December 6, 2024

Celebrate the Holidays with Santa Cruz Shakespeare's "A Christmas Carol"

Local nonprofit Santa Cruz Shakespeare presents its holiday production of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, envisioned as a new holiday tradition in our community.

The production runs through December 24, 2024, with 28 performances, including shows at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Downtown Santa Cruz.

A Christmas Carol is directed by Santa Cruz Shakespeare's Artistic Director, Charles Pasternak. It stars Mike Ryan as Scrooge and Julie James as the Ghost of Christmas Present. Audiences can expect a theatrical and music-filled adaptation of this classic play. Ticket prices range from $20 to $60 and are available on the Santa Cruz Shakespeare website.

Spread Holiday Cheer by Supporting the Second Harvest Food and Fund Drive

Help Santa Cruz County's Second Harvest Food Bank continue to fill the gap and feed hope! Your gifts of food and funds will provide healthy food to those facing food insecurity. 100% of the funds raised during the annual Holiday Food and Fund Drive buy food for distribution in Santa Cruz County. Through our purchasing power, Second Harvest Food Bank can provide THIRTY healthy meals for every $10 donated.

Fire Department and Citizen Bystanders Perform Successful Water Rescue at West Cliff Drive

At 11:20 a.m. on the morning of December 2nd, 2024, the Santa Cruz Fire Department received an emergency call for a vehicle accident on West Cliff Drive with one vehicle over the cliff in the ocean and several callers reporting up to three victims in the water.

Engines 3110, 3112, Truck 3170, Battalion Chief 3103, Division Chief 3101, Lifeguards 3163, 3164 and 3165, along with 2 AMR units, State Lifeguards and Harbor Patrol responded to the scene to find a passenger vehicle over the cliff in the ocean with a second vehicle damaged at the intersection of West Cliff and Swift Streets. According to witnesses, two bystanders acted quickly, jumping into the ocean to save the victim until multiple rescue swimmers made access to her. Rescue swimmers then utilized a rescue board to help the victim to an awaiting Harbor Patrol Vessel. Once on board the vessel, the victim was transported to the harbor where awaiting Central Firefighters and AMR rendered care and carried the victim to an awaiting air ambulance, which flew her to a nearby trauma center.

The Santa Cruz Fire Department and allied agencies would like to remind all residents and visitors to use caution while driving along West Cliff Drive. Several areas are under road construction due to historical storm damage. Please navigate safely and follow all posted signage.

Celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa with the Santa Cruz Symphony Holiday Concert

On December 14 and 15, Santa Cruz Symphony will deliver a spirited family celebration of holiday music for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa featuring many of your favorites. The Holiday Concert is a presentation for the whole family—with special pricing for kids. The show even includes a lively sing-along for added fun!

There's nothing quite like live orchestral music to bring the magical spirit of the season to life. As the nights draw in and winter approaches, give yourself and your family the gift of festive music enjoyed together with your community.

Here's what you can expect to hear:

• Leroy Anderson's A Christmas Festival, a toe-tapping medley of eight popular holiday songs, including Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, and more.
• Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Polonaise from Christmas Eve, a beautiful excerpt from the composer’s four-act opera.
• Peter Jaffe's Symph-Hanukkah, an orchestral medley of popular Hanukkah songs including The Dreidel, O Hanukkah, Blessing over the Hanukkah Lights, and more.
• Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Greensleeves, a beloved traditional tune that originally appeared in his Shakespeare-inspired opera, Sir John in Love.
• Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser's Hlonolofatsa (Bless in the Name of the Father), traditionally sung by African choirs, featuring rhythmic lyrics in Zulu.
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, a popular series of eight short selections featured in the composer’s fantasy ballet.
• Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride, a perennial favorite that lets us imagine we have snow for sleigh rides!

Light Up the Night — Join the Holiday Glow Guide!

With the arrival of darker days and winter festivities around the corner, holiday lights are almost here! You can join the inaugural Holiday Glow Guide, a local festive decorations list; the guide helps the community know which decorations are up and available for viewing.

From Friday, November 29 to Tuesday, December 31, submit the location of your home and a photograph of your decorations through the Parks and Recreation website.

Each entry will receive a $5 promo code to use when registering for a class activity offered by the Parks and Recreation Classes Department. All entries will be entered in a contest for the best decoration, and the winner will receive a $50 Parks and Recreation gift card!

Add your home to the Holiday Glow Guide map and share your lights, lawn decorations, and other festive frills. When you register, add additional information about your home and decorations in the comments section. If you have any questions, please email Parks and Recreation with the subject line "Holiday Glow Guide Map Listing."

Water Department Receives State Recognition for Newell Creek Dam

Water Department staff recently took Senator John Laird to Newell Creek Dam to tour the completed Inlet Outlet Replacement Project. At the site, the department received a certificate of recognition from the state for the project and its continued commitment to safely providing reliable water to the people of Santa Cruz.

Water Department Director Heidi Luckenbach (left), Senator John Laird (center), and Deputy Water Department Director Isidro Rivera (right)

Treat Yourself to

Parent's Night Out!

Looking for a fun and relaxing night out without the kids? Treat yourself to a well-deserved break on December 7th with our Parents' Night Out event hosted by Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Summer Camp staff! This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a date night, catch up with friends, or just have some quiet time while your kids are in safe, capable hands.

Our trained and enthusiastic staff will entertain your children with various fun, supervised activities. From games, arts and crafts, movies, and more, your kids will have a blast in a safe, welcoming environment. Plus, they'll have the chance to make new friends and engage in interactive play, all while you get to recharge and enjoy some time for yourself.

Drop-off begins at 4 p.m. at the Teen Center at London Nelson Community Center, giving you plenty of time to head out for dinner or take advantage of holiday shopping. We'll provide snacks and fun until pick-up at 9:30 p.m., so you can enjoy your evening knowing your children are in great hands.

Spots are limited, so be sure to register early! Whether it's been a while since your last date night or you need a few hours of child-free time, Parents' Night Out is here to help. Let us take care of the kids—you deserve a night off!

Join Us for a Virtual Conversation About Nature Based Solutions

Join us on Zoom on December 12 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. for a conversation about nature-based solutions. 

The City of Santa Cruz is conducting outreach to educate the public on coastal resilience and the use of nature-based solutions to improve coastline protections from erosion and flooding. Nature-based solutions incorporate natural features and processes to protect, conserve, restore, and manage the coastline and its ecosystems. These solutions range from vegetation- and ecosystem-only to concrete-constructed human systems with some habitat. Each solution has distinct benefits and tradeoffs. Your feedback on coastal adaptation is important to realize the community’s vision for coastal management. 

44^th Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off Pre-Sales Now Open!

Get ready to chow down! The 44th Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is just around the corner, and pre-sales are officially open! Mark your calendars for February 22 – 23, 2025 and get your pre-sales today.

Don't miss your chance to enjoy one of the most beloved events on the coast. This year's cook-off promises to be better than ever, with teams from all over the region competing for the title of Best Clam Chowder in both Manhattan and New England categories.

Exclusive Pre-sale Items:

• Tasting Kits: Skip the lines and secure your tasting kit in advance. Each kit includes 6 tasting tickets, a cup, spoon, napkin, white voting card, and red voting card.
• Merchandise: Show off your love for the event with exclusive Clam Chowder Cook-Off merchandise, including t-shirts, totes, and more.
• Bundles: Get the best value with our special pre-sale bundles! Combine your tasting kit with merchandise for the ultimate cook-off experience.

Pre-sales are limited, so be sure to purchase early for guaranteed access to all the deliciousness. Whether you're a chowder connoisseur or just looking for a fun day in Santa Cruz, this is an event you won’t want to miss! We can't wait to see you at the 44th Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off! Tasting kit sales benefit Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation!





City of Santa Cruz

City Manager's Office

809 Center Street

Santa Cruz CA 95060

santacruzca.gov

831-420-5010