Santa Cruz Life

This Weekend in Santa Cruz: April 27th – 29th, 2018

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santa cruz beach volleyball

This weekend we have duck races, fish stories, sheep shearing, and even a day for an albatross on our list of events.

If that hasn’t piqued your interest, then how about a day to celebrate jazz on the wharf, a meet and greet with an inspiring activist and artist, or an exciting high school performance set in 1950s New York City?

These (and about a hundred more events!) should keep the good times flowing all weekend long:

Quick Links

Friday

Film & Paint Night with Edythe Boone – Reel Work Labor Film Fest

When: 4/27 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History
Cost: Free

This evening culminates in a Q&A with community activist and artist, Edythe Boone. Events leading up to the discussion include painting a community mural with artist Irene O’Connell and watching the film A New Color: The Art of Being Edythe Boone.

Get more info here.

2nd Annual Fish Tales: A Live Storytelling Event

Fish Tales

When: 4/27 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Food Lounge
Cost: Free; Suggested Donation $5

An evening of fish tales awaits you as stories of excitement, danger and drama unfold at this 2nd annual event. The adventurous tall stories all have one thing in common…fish! Local food and drink will be available for purchase, including sustainable seafood.

Get more info here.

Also on Friday

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ARTS/THEATRE

OUTDOORS

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Saturday

Garden Planting and Wool Day

When: 4/28 from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Wilder Ranch State Park
Cost: Free. Day-use parking is $10. 

Take a trip back in time to the year 1900 and help plant an early 20th century heirloom garden. You can even watch a “sheep to shawl” sheep shearing demonstration.  Join in on a day of fun and history at the ranch including composting demos, craft activities and more for the entire family. Bring your favorite gardening gloves and a picnic lunch.

Get more info here.

Ocean Dream Fair

Ocean Dream Fair

When: 4/28 from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Where: Dream Inn Santa Cruz
Cost: Free

Event Santa Cruz and Ventana Surfboards & Supplies are bringing together an all star cast of local artisans and food vendors for a full day of festivities just steps from West Cliff. Humble Sea and New Bohemia will be serving up sudsy beverages. This event supports Save Our Shores, who will be hosting a Cowell Beach cleanup from 12:00 – 2:00.

Get more info here.

5th Annual Santa Cruz International Jazz Day

When: 4/28 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf
Cost: Free

Concerts are scheduled around the world for a day to celebrate Jazz. Join in on the global celebration at our very own wharf for a full afternoon of music promoting all the positive influences of Jazz music around world. World-renowned steel drummer Andy Narrell will be a special guest performer.

Get more info here.

67th Annual Mineral, Gem, Fossil and Jewelry Show

When: 4/28 & 4/29 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
Cost: $6, Children under 12 & scouts in uniform free

It’s that time again for this anticipated annual weekend show, now in its 67th year.  Both days include lectures, demos and activities for the entire family such as gold panning, geode cutting and even a treasure hunt.

Get more info here.

2018 Ducky Derby at Harvey West Park

2018 santa cruz ducky derby

When: 4/28 from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm
Where: Harvey West Park
Cost: Free

Get all your ducks in a row and head out to the duckiest race of the year!. Watch as 12,000 rubber ducks head down the water track. You can even adopt a duck for the race. Enjoy a full day of races, live entertainment, prizes, food and carnival games.

Get more info here.

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories Open House Weekend

MLML

When: 4/28 & 4/29 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Moss Landing Marine Lab
Cost: Free

A free weekend of ocean education fun that you won’t want to miss! Bring the family for tours, touch tanks, talks, lab activities and more for all ages while learning more about our Monterey Bay. A great chance to find out what Moss Landing Marine Laboratory is all about.

Get more info here.

SLVHS presents WEST SIDE STORY

west side storyWhen: 4/28 at 7:00 pm & 4/29 at 2:00 pm
Where: San Lorenzo Valley High School Performing Arts Center
Cost: $9 – $15

SLVHS presents West Side Story, a performance inspired by Romeo and Juliet about the struggles of a young couple in New York City’s West Side in the 1950s. A cast of 40 characters will light up the stage for this favorite production.

Get more info here.

5th Annual Día de los Niños

When: 4/28 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Where: Branciforte Small Schools Campus

Bring the family out for Día de los Niños, a traditional day in Mexico to celebrate kids. There will be multicultural dance performances, music, plenty of activities, food and even a book giveaway. Funds raised support the Branciforte Small Schools Campus.

Get more info here.

Also on Saturday

MUSIC/DANCE

ARTS/THEATRE

OUTDOORS

MORE

santa cruz instagramKeep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.

Sunday

A Perfect Day for an Albatross

albatross

When: 4/29 from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: Seymour Marine Discovery Center

Did you know that albatrosses spend most of their lives over the open ocean and can travel thousands of miles in search of food? You can learn more about this unique bird as author and artist Caren Loebe-Fried hosts a presentation, art exhibit, art making demo and book signing of her newest illustrated children’s book titled A Perfect Day for an Albatross.

Get more info here.

TOUCH-A-TRUCK

touch a truck

When: 4/29 from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Scotts Valley Skypark
Cost: $5 – $12

Have you ever wanted to see the inside of a fire engine, view the cockpit of a helicopter or sit in the seat of a real bulldozer? Now’s your chance! Take yourself and the kids out to Skypark to explore these vehicles and more. 100% of donations go to support Scotts Valley public schools.

Get more info here.

Also on Sunday

MUSIC/DANCE

ARTS/THEATRE

OUTDOORS

MORE

Featured Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss

Steamer Lane Paint & Sip Class

painted cork steamer lane class

What: Steamer Lane Paint & Sip Class
Where: Painted Cork
When: Friday, May 4 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Enjoy a unique take on First Friday when you become the artist. Painted Cork is offering $10 off their special Steamer Lane themed painting class, and yes,,,you can BYOB (or wine) to enjoy during class! All art supplies are provided and all skill levels are welcome to attend this class which will be led by artist, Matt Jones.

Get more info here.

Santa Cruz Mini Maker Faire

Santa Cruz Mini Maker Faire 2017

What: Santa Cruz Mini Maker Faire
Where: Cabrillo College, VAPA Complex
When: Saturday, May 5 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Cost: Click here for Advanced, Early Bird, and Day of ticket info.

The Santa Cruz Mini Maker Faire returns this weekend for a third year of making, tinkering, inventing, hacking, experimenting, and having fun. Jam-packed with hands-on, interactive experiences, this celebration of Santa Cruz’s vibrant maker community is truly a family-friendly event—it’s as much fun for the kids as it is for the adults.

Get more info here.

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Valerie Lemke

Valerie Lemke is a transplant from the Bay Area to Santa Cruz County over 25 years ago, and hasn't looked back since. She is a local freelance writer and photographer who loves writing about and photographing one of the most beautiful regions in the world, the Central Coast.

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