St. Patrick’s Day gets the weekend off to festive start. There will be pipes and fiddles, corned beef and cabbage, Guiness and Irish Coffee all around town on Friday.
Enjoy family time on Saturday with a Warriors game, a Venezuelan concert for kids, a celebration of the Castro Adobe State Historic Park, and a chance to learn how to make a cozy sweater out of sheep’s wool!
And Sunday may be your last chance to enjoy the outdoors before a rainy week.
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
Santa Cruz Warriors vs. Texas Legends
When: 3/17 at 7:00 pm
Where: Kaiser Permanente Arena
Cost: $23 – $77
Watch the Santa Cruz Warriors take on the Texas Legends at the Kaiser Arena on Casey Hill Bobblehead night. This family friendly event is always a good time. Grab some snacks and drinks and settle into your bleacher seats for an exciting game of slam dunks and buzzer beaters. Hopefully the luck of the Irish rubs off on our Warriors and they finish with a win!
Words Dressed & Undressed: Women, Aging & Identity
When: 3/17 at 7:30 pm, 3/18 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Where: Center Street Theater
Cost: $35
This one woman, multi-media production takes an eye opening and inspiring look at what it means to be a woman in today’s world. Local author and artist, Patrice Vecchione puts together a collection of funny and poignant stories that address womanhood today, covering topics such as aging, fashion, beauty and identity. Reception to follow the show!
Art of Santa Cruz “OPEN HOUSE”
When: 3/17 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Art of Santa Cruz (in the Capitola Mall)
Cost: Free Admission
Get familiar with the amazing art of Santa Cruz County artists! Tour the ASC gallery located in the Capitola Mall and admire the variety of fine and functional art created by the community. You never know, you might just find that perfect unique gift you’ve been looking for, or that special piece for your home. Donations will be accepted at the event for the March Charity,the SPCA.
YoniVerse Monologues – An Evening Of True Life Storytelling, Told By The Courageous Women Who Lived Them
When: 3/17 & 3/18 at 8:00 pm
Where: Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Cost: $25
What if inside every woman there was a story waiting to be told? That is what the Yoniverse asks. Come experience a cast of women of all ages and from all backgrounds tell their courageous stories. This intimate event is real and raw, a great experience for both women, men and young adults.
St. Paddy’s Party Molly’s Revenge 17 year Anniversary Celebration
When: 3/17 at 8:00 pm
Where: Don Quixote’s
Cost: $17 adv. /$20 door seated
Join Molly’s Revenge for an epic St. Patrick’s Day celebration. This is your typical infectious, fun, acoustic Celtic band with bag pipes and fiddles, the whole shebang. Dance to traditional Irish and Scottish music and arrive early for a corned beef and cabbage feast.
Happy St. Patrick’s! w/ Post Street Rhythm Peddlers
When: 3/17 at 9:00 pm
Where: Crow’s Nest
Cost: $6
If you’d prefer to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with ocean views and a little New Orleans Jazz, head on over to the Crow’s Nest for shoreline decks, great cocktails, award wining food, and hot jazz!
Marty O’Reilly & The Old Soul Orchestra
When: 3/17 at 9:00 pm
Where: Moe’s Alley
Cost: $12 advance, $15 day of show
Experience the soulful, yearning sound of Marty O’Reilly & The Old Soul Orchestra. They’ve been described as composed of unlikely combinations and the best kind of contradictions. Encompassing gospel blues, folk, gritty rock, and beautiful melodies that will put you in a trance.
More St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations:
- Elkhorn Slough Brewing Co.
- Zelda’s on the Beach
- Britannia Arms of Capitola
- Shadowbrook Restaurant
- Rosie McCann’s Irish Pub and Restaurant
- Gayle’s Bakery
- St. Patty’s Green Foods Party for Kids @ New Leaf Community Markets
Also on Friday
- KaTs @ Zizzo’s Coffeehouse and Wine Bar
- Linda Tillery & the Freedom Band @ Inner Light Center
- Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys @ The Catalyst
- Red Store Bums the Luck of the Ska! @ The Blue Lagoon
- The Redlight District, 100 Watt Mind @ The Crepe Place
- Shotgun Suitor @ Severino’s
- The Catalyst Film – a historical documentary @ Rio Theatre
- Jewel Theatre Presents: The Dance of Death @ The Colligan Theater
- Pacific Collegiate School Spring Musical: Spring Awakening @ The Ow Building (old Wrigley bldng)
- Mountain Community Theater Presents: The Lion In Winter @ Park Hall COMMUNITY NIGHT
- St. Joseph’s Capitola Fish Fry @ St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
- 3rd Friday: Poetry and Book Arts @ MAH
- Guided Elephant Seal Walks @ Año Nuevo State Park
Saturday
Sheep to Shawl Fiber Arts Fair
When: 3/18 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Where: Live Earth Farm
Cost: $15/car
Bring the family and enjoy a day of learning how wool gets made into clothing and art. Hands-on activities include shearing, dyeing, spinning, weaving, and more. Plus, there will be a lamb petting area, live music, and lunch!
Santa Cruz Warriors vs. Texas Legends
When: 3/18 at 7:00 pm
Where: Kaiser Permanente Arena
Cost: $23 – $56
Join the Warriors on Rally Towel Night this Saturday. This is the Warriors second to last home game of the season so be sure to come out and cheer them on as they make their final push for the playoffs.
New Bohemia Brewing 2nd Anniversary
When: 3/18 from 1:00 to 9:00 pm
Where: New Bohemia Brewing
Cost: Free admission (donations gratefully accepted)
New Bohemia Brewing is celebrating their 2nd anniversary this Saturday by releasing two of their celebrated beers; On Point Czech Lager (the first beer they ever brewed), and Monkey Business Dunkelweizen (their GABF medal winning brew). Enjoy live music, food popups, giveaways, and happy hour prices all day long.
Luck O’ the Castros
When: 3/18 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Castro Adobe State Historic Park
Cost: Free admission (donations gratefully accepted)
Those Castros must have been pretty lucky. Their adobe should have crumbled from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, but it still stands today! Enjoy refreshments and get a peak at the work that went into keeping this one-of-a-kind family home intact as one of Pajaro Valley’s state historic parks.
Venezuelan Music Project – Tandy Beal’s ArtSmart Family Concert Series
When: 3/18 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building
Cost: Child Single Ticket – $10.00, Adult Single Ticket – $15.00
ArtSmart Family Concerts are a great opportunity for children to share music from around the world with their family. The series features music and dance from a variety of cultures and this event brings music from Venezuela with award winning musicians combining influences from West Africa, Europe and Indigenous-Venezuelan.
A limited number of free admission passes are available to this series through Santa Cruz Public Libraries’ Discover & Go program.
Words Dressed & Undressed: Women, Aging & Identity
See Description Under Friday Section
YoniVerse Monologues – An Evening Of True Life Storytelling, Told By The Courageous Women Who Lived Them
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Saturday
- California Roots Presents: THE HOLDUP @ The Catalyst
- Esoteric Collective @ Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn
- Joan Lowden @ Zizzo’s Coffeehouse and Wine Bar
- Foreveland An Electrifying 14 Piece Tribute to Michael Jackson @ Don Quixote’s
- The Leftovers @ Crow’s Nest
- SPIRIT OF 76 Featuring Sunshine Becker @ Moe’s Alley
- Edge of the West @ The Crepe Place
- Tsunami (Classic Rock, R&B) @ Severino’s
- Hemotoxin, Drowning In The Platte, Horde Of Draugar, Decimate The Opposition, Disvein @ The Blue Lagoon
- Paula Poundstone Headlines the Rio Theatre – SOLD OUT
- Sin Sisters Burlesque @ The Catalyst
- Jewel Theatre Presents: The Dance of Death @ The Colligan Theater
- Pacific Collegiate School Spring Musical: Spring Awakening @ The Ow Building (old Wrigley bldng)
- Mountain Community Theater Presents: The Lion In Winter @ Park Hall
- Beginner’s Genealogy Workshop @ Santa Cruz Public Libraries – Downtown Branch
- City of Watsonville Nature Walks @ City of Watsonville – Nature Center
- Animal Shelter Relief Rescue Adoption Fair @ Pet Pals Discount Pet Supplies
- Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College @ Cabrillo College
- Copacabana Symphony League Gala @ Back Nine Restaurant
- Senior Spring Fling @ Louden Nelson Community Center
- Junior Guards Night with the Warriors! @ Kaiser Permanente Arena
- Guided Elephant Seal Walks @ Año Nuevo State Park
- Coffee Talk and Crafts @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Winter Wildflower Walk! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Guided Redwood Grove Walk @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Old Cove Landing Coast Nature Walk @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Shadowbrook Stroll @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Story Time Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Nature’s Reading Room @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tour @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Hymns & Chants @ Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Choose Your Own Adventure Tour @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Sunday
Travel Photography Workshop
When: Sunday 3/19 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: Cabrillo College
Cost: $76 plus $15 materials fee
This workshop is for anyone about to embark on a travel adventure and interested in taking better photos to document their experience. Learn tried and true techniques for shooting architecture, landscape, people, night photography, and “selfies”. Bring your camera, manual, and questions!
Mountain Community Theater Presents: “The Lion in Winter”
When: 3/10 – 4/2 – check website for times
Where: Park Hall in Ben Lomond
Cost: $20 General Admission / $17 Students and Seniors
Mountain Community Theater takes us to 12th century France during the reign of Henry II. Enjoy a local theater production of the Academy Award-winning film adaptation by James Goldman. Sunday’s matinee features a Q&A with the cast and director post show.
Also on Sunday
- The Reunion Beatles Fantasy Tribute To The Beatles @ Don Quixote’s
- Live Comedy @ Crow’s Nest
- Bob Corritore & the Big Jon Atkinson Band @ Moe’s Alley
- Laurence Juber @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- The Box @ The Blue Lagoon
- Joe Ferrara @ The Cats Restaurant & Bar
- Danny Driver performs Ligeti Etudes and Debussy Images @ Peace United Church of Christ, Santa Cruz
- ELVIS DEPRESSEDLY @ The Catalyst
- For Women: Get Your Soul on the Agenda featuring S Factor Sensuous Feminine Movement @ Tannery Cultural Center
- Watershed Workday: Moore Creek Habitat Restoration @ Natural Bridges State Beach
- Science Sunday Hofagie Laamle: Tradition, Culture, Science, and Marine Conservation @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Sunday Seaside Crafts @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Cleanup Cowells Project @ Cowell Beach
- Jewel Theatre Presents: The Dance of Death @ The Colligan Theater
- Pacific Collegiate School Spring Musical: Spring Awakening @ The Ow Building (old Wrigley bldng)
- Guided Elephant Seal Walks @ Año Nuevo State Park
- What’s that Bird? @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tour @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods Hike! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Guided Redwood Grove Walk @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Featured Upcoming Event
What: The 2017 NEXTies
Where: Rio Theatre
When: Friday, March 24 from 6:30 pm to 8:45 pm
Cost: $20 – $30
This year, The Nexties are going to the next level. The expanded awards show includes 17 categories honoring the best and brightest in Santa Cruz. There will be a pre-party at Tomboy, live music from The Coffis Brothers, Taylor Rae and McCoy Tyler, food for purchase from The Food Lounge’s once monthly Night Market, and beer from New Bohemia Brewing Co.
Congrats to all of this year’s honorees!
Click here to see the full list of honorees & to purchase tickets.
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