This Weekend in Santa Cruz: Holiday Glow, Market Wandering, and Coastal Cheer
Santa Cruz this time of year feels like a secret whispered by the ocean. The air is cool but gentle, the light goes honey-gold by midafternoon, and suddenly everything smells like pine needles, baked goods, and possibility. If you’re wondering how to spend your weekend, here’s your softly curated guide to what’s happening around town.
Holiday Happenings Worth Leaving the House For
Downtown Holiday Strolls & Pop-Ups
Downtown Santa Cruz is leaning all the way into the season. Expect twinkly lights, small artisan pop-ups, live music drifting out of doorways, and shops staying open late for that “just one more store” energy. It’s the kind of wandering that starts with a gift hunt and ends with hot cider and zero regrets.
Holiday craft fairs are sprinkled all over the county right now, featuring local artists, jewelers, ceramicists, candle magicians, and people who somehow make soap feel luxurious. Perfect for finding gifts that say, “I thought about this,” without screaming mall parking lot.
🎄 Holiday Pop-Ups & Makers
📍 Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market Holiday Pop-Up
A treasure trove of handcrafted gifts, local makers, festive finds, and eats on Pacific Avenue.
🗓 Friday–Sunday, Dec 19–21
⏰ 10am–5pm
Perfect for last-minute holiday shopping, art browsing, or simply savoring that local-creative buzz. DowntownSantaCruz.com
🥁 Santa Cruz Winter Makers Market
A related craft and artisan market with local music and goodies right in the heart of downtown.
🗓 Sunday, Dec 21
⏰ 10am–5pm
Free admission — wander, sip something warm, and check off gifts while supporting local talent.
Seasonal Shows & Community Events
Keep an eye out for small theater performances, choir concerts, and family-friendly holiday events hosted by local schools, community centers, and churches. Santa Cruz does cozy really well, especially when it involves live music and folding chairs.
🎪 Fratello Marionettes: The Vaudeville Follies
A whimsical puppet show delighting kids and grown-ups alike at Branciforte Branch Library.
🗓 Saturday, Dec 20
⏰ 4:00pm
A playful romp with marionettes and theatrical mischief. AllEvents
🪩 Holiday Hoedown at London Nelson Community Center
Dance the night warm with music, good company, and seasonal cheer.
🗓 Saturday, Dec 20
📍 London Nelson Community Center, Santa Cruz AllEvents
🎶 Sister Nancy at Moe’s Alley
Live reggae vibes to warm up a December evening.
🗓 Saturday, Dec 20
📍 Moe’s Alley, Santa Cruz AllEvents
Even beyond craft stalls and markets, Santa Cruz is wrapped in seasonal sparkle:
🎢 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Winter Wonderland
Ride, snack, check out the giant holiday tree and treat yourself to boardwalk nostalgia — running through January 4, 2026. Visit Santa Cruz County
➡️ Downtown Reindeer Round-Up
Help find hidden reindeer in local shop windows for prizes through Dec 23. Visit Santa Cruz County
🌲 Seabright’s Farley’s Christmas Wonderland
A walk-through Christmas display with trees, elves, and even a bit of fairy magic at Seabright every evening. Visit Santa Cruz County
🚂 Roaring Camp Railroads Holiday Lights Trains & Tree Walks
Steam through redwoods with cocoa and cheer — a truly magical seasonal treat (ticketed, check availability).
Farmers Markets (Yes, Even in December)
Because Santa Cruz never stops being Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz Community Farmers Market (Westside)
A weekend classic. Expect winter citrus, apples that actually taste like apples, greens so fresh they squeak, local honey, baked goods, and hot food stands that make you forget you were “just browsing.”
Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers Market
Smaller, sweeter, and ideal if you want to grab fresh produce, flowers, or bread before wandering into a coffee shop to warm your hands and stare out the window dramatically.
Pro tip: Winter markets are elite. Fewer crowds, better conversations, and the vendors have time to tell you exactly what to do with that weird vegetable you impulse-bought.
• Santa Cruz Farmers' Market – A classic stop for seasonal produce and pantry staples, in the heart of town.
• Farmers' Market West Side – Great if you’re heading up Mission Street for a morning wander (usually a Saturday scene).
• Live Oak/Eastside Farmers' Market – A beloved neighborhood option near East Cliff.
• Aptos Farmers Market – Just south in Aptos if you’re feeling like a scenic road trip with produce!
• Scotts Valley Farmers Market & Felton Farmer's Market – Fun accessible alternatives with local flair.
(Note: the regular Wednesday downtown market is next scheduled on Wed, Dec 24 per the City calendar.)
Cozy Extras for a Perfect Weekend
• Beach walks with a sweater and no agenda
• Coffee dates that turn into lunch
• Sunset watching anywhere west-facing
• A bookstore stop “just to look”
• Hot soup, early nights, and zero guilt
The Vibe
This weekend isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing a few things slowly. Buying something handmade. Eating something seasonal. Letting the ocean recalibrate your nervous system. Santa Cruz doesn’t shout its holiday spirit. It hums it, low and lovely.
If you go, go gently. If you wander, wander warmly. And if you end up doing absolutely nothing at all… honestly, very on brand.