From First Friday to the Greek Festival, Downtown Santa Cruz is full of fun events this weekend. This weekend also offers a free outdoor family movie on the beach, some great concerts, a kid-focused festival, and much more.
Read on to see the rest of our picks for the best events in Santa Cruz this weekend.
First Friday Events
It’s time for another First Friday. You will find the following events on the first Friday of each month:
- First Friday Art Tour
- Free First Friday at the MAH
- First Friday Free Day at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Be sure to check out these other stops during this month’s First Friday:
- Ralph Joachim and Marilyn Kuksht-The Beauty of Abstract Form Opening Reception
- First Friday: Art Wall at the Swift Street Courtyard
Cosmic Grand Opening
When: Friday, 9/5 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Design by Cosmic
How Much: Free
Hip Santa Cruz design team Cosmic is moving its office over to the Leonard Building in downtown Santa Cruz, and they’re throwing a housewarming party this Friday night. Come enjoy dumplings from Mortal Dumplings, beer from Discretion Brewing, and a night of hobnobbing with the Santa Cruz tech and business crowd.
Popup: The Butcher’s Daughter
When: Friday, 9/5 at 5:30 pm
Where: Pop Up
Popup has already hosted a donut shop, breweries, and ramen. The logical next step in decadence must be German food, right? Come enjoy some tasty, authentic sausages and pate at one of Santa Cruz’s hippest venues.
Movies at the Beach: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
When: Friday, 9/5 at 7:30 pm
Where: Esplanade Park
How Much: Free
It’s a classic tale of morality, family, and the lengths someone will go to for a chocolate bar. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is one of those timelessly enjoyable films, and your whole clan can watch it for free this Friday night at Esplanade Park.
Extra Large
When: Friday, 9/5 at 8:00 pm
Where:Don Quixote’s International Music Hall
How Much: $10
Who says Santa Cruz doesn’t have any good dance music? Local band Extra Large plays a fusion of Latin, funk, Reggae — basically, if it makes you want to move your body, they play it. For ten bucks, you can groove the night away at Don Quixote’s this Friday.
The Sun Kings -Beatles Tribute Band
When: Friday, 9/5 at 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Where:Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
How Much: Free
The Sun Kings are touring Beatles tribute band. They will be playing classic albums, including Beatles for Sale and A Hard Days Night in their entirety at the Boardwalk this Friday night for free.
The California Honeydrops With Tumbleweed Wanderers
When: Friday, 9/5. Doors at 8:00, show at 9:00 pm
Where:The Catalyst Club
How Much: $15-$19
The California Honeydrops have been known to come down off the stage in the middle of playing their funky, soulful blues and dance with fans. Coupled with Bay Area favorite Tumbleweed Wanderers, they should put on a great show Friday night at the Catalyst.
Santa Cruz Greek Festival 2014
When: Friday, 9/5 through Sunday, 9/7
Where: Prophet Elias Greek Church
How Much: Free
A favorite in Santa Cruz for 34 years, the Greek Festival at the Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church downtown proves that the key to understanding any culture is through the food. Though there will be plenty of music and art of the Mediterranean variety, eat and drink dominate this festival, from spanakopita to baclava.
Beer, Brats & Blues
When: Saturday, 9/6 at 5:00 pm
Where: Chaminade Resort & Spa
How Much: $40
Do you have the blues because you don’t have brats or beer? Then come to the Chaminade Resort & Spa this Saturday night where all your problems will be solved with great food and beer from local breweries.
KIDRAGEOUS Festival
When: Sunday, 9/7 at Noon to 5:00 pm
Where:Skypark
How Much: Free
Support Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services this Sunday at Skypark, where there will be a climbing wall, petting zoo, games, food, music, and anything else your little one could hope for.
Beach Cleanups
Additional events this weekend
Friday:
- Back to Nowhere at the Crows Nest
- Water Music: Celebrate John Cage’s Birthday
- Flor De Caña
- Ben Ahn
- Desmadre, Sketchy Business, Tribal Suns
Friday & Saturday
Saturday:
- Shining Night: A Portrait of Composer Morten Lauridsen
- Billy Martini Show at the Crows Nest
- Joe Ferrara’s Prostate Cancer Songfest
- FREE SWIM LESSONS once a month
- Melvin Seals & JGB
- 2014 WBFA Santa Cruz Championships
- Tarot on the Beach
- Roach Gigz with Baeza
- Be Calm Honcho, Brother Grand, Sea Knight
- Chardonnay II Brewmaster Charter
Saturday & Sunday
Sunday:
- National Theatre Live presents: MEDEA
- Through Our Lenses: China and India
- Summer’s Bounty Picnic in the Park
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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