This Weekend in Santa Cruz: Sep. 18-20, 2015

By Blair Stenvick

Summer is over, and the kids are back in school. This is supposed to be the time of year when the events wind down.

Right?

It doesn’t look like the event organizers in Santa Cruz got the memo. As usual, there are a ton of events to choose from this weekend, including a couple of favorites: the Santa Cruz County Fair and the Mole & Mariachi Festival.

What else is in store for this weekend?

Let’s see…there will be superheros, food trucks, a Santa Cruz themed pop-up market, grazing on the green, psychic migrations, a comedy competition, a pet festival, and a whole lot more.

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

Friday & Saturday

The Santa Cruz Follies: Those Were The Days

When: 9/18 at 1:00 pm & 7:30 pm & 9/19 at 1:00 pm
Where: Civic Auditorium
Cost: $5-$20

Enjoy a visit back to yesteryear at the Santa Cruz Follies’ 60 year anniversary show. The concert will feature music from Motown, The Beach Boys, country western classics, and more. This event is great for people of all ages.

Get more info here.

Friday – Sunday

Santa Cruz County Fair

When: 9/16-9/20
Where: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
Cost: $12 adults, $6 kids, free for kids 5 and under, parking: $5

The Santa Cruz County Fair started mid-week, and runs through Sunday. There are enough fun activities to keep the whole family entertained for the weekend.

Plus…pig races. Need we say more?

Get more info here.

Friday, 9/18

Food Truck Event!

When: 9/18, from 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Where: Skypark, 361 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley
Cost: Free admission

Food trucks are growing in popularity around the country, and Santa Cruz is no exception. This first event from Food Trucks A Go GO, at Skypark in Scotts Valley, will featuure cuisine from local trucks like Ate3One, Zameen, The Choke Coach, and Aunt LaLi’s Mobile Cafe.

Get more info here.

3rd Friday: Lightning Talks: ADVENTURE!

When: 9/18 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: MAH Atrium
Cost: $3-$5, FREE for MAH Members & Children Under 12

Eight different interesting locals with very different life experiences will give talks about adventure in their life at this monthly MAH event. You’ll get to learn about surfing, world traveling, community activism, and more.

Get more info here.

Choose Santa Cruz Pop-Up Market

When: 9/18 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Design by Cosmic
Cost: Free

The Santa Cruz Economic Development Office is coming out with a new “Choose Santa Cruz” brand, and you can be among the first to get new branded merchandise when you come out for the Choose Santa Cruz Pop-up Market. Local wines, spirits, jewelry, and more will also be available for purchase.
Get more info here.

Kids Bike Party: Super Hero Edition

When: 9/18 from 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Where: Begins and ends at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History
Cost: Free

It’s time for everyone to don their favorite superhero costumes, grab their bikes, and participate in this family-friendly ride from the Santa Cruz MAH to the Boardwalk and back. Come early to take part in the kids’ happy hour, which includes cape making, bike decoration, and more.

Get more info here.

Also on Friday

Saturday, 9/19

Princes of Surf Walking Tour

When: 9/19 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where: MAH
Cost: Free

If you have lived in Santa Cruz for a while, you have probably heard the story of the Three Princes, Hawaiian travelers who brought surfing to Santa Cruz back in 1885. Local historians Geoffrey Dunn and Kim Stoner will lead a walk this weekend that will dive deeper into the princes’ lives in Santa Cruz.

Get more info here.

Mole & Mariachi Festival

When: 9/19
Where: Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
Cost: Free

Spicy chocolate sauce and lively dance music makes for a great Saturday outing. Sample authentic mole, enjoy live music, and take part in interactive activities at this family-friendly annual event.

Get more info here.

Volcom Stone presents Psychic Migrations

When: 9/19 at 7:00 pm
Where: Rio Theatre
Cost: Free

You might know Volcom Stone as a popular clothing brand, but the company also produces high quality surf films. Psychic Migrations explores the lives and connections among surfers in the West Indies, East Indies, Australia, Polynesia, and the Americas.

Get more info here.

Grazing on the Green

When: 9/19 from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: Aptos Village Park
Cost: $70

Local wines, craft beers, and delicious cuisine made by Santa Cruz chefs are just a few compelling reasons to buy a ticket for Gourmet Grazing on the Green. Participants will also enjoy live music, a raffle, and naturally beautiful surroundings.

Get more info here.

Annual Coastal Cleanup Day

When: 9/19 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where: local beaches
Cost:Free

Do your part to keep Santa Cruz beautiful by participating in Annual Coastal Cleanup Day, which will be held at different beaches, rivers, and lakes all over the greater Monterey Bay area. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own cleanup equipment.

Get more info here.

Family Days at Rancho Del Oso State Park

When: 9/19 at 2:00 pm
Where: Rancho Del Oso State Park
Cost: Free

This family-friendly event will combine nature with storytelling, arts and crafts, and other fun and educational activities. If you want your kids to experience more of the Great Outdoors, this is a great place to start.

Get more info here.

Also on Saturday

Sunday, 9/20

Kidrageous at the Boardwalk

When: 9/20
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Cost: $39.95-$45

Support Jacob’s Heart, a local organization for children with cancer, and have a fun family day at the Boardwalk this Sunday. Purchasing a Kidrageous package will give you all the fun of a trip to the Boardwalk, with the added goodwill of helping those in need.

Get more info here.

San Francisco Comedy Competition

When: 9/20 at 9:00 pm
Where: Crow’s Nest
Cost: $10

The annual San Francisco Comedy Competition gives over 30 different Bay Area comedians a chance to show their stuff all over the greater area. If you want to see some promising up and coming stand up comics, check out this weekend’s show at the Crow’s Nest.

Get more info here.

Sea Otter Awareness Week

When: Begins on 9/20 and runs through 9/26
Where: Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Cost: Admission is $8 for adults & $6 for students and children

Learn more about sea otters and have some fun exploring science and nature with your kids at the Seymour Center’s Sea Otter Awareness Week. The event will feature local experts, interactive exhibits, and more.

Get more info here.

UC Santa Cruz Arboretum’s 50th Anniversary Jubilee and Fundraiser

When: 9/20 from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Where: Arboretum
Cost: $50

UCSC was recently featured in the New York Times for its excellent agricultural program. The Arboretum serves as an anchor for that program, and locals can celebrate the 50th birthday of this important institution this Sunday.

Get more info here.

BirchBARK 911 Pet Health Festival

When: 9/20 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Where: Soquel High School
Cost: Free

Whether you want to learn more about pet health, or you just want to be surrounded by adorable animals, you and the whole family will likely enjoy the Pet Health Festival, which will feature live demonstrations, a silent auction, and more.

Get more info here.

Voices of the River

When: 9/20 from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: San Lorenzo Park
Cost: Free

Current Santa Cruz poet laureate Ellen Bass, former Santa Cruz poet laureate David Swanger, and many other talented and prolific local poets will combine the beauty of their prose with the beauty of the San Lorenzo River this Sunday.

Get more info here.

Also on Sunday

PS – Get coverage of the best Santa Cruz events and other Santa Cruz Life content delivered straight to your inbox by signing up below…

Blair Stenvick

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

X