2015 Santa Cruz Holiday Christmas Events

There are plenty of holiday events to keep you and the family busy this year. If you are into community tree lighting events, you can take your pick from events in Capitola, Aptos and Watsonville. Ride the holiday lights train through Santa Cruz while sipping hot apple cider and singing carols or take part in the annual holiday parade, with Santa Clause riding in on a Victorian horse-drawn carriage in downtown Santa Cruz. The following are the top holiday events taking place in Santa Cruz County this year.

Pictured: Holiday Open House and Tree Lighting in Capitola Village via Facebook

Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade (Dec. 5)

Downtown Santa Cruz

Let's kick off the winter holiday season with fun, friends and surprises. Santa Claus will make an appearance in a Santa Cruz Carriage Company horse-drawn Victorian carriage. Parade starts at 10 a.m. on Pacific Avenue and Laurel Street and continues north.

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Roaring Camp Holiday Train Excursions (Dates in December)

Felton, The Boardwalk

Roaring Camp holiday train excursions are a unique Santa Cruz tradition. Take a daytime ride on a steam train through the redwoods to Bear Mountain while sipping hot apple cider and viewing a passing display of decorated holiday trees. In the evenings, the twinkling holiday lights train will delight passengers of all ages as you sip apple cider, sing carols and visit with Santa Claus as the train passes through the streets of Santa Cruz, ending at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk where passengers can play arcade games, laser tag and more at Santa's Kingdom.

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Tannery Winter Art Market (Dec. 4-6)

Santa Cruz

Families get creative this holiday season at the Winter Art Market on Dec. 4-6 at the Tannery. Create your own holiday ornaments, cards and stockings while taking in artist demonstrations, art walk, caroling, artist exhibitions, holiday gift show and more.

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Capitola Village Holiday Open House & Tree Lighting (Dec.5)

Capitola Village

The picturesque village by the sea hosts their annual holiday community celebration with family-friendly activities such as face painting, cookie decorating, crafts, musical performances and a visit from Santa Claus! The tree lighting is at 5:30 p.m. Fun starts at 2 p.m.

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LIghted Boat Parade (Dec. 5)

Santa Cruz Harbor

There is something magical about watching the reflections of colorful, twinkling lights shimmer atop the gently, rocking waters of the harbor. See dozens of festively lit boats circle the harbor channel from the Murray Street Bridge to the Walton Lighthouse and back. Event starts at 5:30 p.m.

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Family Holiday Night & Tree Trimming (Dec. 6)

Boulder Creek

Families can take part in a traditional tree trimming at the 13th annual family holiday craft event at the San Lorenzo Valley Museum. Spend the afternoon with your neighbors as you make craft ornaments, decorate cookies, make cornhusk angels and design wreaths and other fragrant greenery decorative items. Starts at Noon.

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Holiday Craft Fair & Annual Tree Lighting (Dec. 5)

Aptos

Santa Claus makes a special trip to Aptos for their annual tree lighting and craft fair in the heart of the village. There will be Christmas carols, free hot chocolate to keep your insides warm, live performances and of course an crafts fair featuring local vendors. Event starts at 2 p.m.

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Holiday Traditions & Tree Lighting (Dec. 6)

Downtown Watsonville

Celebrating the diversity of the local community, the all-day celebration at the city plaza in downtown Watsonville features a stocked schedule of live music, dance, and choir performances to entertain the entire family. Santa Clause makes an appearance at 4 p.m., the Christmas Tree lighting is at 5:15 p.m. Event starts at 1 p.m.

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Toy Train Display & Winterpalooza (Dec. 12, 18)

Downtown Santa Cruz

For the 10th year, Santa Cruz MAH hosts an interactive exhibit of a standard gauge steam engine from the 1920s. Train lovers of all ages will squeal with delight as they operate the set. A toy train sale fair will be on Dec. 12. Get creative with the entire family at the annual 3rd Friday holiday-inspired event, Winterpalooza, on Dec. 18. Bring the little ones to make felt critters and other crafts or get a head start on your New Years Resolutions and leave your wish for the upcoming year at the Wintry WishLand installation.

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SantaCon (Dec. 12)

Downtown Santa Cruz

Take part in a new holiday tradition by dressing up as Santa Claus and going on a pub crawl with dozens of other Santas in downtown Santa Cruz! Strictly for the 21-and-overs, partake in festive libations while singing songs from the canon of the Naughty Santa Songbook. A parade of costumed, drunk revelers on Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz? Sounds about right!

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