This Weekend in Santa Cruz: September 21st – 23rd, 2018

By Valerie Lemke

Photo by Valerie Lemke

Festivals, performances and outdoor family fun are all waiting for you this weekend, Santa Cruz!

Tour California’s newest State Historic Park, attend some special community fundraising events, watch a film festival that will bring you epic mountain adventures, or unwind at a weekend-long mountain concert under the amazing redwoods.

Maybe, you really just want to take your dog out to dinner instead…well, you can even do that, too. Have a great weekend!

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

Quick Links

Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Upcoming

This week’s roundup is sponsored by Oktoberfest, hosted by St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church this Saturday, Sep. 22nd. Come out between 12 pm – 4 pm to enjoy live music, great food and locally brewed craft beer from Discretion Brewing.

Click here to get more information about Oktoberfest.

Friday

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour Radical Reels Night

When: 9/21 from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Where: Rio Theatre
Cost: $18

Are you ready for an epic big-screen mountain adventure? The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour Radical Reels Night is here with action-packed stories you won’t want to miss. Climb the highest mountains, see some of the most exotic and remote places in the world up-close and like you’ve never seen before.

Get more info here.

Food Truck Friday in Scotts Valley

When: 9/21 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Skypark

It’s Food Truck Friday at Skypark and this week presents a special evening to celebrate our local young musicians. The band performances will be tied into the National Arts in Education Week. Come out and celebrate our talented youth! SVEF will also host their Beverage Garden fundraiser to support Scotts Valley Schools.

Food Truck Lineup: Saucey’z, Holopono Food Truck, G’s Mexicantacos, UNION foodie truck, Shock Wave Food Truck, and Aunt LaLi’s Mobile Cafe

Get more info here.

Santa Cruz Mountain Sol Festival

When: 9/21 – 9/23
Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
Cost: $20 – $135

The much anticipated concert event is back with a full weekend line-up of live music set among the beautiful redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains at Roaring Camp. Three days of music, food options, vendors and more. Get your tickets soon.

Get more info here.

Sordid Lives by Del Shores

When: 9/21 – 10/14
Where: Mountain Community Theatre
Cost: $17 – $20

This comedy is based on the independent film that tells the story a small town family who deals with the fallout after the accidental death of a family member during a secret encounter with another married and much younger neighbor. Full of colorful characters and dark humor that will keep you laughing and entertained.

Get more info here.

Also on Friday

MUSIC/DANCE

THEATER/ARTS

MORE

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

Harvest, Hops and Hounds

When: 9/22 from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Where: Aptos Village
Cost: $75

You and your favorite dog are invited to dinner! A farm-to-table dinner complete with wine, craft beer, music and dancing while your dog meets other canine friends in the off leash and supervised play area. All proceeds support the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter and Unchained.

Get more info here.

LIVE OAK 10K/5K AND FAMILY FUN RUN

When: 9/22. Race begins at 8:30
Where: Shoreline Middle School
Cost: $10.00-$50.00

The Family Fun run is open to runners and walkers of all ages and levels! Help raise funds to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County as well as Santa Cruz County Parks programs. Though online registration is closed, walk-in registration is still available.

Get more info here.

Open House: The Pajaro Valley in the Mexican Era

When: 9/22 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Castro Adobe State Historic Park
Cost: Free

The Castro Adobe is hosting an open house to view this newest State Historic Park. The park is undergoing construction and repair and is only open during special events such as this. Bring the family for a walk back in time time and explore Santa Cruz County’s past. Limited parking, carpooling encouraged. Dogs on leash in parking area only.

Get more info here.

Tannery World Dance Family Festival Days

When: 9/22 from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Downtown Public Library
Cost: Free

The downtown library welcomes featured World Arts Festival artists for the Free Family Festival Days workshops on Saturdays leading up to the festival on October 13th & 14th. This week’s workshop will feature Haitian dance with Shawn Merriman Roberts. All ages welcome!

Get more info here.

Oktoberfest “Santa Cruz Style”

When: 9/22 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church
Cost: Free Admission

Come out for some fun at an afternoon celebration for the entire community. This event is based on the original Oktoberfest tradition with a touch of Santa Cruz 21st century added into the mix. Enjoy live music, family fun, delicious food, locally brewed craft beer and more!

Get more info here.

A Taste of Soquel

When: 9/22 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Congregational Church of Soquel
Cost: $25 Adults Includes Music & Tasting at all Food, Wine & Beer Booths
$10 Youth Ages 12-20 (Music, Food & Children’s Area)
Free KIDZONE for Children ~ Courtesy Refreshments for all

A Taste of Soquel is back for it’s 10th year and will support the Second Harvest Food Back. A fine selection of Soquel restaurants, wineries, breweries as well as live music. Price includes tasting of food, wine and beer. Fun for the entire family!

Get more info here.

Yoga Flow + Beach Clean Up

When: 9/22 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Where: Shark Fin Cove
Cost: Suggested Donation: $5-10

Come for a free yoga flow and stay to help clean up Shark Fin Cove. All levels welcome to the 75 minute yoga which is followed by the cleanup. Gloves and trash bags provided, with coffee and pastries after the event. Bring your own yoga mat. Donations suggested to cover costs, with further proceeds sent to the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

Get more info here.

Oktoberfest Kickoff Party

When: 9/22 from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: New Bohemia Brewing Co

Oktoberfest Season is here and NUBO invites you to celebrate with a parking lot party! Enjoy authentic German food, live music from the Thirsty Nine German Oompah Band and Sasha Money, and the release of two traditional Oktoberfest beers. Lederhosen is highly recommended!

Get more info here.

Santa Cruz Mountain Sol Festival

See Description Under Friday Section

Sordid Lives by Del Shores

See Description Under Friday Section

Also on Saturday

MUSIC/DANCE

THEATER/ARTS

MAKE/CRAFT

Make Night: Friendship Bracelets @ Santa Cruz MAH

OUTDOORS

MORE

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

Sunday

Kidrageous Golden Carnival

When: 9/23 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: Watsonville City Plaza, 358 Main Street, Watsonville, 95076
Cost: Free to $15.00

Support Jacob’s Heart at the 20th annual Kidrageous Golden Carnival! Music, dance, magicians, characters, kids activities, bounce house, pony rides, a petting zoo and more. All of the booths and each activity will be in honor or in memory of a child with cancer. Proceeds support Jacob’s Heart families. Take the kids out for a fun day and support a great cause!

Get more info here.

Hearts for Hart: A Fundraiser for Brian Hart

When: 9/23 from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: Haut Surf Shop Lot
Cost: $15

Come and support this fundraising event for Brian Hart and his family. Local resident and business owner, Brian Hart, was severely injured in a surfing accident and he and his family are in need of support from our community. Spend an afternoon with the Hart family and enjoy food, drinks and live entertainment. There will also be a raffle featuring over 5K worth of items donated by local businesses.

Get more info here.

Santa Cruz Mountain Sol Festival

See Description Under Friday Section

Also on Sunday

MUSIC/DANCE

THEATER/ARTS

MAKE/CRAFT

Santa.Cruz.Family.Room 9/23: Tye Dye Dragonfly ~ Ages 7 and up non-alcohol event @ The Painted Cork Art Studio

OUTDOORS

MORE

Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss

Fall Harvest Festival at UCSC Farm

What: Harvest Festival
Where: UCSC Farm
When: Sunday, September 30

Don’t miss UCSC Farm’s biggest event of the year! At this family-friendly affair, staff and students of the farm pull out all the stops with tractor rides, fresh cider-making with an old-fashioned apple press, live music, food demonstrations, face painting, wall climbing, and hourly workshops on everything from baking with sourdough to canning tomatoes.

Get more info here.

Open Streets Santa Cruz

What: Open Streets Santa Cruz
Where: West Cliff Drive
When: Sunday, October 14

Open Streets returns to West Cliff Drive on Sunday, October 14th! Walk, bike, dance, and play your way up and down the car-free stretch of road between Lighthouse Field and Natural Bridges State Park. This family-friendly event also features free activities, music and dance performances, and community outreach booths.

Get more info here.

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Valerie Lemke

Valerie Lemke is a transplant from the Bay Area to Santa Cruz County over 25 years ago, and hasn't looked back since. She is a local freelance writer and photographer who loves writing about and photographing one of the most beautiful regions in the world, the Central Coast.

THIS Saturday September 29th! https://www.facebook.com/events/168566673814100/

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