Santa Cruz Life

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

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This weekend starts off with Bands on the Beach, a highly anticipated summer block party, and a summer camp themed event you won’t want to miss.

The fun continues all weekend long, with a slew of family friendly events, live music from Capitola to Scotts Valley, and an invitation to visit (and learn about) one of our favorite local hidden treasures.

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

Quick Links

Friday

The Fixx

When: 7/27 at 6:30 pm & 8:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Cost: Free

The Friday Night Bands on the Beach series continues this week with British band The Fixx. Who knows, one thing might lead to another and you’ll stay for the second show!

Get more info here.

Crafted In Santa Cruz Summer Block Party

When: 7/27 from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Haut Surf Shop Lot
Cost: Free w/RSVP; $1 at the door

Hot on the heels of the Big Westside Block Party comes Crafted in Santa Cruz, a celebration of summer bringing together local artists and businesses for unique collaborations.

Get more info here.

Day Out With Thomas™: Big Adventures Tour

When: 7/27 – 7/29 from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm
Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
Cost: $17-$25 (plus service fee)

Everyone’s favorite engine is back for a summer weekend of fun for the family! A ticket includes a 25-minute train ride with a talking Thomas the Tank Engine, photo opportunities with Sir Topham Hat, and an Imagination Station featuring a variety of kid-friendly activities. Arrive early and enjoy the day at Roaring Camp.

Get more info here.

Santa Cruz Food Truck Party

When: 7/27 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: San Lorenzo Park
Cost: Free admission

It’s Food Truck party time…with a summer camp twist! Bring your picnic gear, i.e. blankets and lawn chairs, but leave dinner up to participating food trucks including Drunk Monkey, Holopono, El Buen Taco, Shockwave, and Aunt Lali’s. Enjoy beer from Shanty Shack Brewing and wine from Onesta — we hear there are special Food Truck pint glasses!

Get more info here.

Wilder Things, Welcome To The Jungle Book

When: 7/27 – 7/29 at 7:30 pm & 2:00 pm
Where: Park Hall
Cost: $12 – $28

This weekend is sold out, but there are still available tickets for shows running August 1 – 4 at 7:30 pm.

Get more info here.

Also on Friday

MUSIC/DANCE

THEATER/ARTS

OUTDOORS

MORE

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Saturday

Book Signing: Rincon Notebooks

Rincon Notebooks

When: 7/28 from 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Where: Freeline Design Surf Shop
Cost: Free admission. Illustrated Surf Novel, THE RINCON NOTEBOOKS, signed by the author: $20.

The exciting & edgy surf novel “The Rincon Notebooks” is a tale of surfing, love, death & Caribbean life told through the eyes of American ex-pats living in Rincon, Puerto Rico, the capital of Caribbean surfing. In the second act there is a big professional surfing contest and a two-pronged storm turns the surf into a gnarly platform for the surfing competitors from all over the planet.

Get more info here.

Family Fun Day – get your play on!

When: 7/28 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: Simpkins Family Swim Center
Cost: Free

Summer celebrations continue with an epic free family fun day at Simpkins, complete with water slide, stand-up paddleboards, and a climbing wall in the water. Fun on land includes a pop-up playground, inflatable obstacle course, and oversized board games. Refuel with food truck eats and a beer/wine garden.

Get more info here.

Annual Secchi Dip-In

When: 7/28 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Where: Loch Lomond Recreation Area
Cost: Free; Please RSVP

Celebrate California Lakes Appreciation Month with an afternoon at a local hidden lake treasure. Loch Lomond Reservoir is the main resource of drinking water for Santa Cruz and surrounding areas. Come to the lake and try out a Secchi disk to check for water clarity, and learn more about our valuable water supply.

Get more info here.

DAY OUT WITH THOMAS™: BIG ADVENTURES TOUR 2018

See Description Under Friday Section

Wilder Things, Welcome To The Jungle Book

See Description Under Friday Section

Also on Saturday

MUSIC/DANCE

THEATER/ARTS

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

20th Annual Festival of the Book

When: 7/30 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: Harvey West Park
Cost: Free

Celebrate a successful summer reading program this year with Santa Cruz Public Libraries. The festival will feature the music of Kuzanga Marimba and a performance by Silicon Valley’s favorite magician, Dan Chan & Son. Enjoy crafts, face-painting, bubbles, a kids only books sale, and a Tales to Tails booth with certified therapy dogs for kids to read to.

Get more info here.

Music at Skypark

When: 7/29 at 2:30 pm
Where: Skypark
Cost: Free

Music in the Park is a free outdoor concert series at Skypark on the last Sunday of July, August, and September. The first concert kicks off with The Johnny Neri Band opening for The Houserockers. Come hungry and thirsty and support the food/beverage vendors who give 69% of their proceeds to local school music programs.

Get more info here.

Sunday Art & Music at the Beach

When: 7/29 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Esplanade Park
Cost: Free

Sundays were made for art, music, and the beach. Make your way to Capitola Village for all three! Enjoy the high-energy dance and polyrhythmic trance sounds of Singing Wood Marimba from the Esplanade Stage while you view and shop artwork by local artists.

Get more info here.

Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music

When: 7/29 from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
Cost: Free

Head to the Civic on Sunday for the first Open Rehearsal of the season. This is an informal opportunity to watch the creative process of our local orchestra, and to get a preview of this season’s concerts. Open rehearsals continue throughout the season. You can find the full schedule here.

Get more info here.

DAY OUT WITH THOMAS™: BIG ADVENTURES TOUR 2018

See Description Under Friday Section

Wilder Things, Welcome To The Jungle Book

See Description Under Friday Section

Also on Sunday

MUSIC/DANCE

THEATER/ARTS

OUTDOORS

MORE

Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss

PACIFIC WAVE’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY

What: AUGUST FIRST FRIDAY: PACIFIC WAVE’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY
Where: SANTA CRUZ MAH
When: FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2018 at 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Happy Anniversary to Pacific Wave! Come out for First Friday festivities and enjoy an art show by Jimbo Phillips, skate demos and skate-related art activities, giveaways, plus live music in Abbot Square and free admission to the MAH.

Get more info here.

Celebrating James – An Event in Honor of James Aschbacher

What: Celebrating James – An Event in Honor of James Aschbacher
Where: Rio Theatre
When: Saturday, August 25 at 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Everyone is invited to celebrate the life and art of beloved local artist James Aschbacher who passed away unexpectedly last month. This special tribute is free to the public and includes music, food, champagne, and special guest speakers.

Get more info here.

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Christine Candelaria

Christine Candelaria is a local mom of four who enjoys sharing her Santa Cruz adventures. You can follow her #santacruzlife on Instagram at @theaumsmama.

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