Events in Santa Cruz — October 2026 (181 Things to Do)

October 2026 in Santa Cruz, California brings 181 live events across the city, led by music (125), festival (14), art (12). 3 events are explicitly listed as free. Here's what's on.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's happening in Santa Cruz in October 2026?

There are 181 events in Santa Cruz, California in October 2026, including Steel Pulse – Reggae Against Racism Tour at The Catalyst, THEATRE OF HORRORS: The Sordid Story of Paris' Grand Guignol at Small Theater (7:30 PM), World Class Music Live Presents: El Khat at Kuumbwa Jazz Center, (((folkYEAH))) Presents: PEARL AND THE OYSTERS Live On the Grden Stage at The Crepe Place (7:00 PM). Browse the full October 2026 calendar on VenuNite.

Are there free things to do in Santa Cruz in October 2026?

Yes — 3 October 2026 events are explicitly listed as free in Santa Cruz. Confirm current entry details on the event page or organizer source.

How do I find events in Santa Cruz for a specific date in October 2026?

VenuNite lists every upcoming event in Santa Cruz, California with date filters. Use the date picker on this page to narrow October 2026 down to a single day or weekend.

Events in Santa Cruz — October 2026

All October 2026 Events

Frequently Asked Questions

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Events in Santa Cruz — October 2026

All October 2026 Events

Frequently Asked Questions

Steel Pulse – Reggae Against Racism Tour

THEATRE OF HORRORS: The Sordid Story of Paris' Grand Guignol

World Class Music Live Presents: El Khat

(((folkYEAH))) Presents: PEARL AND THE OYSTERS Live On the Grden Stage

(((folkYEAH))) Presents: COLOR GREEN, COLD WATER LAW FIRM

Open Acoustic Jam

(((folkYEAH))) Presents: PEARL & THE OYSTERS, MAE POWELL, THURSDAY OCTOBER 1 AT 7PM ON THE GARDEN STAGE, $20adv, $25door

(((folkYEAH))) Presents: COLOR GREEN, COLD WATER LAW FIRM, THURSDAY OCTOBER 1 @9PM, $20

Twin Temple

Evergreen Cemetery Illustrated Lecture

Slow Coast, Friday October 2 From 5:30 to 7:30pm, Free Show!

Fruit Bats :: Rio Theatre :: Santa Cruz 10/2

(((folkYEAH))) Presents: SODA BLONDE

Moe's Alley Presents: Diggin Dirt (Night 1)

Mistah Fab & Philthy Rich Live in Santa Cruz

Wild West Country Night (santa Cruz Ca)

Moe's Alley Presents: Diggin Dirt *Special Two-Night Pass *

Side Quest Pizza

First Friday: Museum of the Macabre

Krooked Joe

The Whole Monkey Show

Fire & Grace & Flamenco with special guests Fanny Ara and Ian Scarfe

Fruit Bats w/ Matthew Logan Vasquez

Westside Santa Cruz Farmers' Market — Saturday

Mama's Broke

Moe's Alley Presents: Diggin Dirt (Night 2)

Buffalo Blues Trio, Free Brunch Show on the Garden Stage, Saturday October 3 From 11am to 2pm

Free Family Event! Out of the Box Book Party w/ Puppet Show

Disrupting Matters of the Heart: Leaning into the Venus Retrograde

Michael Martyn, Patti Maxine & Good Medicine, Saturday October 3, 5 to 7pm in the Garden! Free!

MindTravel October Live-to-Headphones Piano Experience in Santa Cruz

El Brick

An Evening of Group Astrology Readings For the Venus Retrograde

Mama's Broke, Maxwell Apra, Saturday October 3 @8pm, $20

Soundbath with Sera Timms

!! Roll Call !!

Sasupake

GRATEFUL SUNDAY WITH MATT HARTLE AND THE HARTLE GOLD BAND 6-9pm in the Garden, $15 at the door

Science on Tap! 6:00pm in the Garden, Free Event!

Hiromi – The Trio Project feat. James Genus & Simon Phillips – 7:00 PM

OPEN MIC! MONDAY OCTOBER 5, 7-9pm, FREE!

Hiromi – The Trio Project feat. James Genus & Simon Phillips – 9:00 PM

Moe's Alley Presents: The Animeros w/ Flaco el Jandro y Los Perros Callejeros

Kishi Bashi:: Rio Theatre Santa Cruz 10/6

JAZZ THE DOG: FREE SHOW IN THE GARDEN! TUESDAY OCTOBER 6, 5:30 to 7:30pm

Strange Relationship: Matt Hartle & Mike Owens Funk Band, Tuesday October 6 @8pm, $10

Kishi Bashi w/ Geographer

Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers' Market — Wednesday

(((folkYEAH!))) Presents - Y La Bamba

Bob O'neill's Absent Minds, Wednesday October 7 From 5:30 to 7:30pm on the Garden Stage, Free Show!

Ben Flocks Trio

The Guitarsonists

Naturalist Night: The Story of Bones

Yawanawá Indigenous Wisdom, Hapé Ceremony & Live Music

Rickie Lee Jones

Slingshot Improv Trio, Thursday October 8 @8pm, $15

Monster Energy Presents: LFA 243

Moe's Alley Presents: The Breaks

BEAT: Belew/Vai/Levin/Bozzio Performing the Music of KING CRIMSON

Pete Sawyer and the Left Hand Monkey Wrench Gang

Steel Pulse – Reggae Against Racism Tour

Steel Pulse – Reggae Against Racism Tour

THEATRE OF HORRORS: The Sordid Story of Paris' Grand Guignol

THEATRE OF HORRORS: The Sordid Story of Paris' Grand Guignol

World Class Music Live Presents: El Khat

World Class Music Live Presents: El Khat

(((folkYEAH))) Presents: PEARL AND THE OYSTERS Live On the Grden Stage

(((folkYEAH))) Presents: PEARL AND THE OYSTERS Live On the Grden Stage

(((folkYEAH))) Presents: COLOR GREEN, COLD WATER LAW FIRM

(((folkYEAH))) Presents: COLOR GREEN, COLD WATER LAW FIRM

Open Acoustic Jam

Open Acoustic Jam

(((folkYEAH))) Presents: PEARL & THE OYSTERS, MAE POWELL, THURSDAY OCTOBER 1 AT 7PM ON THE GARDEN STAGE, $20adv, $25door

Moe's Alley Presents: Diggin Dirt Special Two-Night Pass

Moe's Alley Presents: Diggin Dirt Special Two-Night Pass

Moe's Alley Presents: Diggin Dirt Special Two-Night Pass