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Santa Cruz Culture

Articles: Celebrating Santa Cruz County's Culture and Creativity

Santa Cruz County is a magnet for artists of all types and offers an eclectic array of talent, in a variety of creative formats.

A myriad of entertainment choices await at local nightclubs. Kuumbwa Jazz Center and The Catalyst in Downtown Santa Cruz are just some of the local hot spots for live entertainment. Moe's Alley Blues Club and Henfling's Tavern are other popular clubs.

The Santa Cruz County Symphony hosts classical performances at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium and the Mello Center in Watsonville. The Santa Cruz Chorale rings in the holidays and showcases other types of song throughout the year. The Santa Cruz Ballet Theater offers The Nutcracker. The Santa Cruz Baroque Festival highlights sounds of the Old World and hosts a Music in the Gardens tour each Memorial Day Weekend.

Each August, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music premieres new work by some of the world's most celebrated modern composers.

At the beach, the free summertime concert series at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Friday nights and Capitola's Wednesday Night Twilight Concerts in Esplanade Park also take place during summer.

Summertime also brings Shakespeare Santa Cruz, performed in a redwood glen, an enchanting setting for the Bard's masterpieces - cleverly interpreted and performed by a talented company of players.

For over two decades, Actors' Theatre has provided a venue for new plays. Cabrillo Stage presents full-scale Broadway musicals. U.C. Santa Cruz's Arts & Lectures series presents a variety of concerts, performances, and distinguished speakers. Ben Lomond's Mountain Community Theater and others host excellent productions year round.

Founded by the local film community, the week-long Santa Cruz Film Festival features a week of new cinematic works from around the globe each spring.

The Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County's Open Studios Art Tour hosts a self-guided countywide tour of hundreds of local artists' studios in the fall. And on the first Friday of each month, Santa Cruz galleries, museums and other venues open their doors to the public, showcasing spectacular artwork.

Annual art, wine and music festivals are held in Capitola, Boulder Creek and Scotts Valley. The Museum of Art and History in Santa Cruz hosts a variety of special tours, lectures and events. Artisan shops and galleries also thrive locally, including Annieglass, the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center, the Santa Cruz Art League Gallery and the Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery, among others.

An abundance of live music, theater and fine arts accompanies an assortment of festivals and performances, inspired by the county's continuous, artistic energy.