A resource for families in Santa Cruz County | | |
Have a punny Halloween and let the gourd times roll! Click here for some eerie-sistible, dorky, clever and awful puns to share with the children!
By now you've chosen costumes and made plans. Late posting events can be found on our Facebook page, but if you've been busy take a look at our Halloween Fun list.
Irene van der Zande, founder of KidPower has some time-tested Halloween safety tips for you.
Coming soon: November, Thanksgiving Camps, soups for cool weather, layered dressing, brisk walks, indoor action and brain activities. This Sunday, November 1 we set our clocks back one hour.
It's hard to avoid all that candy. What's your plan? Taste a few favorites and then hide it? A piece a day until it's gone? Give it away? Toss most of it?
Boo! Parmalee
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End a Fight Before it Escalates
A psychologist who studies couples has found "The No. 1 way to end a fight before it escalates." He says "It works almost immediately." Read more > > >
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9 Halloween Safety Tips for Kids, Teens,
and Adults of All Abilities
In communities celebrating Halloween, it’s not just kids who have fun!
Lots of adults and teens as well as kids enjoy the treats, costumes, special gatherings, and scary stories that come with Halloween – as long as it feels ‘just-right’ scary and they have the power to leave or avoid things that feel TOO scary.
You can hear some of our Halloween safety tips for adults in this interview with the Walk & Roll Live Podcast, “Halloween Safety for People with Disabilities” – featuring three of our amazing Safetypowers Ambassadors sharing strategies that ALL adults can use!
The following tips from Kidpower can help those who celebrate Halloween plan for more fun and fewer problems. These nine strategies are relevant for ALL ages and abilities > > >
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28 Best Halloween Movies for Kids
by Age and Scare Level
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by Brittany Dixon
"This list of Halloween movies broken down by age is a great way to make it a fun and spooky October! Finding good Halloween movies for kids is one of my favorite parts of the season. The tricky part is finding Halloween movies for kids that are actually right for your kid — what’s delightfully spooky for one child is a night of bad dreams for another.
I still recommend cross-checking anything borderline on Common Sense Media for a detailed breakdown, since every kid’s sensitivity is different." — but this should get you most of the way to a good pick fast. The List > > >
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Food Truck Party with Hocus Pocus 2 at dark! Friday, October 30, 4:30pm, We are wrapping up with a huge community bash featuring Firepeach, Enjoy the region’s best trucks, including Pana and Tacos el Jesse. Come out for face painting, live music, and one last opportunity to raise a glass for our students at the SVEF Beer & Wine Garden. Don't miss this epic season closer! Details
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Last Yappy Hour This Year. Thursday, October 29, 4-5:30 pm, Join us at our friends The MAH for the last Yappy Hour of the year! Bring your dog in costume for a chance to win a prize. Meet some pups that are up for adoption from the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter. Kincentricity Garden, Free and open to the public! Details
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THRILLER dance Performances, October 30-31. Join the zombies! All are welcome. Details
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Gabbys Dollhouse Meowseum Discovery Days, through October 31, Come take a photo with Gabby, head out on a Cat-tastic scavenger hunt, or join one of our daily programs all free with museum admission! Sign up for fun!
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Fermented Hot Sauce Class, Friday, October 30, 5 – 6:30pm, Is it hot enough for you yet?! Good thing pepper plants love the heat. With that in mind, we are offering one of our most popular culinary classes this month. Details
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Free Mask Making, Saturday, October 31, 10am-5pm, Swing by the Museum on Halloween and decorate you very own animal mask! Whether you’re looking to get inspired by our animal exhibits or are aiming for something a little more supernatural, flex your crafting muscles and add something unique to your costume. Details
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Parents Night Out Pumpkins and Pizza, Friday, October 30, 5:30-7:30pm, Let the kids have a spooky night of pumpkin fun, pizza, and plenty of creativity at Art Factory Studios while you enjoy a night out of your own! Details
| Howl-oween Pet Costume Parade and Contest, Thursday, October 29, 4:30-6:30pm, Come join the fun! Dress up your furry friends in their spookiest, funniest, or cutest costumes and strut their stuff in person. It's a pawsome chance to show off your pet's style, meet fellow pet lovers, and enjoy some festive vibes. Whether your pet is a ghost, wizard, or pumpkin, everyone's welcome to participate and cheer on the contestants. Don't miss out on the tail-wagging excitement! Details | Spooky Storytime, Saturday, October 31, 10:30am, Join us at Branciforte Library for a delightfully spooky Storytime filled with not-too-scary tales, songs, and plenty of frightful fun! Come dressed in your favorite costume for treats and prizes! All ages are welcome for this festive, magical, and memorable event! Details | Dia de Los Muertos Festivities, Thursday, October 29, 2026 , 5:30-7:30pm, Watsonville Library Details | Line Dancing Class, La Selva Beach Clubhouse, Mondays, 5:30-6:45pm (Doors open at 5), Tuesdays 2:15-3:45 PM (Doors open at 2), Details | Sensory Time with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monday, November 02, 10:30-11:30am, Join Aquarium staff for an ocean-themed sensory play time. Special guests from the Monterey Bay Aquarium will be providing ocean-themed sensory items during our normally scheduled Stay & Play program. Details | Making Music with MusicalMe, Bilingual, Tuesday, November 3, 11am – 12pm, Ages baby - 5, Details | |
Toddler Time Scotts Valley, Tuesday, October 27, 11-11:45am, Dental Health and Hygiene, Details
Toddler Story Time Live Oak, Tuesdays 11am-12pm, Playtime, stories & songs, Details
| Parent Nest A Guided Play and Connection Series, Fridays 10am, Details | Día de los Muertos, Thursday, November 5, 11am-12pm, Felton, Join librarian Jackie for a celebration of Día de los Muertos through story, song, and rhymes, followed by a craft! Details | Aptos/Capitola Youth Chess Club, Ages 6-18, Tuesdays 3:30 – 4:30pm, Come and play chess, one of the world’s oldest and most popular games, with other kids! Chess is a great way for kids to build sportsmanship, concentration, and reasoning skills, while having a lot of fun! Details | |
Magic Show with Alex Ramon! Your eyes won't believe what they're seeing! On October 30, Alex Ramon invites you into a world where the impossible becomes possible. From astonishing illusions to jaw-dropping moments that leave audiences speechless, this is a magic show you'll be talking about long after the curtain falls. Get tickets
| Memories and tradition come together on wheels! Join us for Mi Casa es Tu Casa, Sunday, November 1, 12–3pm, Community Check out the car showcase featuring Classic Memories, Watsonville Riders, and Watsonville Impalas. Let’s celebrate the stories, connections, and community pride that bring generations together. Come admire classic cars and enjoy an afternoon filled with culture and community! Pajaro Valley Arts | 280 Main Street, Watsonville, Details | |
Act III: The Threshold, Perimenopause and Menopause, Sunday, November 1, 2 – 5:30pm, A Santa Cruz afternoon for women crossing into perimenopause and menopause. Six local practitioners each share the first thing they want a woman in this phase to understand, answer the questions guests bring, and then meet guests one to one at open tables. Details
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Matilda, November 6-14, All about Theatre, at the Colligan Theater to celebrate voices of the next generation. A classic book brought to life on stage with live orchestra, singing and dancing. Tickets
| Girls on Wheels Take Over at the Felton Pump Track, Details | Children’s Craft Fair, Saturday, November 28, 2-5pm, at the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery, Details | | | | | | |
