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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: 97 kid-friendly events plus 18 parks, museums and venues. Next up: Thursday, August 13, 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. Wings Birth Certificate & Notary ServicesThursday, August 13, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  20. Housing Matters Drop in Hours & Miracle MessagesThursday, August 13, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  21. Encompass Outreach Worker Office HoursFriday, August 14, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  22. Encompass Outreach Worker Office HoursMonday, August 17, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  23. Library Advisory CommissionMonday, August 17, 2026 · Capitola Branch - Ow Family Community Room
  24. Wings Birth Certificate & Notary ServicesThursday, August 20, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  25. Housing Matters Drop in Hours & Miracle MessagesThursday, August 20, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  26. Encompass Outreach Worker Office HoursFriday, August 21, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  27. R.E.A.D: Reach Every Amazing Detail Sign Ups Start TodayMonday, August 24, 2026 · Systemwide
  28. Encompass Outreach Worker Office HoursMonday, August 24, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  29. Wings Birth Certificate & Notary ServicesThursday, August 27, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  30. Housing Matters Drop in Hours & Miracle MessagesThursday, August 27, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  31. Encompass Outreach Worker Office HoursFriday, August 28, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  32. DIY Crafts AugustMonday, August 31, 2026 · Downtown Branch
  33. Scanvenger Hunt AugustMonday, August 31, 2026 · Downtown Branch
  34. Encompass Outreach Worker Office HoursMonday, August 31, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  35. Baby Time and Stay & PlayTuesday, September 1, 2026 · Branciforte Branch
  36. Aquarium Reading CircleWednesday, September 2, 2026 · Capitola Branch - Ow Family Community Room
  37. Cinema and Snacks @ BranciforteWednesday, September 2, 2026 · Branciforte Branch - Community Room
  38. Storytime and Stay & Play @ DowntownThursday, September 3, 2026 · Downtown Branch
  39. Wings Birth Certificate & Notary ServicesThursday, September 3, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  40. Housing Matters Drop in Hours & Miracle MessagesThursday, September 3, 2026 · Downtown Branch - Life Literacies Center
  41. Afternoon STEAM: Minecraft @ BranciforteThursday, September 3, 2026 · Branciforte Branch - Community Room
  42. Make & Explore @ CapitolaThursday, September 3, 2026 · Capitola Branch - Ow Family Community Room

Family-friendly spots in Santa Cruz

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

Upcoming family events in Santa Cruz

ThuAug 13
  1. 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
  2. 1 PMHousing Matters Drop in Hours & Miracle MessagesDowntown Branch - Life Literacies Center · Library · Ages 3–12Housing resources and other services for those experiencing homelessness.Free
FriAug 14
  1. 1 PMEncompass Outreach Worker Office HoursDowntown Branch - Life Literacies Center · Library · Ages 3–12Connecting people to social services, county mental health and more.Free
MonAug 17
  1. 1 PMEncompass Outreach Worker Office HoursDowntown Branch - Life Literacies Center · Library · Ages 3–12Connecting people to social services, county mental health and more.Free
  2. 6:30 PMLibrary Advisory CommissionCapitola Branch - Ow Family Community Room · Library · Ages 3–12The Library Advisory Commission is intended to be a voice of the community to provide advice and feedback to the Governing Board and the Director of Libraries.
ThuAug 20
  1. 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
  2. 1 PMHousing Matters Drop in Hours & Miracle MessagesDowntown Branch - Life Literacies Center · Library · Ages 3–12Housing resources and other services for those experiencing homelessness.Free
FriAug 21
  1. 1 PMEncompass Outreach Worker Office HoursDowntown Branch - Life Literacies Center · Library · Ages 3–12Connecting people to social services, county mental health and more.Free
MonAug 24
  1. 12 AMR.E.A.D: Reach Every Amazing Detail Sign Ups Start TodaySystemwide · Library · Ages 5–12Reading Help R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for grades 1-12.Free
  2. 1 PMEncompass Outreach Worker Office HoursDowntown Branch - Life Literacies Center · Library · Ages 3–12Connecting people to social services, county mental health and more.Free
ThuAug 27
  1. 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
  2. 1 PMHousing Matters Drop in Hours & Miracle MessagesDowntown Branch - Life Literacies Center · Library · Ages 3–12Housing resources and other services for those experiencing homelessness.Free
FriAug 28
  1. 1 PMEncompass Outreach Worker Office HoursDowntown Branch - Life Literacies Center · Library · Ages 3–12Connecting people to social services, county mental health and more.Free
MonAug 31
  1. 12 AMDIY Crafts AugustDowntown Branch · Library · Ages 5–12Free
  2. 12 AMScanvenger Hunt AugustDowntown Branch · Library · Ages 5–12Kids search for pictures of picture books for a prize.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
TueSep 1
  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
WedSep 2
  1. 11 AMAquarium Reading CircleCapitola Branch - Ow Family Community Room · Library · Ages 5–12Preschool Storytime Stay and Play Join Aquarium staff for some bilingual, ocean-learning fun through stories, songs, and movement.Free
  2. 3 PMCinema and Snacks @ BranciforteBranciforte Branch - Community Room · Library · Ages 3–12Grab a seat, enjoy a snack, and settle in for a movie at the Branciforte Branch Library!
ThuSep 3
  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. 1 PMHousing Matters Drop in Hours & Miracle MessagesDowntown Branch - Life Literacies Center · Library · Ages 3–12Housing resources and other services for those experiencing homelessness.Free
  4. 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
  5. 3:30 PMMake & Explore @ CapitolaCapitola Branch - Ow Family Community Room · Library · Ages 10–13Barrio Science STEAM Workshops These hands-on science workshops introduce Next Generation Science Standards skills through interactive projects.Free