Nothing signals summer in Santa Cruz like graduations, free Friday night bands on the beach, and the Sunday Art & Music series in the Capitola Village.
We get each of those this weekend, along with a couple special Father’s Day events.
Read on to see the rest of our picks for the best events in Santa Cruz this weekend.
Free Friday Night Bands on the Beach – Smash Mouth
When: Friday, 6/13 at 6:30 pm & 8:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
How Much: Free
The Boardwalk’s Free Friday night bands on the beach series begins tonight with San Jose natives, Smash Mouth. Listen to catchy tunes like, “All Star,” “I’m a Believer,” and “Can’t Get Enough Of You Baby” in the one of a kind setting on the beach.
Life Is A Carnival: A Tribute to The Band
When: When: Friday, 6/13 at 8:00 pm
Where: Don Quixote’s International Music Hall
How Much: $12-$15
The tribute trend continues this weekend. Recent tribute shows in town have paid homage to Neil Young, the Grateful Dead, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. This weekend The Band gets their due, with a tribute show at Don Quixote’s.
UCSC Graduation Commencements Celebrations
When: Friday, 6/13 through Sunday, 6/15, from 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Where: University of California
How Much: Free
If you’re going to graduation at UCSC then it’s likely been on your calendar for a while, and you don’t need a reminder. However, for those of you who aren’t going, let this serve as your official notice to be prepared for crazy traffic and crowds this weekend, especially on the Westside.
Congratulations to the graduating class of ’14!
Juneteenth Celebration
When: Saturday, 6/14 at 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Where: Laurel Park, behind Louden Nelson Community Center
How Much: Free
Celebrate African American culture this Saturday at the Juneteenth Celebration. The event features soul food, kids activities, arts and crafts, and live performances. There is also a basketball skills contest, starting at noon.
Wildflower Hike
When: Saturday, 6/14 at 10:00 am
Where: Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center
How Much: Free
The Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center, located north of Santa Cruz, is hosting a Wildflower Hike this Saturday. This is a docent led hike where you’ll get to view a variety of wildflowers. Bring your own lunch, and feel free to bring along a camera.
Sunday Art and Music at the Beach (Capitola Village)
When: Sunday, 6/15 at 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: Capitola Village Esplanade
How Much: Free
This Sunday is the first Sunday Art and Music at the Beach event of the summer in the Capitola Village. Artists set up booths showcasing their work in Esplanade Park, and musicians take the stage for some fun outdoor summer music.
Men of Big Basin Father’s Day Walk
When: Sunday, 6/15 at 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Where: Big Basin Redwoods State Park
How Much: Free
Big Basin will be be hosting a 1.5 hour guided walk with living history re-enactments this Father’s Day. Meet pioneer settlers, Big Basin founders and early park rangers in the re-enactments, as you stroll through the park.
Hats off to Dad
When: Sunday, 6/15 at 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
How Much: $19-$28 + Meal
Take dad for a ride on a steam train, followed by an old-fashioned BBQ, at Roaring Camp this Sunday. Dads get an engineer’s cap, and one lucky dad will be chosen to go on a cab ride in a locomotive.
Great Train Robberies
When: Sunday, 6/15 at 11:00 am, 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm
Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
How Much: $19-$26
Roaring Camp’s Great Train Robberies series starts this Sunday and repeats one weekend each month, through August. You’ll ride the train to Bear Mountain while watching shootouts with lawmen and outlaws from the 1880’s.
Additional events this weekend
Friday:
- 2014 U.S Air Guitar Qualifier
- Soul Casino: A Soul Revue
- Corduroy Jim
- Moon Cadillac (CD Release, The Trims)
- The 3rd Annual Sammy Awards
Friday & Saturday
Friday through Sunday
- Planet Ord
- Visual Art: “In a Golden State” 84th Annual California Statewide Landscape Exhibit
- August: Osage County
Saturday:
- Natural History Storytime
- Summer Saturdays at The Museum
- Sin Sisters Burlesque
- 17th Annual Spring Dance Showcase
- Project Purr Annual Benefit
- Hillstomp
- Bike and Hike the Waddell Valley
- LOOLA Live Oak Beach Cleanup
Saturday & Sunday
Sunday:
- The Supervillains
- Science Sunday
- 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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