Events for October 17, 2026

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The 2026 Festival of Monsters image is a monstrous banana slug rampaging across a city, like a kaiju.

Festival of Monsters: Academic Conference

Festival of Monsters 2026
Courtyard by Marriott Santa Cruz 313 Riverside Ave, Santa Cruz

The 2026 Festival of Monsters Academic Conference (Oct. 14-18, 2026) explores how monsters and language intertwine with panels on monsters and communication, cursed texts, monster poetry and more. Monster-related games will be played. Comics writer Iván Brandon and bioethicist author Rosemarie Garland Thomson  are scheduled to give the keynote talks. The academic conference will take […]

Free
The Audacity to Create title from exhibition poster

Exhibition—The Audacity to Create, works by BIPOC UC Santa Cruz alumni

Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery Baskin Service Road, Santa Cruz

The Audacity to Create is an alumni exhibition showcasing the work of UC Santa Cruz Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) alumni Alejandra Chavez, Jorge Gomez-Gonzalez , Katie Dorame, Seráb Serabia, Aleya Caballero, Edward Ramirez, Josselyne Morales, and Marceline Valentine. ADMISSION Attend in person at the Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery at UC Santa […]

Free
Ongoing

Race the Flame logo with Sammy the Slug racing through the forest and jersey reading "ready, prep, go SC!"

Race the Flame – A Wildfire Preparedness Run/Walk

Upper East Field

Come and pick up your commemorative event shirt at the finish line on your way to the fair! Race Details Date: Oct. 17, 2026 Start Time: 8:00 AM Location: East Upper Field, UCSC Entry Fee: Adults are $20 and kids 12 and under are $15 Register for the race today! In an effort to increase public awareness and preparedness […]

$15 – $20

tractor rides

2026 Harvest Festival

UCSC Farm 152 Farm Rd, Santa Cruz

Connect with community on the campus farm at the annual Harvest Festival! Harvest Fest will have activities for all ages including face painting, flower pressing, pumpkin painting, cider pressing, tractor rides, live music, and more! Plus, enjoy food and treats from local food trucks, participate in an apple pie bake-off (more info coming soon), connect […]

Free – $5

Promotional graphic for the UCSC Spirit Squad Fall Clinic on Oct. 17 featuring instructors Caroleen Chang and EJ Aban, styled with film strip photo frames showing hip hop and contemporary dance portraits.

Dance Masterclasses with NBA Dancers Caroleen Chang (Golden State Warriors) & EJ Aban (Sacramento Kings)

West Field House Rachel Carson College Service Road, Santa Cruz

Come train with the UCSC Spirit Squad and our incredible masterclass teachers at our Fall Clinic on October 17th! We are hosting classes in contemporary with Caroleen Chang and hip hop with Emil “EJ” Aban! You won’t want to miss the opportunity to learn from these talented NBA dancers! Secure your spot! Find the registration […]

The 2026 Festival of Monsters image is a monstrous banana slug rampaging across a city, like a kaiju.

Festival of Monsters: A Devilish Discussion

Festival of Monsters 2026
Museum of Art & History 705 Front St, Santa Cruz

The Festival of Monsters presents “A Devilish Discussion,” 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at the Museum of Art and History in Downtown Santa Cruz. Authors Kiersten White (The Fox and the Devil) and Clay McLeod Chapman (Devil Inside) will talk about their latest books, why they write devilish fiction and the horror of it […]

Free
The 2026 Festival of Monsters image is a monstrous banana slug rampaging across a city, like a kaiju.

Festival of Monsters: Monstrous Games

Festival of Monsters 2026
Game Santa Cruz 1101 Cedar St, Santa Cruz

Join players at Game Santa Cruz for a three free sessions of monster-related board and card games on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, as part of the Festival of Monsters, sponsored the UC Santa Cruz Center for Monster Studies. Monstrous Games session number 1 at 2 p.m. includes Gloom and Mysterium. Monstrous Games session number 2 […]

Free

The 2026 Festival of Monsters image is a monstrous banana slug rampaging across a city, like a kaiju.

Festival of Monsters: Iván Brandon & guests

Festival of Monsters 2026
Atlantis Fantasyworld

Writer Iván Brandon (Wolverine, Deadpool, Secret Invasion) will join writer Clay Mcleod Chapman (Edge of Venomverse, Creepshow) and other special guests 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at Atlantis Fantasyworld to both talk about and sign comics as part of the Festival of Monsters, sponsored by the UC Santa Cruz Center for Monster Studies. This event […]

Free

black and white image with "Trans and Queer Fall Mixer: Monster Ball and Drag Show!" Graphic of spider web, squiggle lines, and hands against a window.

Trans and Queer Fall Mixer

Porter/Kresge Dining Hall 411 Porter-Kresge Rd, Santa Cruz

The Trans & Queer Fall Mixer is UCSC’s annual queerlicious welcome event for new and returning students. Hosted by the Lionel Cantú Queer Resource Center, it is a festive night to connect with the rainbow community at UCSC and in Santa Cruz.   At TQFM, you will learn about resources, make new friends, and enjoy […]