The lovers holiday is here. Never fear! Whether you are a skeptic or a hopeless romantic, there are activities for all; from counting elephant seals to singing love songs.
A dinner date with a toddler is memorable, or maybe you are the reggae festival type. What the heck? Get married! This and more on Friday.
We love local artists, so get out there and share the love at a show, lecture, or art market on Saturday and Sunday.
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
Love Song Sing Along
When: 2/14 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Resource Center for Nonviolence
If you are looking for ways to show your love for community, connection and humanity, come join a like-minded gathering and belt out love songs. Not only will you achieve warm, fuzzy feelings, but you will learn about local vocal groups and their upcoming events, in case you crave more.
Valentine’s Day Extravaganza
When: 2/14 from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Where: The MAH
Leave it to the MAH to throw the most creative party for Valentine’s Day fun. With two for one admission, you can take a handful of paper hearts and 💜 the artwork you like as you browse the galleries. Stop by the crafts area to make a card. And if you happen to be a couple in love, get married! Speed weddings will be taking place from 1:00- 7:00 pm with a dance party, open to all, from 5:00- 7:00 pm.
Elephant Seal Weekend Celebration
When: 2/14 – 2/16 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Seymour Marine Discovery Center
If you love marine science, send an elephant seal a Valentine by helping to study and protect them. The delightful Seymour Center will have Valentine’s themed arts and crafts, along with special exhibitions highlighting the elephant seal. You can even become a citizen scientist and help researchers! The Sunday lecture series features Dr. Roxanne Beltran and Sarah Wood speaking about being a scientist and more about the fascinating elephant seal.
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella
When: 2/14 – 2/16
Where: Cabrillo College Crocker Theater
A quintessential family friendly love story, this classic musical comes to the Santa Cruz stage featuring local youth and a live orchestra. A production of CYT Santa Cruz, this sweet fairy tale receives high quality treatment and features local talent.
Valentine’s Dinner Date w/Your Little One
When: 2/14 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery
Be sure to get dressed up for this festive occasion, but you might want to bring a bib, so as not to get spaghetti stains on your best suit. At this special dinner for little ones and their adults, there will be a special toast, a yummy dinner and some fun crafts to celebrate love.
SANTA CRUZ REGGAE MUSIC FESTIVAL NO. 2 WITH THE MOVEMENT
When: 2/14 at 6:00 pm; Doors open 5:00 pm
Where: The Catalyst
Peace and unity, which you will find in abundance at the Catalyst this Friday, is just another expression of the Valentine’s Day spirit. The Movement, joined by Josh Heinrichs and five other bands, will get you in the groove and feeling the love.
ALL ABOUT THEATRE PRESENTS: IN THE HEIGHTS
When: 2/13 – 2/15
Where: Louden Nelson Community Center
In this All About Theater production of Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical, Santa Cruz teens show off their amazing talents. This Tony-award winning play is set in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York, a Latino district on the verge of change. A live orchestra, including musicians from Flor de Caña, accompanies this great story and the talented local cast.
Also on Friday
VALENTINES
- Harry And The Hitmen, The Charities, Grand Larson – Valentine’s Bash @ Moe’s Alley
- An evening with Anthony Arya playing songs of the Heart for Valentines Day @ Paradise Beach Grille
- Burrell School Vineyards Valentine’s Dinner @ Burrell School Vineyards
- BACK NINE GRILL & BAR: VALENTINE’S DAY @ Back Nine Grill & Bar
- CROW’S NEST: DINING & SASHA’S MONEY ON VALENTINE’S DAY @ Crow’s Nest
- SHADOWBROOK: VALENTINE’S DAY @ Shadowbrook Restaurant
- JACK O’NEILL RESTAURANT: VALENTINE’S DAY @ Jack O’Neill Restaurant and Lounge
- PERSEPHONE: VALENTINE’S DINNER @ Persephone
- SEASCAPE-SANDERLINGS: LOVE AT FIRST BITE @ Sanderlings
- SOIF: VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER @ Soif Wine Bar and Merchants
- VALENTINE’S DINNER AT BARGETTO WINERY @ Bargetto Winery
- BRUNO’S STUPID CUPID ANTI-VALENTINES DAY PARTY @ Bruno’s Bar and Grill
- ALCHEMICALOVE – A VALENTINE’S DAY EVENT @ Roxa Hammock Cafe
- SOLD OUT! TUCK & PATTI – VALENTINE’S DAY CONCERT 20TH ANNIVERSARY @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- SOLD OUT! The Roaring Camp Valentine’s Day Electroswing Express
MUSIC/DANCE
- MAH Music: Lauren Wahl & Simply Put @ Abbott Square
- North Mississippi Allstars @ Felton Music Hall
- Heather and the Hepcats @ Lulu Carpenter’s
- Gerard & Carolyn: The House of Twang…..Live! @ The Crepe Place
THEATER/ARTS
- Gleb Kanasevich + Daniel Meyer + Michelle Lou @ Radius Gallery
- The Other Place @ The Colligan Theater
- Retrospect – An Exhibition of Art @ San Lorenzo Valley Museum
- Michael Singer Photography Exhibit @ Scotts Valley Branch Library
OUTDOORS
Saturday
Family Opera: Massenet’s Cinderella
When: 2/15 at 11:00 am & 1:00 pm
Where: UCSC Music Center Recital Hall
Do children like opera? Only if they go to one! The Music Department at UCSC in partnership with El Sistema Music Education, brings this family-friendly adaptation of Massenet’s Cinderella to life in a 45 minute English language version. With a talented cast that includes a chorus of mice from Watsonville’s Radcliffe Elementary, this free show ($5 suggested donation for adults) is sure to earn some new opera fans.
Becoming Nobody
When: 2/15 from 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm
Where: Rio Theatre
A celebration of the life of a great teacher, this screening of the Ram Das movie is a fundraiser for his ashram in Taos, New Mexico. With speakers, sound meditation and a Kirtan, this is sure to be an enlightening evening.
Elephant Seal Weekend Celebration
See Description Under Friday Section
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella
See Description Under Friday Section
ALL ABOUT THEATRE PRESENTS: IN THE HEIGHTS
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Saturday
VALENTINES
- NICHOLSON VINEYARDS: WINE AND CHOCOLATE TASTING @ Nicholson Vineyards
- Burrell School Vineyards Valentine’s Dinner @ Burrell School Vineyards
MUSIC/DANCE
- SambaDá @ Moe’s Alley
- Melvins @ Felton Music Hall
- Blue Ocean Rockers @ Crow’s Nest
- MAH Music: Samba Cruz @ Abbott Square
- Little People, Frameworks & Yppah @ The Catalyst
- Hawktail @ Michaels on Main
- The Blank Tapes w/ Shoobies & The Oilies @ The Crepe Place
THEATER/ARTS
- Hearts for Art @ The MAH
- ART EXHIBITION & RECEPTION – ‘FLOWERS FROM FRANCE’ – NEW WORK BY SANTA CRUZ ARTIST CARRIE CLAYDEN @ Curated Art Gallery
- The Other Place @ The Colligan Theater
- Retrospect – An Exhibition of Art @ San Lorenzo Valley Museum
OUTDOORS
- Hidden Gems: Flowers of Big Basin! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Community Science: Salamanders @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Coast Nature Walk @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Castle Rock Loop Hike @ Castle Rock State Park
- Hike to Mount McAbee Outlook @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods Hike! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Ranch Tours @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Romance in the Redwoods @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Drop-In Family Craft – Luminaria @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Redwoods and the Changing Climate @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
MORE
Sunday
Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market
When: 2/16 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Pacific Ave. between Water & Locust St.
Always a crafty paradise, the Downtown Maker’s Market is an inspiring and fun way to spend a Sunday. All the usual shops and restaurants are open downtown so you can stop for food, grab a coffee and stroll to the live music and artistic atmosphere.
White Album Ensemble Unplugged
When: 2/16 at 8:00 pm
Where: Kuumbwa Jazz Center
This acoustic concert will feature Beatles’ love songs from the last seven albums. The Kuumbwa is an amazing venue, with wine and beer, food, great seating and an intimate setting with great sound. Along with the six members of the Ensemble, guests Tammi Brown and Alysha Antonio will grace the stage.
Elephant Seal Weekend Celebration
See Description Under Friday Section
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella
See Description Under Friday Section
White Album Ensemble Unplugged – Saturday
See Description Under Saturday Section
Also on Sunday
MUSIC/DANCE
- Jimmy Ã…gren & Henry Kaiser Band @ Michael’s on Main
- The Gladiators @ Moe’s Alley
- C.W. Stoneking @ Felton Music Hall
- Nascar Aloe with KIDSNEXTDOOR, Death Tour & Kbeach @ The Catalyst
- An Evening with Chris Botti @ Rio Theatre
- Grateful Sunday Concert Series @ Michaels on Main
THEATER/ARTS
- Hearts for Art @ The MAH
- The Other Place @ The Colligan Theater
- Retrospect – An Exhibition of Art @ San Lorenzo Valley Museum
OUTDOORS
- Guided Elephant Seal Walks @ Año Nuevo State Park
- Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve @ Half Moon Bay State Beach
- When Species Collide @ Rancho del Oso Unit
- Ranch Tours @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Drop-In Family Craft – Ramillettas @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
MORE
Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss
Top Dog Film Festival
What: Top Dog Film Festival
Where: Rio Theatre
When: Friday, March 13, from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Calling all Dog People. You know who you are. Clear your calendar on March 13 for the Top Dog Film Festival, a celebration of the bond between humans and canines. For over two hours, watch a montage of carefully curated films that will inspire, entertain and teach all things dog.
Hummingbird Day
What: Hummingbird Day
Where: UCSC Arboretum
When: Saturday, March 21
The UCSC Arboretum has many qualities, according to local hummingbirds, who choose to live there in vast numbers. This is lucky for us; we can see them eat, fight, court, build nests and fly around. Hummingbird Day is a chance to explore the Arboretum with a docent, and learn about the plants that support these fast flyers and maybe see a few of them in action.
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