• Exhibition—The One with the Manes, works by Yasmine Benabdallah

    Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery Baskin Service Road, Santa Cruz, CA

    A multimedia exhibition by Yasmine Benabdallah, Film and Digital Media PhD candidate, explores a shared history between Morocco, Brazil, and Portugal through video installations, photographs, and watercolors. More information about the artist. Admission – FREE and open to the public. – Gallery hours are Mon.–Sat., noon–5:00 p.m. – More Gallery information here. Full schedule of […]

    FREE and open to the public
  • The Rite of Strings— “One Night Only” concert with UCSC Music Department faculty and special guests

    Music Center Recital Hall 400 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA

    Audiences are invited to a concert featuring Christopher Mallett, guitar; William Coulter, guitar; Robert Miller, guitar; and Grijda Spiri, violin. — ADVISORIES – Seating is first-come, first-served – No intermission — ADMISSION – FREE and open to the public – Open seating (no ticket required) – Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to […]

    FREE and open to the public
  • Dreamgirls—Presented by the African American Theater Arts Troupe (AATAT)

    Theater Arts Mainstage 411 Kerr Road, Santa Cruz, CA

    Move into the spotlight with Dreamgirls, the electrifying musical sensation that brings the soul, sparkle, and spirit of Motown to the stage. Follow the unforgettable journey of three talented young women as they rise from hopeful dreamers to international superstars. With powerful vocals, stimulating choreography, and hits like “And I Am Telling You I’m Not […]

    Free – $20
  • UCSC Family Opera—Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”

    UCSC Family Opera
    Music Center Recital Hall 400 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA

    Voice students, accompanied by Luke Shepherd on piano, perform an abridged version of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. This is a family-friendly production of Mozart’s most famous fairytale. Duration is approximately 1 hour with music and dialogue presented in English. The two matinee performances showcase two different casts. — ADVISORIES – Loud noises (thunder sound effects) […]

    FREE and open to the public.
  • Barn Dance at the Hay Barn

    Barn Dance at the Hay Barn
    Hay Barn 94 Ranch View Road, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

    The UCSC Celtic Music Ensemble performs live during a beginner-friendly, gender-neutral, darn good barn dance. Attendees are invited to dance, and partners are not needed. — ADMISSION – Open admission; tickets/registration not required. – FREE and open to the public. – Donations of any amount are welcomed and appreciated to support to support live music […]

    FREE and open to UCSC affiliates
  • Unexpected Returns: The Historic Entanglements of Fire, Settlement, and Stewardship in the Santa Cruz Mountains

    Intersections of Climate Change
    Institute of the Arts and Sciences 100 Panetta Ave, Santa Cruz, United States

    Join UCSC  faculty members Miriam Greenberg and Andrew Matthews as they discuss the deep regional histories of fire, from indigenous burning, settler ranching, fire suppression, and much more. This event is part of Intersections of Climate Change,  a series organized with the Friedlaender Lab in conjunction with Weather and the Whale. ADMISSION – FREE and […]

    FREE and open to the public
  • Random With A Purpose (RWAP) XXXlV—The Experiment

    Random With A Purpose (RWAP) XXXlV
    Second Stage Second Stage, Santa Cruz, CA

    Random With A Purpose is a popular annual student-directed and -choreographed dance showcase. Per directors Lydia Wallman and Brennah Lyons, this year’s production, The Experiment, “serves as a platform for collaborators to develop work that does not yet exist in the physical world and to investigate elements of community and features a cast that reflects UC […]

    Free – $20
  • “The Cigarette Surfboard” screening with filmmaker Ben Judkins (Kresge ’17)

    Join Banana Slug alumni filmmaker Ben Judkins (Kresge ’17, film and digital media) and “ciggy board” creator Taylor Lane for a screening of their award-winning documentary, The Cigarette Surfboard (presented by the California Coastal Commission’s Whale Tail Grant). 5:00-6:00 PM | alumni meet & greet with light refreshments 6:00-7:35 PM | film screening 7:35-8:30 PM | filmmaker discussion 8:30-9:00 PM | mingle REGISTER ABOUT […]

    Free
  • A Musical Journey with UCSC Music Ensembles —Percussion, Celtic, Classical Guitar, Horns, Central Asian, Experimental

    Music Center Recital Hall 400 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA

    Audiences are invited to the free winter quarter chamber concert at the Music Center Recital Hall at UC Santa Cruz to hear selections from multiple ensembles, including the following: UCSC Percussion Ensemble William Winant, director UCSC Celtic Chamber Music Ensemble Bill Coulter, director UCSC Classical Guitar Ensemble Christopher Mallet, director William Coulter, steel string guitar […]

    FREE and open to the public
  • UCSC Jazz Combos

    Music Center Recital Hall 400 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA

    UCSC Jazz Combos present a fall quarter concert

    Free – $12
  • Winter 2026 Open Studios

    Elena Baskin Visual Arts Center Baskin Service Road, Santa Cruz, CA

    Art Department students exhibit their art work throughout studios and classrooms at the Elena Baskin Visual Arts Center at UC Santa Cruz. The Open Studios event features student art work in a variety of media, including: – Drawing – Painting – Print media – Sculpture – Photography – Environmental art – Electronic art/new media — […]

    FREE and open to the public.
  • Questions that Matter – How to Live Long and Prosper: Lessons from a Star Trek Opera

    The Trial of Spock
    Kuumbwa Jazz Center 320-2 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, United States

    What do we need to live a fulfilling life? This essential question of the humanities feels especially pressing now, on the precipice of profound changes to our planet, our bodies, and our sense of human exceptionality. Join us for a conversation — and a music-and-drama masterclass — about speculative fiction from the Star Trek world, […]

  • UCSC Concert Choir

    Music Center Recital Hall 400 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA

    UCSC Concert Choir

    Free – $12
  • UCSC Chamber Singers

    Music Center Recital Hall 400 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA

    UCSC Chamber Singers

    Free – $12
  • The Art of Spontaneous Creativity

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

    Come and enjoy a winter concert by the spontaneous composition and improvisation, MUSC 150J ensemble. You’ll be able to experience the art of spontaneous creativity in action. — ADMISSION – FREE and open to UCSC affliates – Located in Porter Dining Hall — PARKING – Lot 124 & 125 are the closest parking lots to […]

    FREE and open to the public