A fun weekend is racing to the starting line with a free concert by a legendary 60s rock band at the Boardwalk on Friday night.
The weather is going to be nice so why not launch some paint onto canvas, catch a local production or clean up a beach. Speaking of races, the Wharf to Wharf is gearing up for their 45th annual race on Sunday.
Whether you want to socialize or just wind down, there is plenty to do that will fit your mood.
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
Eric Burdon and the Animals
When: 7/21 at 6:30 pm & 8:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Cost: Free
The Free Friday Night Bands on the Beach series continues rocking this Friday with this 60’s rock band that helped lead the British Invasion of rock here in the US. Their hits include “House of the Rising Sun”, “Gotta Get Out of this Place” and many more.
Disney’s Beauty & The Beast
When: 7/21 & 7/22 at 7:30 pm & 7/23 at 2:00 pm
Where: Cabrillo Crocker Theater
Cost: $18 to $45
Cabrillo Stage Summer Music Festival sets the stage for their presentation of this family favorite story about acceptance and true love. Opening night is Friday at 7:30 pm.
Santa Cruz Shakespeare: Measure for Measure
When: 7/21 – 7/23 at 8:00 pm & 2:00 pm
Where: The Grove at DeLaveaga Park
Cost: $20 to $55
Enjoy this Shakespeare dark comedy about the politics of morals that also casts a reflection of our current uncertain times. Opening night is Friday at 8:00 pm.
Friday: Paint Launch
When: 7/21 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
Cost: FREE, $5 to build
Have you ever wanted to create your own mechanism to launch paint onto a canvas? Maybe you didn’t even know there was such a thing. Build your own device and create some art. Also, see a live painting demo and add to the community mural.
Third Friday Art Walk
When: 7/21 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Capitola Mall Shopping Center
Cost: Free
Get out for a summer evening stroll at the mall and see what our talented local artists have been creating. Talk to the artists and view their work on display. Enter a drawing to win a prize.
Collab on the Lot: Paradox Edition
When: 7/21 from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Hotel Paradox
Cost: Free Admission (Registration required)
The Summer Block Party series by Event Santa Cruz continues with this midsummer event. Socialize with guests and vendors as they collaborate with other local business to bring you a variety of food, drinks and uniquely crafted items. Registration is required.
Also on Friday
- The Expanders @ The Catalyst
- John Jorgensen Quintet @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Cosmic Pinball and Space Heater @ Don Quixote’s
- Phil ‘n the Blanks @ The Cats Restaurant & Bar
- Ten O’Clock Lunch Band @ Crow’s Nest
- The Coffis Brothers + The Good Bad @ Moe’s Alley
- Redlight District, Urban Theory, Ginger & Juice @ The Crepe Place
- Phoenix Rising @ Severino’s
- Manorlady, Greater Sirens, IOI, Glat @ The Blue Lagoon
- Beer & Cheese Pairing with Deschutes Brewery @ New Leaf Community Markets
- Friday Night Live: Girls & Company @ Santa Cruz MAH
- Little Rangers @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Junior Rangers @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Connect with Nature Program @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Guided Nature Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Guided Hike @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Junior Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Little Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Old Fashioned Family Campfire @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Evening Campfire Programs @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Campfire Program @ New Brighton State Beach
- Campfire Program @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State 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
Santa Cruz Shakespeare: The 39 Steps
When: 7/22 at 8:00 pm & 7/23 at 2:00 pm
Where: The Grove at DeLaveaga Park
Cost: $20 to $55
Four actors will take on over 150 roles in this adaptation of the thriller by Alfred Hitchcock. This two-hour production is full of mystery, intrigue and bedlam, as well as a bit romance.
Film: House on Rodeo Gulch
When: 7/22 from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Where: Rio Theatre
Cost: FREE and or a $10 donation
As you may have surmised by the name, this film was shot locally in Santa Cruz and Watsonville with local actors and crew. The story centers around a stepmother and teenage daughter at odds who experience some mysterious happenings at their new rural home.
Disney’s Beauty & The Beast
See Description Under Friday Section
Santa Cruz Shakespeare: Measure for Measure
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Saturday
- Shwayze @ The Catalyst
- Dayshell @ The Catalyst
- Elias Lammam Trio: Celebrating the Fourth Annual Santa Cruz Arabic Music Week @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Last Call @ The Cats Restaurant & Bar
- Elias Lammam Trio in Concert @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Breakfast Klub @ Don Quixote’s
- Tsunami @ Crow’s Nest
- The Iguanas @ Moe’s Alley
- Steep Ravine, Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs @ The Crepe Place
- Patio Acoustic’s with Chas @ Severino’s
- Lara Price & Velvet Plum Homecoming @ Severino’s
- Fight Til Death, Eviscerate, Hailshot, Hang The Kode, Stone Sloth @ The Blue Lagoon
- 4th Annual Santa Cruz Arabic Music Week @ Desert Dream Dance Company SOLD OUT
- Authors and Editors: Butting Heads or Holding Hands @ Scotts Valley Branch Library
- Tannery World Dance Workshops @ Boulder Creek Library
- City of Watsonville Nature Walks @ City of Watsonville – Nature Center
- Animal Shelter Relief Rescue Adoption Fair @ Pet Pals Discount Pet Supplies
- Shark Science Week @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- A Doon Summer Soirée!’ with Randall Grahm @ Pleasure Point
- Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walk @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- The Road Less Traveled – A Dog-Friendly Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Little Rangers @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Little Rangers @ Butano State Park
- Junior Rangers @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Junior Rangers @ New Brighton State Beach
- Junior Rangers @ Butano State Park
- Junior Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Guided Redwood Grove Walk @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- The Castro Adobe in the American Era @ Castro Adobe State Historic Park
- Story Time Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Guided Hike @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Drop-in Family Craft – Baskets @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Junior Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Little Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Evening Campfire Programs @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Evening Campfire Programs @ Butano State Park
- Summer Concert Series @ New Brighton State Beach
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
45th Annual Wharf To Wharf Race
When: 7/23 at 8:30 am
Where: Municipal Wharf
Cost: Registration of $45
It’s that time again as the “best little road race in California” celebrates its 45th year. Though registration is closed to enter the race, come out and cheer for the participants who run or walk the six miles from Santa Cruz Wharf to Capitola Wharf.
North Coast Deep Clean
When: 7/23 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Multiple North Coast Locations
Cost: Free
Help out at a beautiful north coast beach with a much-needed deep-cleaning of trash that has accumulated from a busy summer. Join local businesses and non-profits that are hosting this event at four northern Santa Cruz County beaches. Sign up for one of these beaches and help stop trash from entering the bay.
Disney’s Beauty & The Beast
See Description Under Friday Section
Santa Cruz Shakespeare: Measure for Measure
See Description Under Friday Section
Santa Cruz Shakespeare: The 39 Steps
See Description Under Saturday Section
Also on Sunday
- Open Bluegrass Jam @ The Crepe Place
- Joe Ferrara @ The Cats Restaurant & Bar
- Phil Marsh featuring Patti Maxine & Tracy Parker of Henhouse @ Don Quixote’s
- Live Comedy @ Crow’s Nest
- Gina Sicilia @ Moe’s Alley
- Kanekoa @ Moe’s Alley
- Miranda Lee Richards, Sun Maiden @ The Crepe Place
- The Box @ The Blue Lagoon
- Robert Anton Wilson Day @ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
- Brush Up – Painting Party @ EXIT Santa Cruz
- Sunday Seaside Crafts @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Shark Science Week @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Cleanup Cowells Project @ Cowell Beach
- Weekly Davenport Main Beach @ Davenport beach
- Little Rangers @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Little Rangers @ Butano State Park
- Junior Rangers @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Sempervirens Falls Hike @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Junior Rangers @ New Brighton State Beach
- Junior Rangers @ Butano State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- “Parents’ Day” Redwood Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods Hike! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Guided Hike @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- “Parents’ Day” Redwood Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Junior Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Little Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Twilight Adaptation Adventure @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Campfire Program @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Featured Upcoming Event
What: Movie in the Park
Where: Aptos Village Park
When: August 8, 2017 at 6:00 pm
RSVP and join in on the fun under the stars. Two movies will be shown for both younger and older children. Enjoy food, face painting, photo booth and other fun family activities. This event benefits local schools as well as the Live Like Coco Foundation for local kids and families.
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