What better way to enjoy the balmy weather than to get out in the open this weekend? From the First Friday Art Tour, and the Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair, to the Capitola Kite Classic and Capitola Open Streets, this weekend boasts lots of outdoor fun.
Read on to see the rest of our picks for the best events in Santa Cruz this weekend.
First Friday Events
Today is the First Friday of the month, which means it’s time for the First Friday Art Tour. While the art tour is always a highlight, it isn’t the only perk that comes with the first Friday of each month:
- First Friday Art Tour
- Free First Friday at the MAH
- First Friday Free Day at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
A few picks for artists that I like, who will be showing this Friday: Doug Ross at Artisans Gallery, Summer Rhee-Pizano at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, John Crawford at Odonata Wines, and The Art of Nature at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History.
Colin Quinn’s Unconstitutional
When: Fri, May 2nd, 8 pm
Where: Rio Theatre
How Much: $27-$42
New York comedian Colin Quinn brings his hilarious take on American history to the Rio Theatre. For more details, click here. You can buy tickets online at Ticketweb, or in person at Tomboy, next door to the Rio Theatre.
Museum of Art & History Free First Friday: Bike Night
When: Fri, May 2nd, 11 am – 9 pm
Where: Museum of Art & History
How Much: Free
Kicking off the 27th annual Santa Cruz County Bike Week, Bike Night at the MAH includes bike-powered ice cream and smoothies for sale, a bike themed art fair, local bike builders showing off their creations, group bike rides, and free bike safety checks courtesy of the Bike Church. And entry to the MAH is free for First Friday! For more details, click here.
National Dance Week Santa Cruz Events
When: Fri, May 2nd & Sat, May 3rd
Where: Various locations
How Much: Varies
Wrapping up National Dance Week Santa Cruz, which runs from April 24th to May 3rd, are a few events worth marking your calendar for: Bay Area award-winning dancer Gerald Casel presents the world premiere of Visiter, a new evening-length dance, with his Santa Cruz-based dance company, Friday at 7 pm and Saturday at 7 & 9 pm. Find more info and tickets here. As part of Dance Week, a variety of free dance classes at different locations are offered to newcomers, with the last day of free classes on Friday, May 2nd. Schedule and locations of the free, open classes can be found here. On Saturday, May 3rd, starting at 1, 2 and 3 pm from Abbot Square (in front of the Museum of Art & History), will be free walking tours of site-specific dance performances throughout downtown Santa Cruz.
Anuhea & Rebel SoulJahz
When: Fri, May 2nd, 9 pm
Where: Moe’s Alley
How Much: $30
Hawaiian singer-songwriter Anuhea plays island-flavored pop/soul/rap/reggae-influenced music. Joining her the playbill is Hawaiian reggae quartet Rebel SoulJahz. More info and tickets here.
A sample of Anuhea’s music:
Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair
When: Sat, May 3rd, 12 -6 pm
Where: San Lorenzo Park
How Much: Free
Enjoy free bluegrass music performances outdoors by Bean Creek, Harmony Grits, The Lampel Brothers With Jim Lewin, The Naked Bootleggers, and Eddie Ducommun Band. Get more info here.
California Bookstore Day
When: Sat, May 3rd, 9 am – 11 pm
Where: Bookshop Santa Cruz
How Much: Free
Part of a statewide campaign to promote independent bookshops, California Bookstore Day at Bookshop Santa Cruz starts at 9 a.m. with free Verve coffee, exclusive Bookstore Day-related items, and kids’ face painting, balloons and storytelling from 1 to 3 pm. Support your local indie bookstore! More info here.
Literary Trivia Night
When: Sat, May 3rd, 7 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
How Much: Free
Team up in a group of 2 to 6 players to answer literary trivia in this event in honor of California Bookstore Day, and compete for prizes that include exclusive advance copies of books and Bookshop Santa Cruz gift certificates. More info here.
Historic Landmark Awards
When: Sat, May 3rd, 1-3 pm
Where: Museum of Art & History
How Much: Free
This is the event that awards those blue plaques to different buildings around Santa Cruz, naming them as historic landmarks. After the awards ceremony, refreshments will be served, and a walking tour of downtown Santa Cruz will be given. Click here to see the event listing on the MAH website.
Free Comic Book Day
When: Sat, May 3rd
Where: Atlantis FantasyWorld, Comicopolis, & Legends Comics & Games Capitola
How Much: Free
You really can get something for nothing on Free Comic Book Day! Indie comic book stores around the world participate in this day of comic book celebration, giving out free comic books to store visitors. Click here to find out more.
Santa Cruz Mountains Makers Market
When: Sun, May 4th, 10 am – 5 pm
Where: Mountain Community Resource parking lot (6134 Highway 9, Felton)
How Much: Free entry
Live music by The Coffis Brothers & The Mountain Men, Sugar By The Pound, and Cirque Disobey will provide the soundtrack to this new market featuring clothing, crafts, and food from over 40 vendors.
Capitola Open Streets
When: Sun, May 4th, 11 am – 4 pm
Where: Capitola Esplanade
How Much: Free
The hugely successful Santa Cruz Open Streets is branching out to Capitola. You can find more details here.
Capitola Kite Classic
When: Sun, May 4th, 11 am – 2 pm
Where: The beach at Capitola Village
How Much: Free
Go fly a kite, and compete for prizes. Bring your own kite if you’d like to compete. Judging starts at 1:30 pm. Official listing can be found here.
Ben Jammin at Kuumbwa
When: Sun, May 4th, 5:30 pm
Where: Kuumbwa Jazz
How Much: $18-$20
Family-friendly Broadway, jazz and classical music from Cabrillo Stage Actor and local Childrens Theatre celebrity Ben Jammin. Get more info here.
Additional events this weekend
Friday:
- Big Band Jazz Presented by Cabrillo Jazz Series
- Luminous Colour Opening Reception at Felix Kulpa Gallery
- Foreverland: Tribute to Michael Jackson at Don Quixote’s
Saturday:
- Santa Cruz Waldorf School May Fair 2014
- UCSC Spring Plant Sale
- 32nd Biannual Coastal Cleanup Santa Cruz
- Contemporary Tango Music from Argentina Presented by Cabrillo Music Department
- Tree – Audio/Visual Show + Band at Kuumbwa
- Mike + Ruthy, Frankie Simone and the High Tide at The Crepe Place
- Buddy Wakefield at Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Art
Sunday:
All Weekend:
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)
PS – Get coverage of the best Santa Cruz events and other Santa Cruz Life content delivered straight to your inbox by signing up below…
