Gilroy Gardens Hosts A Heroes Welcome | May 24-July 6

It’s a Red, White and Cool celebration for our Heroes! Military, Veteran, Fire, Police, and Emergency Personnel with valid IDs receive one free and one half off General Admission tickets for families up to six persons.

3050 Hecker Pass/Hwy 152, Gilroy
408-840-7100, www.gilroygardens.org

Great Train Robberies | July 1

Witness shootouts of famed lawmen and notorious outlaws from the 1880s at Bear Mountain. Blazing reenactments demonstrate why the West was wild.

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

First Tuesday Free at the Seymour Center | July 3 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Visit our aquarium, exhibit hall, and touch tanks. Take a tour or explore on your own. Join us as we explore Monterey Bay with our hands-on family programs!

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

Spirit of Wastsonville - Independence Day Parade & Celebration | July 4 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Start your 4th celebration at the Annual Pancake Breakfast (8-11 a.m.), followed by a parade through downtown with floats, marching units, bands, antique farm equipment, service clubs and other pageantry. (11 a.m.) The Downtown Plaza is the community gathering place for food, entertainment, presentations and other activities.

Downtown Watsonville and at the Plaza
www.ci.watsonville.ca.us

Boulder Creek 4th of July Parade | July 4 (10 a.m.)

A true small community style 4th celebration. Children units, home-made floats, pet parade, service clubs, politicians, firemen on their trucks, bands and so much more. The parade route is through the center of town and ends at the community fire house. Bring the family and enjoy some old fashion fun. Free.

Hwy 9, Boulder Creek
www.bcba.net

Great Pyrenees on Parade | July 4 (10-11 a.m.)

Northern California Great Pyrenees Rescue Dogs are featured in a special canine unit at the annual Aptos 4th parade. All pyr. big white fluffy dogs are asked to dressed in blue and red and bring along their with two-legged friends. Parade line-up is at 9 a.m. at Wells Fargo Bank on Soquel Dr. Club members and guests celebrate at near-by post-parade gathering. For further details, contact: Deb Michelotti at deb@citadeltech.com (please use "pyr" in the subject line of your email).

Aptos Independence Day Parade - Main Street
www.livingwithdogs.us/events.html

Old-Fashioned Independence Day | July 4 (11 a.m.-4 p.m.)

Visit Wilder Ranch's historic cultural preserve and step back 100 years as you participate in a 1906-style Independence Day celebration including a noon family parade, games, children's crafts area, music, living history demonstrations, historic speeches and flag_raising. Food and drink available for sale, or bring a picnic lunch.

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

Fourth of July Celebration | July 4

Pack up the family and head to Roaring Camp for a day of family fun. Sack races, balloon toss, hula hoop contests, music, and more.

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

Car Races at Ocean Speedway | July 6 (Gate 4:30 p.m. Race 6 p.m.)

American Stock, 4 Bangers, IMCA Modifieds, Ocean Late Models, Micro 600.

Santa Cruz Country Fairgrounds
2601 E. Lake Ave, Watsonville
831-476-9466, www.oceanspeedway.com

Aikido Summer Retreat | July 11-15

Hands on instructions by Aikido Senseis Motomichi Anno, Mary Heiny, Jack Wada and Linda Holiday. Minimum 8 weeks or 20 hours of Aikido experience required to participate in the retreat.