Santa Cruz County Live Music Weekend Roundup: December 5-7

🎶 Live Music Santa Cruz Mountains & Santa Cruz County! Here’s the roundup of concerts and live entertainment for the weekend of Friday, December 5 through Sunday, December 7, 2025! We’ve rounded up all the great music we could find at Santa Cruz County’s best eateries and music venues and thrown in all the local festivals and fairs. We even have a “Hot Ticket Alert” so you can snap up your tix before the rush! Enjoy all there is to do in Santa Cruz County! 🎶🍷 🍺🎻💃

Friday, December 5

🎭 A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Mountain Community Theater at Park Hall
Weekends Through December 14
9400 Mill St, Ben Lomond
Tix: mctshows.org

🎶 Jim L. Buhisan Living in Spirit
BrewTopia
Friday, December 5 | 2:00 – 5:00
115 San Jose Ave, Ste H, Capitola

🎶 The Neighbor’s 1-Year Birthday Party 🎂
Cocktails, Burlesque & Drag + DJ Party
The Neighbor’s Pub
Friday, December 4 | 4:00 – Midnight
711 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz
Sliding Scale Donation

🎶 Helen Casabona
Highway 1 Brewing
Friday, December 5 | 5:00 – 7:00
5720 Cabrillo Hwy, Pescadero

🎶 KTB & Claddagh Show Band
San Gregorio General Store
Friday, December 5 | 5:00 – 7:00
7615 Stage Rd., San Gregorio

🎶 Lighthouse String Band
Alice’s Restaurant
Friday, December 5 | 5:00 – 7:30
17288 Skyline Blvd, Woodside

🎶 Gil Landry 1st Friday Art Reception
Lille Aeske Arthouse
Friday, December 5 | 5:00 – 8:00
13160 Highway 9, Boulder Creek

👹 Krampus Fest & Night Market w/ Love Creek
The River Run at Brookdale Lodge
Friday, December 5 | 5:00 – 10:00
11570 Highway 9, Brookdale

🎶 Free Elements
Kissed by an Angel Wines
Friday, December 5 | 5:30 – 7:30
75 Mt. Hermon Rd., Scotts Valley
SC Eatery Food Truck

🎶 1st Friday w/ Local Honey
Discretion Brewing
Friday, December 5 | 5:30 – 7:30
2703 41st Ave Ste. A, Soquel

🎶 Dave D’oh Name That Tune
Inversion Wines
Friday, December 5 | 5:30 – 7:30
75 Mount Hermon Road, Scotts Valley

🎶 Eric Pelletier + Art by Denise Peacock
Stockwell Cellars
Friday, December 5 | 5:30 – 8:30
1100 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz

🎶 Woody Bell
Chaminade Resort & Spa
Friday, December 5 | 5:30 – 8:30
One Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz

🎶 Johnny Fabulous
Steel Bonnet Brewing
Friday, December 5 | 6:00 – 8:00
20 Victor Square, Scotts Valley
Girasol Pizza Food Truck

🎶 Preacher Boy Blues
Aptos Street BBQ
Fridays | 6:00 – 8:00
8059 Aptos St, Aptos

🎶 Live Blues w/ Lloyd Whitley
Mission Street BBQ
Fridays | 6:00 – 8:00
1618 Mission St., Santa Cruz

🎶 Ka La’i O Mele Aloha Friday
Pono Hawaiian Grill
Friday, December 5 | 6:00 – 8:30
120 Union St., Santa Cruz

🎶 The Casual Funk
Abbott Square Market
Friday, December 5 | 6:00 – 9:00
725 Front Street & 118 Cooper Street, Santa Cruz

🎶 Coast Ridge Ramblers
Davenport Roadhouse
Friday, December 5 | 6:00 – 9:00
1 Davenport Ave, Davenport

🎶 Karin Phoenix
Cork and Fork
Friday, December 5 | 6:00 – 9:00
1955 41st Avenue Suite B-8, Capitola

🎶 Icara + THC
Shanty Shack Brewing
Friday, December 5 | 6:00 – 9:00
138 Fern St., Santa Cruz

🎶 The Philharmonik + Redwood Express
Woodhouse Brewing
Friday, December 5 | 6:00 – 10:00
119 Madrone St., Santa Cruz
Tix on Eventbrite | mountainmusicproductions.com

💃 Contra Dance w/ Electro Contra Meltdown
Live Oak Grange
Friday, December 5 | 6:00 – 10:00
1911 17th Ave, Santa Cruz

🎶 Santa Cruz SantaCon Pub Crawl w/ 100+ Santas 🎅
Meet at Abbot Square Market | 725 Front St., Santa Cruz
Friday, December 5 | 6:30
Pono at 7:30 | 120 Union St., Santa Cruz
Rosie McCann’s at 8:30 | 1220 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
Cat Alley Street Upstairs at The Catalyst at 9:30 | 1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz

🐶 Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
The Rio Theatre
Friday, December 5 | 7:00 – 8:30
1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
Tix: riotheatre

🎶 Billy Reese
Over the Hill Gang Saloon
Friday, December 5 | 7:00 – 10:00
3530 Portola Dr., Santa Cruz

🎶 The Swag Tones
Vino by the Sea
Friday, December 5 | 7:00 – 10:00
55 Municipal Wharf, Ste. B, Santa Cruz

🎶 Extra Medium
Sevy’s at Seacliff Inn
Friday, December 5 | 7:00 – 10:00
7500 Old Dominion Ct, Aptos

🎶 Chad & JT
The Catalyst Club Atrium
Friday, December 5 | 7:00 – 10:00
1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
Tix: catalystclub

🎶 Van Halen Tribute w/ Dylan Rose, James Durbin, David DeSilva & Conner Bruce
Bruno’s Bar and Grill
Friday, December 5 | 8:00 – 10:30
230 Mt Hermon Rd, Scotts Valley
Tix: brunosbarandgrill

🎶 Dirtwire & The Floozies
The Catalyst Club
Friday, December 5 | 8:00
1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
Tix: catalystclub

🎶 Rachel Spung & The Soul Service
The Crow’s Nest
Friday, December 5 | 8:00
2218 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
$7 Door

🎶 Joe Kaplow Band + Generifus
The Crepe Place
Friday, December 5 | 8:00
1134 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
$10 Door

🎶 Medicine Road
Henflings Tavern
Friday, December 5 | 8:00 – 11:00
9450 Highway 9, Ben Lomond

🎶 Fossil Farm
Joe’s Bar
Friday, December 5 | 8:30 – 11:55
13118 Highway 9, Boulder Creek

🎶 Dragon Smoke w/ Collectivity
Moe’s Alley
Friday, December 5 | 9:00
1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz
Tix: moesalley

💃 Dance or Die Drag Rave
The Catalyst Club Atrium
Friday, December 5 | 9:30
1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
Tix: catalystclub

Saturday, December 6

💃🎅 Annual Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade! 🛻🎄
Saturday, December 6 | 10:00
Pacific Garden Mall, Santa Cruz

🎄 The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
Cow Palace
Weekends Through December 21st | 10:00 – 6:00
2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City
Tickets Must Be Purchased In Advance: dickensfair.com

🎄 Santa Cruz Shakespeare A Christmas Carol
Santa Cruz Veterans Memorial Hall
Through December 24
846 Front St., Santa Cruz
Tix: santacruzshakespeare.org

🎶 The NAPsters
San Gregorio General Store
Saturday, December 6 | 11:00 – 1:00
7615 Stage Rd., San Gregorio

🎶 Buffalo Blues Trio
The Crepe Place Garden Stage
Saturday, December 6 | 11:00 – 2:00
1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

🎁🍷 33rd Annual Bargetto Winery Art in the Cellar
Bargetto Winery
Saturday, December 6 | 11:00 – 5:00
3535 N Main St, Soquel

🎶 Moondance Band “Sparkle Dance”
London Nelson Community Center
Saturday, December 6 | 1:00 – 3:00
301 Center St., Santa Cruz

🎶 Kerry Wing
Highway 1 Brewing
Saturday, December 6 | 1:00 – 4:00
5720 Cabrillo Hwy, Pescadero

🎶 Live Blues
Aptos Street BBQ
Saturdays | 1:00 – 4:00
8059 Aptos St, Aptos

🎶 Eden Edell
Cooper-Garrod Vineyards at Garrod Farms
Saturday, December 6 | 2:00 – 4:00
22645 Garrod Rd, Saratoga
Reservations: gerrodfarms

🎶 Kyle Alden & Friends
San Gregorio General Store
Saturday, December 6 | 2:00 – 5:00
7615 Stage Rd., San Gregorio

🎶 Billy Reese
BrewTopia
Saturday, December 6 | 2:00 – 5:00
115 San Jose Ave, Ste H, Capitola

🎶 Twin Birthday Bash w/ Dan P & The Bricks + Dental Insurance
The Crepe Place Garden Stage
Saturday, December 6 | 2:00 – 6:00
1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

🎅🤶 Felton SantaCon
Humble Sea Tavern & Downtown Felton
Saturday, December 6 | 2:00 – 6:00
6256 Highway 9, Felton
Pub Crawl Through Town: Dress as Santa or Related Holiday Being

🎄 Boulder Creek Winter Festival & Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 6 | 2:00 – 6:30
Downtown Boulder Creek at Forest Street
Santa Arrives on a Fire Engine + Tree Lighting | 6:00 – 6:15

🎶 The Owls + Holiday Makers Market
Discretion Brewing
Saturday, December 6 | 3:00 – 5:00
2703 41st Ave Ste. A, Soquel
Market | 1:00 – 5:00

🎶 John Michael Experience w/ Daniel Lewis, Becca Kachman & Tom Bartolero
Kissed by an Angel Wines
Saturday, December 6 | 4:00 – 6:30 
75 Mt. Hermon Rd., Scotts Valley

🎶 Jenny O’Leary Quartet
Stockwell Cellars
Saturday, December 6 | 4:00 – 7:00
1100 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz

🎄 Scotts Valley Tree Lighting Fundraiser for Valley Churches United
Scotts Valley Community Center
Saturday, December 6 | 5:00
360 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley

🎶 Man in Black Johnny Cash Tribute
Steel Bonnet Brewing
Saturday, December 6 | 5:00 – 7:00
20 Victor Square, Scotts Valley
Hummus King Food Truck

🎶 PHB Rhythm & Soul Review
El Vaquero Winery
Saturday, December 6 | 5:00 – 8:00
2901 Freedom Blvd, Watsonville
Reservations: (831) 607-8118 | elvaquerowinery
$10 Door| Riot Bites Food Truck

🚣‍♀️⛵ Santa Cruz Yacht Club’s 38th Annual Lighted Boat Parade 🚢
Santa Cruz Harbor
Saturday, December 6 | 5:30 PM
135 5th Ave., Santa Cruz
Rain or Shine. Theme: “Disco at the North Pole!”

☮️ Rising Worldwide: Joy is Everywhere Music, Poetry, Marketplace
Charity Event to Prevent Child Trafficking
The Rio Theatre
Saturday, December 6 | 5:30 – 7:00
1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
Tix: riotheatre

🎶 Mojo Mix Blues
Aptos Street BBQ
Saturdays | Sundays | Wednesdays | 6:00 – 8:00
8059 Aptos St, Aptos

🎶 Joe Ferrara
Pono Hawaiian Grill
Saturday, December 6 | 6:00 – 8:00
120 Union St., Santa Cruz

🎶 Live Blues
Mission Street BBQ
Saturdays | 6:00 – 8:00
1618 Mission St., Santa Cruz

🎶 Dave Abbott
Vino by the Sea
Saturday, December 6 | 6:00 – 8:00
55 Municipal Wharf, Ste. B, Santa Cruz
Toys for Tots Collection

🎶 Chicago Bill Blues
Cork and Fork
Saturday, December 6 | 6:00 – 9:00
1955 41st Avenue Suite B-8, Capitola

🎶 Aardvark Grateful Grooves ☮️
Abbott Square Market
Saturday, December 6 | 6:00 – 9:00
725 Front Street & 118 Cooper Street, Santa Cruz

🎶 Dave “Nomad” Miller
Davenport Roadhouse
Saturday, December 6 | 6:00 – 9:00
1 Davenport Ave, Davenport

🎶 Scott Cooper
Cocoa Vino
Saturday, December 6 | 6:00 – 9:00
312-B Capitola Ave, Capitola

🎶 Windham Hill Winter Solstice Celebration
Barbara Higbie w/ Vicki Randle & Mia Pixley
Kuumbwa Jazz
Saturday, December 6 | 7:00
320-2 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz
Tix: kuumbwajazz

🎶 El Camino Revival + Emojis on Ecstacy
The Cats Los Gatos
Saturday, December 6 | 7:00 – 10:00
17533 Santa Cruz Hwy, Los Gatos

🎶 Tsunami
The River Run at Brookdale Lodge
Saturday, December 6 | 7:00 – 10:00
11570 Highway 9, Brookdale

🎶 Papiba & Friends
Woodhouse Blending & Brewing
Saturday, December 6 | 7:00 – 10:00
119 Madrone St., Santa Cruz

🎶 Ten O’Clock Lunch Band
Sevy’s at Seacliff Inn
Saturday, December 6 | 7:00 – 10:00
7500 Old Dominion Ct, Aptos

🎶 Paul Dynamite
Over the Hill Gang Saloon
Saturday, December 6 | 7:00 – 10:00
3530 Portola Dr., Santa Cruz

🎶 The Expendables
The Catalyst Club
Saturday, December 6 | 8:00
1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
Tix: catalystclub

🎷 Latin Jazz Ensemble
Black Box Theater at Cabrillo College
Saturday, December 6 | 8:00
6500 Soquel Dr, Aptos
Tix: cabrillovapa.universitytickets.com

🎶 Comedy Night: Nat Schwartz, Bryan Bayley, Israel Medina & Bryant Hicks
Bruno’s Bar and Grill
Saturday, December 6 | 8:00 – 9:30
230 Mt Hermon Rd, Scotts Valley
Tix: brunosbarandgrill

🎶 The Telephone Numbers + The Shimmers + Bubble Dagger
The Crepe Place
Saturday, December 6 | 8:00
1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz
$10 Door

🎶 Freestone Peaches – A Tribute to Allman Brothers Band
Felton Music Hall
Saturday, December 6 | 8:00
6275 Highway 9, Felton
Tix: feltonmusichall

🎶 Cake by the Ocean
The Crow’s Nest
Saturday, December 6 | 8:00
2218 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
$8 Door

🎶 Collision Course
Vino by the Sea
Saturday, December 6 | 8:00 – 11:00
55 Municipal Wharf, Ste. B, Santa Cruz
Toys for Tots Collection

🎶 Fox & The Hounds
Henflings Tavern
Saturday, December 6 | 8:00 – 11:00
9450 Highway 9, Ben Lomond

🎶 Serious Condition
Joe’s Bar
Saturday, December 6 | 8:30 – 11:55
13118 Highway 9, Boulder Creek

🎶 EMO Night Brooklyn
The Catalyst Club Atrium
Saturday, December 6 | 9:00
1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
Tix: catalystclub

🎶 The Slackers w/ The Inciters + DJ Malamento
Moe’s Alley
Saturday, December 6 | 9:00
1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz
Tix: moesalley

🎶 Touch’d Too Much
The Sand Bar
Saturday, December 6 | 9:00 – 11:30
211 Esplanade, Capitola

Sunday, December 7

🏈 Football on the Big Screen
The River Run at Brookdale Lodge
Sundays | 10:00 – 10:00
11570 Highway 9, Brookdale

🎶 Highway to Pluto
San Gregorio General Store
Sunday, December 7 | 11:00 – 1:00
7615 Stage Rd., San Gregorio

🎄🎁 Hallcrest Holiday Market
Hallcrest Vineyards 🍷
Sunday, December 7 | 11:00 – 5:00
325 Felton Empire Rd, Felton

🎶 B Natural Music School Showcase
Woodhouse Blending & Brewing
Sunday, December 7 | 12:30 – 4:30
119 Madrone St., Santa Cruz

🎶 Yuji Tojo + Cash Store Craft Fair
Davenport Roadhouse
Sunday, December 7 | 1:00 – 4:00
1 Davenport Ave, Davenport
Craft Fair | 12:00 – 4:00

🎶 John Michael Sings Sinatra
BrewTopia
Sundays | 2:00 – 5:00
115 San Jose Ave, Ste H, Capitola

🎶 Drini & The Bad Katz
San Gregorio General Store
Sunday, December 7 | 2:00 – 5:00
7615 Stage Rd., San Gregorio

🎶 Rio Road
Cork and Fork
Sunday, December 7 | 2:00 – 5:00
1955 41st Avenue Suite B-8, Capitola

🎶 Andy Fuhrman
MJA Vineyards Westside Tasting Room
Sundays | 2:30 – 5:30
Ingalls St., Santa Cruz

🎶 The Trolley Drops Twistmas Caroling🎅
Abbott Square Market
Sunday, December 7 | 3:00 – 5:00
725 Front Street & 118 Cooper Street, Santa Cruz

🎶 Back Porch Boys
Discretion Brewing
Sunday, December 7 | 3:00 – 5:00
2703 41st Ave Ste. A, Soquel

🎶 John Németh Blues
Moe’s Alley
Saturday, December 7 | 4:00
1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz
Tix: moesalley

🎶 Traffic Jam
Shanty Shack Brewing
Sunday, December 7 | 4:00 – 7:00
138 Fern St., Santa Cruz

🎶 Flypaper Blues
El Vaquero Winery
Sunday, December 7 | 4:00 – 7:00
2901 Freedom Blvd, Watsonville
Reservations: (831) 607-8118 | elvaquerowinery
$10 Door| Tacos El Jesse Food Truck

🎶 Ripatti & Rose
Joe’s Bar
Sunday, December 7 | 4:00 – 7:00
13118 Highway 9, Boulder Creek

🎶 Joe Leonard Duo
Chaminade Resort & Spa
Sunday, December 7 | 5:00 – 8:00
One Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz

🎶 Sunday Pro Jam w/ Dan Odom & Friends
Henflings Tavern
Sundays | 5:00 – 9:00
9450 Highway 9, Ben Lomond

🎶 Live Blues
Mission Street BBQ
Sundays | 6:00 – 8:00
1618 Mission St., Santa Cruz

🎶 Sorta Sisters
The Cats Los Gatos
Sunday, December 7 | 6:00 – 8:00
17533 Santa Cruz Hwy, Los Gatos

🎶 Alex Lucero
Vino by the Sea
Sunday, December 7 | 6:00 – 9:00
55 Municipal Wharf, Ste. B, Santa Cruz

✌️☮️ Grateful Sunday Allstars w/ Matt Hartle & Friends
Reed Mathis, Ezra Lipp & Murph Murphy
The Crepe Place Garden
Sunday, December 7 | 6:00 – 9:00
1134 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
$15 Door

🎹 David Benoit Christmas Tribute to Charlie Brown
Montalvo Arts Center
Sunday, December 7 | 7:00
15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga
Tix: montalvoarts.org

🤣 Open Mic Comedy
Shanty Shack Brewing
Sundays | 7:00 – 9:00
138 Fern St., Santa Cruz

🎶 Sunday Pro Jam w/ John Michael
The Sand Bar
Sunday, December 7 | 8:00 – 11:30
211 Esplanade, Capitola

💀 ::THE BOX:: Darkwave Dance Party
The Blue Lagoon
Sundays | 9:30
923 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz

Hot Ticket Alert

🎄 The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
Cow Palace
Weekends Through December 21st
2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City
Tickets Must Be Purchased In Advance: dickensfair.com

🎻 Irish Christmas in America🎄
Sligo Fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada + Cathy Jordan
Caoimhín Ó Fearghaíl & Gráinne Hambly
Resource Center for Nonviolence
Wednesday, December 10 | 6:00 – 9:00
612 Ocean St., Santa Cruz
Tix: celticsociety.org

🎶 Snail
Felton Music Hall
Saturday, December 20 | 8:00
6275 Highway 9, Felton
Tix: feltonmusichall

🎄🎁 Ripatti Rose Band Single Release Holiday Party + Lucas Lawson
The River Run at Brookdale Lodge
Saturday, December 20 | 7:00 – 10:00
11570 Highway 9, Brookdale
$20 Door | Tix on Eventbrite

🥂🍾 China Cats New Year’s Eve Ball
Liquid Light Show + Balloon Drop
Santa Cruz Veterans Memorial Hall
Wednesday, December 31 | 8:00 – 12:00
846 Front St., Santa Cruz
Tix: mountainmusicproductions

🪕 Jamgrass Jubilee w/ Broken Compass Bluegrass & Painted Mandolin
The Rio Theatre
Saturday, January 17 | 7:30 – 10:30
1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
Tix: riotheatre

☃️ Winter Warmer Festival at Roaring Camp Railroads🚂
Grahame Lesh & Friends + Hot Buttered Duo + Alex Lucero Band + More
Saturday, March 7, 2026 | 2:00 – 8:00
5401 Graham Hill Rd., Felton
Tickets / Details: winterwarmer831.com

The SLV Post Weekend Roundup of Music

The roundup of live music is compiled by Julie Horner for the San Lorenzo Valley Post newspaper and posted on Facebook: @SLVPostNews and on the SLV Post’s website: https://slvpost.com/category/entertainment/

See something we missed? Add your event to the comments. Or drop your event on the Santa Cruz Mountains Entertainment News Facebook group: @santacruzmountains. Email: julie@slvpost.com