This weekend will be a great one to get outside, with Spring Break at the Boardwalk wrapping up, an Earth Day festival, the Santa Cruz Harbor’s 50th birthday, and a number of Easter events to choose from.
Read on to see the rest of our picks for the best events in Santa Cruz this weekend.
Spring Break at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
When: Friday, April 18, 2014, 11 am – 8 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
How Much: Free (rides regular price)
Friday is the last day for Spring Break on the Boardwalk, which has been going on all week. The final day will feature free inflatable activities and competitions on the beach, a kids’ beach dance party, appearances by SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star, live music, and a magic show. You can find the schedule of activities here.
Mobb Deep
When: Fri, April 18, 9 pm
Where: The Catalyst
How Much: $19 – $23
East Coast rap duo Mobb Deep reunites after their 2012 breakup for a new album and 20th anniversary tour. Buy tickets here.
Seymour Marine Discovery Center Earth Week
When:Fri, April 18 & Sat, April 19
Where: Seymour Marine Discovery Center
How Much: Free for those arriving by people-powered or public transportation
Admission to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center is free for the week leading up to Earth Day, if you arrive by people-powered or public transportation.
Santa Cruz Harbor 50th Anniversary Celebration
When: Fri, April 18 at 1:00 pm & Sat, April 19 from 1 – 3 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Harbor’s Mariner Park Lawn
How Much: Free
The Santa Cruz Harbor celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, with a Rededication Ceremony on Friday, April 18th, and a Pop Up Museum, “Celebrating the Voyage”, put on by the Museum of Art and History on Saturday, April 19th. For the Pop Up Museum, the public can share any harbor-related memorabilia; bring the artifacts down to Mariner Park Lawn at 1 pm to display.
Shakespeare’s As You Like It
When: Fri, Sat & Sun April 18 – 20
Where: Cabrillo Black Box Theatre
How Much: $9 – $19
All the world’s a stage, according to this well-loved Shakespeare comedy, presented by Cabrillo College’s Theatre Arts Department. Find showtimes and buy tickets here.
Earth Day Santa Cruz
When: Sat, April 19, 11 am – 4 pm
Where: San Lorenzo Park
How Much: Free
Featuring live music by SqueezeDaddy and Sambadá, a cleanup of the San Lorenzo river, compost workshop, recycled fashion show, free climbing wall, and over 90 booths by vendors and non-profits, Santa Cruz’s official Earth Day celebration is a big affair. You can see the schedule here.
Helpful tip: unfortunately, dogs aren’t allowed in San Lorenzo Park.
Reskilling Expo
When: Sat, April 20, 1 – 4 pm
Where: Museum of Art and History
How Much: $5 – $25 sliding scale
According to the Reskilling Expo’s website, “Reskilling is a remembering, reclaiming and revivifying of skills that were known fifty to seventy-five years ago.” The purpose of the Reskilling Expo is to teach skills to the public to promote sustainable daily living, and to help develop self-reliance. Workshops vary from solar cooking, to understanding environmental ethics, to using local herbs medicinally. Check out the schedule here.
April Passport Day
When:Sat, April 19, 10 am – 4 pm
Where: 30+ wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountain area
How Much: $45
There’s no better deal for wine lovers: the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association organizes this four-times-yearly, day-long event for wine tasting, meeting vintners and touring wineries. A $45 passport lasts for 2 years and allows one tasting visit to each of over 30 participating wineries.If you haven’t already purchased your passport online, you can get one at any participating winery. For a list of participating wineries, click here.
Bloom Santa Cruz
When: Sat, April 19, 2014, 6 – 11 pm
Where: Lighthouse Point
How Much: Free
Showcasing work from digital artists and scientists, this event focuses on local water issues and ecological sustainability. There will be digital art, performance art, ecologically focused presentations and more. Click here for more information.
Easter Activities
There are a lot of choices for Easter-themed activities on both Saturday and Sunday. Check out our overview of Easter events here.
Additional events this weekend
Friday, April 18:
- MAH 3rd Friday: Fashion and Body Art
- Elias Kauhane at Pono Hawaiian Grill
- Jay Farrar at Don Quixote’s
- Funky Friday! Pawn Shop Soul with Hoopty at Kuumbwa
Friday & Saturday:
Saturday, April 19:
Saturday & Sunday:
Sunday, April 20:
Recurring Events You Can Find Every Weekend
- Free Wildlife Eco-Tours of the Santa Cruz Wharf (weekly event – every Saturday & Sunday)
- Tours of the Reserve at Elkhorn Slough (weekly event – every Saturday & Sunday)
- Sunday Seaside Crafts at the Seymour Center (weekly event – every Sunday)
- Santa Cruz Farmers Markets (weekly events)
- Live Comedy at the Crow’s Nest (weekly event – every Sunday night)
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