This Weekend in Santa Cruz: May 12th – 14th, 2017

By Leslie Chavez

Celebrate Mom this weekend, with plenty of events and fundraisers that honor strong women of the past and present!

There’s also a lot of special events and festivities to look forward to, from an Oaxacan parade and street party to a burlesque show. If you’re looking for more of an educational event, there’s a Shakespeare production in Boulder Creek, a special nature exhibit put on by kids at the Santa Cruz Natural History Museum, and a green-themed bike party that advocates for climate change.

Also Santa Cruz’s only Escape Room opens this weekend, so get your best problem solving group together for the fun!

Mother’s Day Guide

We gathered all the Mother’s Day brunches, shopping and outdoor activities for you in our 2017 Mother’s Day Guide. Just be sure to make those reservations quickly if you haven’t already.

Friday

Sip, Shop, & Support w/ Teen Kitchen Project

When: 5/12 from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Where: Artisans Gallery
Cost: $2 appetizers & $5 wine

Artisans has been one of our go-to gift shopping spots for years, so it only makes sense to head there if you’re still looking for that special something for Mother’s Day. This Friday is the perfect opportunity to stop by because Artisans will be hosting a benefit fundraiser for local non-profit, Teen Kitchen Project. Enjoy wine and appetizers, shop for Mom (or yourself…it’s okay, we won’t tell), and take part in the silent auction full of items donated by local artists and businesses. All ticket proceeds, and 10% of sales will support Teen Kitchen Project and help them continue to feed those in need.

Get more info here.

Monterey Bay Youth Outdoor Day

When: 5/12 & 5/13 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz County Fair Grounds
Cost: Free

Monterey Bay Youth Outdoor Day is a free event that gets kids excited about the many outdoor activities available in our area. Rock climbing, horse back riding, stand-up paddle boarding, bike riding, fishing and more. With more than forty organizations represented, there’s an outdoor activity for everyone to explore.

Get more info here.

DeLaveaga 24th Annual Spring Carnival

When: 5/12 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: DeLaveaga Elementary School

Celebrate spring with carnival games, a raffle, art auction, karaoke, bounce house, food, drinks and entertainment! This popular event is tons of fun for the whole family. Enter to win many great prizes from local and statewide businesses, including Disneyland! Its all for a great cause too, this fundraiser helps support Delaveaga Elementary School.

Get more info here.

Action Day “It’s Easy Being Green” Bike Party Ride

When: 5/12 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Bookshop Santa Cruz
Cost: Free

Peddle on over to the bike party to celebrate the culmination of bike week. The Easy Being Green Bike Party is organized by Bike Santa Cruz County and welcomes all ages and experience levels in advocating for climate change. The party starts at 6pm at the Ecology Action parking lot where you can decorate your bike and join Bookshop Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Indivisible for a postcard writing campaign for climate change. The party will depart on their ride together at 7pm. Be sure to wear your green in honor of the theme.

Get more info here.

Farm to Table Wine Dinner Featuring Beauregard Vineyards

When: 5/12 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Chaminade Resort & Spa
Cost: $110/person all inclusive

Chaminade’s 9th Annual Farm to Table Wine Dinner Series kicks off with small batch, handcrafted wine from Beauregard Vineyards and locally-sourced produce from Fiesta Farms and Coke Farms. The 5-course dinner experience starts with passed hors d’oeuvres and ends with a seasonal Strawberry Shortcake with Spiced Chocolate. In between, enjoy wine, mingling, music, and stunning views from up on the hill. View May’s dinner menu here.

Get more info here.

Also on Friday

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Saturday

Santa Cruz Derby Girls

When: 5/13 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Where: Civic Auditorium
Cost: $16-$32

I don’t know if you knew, but the Boardwalk Bombshells are represented on a national level, they are ranked Division 1 in the World! In fat, they’re currently ranked #15…in the world. Ya, they’re that good!

This weekend’s bout sees our Boardwalk Bombshells square off against the Beach Cities Riptide Rollers. Adding some drama, or at least some history, to the bout is the fact that Pigeon, the Riptide Rollers’ founder and one of their current skaters, began her derby career right here in Santa Cruz.

So, go get those tickets and cheer on the #15 ranked team in the world!

Get more info here.

EXIT Santa Cruz: Grand Opening Extravaganza

When: 5/13 from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: EXIT Santa Cruz
Cost: $10 for adults, children under the age of 12 are free

I’m sure by now you’ve heard of the fun, interactive games where teams have to find clues, solve puzzles and make their escape in under an hour? Well the first escape room is now open in Santa Cruz this Saturday! Your grand opening ticket provides entrance into the mini escape room, as well board games, snacks all day and a free t-shirt. Themes include solving a murder mystery, escaping a mad scientist, or conducting a jewelry heist. It could certainly make for a very exciting group activity!

Get more info here.

Calenda/Procession & Cooper Street Fiesta

When: 5/13 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
Cost: Free

Join in on the free party as part of the introduction to the Vive Oaxaca Guelaguetza Festival happening on May 21. Sendoros invites you to the Calenda fiesta where there will be music, food, and dancing in the streets. The Calenda is a traditional Oaxacan procession of musicians and dancers full of color and beauty. The procession will travel down Pacific Avenue sidewalk from the Town Clock, arriving at Cooper Street at 5pm, and the dancing continues until 7:30 pm

Get more info here.

Vintage Air Cooled VW Car Show

When: 5/13 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Shoreline Middle School
Cost: Free for spectators. Online registration is $30. Registration at the gate $40.

Do you have a Vintage Aircooled Volkswagen? Now’s your chance to show it off at this family friendly event! Unique, hand made trophies will be offered to the best in show. The event is free for spectators. Check out the cool cars, eat great food from local food trucks, and get a chance to vote on your favorite VW. There will also be raffles, prizes, live music and other goodies.

Get more info here.

2017 Human Race Walkathon and Fun Run

When: 5/13 from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Where: West Cliff
Cost: Included with a donation or fundraising of $35 or more

After six weeks of fundraising for non-profits, schools and local groups, it’s time to celebrate the community’s generosity with a walk down beautiful West Cliff Drive to support the cause you are passionate about. Support your favorite organization and hit the pavement to help them reach their goal! If you can’t make the race, you can still help set up as a volunteer, or donate to an inspiring cause.

Get more info here. Race day info can be found here.

Kids in Nature: The Art of Exploration

When: 5/13 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Museum Of Natural History
Cost: Free

Discover a variety of edible and medicinal plants growing in our own backyard through the art and personal tales of students. This event is the culmination of a year-long natural history immersion-based after school program in which students have been discovering, observing and documenting natural resources of cultural importance. There will be a reception following this special exhibit.

Get more info here.

Shakespeare to Go Performance “Two Gentlemen of Verona”

When: 5/13 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Where: Boulder Creek Public Library

Experience the enticing Shakespeare comedy, Two Gentleman from Verona, at the Boulder Creek Library outdoor amphitheater. UCSC theater students will perform the famous play for the crowd and will standby to answer questions afterward. It’s a great cultural experience for a sunny afternoon! Bring a your hat, sunscreen, some snacks, and a blanket to relax on.

Get more info here.

Sin Sisters Burlesque

When: 5/13 at 8:30 pm
Where: Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Cost: $20 – $40

The longest running burlesque show in Santa Cruz returns this Saturday. Known as the “queens of an underground community,” the all female cast of award winning performers puts on one of the best shows in town. This is a unique and exciting must-see event. And not only do these ladies put on an amazing show, they also donate to a local cause they are inspired by each month.

Get more info here.

Monterey Bay Youth Outdoor Day

See Description Under Friday Section

Also on Saturday

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

Sunday

33rd Annual Mother’s Day Run/Walk for Shelter

When: 5/14 at 7:00 am
Where: Ramsey Park, 1301 Main Street, Watsonville

Do something empowering this Mother’s day and help homeless women, children and families obtain stable housing in the Mother’s day run for shelter. By participating in this great cause, your proceeds will provide improved personal and economic self sufficiency skills to the homeless families through the programs and services of the Pajaro Valley Shelter Services. Bring a special woman in your life to participate in the event with.

Get more info here.

Mother’s Day Walk: Women of Big Basin

When: 5/14 at 1:00 pm
Where: Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Cost: Free

Walk back in time to experience and learn about the women that lived and worked in Big Basin throughout its history. There will even be living history reenactments where you can meet some of the strong female characters that had a huge influence on the early Big Basin community. This event is also a great excuse to just take an afternoon to stroll through the redwoods on a guided walk and enjoy the atmosphere.

Get more info here.

Also on Sunday

Featured Upcoming Event

What: AFF on Tour Santa Cruz
Where: Del Mar Theatre
When: May 24, 2017 from 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM PDT

The annual Animal Film Festival is held in Grass Valley each year, and the top audience choice films from this year’s festival will be shown later this month at the Del Mar. Proceeds benefit the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter and the Center for Animal Protection & Education.

Get more info here.

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Leslie Chavez

Leslie Chavez moved to Santa Cruz to study literature at UCSC some years ago and loved it so much she decided to stay! She now works in travel and tourism and enjoys writing about the things that make Santa Cruz so great! You can find her running along West Cliff, hiking in the redwoods or exploring the newest restaurant or happening around town. Follow her adventures here.

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