Monterey Sea Canyon Birdwatching Tour | Aug. 11-12 (7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.)

Travel just a few miles off the coast to the Monterey Bay's 6,000 foot deep canyon where more than 70 bird species travel from both hemispheres to feed on these rich waters. Monterey Seabird Tours are available during peak migration seasons, limits the number of travelers on a tour, and are led by expert naturalists and birders.

Monterey Boat Charters, Monterey Wharf
831-375-4658, www.montereyseabirds.com

Starlight Evening Train | Aug. 11 (6-11 p.m.)

Wonder at the beauty of a redwood forest lit up at night during a 2-hour, round-trip railway excursion from the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz. Reservations recommended. For tickets contact Roaring Camp at 1-831-335-4484.

Roaring Camp Railroad, Felton
Tickets/Info: 831-335-4484, www.roaringcamp.com

Summer Gathering of Mountain Men | Aug. 11-12

Wander through wilderness encampments of trappers and traders at this 1830s summer rendezvous of wild and wooly mountain men is re-created.

Roaring Camp, Felton
831-335-4484, www.roaringcamp.com

Musical Saw Festival | Aug. 12

Listen to old time fiddlers play Blue Grass, Classical and Country music on musical saws at workshops, open mic and jam sessions. Musicians perform on washboards and spoons, harmonicas and accordions, guitars, banjos and other folk instruments from around the world family gatherings.

Roaring Camp, Felton
831-335-4484, www.roaringcamp.com

Seaside Crafts at the Seymour Center | Aug. 12 (1-3 p.m.)

Create fun crafts that feature the cool creatures of the tidepools. Make a seastar suncatcher, or create your own sea anemone! There are activity sheets, scavenger hunts, and a take home souvenir of your day.

Seymour Marine Discovery Center
End of Delaware Avenue, Santa Cruz
831-459-3800, seymourcenter.ucsc.edu

Star Stories | Aug. 12 (2-3 p.m.)

A fun story telling time with stories about various astronomical events and heavenly bodies. Free. Ages 5-12.

Quail Hollow Ranch County Park, Ben Lomond
831-454-7930, www.scparks.com

8th Annual Art Under the Oaks - Art and Wine Festival | Aug. 12-13 (10 a.m.-6 p.m.)

Functional and fine art displays in various mediums including paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry, glass art, sculptures, etching, digital works and much more. Featured wineries are from the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation and there is entertainment. A free event.

Skypark, Scotts Valley
831-438-1010, www.scottsvalleychamber.com

Art at the Beach | Aug. 12 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

A select group of area artists display works at the Esplanade's outdoor gallery. Some will be demonstrating their craft with works in progress. This is a free event.

Esplanade Park, Capitola
www.ci.capitola.ca.us

Fantasy Faces - Youth Art Camp | Aug. 13-17 (9 a.m.- 3 p.m.)

Camp leaders are Anouk Johanna and Jennifer Henning. Fantasy Faces can be an inspiration for artwork of animals, people or something in between. These classes will encourage the students to test the creative limits of their fantasy. The emphasis will be on a different medium each day so the students will get a chance to learn to approach the subject matter from the angles of drawing, painting, collage and printmaking. These will, in turn, be applied to textile art, paper and boxes. $125 members, $135 non members, $15 materials.

Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center
9341 Mill Rd, Ben Lomond
831-336-3513, www.mountainartcenter.org

Shakespeare Fringe - The Mock-Temest | Aug. 14 (7:30 p.m.)

SSC's Fringe production is an opportunity for the season's interns to perform in a thematic play of their own. The seasons Fringe production is a "mash-up of Tempest-related materials" taking its cue from the spirit of The Mock-Tempest by Thomas Duffett. One of the earliest parodies of Shakespeare's play.

UCSC Festival theater, Santa Cruz
Tickets: 831-459-2159, www.shakespearesantacruz.com