Photo courtesy of @cooler_ranch710
Strawberries, screaming hands, and street festivals…what’s your pleasure this weekend?
We’ve rounded up a great variety of events to choose from: Family-friendly, check. Free admission, check. Live music and dance parties, oh yes!
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
Y & T
When: 8/5 at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Cost: Free
Bay Area-born Y & T will play their hits and fan favorites at two free concerts on the beach. Hard rock, soft sand, ocean and boardwalk views make for a fun kickoff to the weekend.
Free First Friday: Screaming Hand Exhibition Opening
When: 8/5 from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
Where: MAH
Cost: Free
First Fridays at the MAH mean free admission, live music, all ages art activities, and of course, art and artists. Check out the opening of the Screaming Hand exhibition, celebrating the iconic skate culture image along with its creator, Jim Phillips.
The Puffball Dance Collective plus Coffee Zombie Collective
When: 8/5 at 7:30 pm
Where: Don Quixote’s
Cost: $12 adv./$15 door
A sing-along, dance-along puffball party…need we say more?! So much local, creative musical talent will be on stage when The Puffball Dance Collective joins forces with Coffee Zombie Collective at Don Quixote’s.
Santa Cruz’s Dead
When: 8/5 at 8:00 pm
Where: Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Cost: $15
This musical celebration of the life of Jerry Garcia will feature two sets: one acoustic, followed by one electric. Dance your way back to the Warfield Theater in San Francisco and Radio City Music Hall in New York in September and October of 1980.
Whale-a-palooza: An Art and Science Evening
When: 8/5 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Where: Sanctuary Exploration Center
Cost: Free
Have a whale of a time at this family-friendly event celebrating the massive marine mammals that migrate through the Monterey Bay. Art activities, whale videos, refreshments, and the photographs of featured photographer John F. Hunter will be part of the evening’s festivities.
Also on Friday
- Fiddler On The Roof @ Cabrillo Crocker Theater
- Power & Devotion | Cabrillo Festival Orchestra Concert @ Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
- Santa Cruz Shakespeare presents: Hamlet @ The Grove at DeLaveaga Park
- Grand Opening @ Yarn Shop Santa Cruz
- Farm to Table Wine Dinner Series 2016 @ Chaminade Resort & Spa
- First Friday Felton Art Walk @ Garimo’s Real Soap Studio
- Watsonville Farmers Market @ Downtown Watsonville Plaza
- Watsonville Queer Youth Meet-up @ First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
- A Day Out With Thomas The Tank Engine! @ Roaring Camp Railroads
- Kids Week Downtown @ Various locations
- HOME – Explorations of the Concept of HOME @ Pajaro Valley Arts Council
- Marathon Reading of Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” @ MAH
- Let’s Gather at the Table @ MAH
- Friday Night Magic, at Mythic Games (Kids Week event) @ Mythic Games
- WIDE AWAKE a sensory enhancement @ The Food Lounge
- POP That Tart @ PopUP Downtown Santa Cruz
- First Friday @ University Business Park/The Wrigley Building
- Junior Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Big Basin Nature Club @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Evening Campfire Programs @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Campfire Programs @ New Brighton State Beach
- A Stellar Experience – Star Gazing at Quail Hollow @ Quail Hollow Ranch
- Olde Blue @ Crow’s Nest
- Yellowman @ Moe’s Alley
- Haunted Summer, SubPar, Electric Magpie @ The Crepe Place
- AUGUSTINES, Cobi @ The Catalyst
- Banda Menguerense @ The Catalyst
- Ten O’Clock Lunch Band (Rock, R&B Soul, Blues) @ Severino’s
- Maple Harp with Robin Mills for First Friday @ Hidden Peak Teahouse
- Argentine Tango Dancing @ Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center
- Joe Ferrara @ Shadowbrook Restaurant
Want to see all the best events in Santa Cruz every weekend? Click here to get these Weekend Roundup posts delivered straight to your inbox.Saturday
Church Street Fair
When: 8/6 – 8/7 from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
Cost: Free
A street fair like no other, with art, food, wine, and non-stop music and dance performances. Kids will love the creativity tent and the highlight of the weekend: The Free Family Concert which includes a tour of the orchestra!
22nd Annual Watsonville Strawberry Festival
When: 8/6 – 8/7 from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Where: Historic Downtown
Cost: Free
Eat, drink, and be berry at the 22nd Annual Watsonville Strawberry Festival! In addition to live music, food, pie-eating contests, and arts ’n’ crafts, you can take a walk down Strawberry Lane to try strawberry kabobs, smoothies, jams, shortcakes, funnel cakes, cupcakes and other strawberry-themed treats.
Also on Saturday
- Inspiration & Impact | Cabrillo Festival Orchestra Concert @ Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
- Santa Cruz Shakespeare presents: A Midsummer Night’s Dream @ The Grove at DeLaveaga Park
- Santa Cruz Shakespeare presents: Hamlet @ The Grove at DeLaveaga Park
- Fiddler On The Roof @ Cabrillo Crocker Theater
- All Swing Dance Party @ Market Street Theater
- HOME – Explorations of the Concept of HOME @ Pajaro Valley Arts Council
- Aptos Farmers Markets @ Cabrillo College
- Scotts Valley Farmers Market @ Scotts Valley Community Center
- Westside Farmers Market @ Delaware and Natural Bridges Dr.
- A Day Out With Thomas The Tank Engine! @ Roaring Camp Railroads
- Summer Orchard Walk & Talk @ Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems
- Animal Shelter Relief Rescue Adoption Fair @ PetSmart
- Elegant Treasures and Everyday Bargains Flea Market & Faire @ Inner Light Ministeries
- Santa Cruz LGBTQ Youth Meet-up @ Diversity Center
- Trans Girls Group (12-18) @ Diversity Center
- Free Martial Arts Class and Board Break for Kids (Kids Week event) @ Laird’s Academy of Martial Arts
- Free Flat Fixing Class @ Spokesman Bicycles
- Snoopy! plus artists Bob & Vicki Scott (Kids Week event) @ Atlantis Fantasyworld
- Free Hover Ball Archery for Kids at Archery Santa Cruz (Kids Week event) @ Archery Santa Cruz
- Street Fighter V Tournament @ Level Up Video Games
- Free Open Studio and Play Time (Kids Week event) @ Kaiwa Art and Play Space
- Where’s Waldo Grand Finale Party (Kids Week event) @ Bookshop Santa Cruz
- First Saturday Arboretum Tours @ Arboretum Gift Shop
- Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walks @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Story Time Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Nature’s Reading Room @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Coffee Talk and Crafts @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Zanja Hike: Walk the Path of Early Santa Cruz’s Water History! @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Hike the Last Chance Trail @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walks @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Wool Spinning and Weaving @ Santa Cruz Mission
- Claudio Melega in the Rockroom Lounge @ Shadowbrook Restaurant
- Spirit of ‘ 76 @ Don Quixote’s
- Billy Martini Show @ Crow’s Nest
- GAMMA Featuring Davey Pattison @ Moe’s Alley
- Wild Iris, Dan Juan @ The Crepe Place
- The Emphatics (Rock, Classic Rock, Pop) @ Severino’s
- Patio Acoustic’s with Toby Gray @ Severino’s
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
Free Family Concert | Cabrillo Festival Orchestra
When: 8/7 at 1:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
Cost: Free
Cabrillo Festival’s annual Free Family Concert is a great opportunity to give your kids the experience of a symphony orchestra performance. Never boring, in fact, quite entertaining for all ages, it even includes a brief walking tour of the various instruments.
Sunday Art & Music at the Beach 2016
When: 8/7 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Esplanade Park
Cost: Free
Capitola’s beachside Esplanade Park transforms into a vendor artist’s fair today and multiple Sundays throughout the summer. This Sunday, enjoy the jazzy rhythms of Ron Kaplan on the stage as you meander and shop for artwork directly from local artists. Note: The final Art & Music at the Beach this summer will be August 21.
Church Street Fair
See Description Under Saturday Section
22nd Annual Watsonville Strawberry Festival
See Description Under Saturday Section
Also on Sunday
- A Day Out With Thomas The Tank Engine! @ Roaring Camp Railroads
- Kids Week Downtown @ Various locations
- Hidden Gems Film Club: Not Your Ordinary Film Club! @ Santa Cruz Public Library
- Wrights Station Wine Pairing Sunday @ Wrights Station Vineyard & Winery
- Corralitos Farm and Garden Market @ Corralitos Cultural Center
- Santa Cruz Waiter Race @ Walnut Avenue
- Santa Cruz County Beer Week 8/7 – 8/14 @ various locations
- Big Basin Nature Club @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Little Rangers @ Butano State Park
- Junior Rangers @ New Brighton State Beach
- Redwood Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tour @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Creeping Forest Ramble @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Evening Campfire Programs @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- The Road Less Traveled- A Dog Friendly Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Sunday Seaside Crafts @ Seymour Center
- Weekly Davenport Beach Cleanup @ Davenport Main Beach
- The Jones Gang (formerly Houston-Jones)
plus Teresa Tudury @ Don Quixote’s - Live Comedy @ Crow’s Nest
- Open Bluegrass Jam @ The Crepe Place
- SEKTA CORE! @ The Catalyst
- Toby Gray Highway Buddha @ Reef @ The Reef Bar & Restaurant
- In the Blue Room: Sticks & Reeds | Cabrillo Festival Chamber Concert @ Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
- Fiddler On The Roof @ Cabrillo Crocker Theater
- Santa Cruz Shakespeare presents: Hamlet @ The Grove at DeLaveaga Park
- Santa Cruz Shakespeare presents: A Midsummer Night’s Dream @ The Grove at DeLaveaga Park
- HOME – Explorations of the Concept of HOME @ Pajaro Valley Arts Council
Featured Upcoming Event
What: Grizzly Bear Festival
Where: Rancho del Oso Nature & History Center
When: 9/3 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
This family-friendly event features crafts and activities for all ages in celebration of the once-abundant grizzly population that roamed this area. Aptly named Rancho del Oso is one of our recommended stops when traveling north along Highway 1.
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