SOQUEL

Community drumming sessions set for July 18

Percussionist and educator Jim Greiner is continuing his Third Friday Community Drumming series through 2025 — a fun, uplifting and family-friendly event open to all experience levels, at the Congregational Church of Soquel, located at 4951 Soquel Drive, July 18 from 7-8:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30. The cost is $10.

Greiner provides hand drums and other percussion instruments, but feel free to bring your own favorites. All levels of experience are welcome. There will be a few fun and easy tips on playing the instruments for beginners, as well as how to use rhythm as a playful life practice to reinforce positive powerful “life rhythms,” and patterns of attitude and action to carry into everyday life.

Come play and reinforce the three principles common to all thriving communities: communicate, collaborate and celebrate! Contact Greiner through SantaCruzDrumLessons.com.

SANTA CRUZ

Vista Center ribbon-cutting, networking event

The Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired is proud to announce the grand opening of its new office in Santa Cruz, marking a major milestone in its ongoing commitment to serve individuals with vision loss across the Central Coast. To commemorate this expansion, Vista Center will host a ribbon-cutting and networking event July 31, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 1509 Seabright Ave., Unit 1B, with the official ceremony beginning at 6:15.

The event welcomes funders, donors, elected officials and community members to tour the new facility, enjoy light refreshments and connect with local professionals and community leaders. The new office represents an expansion of services and support, reflecting Vista Center’s continued investment in empowering individuals who are blind or visually impaired to embrace life to the fullest. For information or to RSVP, please visit tinyurl.com/VistaCenterRibbonCutting.

BEN LOMOND

MCT presents New Works Weekend

The Mountain Community Theater, 9400 Mill St., is proud to announce its annual New Works Weekend Aug. 15-17 — a celebration of new theatrical works, presenting staged readings of new plays, playwrights, directors and debuts of all forms from around the region. This year, there will be three new plays: “Neighbors,” about a crime gone wrong, diving into the moral complexity and emotional ripples of such a moment; “Rain Walk,” a short play that delves into a beautiful and challenging relationship study between a young man and his grandmother; and “Where Imagined Things Belong,” which explores a relationship that comes into question many years down the line, forcing us to examine and reexamine the choices and people that made us who we are.

There will be a post-show talkback with the playwright of one of the plays after each performance, where the audience gets the rare opportunity to help the authors continue to shape their work.

Subscribers’ guest ticket purchases open July 18, and tickets go on sale to the public Aug. 1. Evening shows are at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Audiences can enjoy all of this for only $10. For information or to order tickets, visit mctshows.org.

SANTA CRUZ

‘Princes of Surf’ exhibit at the MAH

The Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, 705 Front St., is excited to announce an exhibition which pays tribute to the founding members of local surf culture and the deep connection between Hawaii and Santa Cruz County. “Princes of Surf 2025: He?e Nalu Santa Cruz” will be on display July 18 to Jan. 4, 2026, and tells the story of how three Hawaiian princes — David Kawananakoa, Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole and Edward Keliiahonui — introduced surfing to the U.S. mainland in 1885 and rode the wave of legacy and relevance to this area. It will illuminate the often overlooked history of Antoinette Swan, the daughter of Hawaiian royalty and explorer Don Francisco de Paula Marín, who hosted the brothers in Santa Cruz.

The opening scheduled to coincide with the 140th anniversary of the three princes’ historic ride in Santa Cruz, the exhibit will feature over 50 vintage surfboards honoring surf legends such as Duke Kahanamoku, Sam Reid and Rosemari Rice, as well as o’los created by renowned surfboard shaper Bob Pearson. Visit santacruzmah.org/exhibitions/hee-nalu-ma-2025 for more.

SANTA CRUZ

Business After Hours networking mixer

Join the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce for a special summer evening of networking and celebration in honor of Parks and Recreation Month and the Summer Reading Program, July 16 from 5-7 p.m. at the Live Oak Community Center, 979 17th Ave. Mingle with local professionals, community leaders and park and library supporters while enjoying light refreshments and exploring one of Santa Cruz’s newest community spaces.

The Live Oak Community Center offers a comfortable, centrally located space now available for club meetings, trainings, community classes and more. Come see how this versatile venue can support your next gathering! Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn and celebrate the vital role our parks and libraries play in enriching our community. Admission is $10 for chamber members and $20 for non-members. For details, go to tinyurl.com/ChamberBusinessAfterHours.

SANTA CRUZ

Take historical walking tour of Arana Gulch

Have you ever wondered about the history of Arana Gulch? Join Dan Model, Eastside neighborhood historian, at 10 a.m. July 19 for a historical walking tour of the Arana Gulch greenbelt. Learn about everything from the first Mexican settlers to the story behind the Ghost of the Gulch.

The tour will meet at the Agnes Street entrance to the gulch and will walk on pavement and dirt trails, some of which may not be suitable for those with mobility issues. Wear suitable footwear and bring water and sunscreen. The tour is free of charge, but reservations are required. Contact drmodel99@gmail.com to reserve a spot.

SANTA CRUZ

Introduction to Zen meditation

The Santa Cruz Zen Center, 113 School St., will host an introduction to the body and mind of Zen meditation and the forms used from 1-2 p.m. on July 19. Everyone is welcome. Free of charge. For more information, contact 831-457-0206 or contact@sczc.org.