It’s looking like a cold, wet weekend…perfect for enjoying the great indoors.
But you don’t have to stay cooped up at home. There’s a local brewery anniversary to celebrate, the final weekend of a highly-recommended play, and Friendship Day activities to keep you warm and dry.
Don’t miss a chance to rock out with a local celebrity, or you can get into the Valentines mood with a night at the opera.
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
Anthony Arya Rock Night
When: 2/15 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Food Lounge
Cost: Free
Rock out and dance into the weekend at Anthony Arya’s Rock Night at the Food Lounge. A little bit about Anthony…he’s a local singer, guitarist, songwriter, former contestant on The Voice, and recent winner of a Nextie award for Under 18 Person of the Year. An exciting night for all ages is in store!
Red Velvet
When: 2/14 – 2/17
Where: The Colligan Theater
Cost: $45 / $50
Final weekend! The Jewel Theater brings professional actors to the stage in Santa Cruz with a timely production of Red Velvet, a play exploring racial divisions brought to light when an African American actor must take the place of England’s most famous leading man in Shakespeare’s Othello.
Also on Friday
MUSIC/DANCE
- Oliver Tree’s Ugly is Beautiful Tour at the Rio Theatre @ Rio Theatre
- Wordsauce at Blue Lagoon with Alwa Gordon & Super Down @ The Blue Lagoon
- White Album Ensemble Unplugged @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Isaac & The Haze @ Crow’s Nest
- Frankie Gavin @ Flynn’s Cabaret
- Y La Bamba + Juan Son @ Moe’s Alley
- DJ Soulciter: Northern Soul, Reggae, Oldies, Rocksteady, Mod and Ska Classics @ The Crepe Place
- Archer Nation @ The Catalyst
- Moondance @ Severino’s
- Ten O’clock Lunch Trio @ Michael’s on Main
- Cosmic Pinball plus Sol Nova @ Michael’s on Main
- Archer Nation in Santa Cruz @ Santa Cruz
- Salsa Night @ Palomar Ballroom
THEATER/ARTS
MAKE/CRAFT
OUTDOORS
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Guided Elephant Seal Walks @ Año Nuevo State Park
MORE
Saturday
Valentine’s Concert “LOVE IS IN THE AIR”
When: 2/16 at 7:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building
Cost: $15 – $60 + service fee
Love is in the air and at the Vets Hall in Downtown Santa Cruz — Bay Shore Lyric Opera is bringing passionate, romantic, and inspiring opera to the community. Enjoy party favors, chocolates, a chance to meet the artists, and more! All proceeds will support the opera company’s 2019 season.
East Cliff Brewing Co. 3rd Anniversary Party!
When: 2/16 from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: East Cliff Brewing Co.
Help wish East Cliff Brewing Co. a happy birthday as they celebrate 3 years in the brewing business with special beer releases, a rotating happy hour all day long, food trucks, and live music. Musical guests include Steve Itterly, Coffee Zombie Collective, and The New Shockwaves.
Red Velvet
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Saturday
MUSIC/DANCE
- Live Music by Los Malangueros @ Abbott Square
- Eaten, Dead War, XHOSTAGEX, Choke, and Chitlvn. @ The Blue Lagoon
- The House Rockers @ Crow’s Nest
- SteelHorse – Bon Jovi Tribute @ Flynn’s Cabaret
- Space Heater @ Moe’s Alley
- Daniel Romano w/ Thayer Sarrano (Full Band) @ The Crepe Place
- Offset Jim @ The Catalyst
- John Michael Band @ Severino’s
- The Golden State Lone Star Revue @ Michael’s on Main
- White Album Ensemble Unplugged @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
THEATER/ARTS MAKE/CRAFT
- Watercolor Florals Workshop @ All Hands Workshops
- Sombrero Shaping Workshop @ All Hands Workshops
- Oak Tree at Sunset Painting Class – Date Night Double Canvas Option Available for ages 21+ @ The Painted Cork Art Studio
- Annieglass Succulent Arrangement Workshop @ Annieglass
OUTDOORS
- Castle Rock Loop @ Castle Rock State Park
- Hidden Gems: Flowers of Big Basin! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Romance in the Redwoods @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- We Bring the Sandhills to You! @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Old-Growth Redwood Tours @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Ranch Tours @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Old Cove Landing Trail @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Guided Elephant Seal Walks @ Año Nuevo State Park
MORE
Sunday
Friendship Day
When: 2/17 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
Cost: Free
Celebrate friendships, old and new! Bring a friend, or make a friend, and enjoy making friendship bracelets, writing letters, and hanging out in a friendship fort–sounds like the perfect Sunday afternoon activity.
Science Sunday
When: 2/17 from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Where: Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Cost: Free with admission ($7 – $9)
Science Sunday presentations take place on the third Sunday of the month and feature entertaining and easy-to-understand lectures by a marine scientist. This month, learn how sea otters use their senses in a race against time to find enough food to survive each day. Recommended for ages 10 and older.
Red Velvet
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Sunday
MUSIC/DANCE
- Set It Off @ The Catalyst
- John Craigie with The Coffis Brothers @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center – SOLD OUT
- Live Comedy @ Crow’s Nest
- KABAKA PYRAMID & The Bebble Rockers + Dub Nation & DJ Spleece @ Moe’s Alley
- Grateful Sunday Concert Series @ Michael’s on Main
- John Rybak + Friends at Joe’s Bar @ Joe’s Bar
THEATER/ARTS MAKE/CRAFT
- Intro to Bullet Journaling Workshop @ All Hands Workshops
- Shibori Indigo Dyeing Workshop @ All Hands Workshops
OUTDOORS
- Sequoia Audubon Trail @ Half Moon Bay State Beach
- When Species Collide @ Rancho del Oso
- We Bring the Sandhills to You! @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Salamander Safari @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Guided Adobe Tour @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Ranch Tours @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- The Road Less Traveled: A Dog-Friendly Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
MORE
- Science Sunday—Sea Otter Palm Reading: Measuring Sense of Touch @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Valentine’s Weekend Spa Special @ Chaminade Resort & Spa
Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss
Salamander Saturday
What: Salamander Saturday
Where: Rancho del Oso – Big Basin Redwoods State Park
When: Saturday, March 2 from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Talk about family-friendly! Salamander Saturday is filled with crafts and activities for the kids, live amphibians to observe, a presentation on “Salamanders of the Santa Cruz Mountains”, a short hike to find the rockstar critters of the day, and perhaps a serenading salamander playing guitar. File this event under #santacruzlife favorite!
The 2019 NEXTies
What: The 2019 NEXTies
Where: Rio Theatre
When: Friday, March 22 at 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Event Santa Cruz presents an evening of honoring those in Santa Cruz County who inspire our community. This year marks The NEXTies 10th year celebrating the area’s best and brightest doers! Come get to know these do-gooders and enjoy some amazing musical guests including Anthony Arya, Mira Goto, Henry Chadwick, Jesse Daniel, and Cement Ship.
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