Banned Books Week celebration runs through Saturday
Santa Cruz Public Libraries (SCPL) has joined the celebration of Banned Books Week during the first week of October, hosting events highlighting the ongoing issues of literary censorship and book bans across the country.
Banned Books Week takes place Oct. 5-11, and this year’s theme is “Censorship Is So 1984 — Read for Your Rights!” With the escalation in attempts to ban books in libraries, schools and bookstores around the country, George Orwell’s cautionary tale “1984” serves a prescient warning about the dangers of censorship.
To mark this celebration, SCPL will be hosting the screenings of the documentary “Banned Together.” The film follows three students and their adult allies as they fight to reinstate 97 books suddenly pulled from their school libraries. As they evolve from local to national activists—meeting with bestselling/banned authors, politicians, Constitutional experts and more—the film reveals the dark forces behind the accelerating wave of book bans in the United States.
The film will be screened at the following locations, registration is recommended: Branciforte Branch Library on Friday, Oct. 10, 4-6pm (link to register: santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/14308046); and Boulder Creek Branch Library on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2-4pm (link to register: santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/14307757).
State Parks hosts Good Fire Fair and demonstration burn in Felton
California State Parks is inviting the public to the second Central Coast Good Fire Fair (CCGFF) and demonstration burn on Saturday, Oct. 11, at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton.
The all-day event, held at the lower picnic area near the park’s main entrance off Highway 9, aims to educate attendees about the role of fire in California’s ecosystems.
Participants will learn from agencies, such as California State Parks, Cal Fire, Indigenous groups and the Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association, through live demonstrations, cultural presentations and hands-on activities suitable for all ages.
Highlights include fire ecology talks, hose lay races, live controlled burns (conditions permitting), home hardening demonstrations and fire behavior showcases. A Kid Zone will offer fun activities like treasure hunts and quizzes.
Booths from organizations, such as the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, Monterey Bay Air Resource District and Santa Cruz Fire Safe Council, will provide additional learning opportunities. Food trucks will be on-site, and attendees can collect clues for a kid’s treasure hunt by visiting booths.
The event runs from 10am to late afternoon, with the demonstration burn likely between 11am and 1pm. Parking is $10, and admission is free. Attendees are encouraged to check weather conditions for potential smoke impacts.
Local artists kick off North County Open Studios this weekend
An eclectic studio on the Santa Cruz Art Tour will be hosting six talented artists showcasing their latest unique creations at 1 Blue Hill Ct. in Scotts Valley on Oct. 11-12 and 18-19 from 11am-5pm each day.
This group has quite an international flavor as several of them originated from different countries: Peru, South Korea and France. (Artists #205-210 on the Open Studios Artists Guide.)
This assortment of six artists will be showing a variety of mediums. Lynn Jaye, Kathy Coulston and Martine Mahoudeau present a mix of painting with oil, acrylic and watercolor. David Sunoo is a jeweler, associating old coins with precious stones. Mariella Galloso creates assemblages and Amy Katz makes handmade brooms.
The location on Blue Hill Court is right off Highway 17 and includes parking, with the artists setting up their booths in a garden environment. In past years, they have welcomed about 300 visitors each weekend, many of whom come from over the hill or quite far away.
Poetry and music evening set for Museum of Art and History
The Museum of Art and History (MAH) in Santa Cruz will host an evening of poetry and music on Oct. 16, from 6-9pm, featuring members of Writers of Color – Santa Cruz County. The event begins with a reception from 6-6:25pm, followed by the program at 6:30pm.
Participating writers include Adela Najarro, Bob Gómez, Chloe Gentile-Montgomery, Claudia Ramirez, Elbina Batala Rafizadeh, Ekua Omosupe, Joseph Jason Santiago LaCour, Melanie Maravilla, Michael Phan, Sara Santistevan, Shirley Ancheta, Shirley Flores Muñoz, Shizue Seigel and Vincente Perez. Writers of Color – Santa Cruz County was established in April 2021 to support local writers of diverse backgrounds and share their cultural stories across the community.
The event is free and in-person; registration is available at santacruzmah.org/events/2025/10.
