In Santa Cruz County, September can give us some of the best weather of the year. So, why not get out this weekend for some food, fun, festivities and follies? Choose from food trucks to dinner events to performances, displays of maker art and more.
While you’re at it, enjoy a little family beach time while also helping with the important task of cleaning up our beautiful coastal areas.
Another great Santa Cruz weekend is shaping up. Enjoy!
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
Santa Cruz County Fair
When: 9/13 – 9/15 from noon – 11:00 PM, 9/16 from 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM & 9/17 from 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Where: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
Cost: $5-$12 plus parking
The Santa Cruz County Fair starts this Wednesday and runs through the weekend. Enjoy five days of carnival games and rides, racing pigs and wild turkey stampedes, endless deep-fried food options, and our favorite—exhibition halls filled with local community talent.
Santa Cruz Follies
When: 9/13 – 9/16 at 1:00 pm + 9/15 at 7:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
Cost: $20
This favorite annual musical production is back this year with The Best of Broadway “Then and Now”. Enjoy a lineup of all of your favorite showtunes and performances from Broadway, past and present.
Farm to Table Wine Dinner – Featuring: Martin Ranch Winery
When: 9/15 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Chaminade Resort & Spa
Cost: $110
This month’s installment in the Farm to Table Wine Dinner series features Martin Ranch Winery. Mingle and chat with the chef, vintners and other guests as you experience local wine and food paired and prepared by Chef Church at the Chaminade.
Movies at the Beach: Moana
When: 9/15 at 7:30 pm
Where: Capitola Beach
Cost: Free
Come out to Capitola Beach for the last movie in this summer series. Enjoy an evening of free family fun with this favorite film for all ages. Free popcorn provided. You’re welcome 🙂
Scotts Valley Food Truck Event
When: 9/15 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: 361 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
Cost: Free
Food and fun will be rolling in at this evening dinner event featuring local food trucks from around the county. Enjoy a variety of food choices as well as craft beer and wine. Live music will top off the night.
Also on Friday
- Turkuaz @ The Catalyst
- An infectious blend of Roots and World Music Rockadelia @ Don Quixote’s
- The Rockafellas Band @ The Cats Restaurant & Bar
- Hot Jazz Jam Night @ Santa Cruz Food Lounge
- Achilles Wheel plus Sol Nova @ Don Quixote’s
- Joint Chiefs @ Crow’s Nest
- Louisiana Love Act- Featuring Melvin Seals, Jimmy Vivino, Pete Sears, Greg Anton, Phil Colombatto @ Moe’s Alley
- Wilsen, Dan Too @ The Crepe Place
- Johnny Neri Band @ Severino’s
- Twelve Gauge Facelift, Zombie Ritual, With Wolves, & Section 5150 @ The Blue Lagoon
- Community Drumming with Jim Greiner @ Inner Light Center, Soquel
- Family Contra Dance @ Live Oak Grange
- Ladies Craft Night @ Dream Maker Creative, 1001 Center St. Suite 2, Santa Cruz
- Jewel Theatre Presents: ALL MY SONS @ The Colligan Theater
- Beer Pairing with Firestone Walker Brewing Company @ New Leaf Community Markets
- Watsonville Farmers Market @ Downtown Watsonville
- Third Friday Art Walk @ Capitola Mall Shopping Center
- Boardwalk Beach Blitz Overnight @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
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
Sustain Supper Benefiting the Homeless Garden Project
When: 9/16 from 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: Homeless Garden Project Farm at Delaware Ave & Shaffer Rd
Cost: $150 Sold out – click here to join waitlist
Local chefs will prepare a four-course dinner featuring local organic produce and favorite wines. Keynote address by Tom Stever of NextGen Climate. Proceeds from this event help fund this important community resource.
Idea Fab Labs Maker Showcase
When: 9/16 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Idea Fab Labs
Cost: Free
See what happens when art and science come together at this showcase of creations. View the galleries of local makers and make something of your own from the crafting booths. Fun for the entire family.
Annual Coastal Cleanup Day
When: 9/16 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Multiple Monterey Bay Locations
Cost: Free
Be part of the half million people who make a difference each year by removing 18+ million pounds of trash from beaches around the world. Join Save our Shores on Saturday and choose from 85 area beaches and waterways that need your help.
Santa Cruz County Fair
See Description Under Friday
Santa Cruz Follies
See Description Under Friday
Also on Saturday
- Whethan @ The Catalyst
- The Two Tracks – plus Hank & Ella with The Fine Country Band @ The Crepe Place
- Joyride Cars Tribute Trouble With Monkeys Monkees Tribute @ Don Quixote’s
- Sasha’s Money @ Crow’s Nest
- JORDAN T, INNA VISION & O.A.C. (One-A-Chord) @ Moe’s Alley
- THE NENTALS SPOT @ The Catalyst
- Patio Acoustic’s with Chas @ Severino’s
- Tsunami (Classic Rock, R&B) @ Severino’s
- Austin Shaw Album Release Show @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Reflections Trio @ Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn
- Genealogy Workshop Ancestory @ Santa Cruz Public Libraries – Garfield Park Branch
- Sunnyside Up: How to Crack Your Retirment Nest Egg @ Santa Cruz Public Library – Scotts Valley Branch
- Scotts Valley Farmers Market @ Scotts Valley Farmers’ Market
- Westside Farmers Market @ Westside Farmers’ Market
- Aptos Farmers Market @ Aptos Farmers’ Market
- Jewel Theatre Presents: ALL MY SONS @ The Colligan Theater
- City of Watsonville Nature Walks @ City of Watsonville – Nature Center
- Coastal Trail Walk @ 701 Del Monte Ave, Monterey, CA 93940
- Animal Shelter Relief Rescue Adoption Fair! @ Pet Pals Discount Pet Supplies
- Boardwalk Beach Blitz Overnight @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- 2017 WBFA Santa Cruz Championships @ Rio Theatre
- Basket Making Workshop @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tour @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Life on the Ranch: Family Living History Day @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walk @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- The Pajaro Valley in the Mexican Era @ Castro Adobe State Historic Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Geology Walk @ Año Nuevo State Park
- Story Time Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Skill and Luck @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
Open Farm Tours – Fundraiser Dinner & Dance
When: 9/17 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Whiskey Hill Farms
Cost: $49 – $99
Eleven local farms will be participating in this annual fundraising event. This year’s theme is “Hot Cuban Nights” and features Cuban inspired food, Latin DJ music and Salsa dancing.
Carmen-Opera in the Park 2017
When: 9/17 at 12:00 pm
Where: Capitola Beach Esplanade
Cost: Free
An operatic performance in the park for the entire family by Bay Shore Lyric Opera. Sung in French with English translations and will feature a live orchestra.
Santa Cruz County Fair
See Description Under Friday
Also on Sunday
- Lia Menaker – Pop/Rock/Soul at Bocci’s Cellar @ 140 Encinal Street
- Open Bluegrass Jam @ The Crepe Place
- Acid Teeth In-store Performance! @ Streetlight Records
- Joe Ferrara @ The Cats Restaurant & Bar
- On the Backstreets: An Evening of Solo Acoustic Springsteen @ Don Quixote’s
- The Whole Other – Nathan Moore & Lex Park @ Moe’s Alley
- CURREN$Y @ The Catalyst
- THE BOX:: presents STONEBURNER (tribal electronica) @ The Blue Lagoon
- San Francisco Comedy Competition @ Crow’s Nest
- Jewel Theatre Presents: ALL MY SONS @ The Colligan Theater
- Macrame Plant Hangers w/ Stephanie Michelet @ Wallflower Boutique
- David Zeltser, Stinker @ Bookshop Santa Santa Cruz
- Dip and Dash Aquathlon #3 @ West Cliff Drive Pathway and Cowell Beach
- Sunday Seaside Crafts @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Science Sundays @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tour @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Drop-In Family Craft: Papel Picado @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Featured Upcoming Event
Celebrate the arrival of fall with your family at this annual fundraising street fair on Walnut Street in Santa Cruz (formerly known as the Strawberry Festival). There will be food trucks, local vendors, live music as well as beer and wine for your enjoyment. The funds raised will support the Walnut Street Family and Women’s Center.
What: Fall Fest 2017!
Where: 303 Walnut Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
When: Saturday, September 30, 2017
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