This weekend brings a lot of great live music, including one of the areas biggest and most popular outdoor music festivals.
Bargain hunters will be delighted by the massive city-wide garage sale, and kids have a couple of fun outdoor events to enjoy as well.
Read on to see our picks for the best events in Santa Cruz this weekend.
A Tribute to Van Morrison
When: Friday, 5/29 at 8:00 pm
Where: Kuumbwa Jazz
How Much: $17-$20
Grab your favorite “Brown Eyed Girl” and head over to the Kuumbwa Jazz Center, where some talented local musicians will pay tribute to this Irish master of rock and R&B.
EXTRA LARGE plus Sweet HayaH
When: Friday, 5/29 at 8:00 pm
Where: Don Quixote’s International Music Hall
How Much: $10
Extra Large essentially takes every genre of music that’s fun to dance to – funk, hip hop, Latin, rock and more – and melds them into one infectious style. As soon as they take the stage at Don Quixote’s, you’ll be jumping out of your seat.
Delaveaga Elementary’s Annual Spring Carnival
When: Friday, 5/29 from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Delaveaga Elementary
How Much: Free
Enjoy games, food, face painting, prizes and more as you support a great local school this Friday evening. We may be transitioning into Summer, but it’s never a bad time for a Spring festival.
Stu Allen & Mars Hotel: Grateful Dead Tribute
When: Saturday, 5/30 at 8:30 pm
Where: Don Quixote’s International Music Hall
How Much: $15
A weekend in Santa Cruz just wouldn’t be complete without a tribute to the Grateful Dead happening somewhere in the area. This weekend, you can find it at Don Quixote’s, where Bay Area favorites Stu Allen & Mars Hotel will invoke the Dead’s golden era.
Community Rental: Shakespeare to Go Presents “As You Like It”
When: Saturday, 5/30 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Where: Abbott Square
How Much: Free
It was Shakespeare who once wrote that “All the world’s a stage,” so it’s fitting that Shakespeare to Go performs the bard’s classic works all over the Santa Cruz area. You can catch them at the MAH performing one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies this Saturday.
Music @ the Mission: Mylo Jenkins Concert
When: Saturday, 5/30 from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
How Much: Free
Experience a slice of Santa Cruz history alongside great entertainment when you hear to Music @ the Mission. This weekend, local Americana band Mylo Jenkins will perform.
Monterey Bay Youth Outdoor Day
When: Saturday, 5/30 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
How Much: Free
This special day is all about getting kids, involved in the many natural wonders available in our own backyard. There will be games and a raffle, and the whole family is welcome.
2015 Beach Soccer Championships Series
When: Saturday, 5/30 & Sunday, 5/31
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The FIFA Women’s World Cup is coming up in June, but you don’t have to wait that long to see some awesome soccer action. Our very own Boardwalk will host the beach soccer championship, a test of both skill and endurance, this coming weekend.
Santa Cruz Citywide Garage Sale
When: Saturday, 5/30 & Sunday, 5/31
Where: Homes throughout Santa Cruz
Everybody likes a good garage sale, and this weekend will be chock full of them. Whether you want to get rid of some old furniture, buy a secondhand TV, or just browse the eclectic knick knacks other people have collected, this weekend is the time to do it.
Here’s a handy map of all participating yard sales.
Redwood Mountain Faire
When: Saturday, 5/30 & Sunday, 5/31
Where: Roaring Camp
How Much: $15-$25, Kids 12 and under are free with a parent/legal guardian
Santa Cruz has played host to some awesome festivals so far this year, but this one might be the best one yet. Local and Bay Area favorites like the California Honeydrops and Afrolicious will lead this fun filled, family friendly two day musical event.
Mountain Sol Festival Pre-Party Live in The Atrium GOLDEN GATE WINGMEN
When: Sunday, 5/31 at 9:00 pm
Where: The Catalyst Club
How Much: $20-$25
Fans of the Dead and jam bands won’t want to miss this concert. The Golden Gate Wingmen features former members of Phil Lesh & Friends, Primus and Further. Head over to the Catalyst this Sunday and you just might feel like you’ve been transported to San Francisco in the late 60s.
Corinne West & The Bandits: OFFICIAL REDWOOD MOUNTAIN FAIRE AFTER PARTY
When: Sunday, 5/31 at 7:00 pm
Where: Don Quixote’s International Music Hall
How Much: $10
A music festival as big as Redwood Mountain Faire is likely to bring with it the deflated feeling one experiences after big vacations or on January 2nd. But you can delay that feeling a bit longer by rocking out at Don Quixote’s after party, featuring the musical stylings of Corinne West & The Bandits.
Upcoming Events
Summer is just around the corner, so it feels appropriate to share two of Santa Cruz’s most popular recurring summer events. One begins this Thursday, the other next month, and they’re both a lot of fun.
See you on the beach! 😉
Crow’s Nest Beach Parties
Every Thursday evening from Memorial Day through Labor Day you can soak up amazing views, eat BBQ, and listen to great live music at the Crow’s Nest Beach Parties.
Bands on the Beach
A favorite Santa Cruz summer event series, Free Friday Night Bands on the Beach at the Boardwalk begins on June 19th.
Hikes
- Redwood Loop Walk
- The Road Less Traveled—A Dog-Friendly Walk
- Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walks
- Old-Growth Redwood Walks
- Hike to Buzzard’s Roost
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods!
Additional events this weekend
Friday:
- Beetlejuice – Midnight Movie
- Back to Nowhere at the Crow’s Nest
- The Sam Chase, The McCoy Tyler Band, Merry Gold
- Great Spirit, Getaway Dogs
- Trampled By Turtles, The Record Company
- Opera: “The Little Prince”
- Cabrillo College MOD exhibits reception
Friday & Saturday
Friday through Sunday
- Downtown Sidewalk Sales
- The Art of Nature Exhibit
- Mountain Community Theater Presents: “Madwoman of Chaillot”
Saturday:
- Phenology Walk Workshop
- Pawn Shop Soul at the Crow’s Nest
- Whitey Morgan & The 78’s
- Eilen Jewell
- The Tumbleweed Wanderers, White Chocolate, Painted Horses
- Dizzy Wright, Jahni Denver
- Kresge presents PRIDE
Saturday & Sunday
- Big Basin Nature Club (kids 3-6)
- Wilder Ranch Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tours
- Dance concert: Splinters in Our Ankles
Sunday:
- Sundays in San Lorenzo Park
- Community Rental: Invention At Play
- Weekly XStream Beach Cleanup at Davenport Main Beach
- Cabrillo Chorale presents Performance of Mendelssohn’s epic masterwork Elijah, with orchestra!
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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