4 Best Performing Arts Venues in Santa Cruz, The Monterey Bay Area

Each August, the festival brings some of the world's finest artists to the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium to play groundbreaking symphonic music, including major world premieres.

The center draws top performers such as Lee Ritenour, Chris Potter, and the Dave Holland Trio. A café serves meals an hour before most shows.

From February through May the festival presents classical music at various venues and holds pre- and postseason events. The focus is on 17th- and 18th-century composers such as Bach and Handel.

The former Salz Tannery now contains nearly 30 studios and live-work spaces for artists whose disciplines range from ceramics and glass to film and digital media; most have public hours of operation. Performances also take place at the on-site Colligan Theater, and the center hosts assorted arts events on weekends and, occasionally, on weekdays.