Fall is almost officially underway now, but that’s no reason not to keep the summer mindset and enjoy all the great stuff this weekend has to offer!
There are plenty of great events to choose from this weekend, including a lot of fun activities for kids.
Read on to see our picks for the best events in Santa Cruz this weekend.
Seymour Center: Community Free Day
When: Friday, 9/12 at 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: Seymour Marine Discovery Center
How Much: Free
UCSC’s Seymour Center isn’t quite the Monterey Bay Aquarium, but it does have tons of great exhibits and info on marine life. One of the highlights is the indoor tide pools, where you can hold a starfish and touch an anemone. This is a great place to bring your kids, too, and this Friday you can all get in for free.
Children’s Museum of Discovery Sneak Preview & Fundraiser
When: Friday, 9/12 at 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery (Capitola Mall)
How Much: $10, Kids are Free
The brand new Children’s Museum of Discovery isn’t open yet, but you and your little ones can enjoy a sneak peak this Friday. It’s like the Exploratorium in San Francisco, but with a Santa Cruz flair.
Farm to Table Wine Dinner Series – featuring Morgan Winery
When: Friday, 9/12 at 6:00 pm
Where: Chaminade Resort & Spa
How Much: $80 (plus tax and gratuity)
Chaminade Resort knows that farms can indeed be classy, which is why they’re introducing a luxury farm-to-table dinner and wine series. Enjoy delicious cuisine prepared by Chef Kristin Ponza, who will also join diners at the table, and sip Central Coast wines courtesy of Morgan Winery.
Movies at the Beach: Avengers
When: Friday, 9/12. Movie starts at dusk (around 7:30)
Where: Esplanade Park Bandstand
How Much: Free
Come enjoy free popcorn and the beautiful view offered by Esplanade Park while watching the Marvel classic Avengers. Remember to bring blankets and a low-back chair so everyone can view the film!
Santa Cruz Follies
When: Friday, 9/12 and Saturday, 9/13
Where: Civic Auditorium
How Much: $5-$22
Let the Santa Cruz Follies take you through a tour of many different “moments through time” this Friday night, as the group performs musical acts popular throughout time.
Ohlone Day
When: Saturday, 9/13 at 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
How Much: Free
Before Santa Cruzans called the Central Coast their home, the Native American Ohlones inhabited the area, and some still call Santa Cruz their home. Come learn more about the Ohlones and celebrate their culture this Saturday.
Santa Cruz Derby Girls
When: Saturday, 9/13. Doors at 6:30 pm, bout at 7:00 pm
Where: Kaiser Permanente Arena
How Much: $14-$34
Watch our very own Harbor Hellcats take on Ventura’s West Coast Derby Knockouts this Saturday evening at Kaiser Permanente Arena. We’ll see if Ventura lives up to their names, but it’s likely Santa Cruz will continue its supreme reign.
Counter Cultures: A Fermentation Celebration
When: Saturday, 9/13 from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Where: MAH
How Much: $20-$25
Fermentation is all the rage right now — home brewed beer, kombucha, tempeh, pickles, kimchi, and the list goes on! This Saturday you can sample and learn more about them all, thanks to the MAH.
The Locals: 5 Filmmakers
When: Saturday, 9/13 at 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Where: Palomar Ballroom
How Much: $10
Palmor’s ballroom will play host to five outstanding filmmakers — like Kelsey Holtaway of Trial and Error Food — as they show off their stuff this Saturday. Come relish some fine local culture while you enjoy Palomar’s ambience and tasty dishes.
Santa Cruz County Fair
When: Through Sunday, 9/14
Where: Santa Cruz County Fair Grounds
How Much: $5-$10
Time to break out your best jeans and plaid flannels, cause the Santa Cruz County Fair and Horse Show is in town! Every summer this tradition brings a week of classic Americana to Watsonville and the surrounding areas. Rest assured, this ain’t just a horse show. There are a lot of activities to choose from all the way from Tuesday through Sunday.
32nd Annual Capitola Art and Wine Festival
When: Saturday, 9/13 through Sunday, 9/14 at 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Where: Capitola Village
How Much: Free
It’s that time of year again –– time to sip wine, enjoy fine art, and browse artisan crafts and jewelry while looking out on the Monterey Bay. The 32nd Annual Capitola Art and Wine Festival is coming up the weekend of September 13th and 14th, and this year promises to be as beautiful as ever.
Antique Faire
When: Sunday, 9/14 at 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: Downtown Santa Cruz
How Much: Free
If your idea of sophisticated is slightly scuffed, if you prefer dusty over designer, and if you know vintage is about more than just wine, then the monthly Antique Faire in downtown Santa Cruz is for you. What’s great about the Santa Cruz Antique Faire is that there’s a little bit of everything, all crammed together on Lincoln St. Think of it as a sort of monthly pop-up mall where everything’s super old, and indulge accordingly.
Cardboard Kayak Races
When: Sunday, 9/14 at 12:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Harbor
How Much: $25-$40
The inaugural Cardboard Kayak Race is shaping up to be a whimsical event ripe with competitive shenanigans, the likes of which seem perfectly suited for Santa Cruz. Come see how long your wad of cardboard and tape can hold up in the Pacific.
Featured Upcoming Event
Additional events this weekend
Friday:
Friday through Sunday
Saturday:
- CapitolaMan Triathlon
- Chardonnay II Brewmaster Charter
- On the Waterfront: Celebrating 100 Years of Wharf History with Geoffrey Dunn
- Researchers Anonymous
- Family Legacy Day at Evergreen Cemetery
- Twilight Hike
- Easy Star All-Stars
- The Bastard Sons Of Johnny Cash plus Carolyn Sills Combo
- Bryn Loosley & The Back Pages – 45th Anniversary of “The Band” – Club Kuumbwa
Sunday:
- The Santa Cruz Post Card and Paper Collectibles Show
- Big Kahuna Triathlon
- Ceram-A-Rama: Clay All Day
- 16th de Septiembre Celebration
- Discover Big Basin!
- 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)
PS – Get coverage of the best Santa Cruz events and other Santa Cruz Life content delivered straight to your inbox by signing up below…
