This weekend celebrates our community, from Choose Santa Cruz on Friday night to Open Streets on Sunday.
The surfing community gets a 2-day film festival AND a 2-day surf board show.
Plus, another fireworks display…how lucky are we?! Speaking of colorful sky shows, the monarchs are back and you’re invited to the party.
See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:
Friday
Santa Cruz Surf Film Festival
When: 10/7 – 10/8 from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm
Where: Rio Theatre
Cost: $16
In a town known for its surf culture, you’re sure to appreciate this collection of short films showcasing surfing around the world. Fantastic footage with beautiful locations, personal tales and daring, athletic feats await!
Choose Santa Cruz Pop up Market @ Cosmic Design
When: 10/7 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Where: Cosmic Studio, Downtown Santa Cruz
Cost: Free
If you choose Santa Cruz, you’ll want to choose this Pop-up Market to kick off your Friday night. This event celebrates life in Santa Cruz and features products and services from local businesses, including Hive and Hum, Childish, and Agency. You’ll also get first dibs on the Choose Santa Cruz coloring book featuring classic Santa Cruz sights.
Louden Nelson Center MURAL Celebration & Public Art Walking tour!
When: 10/7 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: Laurel Park
Cost: Free
Celebrate the renovation of a spectacular mural at the Louden Nelson Center. Scheduled speakers include the mural artist and local mural muses as well as the mayor who’ll tell you a bit about the center’s history. Free refreshments on hand. Following the speakers’ series, you’re sure to enjoy a stroll around downtown to gander at the myriad of public art.
Garden Railroad Open House
When: 10/7 from 3:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Fern Creek and Western Garden Railroad: 419 Ocean View Ave.
Cost: Free
All aboard! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to view working model trains in a garden setting filled with scale plants and structures. There will be snacks and beverages for people to enjoy while watching the trains.
Also on Friday
- First Friday Santa Cruz @ Downtown Santa Cruz
- Celebrating The Leatherback Sea Turtle @ Sanctuary Exploration Center, 35 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Art Twistory: Cemetery Art & Architecture @ Louden Nelson Community Center
- Free First Friday at the MAH @ Museum of Art and History
- Santa Cruz CORE Fitness + Rehab Semi-Private Training Core @ Santa Cruz CORE Fitness + Rehab
- Farm to Table Wine Dinner Series 2016 @ Chaminade Resort & Spa
- Nourishment and Inspiration Circles @ The Love House
- Argentine Tango Dancing @ Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center
- Watsonville Farmers Market @ Downtown Watsonville
- Watsonville Queer Youth Meet-up @ First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
- 11th Annual Capitola Foundation Charity Golf Tournament @
Seascape Golf Club - Fall 2016 Boy Scout Overnight @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Efi’s Dutch-indo @ Pop Up @ Pop Up
- Simple Life Instructions: Dada at Radius @ Radius Gallery
- The Mermen @ Don Quixote’s
- The John Michael Band @ Crow’s Nest
- Katdelic @ Moe’s Alley
- Time Spent Driving, Must Be The Holy Ghost @ The Crepe Place
- Hopsin @ The Catalyst
- Mina Y Su Sonora Dinamita @ The Catalyst
- Johnny Neri Band @ Severino’s
- Joe Ferrara @ Shadowbrook Restaurant
Want to see all the best events in Santa Cruz every weekend? Click here to get these Weekend Roundup posts delivered straight to your inbox.Saturday
The Boardroom International Surfboard Show
When: 10/8 – 10/9 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Where: Kaiser Permanente Arena
Cost: $10 in advance / $15 at the door / Kids 10 & under FREE
Kaiser Permanente Arena will be chock-full of surf gear and surfing community. Come down and gawk at the latest accessories, craftsmanship and technology. Besides exhibits, there will be demos, seminars and deals to be had.
22nd Annual Lobster Feed – SOLD OUT
When: 10/8 from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Cost: General Ticket:$75, VIP Ticket:$100
Lobster in the redwoods? Why not! A ticket to the the 22nd Annual Lobster Feed Fundraiser will get you a 1.5 lb. fresh Maine lobster along with corn-on-the-cob, garlic bread, salad, dessert and coffee. Can you say yum for a good cause? Highway One supplies bluegrass tunes ambiance. Sounds like a good night to us!
Open Studios Art Tour Weekend Two
When: 10/8 – 10/9 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Various locations
Cost: Free
Open Studios is an invitation into the creative workspaces of local artists throughout the county. Plot your own self-guided tour or simply follow the green signs around town. This weekend showcases North county artists. If you missed South County artists last weekend, stay tuned for Encore Weekend October 15th & 16th.
Hard Core Cider Tour: Santa Cruz
When: 10/8 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: San Lorenzo Park
Cost: GENERAL ADMISSION, Online: $40, At The Door: $50 / G.A. GROUP RATE (4+) Online: $30/person At The Door: $40/person / Designated Driver $10.00
Hard cider lovers, head on down to San Lorenzo Park for an afternoon of unlimited craft cider sampling. Food trucks, live music, and jumbo lawn games complete this cider celebration. As part of their commitment to reinvesting in the local community, The Hard Core Cider Tour will be raising funds for Life Lab.
Thomas and Percy’s Halloween Party
When: 10/8 – 10/9
Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
Cost: $24
Straight from the Island of Sodor, Thomas the Tank Engine and his buddy Percy are hosting a Halloween party that includes a 20-minute train ride, storytelling and video viewing, temporary tattoos, arts and crafts, a pumpkin patch, and the opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt!
Santa Cruz Surf Film Festival
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Saturday
- Stylust Beats, ill-esha & PartyWave @ Moe’s Alley
- Sherry Austin & Henhouse w/Sugar By The Pound @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Sap Laughter, The Jolly Llamas, Sparrow @ The Crepe Place
- Hippie Sabotage @ The Catalyst
- Sin Sisters Burlesque @ The Catalyst
- Patio Acoustic’s with Bret Fowler @ Severino’s
- B-Movie Kings @ Severino’s
- Jackie Zealous, Manorlady & Moonbeaux @ The Blue Lagoon
- Claudio Melega in the Rockroom Lounge @ Shadowbrook Restaurant
- Soquel High Class of 76 40 Year Reunion @ Severino’s
- Jackie Zealous, Manorlady & Moonbeaux @ the Blue Lagoon @ Blue Lagoon
- The Houserockers @ Don Quixote’s
- FishHook @ Crow’s Nest
- Aptos Farmers Markets @ Cabrillo College
- Scotts Valley Farmers Market @ Scotts Valley Community Center
- Westside Farmers Market @ Delaware Ave. and Natural Bridges Drive
- River Health Day @ San Lorenzo Park
- Semi-Private Training Core @ Santa Cruz CORE Fitness + Rehab
- Animal Shelter Relief Rescue Adoption Fair @ PetSmart
- Santa Cruz LGBTQ Youth Meet-up @ Diversity Center
- Trans Girls Group (12-18) @ Diversity Center
- Agricultural History Project – 2nd Saturday on the Farm @ Agricultural History Museum
- La Sofrita @ Hey Pop Up @ Pop Up
- Dip and Dash Aquathlon #3 @ Cowell Beach and West Cliff Pathway
- Thriller Dance Class @ Louden Nelson Community Center
- Free “Home Composting with Worms” Workshop
Learn from a Master Composter @ San Lorenzo Garden Center - Fall 2016 Boy Scout Overnight @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Simple Life Instructions: Dada at Radius @ Radius Gallery
- Volunteer with the Trail Crew @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Guided Redwood Grove Walk @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods Hike! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walk @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Snake Park Saturday @ Rancho del Oso Unit
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
Open Streets Santa Cruz
When: 10/9 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Where: West Cliff Drive from Lighthouse Field to Natural Bridges State Park
Cost: Free
What a treat! Two miles of scenic West Cliff Drive becomes purely pedestrian for the first part of the day. Bring the kids and ride bikes, skateboards or scooters. Bring toys. Have a picnic. Dogs on leash welcome. Enjoy!
Corralitos Open Farm Tours MarketPlace
When: 10/9 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Alladin Nursery & Gift Shop
Cost: Free
Come celebrate local farm-based community with fresh artisan food, local wines and live music. Food preservation demos will teach you how to make sauerkraut and pickle veggies. Feeling crafty? Bring a shirt to make a screen print. There will also be a hand-blown pumpkin patch to peruse.
Welcome Back Monarchs Day!
When: 10/9 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Natural Bridges State Beach
Cost: Free Admission. Day-use parking is $10
Every year at this time, the Monarch butterflies return to Natural Bridges State Park. You will also start to see the bright, beautiful creatures all over town. This event celebrates their arrival with arts and crafts, kids’ games, live music, pumpkin ice cream and lots of info about the butterflies.
Monte Foundation 22nd Anniversary Fireworks Extravaganza
When: 10/9 at 8:00 pm (approx.)
Where: Capitola Village
Cost: Free Admission
Get ready for another weekend fireworks show, this time in Capitola Village. Bring your beach chairs and warm layers and pack your snacks and bevies. Plop your spot on the beach, bluffs or wharf and enjoy the colorful sky show.
The Boardroom International Surfboard Show
See Description Under Saturday Section
Open Studios Art Tour Weekend Two
See Description Under Saturday Section
Also on Sunday
- Lucy Wainwright Roche & Suzzy Roche @ Don Quixote’s
- Ian Moore plus JnJ Dynamite @ Don Quixote’s
- Live Comedy @ Crow’s Nest
- MOSHE VILOZNY – CD Release w/ Gary Kehoe, Dan Robbins, Jim Lewin, Boaz Vilozny + Peter Harper @ Moe’s Alley
- Cole Plays (Nat King) Cole @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Chris Smither @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Open Bluegrass Jam @ The Crepe Place
- Marc Broussard @ Rio Theatre
- The Game @ The Catalyst
- Eric Hutchinson @ The Catalyst
- Rich & The Rhythm Roustabouts at Swing Set Lounge @ Pacific Arts Complex
- The Road Less Traveled – A Dog-Friendly Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Berry Creek Falls Hike @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods Hike! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Meteor Trail Hike @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Nature Wander @ Rancho del Oso Unit
- Sunday Seaside Crafts @ Seymour Center
- Younger Lagoon Reserve Tour @ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Downtown Santa Cruz Antique Fair @ Downtown Farmers’ Market
- Surf City AIDS Ride @ The Superior Court of California-Santa Cruz Courthouse
- Trans Men Peer Support Group @ Diversity Center
- NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: THE DEEP BLUE SEA (NR) @ Del Mar Theater
- Catherine Newman, Catastrophic Happiness @ Bookshop Santa Cruz
- Simple Life Instructions: Dada at Radius @ Radius Gallery
- Thomas and Percy’s Halloween Party! @ Roaring Camp Railroads
- Santa Cruz CORE Fitness + Rehab Semi-Private Training Recovery @ Santa Cruz CORE Fitness + Rehab
- Santa Cruz CORE Fitness + Rehab All-Levels Yoga @ Santa Cruz CORE Fitness + Rehab
- All Faith/Atheist Peace Party Night @ Garfield Park Community Church
- Corralitos Farm and Garden Market @ Corralitos Cultural Center
- Live Oak Farmers Market @ 15th Ave. and Eastcliff Dr.
Featured Upcoming Event
What: Evening on the Rooftop to benefit Salud y Cariño
Where: Community Foundation of Santa Cruz, Aptos
When: Saturday, October 15, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Enjoy live music, dinner catered by Ella’s at the Airport and The Salad Shoppe, and a silent auction with great items from local businesses. Your support goes toward funding Salud y Cariño, a free after school group for middle school girls in Live Oak.
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