Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Midtown Santa Cruz: Friday Summer Block Parties

Midtown Block Party Lot 1111 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz

Go Celebrate all the vibrancy of Midtown at the Summer Block Party, happening every Friday!  Food – Artists – Live Music – Vendors  The summer series of free events will feature the talents of 30+ local bands. In addition to live music, event goers will enjoy a selection of local eats as well as the opportunity to check out the work of local artists and vendors. Midtown Fridays starts May 31 to August 31.  Live music brought to you by Off The Lip Radio Show  May 31st: Dylan Rose Band – Opener: Shoreline Middle School Band June 7th: Doah’s Daydream – Opener: Soquel High Jazz Band  June 14th: Funkranomicon – Opener: Trianna (GTRI)  June 21st: The Cruzers – Opener: Ripatti & Rose  June 28th: Hijinx – Opener: Mo Cruz (Animo)  July 5th: The Money Band – Opener: Jim Buhisan  July 12th: Santa Cruda – Opener: Th New Horizon Band  July 19th: The Joint Chiefs – Opener: Jake Nielsen & Triple Threat  July 26th: Locomotive Breath – Opener: Joshua Cremer  August 2nd: Anthony Arya  August 9th: Cowboys After Dark – Opener: Shawn Yanez  August 16th: Ribsy’s Nickel – Opener: The Rayburn Brothers  August 23rd: Spun – Opener: Dave Miller (Nomad)  August 30th: Alex Lucero Band – Opener: Honey Disposition

Free

Nicholson Vineyards: Summer Series

Nicholson Vineyards 2800 Pleasant Valley Road, Aptos, CA, United States

Enjoy summer weekend afternoons at the beautiful Nicholson Vineyards! They will be featuring local food vendors.  Saturdays from noon to 5pm – Enjoy perusing art from local artists  Sundays from noon to 5pm – Enjoy listening to local musicians July 6 & 7: Epoch Eats & True Blue Studio Music by R&B July 13 & 14: Mattia Pizza & Scout + Sea Music by Sam Kellerman July 20 & 21: Chubby Tacos & Luna Dorada Music by Dave Tate July 27 & 28: My Mom’s Mole & Natalia Aandewiel Music by Tom Jacobs August 3 & 4: Areperia 831 & Nathan Goldsmith Music by Will Breman August 10 & 11: The Pesce Veggie & Papelline Music by Kip Allert August 17 & 18: SC Eatery & Sierra Evans Music by Michelle Lambert August 24 & 25: Taquizas Gabriel & Desert Moon Designs Music by Wild + Blue August 31 & September 1: Real Taco & The Clay Chalet Bottle Bash Event

$20 – $45

Roaring Camp Railroads: Starlight Evening Dinner Party

Roaring Camp 5401 Graham Hill Rd, Felton, CA, United States

Evening train and dinner excursion departs from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and travels along the San Lorenzo River through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park to Roaring Camp. Upon arrival, a delicious steak dinner awaits you. After dinner, get up and move to a live band. On the return trip to Santa Cruz, the train ride brings the forest to life with dazzling color and light. The evening event is four hours, returning to the Boardwalk when the stars are overhead.

$57 – $75

Santa Cruz Harbor: Winemakers Sail

Santa Cruz Harbor 135 5th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Chardonnay Sailing Charters features a different local winery every Friday evening from May through October. Enjoy the fabulous wines provided and entice your palate with complimentary hours-d’oeuvres while taking in the stunning views of the California coastline. Learn about the local wineries and the art of winemaking. Watch the sunset, raise your glasses, and give a toast to a wine tasting at its finest!

$82

Downtown Boulder Creek: Block Party

Boulder Creek Boulder Creek, CA, United States

Artists will be set up throughout downtown amongst street food sold by local restaurants and live music. There will be a chalk painting contest and more! 

Free

Lester Estate Wines: Flor de Cana Concert

Lester Estate Wines 2000 Pleasant Valley Rd, Aptos, CA, Aptos, CA, United States

Local favorite Flor de Caña will be bringing their high energy Latin sounds to the Lester Estate. Bring a picnic or enjoy Argentine style empanadas and grilled sandwiches for sale from Fonda Felix. Admission is $15 per person and includes a Lester Estate Wines logo Govino glass. Wine can be purchased by glass and bottle only; no tastings will be offered at this event. Reservations are recommended. Tables are communal and seating will be first come, first served.

$15

Midtown Santa Cruz: Friday Summer Block Parties

Midtown Block Party Lot 1111 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz

Go Celebrate all the vibrancy of Midtown at the Summer Block Party, happening every Friday!  Food – Artists – Live Music – Vendors  The summer series of free events will feature the talents of 30+ local bands. In addition to live music, event goers will enjoy a selection of local eats as well as the opportunity to check out the work of local artists and vendors. Midtown Fridays starts May 31 to August 31.  Live music brought to you by Off The Lip Radio Show  May 31st: Dylan Rose Band – Opener: Shoreline Middle School Band June 7th: Doah’s Daydream – Opener: Soquel High Jazz Band  June 14th: Funkranomicon – Opener: Trianna (GTRI)  June 21st: The Cruzers – Opener: Ripatti & Rose  June 28th: Hijinx – Opener: Mo Cruz (Animo)  July 5th: The Money Band – Opener: Jim Buhisan  July 12th: Santa Cruda – Opener: Th New Horizon Band  July 19th: The Joint Chiefs – Opener: Jake Nielsen & Triple Threat  July 26th: Locomotive Breath – Opener: Joshua Cremer  August 2nd: Anthony Arya  August 9th: Cowboys After Dark – Opener: Shawn Yanez  August 16th: Ribsy’s Nickel – Opener: The Rayburn Brothers  August 23rd: Spun – Opener: Dave Miller (Nomad)  August 30th: Alex Lucero Band – Opener: Honey Disposition

Free

Santa Cruz Harbor: Winemakers Sail

Santa Cruz Harbor 135 5th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Chardonnay Sailing Charters features a different local winery every Friday evening from May through October. Enjoy the fabulous wines provided and entice your palate with complimentary hours-d’oeuvres while taking in the stunning views of the California coastline. Learn about the local wineries and the art of winemaking. Watch the sunset, raise your glasses, and give a toast to a wine tasting at its finest!

$82

Midtown Santa Cruz: Friday Summer Block Parties

Midtown Block Party Lot 1111 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz

Go Celebrate all the vibrancy of Midtown at the Summer Block Party, happening every Friday!  Food – Artists – Live Music – Vendors  The summer series of free events will feature the talents of 30+ local bands. In addition to live music, event goers will enjoy a selection of local eats as well as the opportunity to check out the work of local artists and vendors. Midtown Fridays starts May 31 to August 31.  Live music brought to you by Off The Lip Radio Show  May 31st: Dylan Rose Band – Opener: Shoreline Middle School Band June 7th: Doah’s Daydream – Opener: Soquel High Jazz Band  June 14th: Funkranomicon – Opener: Trianna (GTRI)  June 21st: The Cruzers – Opener: Ripatti & Rose  June 28th: Hijinx – Opener: Mo Cruz (Animo)  July 5th: The Money Band – Opener: Jim Buhisan  July 12th: Santa Cruda – Opener: Th New Horizon Band  July 19th: The Joint Chiefs – Opener: Jake Nielsen & Triple Threat  July 26th: Locomotive Breath – Opener: Joshua Cremer  August 2nd: Anthony Arya  August 9th: Cowboys After Dark – Opener: Shawn Yanez  August 16th: Ribsy’s Nickel – Opener: The Rayburn Brothers  August 23rd: Spun – Opener: Dave Miller (Nomad)  August 30th: Alex Lucero Band – Opener: Honey Disposition

Free

Chaminade Resort and Spa: Alfaro Family Vineyards Vine to View Wine Dinner

Chaminade Resort and Spa 1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Executive Chef Samuels and his culinary team create gourmet four-course dinners expertly paired with wines from the local Corralitos vineyard, Alfaro Family Vineyards.  Purchase just the dinner or get the overnight package which includes two tickets to the dinner.

$164.34

41st Annual Capitola Art & Wine Festival

Capitola Village 203 Esplanade, Capitola, CA, United States

Stroll the festival with friends and family, sipping exceptional wines from Santa Cruz Mountain wineries while admiring the artistic talents of over 100 fine artists. Sway to live music and be inspired by local dance groups while taking in the ocean breeze and breathtaking view of the Monterey Bay. Feed your cravings with tantalizing cuisine from local food purveyors, and cruise through the Artisans Marketplace for locally handcrafted goods. If that isn’t enough, Capitola Village is filled with restaurants for every taste and charming boutiques to satisfy a shopper’s dream. Art, wine, music, and gourmet cuisine in the enchanting beach-side setting of Capitola Village…summer’s last hurrah, and truly a weekend in paradise! This event is from 10am to 6pm on Saturday, September 14 and from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, September 15.  See link to the event website below.

Soquel: Homesteaders Market

Soquel Creek Parking Lot 2505 S Main St, Soquel, United States

Enjoy locally grown produce, cottage industry foods, local meats, cheeses, ferments, natural products, homesteaders’ wares, arts and crafts, honey, candles, cloths, sweet treats, coffee and tea, health and wellness products, services and practitioners, healers, spiritual endeavors, plants, flowers, seeds and herbs, Jewelry, green living and up-cycled garage sale items! If that is not enough to tempt you, there will also be live music, food trucks, a gleaner’s table with free local produce, a seed share/seed bank and a homesteading class from noon to 1pm. Head to the parking lot of the Soquel Creek Animal Hospital parking lot directly across from Beer Thirty and Sunny Side Produce in Soquel.

Roberts Ranch Vineyards: Wine & Déjeuner d’Ouvrier

Roberts Ranch Vineyards Roberts Road, Ben Lomond, United States

This year, Roberts Ranch Vineyards is celebrating the French Provençal communal tradition of the Déjeuner d’Ouvrier, also known as the Worker‘s Lunch. This is a perfect time to grab some friends and gather around the table for a generous prix fixe communal lunch of delicious soup and main course, artisan bread, a fruit and cheese course salad and (bien sur) dessert! 

$76.54

Roberts Ranch Vineyards: Wine & Déjeuner d’Ouvrier

Roberts Ranch Vineyards Roberts Road, Ben Lomond, United States

This year, Roberts Ranch Vineyards is celebrating the French Provençal communal tradition of the Déjeuner d’Ouvrier, also known as the Worker‘s Lunch. This is a perfect time to grab some friends and gather around the table for a generous prix fixe communal lunch of delicious soup and main course, artisan bread, a fruit and cheese course salad and (bien sur) dessert! 

$76.54

Roberts Ranch Vineyards: Wine Tasting and Crushpad Concert

Roberts Ranch Vineyards Roberts Road, Ben Lomond, United States

Acoustic musical guests make for a lively accompaniment to the afternoon!  Enjoy a tasting of 5 of the current Roberts Ranch wines complete with abundant charcuterie boards! Meats, cheeses, crackers, nuts, fruits, chocolate and even warm appetizers make appearances at this lovely and casual tasting experience. (See Seltzer & Charcuterie option for those not partaking in the wine tasting.)  Your tasting begins at the crush pad where you will sign in and get your first pour and plate of charcuterie. From there you are welcome to find a comfortable spot to enjoy the views. Pace your tasting and food experience according to your preference. Enjoy a flavorful and relaxing afternoon! Attended children and well-behaved pups are welcome to join. Please sign up for a child’s ticket so they can be prepared with snacks and drinks for the kids.

$12.51 – $44.52