The first day of March gets the weekend off to a festive start with a little help from the Mommas of HOT Jazz Swing.
Our picks for families include the annual amphibian celebration, Salamander Saturday, and the inaugural Imaginarium!.
The 21+ crowd can pub crawl with the Derby Girls or hit the mountains for Mardi Gras.
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
First Friday Santa Cruz
When: 3/1 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Various location in Santa Cruz County
Cost: Free
Check out a show at the Nook featuring skateboards designed, produced, and marketed by students at Costanoa Continuation School. Enjoy wine and live music at Stockwell Cellars while browsing the art of local photographer and artist Bryan Garrison, including prints on repurposed wood. Sip chocolate at Mutari and take in the latest work of local artist Gwendolyn Pogrowski, showcasing abstracts, geometrics, and canvas manipulations. These are just the beginning of your First Friday art tour!
Mommas of HOT Jazz/First Friday tribute to Int’l Women’s Month
When: 3/1 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Food Lounge
Cost: Suggested donation is $5-$10 to support the band
Food lounge is gonna be hoppin’ on First Friday! Kick off your weekend and International Woman’s Month with Mommas of HOT Jazz Swing, featuring Jen Karno, Stella D’Oro, Jeannie Liu, and Lydia Joy, along with pianist extraordinaire Kylan DeGhetaldi. Dress to impress 1920s-style and come ready to party.
Santa Cruz Derby Girls 2019 Pub Crawl!
When: 3/1 from 6:00 pm to 11:55 pm
Where: Downtown Santa Cruz
Kick off the 2019 Roller Derby season with the Santa Cruz Derby Girls at their annual pub crawl. Starting at Abbot Square and continuing on to El Palomar, 99 Bottles, and Pour Tap Room for an evening of drinking, dining, and arm wrestling with the Derby Girls. Then on to the Blue Lagoon to dance the night away! Please RSVP.
Santa Cruz Warriors vs. Memphis Hustle
When: 3/1 at 7:00 pm
Where: Kaiser Permanente Arena
Cost: $27.00 +
The Santa Cruz Warriors hit the court Friday night against the Memphis Hustle, NBA G League affiliate of the Memphis Grizzlies. Not only is it Charitable Jersey Night—a chance to bid on your favorite player’s game-worn jersey—the first 1,000 fans to arrive will get a pair of sunglasses, courtesy of California Giant Berry Farms. Come cheer for your Warriors!
Also on Friday
MUSIC/DANCE
- Joy Williams (of The Civil Wars) @ Rio Theatre
- Portato Portato @ Wind River
- Matthew Whitaker Trio @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- FishHook @ Crow’s Nest
- Diego’s Umbrella @ Moe’s Alley
- The Catalyst Presents: CRUMB w/ Video Age and Day Trip @ The Crepe Place
- Max Frost @ The Catalyst
- Spun @ Severino’s
- Phoenix Rising Band @ Michael’s on Main
THEATER/ARTS
- Crowns by Regina Taylor @ UCSC Theater Arts Mainstage Theater
- Luminous Numinous @ Felix Kulpa Gallery
- March First Friday: Amadeo Bachar @ BOTANIC AND LUXE
MAKE/CRAFT
OUTDOORS
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
Mardi Gras in the Mountains
When: 3/2 at 7:00 pm
Where: Brookdale Lodge
Cost: $20 Online, $27 Door
The Brookdale Lodge is back in action and hosting a dazzling Mardi Gras celebration in the Santa Cruz Mountains, New Orleans-style! Enjoy Cajun food by ate3one, a Shanti Shack Beer Booth, live music by Olde blue, and plenty of beads to go around. Come dressed in your favorite Mardi Gras fashion and don’t forget your mask!
Santa Cruz Orchid Society Show and Sale 2019
When: from 3/2 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and 3/3 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Cabrillo College Horticulture Center
Cost: Free
Santa Cruz has a fungus federation, bonsai meetup, and dahlia society, but this weekend is dedicated to orchid enthusiasts. The Santa Cruz Orchid Society is hosting a show and sale at Cabrillo College, co-sponsored by the Cabrillo Horticulture Department. Check out orchid vendors, member sales, demonstrations, and a display of beautiful blooms that will be judged by American Orchid Society judges.
Salamander Saturday
When: 3/2 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: Rancho del Oso – Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Cost: Free
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!
Imaginarium!
When: 3/2 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Where: Capitola Mall courtyard
Cost: Free
Escape the rain at this free, family-friendly Imaginarium event, in celebration of The Puppetry Institute’s 2-year anniversary at the Capitola Mall. Join TPI and Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery for an afternoon of puppet crafts, costume characters, Dr. Mecurio’s dragons, a puppet story time, photo op room for cosplayers, and more.
Also on Saturday
MUSIC/DANCE
- Freestone Peaches: A Tribute to the Allman Brothers Band @ Flynn’s Cabaret
- Live Music by Carie & The SoulShakers @ Abbott Square
- Wild Iris Album Release Party with Joe Kaplow & AJ Lee @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Joint Chiefs @ Crow’s Nest
- THE WAILING SOULS + Arise Roots
Appearing Live at Moes Alley @ Moe’s Alley - Noise Pop Presents: Dude York, Partner and Rosie Tucker @ The Crepe Place
- Ten O’Clock Lunch Band @ Severino’s
- Sam Amidon with Sam Gendel @ Michael’s on Main
- Piece of My Heart plus Liquid Sky @ Michael’s on Main
THEATER/ARTS
- Wowie-Zowie with Jeff Raz! @ Santa Cruz Veterans Memorial Building
- RISQUE RIVALRY: A BURLESQUE SHOWCASE @ The Catalyst
- Crowns by Regina Taylor @ UCSC Theater Arts Mainstage Theater
MAKE/CRAFT
OUTDOORS
MORE
- “My Life is Bigger Than Parkinson’s” – an educational symposium @ Monschke Hall at Twin Lakes Church
- MarioKart 8 Deluxe 4 player FFA Tournament @ Level Up Video Games
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
The Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market
When: 3/3 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Pacific Ave between Locust & Water
Cost: Free
The monthly Downtown Makers Market returns this Sunday. We attended the first installment of this new recurring event in November and were impressed with the quality and variety of products we saw. This month’s event features 40 local artists and crafters and includes a free concert by Moshe Vilozny, Blue Summit, and Lauren Wahl & Simply Put.
Mardi Gras in the Mountains
See Description Under Saturday Section
Also on Sunday
MUSIC/DANCE
- Gossamer Strings @ Flynn’s Cabaret
- Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre Band @ Moe’s Alley
- NEW KINGSTON, NATTALI RIZE @ The Catalyst
- GETTER PRESENTS VISCERAL @ The Catalyst
- Realta @ Michael’s on Main
- Grateful Sunday Concert Series @ Michael’s on Main
THEATER/ARTS
- Santa Cruz Baroque Festival: Roots Of Bach and Telemann @ UCSC Music Recital Hall
- Crowns by Regina Taylor @ UCSC Theater Arts Mainstage Theater
OUTDOORS
- Younger Lagoon Reserve Tours @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Guided Elephant Seal Walks @ Año Nuevo State Park
MORE
- Author Event: Peter H. Reynolds, Say Something @ Bookshop Santa Cruz
- Live Comedy @ Crow’s Nest
- Santa Cruz Half Marathon and 10K/5K @ Santa Cruz
Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss
Humble Sea 2nd Anniversary Party
What: 2nd Anniversary Party
Where: Humble Sea Brewing Co.
When: Friday and Saturday, March 15 & 16
We like how Humble Sea does things…a 2-year anniversary calls for 2 days of celebrating. Friday night will be an intimate gathering featuring acoustic performances by The Coffis Brothers and The Rainbow Girls, Bruxo Food Truck’s paella, and exclusive anniversary beer. Saturday’s full day experience includes everything from radical beer releases to a goat petting zoo, with live music and amazing food vendors in between. Be sure to get your tickets!
Bellies, Birth & Babies
What: Bellies, Birth & Babies
Where: Pacific Cultural Center
When: Saturday, March 23 at 2:00 pm
This is a wonderful opportunity for new and expectant parents to learn about some of the amazing community resources Santa Cruz County has to offer. There will be a pop-up marketplace, hands-on demos, workshops, free mini massages, prizes, and more.
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