Santa Cruz Life

Memorial Day Weekend Events 2018

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santa cruz memorial day events 2018

Memorial Weekend is here and Santa Cruz is remembering with the Felton Remembers Parade, Civil War reenactments, and a ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery.

Other events to spend your 3-day weekend include a food truck block party, two festivals in the Santa Cruz mountains, and a major surfing competition.

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

Quick Links

Friday

Santa Cruz Food Truck Party

When: 5/25 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: San Lorenzo Park
Cost: Free admission

Think neighborhood picnic, but bigger and with awesome live music. Don’t worry about packing food because there will be plenty of food truck cuisine to choose from including Bruxo’s, G’s Mexicantacos, Drunkmonkey’s, The Choke Coach, Carmona’s BBQ Deli, and Aunt Lali’s. All Santa Cruzans are invited to meet their neighborhood police team and make some new neighborhood friends at this summer kick-off celebration.

Get more info here.

The Horse Boy

When: 5/25 at 7:00 pm
Where: Wisdom Center of Santa Cruz (behind Mobo Sushi)
Suggested Donations $5 – $10

The Wisdom Center of Santa Cruz presents THE HORSE BOY, a film that explore’s the question, “How far would you travel to heal someone you love?” This film is a companion to Rupert Isaacson’s best-selling book of the same name, which follows his family’s search for healing for their autistic son. Their journey takes them to Mongolia where the combination of horses and shamanic tradition has a profound effect on their lives. A discussion will follow the screening of this film.

Get more info here.

Santa Cruz Contra Dance

When: 5/25 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave.
Suggested admission donation: $12 regular, $20 supporters, $8 full-time students w ID card. Cash only.

Bring a partner or come alone for a day of New England folk dancing fun! Everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary. In fact, there’s a free lesson 20 minutes before the event begins. Dance to the music of Lee Anne Welch (fiddle), Janet Dows (concertina), and Jim Oakden (piano, guitar, miscellaneous). Caller is Erik Hoffman.

Get more info here.

Also on Friday

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Saturday

FELTON REMEMBERS PARADE AND COVERED BRIDGE FESTIVAL

When: 5/26 Parade at 10:00 am; Festival from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Hwy 9 and Covered Bridge Park
Cost: Free admission

Come for the parade, stay for the festival! This is an annual Felton community tradition you don’t want to miss. The event starts with a parade along Hwy 9, honoring those who have died while serving our country, as well as surviving veterans and families of fallen soldiers. Following the parade, gather at Covered Bridge Park for a family-friendly festival where you can enjoy live music, a variety of food vendors, and fun activities for kids, including bounce houses and a petting zoo.

Get more info here.

34TH ANNUAL SANTA CRUZ LONGBOARD CLUB INVITATIONAL

When: 5/26 – 5/27 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Steamer Lane at Lighthouse Point

Considered “the best longboard contest in the US,” this invitational attracts 200 surfers from all over and provides for some riveting entertainment for spectators. You can even enter a raffle for a chance to win a one of a kind longboard of your own.

Get more info here.

37TH ANNUAL CIVIL WAR BATTLES & ENCAMPMENT

When: 5/26 – 5/28 See full schedule here
Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
Cost: Children 2-12 $26; Adults $32

Bring the kids to Roaring Camp for a unique history lesson. This weekend’s Civil War reenactment is bound to get every kid in attendance engaged in a crucial part of America’s past. You’ll be able to see how soldiers lived, slept, ate, and fought back in the 1800s.

Get more info here.

NuBo Memorial Weekend Springfest

When: 5/26 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Where: New Bohemia Brewing Co.
Cost: Free but registration requested

Get ready for an all day partay at NuBo! Enjoy beer, bands, food, and friends…you know, the simple things in life. Across the street, O’Neill will be having their annual Memorial Weekend parking lot sale, so that’s a convenient way to get your errands done and then reward yourself, with beer. Special release of the day will be a collaboration with Sante Adairius—a millet lager Schwarzbier.

Get more info and register here.

Also on Saturday

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

Sunday

Music & Art Festival Memorial Day Weekend

When: 5/27 from 11:30 am to 7:00 pm
Where: Junction Park
Cost: Free admission

Bring the whole family to enjoy this Memorial Weekend fundraiser for Boulder Creek Recreation Programs. There will be kid activities, art and craft vendors, and plenty of music including Lydia Joy Davis, Gary Gates Band, Wildsang, Grandpa’s Chili, and Drool Pigs.

Get more info here.

An East Forest Ceremony

1440 Sound Meditation

When: 5/27 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: 1440 Multiversity
Cost: $33.72 – $60.12

Visit the 1440 Multiversity campus for a one-of-a-kind live performance by East Forest, whose fusion of wilderness field recordings and live elecro-acoustic music is designed to let listeners explore their own inner space. Before your journey begins, gather at the Kitchen Table for a nourishing seasonal dinner (5:30 pm to 7:00 pm).

Get more info here.

Also on Sunday

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Monday

Memorial Day Remembrance

When: 5/28 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Where: Evergreen Cemetery and the Portuguese Hall

Join the MAH along with local military and veterans organization to honor those who have served our country. In addition to musical and spoken tributes, there will be a Pop Up Museum and the public is encouraged to contribute objects, photos, or memorabilia of their loved ones who have served or are serving our country’s armed forces.

Get more info here.

Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss

Japanese Cultural Fair

What: Japanese Cultural Fair
Where: Mission Park Plaza
When: Saturday, June 9, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm

Celebrate our neighbors across the Pacific and the Japanese community in Santa Cruz by gathering at Mission Plaza Park and participating in cultural activities, including traditional dancing, food, and arts and crafts. Additional workshops and demonstrations will be held at nearby Aikido of Santa Cruz and the Zen Center.

Get more info here.

Gerbera Festival

What: 9th Annual Gerbera Festival
Where: Kitayama Brothers Farm
When: Saturday, June 9 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Mark your calendar for the 9th Annual Kitayama Brothers Gerbera Festival. Enjoy some sunshine as you take part in greenhouse tours, flower arranging demonstrations, a farmers market, potted Gerbera plants and cut flowers for sale, tacos, local beer, and a PopUp ParkStore by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks.

Get more info here.

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Christine Candelaria

Christine Candelaria is a local mom of four who enjoys sharing her Santa Cruz adventures. You can follow her #santacruzlife on Instagram at @theaumsmama.

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