First Tuesday Free at the Seymour Center | Nov. 6 (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

Pigeon Point Light Station 135th Anniversary Celebration | Nov. 17 (10 a.m.-8 p.m.)

California State Parks, Pigeon Point Hostel, and the United States Coast Guard commemorate the 135th Anniversary of the first lighting of Pigeon Point Lighthouse. This annual event features an open house in the historic fog signal building from 10am until 7pm. The highlight of the evening is from 6-8pm when the historic lighthouse's Fresnel Lens lights up the sky. Exhibits in the 1899 Fog Signal Building feature lighthouse history, videos, marine mammals, and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park
Hwy. 1, 25 miles north of Santa Cruz
650-879-2120, www.santacruzstateparks.org

Surfin' Santa at Captiola's Main Beach | Nov. 24 (noon)

Watch Santa and his Reindeer surf into Capitola main beach at noon. Be sure to bring your camera to capture Santa's wave-riding arrival. Once Santa has dried off, he will be visiting with the kids!

Capitola Village
831-475-6522, www.capitolachamber.com

Holiday Lights Train | Nov. 24 (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

Meet Santa at Marini's Candies | Nov. 24-25

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

Old Time Games | Nov. 25 (2-3:30 p.m.)

Learn how to play the games of your grandparents and early settlers in the Felton area. Free. Ages 9+.

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

Holiday Lights Train | Nov. 30 (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

Boulder Creek Christmas in the Redwoods | Nov. 30 (6:30-9 p.m.)

The main event is at the town's Christmas Tree located near the bridge on Hwy 9. Carols are sung starting at 6:30 p.m. There is a parade along Hwy 9 with the arrival of Santa, and the lighting of the tree at 7 p.m. Santa is available for photos and town shops display their holiday decorations. Free.

Hwy 9, Boulder Creek
www.bcba.net

Christmas Fair at the Fair Grounds | Nov. 30-Dec. 1

The Santa Cruz County Fair Heritage Foundation and the Ag History Project celebrate the history of California's oldest county fair and the Pajaro Valley?s agricultural heritage at this old fashioned holiday event. There are tours of the living history farm and hay rides.

2601 East Lake Ave. (Hwy 152), Watsonville
831-724-5898, www.aghistoryproject.org