Santa has lost his reindeer, but you can help find them! Pick up a scavenger hunt map at the Downtown Santa Cruz Information Kiosk or at Pacific Cookie Company to search for the beautiful hidden reindeer inside participating businesses. Find just 12 of the reindeer and return your map to the Information Kiosk for a prize! Find ALL of the reindeer and enter to win a grand prize. FUN for the whole family.The Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market presents this special holiday pop-up for four weekends (Fri-Sun) starting Nov 28-30! Shopping downtown just got extra artsy! Each weekend will feature 25+ local makers & artists in the former Palace Arts space in Downtown Santa Cruz, at1407 Pacific Ave.Shop in Downtown Santa Cruz between 12-4PM during the first two weekends of December, and you'll be eligible to win one of 400 Golden Envelopes at participating Downtown businesses. An undercover Elf will be surprising shoppers! Golden Envelopes contain special prizes, like gift cards valued at $10 - $150, vouchers for cookies, ice cream, jewelry, kitchenware, clothing, LOTS of Downtown Dollars and many more fun surprises!The Downtown Holiday Parade is the official kickoff for your winter holiday celebrations and a beloved annual community tradition highlighting Santa Cruz County schools, youth based organizations and local nonprofits. The Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade draws 1,200+ participants and over 3,000 spectators. Rain or Shine!Hear some of our favorite Chanukah stories read out loud at Bookshop Santa Cruz at this special event co-sponsored by Temple Beth El. Monday at 5PM.Drop your letter to Santa in the North Pole Mailbox in front of Super Silver at 1301Pacific Avenue, on the corner by Walnut Avenue.Santa wants to hear from you! What’s at the top of your wishlist?What have you done or will you do this year to help others? Do you have other questions for Santa?Santa is coming back to Santa Cruz! Santa can't wait to visit with you and hear all about the adventures you've had this year. And of course, Santa wants to hear your holiday wish list. Stop by to say hello to Santa at Childish Toy Shop, 1122 Pacific Avenue, between 12PM - 4PM several weekends in December!Enjoy a festive Free Family Movie Matinee at the historic Del Mar Theatre in Downtown Santa Cruz! This year’s feature is the beloved holiday classic Elf, screening at 11AM on Saturday and Sunday, December 13 and 14. Bring the whole family for a cozy, joy-filled morning at the movies. Admission is completely free, so just show up, settle in, and get into the holiday spirit!Get ready for Holiday Family Trivia! This lively, classic, hosted trivia event is designed especially for families and multigenerational groups to play together as a team. Questions cover holiday movies, music, traditions, and winter wonders, so everyone from kids to grandparents can join in. Bring your holiday spirit, test your knowledge, and compete for cheerful prizes during this afternoon of laughter and jovial competition!Head over to Lúpulo at 233 Cathcart Street for a relaxed and fun-filled Chanukah craft event! This free event offers a variety of easy and enjoyable crafts including making Chanukah cards and dreidel painting. Open to all ages!Take the guesswork out of holiday shopping and gift your loved ones Downtown Dollars. Accepted at over 80 Downtown businesses, you can't go wrong with giving your recipient the gift of choice. Downtown dollars don't expire and have zero fees. They are a perfect gift for teens, teachers, coworkers, family or anyone in your life who appreciates a hyperlocal, choose your-own-adventure gift!Buy Downtown Dollars today at the Downtown Info Kiosk, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Pacific Cookie Company, or online!To show how much we appreciate your decision to shop local in Downtown Santa Cruz this holiday season, the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz is offering 5 days of free gift wrapping! Click button for details.Experience Santa Cruz's most spectacular holiday tradition with Santa Cruz Dance Theater's production of The Nutcracker, presented at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. This year, The Nutcracker welcomes Lucien Postlewaite, principal dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet, who will be gracing the stage in a special performance. Born and raised in Santa Cruz, Lucien brings his world-class talent back to his hometown for a production not to be missed.
