The last full weekend of summer rolls in just in time for one of the year’s biggest events as the Santa Cruz County Fair returns to the fairgrounds.
There are also festivals, follies, feathered friends and a whole lot of fun things to do. Have you ever wanted to bust out with some roller derby skating moves, learn more about one of Monterey Bay’s misunderstood sea creatures or find out what actually lives in that local lagoon you pass by each day? Well, here’s your chance.
With so many events lined up, no one can say it’s the “same old, same old” around Santa Cruz County this weekend!
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
Santa Cruz County Fair
When: 9/12 – 9/16
Where: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
Cost: Admission: $6 – $13, Parking: $8 – $20
It’s that time of the year again for racing pigs, turkey stampedes, agriculture, animals, art, performances, exhibits, contests, food, rides, games and everything that represents our fabulous community. This year’s theme is “Bounty of the County”.
Night Market
When: 9/14 from 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Food Lounge
Spend an evening in the courtyard at the Santa Cruz Food Lounge. The second Friday of the month brings together local food vendors, craft cocktails, and live music for a delicious and relaxing start to your weekend.
Downtown BirdFUN Festival! Art & Connection to Feathered Friends
When: from 9/14 at 5:00 pm to 9/16 at 2:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz MAH
Cost: Free
2018 is the Year of the Bird and The MAH is holding a celebration for our feathered friends. Enjoy three days of festivities for the entire family. Make bird masks and participate in a parade, take a birdwalk on the San Lorenzo River, attend the student art show, learn to sketch birds and even build a bird feeder.
Santa Cruz Follies
When: 9/12 – 9/15 @ 1:00 pm + 9/14 @ 7:30 pm
Where: Civic Auditorium
Cost: $22
This favorite annual musical production is back with The Way We Were. This year’s production brings a sentimental musical journey with a line-up of memorable singers and songs…and even a little touch of Elvis mixed in.
MAKE & Explore
When: 9/14 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery at the Capitola Mall
Cost: Free
An afternoon of creativity for kids will be hosted each Friday afternoon through the fall. Materials will be provided for building, art projects and exploration in creative ways each week. For ages 6-12. Located in the Tinkerlab room.
Also on Friday
MUSIC/DANCE
- Salsa Night @ Palomar Ballroom
- Live Music By Green Dog @ Abbott Square
- Donna Seda & Eric Morrison @ Santa Cruz Food Lounge
- Groovity @ Crow’s Nest
- Aardvark w/ Wheelhouse @ Flynn’s Cabaret
- Orquesta Saboricua + Flor De Caña @ Moe’s Alley
- August Sun w/ LoFi Satellites & the Virtuals @ The Crepe Place
- Lost Dog Street Band @ The Catalyst
- Bonedrivers (Roadhouse Style Rock ‘n’ Blues) @ Severino’s
- Michael Martyn Good Medicine with Patti Maxine @ Michaels on Main
- Extra Large @ Michaels on Main
- The Ho’omana Hawaiian Band @ Pono Hawaiian Grill
THEATER/ARTS
MAKE/CRAFT
- Bird Funfest: Friday Make Night @ Santa Cruz MAH
- Paint and Sip 9/14~ Fall Trees and Pond @ The Painted Cork Art Studio
- Paint and Sip 9/14~ Golden Summer Night @ The Painted Cork Art Studio
OUTDOORS
- Bird Watching for Beginners @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Birding for Beginners in Waddell Valley @ Rancho Del Oso
- Wildflower and Nature Hike of Waddell Valley @ Rancho Del Oso
MORE
- Financial Fridays with Jennipher Lommen @ Santa Cruz Downtown Public Library
- Pre-School Storytime @ Aptos @ Aptos Library
- Boardwalk Beach Blitz @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Watsonville Farmers Market @ Downtown Watsonville Plaza
- Movies on the Beach @ Capitola Village
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
Annual Coastal Cleanup Day
When: 9/15 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Sites across the Monterey Bay
Cost: Free
Help our local beaches and waterways get back into shape after a busy summer by joining in with Save Our Shores at the Annual Coastal Cleanup day along the Monterey Bay. Signup to help your favorite beach and join hundreds of other volunteers for the biggest cleanup day of the year! In order to allocate supplies to cleanup sites, signups are required and requested to be filled out by Thursday, September 13. Here are some
SCDG Rollerdance Fundraiser
When: 9/15 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: 440 Kings Village Road., Scotts Valley
Cost: $20
Help the Santa Cruz Derby Girls in this fundraising event. Have you ever wanted to to learn some of the Derby Girl skating moves? Special guest instructors will teach you some skating tricks like the pros. Skate rentals and light refreshments are included. RSVP is required. Tickets sold at the door.
Made in the Mountains
When: 9/15 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: Downtown Boulder Creek
Cost: Free
The third Saturday of the month brings an afternoon of local arts, crafts and live music in Boulder Creek. Take a relaxing stroll downtown and see the unique items to buy as gifts or keep for yourself! Spend $50 and you can enter to win $100 in Boulder Bucks.
Herb Alpert & Lani Hall
When: 9/15 from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: Rio Theatre
Cost: $37 Gen, $60 Gold Circle
Legendary trumpet player and producer, Herb Alpert, will be performing for one night at the Rio Theatre with Grammy award winning vocalist and producer, Lani Hall in a show that is not to be missed! This concert is sure to sell out, so get your tickets soon.
Family Lagoon Watch
When: 9/15 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Live Oak Branch Library 2380 Portola Dr. Santa Cruz, Ca 95062
Cost: Free
You’ve probably driven by the Corcoran Lagoon many times, but do you know much about it? In this family nature study program, you can learn about the environment, do some bird watching, art activities and even examine creatures under a microscope. Parents must accompany children under 10 and is not suitable for very young children.
Sage Essentials CBD Pop-Up
When: 9/15 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: Botanic and Luxe
Cost: Free
Join Sage Float Spa and Botanic and Luxe to learn more about CBD including what it does, how it works, and proper dosing. Get all your questions answered, check out CBD bath and skin products, and enjoy CBD Cocktails—Sage will be serving non-psychoactive Hemp CBD cocktails/mocktails.
Santa Cruz County Fair
See Description Under Friday Section
Downtown BirdFUN Festival! Art & Connection to Feathered Friends
See Description Under Friday Section
Santa Cruz Follies
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Saturday
MUSIC/DANCE
- Live Music By Kit Bragg @ Abbott Square
- Said The Sky @ The Catalyst
- Jive Machine @ Crow’s Nest
- Terry Brown w/ Gary Blackburn @ Flynn’s Cabaret
- Orgone @ Moe’s Alley
- Mathew Curry @ Moe’s Alley
- Eva and the Vagabond Tales w/ Alex Ramirez and Sean Shirley @ The Crepe Place
- Patio Acoustics with Mark Creech @ Severino’s
- Tsunami (Classic Rock, R&B) @ Severino’s
- Crooked Branches plus WIld Iris @ Michaels on Main
THEATER/ARTS
- Turning Points Anthology Release Party and Reading @ Louden Nelson Community Center
- The Beauty Queen of Leenane @ Colligan Theater
MAKE/CRAFT
- Paint and Sip 9/15~ Sunflower BOGO @ The Painted Cork Art Studio
- Paint and Sip~ FAMILY CLASS 9/15~ Black Cat Hollow @ The Painted Cork Art Studio
OUTDOORS
- Birding for Beginners in Waddell Valley @ Rancho Del Oso
- Can You Survive? Part 2 @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Coast Nature Walks @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Family Discovery Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Hidden Gems: Flowers of Big Basin! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Ranch History Tours @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
MORE
- Sustain Supper Benefiting the Homeless Garden Project @ Homeless Garden Project Farm
- Moonlight Train Dinner Party @ Roaring Camp Railroads
- Aptos Farmers Market @ Cabrillo College
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
Dodge For a Cause: Dodgeball Tournament
When: 9/16 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Where: Live Oak Clubhouse 925 17th Ave.
Cost: $25 per participants, $5 for non-participants
Join the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County for some dodgeball excitement! Friends from local businesses will be competing against each other in this dodgeball elimination tournament. Presented by Bay Federal. Teams of 8-10 are encouraged to join and to come dressed in costume. Family activities, lunch, complimentary t-shirt and trophies awarded 1st- 3rd place. If you don’t want to participate, just come and watch the fun.
Sweet Seasons – The Music of Carole King
When: 9/16 at 7:00 pm
Where: Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Cost: $20/Adv $25/Door
Enjoy an evening of music by Carol King performed by the group Sweet Seasons. All the music from The Tapestry album will be performed, as well as other hits from the 60s and 70s. This concert is sure to please Carole King fans of all ages! Doors open at 6:30 pm.
SCM Makers Market Pop-up at Steel Bonnet Brewing Co.
When: 9/16 from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Where: 20 Victor Square, Scotts Valley, CA
Cost: Free admission
Pop in to this fun Pop-up event that will bring displays from over 20 local artists, delicious food from Sleight of Hand Pizza, the sweet sounds of Sugar by the Pound, and cold brews from Steel Bonnet Brewing Company.
Science Sunday: The Secret Lives of California Great White Sharks
When: 9/16 from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Where: Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Cost: Science Sundays are free with paid admission to the Seymour Center (Adult $9 | Senior $7 | Student $7 | Child $7) and always free for members.
Have you ever wanted to know about these mysterious creatures that live in our own Monterey Bay? Great white sharks are often greatly feared and very misunderstood. Salvador Jorgensen, Senior Research Scientist for the Monterey Bay Aquarium will share some of the latest discoveries about these important residents in our bay and will bust those myths right out of the water!
Santa Cruz County Fair
See Description Under Friday Section
Downtown BirdFUN Festival! Art & Connection to Feathered Friends
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Sunday
MUSIC/DANCE
- Poly Varghese @ Flynn’s Cabaret
- MIKE PINTO + Pacific Grown @ Moe’s Alley
- Open Bluegrass Jam @ The Crepe Place
- Adore//Repel (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire) w/ Cement Ship and Fulminante @ The Crepe Place
- Honne @ The Catalyst
- E.N Young Mystic Roots @ The Catalyst
- Patio Acoustics with Alex Lucero @ Severino’s
- The Box @ The Blue Lagoon
- Grateful Sunday Concert Series @ Michaels on Main
THEATER/ARTS
- Spotlight On The Symphony: Madeline Jarzembak @ Samper Recital Hall
- Book Launch Landscapes: Activism That Shaped Santa Cruz County @ Santa Cruz MAH
- The Beauty Queen of Leenane @ Colligan Theater
OUTDOORS
- Coffee Talk and Crafts @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods Hike @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Ranch History Tours @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- The Road Less Traveled—A Dog-Friendly Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- When Species Collide @ Rancho Del Oso
- Watsonville Nature Walks @ City of Watsonville – Nature Center
MORE
- Lavender Day Open House @ The College of Botanical Healing Arts
- Science Sunday @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Bird Funfest: Sunday Play @ Santa Cruz MAH
- Corralitos Farm and Garden Market @ Corralitos Cultural Center
- San Francisco Comedy Competition @ Crow’s Nest
- Dip and Dash Aquathlon #3 @ Cowell Beach
- Sc Democratic Central Party Picnic @ DeLaveaga Park – Forty Thieves Picnic Area
Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss
Oktoberfest
What: Oktoberfest
Where: St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church
When: Saturday, September 22nd
Come out and enjoy an afternoon celebration for the entire community. This event is based on the original Oktoberfest tradition with a touch of Santa Cruz 21st century culture added into the mix. Live music, family fun, delicious food, locally brewed craft beer and more!
Heritage Harvest Festival
What: Heritage Harvest Festival
Where: Wilder Ranch State Park
When: Saturday, October 20
Celebrate the fall harvest season at Wilder Ranch! Bring the family out for a day of living history and harvest-time activities…baking on a wood stove, blacksmith and machine shop demonstrations, old time music and square dancing, and children’s crafts and games.
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