Summer is almost over and it’s time to send the season off in style! We’ve lined up events this weekend that will do just that. Choose from festivals, performances or even an annual community clean-up event to pick up trash from local shorelines before the rainy season.
Enjoy the last weekend of summer!
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
Food Truck Friday
When: 9/20 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Skypark – Scotts Valley
Food Truck Friday is back for a fun night of live music, dancing and of course food trucks featuring Drunk Monkeys, Pana, Nomad Momo, El Buen Taco and Aunt LaLi’s. SVEF will be hosting their Beer Garden to raise funds for four Scotts Valley public schools!
2018/2019 Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival
When: 9/20 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: Rio Theatre
The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival celebrates its 43rd year of bringing some of the world’s wildest adventures to the big screen. From the highest mountains to the most exotic places on earth, you are sure to be captivated by each of these films in the series. This film festival is packed with action sports featuring cycling, climbing, skiing, running and horseracing.
Mountain Community Theater Presents: Mamma Mia!
When: Opens 9/20 and runs 5 weekends through 10/20
Where: Mountain Community Theater/Park Hall
A daughter’s journey to find the identity of her father before her wedding leads to a lively story filled with humor, love and the complicated design of human relationships. Hit music from ABBA and unforgettable dance numbers will lead you through this favorite musical.
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS SOL FESTIVAL
When: 9/20 – 9/22
Where: Roaring Camp Meadows – Felton
It’s time for this annual weekend of music and fun, mountain style! Multiple stages among the giant redwoods featuring live music from Bob Weir and the Wolf Brothers, Dispatch, Chicano Batman, Beats Antiques, Turkuaz, Billy Strings, Mike Love and many more bands. You can register to camp, ride the trains, explore the onsite vendors, enjoy local food and craft beer/wine.
Monterey Bay Birding Festival
When: 9/20 – 9/22
Where: Various locations; Watsonville Civic Plaza – Festival Headquarters
Sign up for field trips, workshops, presentations or even a variety of all! It’s a weekend packed with birds with many events planned and field trips to various birding sites. It’s fall migration around the Monterey Bay and is the perfect time to meet up with other bird enthusiasts for an exciting and busy birding weekend. Popular events fill up quickly, so register soon.
Doggie Date Night
When: 9/20 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm; Move starts at 8:30 pm
Where: Anna Jean Cummings Park – Soquel (Blue Ball Park)
Bring your best furry friend down to Blue Ball Park at 6:00 pm for some play time followed by a screening of “Best in Show” (rated PG-13) at 8:30. Food trucks and beer will be on hand for the humans, and lots of entertaining playmates running amok for your dog!
Also on Friday
MUSIC/DANCE
THEATER/ARTS
MORE
Saturday
Boardwalk Fiesta en la Playa
When: 9/21 Check schedule for various performance times
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Head out to the Boardwalk for a celebration of Latino community traditions including mariachis, folklorico dancers and live music at the free beach concert. Have a fun time with family and friends on the rides or play some games. Food and beverage specials will be available.
Domou Africa
When: 9/21 at 8:00 pm (Doors open 7:00 pm)
Where: Louden Nelson Community Center
Local master dancer and choreographer Oumou Faye, master drummer Mbor Faye and a group of world-class West African dancers and musicians bring you an incredible evening of dance and drumming in a breathtaking performance you won’t want to miss! Advance tickets available. Doors open at 7 pm.
Annual Coastal Cleanup with Save our Shores
When: 9/21 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Local beaches, rivers and inland areas. Choose from over 65 locations.
It’s time for the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day and you can make a difference along our local shorelines! Pick one of the many beaches from the list and register. Bring a bucket, grabber, gloves and a reusable water container and help clean up our local beaches and waterways. Download the app to help collect data on the trash you find. Sign up for your favorite location today!
Pivot: The Art of Fashion
When: 9/21 Doors open 6:00 pm for VIP; 7:00 pm for General
Where: Rio Theatre
Fashion performance comes to life at the Rio! A full evening of fashion awaits you with many surprises in store. Featuring Lisa Agliano, IB Bayo, Ellen Brook, Ruby Roxanne Designs, Lisa Ford, Lynn Guenther, Charlotte Kruk, Mariclare McKnight, The Great Morgani, and Rose Sellery and more.
BAY SHORE LYRIC OPERA PRESENTS VERDI’S FALSTAFF
When: 9/21 & 9/22
Where: Esplanade Park – Capitola (Saturday); Santa Cruz Vets Hall (Sunday)
This operatic comedy is full of humor and feeling with compiled scenes from Shakespeare, especially from The Merry Wives of Windsor. The story is centered around character Sir John Falstaff. Considered by Verdi’s critics to be one the greatest comedic operas. Please note: Saturday’s show is free and Sunday’s show is ticketed and performed at a different location as noted above.
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS SOL FESTIVAL
See Description Under Friday Section
Mountain Community Theater Presents: Mamma Mia!
See Description Under Friday Section
Monterey Bay Birding Festival
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Saturday
MUSIC/DANCE
THEATER/ARTS
MAKE/CRAFT
OUTDOORS
MORE
Sunday
Cars and Coffee for a Cause
When: 9/22 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Where: Cruise Coffee – Scotts Valley
The Santa Cruz Mustang Club, along with Scotts Valley Peace Officers Association, are hosting this fun community event to support the BirchBark Foundation. Any donation will get 20% off food and drinks at Cruise Coffee. All cars are welcome to enter the small car show. Watch the SVPD cornhole competition and meet the SVPD canine companions, too!
Midtown Last Day of Summer Event
When: 9/22 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Midtown Santa Cruz
It’s the last day of summer and a day to celebrate! Pop-ups, food and drinks as well as family-friendly activities, sales and events throughout the day. Take a stroll down Soquel Ave. from Pine Street to Seabright and help usher out the season in style.
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS SOL FESTIVAL
See Description Under Friday Section
Mountain Community Theater Presents: Mamma Mia!
See Description Under Friday Section
Monterey Bay Birding Festival
See Description Under Friday Section
BAY SHORE LYRIC OPERA PRESENTS VERDI’S FALSTAFF
See Description Under Saturday Section. Note: Sunday’s show is at a different venue and tickets must be purchased.
Also on Sunday
MUSIC/DANCE
THEATER/ARTS
MAKE/CRAFT
OUTDOORS
MORE
Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss
Día De Los Muertos Festival & 5k/3k Run
When: Sunday, Oct 27 at 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: El Rosal Bakery, 21513 E. Cliff Dr. Santa Cruz
Enter or watch the race that starts at 9:00 am, then stay to celebrate Dia De Los Muertos with sugar skull decorating, food, dance performances, mariachi, art exhibits, bounce houses, farmers’ market and more! Pre-register for the 5k/3k races online.
Kidrageous Golden Carnival
When: Sunday, September 29th, 12pm to 4pm
Where: Watsonville Plaza
The 20th Annual Kidrageous Golden Carnival at the Watsonville City Plaza is packed with fun for your entire family! Featuring performances by Watsonville Taiko Drummers, Doug the Surfing Magician, Watsonville Community Band, as well as, dance, costumed characters, arts and crafts, bounce houses, family activities, entertainment and much more.
PS – Get coverage of the best Santa Cruz events and other Santa Cruz Life content delivered straight to your inbox by signing up below…
