Santa Cruz Life

This Weekend in Santa Cruz: August 11th – 13th, 2017

By

Santa Cruz Boardwalk Sunset, by Valerie Lemke

Photo by Valerie Lemke

This weekend will be a feast of music with several popular concerts lined up and even a festival to celebrate a not-so-typical musical instrument. You also have a chance to give back to the community, find out how that concrete ship ended up at that local state park, or maybe you just really want a glass of ice cold locally crafted beer.

Whatever it is you are looking for, we just might have it here for you.

See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:

Friday

Pablo Cruise

When: 8/11 at 6:30 pm & 8:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Cost: Free

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Summer Concert Series continues into August with another not-to-be-missed favorite band of the past and present. This group formed in 1975 and is known for hits such as “Whatcha Gonna Do When She Says Goodbye” and “Love Will Find a Way”.

Get more info here.

AAT Presents “Singin’ In The Rain Jr,”

When: 8/11 – 8/13 at 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm (varies by date)
Where: Louden Nelson Community Center
Cost: Students & Seniors $13.00, General Admission $16.00, Reserved Seating $20.00, Under 6 are free

Enjoy this retelling of a classic story by talented local youth performers about two silent movie stars who undergo the difficult transition into the talking picture world.

Get more info here.

CALIFORNIA BEER FESTIVAL SANTA CRUZ COUNTY!

When: 8/11 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, 8/12 from 12:30 pm – 5:00 pm, 8/13 from 11:30 am to 6:00 pm
Where: Aptos Village Park
Cost: $10 – $99

Good craft beer deserves a celebration and this festival does just that. Enjoy food and beer pairings from local chefs and breweries and a chance to sample over 85 local craft beers.  Friday and Saturday are 21 & up, Sunday is a family day and open to all ages.

Get more info here.

Scotts Valley Food Truck Event


When: 8/11 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Skypark, Scotts Valley

Enjoy a feast for the eyes—classic VW buses on display—while you feast on food truck fare from participating vendors including Saucey’z, Holopono, G’s Mexican Tacos, Lindsey’s Palate Pleasures, The Organic Taco and Aunt LaLi’s. A beer and wine garden, live music, and plenty of space to picnic make for a great end of the week celebration.

Get more info here.

Also on Friday

email iconWant 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

Give Back Bash

When: 8/12 from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Tannery Art Center
Cost: $10

Have some family fun at this fundraising bash hosted by Santa Cruz Socialites and help give back to the community. Enjoy live entertainment, henna tattoos, photo booth and activities for kids. All proceeds go to Stoke Out Santa Cruz, the Mandell Family and Sonja Brunner/DJ Sparkle.

Get more info here.

Salud y Cariño’s 3rd Annual Evening on the Rooftop: The Sky is Her Limit

When: 8/12 from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Community Foundation of Santa Cruz
Cost: $50/ticket, $350/table of 8 people

This fundraising event will offer live music, a catered dinner, as well as wine and beer from local businesses. Participate in a live and silent auction and see the work on display from this past year from the free afterschool program for middle school girls.

Get more info here.

Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music – Tributes Part 2

When: 8/12 at 8:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
Cost: $37-$65

The 2017 Festival closes with a concert of four world premiere commissions.  Spend an evening listening to beautiful music and stay for a dessert reception for the audience and orchestra.

Get more info here.

Nourish + Santa Cruz Derby Girls Meet and Greet

When: 8/12 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Where: 130 Walnut Ave, Santa Cruz
Cost: Free

Learn more about yoga, massage and nutrition, as well as services available from Nourish, sponsors of the Santa Cruz Derby Girls. Have fun with a meet and greet with local Derby Girls.

Get more info here.

Summer Concert Series

When: 8/12 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: New Brighton State Beach
Cost: Free admission – parking at New Brighton is $10 and supports the park.

Spend an evening at the New Brighton State Beach Visitor’s Center with the beautiful music and dance of the Hawaiian islands. Come early and spend time at the beach before the concert.

Get more info here.

Home/Work Parking Lot Sale

When: 8/12 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Home/Work 1100 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Cost: Free

Join in on the fun and great deals at this first parking lot sale for Home/Work. Vintage furniture and wares, as well as store markdowns up to 40%. Trunk shows inside the store will feature ceramicists and a leather bag-maker.

Get more info here.

Musical Saw Festival

When: 8/12 at 2:00 (@ Scribner Statue) & 6:30 (@Roaring Camp) & 8/13 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Roaring Camp
Cost: Free Admission – Parking at Roaring Camp is $10

Not just any festival of saws, but a celebration of musical saws and a family event you won’t want to miss. This fun event includes a musical saw contest and a workshop to teach you how to play a musical saw.

Get more info here.

Also on Saturday

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

Sunday

Soif’s 5th Annual Waiter’s Race

When: 8/13 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Where: Soif Wine Bar & Restaurant
Cost: Free

This event is sure to serve up some good fun! Three servers from eight local restaurants will race through a course on Walnut Avenue to demonstrate their amazing serving skills. Celebrate our service industry with this fun competition.

Get more info here.

Seacliff History Tour

When: 8/13 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Where: Seacliff State Beach
Cost: Tours are free; parking at Seacliff State Beach is $10 and supports the park

Learn more about historical Seacliff and how it became a state park. Ever wonder how the concrete ship got there or who was “The Madman of Seacliff”? Join docent Pete Wang on an informational tour about a favorite California State Park.

Get more info here.

Musical Saw Festival

See details under Saturday section

Also on Sunday

Featured Upcoming Event

Seymour Center whale

What: Locals “Seymour” in September – “Sey” what they did there 😉
Where: Seymour Center
When: Thursdays in September

Locals can visit the Seymour Marine Discovery Center for free any Thursday during September. Just bring a photo ID showing proof of residence (anywhere in Santa Cruz County).

Get more info here.

PS – Get coverage of the best Santa Cruz events and other Santa Cruz Life content delivered straight to your inbox by signing up below…

Get Free Updates

Sign up below to get new posts, just like this one, delivered straight to your inbox.

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.

>
X