Vets 4 Vets Volksmarch & Oktoberfest
Oct
24

Vets 4 Vets Volksmarch & Oktoberfest

Celebrate fall with Vets 4 Vets Santa Cruz!

We’ll start the day at 11 AM with a 3-mile Volksmarch through Arana Gulch. A Volksmarch, German for “people’s march",is a relaxed, noncompetitive walk focused on fun, friendship, fitness, and enjoying the outdoors together.

After the walk, join us at VFW Post 7263 from noon–2 PM for our Oktoberfest celebration featuring sausages, hot dogs, root beer, pumpkin carving, and a piñata for the kids and live music by Smoke & Mirrors.. The canteen will be open if you wish to purchase alcoholic drinks.

The Volksmarch is free and open to everyone.

Oktoberfest tickets are $20. Veterans and children 10 & under eat free.

Come for the walk, the Oktoberfest, or both!

Click here for Oktoberfest tickets

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Bowling Fundraiser
Nov
7

Bowling Fundraiser

Your $20 registration includes 3 games of bowling and shoe rental at Boardwalk Bowl. Bring your friends, family, and fellow veterans and enjoy a fun afternoon on the lanes while supporting a great cause.

Saturday, November 7, 2026
1:30 PM
Boardwalk Bowl
$20 per bowler — 3 games + shoes included

All proceeds support Vets 4 Vets Santa Cruz and our work helping local veterans.

Parking: Boardwalk Bowl offers complimentary parking at the corner of Cliff and First Street, or Boardwalk Bowl will validate your parking ticket from the Boardwalk parking lot across the street.

Let’s roll for local veterans! 🎳

Vets 4 Vets Santa Cruz is excited to partner with USBC and Boardwalk Bowl, who are putting on this special Bowling Fundraiser to benefit local veterans.

Join us at Boardwalk Bowl on Saturday, November 7 at 1:30 PM for an afternoon of bowling, fun, and community.

For just $20, you’ll get three games of bowling plus shoe rental and your participation helps support veterans right here in our community.

Come on your own, bring a friend, or gather a whole group. You don’t need to be a great bowler, you just need to be ready to have some fun!

Proceeds support the programs and services Vets 4 Vets Santa Cruz provides to local veterans, including emergency assistance, connection, community activities, and practical support when it’s needed most.

A big thank-you to USBC and Boardwalk Bowl for helping make this fundraiser possible.

Click here for tickets

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Journey for Change Veterans Day Walk
Nov
11

Journey for Change Veterans Day Walk

Event Details:

Your participation helps us continue the conversation around veteran suicide and reminds veterans throughout our community that they are seen, valued, and supported.

Join Vets 4 Vets Santa Cruz for our annual Journey for Change Veterans Day Walk on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.

This community awareness walk brings veterans, families, friends, and community members together to raise awareness about veteran suicide and to show our veterans that they are not alone.

We will meet at 8:30 AM at Natural Bridges State Beach, at the corner of Swanton Blvd. and West Cliff Drive, and walk together along the coast to Britannia Arms in Capitola, finishing at approximately 1:00 PM.

Everyone is welcome. You do not need to be a veteran to participate. Come walk all or part of the route and help us bring greater awareness, connection, and support to our veteran community.

Click here to RSVP and Donations

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Santa Cruz Mac N Cheese Cook-Off September 19
Sep
19

Santa Cruz Mac N Cheese Cook-Off September 19

Click here for tickets

Join us for the 2nd Annual Santa Cruz Mac & Cheese Cook-Off on September 19th at 11AM to 2PM benefiting Vets 4 Vets! Sample delicious homemade mac & cheese from veteran teams and individual competitors, vote for your favorite, enjoy live music by Sound Squad, and help support local veterans. Come out for an afternoon of tasty competition and great entertainment. Located at VFW Post 7263, 2259 7th Ave, Santa Cruz 95062

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Journey for Change Watchfire: A Night of Remembrance & Light
Sep
11

Journey for Change Watchfire: A Night of Remembrance & Light

Click here for RSVP, Candles, Donations

On September 11th, 2026 from 5pm-10pm, we will light the Watchfire as a symbol of remembrance, hope, and community support. We gather to honor POW/MIA service members, remember those who did not make it home, and stand with Veterans who may still be carrying the invisible weight of war, service, or separation. The Watchfire reminds us that no one should be forgotten, and that our community can be a light for those still finding their way home.

This year, you may also purchase a special Watchfire candle made for the event. You can choose to have your candle lit for you at the Watchfire, or you can pick up a candle ahead of time and light it at home during the event. Candles may be dedicated in honor or memory of a Veteran, service member, loved one, or anyone you wish to hold in your heart.

Veterans, families, friends, and community members are all welcome to gather with us at the beach for an evening of reflection, connection, and remembrance.

If you have an American flag that needs to be respectfully retired, you may bring it to the event.

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Beach Clean up at Moran Lake Beach
Sep
5

Beach Clean up at Moran Lake Beach

Please join Vets 4 Vets Santa Cruz and Save Our Shores to help keep our coastline pristine from 9:00am -10:30am on Saturday, September 5th. It’s a great way to connect with neighbors and protect our local marine life. We provide gloves, bags, fresh donuts, and hot coffee. Meet us at the East Cliff Drive parking lot.

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Beach Cleanup at Moran Lake Beach
Jul
5

Beach Cleanup at Moran Lake Beach

Join Vets for Vets Santa Cruz and Save our Shores for a beach cleanup that makes a real impact - protecting our coastline while bringing the community together. Come out and be part of something meaningful for our veterans and our environment.

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