Santa Cruz Information: Tickets, Venues, Events and More

The city of Santa Cruz is located in the state of California, United States. Santa Cruz falls in the County of 'Santa Cruz' and is the county-seat of the same. According to the 2000 census, the population of the city stands at 54,593.

Santa Cruz is located on the northern edge of the Monterey Bay and is about 72 miles away from the city of San Francisco. Historically, Santa Cruz has been famous for its idyllic beaches and Coastal Redwoods. As per the United States Census Bureau, the city covers an area of 15.6 sq miles,of which 80.12% is land.

Santa Cruz is widely recognized for its cultural diversity and Mediterranean climate. The city is a popular tourist location and features a number of attractions, such as the Natural Bridges State Beach, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, the Cocoanut Grove and the Main Beach. Other popular beaches in the city are Twin Lakes State Beach, the Seabright State Beach the Lighthouse Field State Beach.

The downtown portion of the city is especially famous among tourists. The famous Pacific Avenue is located in this city and is renowned for its shopping area. It is considered the cultural center of the city. Santa Cruz is known for its active cultural tradition. The famous 'Santa Cruz County Symphony' is based in this city and regularly performs at the 'Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium' and the 'Mello Center'.

A number of cultural events are hosted in the city, such as the annual summer festival 'Shakespeare Santa Cruz', the 'Santa Cruz Film Festival', the 'Santa Cruz Fungus Fair', the 'Santa Cruz Pride', the 'Open Studios Art Tour'. The city also hosts the surfing event 'O'Neill Cold Water Classic'. Surfing is a popular sport in the city and other outdoor sports, such as skateboarding, cycling, camping, hiking and rock climbing, are equally popular.