This weekend kicks off with festivities benefitting our local schools and wraps up with swing music and swing dancing at two different venues!
Pitch in on Saturday to show the San Lorenzo River some love, then head out for local wine, local art, and cheer on your local Derby Girls.
Have a great weekend!
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
Taste of Davenport
When: 5/20 from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Where: Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn
Cost: $10 – $55
The town of Davenport opens its heart in a collective effort to benefit Pacific Elementary School. Various levels of tickets are available to the event that includes music, a silent auction and delicious food and drink from local establishments such as Bonny Doon Vineyard, Whale City Bakery, Davenport Roadhouse, and SLOWCOAST.
Billy Elliot The Musical
When: 5/20 – 5/21 from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Where: Rio Theatre
Cost: $16 Student & Senior, $20 General, $26 Gold Circle
We all loved the movie. Now here’s your chance to experience the music, the dancing, and the emotional story in the flesh. The ten-time Tony Award winning musical comes to the Rio Theatre this weekend and happens to be the 100th show presented by All About Theatre!
Pinot Paradise – A Taste of the Mountains
When: 5/20 – 5/22 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: Multiple Winery Locations
Cost: $45.00 – $75.00
Have you always wanted to explore our local wineries but didn’t quite know where to start? Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrowers Association makes it easy for you. Just purchase a ticket and choose from any of the well laid out maps and lists of all the wineries by region, then taste away! Tickets also include tours and winemaker talks if you would like to participate.
DeLaveaga Elementary School Spring Carnival
When: 5/20 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: DeLaveaga Elementary School
Cost: Free entry
This family fun-packed event has carnival games, auctions, a raffle, entertainment, food, bounce houses and even karaoke. Funds raised go toward supporting DeLaveaga Elementary.
Also on Friday
- Leon Russell @ The Catalyst
- The Band Blue @ Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn
- Joe Ferrara @ Shadowbrook Restaurant
- Ho’omana @ Pono Hawaiian Grill
- U.S. Elevator @ Don Quixote’s
- Stormin’ Norman & The Cyclones @ Crow’s Nest
- New Riders Of The Purple Sage @ Moe’s Alley
- Arrows, Stomping Grounds, Sap Laughter @ The Crepe Place
- Turkuaz The Nth Power @ The Catalyst
- B-Movie Kings @ Severino’s
- Ciders & Sliders: Take 2 @ Santa Cruz Food Lounge
- Kickin Chicken Popup @ MJA Vineyards
- Midnight Movie @ The Del Mar PURPLE RAIN
- My Mom’s Mole Popup @POPUP Downtown Santa Cruz
- Third Friday: The Cosmos @ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
- “Airline” by Tim Kelly @ San Lorenzo Valley High School Performing Arts Center
- Mountain Community Theater Presents: “The Mystery Plays”n” @ Park Hall
- Argentine Tango Dancing @ Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center
- Watsonville Farmers Market @ Downtown Watsonville Plaza
- It’s Mayhem! at the Boardwalk Bowl @ Boardwalk Bowl
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 Derby Girls
When: 5/21 at 6:30 pm
Where: Civic Auditorium
Cost: $10 – $32
Come out and witness the Santa Cruz Derby Girls’ All Stars team, the Boardwalk Bombshells, take on the Richmond Wrecking Belles. The Wrecking Belles belong to the Derby Girls’ longtime rival league. It’s bound to be an exciting game!
National Rivers Day Cleanup
When: 5/21 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Where: Multiple Locations
Cost: Free
Head out, socialize and enjoy the beauty of our backyard by helping Save Our Shores clean up efforts on National Rivers Day. Multiple locations along the San Lorenzo River will be tackled by volunteer clean up crews.
17th Avenue Spring Art Show and Sale
When: 5/21 – 5/22 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: 17th Avenue Studios
Cost: Free
This weekend over 15 studios will showcase over 40 artists and hundreds of original artwork. Come out and meet the artists and be inspired at this free event.
A Founding Family of California
When: 5/21 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Castro Adobe State Historic Park
Cost: Free
Stroll through California’s next state historic park as State Park Interpreter Joseph Carr Ritchie relays stories of the Spanish expedition to the area over two hundred years ago.
Baisho Matsumoto Benefit Performance for Benefit of the Japanese Cultural Fair
When: 5/21 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: Kizuka Hall
Cost: $10 donation
Japan’s Shamisen Master will be accompanied by Santa Cruz’s Kyle Abbott in this performance to benefit the upcoming Japanese Cultural Fair.
Billy Elliot The Musical
See Description Under Friday Section
Pinot Paradise – A Taste of the Mountains
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Saturday
- Claudio Melega in the Rockroom Lounge @ Shadowbrook Restaurant
- The John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band @ Don Quixote’s
- Extra Large @ Crow’s Nest
- SambaDa @ Moe’s Alley
- (((folkYEAH))) Presents: Midnight North @ The Crepe Place
- Tsunami @ Severino’s
- James Garner Tribute to Johnny Cash! @ ReGeneration Church/Calvary Chapel
- Ariose Singers: Songs of Heaven and Earth @ Calvary Episcopal Church
- Midnight Movie @ The Del Mar PURPLE RAIN
- Shakespeare to Go Performance @ Boulder Creek Branch Library
- 61st Annual High School Show @ Santa Cruz Art League
- Historic Photo Processes Forum: Skin Pix @ MAH Boardroom
- WomenCARE – Art for Healing @ Soquel Glen Mobile Park Clubhouse
- “Airline” by Tim Kelly @ San Lorenzo Valley High School Performing Arts Center
- Mountain Community Theater Presents: “The Mystery Plays”n” @ Park Hall
- Aptos Farmers Market @ Aptos Farmers’ Market
- Scotts Valley Farmers Market @ Scotts Valley Community Center
- Westside Farmers Market @ Western Dr. and Mission St. Ext.
- Indian Fusion Cuisine Popup & SC County Animal Shelter Fundraiser @ Santa Cruz Food Lounge
- March Against Monsanto Santa Cruz @ San Lorenzo Park
- Lose Your Lawn With Sheet Mulching Workshop @ Ecology Action
- FREE Swim Lessons with Seahorse Swim School @ Seascape Sports Club
- Martinelli’s Company Store Friends & Family Day @ Martinelli’s Company Store
- Animal Shelter Relief Rescue Adoption Fair! @ PetSmart
- “Reaching Higher Consciousness”: An Evening with The Power of 10 and Medium Michelle @ Center for Spiritual Living
- Qigong for women living with cancer @ Pacific Cultural Center
- Free Basic Maintenance Class @ Spokesman Bicycles
- Pokken Tournament 1v1 @ Level Up Video Games
- It’s Mayhem! at the Boardwalk Bowl @ Boardwalk Bowl
- Watsonville Skate Park Grand Opening @ Ramsay Park
- Salamander Search @ Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge
- Heritage Day @ San Lorenzo Valley Museum
- Guided Redwood Grove Walks @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Wilder Ranch Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tours @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Redwood Walk @ Butano State Park
- Wildflower Walk! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Birding in The Uplands @ Elkhorn Slough
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
Café Musique
When: 5/22 at 7:30 pm
Where: Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Cost: General Admission $25.00 (advance) Gold Circle $32.00 (advance)
Tickets $4 more on day-of-show
The five-member group will entertain you with their blend of gypsy, swing, tango, folk and “wild classical” music. It’s sure to spice up your evening.
Swing Dancing Every Sunday!
When: 5/22 at 7:15 pm
Where: Pacific Arts Complex
Cost: $10 and up
Whether you’re a swing master or have always wanted to try it, the new venue, Swing Set Lounge is here for you. Sunday evenings offer affordable lessons of all sorts of swing styles followed by open dancing. Put on your dancing shoes!
Pinot Paradise – A Taste of the Mountains
See Description Under Friday Section
17th Avenue Spring Art Show and Sale
See Description Under Saturday Section
Also on Sunday
- Mac Demarco @ Rio Theatre SOLD OUT
- Music in the Gardens @ Creekhaven Garden
- Toby Gray @ Pono Hawaiian Grill
- Scotts Valley High School Music Production @ Don Quixote’s
- Linsey Aitken & Ken Campbell @ Don Quixote’s
- Be Natural Music Showcase! @ The Crepe Place
- Karl Blau, Easy Leaves @ The Crepe Place
- Farmer Dave and the Expansion: Mac DeMarco After Show! @ The Crepe Place
- The Hidden Descent @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Outlook from Mt. McAbee @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Wilder Ranch Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tours @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Wildflower Walk! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Sunday Seaside Crafts @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Weekly Davenport Beach Cleanup @ Davenport Main Beach
- 2nd Annual Flower Festival and Feast @ The College of Botanical Healing Arts
- Live Comedy @ Crow’s Nest
- Surfer’s Path Marathon @ Santa Cruz County
- Paint and Sip Party @ The Hideout in Aptos
- It’s Mayhem! at the Boardwalk Bowl @ Boardwalk Bowl
- Mountain Community Theater Presents: “The Mystery Plays”n” @ Park Hall
- 61st Annual High School Show @ Santa Cruz Art League
Featured Upcoming Event
This Memorial Day you can tour a historic landmark, meet your local veterans, and experience a piece of history at the Veterans Memorial Building Open House. In addition to free support services for veterans, you’ll learn about the different spaces available for rent by the general public to hold events. All are welcome and admission is free.
What: Veterans Memorial Building Open House
Where: 846 Front St., Downtown Santa Cruz
When: Monday, May 30 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
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