Photo by Valerie Lemke
The leaves are beginning to fall and the days are getting shorter here along the central coast. But, there’s still enough nice weather and daylight to enjoy some great outdoor fun such as celebrating the harvest or going on a county wide art tour.
Don’t worry, when the sun goes down there are plenty of performances and concerts to keep you entertained!
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
Bazaar at The Casablanca Inn
When: 10/20 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Where: Casablanca Inn
Cost: $1 at the door
This month’s Event Santa Cruz takes us to the Casablanca Inn (cool venue!) and not only will there be a bazaar with cocktails, craft beer, art, crafts, DJ’s, food, and jewelry, there will also be a car show featuring the mobile vehicles of local businesses such as The Brew Cruz and YaDoggie. In addition, guests are encouraged to “Gather for Sonoma” and bring donated items and/or a monetary donation. 100% of donations will go to the victims, evacuees, and first responders affected by the Sonoma Fires.
Hot Jazz Jam Night & Dueling Pianos
When: 10/20 from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Food Lounge
Cost: Free
Head to the Food Lounge for an evening of swing dancing, jazz music and dueling pianos. World champion Old Time Piano Player Adam Swanson returns to the stage for another battle of musicians. Full bar, light food and snacks will be available.
Community Rental: Imagine a Day Without Water Art Display and Activities
When: 10/20 from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Museum of Art and History
Cost: Free
Take a little time for some water appreciation and stop by to view the winning posters of the “Imagine a Day without Water” contest. Check out water systems from the past and present, enjoy some family activities and even run a model groundwater pump.
All About Theatre Presents Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show Live and On Stage October 13th-31st!
When: 10/19 & 10/20 at 7:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building
Cost: $18 – $35 ($15 on Thursday)
Jump to the left and step to the right with a rocking performance of this cult classic. A wild and hilarious classic parody of sci-fi and horror genres with a rock and roll twist. Ages 16 and up recommended.
Halloween Events in Santa Cruz
If The Rocky Horror Picture Show gets you in the mood for Halloween, then you’ll want to check out our updated 2017 Santa Cruz Halloween Event Guide.
Also on Friday
- Pigeons Playing Ping Pong @ The Catalyst
- Margaret Cho @ Rio Theatre
- Friday Night Live: The Dooners @ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
- Beer Pairing with Hermitage Brewing Company @ New Leaf Community Markets
- The Gail Project: “An Okinawan-American Dialogue” @ Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery
- Mountain Community Theater Presents: “9 to 5, The Musical” @ Park Hall
- Watsonville Farmers Market @ Downtown Watsonville
- Third Friday Art Walk @ Capitola Mall Shopping Center
- FARM TO TABLE WINE DINNER – FEATURING ALFARO FAMILY VINEYARDS @ Chaminade Resort & Spa
- In the Spirit of Lennon plus Come Together @ Don Quixote’s
- Nagging Doubts @ Crow’s Nest
- 13 Days of Halloween on the Wharf @ Santa Cruz Wharf
- DRAGON SMOKE with Ivan Neville, Eric Lindell, Stanton Moore & Robert Mercurio (from Galactic) @ Moe’s Alley
- Quinn DeVeaux & The Blue Beat Review, Stelth Ulvang with Some Dog Dreams, DJ Monk Earl @ The Crepe Place
- Nora Cruz (R&B) @ Severino’s
- 2017 Convocation of Chairs @ Music Recital Hall
- Red Store Bums, QienSave @ The Blue Lagoon
Want to see all the best events in Santa Cruz every weekend? Click here to get these Weekend Roundup posts delivered straight to your inbox.Saturday
Ukulele Dick Presents: “Invasion of the Hippies” Music of the Summer of Love 1967
When: 10/21 from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Where: Rio Theatre
Cost: $25
All of your favorite songs from the Summer of Love. Enjoy performances from local artists for a musical blast from the past. Dress in your favorite hippy attire and head to the Rio for a far-out experience.
Open Studios Encore Weekend
When: 10/21 – 10/22 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Various locations
Cost: Free
Explore artwork throughout the entire county on this last weekend of the Arts Council Santa Cruz County Open Studios Tour. Spend a beautiful fall weekend viewing what local talented artists have on display. Pick up a free guide or get details on their website.
HERITAGE HARVEST FESTIVAL
When: 10/21 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Wilder Ranch State Park
Cost: Event is free; day-use parking fee is $10
It’s that time of year to celebrate harvest time at the ranch. Bring the family out for a day of live history, music, and harvest-time activities. See historic tractors and demonstrations of life in the early days of Wilder Ranch.
47th Annual Santa Cruz Band Review
When: 10/21 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Cost: Free
What is better than watching a marching band? Watching a parade of 55 school marching bands from all over Northern California, of course. Come out and cheer them on as they march along the streets around the Boardwalk.
Verve Coffee’s 10th Anniversary Celebration
When: 10/21 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: Verve Coffee Roasters @ 104 Bronson St.
Cost: Free
Celebrate 10 years of Verve at this community anniversary party. Enjoy music, food, beverages and fun for the entire family.
Harvest Festival
When: 10/21 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Live Earth Farm “Lower Farm”
Cost: Donations $5+
A variety of things to do that will please even the pickiest of family members. Have fun at the pumpkin patch, pick apples, press cider and even play old fashioned harvest games like bobbing for apples or pumpkin bowling.
Also on Saturday
- Haunted Cellar Fashion Bazaar @ Boccis Cellar santa cruz
- Santa Cruz SPCA Shelter Tour’s @ Santa Cruz SPCA; 2685 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95065
- Ctrl-Z: Johanna Beyer, Pauline Oliveros, Sarah Jane Reid, Belinda Lee @ Radius Gallery (1050 River St., #127)
- Make-A-Difference Day @ San Lorenzo Riverwalk
- The Vibrators @ The Catalyst
- Toney Rocks Soul Stirring Americana @ The Abbey Coffee Shop
- BR Jazz Band: Souful Sounds @ Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn
- Stella by Barlight @ Hoffman’s Bistro & Patisserie
- Scotts Valley Farmers Market @ Scotts Valley Farmers’ Market
- Westside Farmers Market @ Westside Farmers’ Market
- City of Watsonville Nature Walks @ City of Watsonville – Nature Center
- Aptos Farmers Market @ Aptos Farmers’ Market
- THE MISSING ARM @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Birding for Beginners @ Año Nuevo State Park
- Hidden Gems of Big Basin: Wildflowers and Other Plants Hike @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tour @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Guided Redwood Grove Walk @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Archeology Demonstration @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Guided Redwood Grove Walk @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Camino @ Crow’s Nest
- SEAN HAYES + Magic In The Other @ Moe’s Alley
- Urban Theory, Trace Repeat @ The Crepe Place
- SILVERSUN PICKUPS @ The Catalyst
- Patio Acoustics with Dave Muldawer @ Severino’s
- Block Party (Rock & Roll) @ Severino’s
- Private Event @ The Blue Lagoon
- Mountain Community Theater Presents: “9 to 5, The Musical” @ Park Hall
- 13 Days of Halloween on the Wharf @ Santa Cruz Wharf
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
OPEN STUDIOS ART TOUR ALL COUNTY WEEKEND
See Description Under Saturday Section
Also on Sunday
- Puddles Pity Party @ Rio Theatre
- Open Bluegrass Jam @ The Crepe Place
- Surfer’s Path Hang 10/5 @ Zelda’s
- Picasso Ensemble Performs at the Sesnon House @ Sesnon House at Cabrillo College
- Joe Ferrara @ The Cats Restaurant & Bar
- The Road Less Traveled – A Dog-Friendly Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tour @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Gardens of Time Tour @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys @ Don Quixote’s
- Rocky Horror Show Live in Concert @ Don Quixote’s
- Live Comedy @ Crow’s Nest
- The Steepwater Band @ Moe’s Alley
- TOGETHER PANGEA @ The Catalyst
- Sunday Seaside Crafts @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- The Box @ The Blue Lagoon
- Cleanup Cowell Beach with the Dream Inn @ Cowell Beach
- 13 Days of Halloween on the Wharf @ Santa Cruz Wharf
Featured Upcoming Event
Taste some of the best of Santa Cruz and share in a great cause, too. Join this tantalizing culinary event with food from 17 area restaurants, taste local wines and explore the art exhibits of the MAH. Funds raised at this event will go to help low income first-time home buyers through SCCAR.
What: A Taste of Santa Cruz
Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History
When: November 9, 2017 from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
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