Always Amused
Your Guide to Theme Parks, Tourist Attractions, Rides and Cool Events
By Erik Chalhoub
In the late 1990s, Smash Mouth was on top of the music world.
Its first major hit in 1997, “Walkin’ on the Sun,” hit number one on a slew of charts, and its follow-up in 1999, “All Star,” propelled the band to seemingly another universe. You couldn’t turn on the radio, watch a movie, or attend any kind of event without hearing the San Jose-based band telling you to get your game on and how only shooting stars break the mold.
For me, as an elementary-schooler at the time, I was hooked. But as I approach my 30s, and as my musical tastes evolve, Smash Mouth is still one band I am glad to listen to over and over again.
So I’m excited to see them coming back to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for the third year in a row as part of the park’s annual Friday Night Bands on the Beach.
It wouldn’t be summer in Santa Cruz without the concerts that bring together some of the top bands from the ‘80s and ‘90s. Running from June 15 to Aug. 31 (with Smash Mouth performing on July 13), the series, now celebrating 30 years, not only attracts long-time fans of the bands, but also exposes them to a new generation of audiences.
The lineup also includes Berlin starring Terri Nunn, Los Lobos, The Fixx and others.
The concert series is just the crest of the wave of offerings the Boardwalk has lined up this summer. And the park is looking “better than ever” as it enters its 111th season this year, said Director of Promotions and Entertainment Karley Pope.
Not only is there a fresh coat of paint throughout the Boardwalk, but the park is also a year removed from debuting its new Main Entrance. The new entrance is packed with activities and rides that the older kids in the family will flock to.
Two rides that opened last year have proven to be a hit for the park. Shockwave, sitting next to the Undertow roller coaster, holds riders on motorcycle-style seats that face outward around a disc. As the disc spins, the riders are rocked back and forth on a half-pipe-shaped track.
Typhoon, positioned in the center of the new entrance, is a new model of a classic Boardwalk ride. Riders are swung upside-down on two spinning arms, at a height of 60 feet.
An expanded Fright Walk and Lazer Maze, as well as food offerings and other games, round out the new area.
Free Movies on the Beach, featuring flicks such as “The Lost Boys,” “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” “Ghostbusters” and more will return to the beach from June 20 to Aug. 15.
Retro Nights return June 18-Aug. 14, when all rides are $1.50 Mondays and Tuesdays after 5 p.m., as do Coca-Cola Nights (formerly Pepsi Nights) from June 20-Aug. 16, where guests can purchase an unlimited rides wristband for $14.95 when they bring a Coca-Cola product.
Live entertainment is also on deck, including magicians, acrobats, jugglers and comedians. Among them, Santa Cruz favorite Doug Hofkin the Surfing Magician will once again dazzle audiences with his tricks, and Capt’n Jack Spareribs, who has made an appearance at the Santa Cruz County Fair in recent years, will tell humorous tales from the high seas.
Long-time Boardwalk fans will notice a hole in the ride lineup this season, though, as the park removed its iconic Ferris wheel after nearly 60 years. But don’t fret, as Boardwalk officials are actively searching for a replacement, and a new Ferris wheel is at the top of the list. While there is no timeline yet on when the new attraction will open, I’d expect it within the next couple of years.
The Boardwalk is a place where any member of the family, from young to old, can find something to enjoy, Pope said.
“What’s awesome about the Boardwalk is that you can take it at whatever level you want to,” she said. “You can ride all the rides, you can stroll and get the food, or you can go to the beach. It’s perfect for families.”
The park is also the ideal summer getaway, right in our own backyard.
“The Boardwalk is a kind of nostalgic splash of color that everybody needs in their life,” Pope said.
For information on all the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s offerings this season, visit beachboardwalk.com.
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