This Weekend in Santa Cruz: Open Studios, Open Streets, Monarchs, Music, Comedy & More

By Blair Stenvick

Here comes an epic Santa Cruz weekend!

What’s on tap?

Open Streets, Open Studios, Welcome Back Monarchs, comedy & music festivals, a Hard Cider Festival, Beer, Brats & Blues, Lobster Fest…just to name a few. Oh, and fireworks too! Whew!

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

Friday

Santa Cruz County Artist of the Year: Geoffrey Dunn

When: 10/9 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Musuem of Art & History
Cost: Free

Local poet, author and journalist Geoffrey Dunn has served as a cultural compass in Santa Cruz for decades now, and he will be honored as Artist of the Year this Friday night. Those in attendance will be taken on an interactive exploration of his work, guided by Dunn himself.

Get more info here.

Also on Friday

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Saturday

Open Studios Art Tour – South County

When: 10/10 & 10/11 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Artist studios throughout South County
Cost: Free

This weekend’s Open Studios tour will focus on South County, which means you will get to see some of the best work coming from Capitola, Watsonville, Live Oak, Aptos, and more.

Get more info here.

Save Our Surf Celebration

When: 10/10 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Seabright State Beach – by the Whale Entrance at Seabright
Cost: Free

Save Our Surf has raised and contributed over $200,000 to protect our coastline since its founding in 1996. Celebrate the program’s success and do your own part by taking place in this beach clean up party.

Get more info here.

Tandy Beal & Company’s ArtSmart Family Concert Series – Opening Performance

When: 10/10 at 11:00 am
Where: Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building
Cost: $10 – $15

To kick off this series of family friendly concerts, noted dancers Micah Scott will share her own brand of energetic and lively performance. Scott has been featured in both Time and Essence.

Get more info here.

Castro Adobe Open House

When: 10/10 fro 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Castro Adobe State Historic Park
Cost: Free (donations accepted)

California has a new State Park, and it is conveniently close to the Santa Cruz area. Be one of the first to welcome Castro Adobe by attending this open house, which will feature interactive information and handmade tortillas.

Get more info here.

Hard Core Cider Tour: Santa Cruz

When: 10/10 from noon to 4:00 pm
Where: San Lorenzo Park
Cost: $40-$45

Enjoy the best ciders from up and down California’s coastline, as well as treats from local food trucks, live music, and lawn games at this indulgent fall festival. This is a strictly 21 and up event, so don’t forget your ID!

Get more info here.

Beer, Brats & Blues

When: 10/10 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Chaminade Resort & Spa
Cost: 40

If you are looking for a quintessential Octoberfest type celebration with a Santa Cruz twist, this is the event for you. Attendees will get to enjoy the best of the best of local beer, delicious sausages, and blues music from Carrie & The SoulShakers.

Get more info here.

21st Annual LOBSTER FEED Fundraiser

When: 10/10 from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Where: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Cost: $75-100

Few dishes are more decadent than lobster, but this is one indulgence you can enjoy guilt free, as all proceeds from this Lobster Feed go to support education and protect our local environment.

Get more info here.

Thomas and Percy’s Halloween Party!

When: 10/10 & 10/11 (will also take place on Oct. 17,18, 24, 25, 31, and Nov. 1)
Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
Cost: 24

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.

Get more info here.

Taste of the Warriors

When: 10/10 from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Where: Kaiser Permanente Arena
Cost: $10 Kids/$50 Advance/$70 Door

Meet local athletic heroes, enjoy tastings from local restaurants and wineries, and have a great evening knowing that all proceeds will benefit local schools. If your family loves the Warriors, this is your chance to meet them up close and personal.

Get more info here.

Santa Cruz Comedy Festival – “Next Wave of Comedy”

When: 10/10 at 8:30 pm
Where: Kuumbwa Jazz
Cost: $20/Advance $25/Door

Participants in this comedy show have some pretty impressive resumes, with experience on HBO, Comedy Central, Conan, Last Comic Standing, and more. If you want to laugh this weekend, this show is your best bet.

Get more info here.

Santa Cruz Music Festival

When: 10/10 – check schedule for performance times
Where: Multiple venues Downtown Santa Cruz
Cost: $45-50

You don’t have to travel to the Bay Area to experience a fully immersive music festival. In fact, this weekend will see the third annual Santa Cruz Musical festival, with events ranging from packed concerts at the Catalyst to relaxed sessions at The Poet and the Patriot and Streetlight Records.

Get more info here.

Also on Saturday

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

Sunday

Open Studios Art Tour – South County

When: 10/10 & 10/11 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Artist studios throughout South County
Cost: Free

This weekend’s Open Studios tour will focus on South County, which means you will get to see some of the best work coming from Capitola, Watsonville, Live Oak, Aptos, and more.

Get more info here.

Santa Cruz Harbor Classic Car Show

When: 10/11 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Harbor’s West Side (near Mariner Park Lawn)
Cost: Free

Enjoy an afternoon of music, festivities, food, and of course, classic cars! Vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles will be on display from 9 AM – 3 PM on Sunday, on the harbor’s west side (near Mariner Park Lawn).

Get more info here.

Corralitos Open Farm Tours

When: 10/11 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Download map on website for addresses of participating farms and Market Place location.
Cost: Free!

If you want to go one step beyond your local farmers’ market, check out this open farms tour, when six different local, family owned farms will welcome all curious visitors. There will also be a big marketplace at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.

Get more info here.

Open Streets Santa Cruz

When: 10/11 from 9:00 at to 2:00 pm
Where: West Cliff Drive (Lighthouse Field to Nat.Bridges)
Cost: Free

Open Streets is a celebration of the great outdoors just beyond our front porches. West Cliff will be closed to car traffic, but it will welcome walkers, joggers, bikers, skaters, and anyone who wants to enjoy another beautiful Sunday in Santa Cruz.

Get more info here.

Welcome Back Monarchs Day

When: 10/11 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Natural Bridges State Beach
Cost: Free/ $10 Parking

The Monarch butterflies are headed back our way right now, and you can celebrate this delicate piece of natural beauty this Sunday at Natural Bridges, where you can also enjoy information booths and hand cranked ice cream.

Get more info here.

Monte Foundation 2015 Fireworks Extravaganza

When: 10/11 from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Capitola Beach
Cost: Free

Summer might be over, and New Year’s isn’t for another few months, but that is no reason why you can’t take in some brilliant fireworks. All proceeds will go toward repairing the Jade Street park tennis courts.

Get more info here.

Also on Sunday

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.

Get more info here.

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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Blair Stenvick

Blair Stenvick is a freelance writer who has lived in Santa Cruz for four years.

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