FamHop

San Francisco Bay Area family weekend planner

Things to do with kids in Santa Cruz

Family-friendly things to do in Santa Cruz in 2026: 139 kid-friendly events plus 18 parks, museums and venues. Next up: Sunday, July 5, 2026. Plan a weekend with FamHop.

18 places 24 events mostly Culture Plan a day with FamHop

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  1. Santa Cruz Mission State Historic ParkOutdoors · Free
  2. The Diversity CenterCulture · $$
  3. Santa Cruz Museum of Natural HistoryCulture · $$
  4. Seymour Marine Discovery CenterCulture · $$
  5. Santa Cruz Surfing MuseumCulture · $$
  6. Santa Cruz CinemaCulture · $$
  7. CurvesWellness · $
  8. Santa Cruz Athletic ClubWellness · $
  9. Te Hau Nui School of Hula and Tahitian DanceWellness · $
  10. Pacific EdgeWellness · $
  11. Patagonia OutletShopping · 58.8 mi
  12. Bookshop Santa CruzShopping · 59.3 mi
  13. Down WorksShopping · 59 mi
  14. REIShopping · 59.5 mi
  15. Santa Cruz Gear ExchangeShopping · 59.4 mi
  16. Santa Cruz Running CompanyShopping · 59.4 mi
  17. Streetlight RecordsShopping · 59.6 mi
  18. Sylvan MusicShopping · 59.6 mi
  19. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Evenings on the Colonnade 2026 - Free DJ Dance Party (Sun Jul 5)Sunday, July 5, 2026 · Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (Colonnade by Neptune's Kingdom)
  20. Teen Manga Book ClubSunday, July 5, 2026 · Capitola Branch
  21. Discovery Zone PlaygroupMonday, July 6, 2026 · Capitola Branch - Ow Family Community Room
  22. Storytime and Stay & Play @ DowntownMonday, July 6, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Community Room
  23. Encompass Outreach Worker Office HoursMonday, July 6, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  24. Tales to Tails @ Garfield ParkMonday, July 6, 2026 · Garfield Park Branch
  25. Baby Time and Stay & PlayTuesday, July 7, 2026 · Branciforte Branch
  26. Toddler Time @ Live OakTuesday, July 7, 2026 · Live Oak Branch
  27. R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ Live OakTuesday, July 7, 2026 · Live Oak Branch
  28. R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @Garfield ParkTuesday, July 7, 2026 · Garfield Park Branch
  29. Preschool Storytime @ the Garfield Park Branch LibraryWednesday, July 8, 2026 · Garfield Park Branch
  30. Storytime and Stay & Play @ CapitolaWednesday, July 8, 2026 · Capitola Branch - Ow Family Community Room
  31. Make & Explore @ Garfield ParkWednesday, July 8, 2026 · Garfield Park Branch
  32. R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ BranciforteWednesday, July 8, 2026 · Branciforte Branch
  33. R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ CapitolaWednesday, July 8, 2026 · Capitola Branch - Bob White Children's Study Room B
  34. Lego Challenge @ DowntownWednesday, July 8, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Community Room
  35. Storytime and Stay & Play @ DowntownThursday, July 9, 2026 · Downtown Branch
  36. Wings Birth Certificate & Notary ServicesThursday, July 9, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  37. Lunch at the library @ BayviewThursday, July 9, 2026 · Offsite
  38. Preschool StorytimeThursday, July 9, 2026 · Live Oak Branch
  39. Housing Matters Drop in HoursThursday, July 9, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  40. Afternoon STEAM: Minecraft @ BranciforteThursday, July 9, 2026 · Branciforte Branch - Community Room
  41. Pokemon @ LOLAThursday, July 9, 2026 · Live Oak Library Annex (LOLA) - Active Learn Room
  42. R.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ DowntownThursday, July 9, 2026 · Downtown Branch

Family-friendly spots in Santa Cruz

Place photos via Wikimedia Commons, Unsplash, and venue sources.

Upcoming family events in Santa Cruz

SunJul 5
  1. 8:30 PMSanta Cruz Beach Boardwalk Evenings on the Colonnade 2026 - Free DJ Dance Party (Sun Jul 5)Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (Colonnade by Neptune's Kingdom) · Music · All agesRound out the July 4th weekend with a free DJ Dance Party at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk's Evenings on the Colonnade.Free
  2. 3:30 PMTeen Manga Book ClubCapitola Branch · Library · Ages 10–13Join us in the Teen Room for Manga-themed book sharing, crafts, activities and yummy snacks!Free
MonJul 6
  1. 10:30 AMDiscovery Zone PlaygroupCapitola Branch - Ow Family Community Room · Library · Ages 1–12Infant/Toddler Play Time A time for free play for children with a participating adult.Free
  2. 10:30 AMStorytime and Stay & Play @ DowntownDowntown Branch - Community Room · Library · Ages 5–12Join us for Storytime for ages 0-5 featuring songs, rhymes, lap bounces, and stories.Free
  3. 1 PMEncompass Outreach Worker Office HoursDowntown Branch - Life Literacies Center · Library · Ages 3–12Connecting people to social services, county mental health and more.Free
  4. 3:30 PMTales to Tails @ Garfield ParkGarfield Park Branch · Library · Ages 5–12Trained therapy dogs will be available at the Library to be attentive reading partners for children reading aloud. *Registration is…Free
TueJul 7
  1. 10:30 AMBaby Time and Stay & PlayBranciforte Branch · Library · Ages 1–5Baby Story Time is a sweet introduction to stories, songs, rhymes, and lap play, thoughtfully designed to nurture early literacy and bonding.Free
  2. 11 AMToddler Time @ Live OakLive Oak Branch · Library · Ages 1–12Puppets, Songs and toys, Oh My! Come join Librarian Julia for stories, songs lots of fun for little ones and their caregivers. Playtime is…Free
  3. 3 PMR.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ Live OakLive Oak Branch · Library · Ages 5–13Bilingual Reading Instruction R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12.Free
  4. 3 PMR.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @Garfield ParkGarfield Park Branch · Library · Ages 5–13Reading Instruction R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12.Free
WedJul 8
  1. 10:30 AMPreschool Storytime @ the Garfield Park Branch LibraryGarfield Park Branch · Library · Ages 5–12Join us at the Garfield Park Branch Library for Storytime!Free
  2. 11 AMStorytime and Stay & Play @ CapitolaCapitola Branch - Ow Family Community Room · Library · Ages 5–12Join us for Story Time featuring songs, rhymes, and stories designed to help preschoolers develop early literacy skills.Free
  3. 3 PMMake & Explore @ Garfield ParkGarfield Park Branch · Library · Ages 5–12Every week we will have a new project idea for you to build or explore.Free
  4. 3 PMR.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ BranciforteBranciforte Branch · Library · Ages 5–13Bilingual Reading Instruction R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12.Free
  5. 3 PMR.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ CapitolaCapitola Branch - Bob White Children's Study Room B · Library · Ages 5–13Reading Instruction R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12.Free
  6. 4 PMLego Challenge @ DowntownDowntown Branch - Community Room · Library · Ages 5–13Lego Fun for Kids Are you looking for a fun and competitive challenge?Free
ThuJul 9
  1. 10:30 AMStorytime and Stay & Play @ DowntownDowntown Branch · Library · Ages 5–12For ages 0-5 Join us for Storytime featuring songs, rhymes, and stories designed to help preschoolers, toddlers and babies develop early literacy skills.Free
  2. 10:30 AMWings Birth Certificate & Notary ServicesDowntown Branch - Life Literacies Center · Library · Ages 3–12Wings provides free birth certificates and notary services for people experiencing homelessness.Free
  3. 11 AMLunch at the library @ BayviewOffsite · Library · Ages 5–12Free
  4. 11 AMPreschool StorytimeLive Oak Branch · Library · Ages 5–12Songs and Stories Come join Librarian Julie for stories, songs and lots of fun for preschoolers and their caregivers in our Live Oak…Free
  5. 1 PMHousing Matters Drop in HoursDowntown Branch - Life Literacies Center · Library · Ages 3–12Housing resources and other services for those experiencing homelessness.Free
  6. 3 PMAfternoon STEAM: Minecraft @ BranciforteBranciforte Branch - Community Room · Library · Ages 5–13Learn how to craft, build, and survive in the world of Minecraft.edu.Free
  7. 3 PMPokemon @ LOLALive Oak Library Annex (LOLA) - Active Learn Room · Library · Ages 5–13Pokemon Game Bring your decks and get ready to play This is an informal drop in session for children who want to play pokemon.Free
  8. 3 PMR.E.A.D.: Reach Every Amazing Detail @ DowntownDowntown Branch · Library · Ages 5–13Reading Instruction R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12.Free