This weekend has a little bit of everything.
For the second year in a row, basketball fans will be treated to the NBA D-League Showcase, right here in Santa Cruz.
Fungus fanatics get three days devoted to, well…fungus.
Families and marine life enthusiasts can head to one of our favorite local spots for free this Friday, and there is some great entertainment to choose from, including one of the region’s most well respected short play festivals, and a two-night set with a great local band.
And if you happen to be a woman who loves beer, then make sure you check out Sunday’s events.
Read on to see all of our top picks for this weekend:
Friday
NBA D-League Showcase
When: 1/6 – 1/10
Where: Kaiser Permanente Arena
Cost: Day pass: $5 kids/students, $20 adult, Tournament pass: $20 kids/students, $75 adults.
One tournament. Five days. Every team.
That’s what D-League basketball fans will be treated to, beginning on Wednesday and running through Sunday. All 19 teams will participate in this 19 game tournament.
42nd Annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair
When: 1/8 through 1/10
Where: Louden Nelson Community Center
Cost: $5-$10
Just when you start to get worried that Santa Cruz might not have a fair for every conceivable subject, along comes the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair to put you at ease.
Celebrate 42 years of fungus at this year’s Fungus Fair, which runs Friday through Sunday at Louden Nelson Community Center.
Community Free Day
When: 1/8 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Cost: Free
If you and your kids love all things underwater, then the the perfect affordable family outing for you is the Seymour Center Community Free Day, where you can interact with tide-pools, skeletons, wildlife and more.
8 Tens @ Eight Short Play Festival
When: 1/8 – 1/9 at 8:00 pm
Where: Center Stage Theater
Cost: $22 – $25
This 5-week festival of 10 minute plays opens this Friday, January 8th. This year’s Festival features 16 short plays, 8 per night, rotating on “A” and “B” nights.
Tickets tend to sell out for this event, so grab yours while you can.
Coffis Brothers & The Mountain Men
plus The T Sisters
When: 1/8 – 1/9 at 8:00 pm
Where: Don Quixote’s
Cost: $10
One of our favorite local bands spends two nights at Don Quixote’s this weekend. Fans of Tom Petty and Neil Young will dig the Coffis Brothers’ mix of folk, county rock.
Also on Friday
- Juju, XaeboR @ The Catalyst
- Tribal Seeds @ The Catalyst
- Punk Rock In Santa Cruz @ Blue Lagoon
- Dreams into Motion: Monthly Performance Cafe at the 418 Project @ 418 Project
- Local Essence Members´ Exhibit – Part I (A-K) @ Santa Cruz Art League
- Edge of the West @ The Crow’s Nest
- Lyrics Born + Paradise Soul Savers @ Moe’s Alley
- Haunted Summer, Yassou @ The Crepe Place
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
Birding in Waddell Valley
When: 1/9 at 8:00 am
Where: Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center
Cost: Free
Beginning and advanced birders alike will enjoy this 2-mile hike through Waddell Valley. Bring your own binoculars.
Surfing America Prime Surf Series
When: 1/9 – 1/10 at 7:00 am
Where: Steamer Lane
Cost: Free
Steamer Lane will play host to the Surfing America Prime surf competition this Saturday and Sunday.
NBA D-League Showcase
See Description Under Friday Section
42nd Annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair
See Description Under Friday Section
8 Tens @ Eight Short Play Festival
See Description Under Friday Section
Coffis Brothers & The Mountain Men plus The McCoy Tyler Band
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Saturday
- Second Saturday on the Farm @ Agricultural History Project Center and Museum
- Sin Sisters Burlesque @ The Catalyst
- Animal Shelter Relief Rescue Adoption Fair! @ PetSmart
- Tours of the Monarch Butterfly Grove @ Natural Bridges State Beach
- The History of Wilder Ranch: Tour of the Historic Ranch Buildings @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- History, Nature, and Scenic Views: A Tour of the Grey Whale Ranch Area @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Guided Redwood Grove Walks @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Stormin’ Norman & The Cyclones @ The Crow’s Nest
- Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings @ Moe’s Alley
- Sun Maiden, Chloe and the Giant Peach, Strange @ The Crepe Place
- Public Planting Event @ Elkhorn Slough Reserve
- Tribal Seeds @ The Catalyst
- Local Essence Members´ Exhibit – Part I (A-K) @ Santa Cruz Art League
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
The Beatles Brunch
When: 1/10 from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm
Where: Skypark, Scotts Valley
Cost: Food truck food available for purchase
Enjoy your favorite food trucks—Ate3One, G’s Tacos, India Gourmet, Aunt LaLi’s—while listening to your favorite Beatles tunes—I Wanna Hold Your Ham, Lucy in the Fries with Diamonds, Loaf Me Do—to name a few.
Nature Wander
When: 1/10 at 1:00 pm
Where: Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center
Cost: Free
Enjoy an informative and leisurely 1-mile stroll through the native Monterey Pines of Waddell Valley, with docent naturalist Ann Garside.
Women’s Homebrewing Class
When: 1/10 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
Cost: $62.49
Santa Cruz is becoming well known for great breweries and taprooms, and Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing has played a prominent role in shaping our local beer scene. You probably already knew that. But did you know they have also been hosting Women’s Homebrewing classes for the past six years? They’re back at it this Sunday with their Strong Women Brew class.
42nd Annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair
See Description Under Friday Section
Surfing America Prime Surf Series
See Description Under Saturday Section
Also on Sunday
- Meet the Doulas @ Luma Yoga & Family Center
- Battalion of Saints @ The Catalyst
- Live Comedy at the Crow’s Nest @ The Crow’s Nest
- Downtown Antique Fair @ Downtown Santa Cruz
- Elisabeth Carlisle plus Haley Johnsen 2pm Matinee @ Don Quixote’s
- Tony McManus 7pm Concert @ Don Quixote’s
- Walter Trout @ Moe’s Alley
- IndiviDuo @ The Crepe Place
- Sunday Seaside Crafts @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Younger Lagoon Reserve Tours @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Tours of the Monarch Butterfly Grove @ Natural Bridges State Beach
- The History of Wilder Ranch: Tour of the Historic Ranch Buildings @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Local Essence Members´ Exhibit – Part I (A-K) @ Santa Cruz Art League
- Paint This! @ Palace Art Capitola
Featured Upcoming Events
New To Brew – Homebrew Class
Where: Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
When: 1/17 @ 10:00 AM
Cost: $62.49
If you’ve been itching to learn how to brew your own beer, then this beginner’s homebrewing class at Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing might be just what you’re looking for.
Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival
Where: The Cocoanut Grove
When: 1/17, from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Cost: Admittance is free. Tasting tickets, 6 tastes for $15, Commemorative wine glasses, plus one taste $5.00
Head to the Cocoanut Grove for a fun day of chocolate that raises funds for scholarships for UCSC re-entry students. Hosted by the UCSC Women’s Club, this is the premiere chocolate event of the year in Santa Cruz.
There will be a chocolate workshop, chocolate cupcakes, ice cream, truffles, caramels, bark, cookies, drinks, coffee and more. There will be cupcake decorating for the young, and young at heart, face painting demonstrations, and a blind-tasting competition.
The event also features live music from Jazz by Five.
PS – Get coverage of the best Santa Cruz events and other Santa Cruz Life content delivered straight to your inbox by signing up below…
