In the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr., this 3-day weekend is filled with community events to volunteer, march, and speak out in support of civil rights.
This weekend also marks the return of the California King Tides. Enjoy ideal tidepooling conditions during afternoon negative low tides on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
Janeane Garofalo
When: 1/18 at 8:00
Where: Rio Theatre
Cost: $28 Gen, $42 Gold Circle
Come out for an evening of humor and inspiration as comedian and activist, Janeane Garofalo, comes to the Rio. As an activist and performer, she bring laughs and thought-provoking commentary to audiences nationwide.
Honk! The Musical
When: 1/18 – 1/26
Where: Louden Nelson Community Theater
Cost: Students & Seniors: $13, General Admission: $16, Reserved Seating: $20
All About Theatre presents their musical performance of Stiles and Drewe’s Honk!, about Ugly, who looks and acts quite different than his other duck siblings. A heartwarming story about being different and self-discovery. This show is family-friendly and will delight people of all ages.
Santa Cruz Warriors vs. Salt Lake City Stars
When: 1/18 at 7:00 pm
Where: Kaiser Permanente Arena
Cost: Tickets start at $27
The Santa Cruz Warriors will deliver an evening of live basketball action as they take on the Salt Lake City Stars at home. Come out and support our own NBA-G League and take home a Santa Cruz Warriors Lunchbox available to the first 1,500 fans to enter the stadium, courtesy of Plantronics. Show your Santa Cruz Warriors pride!
Also on Friday
MUSIC/DANCE
- Live Music & Dance with DJ Flidais @ Abbott Square
- AZA @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Howlin Rain @ The Catalyst
- Ten O’Clock Lunch Band @ Crow’s Nest
- Bruce, Linda & John @ Flynn’s Cabaret
- CORB LUND + Branson Anderson @ Moe’s Alley
- The 131ers w/ Inspired and the Sleep and TBD @ The Crepe Place
- Sage The Gemini @ The Catalyst
- Bone Drivers @ Severino’s
- Harpin’ & Clark @ Michael’s on Main
- Extra Large @ Michael’s on Main
- ELIMA returns! @ Pono Hawaiian Grill
THEATER/ARTS
- 8 Tens @ 8 Short Play Festival @ Center Stage Theater
- MAH Members Event: Artist Talk @ 705 Front Street
MAKE/CRAFT
- Intro to Block Printing Workshop @ All Hands Workshops
- Wine & Watercolor Class @ 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
Carolyn Chen & Pauline Gloss’s “You Are a Speaker”
When: 1/19 at 8:00 pm
Where: Radius Gallery
Cost: $10 students, $15 general
An evening of experimental sound awaits. Carolyn Chen‘s This is a Scream takes the rawest of emotions and transforms it into a constructed performance in a way that highlights its own artificiality. Pauline Gloss’s You Are a Speaker is a participatory language-sound game for 8 or more individuals. (Note: This program has changed slightly, and unfortunately Pauline Gloss will not be able to attend. Indexical staff & curators will lead her language-sound game in her absence.)
SC Women’s March & Rally – 2019
When: 1/19 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Where: Downtown, Santa Cruz
Cost: Free
In partnership with Santa Cruz Indivisible, Santa Cruz Police, the City of Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz Women’s March returns for its third year with the theme of “Truth to Power”. This annual march is the largest march in Santa Cruz history with the purpose of allowing all voices to be heard for multiple causes, civility and truth. Join the community and let yourself be heard! Following the march, there will be musical performances, art activities, food trucks and a coalition of speakers to inspire the community!
Check out this video from last year’s march to get a feel for the sense of community (and super creative signs) that you’ll find at the march:
MLK Youth Day 2019
When: 1/19 from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: Resource Center for Nonviolence
Cost: Free
Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. and honor his message of equality and community at this MLK Youth Day event. Enjoy an afternoon of education, food, activities, art and music with a focus on empowering youth.
Celebrate Underwater Parks Day with King Tides!
When: 1/19 – 1/21 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Natural Bridges State Beach
Cost: Free (Day use parking $10 or park outside)
Have you ever wondered about the part of the parks that are underwarter? Learn more about the plants and animals that live in the underwater park at Natural Bridges and find out what can be done to protect them. The low King tides will open up more areas for exploration, too! Tide pool tours will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Have some fun with ocean-themed crafts and music for all!
Honk! The Musical
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Saturday
MUSIC/DANCE
- Aja Vu / Steelin’ Chicago @ Flynn’s Cabaret
- LYRICS BORN + Object Heavy @ Moe’s Alley
- The Fighting Murrays w/ Homebrew and TBD. @ The Crepe Place
- Paul Thorn Band @ Rio Theatre
- FR333, Ohmi, Jnnfr Arrga @ The Catalyst
- Tsunami (Classic Rock, R&B) @ Severino’s
- China Cats @ Michael’s on Main
- Live Music by Summit Sisters @ Santa Cruz MAH
- Tim Flannery & The Lunatic Fringe @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Petty Theft: Tribute to Tom Petty @ The Catalyst
- Viva Santana @ Crow’s Nest
- Youth Symphony Chamber Music Concert @ The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist
THEATER/ARTS
MAKE/CRAFT
OUTDOORS
- Castle Rock Loop @ Castle Rock State Park
- We Bring the Sandhills to You! @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Old-Growth Redwood Tours @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Pine Needle Basket Making Workshop @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Building Methods at the Mission @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Old Cove Landing Trail @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Ranch Tours @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods Hike! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Hidden Gems: Flowers of Big Basin! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- What’s that Bird? Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Reptiles and Amphibians Talk and Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
MORE
- From Fear to Joy: Discover Your Inner Singer! @ Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Aptos, California
- Family Literacy Fun Day @ Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main Street, #100, Watsonville
- Passport Celebration Days @ Various Wineries
- National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) Surf Competition @ Steamer Lane
- Reproductive Rights Network Pro-choice Observance: Champions of Choice @ United Methodist Church
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
Celebrate Underwater Parks Day with King Tides!
See Description Under Saturday Section
Honk! The Musical
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Sunday
MUSIC/DANCE
- An Evening with THE MATTSON 2 @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Live Comedy @ Crow’s Nest
- BOOSTIVE + TV Broken 3rd Eye Open @ Moe’s Alley
- Ozomatli @ The Catalyst
- The Melvins @ The Catalyst
- Grateful Sunday Concert Series @ Michael’s on Main
THEATER/ARTS
MAKE/CRAFT
OUTDOORS
- We Bring the Sandhills to You! @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Birding for Beginners @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Ranch Tours @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods Hike! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Coffee Talk and Crafts @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
MORE
Monday
MLK 2019 March For The Dream
When: 1/21 at 10:00 am
Where: Cathcart St. & Pacific Ave. to Civic Auditorium
Cost: Free
The NAACP Santa Cruz County Branch and the Santa Cruz Police Department invite everyone to join in their second annual partnered march in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. This year’s theme is “Justice. Equality. Love” Come out and walk to share and celebrate Dr. King’s message. After the march there will be guest speakers and family activities starting at 11:00 am.
MLK Day of Service – Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz
When: 1/21 at Various times
Where: Various locations/opportunities
Cost: Free
Make this coming Monday a day on, not a day off! Honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by registering for a community volunteer project with the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County. Many opportunities are available to make a difference including Evergreen Cemetery restoration and a family-volunteer activity to make Valentines Day cards for seniors in the Meals on Wheels program.
Celebrate Underwater Parks Day with King Tides!
See Description Under Saturday Section
Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss
Book Launch: Dan Haifley’s 40 Years of Saving Our Shores
What: Book Launch: Dan Haifley’s 40 Years of Saving Our Shores
Where: The MAH
When: Sunday, January 27 from 3pm – 5pm
Dan Haifley, the first Executive Director of Save our Shores and the current Director of O’Neill Sea Odyssey celebrates the launch of his new book release, “40 Years of Saving Our Shores”. This book highlights the monumental efforts, immense obstacles and ensuing successes of 40 years of leading the way to preserving “our ocean backyard”. Join Dan Haifley for a discussion and book signing to celebrate this important movement to not only make Monterey Bay a marine sanctuary but to also keep it that way.
Laura Hecox Day
What: Laura Hecox Day
Where: Lighthouse Point
When: Saturday, January 26, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
It’s a day to celebrate Laura Hecox, founder of the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. As the lightkeeper of the original lighthouse on West Cliff Drive, she was responsible for making sure the light never failed. As a naturalist, she shared her vast knowledge of local natural history with lighthouse visitors. Learn more and join in on the Lighthouse Field cleanup and check out the mobile museum and pop-up geology event, too!
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