The Santa Cruz Wharf officially opened on December 5, 1914, which means the Wharf’s 100th birthday is technically still months away. But with a birthday that distinguished, why not celebrate all year round?
Here’s a rundown of the different events coming up this year in honor of the longest coastal wooden wharf in the country.
Wharf Wildlife Eco-Tours
The Wharf can offer an even more close-up view of the offshore ocean than the beach can. Learn about local marine life, tides, and energy resources with guides from the Seymour Center.
Every Saturday & Sunday
1:00 pm and 3:00 pm
Meet at the Wharf Stage
Santa Cruz Museum Presents Frank Perry Wharves in Santa Cruz: A Natural and Unnatural History
The Wharf is mostly used for recreational activities like dining, shopping and sightseeing today, wharves along the California coast used to serve a variety of a purposes. Learn more about the history of wharves from Santa Cruz historian Frank Perry at the Museum of Natural History.
Saturday, February 1
10:00 am
1305 East Cliff Dr
Jazz on the Wharf
Jazz performers will seduce your ears as you dine, browse shops, and enjoy the view. Musicians will be playing both out on the Wharf and inside restaurants like Firefish Grill and Las Olitas.
Sunday, March 16
11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Santa Cruz Wharf Stage and Restaurants
Santa Cruz Harbor 50th Anniversary Celebration
The Santa Cruz Wharf’s younger sibling, the Harbor, celebrates its own milestone birthday this year as well. The big draws will be a Rededication Ceremony on April 18th, and the MAH’s pop-up museum, “Celebrating the Voyage,” on April 19th. The pop-up museum will feature historical exhibits as well as contributions from community members — maybe even from you!
Friday, April 18 at 1:00 pm
Saturday, April 19 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Santa Cruz Harbor, Mariner Park Lawn
Sanctuary Celebration
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary covers 4,601 square miles of ocean, and protects over 700 animal species. Learn more about its purpose and functions at the Sanctuary Celebration, while also enjoying live entertainment, crafts, and talks on the history of the Wharf.
Saturday, May 17
11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Santa Cruz Wharf Stage
20th Annual Woodies on the Wharf
Woodies on the Wharf will take you back to the earlier days of the Wharf, when wooden paneling on cars was all the rage. This is the second-largest “woodie” event in the world, and the 20th anniversary just might be even more awesome.
Saturday, June 21
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
South end of the Wharf
41st Annual Roughwater Swim
A mile in the lap pool is one thing, and swimming in the ocean around the Wharf, from Main Beach to Cowell Beach, is something entirely different. Watch brave swimmers from all over NorCal experience the Wharf (and sea lions) in a whole new way.
Saturday, August 2
11:00 am
Around the Wharf
22nd Annual Aloha Races and Polynesian Festival
Legend has it that three Hawaiian princes were among the first to ride the waves off Santa Cruz’s coast, using redwood planks as surfboards. Celebrate our lasting ties to Hawaii with the Aloha canoe races, perfect for beginners, and enjoy dancing, shaved ice and more at the Polynesian Festival.
Sunday, August 24
11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Festival: Santa Cruz Wharf Stage
Races: East side of the Santa Cruz Wharf
On the Waterfront: Celebrating 100 Years of Wharf History with Geoffrey Dunn
Local author and historian Geoffrey Dunn has recently memorialized Santa Cruz in his two-volume book Santa Cruz Is In The Heart, and the Wharf plays a big part in his memories. Dunn will share history and photographs, as well as lead a historical tour. The cost is $20 per person, and you can register here.
Saturday, September 13, 20, 27
10:00 am – 11:30 pm
Centennial Celebration and Fireworks Spectacular
This celebration will offer a diverse selection of entertainment, from the MAH’s honoring of Santa Cruz’s Italian fishing background to major sailing vessels to explore to fireworks and live music. If you go to only one historical Wharf celebration this year, it should be this one.
Saturday, October 4
Celebration is from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm; Fireworks start at 9:00 pm
Santa Cruz Wharf Stage
Halloween on the Wharf
Downtown Santa Cruz is known to get rowdy after the sun goes down on Halloween night, so trick-or-treating on the Wharf is a great safe, family-oriented alternative for those who are more interested in candy than revelry.
Friday, October 31
4:00 – 6:00 pm
Wharf Stage Area and Businesses
100th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremonies
Taking place on the Wharf’s actual 100th birthday, the Commemoration Ceremonies will honor Santa Cruz’s past and look forward to its future, and the Wharf’s own role in all of it.
Friday, December 5
11:00 am
Wharf Stage Area
