Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade | Dec. 6 (10 a.m.-noon)

Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz
831-429-8433, www.downtownsantacruz.com

Holiday Town Tree Lighting | Dec. 7 (5-6 p.m.)

20th Annual tree lighting event. Music, refreshments, snacks and ceremonies. A free event.

360 Kings Village Rd., Scotts Valley
831-438-3251, www.scottsvalley.org

Holiday Lights Train | Dec. 11-14 (sunset-9 p.m.)

Ride a beautifully lit holiday train through the streets of Santa Cruz as you sip hot-spiced cider, listen to carolers and meet Santa Claus. One hour. Departs from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk station. Tickets are $15 per person. Reservations suggested.

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

Snow Downtown Santa Cruz | Dec. 11 (5-8 p.m.)

Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz
831-429-8433, www.downtownsantacruz.com

Teddy Bear Tea | Dec. 13-14 (3-5 p.m.)

Storytelling, tea & cocoa, sweet treats, entertainment and other special holiday treats.

Ritz Carlton Resort, Half Moon Bay
650-712-7040, www.ritzcarltonl.com/resorts-half-moon-bay

Meet Santa at Marini’s Candies | Dec. 13-14

1308 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz
831-429-8433, www.mariniscandies.com

Holiday Craft Fair | Dec. 13-14 (10 a.m.-sunset)

Local crafters offer a grand selection of hand crafted gifts and decorative items. This annual event is adjacent to the Henry Cowell Nature Store with proceeds benefitting the Mountain Parks Foundation’s nature education programs.

Mountain Parks Foundation Event
Henry Cowell Redwood State Park, Felton
831-335-3174, www.mountainparks.org

Wilder Ranch Holiday Festival | Dec. 13 (11 a.m.-3 p.m.)

Celebrate the winter holidays as folks did in Californio, Victorian, and early 20th century Santa Cruz with crafts to do, games to play, cookies to decorate, and more.

Wilder Ranch State Park
Hwy 1, 2 miles north of Santa Cruz
831-423-9703, www.santacruzstateparks.org

Guided Walk at Elkhorn Slough | Dec. 13-14 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.)

Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
1700 Elkhorn Rd., Watsonville
831-728-5939, www.elkhornslough.org

Holiday Lights Train | Dec. 18-21 (sunset-9 p.m.)

Ride a beautifully lit holiday train through the streets of Santa Cruz as you sip hot-spiced cider, listen to carolers and meet Santa Claus. One hour. Departs from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk station. Tickets are $15 per person. Reservations suggested.

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