This weekend you can eat souvlaki while listening to bouzouki at the Greek Fair, go on a wine-tasting walk downtown, and celebrate the Monterey Bay sanctuary at the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf.
Read on to see all of our top picks for this weekend:
3rd Fridays at the MAH
When: Friday, 5/16, 4-8 pm
Where: Museum of Art & History
How much: $3-$5
3rd Friday is a monthly themed evening event that showcases local artists, crafters, historians and performers leading hands-on workshops and activities. This month’s theme is Design and Innovation, with an interactive Nomadic Labyrinth, digital art, clay stop-motion animation, LEGOs and more. Read more about it here.
Santa Cruz Greek Festival and Food Fair
When: Friday, 5/16, 5 -10 pm, Saturday, 5/17, 11 am -10 pm, Sunday, 5/18, 12-8
Where: 223 Church St.
How much: Admission free
Spanakopita, tzatziki, dolmas, baklava! If you don’t already love Greek food and culture, come and get the taste! There will be Greek food, music and dancing. Find more info here.
Open Architecture Tour
When: Saturday, 5/17, 10 am -4 pm
Where: Various locations
How much:$36
For those who love good design, and those who like to take a peek into other people’s dwellings, the Open Architecture Tour benefiting Habitat for Humanity is a great event. $36 gets two people into tours of all the open houses, plus a beverage each and appetizers at the post-tour gathering at La Posta. You can read more about it, and find the link to buy tickets here.
Santa Cruz Rejuvenation Festival
When: Saturday, 5/17, 10 am – 7 pm
Where: San Lorenzo Park
How much: Admission free
The 4th annual Rejuvenation Festival will be held on Saturday at San Lorenzo Park. The festival promotes peace, healthy living, open minded spirituality and green living. There will be plenty of vendors, free workshops, yoga classes and live music. Get more info here.
Giant Dipper 90th Anniversary & Boardwalk Season Kick-Off
When: Saturday, 5/17, free Giant Dipper rides from 10 am – 11 am
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
How much: Admission free
The Giant Dipper turns 90 years old on Saturday. To celebrate, the Boardwalk will be offering an hour of free Giant Dipper rides, from 10 am to 11 am. Saturday is also the Boardwalk’s official Season Kick-Off, with live performances, including a free concert by Y&T on the beach at 5:30. Get more info here.
Friends of the Santa Cruz Library Spring Book sale
When: Saturday, 5/17, 11 am – 5 pm
Where: Outside the Downtown Library (224 Church Street)
How much: Free to browse
Load up on the cheapest books in town at the Friends of the Santa Cruz Library Spring Book sale. Proceeds go to support the wonderful Santa Cruz Public Library. For more details, click here.
Mad Hatter Tea Party
When: Saturday, 5/17, 1 – 3 pm
Where: Louden Nelson Community Center
How much: Free
Dust off your best hat and dress to the nines (as the website says “think royal wedding”) for a formal afternoon tea. Prizes are awarded for fanciest hat and for People’s Choice. Bring your own tea cup and play a round or two of croquet. More details here.
Sanctuary Celebration
When: Saturday, 5/17, 11 am – 5 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf
How much: Free
Take a long walk on a short wharf for free live music, educational talks and demonstrations, crafts, demonstrations and eco-tours of the Santa Cruz Wharf. You can browse the schedule here.
Santa Cruz County Symphony – Season Finale
When: Saturday, 5/17, 8 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
How much: $22 – $67
The Santa Cruz County Symphony ends their 2013-2014 season with a bang, playing one of the greatest choral works ever written, Mozart’s Requiem. Their final will feature 4 vocal soloists from the Metropolitan Opera. Tickets are going fast, but still available here.
Spring Dog Festival
When: Sunday, 5/18, 9 am – 2 pm
Where: Soquel High School
How much: $10/dog & $5/person
The Coastal Dog Owners Group is holding their Spring Dog Festival this Sunday. Dog owners and their pups will enjoy games, interactive sports, entertainment, vendors, food, rescue booths a surf dog photo booth. The festival raises money for dog related charities. Get more info here.
Downtown Santa Cruz Wine Walk
When: Sunday, 5/18, 3 – 6 pm
Where: Starts at Abbott Square (behind the Museum of Art & History)
How much: $30
Downtown Association and Vinocruz will be hosting local wineries who have been invited to pour in some of the downtown stores. There will be a variety of samplings in an easily walkable footprint with Abbott Square being the starting point. 21 and over only. You can buy tickets here or at the Downtown Info Kiosk, 1134 Pacific Ave.
Science Sunday
When: Sunday, 5/18, 1 – 2 pm
Where: Seymour Marine Discovery Center
How much: Free with admission
Ever wonder how seals sense their environment underwater? Join Dr. Christin Murphy at the Seymour Marine Center for a lecture on the navigation secrets of your favorite pinnipeds. More info here.
Surfers Path Marathon and Capitola Half Marathon
When: Sunday, 5/18, 7 am – 1 pm
Where: Santa Cruz and Capitola coastal routes
How much: Free to cheer on runners
It’s too late to register to run, but you can cheer on runners of the Surfers Path Marathon and Capitola Half Marathon. The races trace the coastline. You can find information about the route and other details here.
Additional Events This Weekend
Friday & Saturday:
Friday:
- Sparrows Gate at The Catalyst
- Gift of Gab with Eliquate & DJ Neemo at Moe’s Alley
- Screening of “Not The Other: Oral Histories of People Experiencing Homelessness”
Saturday:
Sunday:
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…
