Santa Cruz Good Times

Events this Week and Beyond
Need something to do? Read about what events are not to be missed.
Also see our area featured music page >
BLUE Ocean Film Festival

 

 

 

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Wednesday | July 28

Capitola Twilight Concert - schedule
Esplanade Park Featuring: The Hi-Rhythm Hustlers (50's Rock & Roll)

 

Friday | July 30

Eddie Money - Friday Nights at The Boardwalk
Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz. 831-423-5590 or beachboardwalk.com  Friday fun. Never hurts to kick off the end of the week by seeing a show with a classic rock band and their favorite hits on the famous Boardwalk. This is an ideal, family-friendly free event, complete with two shows each Friday night. 6:30pm and 8:30pm. June through Sept. 3. Beach Boardwalk

Saturday | July 31

Summer Tree Pruning GET your GREEN FIX
Though we’re inundated with lessons telling us that cutting down trees is a no-no, there is an exception—sort of. Being “green” also means maintaining your trees so that they’re not just alive, but healthy—even when the flourishing sunny season has passed. After all, you can’t be sustainable if your fruit trees aren’t providing you tasty offerings in ample supply. The Summer Fruit Tree Pruning lecture and demo features green thumb experts sharing just what to do with your one tree, or expansive orchard, before fall hits and your leaves, well, leave. Get in tune with the right way to prune. | Linda Koffman
INFO: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. UCSC Farm, UCSC. $20. 459-3376 or casfs.ucsc.edu.


Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge
Sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Cycling Club, the 12th Annual Mountains Challenge is definitely not for the faint of heart. Bystanders will be able to watch cyclists as they choose from two of the grueling courses: the Century Challenge and the Metric Century Challenge. In a staggering 100-mile course, the Century Challenge will find riders biking from the redwoods to the ocean with an impressive 11,000-foot elevation route as they ride from Scotts Valley through Bonny Doon, down to scenic West Cliff Drive, only to climb back to the beginning. In the equally challenging Metric Century course, riders will travel 65 miles as they cut across some of the same roads as the Century Challenge only with the added bonus of calf-busting switchbacks and steep descents. Onlookers will have plenty of photo opportunities as they cheer on their favorite riders. | Mat Weir
INFO: 6:30 a.m. Starts at Scotts Valley High School, 555 Glenwood Drive, Scotts Valley. For more info and map routes, go to santacruzcycling.org/scmc.
Photo Credit: Grace Voss


Five Deadly Venoms
Surprise, Brooklyn’s got one emerging bluegrass scene, and the Five Deadly Venoms represent the New York City borough with freewheeling acoustic interplay that sounds like it’s straight out of Appalachia. But there are some Santa Cruz roots: Founding mandolin player, Elio Schiavo studied jazz improvisation and arranging at Cabrillo College, and this week returns to exhibit how those skills have morphed into a reputable bluegrass force since he honed them alongside Ray Brown. Fusion newgrass won’t be the subject of the night—expect classic country harmonies and intricate, spirited (yet soothing) instrumentation that can calm any bustling city soul. | LK
INFO: 8 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $16/adv, $19/door. 427-2227.

Saturday/Sun. | July 31./Aug. 1

Watsonville Strawberry Festival
We’ve all had the thought—that secret desire to plunge our faces into the juicy sugary happiness of a berry pie. Social etiquette makes this dream nearly impossible, but there is one time of year when this dream can become a reality, free of judgment. And that's during the Watsonville Strawberry Festival, now in its 16th year in historic Downtown Watsonville. The festival celebrates all things strawberry, including a pie eating contest, plenty of strawberry shortcake, a “Berry Go Round” for the kids, with live music and entertainment. Indulge your taste buds, get your groove on and brush up on your strawberry knowledge all at once at an event that is always a sweet success. | Raya Heffernan
INFO: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Downtown Watsonville, 350 Main St., Watsonville. Free. mbsf.com.

Wednesday | August 4

Junior Boogie: Capitola Twilight Concert
As part of the ongoing Twilight Concert Series in Capitola, where every Wednesday there is a different featured artist, this week get ready to get down with the harmonica playing and blues stomping of Junior Boogie. Having opened up for everyone from Johnny Winter to hip-hop’s Dead Prez, the local harp master first picked up the harmonica at the spritely age of 15 and never looked back; pounding out soulfully rich songs in the thick gravy of down-home blues. His songs reflects life on the road, the wild antics and pain of love, and he even throws in some classic covers to delight every music connoisseur. | MW
INFO: 6-8 p.m. Esplanade Park, Esplanade Ave., Capitola. Free. schedule

Thursday | August 5

BLUE Ocean Film Festival - Free poster & complimentary popcorn
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the City of Santa Cruz’s Economic Development & Redevelopment Agency will host an evening of ocean films to preview the BLUE Ocean Film Festival coming to Monterey in August. The event at Del Mar Theatre will be a fundraiser to contribute to educational exhibits at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center, opening in 2012 in Santa Cruz (Pacific Avenue and Beach Street) Tickets are $20. Filmgoers will receive a free poster and complimentary popcorn. The evening of film will include presentations on the Sanctuary Exploration Center by officials from the City of Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.  Films include The Cost of Oil and Wild Ocean.
Info: 7:15pm Del Mar Theatre 1124 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz. .  Tickets at door or online thenick.com
August 24-29: Monterey Bay: BLUE Ocean Film Festival venues around Monterey Peninsula blueoceanfilmfestival.org

Ongoing

Circo Brazil July 11-Aug 19
Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz. 831-426-7433 or beachboardwalk.com  This inventive outing features a number of live performances by Brazilian dancers and acrobats. It’s free—daily.

Plein Air ART SEEN
If you want to relax and take in a wide breadth of fresh plein air, the Pajaro Valley Arts Council is currently catering to your needs with its latest showing at its Watson-ville gallery. An exhibit that includes glimpses into environments protected by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, “Plein Air: Connecting with the Land” presents the work of 60 local artists who have transferred the great outdoors onto canvases for public viewing. Water colors, pastels, oils and acrylics were all used to interpret the wild—and even remote—spots marked for preservation. | LK
INFO: Exhibit runs through Aug. 15. Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery, 37 Sudden St., Watsonville. pvarts.org.

Evenings by the Bay GET your GREEN FIX
Think fish are all there is to see at the aquarium? Think again. From now until Sept. 5, the Monterey Jazz Festival will host its annual “Evenings by the Bay” concert series on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Gallery. The 20-performance series will feature live jazz from local musicians like saxophonist Roger Eddy, trumpeter Dave Hoffman, pianist Bill Spencer, bassist Pete Lips and flautist Kenny Stahl, as well as students from the festival’s education programs. Still not convinced? As if the music isn’t relaxing enough, you can meander through the aquarium with fewer crowds and a glass of Pinot Noir from the wine and beer bar. | Jenna Brogan
INFO: 6-8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 5. Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Gallery on the first floor. Free with paid admission. 648-4800 or montereybayaquarium.org.

Myra Eastman ART SEEN
Bringing an artistic interpretation of voting to the County Government Center, Myra Eastman’s vivid paintings translate the seemingly sterile polling environment into provocative, timely pieces. Featured alongside mixed-media works by fellow local artists Jan McGeorge (plein air pastels), Carol Webb (jewelry), Dana Weigand (abstract oil paintings), and Melissa West (linoleum block prints), Eastman’s gouache on wood series of election-themed paintings is currently brightening up the Center’s walls with carefully crafted insights into the simple yet powerful act of visiting the ballot box. | LK

INFO: Exhibit runs through August 19. County Government Center, 701 Ocean St., Santa Cruz. 1st and 5th Floors. Free. 475-9600 or myraeastman.com.

First Friday Art Tour firstfridaysantacruz.com The First Friday Art Tour is a Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Arts event, managed in conjunction with the participating art venues. The event takes place year-round and illuminates some of the most talented local artists from local galleries. Log on to the event website for full details, but this one is a must-do. (Most First Friday galleries are open between noon and 9pm.)
See events through 2011 below...

Seasonal
Wednesday Night Sailboat Races
Santa Cruz Harbor, Santa Cruz, 831-425-0690 or scyc.org  Sailboats race against the backdrop of the setting sun. The perfect setting. Begins at 6:30pm. June through October.

Friday Nights at The Boardwalk
Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz. 831-423-5590 or beachboardwalk.com  Friday fun. Never hurts to kick off the end of the week by seeing a show with a classic rock band and their favorite hits on the famous Boardwalk. This is an ideal, family-friendly free event, complete with two shows each Friday night. 6:30pm and 8:30pm. June through Sept. 3. Beach Boardwalk

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July

July/23–Aug/15
Cabaret
Cabrillo Crocker Theater, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 831-479-6154 or cabrillostage.com  It won 12 Tony Awards and generated some of the best music to come out of Broadway more than 30 years ago, so expect this outing to be fueled with amazing achievements. Cabrillo Stage always impresses but this show is not to be missed!

July/20-Aug/29
Shakespeare Santa Cruz
1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, 831-459-2121, shakespearesantacruz.org  Impressive and inventive. SSC delivers on all fronts. This revered festival continues to impress with its diverse talent and imaginative ways to stage its shows. On the roster this year: “The Lion in Winter,” “Othello” and “Love’s Labour’s Lost.”

July/31 & Aug/1
Fine Arts Festival
3535 N. Main St., Soquel 831-475-2258 or bargetto.com Art and wine and more art, then more wine. A great day at Bargetto Winery. 11am-5pm.  (Check out the Thursday night music series!)

August

Aug/1-15
Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music
Civic Auditorium, Downtown Santa Cruz, 831-426-6966, cabrillomusic.org  Marin Alsop returns to conduct some of the most impressive music in the country. She also wins points for bringing in a dynamic posse of performers who do quite a bit on their own, too. This internationally revered  event is simply top-notch. Take note of the free family concerts and the Music In the Mission series, too.

July 31-Aug/1
Monterey Bay Strawberry Festival
Visit mbsf.com for more information  Sponsored by the color red, you can find more strawberries—and clever concoctions thereof—than you can imagine.

Aug/4
Wednesday Night Sailboat Races
Santa Cruz Harbor, Santa Cruz, 831-425-0690 or scyc.orG  Sailboats race against the backdrop of the setting sun. The perfect setting.. Begins at 6:30pm. Through October.

Aug/6
First Friday Art Tour
firstfridaysantacruz.com The First Friday Art Tour is a Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Arts event, managed in conjunction with the participating Art venues. The event takes place year-round and illuminates some of the most talented local artists from local galleries. Log onto the event website for full details. (Most First Friday galleries are open between noon and 9pm.)

Aug/7-8
Cabrillo Music, Art, Food and Wine Festival
Festivities run 11am-8pm along Church Street Santa Cruz, 831-420-6966 or cabrillomusic.org Magnificent fine arts and crafts, marvelous food, amazing wine tasting. The festival spans two full days and presents ethnic music and dance performed by Santa Cruz talent.

Aug 13-15
El Palomar Open
Harbor Beach, 831-247-7388  This classic volleyball experience is a hit. Fun crowds, great food and more.

Aug/14-15
10th Annual Scotts Valley Art & Wine Festival
10am-6pm, SkyPark- 361 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley. Visit svchamber.org/ArtandWineFestival.htm  Get in the spirit with some fine “spirits”—and plenty of art from local vendors at this popular festival. Visitors may relish the fine attention to “local” here. Bargetto Winery, Sones Cellars, Domenico Wines, Roudon-Smith Winery, Hallcrest Vineyards, High Valley Vineyard, Heart O’ The Mountain, Naumann Vineyards, Glenwood Oaks Winery, Pelican Ranch Winery, and Hunter Hill Vineyard & Winery, plus breweries like Seabright Brewery, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing, and a new brewery making its debut this year, Santa Cruz Ale Works, are all on hand.

Aug/15
Aloha Celebrity Races and Polynesian Festival
Santa Cruz Wharf, Santa Cruz 831-420-5273 or santacruzwharf.com  Who needs a Hawaiian vacation when a tropical adventure awaits you at the Santa Cruz Wharf? Try your hand at outrigger canoe racing, or sit back and watch the excitement. Leis, shaved ice, Maori face painting, and dance performances. Race starts at 9am, festival at 11am.

Aug/13-15
El Palomar Junior Open

Main Beach, Santa Cruz  These classic volleyball matches fuel the summer fun. The ongoing series continues.

September

Labor Day Weekend Capitola Begonia Festival
Main Beach, Capitola, 831-476-3566 or begoniafestival.com  From Sept. 3-6, this local favorite dazzles the senses once again. Dive into a stellar weekend-long event that’s always been one of the summer’s best offerings—sand castle-building, a nautical parade, a fishing derby and more. Perfect for the entire family.

Sept/3
First Friday Art Tour
firstfridaysantacruz.com  The First Friday Art Tour is a Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Arts event, managed in conjunction with the participating Art venues. The event takes place year-round and illuminates some of the most talented local artists from local galleries. Log onto the event website for full details, but this one is a must-do. (Most First Friday galleries are open between noon and 9pm.)

Sept/12
Santa Cruz Kite Festival
Main Beach, Santa Cruz. More details can be found at beachboardwalk.com/01_events.html  Amazing kite fliers from around the globe do what they do best on Main Beach. There’s also choreographed team flying, demonstrations and more.

Sept/11-12
26th Annual Capitola Art & Wine Festival
Capitola Village, Capitola, 831-475-6522 or capitolachamber.com  More than 200 artists, 16 wineries and three stages of musical acts. Inspire your young one’s love of art in the kids’ craft area. An all around smorgasbord of art, wine and entertainment. Festivities run 10am to 6pm.

Sept/17-22
114th Annual Santa Cruz County Fair
2601 East Lake Ave., Watsonville 831-724-5671 or santacruzcountyfair.com  The Santa Cruz County Fair offers six memorable days of fun, including a large carnival full of rides for the whole family, funky foods, live animals and much more. One of summer’s biggest draws and still going strong after more than a century.

Sept/24
FashionART Runway Show
Trunk show:11am- 7pm. Runway show: 7:30pm, Civic Auditorium Santa Cruz. (Benefits Los Amigos de los Ninos of California, Inc.). Visit michaelangelogallery.net  What was once a small cozy affair has ballooned into an exciting fashion show, complete with top-notch designers and a theme that boasts “art” as fashion.

Sept/27
Surf Shop Challenge
Steamer Lane  This new local surf shop surf competition is bound to bring out the masses.

October

Oct/2-3,9-10 & 16-17
Open Studios
Various studios in Santa Cruz, 831-475-9600 or ccscc.org  The most prominent artists’ showcase of the year. Here, local artists are unveiled during guided visits over three weekend dates. Expect to locate some great finds. 11am-6pm.

Oct/6
Wednesday Night Sailboat Races
Santa Cruz Harbor, Santa Cruz, 831-425-0690 or scyc.org  Sailboats race against the backdrop of the setting sun. The perfect setting. Begins at 6:30pm. Through October.

October 9-10
Classic Car Show
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk or beachboardwalk.com, 831-426-7433  A vivid array of automobiles grace the Boardwalk in this annual event. Plan a whole weekend around this spectacular car show.

Hot Rods on the Beach
Beach Street parking lot, opposite the Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, 831-423-3720 or hotrodsatthebeach.com.  Cars—and plenty of them. This local nonprofit car show benefits the Santa Cruz Police Officers Association. 10am-5pm.

Oct/9
2010 Fireworks Extravaganza
Seacliff State Beach, Aptos 831-685-3317 or monte-foundation.com  The sky bursts with grand  fireworks. Best of all, spectators can support local schools and enjoy a beautiful day of food- booth hopping and enjoy live entertainment. 1-10pm.

Oct/16
39th Annual Santa Cruz Youth Band Review March
Downtown Santa Cruz, Boardwalk. beachboardwalk.com/01_events.html  Wild, spirited and unforgettable. The youth bands begin a trek from Downtown Santa Cruz to the Boardwalk. Some of the finest bands from high schools near and far come to attend the event. 9am.

Oct/19-24
O’Neill Coldwater Classic
Santa Cruz. For full details on the week’s events, visit coldwaterclassic.net  It’s not just local any- more. The quintessential surf competition now reaches as far as South Africa. But it got its start here and it’s one fest not to miss.

Oct/30-31
Halloween Bash Weekend/
Harbor Beach Open Volleyball
Harbor Beach,  Santa Cruz, harborbeachopen.com Yes, you can mix volleyball and Halloween, expecially on this beach, and especially in October when the weather here is traditionally perfect.

Oct/30
Capitola Village
Children’s Halloween Parade
Capitola Village, Capitola,capitolachamber.com  It’s too fun—and too cute—to pass up. Indulge. Bring the kids. 2 p.m.

Oct/31
Halloween Parade
Capitola Village, Capitola 831-475-6522 or capitolachamber.com  A great fright night. Bring the kids and watch ghosts, goblins and fairy princesses as they cavort with spirits of all kinds in the annual Halloween Parade. After the parade, enjoy trick or treat bags, face painting and pumpkin carving. Parade begins at 2pm.

Oct/31
Trick or Treat on the Wharf

Santa Cruz Wharf, Santa Cruz, 831-420-5273 or santacruzwharf.com  The most frightening part? You’ll get a a major sugar high. The Parks and Recreation Department’s Halloween celebration on the Wharf is a magnet for any groovy ghoulie, traveling or otherwise. 4-6pm.

November

Nov/5
A Taste of Santa Cruz
Cocoanut Grove, Santa Cruz. Visit ATOSC.com for full details  Food, chefs, wine, more food, more chefs, more wine. You won’t go away hungry here, as more than 100 local enterprises convene for one of the best food and wine bonanzas around. A great event to check out the local chefs and what they are creating.

Nov/20
Wineries’ Passport Program
Various wineries in Santa Cruz 831-685-VINE (8463) or scmwa.com  Uncorked and uninhibited. Wineries open their doors to the public, inviting a rare opportunity for sampling wine, barrel tastings, and providing tours throughout.  The Passport Program offers a chance to meet winemakers as well as see what it takes to run a winery. 11am-5pm.

Nov/27
Surfin’ Santa

Capitola Beach, Capitola. capitolachamber.com/calendar  The dude in red gets wet. Fun ensues. Stop by. It all unravels at noon.

December

Nov/27, Dec 4-5, Dec 10-12 & 18-23
Holiday Lights Train
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz 831-335-4484 or roaringcamp.com  Listen to carolers and sip hot-spiced cider as you glide through Victorian Santa Cruz on a beautifully lit holiday train. Reservations recommended.

Dec/3
First Friday Art Tour
firstfridaysantacruz.com  The First Friday Art Tour is a Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Arts event, managed in conjunction with the participating Art venues. The event takes place year-round and illuminates some of the most talented local artists from local galleries. Log onto the event website for full details, but this one is a must-do. (First Friday galleries are open between noon and 9pm.)

Dec/4
Lighted Boat Parade
Santa Cruz Harbor, Santa Cruz 831-475-6161 or scyc.org  There are about 50 decorated boats in this popular parade on the water. Bring the family. 5:30pm.

Downtown Holiday Parade
Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz 831-429-8433 or downtownsantacruz.com  Always a hit. You’ll find plenty of floats, music, classic cars—and people waving. 10-11am.

 

2011

Jan/15
Eight Tens @ Eight

Actors’ Theatre, Santa Cruz 831-425-1003 or sccat.org  Actors’ Theatre presents four shows a week of eight plays per show, each of them 10 minutes long—all created by award-winning local and regional playwrights.

Jan/7-9

36th Annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair
Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, 831-420-6115 or santacruzmuseums.org  Fungus is in. Benefit from spectacular mushroom displays along with delicacies and cooking demonstrations. Bring your own mushrooms along to be identified.  Sponsored by Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz. Event runs both days. 10am–5pm.

Feb/20
Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook Off
Boardwalk, Santa Cruz 831-423-5590 or beachboardwalk.com  Inventive chefs compete for the big cook-off prize. It’s one of the most popular events of the year so get there early. The fun begins at 10am.

March

Kayak Surf Festival
Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz 831-458-3648  or jcfsc.org  Featuring top-notch athletes and waves that can reach up to 30 feet, the Kayak Surf Festival is a perfect event for adventure-lovers, kayak afficionados, or anyone who wants to sit back and see a little excitement.

April

Dance Week
santacruzdance.com  Typically held during the last week in April, Dance Week is actually part of National Dance Week. This is a festive outing with some of the finest, most creative dancers and performers around. Log on to the website above for full details of the week’s events and where you can find them in Downtown Santa Cruz.

May

Santa Cruz Film Festival
santacruzfilmfestival.com  This popular film festival grows bigger with each passing year. Boasting hundreds of films, covering a number of genres, SCFF may be heralded most, perhaps, for the number of foreign and independent films it offers in the eight to 10 days it unfolds in Downtown Santa Cruz. Beyond the films, this fest also unleashes a series of fest-related events. You can even expect a major Hollywood star to show up. Best ticket in town for the month of May.

Memorial Day Weekend Blues Festival
santacruzbluesfestival.com  What’s not to love about this festival? The area’s premier blues bash has ushered in the likes of Ray Charles, B.B. King, Boz Scaggs, Etta James, Johnny Lang and so many others. It’s a memorable two days of music, food and drink, situated among the picturesque redwoods of Aptos Village Park.

June

Gay Pride
See diversitycenter.org for full details/schedule  A passionate outing that begins with fun gatherings on a Friday night and concludes on a Sunday with a parade and day-long festival in San Lorenzo Park in Santa Cruz. Everybody comes out to show their support for the LGBT community and also to embrace diversity.

Japanese Cultural Fair
See jcfsc.org for full details on times and dates A popular, long-running fest featuring the culture’s most diverse arts, crafts, music and more.