Watsonville Arts & Culture Calendar
NOVEMBER 2023
Community Mosaic Making Workshops: Watsonville Brillante
Sundays • 10AM-2PM
Free • Family-friendly • Ages 10+
Learn how to break tiles and set them to a design that will become part of the parking garage mural project.
Location: Muzzio Mosaic Arts Center, 26 W. Front St.
Cultural Convenings: Public Art for the Watsonville Plaza
Mondays • 5:30-7:30PM
Free • Family-friendly
Every Monday evening during the month of November a convening of a different cultural group will take place to help shape the design of 4 larger than life-sized sculptures for the Watsonville Plaza. November 6: AAPI, November 13: Indiginous, November 20th European, November 27th Mexico and South America.
Location: Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St.
Crafternoon
Wednesdays • 2-5PM
Free • Family-friendly
Join us for a fun and creative way to spend your Wednesday afternoons with your family. Each week will feature a new and easy craft to complete at your own pace.
Location: Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St. Suite 100
Poets' Circle & Open Mic
Thursday, November 2 • 5-7PM
Free • Teens & Adults
Tune into Poets’ Circle and open mic hosted by Magdalena Montagne featuring poet Daniel B. Summerhill. Program in-person or online at: http://bit.ly/3vWnyeK. This program will be presented in English.
Location: Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St. Suite 100
Mothersong
Friday, November 3 • 10:30-11:15AM
Free • Family-friendly
Sing and dance at this fun & musical program.
Location: Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St. Suite 100
Estrellas de Esperanza Presents "La Rama" - A Holiday Tradition from Veracruz Mexico
Wednesday, November 8 • 6:30-8PM
$10 donation at the door • Family-Friendly
Join Estrellas de Esperanza to learn a hands-on holiday tradition "La Rama" from Veracruz, Mexico. Master Instructor Claudio Naranjos Vega, all the way from Boca de San Miguel Municipality in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz, will guide you through the traditional songs and dance steps. Bring your jaranas, requintos, guitars, and any other instruments. Session conducted in Spanish, with English interpretation.
Location: Cabrillo College Watsonville Center, 318 Union St.
SAVE THE DATE: Friday, Dec. 1, for a FREE La Rama Community Celebration
5:00-6:30 pm - The Procession (Meet at the Watsonville Farmers Market)
6:45-8:00 pm - Fandango at Watsonville Youth Center
Family Day - Mi Casa Es Tu Casa
Saturday, November 11 • 1:30-3:30PM
Free • Family-friendly
You are invited to Family Day at Pajaro Valley Arts to participate in engaging storytelling by Jovita Molina and an art activity making repujados with Josefina Rocha!
Location: Pajaro Valley Arts, 37 Sudden St.
Walking Tour of Watsonville Brillante
Sunday, November 12 • 12-12:30PM
Free • Family-friendly
Meet in front of the Watsonville Public Library for a 30-minute, bilingual, walking tour of Watsonville Brillante.
Location: Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St.
Community Panel: Honoring Our Ancestors
Saturday, November 18 • 1:30-3:30PM
Free • Family-friendly
Join Pajaro Valley Arts and community members in a discussion about how we honor our ancestors in our lifetime. This discussion panel is moderated by Roberta Valdez and will include 3-4 panel guests of different cultural backgrounds.
Location: Pajaro Valley Arts, 37 Sudden St.
Esperanza del Valley Presents "México en el Corazón"
Saturday 23 at 8PM & Sunday 19 at 3PM
Tickets online & available at the door • Family-friendly
Esperanza de Valle (EDV) proudly presents Mexico en el Corazón with live music by Cuatro con Tres and Mariachi Tapatio of San Jose! Mexico en el Corazón features beautiful dances from Veracruz, Nayarit, Colima, Michoacan, and Jalisco. We'll also be presenting our coreodrama Los Dos Hermanos. It is an honor to welcome our special guests from the Universidad Veracruzana to grace the stage with EDV: Artistic Director of the Ballet Folklorico del Puerto de Veracruz, Daniel del Valle Hernández, and lead dancers, Guillermo Hernández Lagunes and Nicolás Hernández López.
Location: Cabrillo College Aptos Campus, Crocker Theater, 6500 Lower Perimeter Rd. in Aptos
OCTOBER EVENTS
Open Studios Art Tour 2023
First three weekends of October • 11AM-5PM
Free • Family-friendly
This October, join us for Arts Council Santa Cruz County’s 37th annual Open Studios Art Tour. It’s free, self-guided, and features 322 artists working in dozens of mediums across the County. Meet seasoned artists who’ve participated since 1986, talented newcomers, and makers and creators of all kinds. Neighbors, friends, collectors, and art lovers are invited to connect
with artists, see their creative process up close, and buy art from the source.
Oct 7 & 8 - South County Artists
Oct 14 & 15 - North County Artists
Oct 21 & 22 - All County Artists
Location: Various locations throughout Santa Cruz County
Crafternoon
Wednesday, October 4 • 2-5PM
Free • Family-friendly
Looking for a fun and creative way to spend your Wednesday afternoons with your family? Join us for our weekly Crafternoon on Wednesdays at 2pm at our Main Library. Each week will feature a new and easy craft to complete at your own pace.
Supplies will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis as supplies will be limited.
This program is for youth ages 5-12.
Location: Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St. Suite 100
Mothersong
Friday, October 6 • 10:30-11:15AM
Free • Family-friendly
Join the Watsonville Public Library for a fun & musical program.
Location: Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St. Suite 100
Open Studios at Pajaro Valley Arts
October 7-8 & 21-22 • 11AM-5PM
Free Admission • Family-friendly
Local artists Josefina Rocha and Hermelinda Vasquez showcase their latest art pieces, consisting of evocative paintings and wood-carved colorful alebrijes.
Location: Pajaro Valley Arts - Porter Building, 280 Main St.
Watsonville Filipino American History Month Festival
Saturday, October 7 • 12-5PM
Free • Family-friendly
This event will feature local vendors, food, and musical performances and will be a space to celebrate and honor the history and contributions of the Filipino Community in Watsonville. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors.
Location: Watsonville Plaza, Main St.
Sewing 101: Absolute Beginners
Tuesday, October 17 • 4-5PM
Free • Youth-Adults
Learn about the various parts of a sewing machine, beginner vocabulary and techniques. Bring a partner or your own machine. Brought to you by Watsonville Public Library.
Location: Freedom Branch Library, 2021 Freedom Blvd.
Day of the Dead Celebration at the Watsonville Public Library
Thursday, October 26 • 5:30-7PM
Free • Family-friendly
Join the Watsonville Public Library for their annual Day of the Dead family program. Create a glow-in-the-dark lantern, play Loteria and win prizes, and get your face painted like a Calavera.
Supplies will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Location: Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St. Suite 100
Watsonville Film Festival Día de los Muertos at the Plaza!
Friday, October 27 • 4-9PM
Free • Family-friendly
Join the Watsonville Film Festival as they host this beautiful tradition in honor of our ancestors and dearly departed. With ofrendas, performances, hands-on activities, film and food, this celebration has something for everyone in your family. Bring warm clothes as we will screen the movie COCO at dusk.
Artists and artisans will participate with their one of a kind creations in the Arte del Corazón's Mercado de Muertos at the Romo Lawn.
The Watsonville Film Festival's 6th Annual Día de Muertos celebration is made possible thanks to our sponsor Hospice of Santa Cruz County and co-presenters Santa Cruz County Office of Education and City of Watsonville.
Much gratitude to the many community organizations and artists that help us present this beloved program.
Location: Watsonville Plaza, Main St.
POSTPONED
Arte del corazón presents: Calavera Ball Fundraiser
Saturday, October 28 • 7-10:30PM
$5-10 • Family-friendly
Un, dos, tres, cuatro! Get ready to come party with Arte Del Corazón for their first annual Calavera Ball Fundraiser! This event will be held with Mariscos Al Encanto, what used to be Appleton Grill. Come dressed to impress. Costumes or Calavera face paint, highly encouraged. There will be a contest for best Calavera! DJ MOI will be playing music and providing good vibes for us to dance the night away!
Location: Mariscos Al Encanto, 410 Rodriguez St.
Opening Reception - Mi Casa Es Tu Casa: Honoring Our Ancestors Exhibit
Opening Reception: Sunday, October 29 • 1-3PM
Exhibit Dates: October 18-December 3
Free • Family-friendly
Mi Casa es Tu Casa is an annual Pajaro Valley Arts exhibit inspired by the
traditional holiday of Día de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead celebrated in
Mexico and beyond through altars to remember and honor those who have
passed. This cherished tradition brings together families, communities and
friends as they prepare to welcome the spirits back each year. PVA has
invited artists, community groups and local residents “into our home” to
construct altars, installations, and more to celebrate and pay homage to
our ancestors.
Location: Pajaro Valley Arts Gallery, 37 Sudden St.