MuseumLIVE DEALWHAT'S ON
Photo from the venue's own site
Museum · Admission from $5 · 5 verified savings
Fancy going together?
Admission from $5.
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, housed in a historic Carnegie library building across from Seabright Beach, connects visitors with nature through permanent exhibits on gray whales, geology and fossils, California's first peoples, and Santa Cruz's naturalist heritage. Guests explore featured exhibits like Cabinets, Curiosities & Collecting, attend programs including Toddler Tumble Time and UCSC Geology Exploration walks, and join Nature Explorers camps during school breaks. The museum offers free admission to youth under 18, and those with EBT or SNAP cards receive free admission for their entire family. Visitors with ASTC Passport cards from reciprocal science museums located more than 90 miles away also receive free admission. Adults with disabilities qualify for discounted admission at the senior rate of three dollars. Foster youth receive free admission upon request. Sibling campers save twenty dollars with discount code CampSib during registration.
Hours: Monday: Closed, Tuesday–Friday: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday–Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Prices and hours quoted from santacruzmuseum.org. Prices can change — the link above goes to the page they came from.
One reason to go, each in the venue’s own words, with the date we checked it.
Oct 31 · 10:00 amEvent
On Halloween, families swing by the museum to decorate their own masks, inspired by animal exhibits or supernatural themes, adding something unique to their costumes.
Check event details and ticket requirements with the venue.
“Free Craft: Mask Making October 31 @ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm”
Guests with foster youth may receive free admission upon request
“Guests with foster youth may also receive free admission upon request (youth always free).”
Adult visitors with disabilities receive discounted admission at the Senior rate
“Adult visitors with disabilities will receive discounted admission at the Senior rate ($3) upon request.”
Free admission for visitors and their families who present an EBT/SNAP card
“We are proud to offer FREE admission to visitors and their families who present an EBT/SNAP card.”
Free admission for families with a membership card from a reciprocal science museum (located more than 90 miles away)
“Free admission is available to families with a membership card from a reciprocal science museum featuring the Association of Science and Technology Centers logo.”
Discount for siblings attending camp
“Use the discount code CampSib when registering a sibling to receive $20 off.”
Santa Cruz
Half-Price Bowling - Weekdays 2pm-5pm
Santa Cruz
7 miSanta Cruz
Oct 17 · Santa Cruz Band Review
Santa Cruz
4 miSanta Cruz
Santa Cruz
Mon–Sun: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Hours via Google Maps
1 miSep 4 – Jan 3 · Silica / SiO2: Northern California Ceramics
Santa Cruz
Monday 9AM-1PM, Thursday–Friday 12–8PM, Saturday–Sunday 12–6PM
1 miSanta Cruz
Wednesday 7:30-10:00 pm, Thursday 3:30-5:30 pm, Friday 7:30-10:00 pm, Saturday 2:00-4:00 pm & 7:30-10:00 pm, Sunday 2:00-4:00 pm
Santa Cruz
Mon–Thu: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Fri–Sat: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sun: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Hours via Google Maps
3 miSanta Cruz
Daily 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Santa Cruz
Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Santa Cruz
Mon–Tue: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Wed–Thu: 10:00 AM – 5:45 PM; Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sat–Sun: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Hours via Google MapsWithin 25 miles of Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. Dates and wording are each venue’s own.
Sat & Sun1 miSilica / SiO2: Northern California CeramicsSanta Cruz Museum of Art & HistorySanta Cruz, CASep 4 – Jan 3See details
Sat & Sun2 miPumpkin Patch SeasonThe Great Pumpkin PatchSanta Cruz, CAOct 1 – 31See details
Sat & Sun3 miPumpkin PatchSunnyside ProduceSoquel, CAOct 1 – 31See details
Sat & Sun6 miThomas and Percy's Halloween PartyRoaring CampFelton, CAOct 10 – 25Check tickets
Sat & Sun18 miReawakening: Muwekma Ohlone Culture and Connection in Pursuit of RecognitionNew Museum of Los GatosLos Gatos, CAJun 19 – Nov 29See detailsSat & Sun18 miReawakening: Reciprocity of Land, Sea, and the Muwekma Ohlone TribeNew Museum of Los GatosLos Gatos, CAJul 17 – Jan 3See details
Sat & Sun20 miUMI by Chris Sicat – Art ExhibitHakone Estate and GardensSaratoga, CAJul 1 – Dec 31Check ticketsSat & Sun20 miTea Ceremony Demonstration – Omote-senke SchoolHakone Estate and GardensSaratoga, CAOct 4 – Dec 6Check tickets
Sat & Sun21 mi2026 Fall Fest - Pumpkin Patch FarmRancho Siempre VerdePescadero, CASep 26 – Oct 25See details
Sat & Sun23 miPumpkin PatchLJB FarmsSan Martin, CASep 26 – Oct 31See details
Sat & Sun25 miChristine McConnell's Edible Gingerbread House DisplayWinchester Mystery HouseSan Jose, CASep 6 – Nov 2Check ticketsSat & Sun25 miUnhinged – Immersive Halloween ExperienceWinchester Mystery HouseSan Jose, CASep 6 – Nov 2Check tickets
Sat & Sun25 miBay Area Prabasi Durga Puja 2026Santa Clara County FairgroundsSan Jose, CAOct 16 – 18Check ticketsFrom Oct 241 miDía de los Muertos CelebrationSanta Cruz Museum of Art & HistorySanta Cruz, CASat, Oct 24See details
From Oct 2417 miFull Moon TourElkhorn Slough SafariMoss Landing, CASat, Oct 24See detailsFrom Oct 2417 miSea Otter Focus ToursElkhorn Slough SafariMoss Landing, CASat, Oct 24See details