Santa Cruz Life

This Weekend in Santa Cruz: March 6th – 8th, 2020

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This weekend highlights a variety of art and artists thanks to First Friday and the Santa Cruz Tattoo Expo. 

Fun picks for families include Salamander Saturday and the ArtSmart Family Concert Series featuring Celtic Colors.

Or maybe you just want to pub crawl and arm wrestle with the Derby Girls. Only in Santa Cruz.

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

This week’s Roundup is sponsored by the Santa Cruz Derby Girls. Join us on Pi day for the Derby Girls’ first home game of 2020. The Boardwalk Bombshells, our top local team, come into the game ranked #17 in the world. As usual, we’ll be in attendance cheering on the black and blue. Hope to see you there!

Click here for tickets. See you at the game!

Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Upcoming

Friday

Natural History Symposium

When: 3/6 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: UC Santa Cruz Arboretum

Come explore the natural world of Santa Cruz with the UCSC naturalist community. Learn from current students and alumni who are incorporating natural history into their research and jobs. Exhibits, keynote speaker Christian Schwarz, and a musical performance by Alisa Fineman round out the 3rd Annual Natural History Symposium. Admission is free, with the option to purchase dinner (please RSVP). 

Get more info here.

First Friday: Herpetology Happy Hour

When: 3/6 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Creep, crawl, hop, and slither your way to First Friday at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. Enjoy free admission all day and a special evening “Herpetology Happy Hour” featuring some rockstar critters you can touch! Local experts will be on hand to answer questions and the museum will unveil some specimens that are rarely on display. 

Get more info here.

Santa Cruz Derby Girls 2020 Pub Crawl

When: 3/6 from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Where: Downtown Santa Cruz

Kick off the 2020 Roller Derby season (first game is next weekend!) with the Santa Cruz Derby Girls at their annual pub crawl. Starting at Abbot Square and continuing on to Pour Tap Room, El Palomar, and 99 Bottles for an evening of drinking, dining, and arm wrestling with the Derby Girls. Then on to the Blue Lagoon to dance the night away! Please RSVP.

Get more info here.

First Friday

When: 3/6 at 5:00 pm
Where: Various locations throughout the county

First Friday is a monthly choose your own adventure art tour throughout Santa Cruz County. If you’re Downtown, the MAH is always a great first stop, especially with free admission and a new exhibit. On the Westside, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing is one of several places to view art (photos by Gina Orlando) and enjoy a food pop-up. Or, head to the mountains for art walks in Felton and Boulder Creek!

Get more info here.

Tattoo Tour Santa Cruz

When: 3/6 – 3/8
Where: Kaiser Permanente Arena

If you’ve been contemplating some new ink, Tattoo Tour is making a stop in Santa Cruz, with over 100 tattoo artists from all over the country. 

Get more info here.

90th Annual CA Statewide Landscapes Exhibition Reception

When: 3/6 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Art League

If you love art showing off California’s abundant natural beauty and diverse landscape, stop by the Santa Cruz Art League for the opening reception of the CA Statewide Landscape Exhibition. Meet the artists, enjoy refreshments, and take in some inspiring Golden State vistas.

Get more info here.

Also on Friday

MUSIC/DANCE

THEATER/ARTS

OUTDOORS

MORE

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Saturday

ArtSmart Family Concert Series: Celtic Colors!

When: 3/7 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Veterans Memorial Building

Tandy Beal & Company’s ArtSmart Family Concert Series brings interactive, educational entertainment for kids and parents alike. Saturday’s program will transport you to the Celtic countryside with the joyous musical tunes of Celtic Colors featuring Neal Hellman on dulcimer, Deby Benton Grosjean on fiddle, and Jesse Autumn on harp. Their music is described as a joyous celebration of life which is how Saturday’s should always feel. 

Get more info here.

GlowPower: Santa Cruz

When: 3/7 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor

The venue: Nature. The music: your personal favorite songs. The experience: a unique journey filled will dance, laughter, and gratitude. The result: Bye bye stress…Hello glow! GlowPower Global is a worldwide community event, though it is based right here in Santa Cruz. We are intrigued!

Get more info here.

Salamander Saturday

When: 3/7 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: Rancho del Oso Unit

A Santa Cruz Life favorite, Salamander Saturday is filled with crafts and activities for the kids, live amphibians to observe, a presentation on “Salamanders of the Santa Cruz Mountains”, live music with Saxophone Sal, and a short hike to find the rockstar critters of the day.

Get more info here.

Tattoo Tour Santa Cruz

See Description Under Friday Section

Also on Saturday

MUSIC/DANCE

THEATER/ARTS

MAKE/CRAFT

OUTDOORS

MORE

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

Sunday

Santa Cruz Baroque Festival presents: Spanish Roots ~ Mexican Flowerings

When: 3/8 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: UCSC Music Recital Center

The third concert of the the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival, Spanish Roots ~ Mexican Flowerings, features Spanish music and instruments that crossed over to the Americas and influenced new sounds that included Jalisco harp and Mariachi. A pre-concert talk will begin 45 minutes before the concert and is free with admission.

Get more info here.

Real Irish Comedy Fest

When: 3/8 from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Where: DNA’s Comedy Lab and Experimental Theater

The Real Irish Comedy Fest is here for one night and features Ireland’s finest (funniest) comedians including Francis Cronin, Martin Anglolo, Dave Nihill, Niamh Marron, and Adam Burke. Accents are included with admission, so don’t miss this opportunity to soak up some good stories and jokes before St. Patrick’s Day. 

Get more info here.

Kate Schatz & Miriam Stahl, Rad American History A–Z

When: 3/8 at 4:00 pm
Where: Bookshop Santa Cruz

From the bestselling duo behind Rad American Women A-Z, comes Rad American History A-Z, an illustrated collection of stuff you missed in history class because it probably wasn’t there. Examples include A is for Alcatraz and the Native occupation of 1969, and Z is for Zuccotti Park and the Occupy movement that briefly took over the world. Come to Bookshop for a reading and signing with Kate Schatz and Miriam Klein Stahl.

Get more info here.

Tattoo Tour Santa Cruz

See Description Under Friday Section

Also on Sunday

MUSIC/DANCE

THEATER/ARTS

MAKE/CRAFT

OUTDOORS

MORE

Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss

Sheep to Shawl Fiber and Maker’s Faire

When: Saturday, March 21, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Where: Live Earth Farm

Bring the family and enjoy a day of learning how wool gets made into clothing and art. Hands-on activities include shearing, dyeing, spinning, weaving, felting, and more. Plus, there will be a lamb petting area, face painting, and delicious food options. This zero-waste event takes place rain or shine!

Event Info

Santa Cruz VegFest

When: Saturday, April 11, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Where: Cocoanut Grove

Want to know more about living a plant-based, cruelty-free and environmentally-sustainable lifestyle? VegFest will feature local restaurants, food exhibitors and samples for your enjoyment, as well as presentations and discussions on health, nutrition, environmentalism, animal welfare and compassion. Kid-friendly activities include fruit and veggie prints, mini succulent gardens, face painting and more.

Event Info

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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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