This weekend, Santa Cruz will play host to a beer festival, a wine festival, and what is sure to be a raucous Derby Girls fundraiser. But even if your blood alcohol level never rises above 0.00, plenty of opportunities for a good time abound this weekend in Surf City.
Read on to see the rest of our picks for the best events in Santa Cruz this weekend.
Oliver!
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday (runs through 8/17)
Where: Cabrillo Crocker Theater
How Much: $18-$45
See the Dickens classic Oliver Twist brought to life and put to music at Cabrillo College, which is well known in the area for its musical theater productions. If you love A Christmas Carol, this tale of an orphan in despair is right up your chimney.
Starship starring Mickey Thomas
When: Friday, 8/8 at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
How Much: Free
It’s not entirely clear which city Starship’s “We Built This City (on Rock and Roll)” refers to — there are references to New York, Cleveland and San Francisco. But Santa Cruz will definitely be rockin’ this Friday night, when the band plays a free show at the Boardwalk.
Artist of the Year: John Babcock Artist Talk
When: Friday, 8/8 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Where: Museum of Art and History
How Much: Free
John Babcock creates art reminiscent of the sea and natural light, so it’s fitting that he’s Santa Cruz’s artist of the year. Come to a free talk at the MAH and hear him speak about his process, as well as the inspiration he derives from his surroundings.
Santa Cruz Derby Girls – Surf City Billiards Fundraiser
When: Friday, 8/8 at 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Where: Surf City Billiards
How Much:
The Boardwalk Bombshells are ranked no. 25 in the world right now, and they’re ready to show their stuff in the Division 1 playoffs for the first time, but they need our help. Come out and show your support Santa Cruz’s roughest, toughest ladies this Friday night by playing pool and drinking beer — kind of sounds like a win-win, doesn’t it?
Santa Cruz Mountain Sol Festival
When: Saturday, 8/9 through Sunday, 8/10, 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Where: Roaring Camp
How Much: $100-$140
Seems like there’s a new event at Roaring Camp Railroads every weekend, and this is going to be a loud one. This awesome music festival will feature a tribute to Frank Zappa headed up by his son, Dweezil Zappa; Ani Difranco; and 7 Come 11, among others.
4th Annual California Beer Festival 2014
When: Saturday, 8/9 from 12:30 – 5:00 & Sunday, 8/10, from 11:00 am – 5:30 pm
Where: Aptos Village Park
How Much: $10 -$70, Children 12 and under are FREE (Sunday ONLY)
Last year we listed all the awesome stuff to do during beer week, culminating in the California Beer Festival. This year promises to be just as delicious, so if you haven’t brewed up any plans for your weekend yet, you should definitely come taste some of the Golden State’s finest ales.
15th Annual Scotts Valley Art and Wine Festival
When: Saturday, 8/9 through Sunday, 8/10, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Where: Skypark
How Much: Free
On the off chance beer isn’t your thing, come and enjoy the finer things in life in Scotts Valley. There you’ll find fabulous local art, award-winning wine, and scrumptious food like stuffed artichokes. Be sure to bring your wallet, because there will be plenty of jewelry and ceramics for sale!
The Jerry Celebration Band: Celebrating the Music and Life of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead
When: Saturday, 8/9 at 8:00 pm
Where: Don Quixote’s International Music Hall
How Much: $10
If you’re a Dead Head who missed last week’s Jerry Garcia tribute at Kuumbwa Jazz, you’ve got another chance this Saturday night at Don Quixote’s. This tribute band hails from Sacramento, and will play both electric and acoustic sets. You won’t want to miss it.
Second Saturdays Soquel
When: Saturday, 8/9 at 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Soquel Village
How Much: Free
First Friday isn’t the Santa Cruz area’s only hot night for those in the arts scene. Soquel’s Second Saturday, which is coming up this weekend, features music, food, and tons of local art. If you don’t get out to Soquel that often, this is your chance to rediscover it in style.
Downtown Antique Faire
When: Sunday, 8/10 at 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: Downtown Santa Cruz
How Much: Free
What’s great about the Santa Cruz Antique Faire is that there’s a little bit of everything, all crammed together on Lincoln St. Some booths focus on furniture, some focus on clothes, some focus on memorabilia, and some are a hodgepodge of whatever the proprietors come across. Think of it as a sort of monthly pop-up mall where everything’s super old, and indulge accordingly.
Shakespeare Santa Cruz
As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s ultimate comedy of errors, built on layers of misunderstandings and double meanings. The Merry Wives of Windsor, another production from Shakespeare Santa Cruz, centers around Sir John Falstaff, Henry IV’s knight, and his thwarted attempts at love and financial solvency. Both of these plays make for a great date night.
Cabrillo Music Festival
Cabrillo’s annual summer celebration of joyful noise continues this weekend. From family–friendly fests to musicals and concerts, Cabrillo is offering something for everything, so check out the links below!
- Fire: Saxophonist Timothy McAllister with Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, conductor Marin Alsop
- Cabrillo Festival: Student Staff Ensemble
Additional events this weekend
Friday:
- Hula for History
- Get-N-Classic, Vol. 3
- Tap Takeover at 99 Bottles for Santa Cruz Beer Week
- Snarky Puppy
- Rocio y su Sonora
- JUICY J w/ Luke Christopher
- Big Sam’s Funky Nation
- Kuckaw
Friday through Sunday
Saturday:
- Natural History Storytime
- San Lorenzo River Paddle Series
- WOOSTER – Farewell Show
- Researchers Anonymous
- Sin Sisters Burlesque
- Trainwreck Riders with WUV
Saturday & Sunday
Sunday:
- Street Drum Corps’ LOST AT SEA
- Spirit of ’45
- Shark Science Week
- Weekly XStream Cleanup at Davenport Main Beach
- Weekly Cowell Beach Cleanup
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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