First Friday and the Begonia Festival highlight another great weekend full of events in, and around, Santa Cruz.
Read on to see the rest of our picks for the best events in Santa Cruz this weekend.
First Friday Events
Today is the First Friday of the month, which means it’s time for the First Friday Art Tour. While the art tour is always a highlight, it isn’t the only perk that comes with the first Friday of each month:
- First Friday Art Tour
- Free First Friday at the MAH
- First Friday Free Day at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
- Elements of Drawing Exhibit
- The Conceptional Beast and its Intention
- First Friday Felton Art Walk with Crystal Pearl
Free Friday Night Bands on the Beach – Papa Doo Run Run
When: Friday, 9/4 at 6:30 pm & 8:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
How Much: Free
The Boardwalk’s annual free summer concert series will end with a bang this Friday night, when former Beach Boys opening band Papa Doo Run Run will play a variety of covers and original songs, including “(Santa Cruz) Beach Party”.
Scottish Fiddlers Concert at the Civic Auditorium
When: Friday, 9/4 from 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Where: Civic Auditorium
How Much: $22.50-$26.50, Children 8 and under are FREE
Alasdair Fraser and the Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School will present this 31st annual showcase of a wide variety of Scottish fiddling. If you would like to broaden your musical horizons, you won’t want to miss this.
Double Dee’s Brass Band – Club Kuumbwa
When: Friday, 9/4 at 9:00 pm
Where: Kuumbwa Jazz
How Much: $5
If you missed out on the last Mardi Gras celebration, get your fix of Cajun music at the Kuumbwa this Friday, when local favorite Double Dee’s Brass Band will be playing some fun, funky tunes.
Cat Power
When: Friday, 9/4 and Saturday, 9/5 at 8:00 pm
Where: Rio Theatre
How Much: $31-$47
Cat Power will play songs from her back catalog, as well as songs from her most recent studio album, SUN.
Capitola Begonia Festival
When: Friday, 9/4 through Monday, 9/7
Where: Capitola Beach and Soquel Creek
How Much: Free
Each year, the entire town of Capitola comes together for a big celebration of a simple thing: the begonia. The whole family can enjoy a parade with original floats, a Sand Sculpture Contest, and much more.
First Saturday Arboretum Tours
When: Saturday, 9/5 at 11:00 am
Where: 1156 High Street, UCSC Campus
How Much: Free
Billed as being a trip “around the world in 80 minutes,” First Saturday Arboretum Tours at UCSC will take you on a floral journey, featuring plants native to South Africa, Australia, and more. If you are interested in joining, just be at Norrie’s Gift & Garden Shop at 11:00.
Wings Over Watsonville 2015
When: Saturday, 9/5 from 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Where: Watsonville Municipal Airport
How Much: Free
Explore all the possibilities of human flight and more at Wings Over Watsonville, an annual festival featuring flight demonstrations, historic antique exhibits, tasty food vendors and more.
Joe Ferrara’s Prostate Cancer Songfest
When: Saturday, 9/5 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Kuumbwa Jazz
How Much: Free
Cancer survivor Joe Ferrara will lead a group of local musicians in a concert to benefit cancer research and help the families and friends of cancer patients. The lineup will include bluegrass musician Steve Kritzer, R&B singer Tammi Brown, and Rhan Wilson’s All in Good Time Ukulele Orchestra.
Free Movie at Capitola Beach: Happy Feet
When: Saturday, 9/5 at 7:30 pm
Where: Capitola Esplanade
How Much: Free
Rather than sitting inside a stuffy movie theater, soak up the last of summer with your family this Saturday night, when beloved animated penguin flick Happy Feet will be showing at the Capitola Esplanade.
Hikes & Guided Tours
- Meteor Trail Hike
- Guided Adobe Tour
- Guided Walk: “Plants and Animals of Butano”
- Wilder Ranch Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tours
- Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walks
- Redwood Loop Walk
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods
- Guided Walk through Pescadero Marsh
- Geology Rocks!
- Wildflower Walk
- Guided Walk: “Nocturnal Animals”
- Junior Rangers: “Animal Tracks and Signs”
- Hike to Buzzard’s Roost
- Family Discovery Walk
Additional events this weekend
Friday:
- The Holdup
- Eligh
- Owana Salazar at Pono
- BR Jazz Band Elements of Surf plus The Seaside Sisters
- Lee “Scratch” Perry + Omani & DJ Spleece
- Paradise Soul Savers
Friday through Sunday
Saturday:
- Andre Nickatina
- Felix Cartal
- Ethnic Dance Festival Free Family Days: Baile Folklórico with Malena Vega
- Thriller Dance Classes
- Junior Rangers: “Creek Detectives”
- Campfire Program: “Banana Slugs”
- Nature’s Reading Room
- Duran Duran Duran: The Premier Duran Duran Tribute Band
- The China Cats: Grateful Dead Dance Party
- The Redlight District
- Ethnic Dance Festival Free Family Days: Baile Folklórico with Malena Vega
Saturday & Sunday
Sunday:
- Celebrate Yemaya Yoruban Goddess of the Ocean with our Annual Pilgrimage to the Sea. Oh Yemaya!
- Live Comedy at the Crow’s Nest
- Blind Tasting Sundays at Soif Wine Merchants
- Biking Big Basin
- Sunday Seaside Crafts
- Weekly XStream Beach Cleanup at Davenport Main Beach
Recurring Events You Can Find Every Weekend
- Tours of the Reserve at Elkhorn Slough (weekly event – every Saturday & Sunday)
- Santa Cruz Farmers Markets (weekly events)
- Live Comedy at the Crow’s Nest (weekly event – every Sunday night)
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