• December 6 -- Lighted Boat Parade
  Holiday, Family Fun: Featuring 50 beautifully-decorated power and sailboats parading through Santa Cruz Harbor. Hot drinks and snacks available at various locations through the south harbor. Rain or Shine.
  Fee: FreeTime: 5:30 p.m. Phone Number: (831) 475.6161

• December 6 -- Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade
  Holiday, Family Fun: Join the fun as floats, marching bands, horses, classic cars, Santa & Downtown's Grand Marshall go down Pacific Avenue.
  Fee: FreeTime: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Phone Number: (831) 429.8433

• December 9 -- Aptos Village Holiday Tree Lighting
  Holiday, Family Fun: Bring homemade ornaments, a new unwrapped toy, a can/box of food, and your holiday spirit. Free refreshments and caroling. Soquel Drive & Aptos Creek Road
  Fee: FreeTime: 4 p.m. - dark Phone Number: (831) 688.1467

Ongoing Events

• Daily -- Wine Tasting at The Grapevine
  Wine & Food Education: Looking for something to do on a weekday afternoon? The Grapevine's tasting bar is open Tues-Sat. We have several flights, or 20 wines available by the glass. Our selection changes often, sometimes daily. Also serving yummy artisanal cheeses and other tasty morsels. 1389 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose.
  Fee: $4 per glass, flights also availableTime: Varies daily, Tues-Sat Phone Number: (408) 293.7574

• Ongoing Friday Evenings -- Joe Ferrara at Shadowbrook Restaurant
  Live Music: San Jose native, Joe Ferrara, has been entertaining audiences from Santa Cruz to San Francisco since his first gig in 1968. Joe's rich baritone voice and comfort with his audience have attracted fans of all ages. 1750 Wharf Road, Capitola-by-the-Sea, CA
  Fee: No Cover ChargeTime: 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Phone Number: (831) 475.1511

• December 1 - March 31 -- Elephant Seal Walks
  Family Fun: Visitors are guided on a 3-mile, 2.5-hour walk through sand dunes, to watch elephant seals in their natural environment. Walks take place every day, rain or shine. Call for any exceptions. This event will be taking place at Ano Nuevo 30 miles South of Half Moon Bay on Hwy 1.
  Fee: $4.00 Per PersonTime: 8:45 a.m. and 2 p.m. Phone Number: (800) 444-4445

• December 1 - 31 -- Tours of the Monarch Grove
  Family Fun: Join a docent naturalist and see tens of thousands of monarch butterflies. Learn about the seasonal migration of this beautiful creature. 600 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA
  Fee: Call for information.Time: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on weekends Phone Number: (831) 423.4609

• May 4 - December 14 -- San Pedro Square Farmer's Market
  Family Fun: The market takes place each Friday, along a charming block of San Pedro Street between Santa Clara and St. John streets. Browse through colorful flowers, gourmet foods and fresh fruits and vegetables from California-certified growers. San Jose.
  Fee: No Admission FeeTime: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Phone Number: (408) 279.1775

• Daily -- Wine Tasting at Vinocruz
  Wine Education: Daily tasting of flights of Santa Cruz Mountains wines. Flights change weekly. Wines being tasted often come from wineries that rarely open to the public. This is an excellent opportunity to taste these unique and distinctive wines. Vinocruz-Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains, 725 Front Street, Santa Cruz
  Fee: $9Time: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m. Phone Number: (831) 426.8466

• December 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 & 22 -- 2008 Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train
  Family Fun, Holiday: Ride vintage excursion cars, adorned by thousands of colorful lights, as they roll through city streets of Santa Cruz. Passengers sing along to seasonal carols while sipping hot-spiced cider, listen to musical entertainment, and enjoy visits by Santa and Mrs. Claus. This train travels through Santa Cruz for one hour, it does not go to Roaring Camp.
  Fee: $22 Adult (age 13+)/$17 Children 3-12/Under 3 ride freeTime: Call for information Phone Number: (831) 335.4484

• Every Monday Evening -- World Class Jazz
  Live Music: Each Monday evening a world class jazz artist performs at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz! Open to all ages. Come for dinner and enjoy the jazz! Call for performance information. The Kuumbwa Jazz Center is located at 320-2 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, CA
  Fee: Varies According to ArtistTime: Call for information. Phone Number: (831) 427.2227

• Every Tuesday -- Michael's On Main
  Wine and Food Education: Please join Michael's On Main for their popular Food and Wine Tasting! Michael's prepares a delicious match to specially selected wines. The food buffet, wine and live music reflect the theme of the evening. 2591 Main Street, Soquel
  Fee: $25Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Phone Number: (831) 479.9777

• Every Wednesday, October thru April -- Winemaker Wednesdays at Shadowbrook
  Wine or Food Education: Each week Shadowbrook will be featuring two to four wines from a Santa Cruz Mountains winery, offered by the bottle or glass. A representative of that week's winery will offer tastings and information from a table setup in the restaurant's Rockroom Lounge. That night all wines from the week's winery, whether ordered in the bar or dining room, by the glass or bottle, will be 50% off the regular price. Featured wines will also be available in flights, accompanied by a complimentary appetizer. The promotion is being done in concert with the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association. 1750 Wharf Road, Capitola-by-the-Sea, CA.
  Fee: Call for information.Time: 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Phone Number: (831) 479.WINE

• Each Saturday -- Aptos Certified Farmer's Market
  Family Fun: Come explore all the wonderful offerings of this farmer's market! Located in Parking Lots B, C and D at Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos
  Fee: FreeTime: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Phone Number: (831) 479.6100

• Each Saturday Evening -- Terry Riversong & Terry Shields at Shadowbrook Restaurant
  Live Music: Their repertoire consists of such artists as James Taylor, Kenny Loggins, Cat Stevens, Beatles, Van Morrison, Eagles and many others. Shadowbrook Restaurant, 1750 Wharf Road, Capitola-by-the-Sea, CA.
  Fee: No Cover ChargeTime: 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Phone Number: (831) 475.1511

• Every third Saturday of the month -- Martin Ranch Winery - Open for Tasting
  Wine Education: Discover the unique pleasure of tasting fine wine and relaxing in the vineyard at Martin Ranch Winery -- tour the winery building and learn about the art of winemaking from the winemakers, first-hand! Sample Therese Vineyards, Estate 2004 Cabernet and 2004 Syrah; J.D. Hurley 2003 Cabernet, 2004 Merlot, and the ever-popular 2007 Sauvignon Blanc. Martin Ranch Winery, 6675 Redwood Retreat Rd., Gilroy
  Fee: $10 refunded with wine purchaseTime: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Phone Number: (408) 842.9197