Tequila, tacos, aloha races, mountain men and Shakespeare will all be featured prominently this weekend in Santa Cruz.
Read on to see our picks for the best events in Santa Cruz this weekend.
3rd Friday: Growth
When: Friday, 8/21 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: MAH
How Much: $3-$5, FREE for MAH Members and Children under 4
Celebrate growth in its many forms this weekend at the MAH, where local experts will be sharing information and activities involving gardening, social justice, and much more.
Bands on the Beach: Blue Oyster Cult
When: Friday, 8/21 at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
How Much: Free
Blue Oyster Cult is famous for telling people to “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” and now we don’t have to fear a boring Friday night either, because you can catch them playing at the Boardwalk for free.
Mountain Community Theater Presents: New Works Night: Frank & Stella
When: Friday, 8/21 and Saturday, 8/22 at 8:00 pm
Where: Mountain Community Theater
How Much: $7
Frank & Stella, a new play from Mountain Community Theater, explores the two very different ways a couple approaches old age. This clever show will likely evoke as many chuckles as it does tears.
Santa Cruz Shakespeare
Whether you’re in the mood for a romcom (Much Ado About Nothing), a biting satire (The Liar) or a dark tragedy (Macbeth), the options from Shakespeare Santa Cruz this weekend are as diverse and engaging as you’ll find at any box office in town.
Much Ado About Nothing
When: Friday, 8/21 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, 8/23 at 2:00 pm
Where: Sinsheimer-stanley Festival Glen
How Much: $16-$52
The Liar
When: Saturday, 8/22 at 2:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Shakespeare at Sinsheimer-Stanley Festival Glen
How Much: $16-$52
Macbeth
When: Saturday, 8/22 and Sunday, 8/23 at 8:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Shakespeare at Sinsheimer-Stanley Festival Glen
How Much: $16-$52
Museum of Natural History 110th Birthday Celebration
When: Saturday, 8/22
Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
How Much: $10-$40
Celebrate the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History’s 110th birthday this Saturday with a day of fun family activities. The fun kicks off at 10:30 am with a native plant walk, followed by a live animal show with Happy Hollow Zoo. There will also be arts & crafts, activity stations, and yummy birthday treats.
Tequila and Taco Festival
When: Saturday, 8/22 and Sunday, 8/23 from 11:00 am – 5:30 pm
Where: San Lorenzo Park
How Much: $10-$40
Sample two of the great simple pleasures in life — tasty food and quality drink — and celebrate Latino culture at this annual festival. Saturday will feature samples from many different top shelf tequila brands, while Sunday will be more family friendly with margaritas and live music.
Richie Furay
When: Saturday, 8/22 at 7:00 pm
Where: Kuumbwa Jazz
How Much: $32-$43
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singer and songwriter Richie Furay has worked with big names with the Buffalo Springfield and Neil Young. You can hear him stripped down and personal this Saturday at Kuumbwa.
Saved by the 90s
When: Saturday, 8/22 at 9:00 pm
Where: The Catalyst Club
How Much: $15-$19
Whether you were in your prime or still in diapers back in the 90s, you’ll find plenty of fun and nostalgia at the Saved by the 90s show, which will feature covers from 90s heavy hitters like Alanis Morisette and the Beastie Boys.
Point Break Live
When: Saturday, 8/22 at 9:00 pm
Where: The Catalyst Club
How Much: $20-$25
If you like going to live Rocky Horror Show renditions, then you will probably enjoy Point Break Live, an interactive spoof of the 90s cult thriller Point Break.
Movies @ The Mission: The Gnome-Mobile
When: Saturday, 8/22 at 7:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
How Much: Free
1967 beloved Disney feature The Gnome-Mobile was partially shot at Big Basin. Bring your kids to the showing at the Santa Cruz Mission and see if you can spot which scenes were filmed there.
Felicia Day, You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)
When: Saturday, 8/22 at 7:00 pm
Where: Bookshop Santa Cruz
How Much: Free
Internet celebrity Felicia Day is most well known for creating and starring in The Guild, a popular web series about a group of online gamers. She has several other equally inventive endeavors, however, including her new book, You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost). Day will be at Bookshop Santa Cruz this Saturday night to talk about her book, field questions, and give out some autographs.
Sustain Supper: Farm Dinner Featuring Deborah Madison
When: Saturday, 8/22 at 4:00 pm
Where:Homeless Garden Project Farm at Delaware and Schaffer Road
How Much:$125-$200
The Homeless Garden Project is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and invites you to join them for the first in their upcoming Sustain Supper Series at the Natural Bridges Organic Farm.
The August 22nd dinner will feature internationally acclaimed chef, food writer and cooking instructor Deborah Madison as a keynote speaker. Come early for an intimate pre-dinner reception from 3:00-4:00 PM with wine, appetizers and a chance to meet Deborah. Dinner will include creations from chefs Brad Briske of la Balena restaurant in Carmel, John Paul Lechtenberg of the Hollins House at Pasatiempo, Sarah LaCasse of Earthbound Organics and Yulanda Santos or Sierra Mar – Post Ranch Inn.
Tickets can be purchased online and will be for sale in limited quantity at the door.
Summer Gathering of Mountain Men
When: Saturday, 8/22 and Sunday, 8/23 from noon to 3:00 pm
Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
How Much: $19-$28
Learn more about the Wild West history of the Santa Cruz Mountains this weekend, when Roaring Camp Railroads will have interactive activities and performances perfect for the whole family.
23rd Annual Aloha Races & Polynesian Festival
When: Sunday, 8/23 from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Wharf
How Much: Free
Santa Cruz has strong ties to Hawaiian culture, and you can experience them for yourself at these annual canoe races and festivities, which will include shave ice, dance performances, and more.
Madyson Middleton Memorial
When: Sunday, 8/23. Doors open at 1:30 pm. Memorial at 3:00 pm
Where: Kaiser Permanente Arena
A memorial for Madyson Middleton will be held on Sunday afternoon at the Kaiser Permanente Arena. Tannery artists, James Durbin, and Nick Gallant will perform.
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendar for these events that are right around the corner:
Cheers for a Cause
Beer Thirty is hosting this Cheers for a Cause event in support of the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
This is a mid-week event, taking place on Wednesday, August 26th.
Get more info here.
Mole & Mariachi Festival
The increasingly popular Mole & Mariachi Festival returns in September. This event has been a huge success the past couple years, and if you enjoy mole then this is definitely one you don’t want to miss.
Get more info here.
Santa Cruz Surf Film Festival
The Santa Cruz Surf Film Festival returns for a second year. The festival will take place at the Rio Theatre this October 2-4. Tickets are on sale now. Grab your tickets, and learn more about the festival, here.
Hikes
- Guided Redwood Grove Walks
- Guided Walk of the Grey Whale Cove Trail
- Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walks
- Wilder Ranch Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tours
- Nature Walk: “Nocturnal Animals”
- Redwood Loop Walk
- Guided Walk through Burleigh Murray State Park
- Meteor Trail Hike
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods
Additional events this weekend
Friday:
- The Mother Hips
- Joint Chiefs
- MONOPHONICS + Paradise Soul Savers
- Che and Matty, Stelth Alexander (of Dovekins/The
- Farm to Table Wine Dinner – featuring Morgan Winery
- Third Fridays Art Walk
- Old-Fashioned Campfire
- WAKA FLOCKA FLAME, Mike Floss, Bobby Macavelli
- Live in The Atrium: No Mames Comedy Tour
CHINGO BLING, BLAME THE COMIC, JON STRINGER - Ben Slavin at the Art Bar
Friday & Saturday
Saturday:
- Summer Concert Series: To Be Announced
- Evening Campfire Program
- Spirit of ’76: Vintage Grateful Dead from the 1970’s
- Locomotive Breath
- Don Carlos + special guests Lior Ben-Hur & DJ Spleece
- Amigos Band, Ben Flocks Band
- Guided Adobe Tour
- Birding for Beginners
- Mission Be Charity Benefit- Live Music and Cocktails
- Pop-Up Breakfast Series (SOLD OUT)
- Italian Wine Tasting with Alessandra Bera and Arianna Occhipinti at Soif
- Mysteries of Mole Unlocked
- Climb for Nepal at Pacific Edge Climbing Gym
Saturday & Sunday
Sunday:
- Sunday Seaside Crafts
- Marine Mammal Research Tour
- Weekly XStream Beach Cleanup at Davenport Main Beach
Recurring Events You Can Find Every Weekend
- Tours of the Reserve at Elkhorn Slough (weekly event – every Saturday & 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…
