From Facebook and Google to David Sedaris, our small town will welcome some big names this weekend, and we’ll get to enjoy both wine and beer tasting events.
Read on to see the rest of our picks for the best events in Santa Cruz this weekend.
First Friday Events
First Friday events are always worth looking forward to, and this month is no exception. Check out some of the great events coming up for this month’s First Friday:
- First Friday Art Tour
- First Friday Free Day at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
- Uncover the Cool
- First Friday: FashionTEENS Santa Cruz
- First Friday Art in the Library: Women, Peace & Power – 100 Years
- First Friday Art Walk in Felton
- First Friday – Student Art Exhibit
- Free First Friday: Bike Night, Dear Jerry Exhibition Opening
- First Friday: r.r. jones
- Travelling Ills FREE In-store at Streetlight
David Sedaris @ Civic Auditorium
When: Friday, 5/1 at 8:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
How Much: $29.50-$71
Bookshop Santa Cruz has brought one of the world’s most popular humor writers to town again! Most readers likely need no introduction to the essayist’s reputation for wit, irony, and unexpected emotion, so just act quickly and buy your tickets, as there are only a few left!
New Bohemia Spring Banquet and Beer Fest
When: Friday, 5/1 at 5:00 pm
Where: Roaring Camp in Felton (Bret Harte Hall)
How Much: $15-50
New Bohemia Brewing Co (NuBo) is putting on a Banquet and Beer Fest to celebrate Springtime in Santa Cruz–with the release of three new beers. Roaring Camp will become a biergarten and beer hall for the evening, with live music by The Internationals and Santa Cruz Mountain String Trio, a buffet dinner, and fun family activities. Join Santa Cruz’s newest brewery on a warm spring night when the moon is almost full, to celebrate May Day–an old world tradition in new world style. Guests will get their own limited edition beer stein to take home after enjoying fresh beer all night.
Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s Birthday Bash Launch Party
When: Friday, 5/1 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Where: Food Lounge
How Much: Free
Shakespeare has been dead for nearly 400 years, but that’s no reason not to celebrate the prolific playwright’s 451st with the Santa Cruz Shakespeare team. Get a glimpse of the upcoming summer play season and enjoy complimentary refreshments at this First Friday event.
Drones, Data X Conference
When: Friday, 5/1 through Sunday, 5/3
Where: Kaiser Permanente Arena
How Much: $22-$560
Technology giants like Amazon, Facebook, and Google will all have representatives in attendance at this eye-opening exploration into what drone use will mean for the future of the industry. If you want to be ahead of the curve and rub elbows with Silicon Valley big shots, get yourself a ticket.
Bike Week
When: Friday, 5/1 through 5/8
Where: Various
How Much: Free
Santa Cruz’s annual Bike to Work has become a lot more than a one day transportation event. This year, the MAH, local restaurants like Charlie Hong Kong, and more will join in on the fun.
Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair
When: Saturday, 5/2 from 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Where: San Lorenzo Park/Duck Island Stage
How Much: Free
This day long event has been free since it started in 1986, despite its tendency to attract big Northern California Bluegrass names like the True Life Troubadours and the Northern California Bluegrass Society. Bring a blanket to sit on and join in the fun.
Santa Cruz Mountains Makers’ Market
When: Sunday, 5/3 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: Downtown Felton (Community Resources lot, 6134 Hwy 9)
How Much: Free
The 2015 debut of the Santa Cruz Mountains Maker’s Market is this Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm in downtown Felton. Enjoy local art and shop for handcrafted jewelry, clothing, food while enjoying live music from local bands, The McCoy Tyler Band, The Crooked Branches and Drifting Compass.
Downtown Santa Cruz Wine Walk
When: Sunday, 5/3 from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Where: Downtown Santa Cruz
How Much: $30
Big name local wineries like Bonney Doon Vineyard will join forces with smaller labels to offer a wine tasting event like no others. You can sip samples in between visiting local shops, and then head to dinner after the tastings end.
Cleanups
Hikes
- Redwood Loop Walk
- Family Discovery Walk
- The Road Less Traveled—A Dog-Friendly Walk
- Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walks
- Año Nuevo on the Rocks: Coastal Geology Walk
- Old-Growth Redwood Walks
- Sense-O-Rama Hike!
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods!
In Case You Missed It
Earlier this week on the Santa Cruz Life blog, Molly Lautamo took us on a kayaking trip through Elkhorn Slough. This post tells you everything you need to know about kayaking in Elkhorn Slough.
Additional events this weekend
Friday:
- Guilt Free Grass: Installing a Drought Tolerant Lawn
- “Who’s Holdin’ plus The Devil Himself: AN ARTISTREE FIRST FRIDAY AFTER PARTY”
- La Misa Negra + Broken English
- Grant Langston, Jay Lingo Band
- BETA STATE, Plans For Revenge, Time Spent Driving, Love District
Friday & Saturday
- Complications From a Fall, by Kate Hawley
- Cabrillo College Big Bands and Combos
- The Real Inspector Hound
- The Wizard of Oz
Friday through Sunday
Saturday:
- California Bookstore Day
- Mad Hatter Tea Party
- Santa Cruz Baroque Festival: American Treasures
- Historic Landmark Awards
- Eprom An-ten-nae, The Originalz, Little John, Northstar, Sosay, Marblemouth
- PABLO MOSES & The Revolutionary Dream Band
- The Fighting Murrays, Bite
- SHLOHMO, Purple (Live)
- The Magic Carpet – World Dance
- Free Comic Book Day at Comicopolis
- Coastal Watershed Council Snapshot Day
Saturday & Sunday
Sunday:
- First Sundays at San Lorenzo Park
- I Sing Walt Whitman: A play with music in two acts. An Entertaining Walt Whitman Chautauqua-Tent Revival in Song, Spirit & Stories
- Sunday Seaside Crafts
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)
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