What does this weekend bring besides rain? Plenty of mostly indoor options and one very large outdoor event on Saturday—Women’s March Santa Cruz County.
Be safe, stay dry, and have a wonderful weekend.
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
An Evening with Roxane Gay
When: 1/20 at 7:00 pm
Where: Veterans Memorial Building
Cost: Ticket packages are $27.19, and include one copy of Difficult Women and two tickets to the event
Roxane Gay, the author of best-selling essay collection Bad Feminist is back with her newest book Difficult Women, a collection of short stories of women from all walks of life. From an upperclass suburb to a women’s fight club, she takes a poignant look at what it means to be a woman in a modern world. Come for what is sure to be an inspiring and empowering discussion with the award-winning author, and bring you book to get signed!
3rd Friday: Power Hour Of Fun
When: 1/20 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: MAH
Cost: $10 General, $5 MAH Members
Yes you read that right, a whole hour devoted specifically to fun only. You may want to chuckle but this is serious stuff. The fun changes by the minute, literally. Get there early to warm-up and grab a drink at the bar, then let the games begin! For an hour straight you follow prompts from the facilitator that change every minute and include hide-and-go-seek, meditating, and arm wrestling with strangers. It’s sure to be a tiring but completely joyful evening filled with tons of giggles.
Also on Friday
- Stick Men @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Poor Man’s Whiskey @ Moe’s Alley
- MAITA with special guest Ismay @ Lille Aeske
- The Minds at The Catalyst Atrium @ The Catalyst
- The Messiahs plus Tsunami Band @ Don Quixote’s
- Uturn @ Crow’s Nest
- Valley Queen, Joe Kaplow @ The Crepe Place
- Fishhook ( Rock, Classic Rock) @ Severino’s
- Chencha, The Sea Wolves, Fulminante @ The Blue Lagoon
- 8 Tens @ 8 Short Play Festival @ Center Street Theater
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the Musical @ Rio Theatre
- Bag of Books for $5 @ California Grey Bears
Saturday
Women’s March Santa Cruz County
When: 1/21 from 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz City Hall – Pacific Avenue – Louden Nelson Community Center
The Women’s March Santa Cruz County coincides and is an extension of the Women’s March on Washington, DC. Participants (women, men, and children welcome) will gather at Santa Cruz City Hall for a sendoff that includes taiko drumming, speakers, and live music.
The march down Pacific Avenue will end at Louden Nelson where a lineup of speakers and musicians will convene for the protection of women’s rights, immigration rights, LGBTQ rights, and human rights.
Passport Celebration Days
When: 1/21 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: Various Wineries
Cost: $65
Passport Celebration Days are back again! On the third Saturday of January, April, July and November passport holders get access into more than 50 wineries throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains, even ones that are generally closed to the public. Once you purchase a passport, they’re valid for two years and each winery you visit gives you a commemorative stamp so you will have proof that you know more about wine than your friends. Start re-watching Somm and Somm:Into the Bottle on Netflix now in preparation for tasting note identification.
Beginnings at Our Adobe
When: 1/21 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Castro Adobe State Historic Park
Cost: Free Admission
Experience life as one of the first Spanish families living in California. Castro Adobe, the first State Historic Park in South County, will be open to the public for you and your family to explore and learn about the history of the early Castro family. Gather round with a cup of hot chocolate and listen to pioneering stories of both the Castros and the park itself.
Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz Super Swap
When: 1/21 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Verve Coffee Roasters – Bronson St.
Cost: $5 table space – $200 industry booth space – $5 Nubo beers – Verve Coffee
Got extra bikes parts that you would like to sell? This Super Swap located at Verve Coffee Roasters in Seabright, is your chance to sell some of those bike parts next to some big name bike companies like Santa Cruz Bicycles, FOX, Ibis Cycles and more. Perhaps you want to come and just check out the sweet merch! There will be fresh Verve coffee of course, and beer from NuBo so you san sip, browse and stay awhile. All proceeds go to MBoSC Trail Fund.
Also on Saturday
- RAGE THORMBONES: WORLDEATER + Zachary James Watkins @ Radius Gallery
- Michael Beckwith Coming to KickOff Inner Light’s 20-Year Anniversary @ Inner Light Center
- Samba Cruz: Jazz a la Brazil @ Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn
- Holly Near @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Greg Kihn Unplugged plus Jules @ Don Quixote’s
- The Leftovers @ Crow’s Nest
- Pasto Seco + Flor De Caña @ Moe’s Alley
- Sky Country (CD Release Party!), Dan Juan @ The Crepe Place
- Tsunami @ Severino’s
- Myer Clarity, The Taykeover, Three Dimensional Crew, 3 Headed Dragon, Sweatshop & Owl Green @ The Blue Lagoon
- Sin Sisters Burlesque @ The Catalyst
- Stand up Comedy & Improv- All Ages 8 and up! @ Kristy’s School of Dance
- Chian Mai Curry Pop-Up @
- 8 Tens @ 8 Short Play Festival @ Center Street Theater
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the Musical @ Rio Theatre
- Santa Cruz Fly Fisherman Club Annual Fundraiser @ Peace United Church of Christ, Santa Cruz
- Animal Shelter Relief Rescue Adoption Fair! @ Pet Pals Discount Pet Supplies
- Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College @ Cabrillo College
- Historic Photo Processes Forum @ MAH Boardroom
- Sunrise Photography Tours @ Año Nuevo State Park
- Guided Elephant Seal Walks @ Año Nuevo State Park
- Coffee Talk and Crafts @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Basket Making Workshop @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Winter Wildflower Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tour @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Old Cove Landing Coast Nature Walk @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Guided Redwood Grove Walk @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Sunday
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
When: 1/22 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Rio Theatre
Cost: $35.00 Gen, $55.00 Gold Circle
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a world renowned a capella vocal group from South Africa. They’ve been spreading their South African culture and music for several decades around the globe and have won countless singing competitions and awards, including a couple of Grammys. Hearing their uplifting music live offers a unique cultural experience that is sure to leave a smile on your face.
Where the Wild Things Are – 1st Year Anniversary Celebration
When: 1/22 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Where: Elkhorn Slough Brewing Co.
Cost: $45
Celebrate Elkhorn Slough Brewing Company’s first year anniversary! Delicious food from Ate3One will be paired with some amazing wild ales. If you haven’t visited the brewery yet, its a great warehouse space with some outdoor seating as well. They’ve got a good selection of beer too from American IPAs to sours, and a friendly staff that is happy to recommend a good pint. Come join them in their awesome celebration!
Also on Sunday
- Switchfoot & Relient K @ The Catalyst
- Toby Gray Highway Buddha @ The Reef Bar & Restaurant
- Joe Ferrara @ The Cats Restaurant & Bar
- Thank You Scientist and Consider The Source @ The Catalyst
- Café Musique & Dirty Cello @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Basket Case Magazine Issue #3
Release Party @ Don Quixote’s - Live Comedy @ Crow’s Nest
- Mark Hummel’s Ultimate Harmonica Blowout @ Moe’s Alley
- The Box @ The Blue Lagoon
- Sunday Seaside Crafts @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- 8 Tens @ 8 Short Play Festival @ Center Street Theater
- Guided Elephant Seal Walks @ Año Nuevo State Park
- Sunrise Photography Tours @ Año Nuevo State Park
- Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tour @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Guided Redwood Grove Walk @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods Hike! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Snakes Alive! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Featured Upcoming Event
What: Celebrate World Wetlands Day
Where: Upper Struve Slough in Watsonville
When: February 4 at 10:00 am
Celebrate World Wetlands Day in the Wetlands of Watsonville. Festivities include planting work (tools provided), free kids activities, and guided birding and nature walks. Free food and music to follow!
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