Events Around Town

It’s First Friday!
Downtown is a happening spot for First Friday events and this month there are 8 to check out, including a new late night event at Surf City Billiards! Open til 1AM!

1) Artisans & Agency
1368 Pacific Ave. | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Hearts for the Arts is back and Artisans and Agency is honored to be hosting the event! This 11th annual silent auction benefiting Arts Council Santa Cruz County’s arts education programs runs from February 1 through 13. Swing by to view and bid on love-inspired art created by local artists. All proceeds benefit arts education programs that serve more than 20,000 youth across Santa Cruz County.

2) Minnow Arts
204 Locust St. | 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Mystical Ground is an exhibition at Minnow Gallery featuring original, limited edition collagraph prints by artist Melody Joy Overstreet. Each collagraph print is made by hand and is centered around the sacred life-giving power of seeds.

3) Felix Kulpa Gallery
107 Elm Street | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Exhibition of outsider art by Dawn Motyka, Carrie Eheler, Craig Youn, alexander Khah and Felix plus a fashion show featuring clothing curated by Dawn Motyka of Love Me Two Times.

4) Curated Contemporary Art Gallery
703 Front Street | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

“California Dreaming” is a juried exhibition of the work of 49 artist from the San Francisco and Monterey chapters of the California Art Club. The exhibition is on view through March 11, 2023.

5) Good Vibrations
111 Cooper Street | 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Join us at Good Vibrations with Eli Torres! Eli will be joined by fellow performers and artists, Kunty the Klown and Tipsy Eclipsey. Event 5-9pm

5) Big Basin Vineyards Tasting Room & Wine Bar
525 Pacific Ave | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Karen Potter, Paintings, Drawings and Poetry – Karen’s work is very personal and intimate. Mostly self portraits, her style is colorful and whimsical but her themes are dramatic and profound. This is a show we are very excited to present. Opens Friday Feb 3 with an artist reception from 6:30pm-9pm.

6) Sanctuary Exploration Center
35 Pacific Ave | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Photographer, author, and marine conservationist Marc Shargel will bring 40+ years of marine imagery and ocean observations to the Sanctuary Exploration Center in Santa Cruz. The event will have drinks and family-friendly crafts, and feature a talk by Marc Shargel in which he will discuss the coast’s changing marine ecology, including the dramatic loss of kelp and what is being done.

7) Surf City Billiards
931 Pacific Ave | 5:00 pm – 1:00 am

Chris Maltese – We will be featuring paintings from Chris Maltese and Live Music from Good Sound Music Fest. Come check it out!!!

8) Santa Cruz County Government Center
701 Ocean St | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

A wonderful collection of artwork from 5 local artists – Karuna Gutowski (painting), Robert Maher (photography), Katie Simpson (mixed media), Marie Massey (painting), and Randie Silverstein (glass). Free parking!