It’s the beginning of a new chapter and the first weekend of the New Year. What will your 2018 story be?
You can kick off the first weekend of 2018 with music, art and lots of fun and relaxation. There’s even an opportunity to train like a roller derby skating star! With a list of so many good things to begin your year, there is no time for January blahs. Enjoy!
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
First Friday Art Tour
Celebrate the first First Friday of the year by taking a First Friday Art Tour and connecting with local artists. Here are a few ideas to get started:
- First Friday Art Tour at the Wrigley Building
- Santa Cruz Art League – Spoken & Unspoken
- First Friday Kickoff with Chris Allen @ Nectar Creations
- First Friday Fashion Show @ Go Ask Alice – Your One Stop Hippie Shop
Check out the complete listing of venues and artists on the First Friday website.
First Friday Festival
When: 1/5 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Abbott Square
Cost: Free
Get free admission into the MAH for the entire day! The festivities begin at 5pm with live music, art activities for all ages, three floors of exhibitions and a no-host bar. Pan Dulce will bring their sweet blend of reggae, ska, and rock to Abbot Square’s outdoor stage where there’s plenty of room to dance your way into the new year.
8 Tens @ 8 Short Play Festival
When: 1/5 – 1/6 from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: Center Street Theater, 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz (Arts Center)
Cost: $23 – $26
The winning plays from Actors’ Theatre’s annual international playwriting contest will be hitting the stage. Each night will have a performance of eight plays that are 10 minutes long. A total of 16 plays will be split into A and B nights. This event is popular and always sells out. Get your tickets soon. This festival runs January 5 through February 4.
Also on Friday
- HENRY CHADWICK, JESSE DANIEL, LAUREN JUNE @ The Crepe Place
- The Hidalgos @ Moe’s Alley
- Nagging Doubts @ Crow’s Nest
- Hot Fuse (Classic Rock) @ Severino’s
- Friday Night Date Night @ Michael’s on Main
- Luckless Pedestrians @ Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
- Sgt. Pepper’s / Magical Mystery Tour 50th Anniversary @ Rio Theatre
- Cachapa Waffles and Popcorn “Chicken” @ Shanty Shack Brewing
- Real Good Fish Popup @ Corralitos Brewing Co.
- Watsonville Farmers Market @ Downtown Watsonville
- Boardwalk Holiday Ice @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Guided Adobe Tours (afternoon) @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
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
David Bowie Birthday Bash 2018
When: 1/6 from 8:00 pm to 1:00 am
Where: The Crepe Place
Cost: $10
A celebration of rock legend David Bowie featuring a lineup of Bay Area bands performing his music at this 3rd annual celebration. Dress up in your favorite Bowie style and get ready for some fun. This event sells out, so get your tickets in advance.
Get more info here & buy tickets here.
Pacific Mambo Orchestra featuring Herman Olivera
When: 1/6 at 8:00 pm
Where: Cocoanut Grove Ballroom
Cost: $35/Advance $40/Door
This group honors the Latin big bands of the 1940s with sounds such as mambo, salsa and jazz. Grammy winning singer, Herman Olivera, joins a band of musicians who have performed with many greats such as Carlos Santana, Poncho Sanchez and more.
The Coffis Brothers
When: 1/6 at 9:00 pm
Where: Moe’s Alley
Cost: $12 Advance, $15 Day Of Show
Spend an evening out listening to this local favorite band from our own Santa Cruz Mountains as they perform their own blend of folk, blues, R&B and rock. Local band Crooked Branches will be opening.
The Lost Boys featuring James Durbin
When: 1/6 at 9:30 pm
Where: Crow’s Nest
Cost: $7
Join local favorite singing sensation James Durbin for his birthday show as he performs with The Lost Boys. Come out for food, drink and a rocking birthday celebration!
The Essence Show Comes to Santa Cruz
When: 1/6 at 2:00 pm and 6:30 pm
Where: Louden Nelson Community Center
Cost: $15 – $30
This performance is a collaborative piece celebrating the oneness of humankind through dance. Each artist brings his/her individual cultural art form enabling us to celebrate one another and see the world as smaller and more peaceful.
8 Tens @ 8 Short Play Festival
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Saturday
- NEF THE PHARAOH @ The Catalyst
- Otis Coen & Friends @ Severino’s
- Saturday Night Live Music by Evan Thomas Blues Band @ Abbott Square Market
- Basket Making Workshop @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tour @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Guided Redwood Grove Walk @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Old Cove Landing Coast Nature Walk @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Hides and Tallow @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
SCDG Winter Boot Camp 2018 Info Session
When: 1/7 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Where: SCDG Practice Facility in Scotts Valley
Cost: Free
Learn how to be a roller derby star with this boot camp from the Santa Cruz Derby Girls. In this 7-week course, you’ll learn skating skills, teamwork and what it takes to be in the game. Check out the website for details on required gear.
Louden Nelson Community Center hosts “Open House” to celebrate recent renovations
When: 1/7 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: Louden Nelson Community Center
Cost: Free
The center has gone through some big changes and it’s time to show them off. Their brand new sign will be unveiled and tours will be offered to view all of the recent renovations. Celebrate with live entertainment and refreshments.
8 Tens @ 8 Short Play Festival
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Sunday
- Celebration of Joni Mitchell at Kuumbwa Jazz Center @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- GAMMA Featuring Davey Pattison @ Moe’s Alley
- Bridge Piano Quartet Concert @ Peace United Church of Christ, Santa Cruz
- Live Comedy @ Crow’s Nest
- The Box @ The Blue Lagoon
- Tech Tutoring @ Santa Cruz Public Libraries – Downtown Branch
- Watsonville Nature Walks @ City of Watsonville – Nature Center
- Boardwalk Holiday Ice @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Guided Hike through Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve @ Pescadero State Beach
- Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tour @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Drop-In Family Craft: Ramillettas @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
Featured Upcoming Event
What: Sanctuary Stewards Volunteer Training
Where: Save Our Shores – 345 Lake Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
When: January 17, 2018 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Do you want to make a real difference and help conserve our oceans and waterways? Save Our Shores has volunteer opportunities to do just that. With choices from beach cleanups, outreach, data entry or education, there’s sure to be something just for you.
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