Gotta love a weekend that starts off with a full moon forest adventure and ends with art and music at the beach.
Saturday features a Roller Derby Double Header, the annual Medicine Buddha Festival, and an afternoon for hard cider enthusiasts.
Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post to start planning some Fourth of July fun!
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
Full Moon Madness
When: 6/29 at 6:00 pm
Where: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Cost: Free, parking is $10
What a fun way to experience Henry Cowell—at night, under a full(ish) moon, with family-friendly activities, and an expert astronomer sharing their knowledge of and passion for the night sky. There will be telescopes for stargazing, kids’s crafts, and guided hikes throughout the night.
RENT, The Musical
When: 6/29 – 6/30 at 7:30 pm & 7/1 at 2:00 pm
Where: Cabrillo Crocker Theater
Cost: $21 to $46
Catch this classic Broadway musical/rock opera on the Cabrillo stage. Based on Puccini’s beloved opera La Bohème, RENT follows seven artists, living in Manhattan’s East Village, struggling to follow their dreams without selling out and while trying to pay the rent (so Santa Cruz-y). RENT weaves themes of addiction, poverty, and HIV/AIDS with celebrations of friendship, creativity, and love. Runs June 28 – July 15.
Los Lobos
When: 6/29 at 6:30 pm & 8:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Cost: Free
Los Lobos returns and will be rockin’ the Boardwalk with their mixture of Tex-Mex, blues, country, folk, R&B and traditional Mexican music. Of course, nothing excites the crowd as much as their hit “La Bamba”. Last year we stayed for both shows and if we remember correctly, they did not play La Bamba at the first show, but they rocked it out at the second. Arrive early and claim your spot in the sand!
Santa Cruz Food Truck Party
When: 6/29 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: San Lorenzo Park
Cost: Free admission
Don’t miss a non-Halloween opportunity to dress up as your favorite superhero and show off your special powers, which hopefully include food truck feasting. Participating food trucks include Saucy’z, Drunk Monkey, The Choke Coach, G’s Mexican Tacos, Rogue Pye, and Aunt Lali’s. Enjoy beer from Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing and wine from Bargetto’s. We hear there are special Food Truck pint glasses!
Also on Friday
MUSIC/DANCE
- Santa Cruz Air Guitar Championships @ The Catalyst
- Local by Locals @ Hotel Paradox
- Salsa Night @ Palomar Ballroom
- LiveMusic by Persephone @ Abbott Square
- Groovity @ Crow’s Nest
- Zeppelin Live @ Flynn’s Cabaret
- The Naked Bootleggers + Coffee Zombie Collective @ Moe’s Alley
- Christian McBride’s New Jawn @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Jon Snodgrass & Buddies w/ Gods of Mount Olympus and Thanks Buddy @ The Crepe Place
- Los Tigres Del Norte @ The Catalyst
- Moondance @ Severino’s
- Phantom Witch, Sudden Loss, Grave Maul, Delta @ The Blue Lagoon
- Jazz The Dog @ Michaels on Main
- Tsunami @ Michaels on Main
- Ka Nalu “The wave” @ Pono Hawaiian Grill
THEATRE/ARTS
- Spektrum – an immersive exhibit @ lille æske
- Friday Make Night: The Nest Film Screening& Art Making @ Abbott Square
OUTDOORS
- Ridges to Redwoods Backpacking Adventures @ Castle Rock State Park
- Little Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Discover the Santa Cruz Sandhills @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Junior Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Full Moon Madness @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- In the Company of Redwoods Campfire @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
MORE
- Saving Democracy: Leading Democrats & Republicans on Where We Go Now @ Twin Lakes Church
- Age Well, Drive Smart @ Aptos Branch Library
- Nectar of Song Tour with Kimberly Haynes @ Breath+Oneness
- Watsonville Farmers Market @ Downtown Watsonville Plaza
- Michael Isikoff & David Corn, Russian Roulette @ Bookshop Santa Cruz
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
Santa Cruz Derby Girls Double Header
When: 6/30 at 4:30 pm & 6:45 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
Cost: $11 – $33
The action starts off at 4:30 when the Seabright Sirens take on the Monterey Derby Dames. The main event features the Santa Cruz Derby Girls’ top team, the Boardwalk Bombshells, against the Oakland Outlaws.
If you want to see Derby at its best, this is the place to be. Our very own Boardwalk Bombshells are currently ranked #17 in the world!
Tickets are selling fast so grab yours today! Use promo code SCLife18 for 10% off tickets. We’re also giving away a pair of FREE tickets. Find out more and enter to win, here.
16th Annual Medicine Buddha Festival and Cultural Fair
When: 6/30 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Land of Medicine Buddha
Cost: Free – Everyone is welcome!
If you’ve visited Land of Medicine Buddha, then you know what a special place it is. This annual festival is a great opportunity to learn more and experience the Buddhist community coming together for a grand day of celebration and offering. Take in music and dance performances, food and drink, information and healing booths, shopping for unique gifts, and plenty of activities for the kids.
Your best bet for getting there is to park offsite at Congregational Church and take a free shuttle bus. There is also onsite parking for $20.
Street Smarts Family Bike Ride
When: 6/30 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Laurel Park/Louden Nelson Center
Cost: Free
A community bike ride, bike safety activities, and free Penny Ice Cream is not a bad way to start a Saturday. In fact, it’s a great way for the whole family to have fun while learning together, along with Mayor Terrazas, Santa Cruz police officers, and Santa Cruz Warriors mascot, Mav’Riks.
Hard Core Cider Tour – Santa Cruz
When: 6/30 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: San Lorenzo Park – Benchlands
Cost: Online $40, Door $50; Group and designated driver rates available
Hard cider lovers, head on down to San Lorenzo Park for an afternoon of unlimited craft cider sampling. Food trucks, live music, and jumbo lawn games round out this cider celebration. As part of their commitment to reinvesting in the local community, The Hard Core Cider Tour will be raising funds for Bike Santa Cruz County and Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County.
RENT, The Musical
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Saturday
MUSIC/DANCE
- A Santa Cruz Sing Along @ Garfield Park Branch Library
- Live Music by Eric Morrison & The Mysteries @ Abbott Square
- Jive Machine @ Crow’s Nest
- Mike Amaral’s California Beach Boys @ Flynn’s Cabaret
- B-Side Players @ Moe’s Alley
- Quintron and Miss Pussycat @ The Crepe Place
- Dwarves @ The Catalyst
- Shwayze & Cisco: 10th Anniversary Summer Tour @ The Catalyst
- Room 9 @ Severino’s
- Patio Acoustics with Asher Stern @ Severino’s
- Ten O’clock Lunch Band with Tammi Brown @ Michaels on Main
THEATRE/ARTS
OUTDOORS
- Little Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Connect with Nature Program @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- In the Company of Redwoods Guided Hike @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Guided Redwood Grove Walk @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Coast Nature Walks @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Castle Rock Loop Hike @ Castle Rock State Park
- Redwood Tours @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods Hike! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tour @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Snakes Alive! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Story Time Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Nature’s Reading Room @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Tours @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Castle Rock Falls and Goat Rock Overlook Hike @ Castle Rock State Park
- Discover the Santa Cruz Sandhills @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Old Tree Trail Hike @ Portola Redwoods State Park
- Junior Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Evening Campfire Programs @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
MORE
- Author Talk: Santa Cruz Noir @ Scotts Valley Branch Library
- Aptos Farmers Market @ Cabrillo College
- Public Brewery Tour of Santa Cruz – Westside Route @ Dream Inn Santa Cruz
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
Free Guided Tour of the UCSC Farm
When: 7/1 at 2:00 pm
Where: Cowell Ranch Historic Hay Barn
Cost: Free
It’s a little known fact that the UCSC Farm & Garden is open to the public every day and offers free, docent-led tours on the first Sunday of the month from April through November. The Farm features tractor-worked fields, hand-worked gardens, orchards, greenhouses, a children’s garden and more. Read about how to enjoy the Farm year round here.
Art and Music At The Beach
When: 7/1 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Capitola Village
Cost: Free
Sundays were made for art, music, and the beach. Make your way to Capitola Village for all three! Enjoy the sounds of Brazil and Argentina with a twist of jazz as Samba Cruz plays on the Esplanade Stage while you view and shop artwork by local artists including painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry and mixed media.
RENT, The Musical
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Sunday
MUSIC/DANCE
- Amy Obenski – Live Looping Singer Songwriter @ East Cliff Brewing Co.
- Bubbles & Boogie W/Groovaroo Santa Cruz @ Abbott Square
- Electric Flag @ Moe’s Alley
- Open Bluegrass Jam @ The Crepe Place
- Thadeus Gonzalez w/ Coercion @ The Crepe Place
- Patio Acoustic’s with James Murray @ Severino’s
- Younger Lagoon Reserve Tours @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- The Box @ The Blue Lagoon
- Love Eternal @ Michaels on Main
- Grateful Sunday Concert Series @ Michaels on Main
OUTDOORS
- Guided Walk: Sequoia Audubon Trail @ Half Moon Bay State Beach
- Watsonville Nature Walks @ City of Watsonville – Nature Center
- Guided Hike through Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve @ Pescadero State Beach
- Little Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tour @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Redwood Tours @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Junior Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Discover the Santa Cruz Sandhills @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Big Basin Nature Club @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
MORE
Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss
Santa Cruz 4th of July Events
4th of July events in Santa Cruz County include old-fashioned celebrations at Wilder Ranch and Roaring Camp, two official fireworks shows, and parades spanning from Watsonville to San Lorenzo Valley.
Check out our Fourth of July event roundup and start planning your holiday fun!
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