Our Venue
Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
307 Church Street, Downtown Santa Cruz
The Civic Auditorium is at the corner of Center and Church Streets in downtown Santa Cruz, across from the Santa Cruz City Hall.
Special Needs: We strive to make all concerts accessible. Please call ahead at 831.420.5260 (Press 5).
VISITOR INFORMATION
Have questions? Feel free to Contact the Festival for assistance in planning your visit
Parking: Please allow ample time before performances for parking. There are several City-owned parking lots within easy walking distance of the Civic in Downtown Santa Cruz.
Directions
By Car:
From the direction of San Francisco-
More Scenic Route: Take 1-280 freeway S. Exit 47B to merge onto CA-1 S toward Pacifica for 67 miles. It merges onto King Street, turn right onto Walnut Ave and then take a slight left onto Walnut Ave. Turn left onto Center St, the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium is on your left.
Quicker Route: Take US-101 S toward San Jose. Exit 423B to merge onto I-380 West toward San Bruno, I-280. Take exit 5B to merge onto I-280 South toward San Jose. In 32 miles, take exit 12B to merge onto CA-85 S toward Gilroy. In 7.7 miles take exit 11A to merge onto CA-17 toward Santa Cruz. In 22 miles, keep right to CA-1 N, continue onto Chestnut St, turn left onto Church st, then right on Center St. The Civic Auditorium is on the right.
From the direction of the East Bay–
Tolls Required: Take I-80 W toward San Francisco. Exit 423B to merge onto I-380 West toward San Bruno, I-280. Take exit 5B to merge onto I-280 South toward San Jose. In 32 miles, take exit 12B to merge onto CA-85 S toward Gilroy. In 7.7 miles take exit 11A to merge onto CA-17 toward Santa Cruz. In 22 miles, keep right to CA-1 N, continue onto Chestnut St, turn left onto Church st, then right on Center St. The Civic Auditorium is on the right.
Avoid Tolls: Take I-580 E. Exit 8B to merge onto I-580 E toward Downtown Oakland, Hayward-Stockton. Keep right on I-880 S toward Alameda-San Jose for 72 miles, merge onto the CA – 1 N, continue onto Chestnut St, turn left onto Church st, then right on Center St. The Civic Auditorium is on the right.
From the direction of Monterey–
Take CA-1 N, for 13 miles, keep left on CA-1 toward Half Moon Bay, then keep left on CA-1 toward Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz for 27 miles, then keep right on CA-1 and continue onto Chestnut St, turn left onto Church st, then right on Center St. The Civic Auditorium is on the right.
Public Transit:
From San Jose-
Take the 17 bus from San Jose Diridon to Santa Cruz. Get off at Soquel Ave & Front, walk 8 minutes to the Civic.
From Monterey-
Take the 20 to the Salinas Transit Center and switch buses to the 28. At the Watsonville Transit Center, switch to either the 2 or the 1 to Santa Cruz. Get off at Soquel Ave & Front, and walk 8 minutes to the Civic.
Closest Airports:
- SJC, San José Mineta International Airport- 33 miles
- MRY, Monterey Regional Airport- 43 miles
- SFO, San Francisco International Airport- 66 miles
A celebrated mecca for the arts and a passionately distinctive university town, Santa Cruz is known for its spectacular coastal and mountain scenery, rich histories, varied and vibrant cultural traditions, and innovations in culinary, technology, and academia. You will find there is much to delight you during the two weeks of Cabrillo Festival events!
Downtown Santa Cruz is home to our venue, the historic Civic Auditorium. Make time in your Festival itinerary to enjoy Downtown’s many independent booksellers and boutiques, wineshops, award-winning baristas, cutting-edge bistros and casual eateries, galleries, and lively street art scene that make up the unique character of our thriving small city. The Downtown Association is a wellspring of visitor information. Lodging and more information about our spectacular county can be found at Visit Santa Cruz.
SOME OF OUR FAVORITES
These are a taste of our Festival favorites—some of the small businesses who support both the Festival and our orchestra. Be sure to pay them a visit during your time in Santa Cruz! .
Coffee & Treats
Verve Coffee – 1540 Pacific Ave
Thoughtfully sourced coffee drinks and Riley’s matcha fix
Lulu Carpenters – 1545 Pacific Ave
Coffee, pastries, lunch and brunch with a sweet atmosphere
Mission Hill Coffee & Creamery – 1101 Pacific Ave B
Artisanal ice cream, coffee, and delicious baked goods
Penny Ice Creamery – 913 Cedar
Made-from-scratch ice-cream right Downtown.
Switch Bakery – 1016 Cedar St
An artisan gluten-free bakery with treats that are celiac-safe and delicious!
Marianne’s Ice Cream – 1020 Ocean St
Beloved ice-cream spot in Santa Cruz! So many flavors!
Pacific Cookie Company – 1203 Pacific Ave
Santa Cruz’s homemade cookies
The Buttery – 702 Soquel Ave
A gourmet bakery offering a selection of pastries, cakes, pies, tarts, and coffee
Lunch & Dinner
Ibiza – 1541 Pacific Ave B
The California Mediterranean cafe for Santa Cruz.
Pizza My Heart – 1116 Pacific Ave
Nor-cal’s award winning chain pizza restaurant, delicious and comfortable.
Bad Animal – 1011 Cedar St
Farm to Table Restaurant, Wine, Book Shop
Pretty Good Advice – 1319 Pacific Ave
Farm-to-table, vegetarian restaurant with strong vegan options.
Salty Otter – 110 Walnut Ave
Lively sports bar and restaurant in Downtown Santa Cruz.
Walnut Ave Cafe – 106 Walnut Ave
Wonderful breakfast and brunch spot Downtown.
Woodstocks Pizza – 710 Front St
Delicious artisanal pizza spot.
The Bagelry – 320 Cedar St #A
Casual shop known for bagels made fresh in-house and bagel sandwiches.
Whale City Bakery – 490 CA-1 Davenport
Homemade pastries, full restaurant, family owned and the occasional whale sighting.
Veg On The Edge – 725 Front St Ste 106
Vegetarian fast-casual concept in Abbot Square.
Upper Crust Pizza – 2415 Mission St
Thick-crust, Sicilian-style pizza, stuffed muffaletta sandwiches & pasta dishes
Gabriella’s – 910 Cedar St
Small spot complete with a warm, romantic vibe offers carefully sourced, inventive Italian eats
Hula’s Island Grill – 221 Cathcart St
Tropica outpost offering a range of Hawaiian food with an American twist.
La Posta Via – 538 Seabright Ave
Delicious Italian dishes in a cozy setting!
Shopping & Activities
Bookshop Santa Cruz – 1520 Pacific Ave
A large, independent bookstore located in the heart of Downtown Santa Cruz since 1966
Nicely Gallery – 1349 Pacific Ave
Fine art gallery in downtown Santa Cruz
Om Gallery – 1201 Pacific Ave
Downtown shop carrying jewelry, candles, and home goods that range from the Zen to the practical.
Surf City Billiards – 931 Pacific Ave
Downtown pool hall with pub fare, cocktails, darts, and beach-themed decor
Tumbleweed Found – 1025 Center St
Antique store Downtown!
Pacific Trading Company – 1224 Pacific Ave
Offering the best women’s premium fashion brands to Santa Cruz for over 30 years.
Abbott Square Market – 725 Front St
Downtown spot with vendors for food, beer & wine. Also a spot for performances and live music!
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History –705 Front St
Nonprofit educational institution and museum right Downtown!
Kuumbwa Jazz Center – 320-2 Cedar St
Dedicated to bringing music and community to Santa Cruz through performance and education.
Tannery Arts Center – 1010 River St
Home to Indexical, Arts Council of Santa Cruz County, All About Theater, and much more!
Wine, Beer & Bars
Woodhouse Blending & Brewing – 119 Madrone St
Craft beer in Santa Cruz. Full kitchen pub style menu. Outdoor music & entertainment.
Alley-Oop – 320 Cedar St
Intimate cocktail lounge!
Bargetto Winery – 3535 N Main St Soquel
Hand-crafted wines in a beautiful outdoor venue.
Birichino – 204 Church St
Delicious wines that give pleasure, revitalize, and revive.
Storrs Winery – 303 Potero St #35
Handcrafted wines from the Santa Cruz mountains.
Lodging
Hotel Paradox – 611 Ocean St | 831-425-7100
4-star hotel in Santa CruzT
Concierge Travel
Elevate your next coastal getaway with bespoke luxury travel planning tailored to the prestigious Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. From booking five-star oceanfront accommodations and private winery tours, Tom Ho designs seamless, high-end itineraries that blend world-class performances with the finest experiences that Santa Cruz has to offer. If you are ready to begin, please let him know your preferred travel dates, your ideal accommodation style, and any exclusive experiences you would love to include!