This weekend sees a handful of annual festivals — including Pride, the Japanese Cultural Fair, and the Strawberry Festival — come to town. We will also be treated to another First Friday the Capitola Rod & Custom Classic Car Show, and plenty of festivities along the San Lorenzo River.
Read on to see all of our picks for the best events in Santa Cruz this weekend.
First Friday Events
Today is the First Friday of the month, which means it’s time for the First Friday Art Tour. Here are some highlight’s of this month’s First Friday events:
- First Friday Art Tour
- First Friday Free Day at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
- Free First Friday at the MAH
- PIVOT Fashion
- California Dreaming Exhibition
- Cosmic Hosts: Shred: A Musical Surfing Collaboration
- County Government Exhibit
- “LUCKY”-painting and sculpture by owner/artist Robert Blitzer
- First Friday $10 Coworking at NextSpace
The Expendables
When: Friday, 6/5 at 8:30 pm
Where: The Catalyst Club
How Much: $22-$27
Beloved hometown ska and reggae band The Expendables will join forces with Hirie and Tunnel Vision to deliver a laid back Friday night jam session.
Ebb & Flow River Arts Celebration
When: Friday, 6/5 & Saturday, 6/6
Where: Abbott Square to the RiverWalk
How Much: Free
Gather near the MAH and celebrate the San Lorenzo River with arts and crafts projects this weekend. The event will feature a wide variety of work and instruction from local artists.
Get more info here. You can also read more about the history of the San Lorenzo River, and this weekend’s festivities, in a new post that was published today on Mobile Ranger.
41st Annual UCSC Student Print Sale
When: Friday, 6/5 through Saturday, 6/6, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Where: Elena Baskin Visual Arts Center
How Much: Free
At the end of every school year, the art students at UCSC show off their best work and sell a wide variety of affordable prints, handmade books, etchings, woodcuts, and much more. You just might find your new favorite living room decoration right here.
Rudy Colombini & The Unauthorized Rolling Stones
When: Saturday, 6/6 from 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Where: Rio Theatre
How Much: $25-$40
If you aren’t able to shell out hundreds of dollars to see the actual Stones on tour, you can at least relive Mick Jagger and the gang’s glory days by seeing the next best thing, this popular tribute band.
Japanese Cultural Fair
When: Saturday, 6/6 from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Where: Mission Plaza
How Much: Free
Celebrate our neighbors across the Pacific by gathering at the Mission Plaza and participate in cultural festivities, including traditional dancing, refreshments, and arts and crafts.
27th Annual Strawberry Festival
When: Saturday, 6/6 from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where: 303 Walnut Avenue
How Much: Free
Our region is one of the leading producers of strawberries in the entire country. Show your local pride and honor this sweet, natural treat at the Strawberry Festival, where there will be games, music, BBQ, a dunk take, and, of course, lots of strawberries.
Bonny Doon Art and Wine Festival 2015
When: Saturday, 6/6 from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Where: Bonny Doon Equestrian Park
How Much: $95
Last year’s Bonny Doon Art and Wine Festival raised over $45,000, all of which went to benefit Bonny Doon Elementary School. See if you can help raise even more this year as you sip great wine and take in some local art.
Santa Cruz Symphony Benefit Concert: Movie Magic!
When: Saturday, 6/6 at 8:00 pm
Where: Civic Auditorium
How Much: $25-$70
From Star Wars to Harry Potter, many of our most beloved films owe a lot of success to their riveting classical scores. You can hear the Santa Cruz Symphony tackle these and other famous scores this Saturday night.
World’s Ocean Day
When: Saturday, 6/6 & Sunday, 6/7 at 10:00 am
Where: Seymour Marine Discovery Center
How Much: $6-$8, Children under 3, UCSC Undergrads, and FLML Members FREE
71 percent of our planet is made up of the ocean, and yet most people know little about it. Educate yourself and your family through interactive crafts and tours this weekend.
Pro-Am Beach Soccer’s 11th Annual Santa Cruz Open
When: Saturday, 6/6 & Sunday, 6/7 at 9:00 am
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
There’s a possibility that beach soccer will be included as a sport in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Get yourself ahead of the curve by checking out the talented teams at this year’s Santa Cruz Open.
10th Annual Capitola Rod & Custom Classic Car Show
Photo Credit: Paul & Terri Gregory
When: Saturday, 6/6 & Sunday, 6/7 at 9:00 am
Where: On the Esplanade in Capitola Village
How Much: Free
A wide variety of over 300 classic cars, from coupes to roadsters, will be on display at this weekend’s show. There will also be vendors, live music, a raffle, awards, and much more.
41st Annual Santa Cruz Pride Parade and Festival
When: Sunday, 6/7 from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where: Downtown Santa Cruz
How Much: Free
Over the years, Santa Cruz Pride has grown from a small gathering to a whole downtown celebration. Whether you’re a member of the LGBTQ community or a proud ally, you’re welcome to join in the fun and take advantage of downtown deals like 15 percent off beers at Lupulo.
34th Annual Avant Garden Party Benefit, featuring music & food of North Africa!
When: Sunday, 6/7 from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Where: “The Garden” 2701 Monterey Ave.
How Much: $10-$20
Support local musical troupe New Music Works and also enjoy Morrocon delicacies this Sunday, when the Avant Garden Party Benefit will welcome a wide range of talented musicians to the stage.
Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project
If there’s one place where you should be able to walk barefoot, it’s on the beach. Barefoot Wine and the Surfrider Foundation will join forces this weekend, and everyone in town is welcome to come help clean up, and attend the after party.
When: Sunday, 6/7 from 11:00 am – 3:30 pm
Where: Twin Lakes State Beach
How Much: Free
Hikes
- Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walks
- Old-Growth Redwood Walks
- Meteor Trail Hike
- Redwood Loop Walk
- The Road Less Traveled—A Dog-Friendly Walk
- Sense-O-Rama Hike!
Additional events this weekend
Friday:
- Tsunami at Crow’s Nest
- Pawn Shop Soul, Jelly Bread, GrooveSession
- Dead Recipe, Watergate Sandals
- Wonderland: Through The Looking Glass Again
- Women, Peace & Power – 100 Years: Meet the Activists
- Hillstomp
Friday & Saturday
- Mountain Community Theater Presents: “Madwoman of Chaillot”
- Raiders of the Lost Ark – Midnight Movie
Friday through Sunday
Saturday:
- Coastal Sage at Crow’s Nest
- Flor De Caña + Pellejo Seco
- Sun Maiden, David Dondero, And Hod
- Santa Cruz Dyke and Trans March
- Santa Cruz Core 6th Anniversary and Wellness Fair
- Summer Shenanigans with the Santa Cruz Socialites
- 34th Annual Nisene Marks Marathon
- Girls Rock Ride with Epicenter
- The Mountain Stomp
- Good Riddance
Saturday & Sunday
Sunday:
- Sunday Seaside Crafts
- First Sundays at San Lorenzo Park
- Meander
- Weekly XStream Beach Cleanup at Davenport Main Beach
- Cleanup Cowells Project
Recurring Events You Can Find Every Weekend
- Tours of the Reserve at Elkhorn Slough (weekly event – every Saturday & Sunday)
- Santa Cruz Farmers Markets (weekly events)
- Live Comedy at the Crow’s Nest (weekly event – every Sunday night)
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