Events

The NEXTies: Earth & Sea
2025-10-03 17:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Seymour Marine Discovery Center, 100 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
Get ready for an unforgettable evening at our NEXTies spin off event: The NEXTies Earth: & Sea! Join us for a night of celebration, featuring delicious drinks, captivating performances, and the presentation of awards to the environmental pioneers who’ve made Santa Cruz a leader in climate resilience. From innovative waste reduction solutions to groundbreaking scientific achievements, it’s time to recognize the progress we’ve made.
Enjoy food and drinks available for purchase, live music, and awards that highlight the incredible work of our local community. This is a dressy event, so wear that outfit you’ve been waiting to debut and bring a jacket to enjoy the stunning ocean views from our terrace. We can’t wait to see you on the red carpet!

Spotlight Santa Cruz - Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors at City Lights Theater
2025-10-04 20:00 | CA
Use the Banana Slug alumni promo code "SLUGS" to purchase discounted tickets to City Lights Theater Company's October 4 performance of Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, directed by UCSC alumna Caitlin Lawrence Papp (Crown '24, M.A. '25, theater arts).

Caitlin will be available to meet the UC Santa Cruz alumni in attendance at an afterparty hosted by City Lights where audience members are invited to check out the set up close, chat with the artists, and enjoy refreshments chosen in the spirit of the play.

ABOUT DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS
Take Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire story and mix it up in the style of Mel Brooks and Monty Python. You’ve got Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, a lightning-fast, gender-bending comedy featuring lots of wordplay and six actors playing over a dozen roles. Penned by veteran comedy writers Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, this sexy sendup of the classic takes us from the English countryside to Dracula’s Transylvania castle. When her sister Mina is struck by a disease of the blood, Lucy Westfeldt and her fiancé enlist the help of female vampire hunter Doctor Jean Van Helsing. Could the answer lie with the dangerous—and seriously hot—Count Dracula?

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Caitlin Lawrence Papp (Crown '24, M.A. '25, theater arts) is a local actress, dramaturg, and director, excited to be back directing at City Lights Theater Company, where she also serves on the Board of Directors. She was recently in CLTC's production of Head Over Heels in the role of Gynecia. She previously directed Making God Laugh and several podcasts on the City Lights podcast channel, including Much Ado About Nothing. Some other directing credits include The Revolutionists, The Little Mermaid, Sound of Music, Annie, The Music Man, and The Addams Family.

ABOUT CITY LIGHTS THEATER COMPANY
Since 1982, City Lights Theater Company has been inspiring and challenging audiences with a host of plays and musicals, many of them fresh new works. The company’s downtown San Jose theater is a bustling space that attracts artists, educators, students, and playgoers alike.

TRANSYLVANIA AFTER DARK
Join the free virtual talkback "Transylvania After Dark" on October 7 at 7 p.m. where you can step behind the velvet curtain with director Caitlin Lawrence Papp (Crown '24, M.A. '25, theater arts) and members of the cast.

Talking Tales of the Undead
2025-10-08 18:30 - 21:30 | Santa Cruz Public Library
Join UC Santa Cruz professors Michael Chemers (The Monster in Theater History), Renée Fox (The Necromantics), and Kimberly J. Lau (Specters of the Marvelous) as they discuss the histories and politics of vampires, ghouls, zombies and other undead monsters in literature, theater, and pop culture in this free panel at the Downtown Branch of the Santa Cruz Public Library (224 Church St., downtown Santa Cruz). Chemers and Fox direct the Center for Monster Studies at UC Santa Cruz, while Lau will be giving one of the keynote addresses at the upcoming Festival of Monsters (October 15–18).
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ADMISSION
– FREE and open to the public
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AUDIENCE ADVISORIES
– Mature themes and content
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FUTURE FESTIVAL OF MONSTERS EVENTS
– Wed. Oct. 15, 5:30 p.m, Museum of Art & History (MAH): David Livingstone Smith Keynote
– Thurs. Oct. 16, 9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m, UCSC Digital Arts Research Center (DARC): Conference Panels, Kim Lau keynote
– Fri. Oct. 17, 9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m, UCSC Digital Arts Research Center (DARC): Conference Panels, Jeffery Jerome Cohen keynote
– Fri. Oct. 17, 8:30 p.m.–11:30 p.m, DARC 108 (No longer at the UCSC Cowell Ranch Hay Barn): Monsters Ball
– Sat. Oct. 18, 11:00 a.m, Bookshop Santa Cruz: “Oh! The Horror” Writers Panel
– Sat. Oct. 18, 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m, Atlantis Fantasyworld: Cole Lemke, Horror Comic Artist
– Sat. Oct. 18, 6:00 p.m, Game Santa Cruz: “Blood on the Clocktower”
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This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law

La Bienvenida: Lucha, Fuerza, y Esperanza
2025-10-11 20:00 - 23:00 | CA
For over two decades, El Centro has hosted La Bienvenida as a way to foster belonging for Chicanx, Latine, and multiracial students. This year, Bienvenida expands into a two-day welcome series designed to introduce and connect new and returning students with El Centro, Chicanx and Latine student organizations, and the broader UCSC community.
Rooted in the theme “Lucha, Fuerza y Esperanza,” the celebration will feature Ritmo de Nuestras Culturas, a baile on Saturday, October 11, 2025, followed by Dominguero: Prosperando en Comunidad, a more intimate carne asada–style gathering on Sunday, October 12, 2025.
Through music, food, storytelling, and intentional relationship-building, Bienvenida cultivates comunidad while honoring El Centro’s mission of affirming Chicanx and Latine communities. This series offers meaningful opportunities for students to connect with peers and cultural resources that will support their academic, social, and personal journeys at UC Santa Cruz. Open to all UCSC students, Bienvenida is organized by El Centro in collaboration with Porter and Kresge Colleges.
Please email elcentro@ucsc.edu with any questions or concerns.

Festival of Monsters 2025
2025-10-15 00:00 - 2025-10-18 23:59 | Digital Arts Research Center, 407 McHenry Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
The Festival of Monsters returns for the annual academic conference with public performances, installations, readings, and more. Learn more about the Center for Monster Studies here and refer to the full schedule of events, below, for individual event details.
Co-presented by the UC Santa Cruz Center for Monster Studies, Department of Performance, Play & Design, The Humanities Institute (THI), and Porter College.
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ADMISSION
– Open to the public
– Some events have required registration; refer to individual event listings in the full schedule of events
– UCSC students, faculty, and staff registration HERE
– Academic conference registration for non-affiliates HERE
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AUDIENCE ADVISORIES
– Mature themes and content
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FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
– Wed. Oct. 15, 5:30 p.m, Museum of Art & History (MAH): David Livingstone Smith Keynote
– Thurs. Oct. 16, 9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m, UCSC Digital Arts Research Center (DARC): Conference Panels, Kim Lau keynote
– Fri. Oct. 17, 9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m, UCSC Digital Arts Research Center (DARC): Conference Panels, Jeffery Jerome Cohen keynote
– Fri. Oct. 17, 8:30 p.m.–11:30 p.m, UCSC Digital Arts Research Center—DARC 108: Monsters Ball (previously advertised location of the Hay Barn was incorrect)
– Sat. Oct. 18, 11:00 a.m, Bookshop Santa Cruz: “Oh! The Horror” Writers Panel
– Sat. Oct. 18, 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m, Atlantis Fantasyworld: Cole Lemke, Horror Comic Artist
– Sat. Oct. 18, 6:00 p.m, Game Santa Cruz: “Blood on the Clocktower”
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This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law.

Festival of Monsters: David Livingstone Smith Keynote
2025-10-15 17:30 - 20:00 | Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, United States
David Livingstone Smith, author of Making Monsters: The Uncanny Power of Dehumanization, opens the 2025 Festival of Monsters with a free public keynote talk 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15 at the Museum of Art and History (705 Front Street). A philosophy professor at University of New England in Maine, Livingstone Smith writes about the ways in which we dehumanize one another — creating our own monsters through pogroms, genocide and massacres. He asks “How do some people come to believe that their enemies are monsters, and therefore easy to kill?” The Festival of Monsters is hosted by the UC Santa Cruz Center for Monster Studies.
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ADMISSION
– FREE and open to the public
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AUDIENCE ADVISORIES
– Mature themes and content
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FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
– Wed. Oct. 15, 5:30 p.m, Museum of Art & History (MAH): David Livingstone Smith Keynote
– Thurs. Oct. 16, 9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m, UCSC Digital Arts Research Center (DARC): Conference Panels, Kim Lau keynote
– Fri. Oct. 17, 9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m, UCSC Digital Arts Research Center (DARC): Conference Panels, Jeffery Jerome Cohen keynote
– Fri. Oct. 17, 8:30 p.m.–11:30 p.m, DARC 108 (No longer at the UCSC Cowell Ranch Hay Barn): Monsters Ball
– Sat. Oct. 18, 11:00 a.m, Bookshop Santa Cruz: “Oh! The Horror” Writers Panel
– Sat. Oct. 18, 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m, Atlantis Fantasyworld: Cole Lemke, Horror Comic Artist
– Sat. Oct. 18, 6:00 p.m, Game Santa Cruz: “Blood on the Clocktower”
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The Festival of Monsters returns for a three-day academic conference with public performances, installations, readings, and more. Learn more about the Center for Monster Studies here.
This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law

Someone Always Dies (SAD): An Improv Comedy Show
2025-10-17 19:30 - 21:30 | Theater Arts Center, 453 Kerr Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Someone Always Dies (SAD) is UC Santa Cruz’s premier long-form improv team. We do funny things, enjoy the show.
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ADMISSION
– General admission
– Tickets issued online through Eventbrite; follow Dept. of Performance, Play& Design on Eventbrite for notifications and updates.
– Free for UCSC undergraduate students (ticket required).
– General admission “Pay What You Like” options $5–20
– Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time.
– Ticket holders not seated at least 10 minutes before the advertised start time may forfeit their ticket/seat and no refund will be issued.
– A limited number of tickets/seats may be available at the door, even after online ticket sales end or reach full capacity.
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PARKING
– Parking by permit or ParkMobile.
– Arts Lot #126 is the closest parking lot to the event.
– Visitors with DMV placards or plates may park for free in DMV spaces, Medical spaces, or ParkMobile spaces without additional payment, or in timed zones for longer than the posted time.
– More information provided by UCSC Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS)
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This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law.

Festival of Monsters: Oh, the Horror!
2025-10-18 11:00 - 21:00 | Bookshop Santa Cruz
Authors Alma Katsu (Fiend), Nat Cassidy (When the Wolf Comes Home) and Gretchen McNeil (They Fear Not Men in the Woods) come together 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 18, at Bookshop Santa Cruz (1520 Pacific Ave., downtown Santa Cruz) for “Oh, The Horror!”, a panel where they will talk about monsters, horror, and why they write stories that scare. Professor Renée Fox of the UC Santa Cruz Center for Monster Studies moderates. RSVP for the free panel at https://bookshopsantacruz.com/2025-festival-of-monsters. Part of the 2025 Festival of Monsters public offerings. Learn more about the Center for Monster Studies here.
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ADMISSION
– FREE and open to the public
– Registration required
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AUDIENCE ADVISORIES
– Mature themes and content
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FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
– Wed. Oct. 15, 5:30 p.m, Museum of Art & History (MAH): David Livingstone Smith Keynote
– Thurs. Oct. 16, 9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m, UCSC Digital Arts Research Center (DARC): Conference Panels, Kim Lau keynote
– Fri. Oct. 17, 9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m, UCSC Digital Arts Research Center (DARC): Conference Panels, Jeffery Jerome Cohen keynote
– Fri. Oct. 17, 8:30 p.m.–11:30 p.m, DARC 108 (No longer at the UCSC Cowell Ranch Hay Barn): Monsters Ball
– Sat. Oct. 18, 11:00 a.m, Bookshop Santa Cruz: “Oh! The Horror” Writers Panel
– Sat. Oct. 18, 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m, Atlantis Fantasyworld: Cole Lemke, Horror Comic Artist
– Sat. Oct. 18, 6:00 p.m, Game Santa Cruz: “Blood on the Clocktower”
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This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law

Festival of Monsters: Artist Cole Lemke
2025-10-18 14:00 - 17:00 | Atlantis Fantasyworld
Santa Cruz monster artist Cole Lemke will sign copies of his graphic novel Savior: The Day the Devil Saved the World from 2:00–5:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Atlantis Fantasyworld (1020 Cedar St., downtown Santa Cruz). Lemke is the artist behind squid banana and many of the colorful monster stickers found around town. No reservations are needed for this free event, which is part of the 2025 Festival of Monsters public days. The Festival is hosted by the UC Santa Cruz Center for Monster Studies. Learn more about the Center for Monster Studies here.
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ADMISSION
– FREE and open to the public
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AUDIENCE ADVISORIES
– Mature themes and content
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FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
– Wed. Oct. 15, 5:30 p.m, Museum of Art & History (MAH): David Livingstone Smith Keynote
– Thurs. Oct. 16, 9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m, UCSC Digital Arts Research Center (DARC): Conference Panels, Kim Lau keynote
– Fri. Oct. 17, 9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m, UCSC Digital Arts Research Center (DARC): Conference Panels, Jeffery Jerome Cohen keynote
– Fri. Oct. 17, 8:30 p.m.–11:30 p.m, DARC 108 (No longer at the UCSC Cowell Ranch Hay Barn): Monsters Ball
– Sat. Oct. 18, 11:00 a.m, Bookshop Santa Cruz: “Oh! The Horror” Writers Panel
– Sat. Oct. 18, 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m, Atlantis Fantasyworld: Cole Lemke, Horror Comic Artist
– Sat. Oct. 18, 6:00 p.m, Game Santa Cruz: “Blood on the Clocktower”
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This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law

Festival of Monsters: Blood on the Clocktower
2025-10-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Game Santa Cruz, 1101 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, United States
It’s a game full of monstrous intentions. Join players 6:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, for Blood on the Clocktower at Game Santa Cruz (1101 Cedar St., downtown Santa Cruz). In this bluffing game, a demon is on the loose, murdering by night and disguised in human form by day. Some players have scraps of information. Others have abilities that fight the evil or protect the innocent. Who is the monster? One has to play to find out. Part of the 2025 Festival of Monsters, hosted by the UC Santa Cruz Center for Monster Studies. Learn more about the Center for Monster Studies here.
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ADMISSION
– Open to the public
– Tickets $20; purchase HERE
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AUDIENCE ADVISORIES
– Mature themes and content
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FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
– Wed. Oct. 15, 5:30 p.m, Museum of Art & History (MAH): David Livingstone Smith Keynote
– Thurs. Oct. 16, 9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m, UCSC Digital Arts Research Center (DARC): Conference Panels, Kim Lau keynote
– Fri. Oct. 17, 9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m, UCSC Digital Arts Research Center (DARC): Conference Panels, Jeffery Jerome Cohen keynote
– Fri. Oct. 17, 8:30 p.m.–11:30 p.m, DARC 108 (No longer at the UCSC Cowell Ranch Hay Barn): Monsters Ball
– Sat. Oct. 18, 11:00 a.m, Bookshop Santa Cruz: “Oh! The Horror” Writers Panel
– Sat. Oct. 18, 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m, Atlantis Fantasyworld: Cole Lemke, Horror Comic Artist
– Sat. Oct. 18, 6:00 p.m, Game Santa Cruz: “Blood on the Clocktower”
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This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law

Screening: Cracking the Code
2025-10-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Landmark’s Del Mar Theatre
Please join us for a public screening of “Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and the Biotech Revolution” at the Landmark Theater on Monday, October 20. The screening will start at 7pm, with a panel discussion hosted by the UCSC RNA Center to follow.
This powerful new documentary chronicles Nobel Laureate Phil Sharp’s discovery of RNA splicing, a breakthrough that ignited the biotechnology revolution and continues to shape the future of medicine and innovation worldwide. Our city was chosen for a special screening of this film in recognition of UC Santa Cruz’s long-standing leadership in RNA research and its pivotal contributions to understanding RNA metabolism.
Register to attend
More than a film, this evening is an opportunity to reflect on Santa Cruz’s place in the future of biotechnology and life sciences innovation. After the screening, we will host a panel discussion themed “Why Not Santa Cruz?”—exploring how our region, with its scientific excellence in RNA and Genomics, entrepreneurial spirit, and vibrant community, might cultivate the next generation of discoveries, companies, and partnerships.
We expect a lively exchange among scientists, community leaders, philanthropists, and innovation builders about how Santa Cruz can play a greater role in shaping the next wave of biotech breakthroughs.
View trailer here

Barnstorm Presents: 24-Hour Theater
2025-10-25 19:30 - 21:30 | Theater Arts Center, 453 Kerr Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Using a random prompt, actors and a production team stage a fully-fledged production that is produced, blocked, and presented to an audience in just 24 hours. Audiences are invited to attend the culminating presentation on Saturday, October 25.
ABOUT BARNSTORM
UC Santa Cruz students experiment with and create their own innovative theater and gain a sense of operating and creating art in the Barnstorm Theater Company, a student-run theater arts production company established in 2004.
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ADVISORIES
– Event update: the correct date for this performance is Sat., Oct. 25, not Fri., Oct. 24 as originally listed.
– Ticket holders not seated at least 10 minutes before the advertised start time may forfeit their ticket/seat and no refund will be issued.
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ADMISSION
– Tickets issued through Eventbrite; Follow the Dept. of Performance, Play & Design on Eventbrite for notifications and updates.
– Free for UCSC undergraduate students (ticket required).
– General admission “Pay What You Like” options $5–20
– A limited number of tickets/seats may be available at the door, even after online ticket sales end or reach full capacity.
– Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time.
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PARKING
– Parking by permit or ParkMobile.
– Arts Lot #126 is the closest parking lot to the event.
– Visitors with DMV placards or plates may park for free in DMV spaces, Medical spaces, or ParkMobile spaces without additional payment, or in timed zones for longer than the posted time.
– More information provided by UCSC Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS)
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This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law.

Echoes on the Hill
2025-10-26 20:30 - 21:30 | Colleges Nine and John R. Lewis College Multi-purpose Room, 615 College Nine Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Join us for a night of live music and campus energy at the JRL MPR Stage! This recurring showcase celebrates the incredible talent of UC Santa Cruz’s student-led bands, bringing the community together through sound, creativity, and Slug spirit.
This edition features Empire Grade, a high-energy punk band making waves in the UCSC music scene. Come out to support your fellow Slugs, discover new artists, and enjoy an evening of authentic student talent and connection.

You Belong Here: The programs and services described here are open to all, consistent with state and federal law, as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service, faculty program, or community event—is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and respectful of all identities.
To learn more, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications.

Barnstorm presents: At the Hands of Fire & Iron
2025-10-30 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-10-31 19:30 - 21:30 | Theater Arts B100 Studio Theater, 453 Kerr Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, United States
Set in a fantasy world, a duo meets a solo traveler on the road, and they band together as they set out on a quest for the Tree of Knowledge. In these two snippets, we watch as Azrael discovers his magic abilities after surviving an exorcism, and as Ripley and Aeron confess their love during both a storm and a fight. Presented by Barnstorm. Written and Directed by Jaden Edson.
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
– Thurs. Oct. 30: 7:30 p.m, Theater Arts B100 Studio Theater
– Fri. Oct. 31: 7:30 p.m, Theater Arts B100 Studio Theater
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ADMISSION
– General admission $5–$20 “Pay What You Like”
– Free for UCSC undergrads (ticket required).
– Tickets issued online through Eventbrite only.
– Follow the Dept. of Performance, Play & Design on Eventbrite for notifications and updates.
– Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time.
– Ticket holders not seated at least 5 minutes before the advertised start time may forfeit their ticket/seat and no refund will be issued.
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PARKING
– Parking by permit or ParkMobile
– Arts Lot #126 is the closest parking lot to the event
– Visitors with DMV placards or plates may park for free in DMV spaces, Medical spaces, or ParkMobile spaces without additional payment, or in timed zones for longer than the posted time.
– More information provided by UCSC Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS)
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This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law.

Día de los Muertos Ceremonia
2025-11-02 16:00 - 19:30 | CA
When: Sunday, November 2, 2025
Where: Quarry Amphitheater, UC Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, CA 95064
Time: 5:30-7:30pm, doors open at 4:00pm
El Centro and the Quarry Amphitheater present Día de los Muertos Ceremonia. A space to collectively honor and celebrate the lives of our loved ones. Join us for a night of danza, prayer, food, music, and community. This cultural and family event is FREE! Please email elcentro@ucsc.edu for questions or concerns.
As we prepare for this year’s ceremony, we recognize the pain, loss, and grief caused by violence around the world. The community altar, or ofrenda, is a sacred space that represents a remembrance of the departed, a reminder that life is eternal and that the presence of our loved ones is everlasting. The ofrenda speaks of affection and praise toward the deceased and are an expression of love towards life. We preserve this ceremony as a space to reflect and heal. We ask that everyone respect the honoring of individuals lost and come together as we welcome back their spirits through ceremony, dance, song, and offerings. We also recognize that through all cultures and traditions we express ourselves differently, yet at this time we gather as members of humanity to support one another, to share our emotions of joy and sadness, and to embrace our humility as a community of this campus.
Parking and Check-in: Please allow sufficient time to arrive at the Quarry Amphitheater. You can follow the directional signs from the base of the campus to the parking lots. Parking will be free at the Hahn Parking Lot 101. Overflow parking will be free at the East Remote Lot after Lot 101 has been filled.
Shuttles will be available from the East Remote Lot to the Quarry Plaza. ADA parking is available at Parking Lot 102 near the Quarry with an ADA placard. Please let us know if you need any accommodations and/or ADA parking in the form below.
Covid-19 Guidelines: For the safety of our community, we recommend our guests and volunteers wear masks when they are not eating. We will have masks available at the registration table.
Weather: We encourage you to dress for cold weather (hats, layers, and blankets). Our event is outdoors and although rain is not in the forecast, the temperature is expected to drop to the low 50’s, please wear comfortable shoes and a jacket.
Food: We will be serving food for our guests starting at 4:00pm until 5:30pm when the Ceremonia begins. We encourage you to arrive early if you can. We will serve tamales, pan dulce and refreshments starting at 4:00pm until supplies last.
Community altar: We will be having a community altar, we encourage you to bring an ofrenda to add to the altar (pictures, food items, your loved ones’ favorite items, etc). Please don’t forget to pick up your items from the altar at the end of the event. You may bring candles, but will be unable to light them due to fire safety.
You Belong Here: The programs and services described here are open to all, consistent with state and federal law, as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service, faculty program, or community event—is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and respectful of all identities.
To learn more, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications.
________________________________________________________
Cuándo: Domingo 2 de noviembre de 2025
Dónde: Anfiteatro Quarry, UC Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, CA 95064
Hora: 5:30-7:30 pm, las de puertas abren a las 4:00 pm
¡Acompáñanos a nuestra ceremonia comunitaria de Día de Muertos! Habrá comida, música, danza folclórica en vivo y altar comunitaria. Este evento cultural – familiar es totalmente gratuito. El Centro y el Anfiteatro Quarry se complacen en darle la bienvenida a nuestra Ceremonia anual del Día de los Muertos que tendrá lugar el 2 de noviembre del 2025 de 5:30 p. m. a 7:30 p. m., y las puertas se abrirán a las 4:00p.m.
Estacionamiento: Permita suficiente tiempo para llegar al anfiteatro Quarry. Puede seguir las señales direccionales desde la base del campus hasta los estacionamientos. El estacionamiento será gratuito en el estacionamiento lote 101. El estacionamiento adicional será gratuito en el lote East Remote después de que se haya llenado el lote 101. El estacionamiento ADA está disponible en el lote 102 cerca del anfiteatro con un cartel ADA. Por favor, hágame saber si necesita estacionamiento ADA.
Covid-19: Para la seguridad de nuestra comunidad, recomendamos que nuestros invitados y voluntarios usen máscaras cuando no estén comiendo. Tendremos mascarillas disponibles en la mesa de registro.
Clima: Le recomendamos venir abrigados debido al clima frío (gorros, capas y chaqueta). Nuestro evento es afuera al aire libre y, aunque no se pronostica lluvia, se espera que la temperatura baje a mediados de los 40, use zapatos cómodos y una chaqueta.
Comida: Estaremos sirviendo comida para nuestros invitados desde las 4:00 p.m. hasta las 5:30 p.m. cuando comienza la Ceremonia. Le recomendamos que llegue temprano si puede. Serviremos tamales, pan dulce y refrescos a partir de las 5:00 pm hasta agotar.
Ofrenda comunitaria: Tendremos un altar comunitario, si gustan por favor traigan una ofrenda para agregar al altar (fotos, alimentos, los artículos favoritos de sus seres queridos, etc.). No olvide recoger sus artículos del altar al final del evento.
Para mas informacion o preguntas, mande un correo electronico a elcentro@ucsc.edu o llame a (831) 459-5608.

A Joyful Noise—video, music, panel discussion, and fellowship
2025-11-05 19:30 - 21:30 | Music Center Recital Hall, 400 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Audiences are invited to listen, share, and express ideas and feelings about individual and collective struggles in this interdisciplinary event featuring music, arts, science, and creative videography:

Video screening (Art)
Musical interlude
Video screening (STEM)
Panel discussion with Q&A
Light refreshments with continued conversation/fellowship in the lobby

This event features live performances—Karlton Hester (tenor sax and composer of electronic score), akua naru (word), Tammy Hall (piano), Pierpaolo Polzonetti (clarinet; guest professor from UC Davis), and Jing Zhou (Guzheng)—and videography by Patricia Saucedo, Katarina Fink, and Nanaiya Hester. Video participants include Karlton Hester (electronic music score and tenor saxophone), Fahima Ife and Renaldo Wilson (UCSC Critical Race & Ethnic Studies), akua naru (UCSC Music Department), Mandjou Kone (UCSC Department of Performance, Play & Design), Angel Riotutor (director of the American Indian Resource Center and People of Color Sustainability Collective), and Chari Glogovac-Smith (UCSC Film and Digital Media Department).
This event is presented as a collaboration between Arts Division and STEM Associate Deans of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), including: Marcella Gomez, associate professor/associate dean for DEI with the Jack Baskin School of Engineering; Pedro Morales-Almazan, associate teaching professor/associate dean for DEI with the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences (PBSci); Karlton Hester, professor/associate dean for DEI with the Arts Division; and Anju Reejhsinghani, vice chancellor and chief diversity officer at UC Santa Cruz.
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ADMISSION
– FREE and open to the public
– Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time
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VISITOR PARKING
– Parking by permit, ParkMobile, or $5 cash/credit via the on-site parking attendant
– Arts Lot #126 is the closest parking lot to the event
– Visitors with DMV placards or plates may park for free in DMV spaces, Medical spaces, or ParkMobile spaces without additional payment, or in timed zones for longer than the posted time.
– More information provided by UCSC Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS)
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This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law.

Family Weekend 2025
2025-11-07 13:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-08 08:00 - 20:00, 2025-11-09 09:00 - 11:00 | CA
We’re excited to announce Nov. 7-9 as the dates for UCSC’s second annual Family Weekend, bringing families together to experience UC Santa Cruz’s vibrant campus life and community spirit. The weekend will offer engaging activities, informative sessions, and opportunities to connect with faculty, staff, and fellow families.
For more details, visit the Family Weekend webpage.

Korean Experimental Music Festival—Featuring the National Gugak Center and Del Sol Quartet
2025-11-14 17:00 - 19:00, 2025-11-14 20:00 - 22:00, 2025-11-15 17:00 - 23:00, 2025-11-15 20:00 - 22:00 | Music Center Recital Hall, 400 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
The National Gugak Center—Korea’s foremost institution for traditional music—joins forces with the Bay Area’s acclaimed Del Sol String Quartet to offer California audiences a rare and resonant experience. The festival blends traditional Korean musical practices, Western classical instrumentation, and cutting edge music technology in the world premiere of a over 20 newly commissioned works by faculty and graduate student composers from UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, and Stanford University.
Two concerts on Fri., Nov. 14 feature a first-of-its-kind ensemble pairing two gayageums—Korea’s zither-like string instrument—with a Western string quartet. In two additional performances on Sat., Nov. 15, traditional Korean wind instruments—the piri, saenghwang, and daegeum—are transformed through real-time computer sound processing into a striking electroacoustic experience.
The festival culminates a two-year collaboration among the National Gugak Center, the UC Santa Cruz Music Department, UC Berkeley’s Center for New Music and Audio Technologies (CNMAT), and Stanford’s Department of Music and Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). We hope you enjoy these concerts of new works shaped by deep intercultural dialogue and inspired by the enduring legacy of traditional Korean music.
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ADMISSION
– Open admission/first-come, first-served seating (no ticket required)
– Free and open to the public
– Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time
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FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Korean Experimental Music Festival includes two-days of events at UC Santa Cruz, each with two back-to-back concerts, including:
KEMF: Traditional Korean Gayageum with String Quartet Part I
Fri. Nov. 14, 5:00 p.m., UCSC Music Center Recital Hall
New works for Korean gayageums—traditional zither-like stringed instruments—and Western string quartet, by Maisha Lani, Ben Dorfan, Michael J. Fleming, Nina Barzegar, Siamak Barghi, Chris Everingham, and Jinwei Sun. Featuring musicians from the National Gugak Center in Seoul, and San Francisco’s Del Sol Quartet.
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KEMF: Traditional Korean Gayageum with String Quartet Part II
Fri. Nov. 14, 8:00 p.m., UCSC Music Center Recital Hall
New works for gayageums—traditional zither-like stringed instruments—and Western string quartet, by UC Santa Cruz Professor Ben Leeds Carson, and by UC Berkeley faculty Cindy Cox, Edmund Campion, and Jean Ahn. Featuring musicians from the National Gugak Center in Seoul, and San Francisco’s Del Sol Quartet.
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KEMF: Korean Winds and Electronics Part I
Sat. Nov. 15, 5:00 p.m., UCSC Music Center Recital Hall
Music for traditional Korean wind Instruments, including piri (a traditional Korean double-reed instrument similar to a shawm or oboe), saenghwang (a traditional Korean free-reed mouth organ, like a large, complex harmonica), and daegeum (a large, traditional transverse bamboo flute)—all of which are combined with experimental electronics. New works by UC Santa Cruz Professor Emeritus David Evan Jones, and by composers Michael J. Fleming, Mat Muntz, and Dion Nataraja. Featuring musicians from the National Gugak Center in Seoul.
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KEMF: Korean Winds and Electronics Part II
Sat. Nov. 15, 8:00 p.m., UCSC Music Center Recital Hall
Music for traditional Korean wind Instruments, including piri (a traditional Korean double-reed instrument similar to a shawm or oboe), saenghwang (a traditional Korean free-reed mouth organ, like a large, complex harmonica), and daegeum (a large, traditional transverse bamboo flute)—all of which are combined with experimental electronics. New works by UC Santa Cruz Professors Matt Schumaker and David Evan Jones; UC Berkeley Professors Ken Ueno and Edmund Campion; and Stanford Professor Jarosław Kapuściński. Featuring musicians from the National Gugak Center in Seoul.
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Additional events at Stanford and at UC Berkeley Nov. 7–12
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VISITOR PARKING AT UCSC
– Parking by permit, ParkMobile, or $5 cash/credit via the on-site parking attendant
– Arts Lot #126 is the closest parking lot to the event
– Visitors with DMV placards or plates may park for free in DMV spaces, Medical spaces, or ParkMobile spaces without additional payment, or in timed zones for longer than the posted time.
– More information provided by UCSC Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS)
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ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The festival is the culmination of a two-year collaboration between the National Gugak Center, the UC Santa Cruz Music Department, UC Berkeley’s Center for New Music and Audio Technologies (CNMAT) and the Department of Music at UC Berkeley, and Stanford’s Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA).
The Korean Experimental Music Festival is supported by: The National Gugak Center; the UC Santa Cruz Music Department; The Hellman Fellows Program; The Arts Research Institute, UC Santa Cruz; Porter College, UC Santa Cruz; the Center for New Music and Audio Technologies, UC Berkeley; the UC Berkeley Music Department; CCRMA at Stanford University, and others.
This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law.

The SpongeBob Musical
2025-11-14 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-11-15 14:00 - 17:00, 2025-11-15 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-11-16 14:00 - 17:00 | Theater Arts Mainstage, 411 Kerr Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
The SpongeBob Musical is a Broadway production based on the popular animated series, SpongeBob SquarePants. It premiered in Chicago in 2016 and then debuted on Broadway in 2017, receiving 12 Tony Award nominations. The musical tells the story of SpongeBob and his friends in Bikini Bottom as they face the potential destruction of their town by a volcano, with songs written by David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, The Flaming Lips, and more.
Directed by Rebecca Wear, assistant professor
Musical Direction by Luke Shepherd, lecturer
Choreography by Cid Pearlman, lecturer
Read more about this production on Lookout Santa Cruz.
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AUDIENCE ADVISORIES
– Ticket holders not seated at least 5 minutes before the advertised start time may forfeit their ticket/seat and no refund will be issued.
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ADMISSION
– Free for UCSC undergrads (ticket required).
– General admission “Pay What You Like” tickets $5–25
– Tickets issued online through Eventbrite only.
– Follow the Dept. of Performance, Play & Design on Eventbrite for notifications and updates.
– Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time.
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FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
This is a two-week production with nine performances, including :
Fri. Nov. 14: 7:30 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 15: 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Nov. 16: 2:00 p.m.
Thu. Nov. 20: 7:30 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 21: 7:30 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 22: 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Nov. 23: 2:00 p.m.
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PARKING
– Parking by permit, ParkMobile, or $5 cash/credit via the on-site parking attendant
– Arts Lot #126 is the closest parking lot to the event
– Visitors with DMV placards or plates may park for free in DMV spaces, Medical spaces, or ParkMobile spaces without additional payment, or in timed zones for longer than the posted time.
– More information provided by UCSC Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS)
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DONATIONS welcome!
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Barnstorm Presents—1972: The Future of Sex
2025-11-14 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-11-16 15:00 - 17:00 | Theater Arts Center, 453 Kerr Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
It is 1972: an era of possibility and polyester and pubic hair. While Ziggy Stardust is on Top of the Pops, Penny is writing an essay on Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Christine is watching Deep Throat and Brian is confused. Devised by The Wardrobe Ensemble, 1972: The Future of Sex incorporates the company’s trademark theatricality, irreverent humour and ensemble ingenuity to tell the story of three couples having sex for the first time—and a country on the brink of a sexual awakening. Commissioned by Shoreditch Town Hall, the play was first seen there in 2014, before a UK tour in 2015, including performances at Bristol Old Vic and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It was revived at the Bristol Old Vic in 2019.
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ADMISSION
– General admission “Pay What You Like” options $5–20
– Free for UCSC undergraduate students (ticket required).
– Tickets issued through Eventbrite; Follow the Dept. of Performance, Play & Design on Eventbrite for notifications and updates.
– Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time.
– Ticket holders not seated at least 10 minutes before the advertised start time may forfeit their ticket/seat and no refund will be issued.
– A limited number of tickets/seats may be available at the door, even after online ticket sales end or reach full capacity.
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FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
This production runs for two weekends and includes six performances:
Fri. Nov. 14: 7:30 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 15: 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Nov. 16: 3:00 p.m.
Thu. Nov. 20: 7:30 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 21: 7:30 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 22: 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Nov. 23: 3:00 p.m.
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PARKING
– Parking by permit or ParkMobile.
– Arts Lot #126 is the closest parking lot to the event.
– Visitors with DMV placards or plates may park for free in DMV spaces, Medical spaces, or ParkMobile spaces without additional payment, or in timed zones for longer than the posted time.
– More information provided by UCSC Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS)
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This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law.
