This weekend the MAH will be glowing and we get two big surfing events, an Open Studios Encore, and an authentic Oktoberfest at New Bohemia Brewing Company.
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
GLOW: Digital Night
When: 10/16 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: MAH
Cost: $10, $5 for MAH members
The MAH’s first GLOW night is part sanctioned rave, part art installation, and fully awesome. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to see Downtown Santa Cruz lit up like never before.
The Coffis Brothers + The Soft White Sixties
When: 10/16 at 9:00 pm, Doors Open 8:00 pm
Where: Moe’s Alley
Cost: $9 advance, $12 day of show
Local favorite The Coffis Brothers will share the stage with The Soft White Sixties, a Bay Area band that blends mid twentieth century pop influences with light, modern sounds.
Ho’omana at Pono
When: 10/16 at 6:30 pm
Where: Pono Hawaiian Grill
Cost: No cover ($10 suggested donation)
Hawaiian band Ho’omana is known for their peaceful and inventive take on traditional Hawaiian music, which makes them the perfect fit for Pono Hawaiian Grill, a beloved Santa Cruz Hawaiian restaurant.
O’Neill Coldwater Classic Day
When: 10/16 – 10/18
Where: Steamer Lane
Catch some of the best surfers from all over at the O’Neill Coldwater Classic at Steamer Lane, which is predicted to see huge swells coming from both the Southwest and Northwest.
Also on Friday
- BUKU, Infuze @ the Catalyst
- EL TRI @ the Catalyst
- Be the Difference Awards Gala
- Joint Chiefs @ Crow’s Nest
- Midnight Movie at the Del Mar: Shaun of the Dead
- Trout Fishing in America @ Don Quixote’s
- Bethany Hamilton Comes to Santa Cruz! – SOLD OUT
- Michael Gallant Trio @ Kuumbwa
- Mountain Community Theater Presents: “The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild”
- Star and Moon Gazing at Quail Hollow
- A Specific Weakness: Sculptural Works of Glenn Carter
- Al Di Meola
- Wine Harvest Dinner and Grand Pro Tasting
- Eve of Eden, The Pieces @ 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
Open Studios Art Tour Encore Weekend
When: 10/17 & 10/18 from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: Artist Studios throughout Santa Cruz County
Cost: Free
This year’s Open Studios is drawing to a close, so if you have not yet taken the opportunity to see some of the best art from all over the county, you will certainly want to jump on this encore weekend tour.
Thomas and Percy’s Halloween Party
When: 10/17 & 10/18 (also 10/24-25, 10/31 & 11/1)
Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
If you want to give your kids a fun Halloween experience they will never forget, bring them by Roaring Camp Railroads this weekend. For the first time ever, the trusty Thomas and Percy trains will be able to talk, adding a new layer of fun for the whole family.
Women on Waves Surf Fest
When: 10/17 from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm
Where: Capitola Jetty
Catch some waves, enjoy the show, and support the local women’s surf culture this Saturday at the Capitola Jetty. Proceeds will benefit local organizations WomenCARE and Monarch Services.
Santa Cruz Derby Girls: Special Bout Featuring SC Derby Juniors
Sugar Skulls vs. Bumper Scars
When: 10/17/ at 6:30 pm, doors open at 5:45
Where: Civic Auditorium
Cost: $10
It’s zombies versus vampires this Saturday, when local derby teams Redwood Rebels and Organic Panic will go head to head for a special match. Come early to catch an SC Derby Juniors bout before the main event.
Diversity Center Annual Gala
When: 10/17 at 6:00 pm
Where: Hotel Paradox
Cost: $35 – $150
Show your support for the local LGBTQ community and enjoy a great party featuring local musicians, a plated dinner provided by Hotel Paradox, and a Fantasy Island themed after party.
GLOW: Fire Night
When: 10/17 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: MAH
Cost: $10, $5 for MAH members
Night two of the MAH’s annual GLOW weekend will include a wide range of art pieces involving fire from established and up and coming artists. Grab your favorite pyromaniac and get ready for a night you won’t soon forget.
Family Days
When: 10/17 at 2:00 pm
Where: RANCHO DEL OSO STATE PARK
Cost: Free
Craft projects, an interactive nature hike, and fun storytelling are just a few reasons why you might want to check out the upcoming family day at Rancho del Oso. But beyond that, it makes for a great excuse to spend a fun day outdoors with your loved ones.
Heritage Harvest Festival!
When: 10/17 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: WILDER RANCH STATE PARK
Cost: Free, $10 for parking
Explore living history demonstrations, decorate a pumpkin fresh from the patch, and enjoy a horse drawn wagon ride this weekend at Wilder Ranch. There will also be hand cranked pumpkin ice cream, fresh pumpkin pie, and crafts for all ages.
O’Neill Coldwater Classic Day
See description under Friday section
Also on Saturday
- A Year in the Life of the Quiroste
- Meteor Trail Hike
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk
- Wildflower Walk
- Gang of Four @ Catalyst
- Sin Sisters Burlesque @ Catalyst
- Bonedrivers @ Crow’s Nest
- Foreverland @ Don Quixote’s
- Christian Scott Stretch Music @ Kuumbwa
- Thriller Dance Classes
- Katdelic @ Moe’s Alley
- Gallery Girls: Drink & Draw – ONE NIGHT ONLY!
- 45th Annual Santa Cruz Band Review
- Prayaas: An Endeavor in Kathak
- Archeology Demonstration
- Mountain Tamer, BongKitty, Nerves @ The Crepe Place
- Bloom of the Present Meditating with the Redwoods Daylong Retreat – Nature as Benefactor
- Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walks
- Wilder Ranch Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tours
- Marine Life Studies Flip for Whales
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
NuBo Oktoberfest
When: 10/18 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: New Bohemia Brewing Company
Enjoy Bavarian pretzels, beer sing alongs, and full steins of some of the best beers in town at New Bohemia’s authentic Oktoberfest celebration. It’s the closest you will get to Germany without hopping on a plane.
Spooky or Not Spooky
When: 10/18 at 1:00 pm
Where: Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Cost: Free
This special Halloween-themed walk is geared for children- it’s 1 hour and easy! Explore the forest and help decide if something is spooky or not spooky.
More info here.
O’Neill Coldwater Classic Day
See description under Friday section
Open Studios Art Tour Encore Weekend
See description under Saturday section
Thomas and Percy’s Halloween Party
See description under Saturday section
Also on Sunday
- Bear Stories of the Santa Cruz Mountains
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods
- Capitola Fitness Open House & Katz Cancer Research Center Fundraiser
- ROCKTOBER @ Catalyst
- Live Comedy at the Crow’s Nest
- Amy Rigby plus Michael Gaither @ Don Quixote’s
- Tony Furtado Duo plus Mark Mooney@ Don Quixote’s
- Lila Rose & feral fauna @ Kuumbwa
- The 2015-16 Distinguished Artists Concert and Lecture Series – Alon Goldstein
- Seascape Village Farmer’s Market
- Science Sunday
- Sunday Seaside Crafts
- Moongrass, Santa Cruz Mountain String Trio @ The Crepe Place
Featured Upcoming Event
Mobile Ranger does a phenomenal job delivering great content about Santa Cruz.
If you love learning about Santa Cruz, then you definitely will want to check out their upcoming event. On Tuesday, October 27th Mobile Ranger will be celebrating the launch of their new iphone and android app, “Mobile Ranger Guides” with a launch party at the MAH.
The event will feature natural and human history trivia games, plus an opportunity to listen to fun and crazy stories by local experts. Will you be able to tell the real history from the not so real? Win a cool “Place Puzzle” if you can.
What: Mobile Ranger App Launch Party
Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History | 705 Front Street (Atrium)
When: Tuesday, October 27th, 2015
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