Big Basin Redwoods State Park | 10 a.m. @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Big Basin Redwoods State Park Junior Rangers | 10 a.m. @
- Henry Cowell Redwoods – Junior Rangers | 10 a.m. @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Junior Rangers | 10 a.m. @ Visitor Center | Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
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