This Weekend in Santa Cruz: October 28th – 30th, 2016

By Christine Candelaria

There’s no escaping Halloween this weekend (insert evil laugh), or some rainy weather (insert happy cheers and puddle jumps).

We hope you stay warm and dry, and enjoy the frightful festivities—there are a ton—listed below and in our 2016 Halloween Events Guide.

See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:

Friday

Book Talk with Maria Semple of Where’d You Go Bernadette

When: 10/28 at 7:00 pm
Where: Peace United Church
Cost: $29.36

If you’re already a member of bestselling author Maria Semple’s loyal readership, you won’t want to miss her talk and book signing hosted by Bookshop Santa Cruz at Peace United Church. If you’re looking for a good read that delivers laughs along with a new heroine to relate to, get your ticket package which includes a free copy of the book Today Will Be Different.

Get more info here.

Movie & Dinner in the Park (New Location)

When: 10/28 from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Due to weather, event has been moved to Scotts Valley Community Center
Cost: Free

Kick off Halloween weekend with a fun family night! Enjoy food truck fare, a beer and wine garden, and a holiday themed movie for the kids, “Transylvania 2.” Costumes encouraged and bring some canned goods to donate to Valley Churches United.

Get more info here.

Witches Ball

When: 10/28 from 9:00 pm to 1:00 am
Where: Boulder Creek
Cost: $15

Dance the night away to the Naked Bootleggers and DJ Tara. There will be a photo booth, munchies and witches brew, costume and witches hat contests with a cash prize, plus you can’t beat free broom parking around back.

Get more info here.

Halloween Escape Room

When: 10/28 – 10/30 at 7:00 pm
Where: Garfield Park Community Church
Cost: $20

Get your Scooby Doo on and solve a mystery with your friends. This live action game gives you one hour to find clues and solve puzzles to escape the vampire’s lair. Like, zoinks, man…sign your team up! Recommended for ages 11 and up.

Get more info here.

The Coffis Brothers & The Mountain Men “Monster Mash”

When: 10/28 at 7:30 pm
Where: Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Cost: $12/Advance $15/Door

Before you rock out to the Coffis Brothers, enjoy Nels Andrews Acoustic Duo. You’re going to want to wear a Halloween costume you can dance in for this one, or just throw on your flannel and say you’re one of the Mountain Men. This concert is a benefit for Monarch Community School.

Get more info here.

Marine Masquerade

When: 10/28 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Cost: $8 adults, $6 kids, Children 2 and under and Members are FREE

Head over to everyone’s favorite marine center Friday evening for a costume contest, scavenger hunts, creature crafts, and a flashlight tour to the whale skeleton.

Get more info here.

Also on Friday

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Saturday

Museum of the Macabre Halloween Party

When: 10/29 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Cost: $15 General, $10 Museum Members, Includes Two Free Drink Tickets

Explore all things mysterious and macabre at the Museum of UNnatural History after dark. Come in costume and enjoy cauldron-conconted cocktails, freakish nibbles, and strange museum curiosities.

Get more info here.

21st Annual Halloween Freaker’s Ball

When: 10/29 at 8:00 pm
Where: The Catalyst
Cost: $30 – $50

The 21st Annual Freaker’s Ball at the Catalyst is sure to be a rocking way to celebrate Halloween. Costumes required, so dress to impress! This is a 21 + event.

Get more info here.

Santa Cruz Derby Girls Home Team Championships

When: 10/29 at 4:30 pm (Groms) and 6:30 pm (Championship Game)
Where: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
Cost: $10 – $32

It’s the last game of the season and a double header! First up, the Santa Cruz Derby Groms skate in a Superheroes vs. Supervillains bout between the Sugar Skulls and Bumper Scars. Next up is the Home Team Championships where you can show your Halloween spirit in costume and cheer for the evil lumberjack Redwood Rebels or surfer Superheroes, the Steamer Janes.

Get more info here.

Harvest Festival: Pumpkin Patch and Apple Bash

When: 10/29 at 2:00 pm CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER
Where: Live Earth Farm Discovery Program
Cost: $15 – $20 sliding scale per car

Fun for the whole family awaits on the farm, rain or shine. Celebrate the season with farm and garden-inspired games and activities, including music, family yoga, cider pressing, a scavenger hunt, and pumpkin decorating. End on a warm note, with a community potluck dinner and sunset bonfire.

Get more info here.

Halloween and Mask Making Festival

When: 10/29 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: Louden Nelson Community Center
Cost: Free

Halloween spirit is an understatement at Louden Nelson. There will be mask making activities, mystery touch tanks, aerial artists, a Thriller zombie flash mob dance, and a haunted house. Costumes highly recommended for the phantom photo booth!

Get more info here.

68th Annual Gault Elementary Halloween-Día de los Muertos Parade & Carnival

When: 10/29 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Where: Gault Elementary School
Cost: Free

The Gault Elementary Halloween Parade & Carnival has been a favorite community event since 1948. All of Santa Cruz is invited to this fun family friendly event. The day begins with a costume parade on Soquel Ave. followed by the carnival at Gault Elementary.

Get more info here.

Halloween Escape Room

See Description Under Friday Section

Haunted Harbor

When: 10/29 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Harbor

Trick or treating turns into a spooktacular adventure at the Harbor. From the Crow’s Nest to the Boatyard, there are a dozen stops along the way and even the Water Taxi gets in on the fun. Download Trick or Treat Map here.

Also on Saturday

Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.

Sunday

Halloween at Kennolyn Camps

When: 10/30 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: Kennolyn Camps in Soquel
Cost: FREE!

Fun tricks and treats are in store at Kennolyn Camp’s Halloween celebration, including entertainment by Mickey Magic, cookie and pumpkin decorationg, free family photos, and of course, trick-or-treating. Costumes encouraged!

Get more info here.

Beer, Brats, Blues & Boos!

When: 10/30 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Where: Chaminade Resort & Spa
Cost: $40 per person all-inaclusive price

Oktoberfest meets Halloween at the 4th Annual Beer, Brats, Blues, and Boos. Make sure your costume gives you room to enjoy assorted sausages and sides plus beer from four local craft breweries. The Vinny Johnson Band will provide the perfect funked up blues and soul for a fun afternoon.

Get more info here.

Capitola Village Halloween Parade

When: 10/30 from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: Capitola Village
Cost: Free

The Capitola Village Children’s Halloween Parade begins near the Capitola Police Department, and works its way down Capitola Avenue to the Esplanade stage where refreshments will be served. Enjoy trick or treating at the Capitola Village shops after the parade.

Get more info here.

Halloween Escape Room

See Description Under Friday Section

O’Neill Halloween Freakshow Surf Competition

See Description Under Saturday Section

Also on Sunday

Featured Upcoming Event

What: An Evening Benefit for Food What?!
Where: Santa Cruz Food Lounge
When: Friday, November 4 from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm

This jam-packed First Friday event benefits the Food What?! youth empowerment and food justice program. The evening features a wine release party for the new Ventana Surfboard Syrah, and the Faces of Food What?! photography exhibit. There will also be live music, raffle prizes, and a silent auction.

Get more info here.

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Christine Candelaria

Christine Candelaria is a local mom of four who enjoys sharing her Santa Cruz adventures. You can follow her #santacruzlife on Instagram at @theaumsmama.

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