A food truck and wine and beer garden event takes place in Scotts Valley this weekend. Inventors and tinkers will convene at the Santa Cruz Mini Maker Faire. Earth Day weekend activities will be in full swing and much more.
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
3rd Friday: Beyond Borders
When: 4/15 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
Cost: $5 General, $3 Students, Seniors and Kids, FREE for MAH Members and Children under 4
Move beyond borders and soak in Latin American cultures with the MAH’s packed schedule of music, dance, film, readings, poetry, demonstrations and workshops. It’ll keep you busy and entertained. Tamales, Tejate (traditional Oaxacan beverage) and more will be available for purchase.
FashionTEENS Santa Cruz
When: 4/15 at 07:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
Cost: $7.50 – $18.50
Santa Cruz middle school and high school teenagers will not only strut their stuff on the catwalk at this fashion show, they also designed and crafted the fashions they will model. Come support the future of fashion!
Food Truck Event + Beer/Wine Garden
When: 4/15 from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Where: Skypark, Scotts Valley
Cost: Free Admission
Skypark will house Food Truck a Go Go’s fantastic array of artisanal food trucks paired with a food and wine garden. Picnic tables provided or bring your own picnic blankets or chairs. Proceeds from purchases will go toward Scotts Valley public schools.
Also on Friday
- MONOPHONICS + El Duo @ Moe’s Alley
- Club Kuumbwa: Jesse Daniel & the Slow Learners // One Country @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- The Suitcase Junket, …And Hod @ The Crepe Place
- DRI Bl’ast, Wolfpack, Scully VS Arab Spring @ The Catalyst
- Blackberry Smoke @ The Catalyst
- Hot Fuse @ Severino’s Bar and Grill
- Punk Rock Santa Cruz-The Defenders Record Release Party @ Blue Lagoon
- Pete Yorn @ Rio Theatre
- Joe Ferrara @ Shadowbrook Restaurant
- Antsy McClain & The Trailer Park Troubadours plus Jacob Johnson @ Don Quixote’s
- Camino @ The Crow’s Nest
- New Bohemia Comedy Night with Jesse Hett @ New Bohemia Brewing Co.
- Mountain Community Theater Presents: “Young Frankenstein” @ Park Hall
- Strictly Watercolor – Central Coast Artists @ Santa Cruz Art League
- Watsonville Farmers Market @ Downtown Watsonville
- Operation Surf – 2016 @ City of Santa Cruz
- Advance Care & Estate Planning @ 100 Lockewood Lane, Scotts Valley
- Zero Waste Lifestyle: Reduce Your Eco Footprint
@ New Leaf Community Markets
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
Spring Fun Run for Team Coco 5K, 10K, and Kids’ Fun Run
When: 4/16 at 9:00 am
Where: Pinto Lake County Park
Cost: $35 – $45; Kids 1K free
Come out for a fun run and Live Like Coco in honor of Coco Pavao Lazenby. Proceeds from this event will benefit Team Coco, the Santa Cruz Team in Training (TNT) team raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Watsonville Taiko’s 25th Anniversary Concert: Eventide Over Momoyama
When: 4/16 at 7:30 pm & 4/17 at 2:30 pm
Where: Crocker Theater, Cabrillo College, Aptos
Cost: $12 – $21
Come help Watsonville Taiko celebrate their 25th anniversary with this production that takes you through life’s journey. Ikuyo Conant’s creative performance showcases drummers ages 7 – 77 who convey a generational progression through their musicianship spanning the decades and ages.
Santa Cruz Mini Maker Faire
When: 4/16 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Where: Gateway School, 126 Eucalyptus Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Cost: adults: $16, children 4-12: $4, Seniors & Students: $6, Children under 4: free
Kids and adults will love the interactive inventions and projects showcased by local tinkers, inventors and creative types at the Santa Cruz Mini Maker Faire. From tech to crafts, what’s not to love? Parking will be limited so walk, bike or take public transportation if you can. Shuttles will transport faire attendees from two offsite locations.
Earth Day Santa Cruz
When: 4/16 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: San Lorenzo Park
Celebrate the environment in this all-day event in downtown Santa Cruz’s San Lorenzo Park. Walk around and check out the various vendors and gather educational environmental info. Kids will love participating in activities like the arts and crafts tent and climbing wall and parents are sure to enjoy the live music. The event kicks off with a volunteer river clean up.
Passport Weekend
When: 4/16 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association
Cost: $55
Here’s your chance to visit a selection of 50+ Santa Cruz wineries, some of them not normally open to the public. It’s a special opportunity that occurs only four times a year. Your purchased passport grants you a unique experience at each winery. Call wineries ahead of time to check hours.
Garden Planting and Wool Day
When: 4/16 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Wilder Ranch State Park
Cost: Event is free, vehicle parking is $10
Wilder Ranch is hosting a day right out of Little House in the Prairie. Come help plant in the organic heirloom vegetable garden and check out sheep shearing and spinning demonstrations and more. All ages welcome. Gardening participants should bring gardening gloves and a hat to protect from the sun. You can take home a souvenir heirloom bean. Snacks and drinks provided.
Earth Day Cleanups
When: 4/16 – 4/17. Check website for times
Where: Various locations
Cost: Free
Show your love for our city by the sea by volunteering some time to participate in Save Our Shores beach and river clean ups. Make friends and celebrate Earth Day weekend. Clean up materials are provided but reusable buckets, gloves and water bottles are encouraged. Pre-register now. Check out the event page for various times and locations.
Also on Saturday
- Unwritten Law @ The Catalyst
- Lizz Wright @ Rio Theatre SHOW MOVED TO KUUMBWA JAZZ CENTER
- Charmas Celtic Music @ Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn
- Major Keys of Asia Minor @ UCSC Music Center Recital Hall
- Claudio Melega in the Rockroom Lounge @ Shadowbrook Restaurant
- EXTRA LARGE @ Don Quixote’s
- South 46 @ The Crow’s Nest
- Patrick Sweany + Live Again @ Moe’s Alley
- The Redlight District @ The Crepe Place
- Ten O’Clock Lunch Band @ Severino’s Bar and Grill
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Basket Making Workshop @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Guided Redwood Grove Walks @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walks @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Wilder Ranch Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tours @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Snakes Alive! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Wildflower Walk! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- The Roof of Big Basin @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Building Methods at the Mission @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Mountain Community Theater Presents: “Young Frankenstein” @ Park Hall
- Strictly Watercolor – Central Coast Artists @ Santa Cruz Art League
- Doon Gallery – An Occassional Weekend Gallery @ Doon Gallery
- Peery Park Habitat Restoration Project @ Peery Park
- Pickling Workshop @ New Leaf Community Markets
- Aptos Farmers Markets @ Aptos Farmers’ Market
- Scotts Valley Farmers Market @ King’s Village Dr.
- Animal Shelter Relief Rescue Adoption Fair! @ PetSmart
- Westside Farmers Market @ Western and Mission Dr.
- Historic Photo Processes Forum @ MAH Boardroom
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
Watsonville Taiko’s 25th Anniversary Concert: Eventide Over Momoyama
See Description Under Saturday Section
The Perfect Brunch Tasting
When: 4/17 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Where: New Leaf Community Markets
Cost: Free
Love brunch? Come over to the westside where New Leaf will have brunch samples. While you’re munching or brunching, you’ll learn some brunch tips from industry experts.
Swing That Uke, Uke Ellington, Ukulele Dick & Jayme Kelly Curtis, Dave Eagan
When: 4/17 at 7:00 pm
Where: Don Quixote’s
Cost: $12 adv./$12 door
The fun five-piece band performs jazz ukulele numbers both modern and vintage. With Don Quixote’s venue to boot, it’s bound to be a good time!
Earth Day Cleanups!
See Description Under Saturday Section
Also on Sunday
- Hot Blood Orkestar + Mobando @ Moe’s Alley
- Comedy Night with Brooks Whelan @ The Crepe Place
- Bro-Magnom @ The Catalyst
- Pianist Misuzu Tanaka @ Peace United Church of Christ, Santa Cruz
- Live Comedy @ The Crow’s Nest
- Birding through the Habitats @ Quail Hollow Ranch
- Trek to the Forbidden Sandhills @ Quail Hollow Ranch
- Great Seed Gardens for Busy People @ Quail Hollow Ranch
- Science Sunday @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Hike to Buzzard’s Roost @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- The Road Less Traveled—A Dog-Friendly Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Sunday Seaside Crafts @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Weekly XStream Beach Cleanup @ Davenport Main Beach
- Cleanup Cowell’s Project @ Cowell Beach
- “Turn Wine Into Water” Bay Cruise Winetasting Fundraiser @ Fuel Dock
- Mandala: Light of the Soul Workshop with Candi Lee @ Mountain Spirit
- Mountain Community Theater Presents: “Young Frankenstein” @ Park Hall
- Strictly Watercolor – Central Coast Artists @ Santa Cruz Art League
- Doon Gallery – An Occassional Weekend Gallery @ Doon Gallery
- Live Oak Farmers Market @ 15th and Eastcliff Dr.
Featured Upcoming Event
All aboard! A day of steam train rides (unlimited!), BBQ, live music, and ranch activities is in store at the annual Al Smith Day at Swanton Pacific Ranch in Davenport.
What: Al Smith Day
Where: Swanton Pacific Ranch & Railroad, Davenport
When: Sunday 4/24 from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm
Cost: 3 and under free; Pre-price: Children $15, Adults $25; Regular price: Children $20, Adults $35
More info on Swanton Pacific Ranch & Railroad can be found in our Family Road Trip Up Highway 1 Guide.
PS – Get coverage of the best Santa Cruz events and other Santa Cruz Life content delivered straight to your inbox by signing up below…
