Summer Clocks In

The fog has been camping out until mid-morning all week, but it burns off into a warm one, with Sunday topping out around 80. The water’s still cold, low 50s (so still 4/3 suits) and the bay is turning over into whale season as the first humpbacks and blues move in. Three summer series start this week too: Midtown Fridays Friday, Redwood Mountain Faire all weekend, and the Capitola Twilight concerts next Wednesday. Summer is clocking in!

A female surfer statue finds a home in Capitola
The “To Honor the Women of the Water” project, an 18-foot bronze female surfer, has a new target site: the Capitola Esplanade. The team pivoted there after Pleasure Point residents pushed back on the original spot above 38th, the East Cliff “Dirt Farm.” It’s privately funded and headed to Capitola’s arts commission next, with installation aimed at 2027. The sculptors, Brian Curtis and Thomas Marsh, also made the male surfer statue down on West Cliff, so the two would bookend the coastline.

The Boardwalk’s free summer movies and concerts are back
Movies on the Beach returns on Friday nights starting June 12, opening with the Santa Cruz-filmed cult classic “The Lost Boys” and a meet-and-greet with actor Jamison Newlander. Free Thursday-night concerts on the Colonnade run through the summer alongside it. Bring a low chair and claim a patch of sand before dark, because the good spots go early.

★ = family-friendly

THURSDAY, MAY 28

Allah-Las at The Catalyst · 9 PM · 1011 Pacific Ave, Downtown · $40.55
LA psych-rock with the classic California jangle. The Catalyst floor is the right size for them. Have a listen ↗

FRIDAY, MAY 29

★ Midtown Fridays Season Opener · 5 to 8:30 PM · 1111 Soquel Ave, Midtown · Free
Opening night of the summer block party, now in its sixth year. James Durbin and the Lost Boys headline, with food trucks, local makers, and room for kids to run. Every Friday through August 28. Hear James Durbin ↗

Stockwell Cellars: Sip, Savor and Sway · 5:30 to 8:30 PM · 1100 Fair Ave, Westside · Free entry
Friday wine night at the Westside urban winery. The Ten O’Clock Lunch Band plays rock, blues, and Motown, with Sleight of Hand pizza on hand. Get the pinot.

The Darts Record Release at Moe’s Alley · 8:30 PM · 1535 Commercial Way, Live Oak · $18 advance, $23 door
All-female garage-punk band throwing a record release party, with SERVICE and The Hellflowers opening. Listen first: The Darts ↗ and The Hellflowers ↗.

SATURDAY, MAY 30

★ Redwood Mountain Faire · Saturday and Sunday · Roaring Camp, 5401 Graham Hill Rd, Felton · from $50
The marquee weekend out: two days of live music on multiple stages in a redwood meadow, with local food, craft beer, cider, and wine. A longtime mountains tradition that puts its proceeds back into local nonprofits.

★ VDubs in the Village · 10 AM to 3 PM · Esplanade Park, Capitola Village · Free
Vintage air-cooled Volkswagens line the village, with surf culture and live music alongside. Easy morning if you’ve got car kids.

★ Wilder Ranch Guided Coastal Nature Walk · 11 AM to 1:30 PM · Wilder Ranch State Park, North Coast · Free (day-use parking fee)
Ranger-led walk along the bluff-top terrace. Decent odds of spotting whales offshore right now, so bring binoculars.

SUNDAY, MAY 31

★ Redwood Mountain Faire, Day Two · 11 AM to 8 PM · Roaring Camp, 5401 Graham Hill Rd, Felton · from $50
The second day of the marquee weekend up in the mountains: live music across multiple stages in a redwood meadow, with local food, craft beer, cider, and wine. Proceeds go back to local nonprofits.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3

★ Capitola Twilight Concerts Opening Night: The Delta Wires · 6 PM · Esplanade bandstand, Capitola Village · Free
Opening night of Capitola’s free summer concert series, big-band blues over the beach at sunset. Bring a low chair and a picnic. No dogs or alcohol in the park. Have a listen ↗

Steamer Lane Supply

Fran Grayson started with one food truck and a cold call to State Parks, asking if she could park it at Lighthouse Field. It worked. Now the walk-up stand on the bluff above Steamer Lane is a West Cliff ritual: local Alta coffee, aguas frescas, and beach food you can carry to a bench. Get the tuna melt-a-dilla or a rock cod salad bowl, grab a coffee, and watch the lineup at the Lane. It’s dog-friendly and kid-friendly, open seven days from around 8 to 6. It’s at 698 West Cliff Drive, between the Lighthouse Field lots.

Midtown Fridays Opening Night, Friday May 29

Summer in Santa Cruz really starts when the Midtown lot fills up on a Friday. The block party is back for its sixth year, 5 to 8:30 PM in the lot at 1111 Soquel Ave, and opening night brings James Durbin and the Lost Boys, with JAM and the Buttered Biscuits to start. Free to get in, food trucks and local makers all around, plenty of space for kids. Park in the neighborhood and walk over, bring cash and a layer for when the fog rolls back in, and come hungry. It runs every Friday through August 28, so there’s always next week, but opening night is the one with the buzz.

The stuff that’s on every week. Markets, music, standing plans.

Tuesday: Felton Farmers Market · 1:30 to 5:30 PM · 120 Russell Ave, Felton
Mountain market under the big trees.

Wednesday: Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers Market · 12:30 to 5 PM · Cedar & Church, Downtown
The big one. Show up around 3 when the crowds thin out.

Thursday: Crow’s Nest Free Beach BBQ & Concerts · 5:30 PM to sunset · Santa Cruz Harbor Beach, Seabright · Free
Live band on the beach, food and drinks for purchase. Runs through early September.

Thursday: Bargetto Winery Music in the Courtyard · 6 PM · 3535 N Main St, Soquel · Free, reservation 831-475-2258 x114
Creekside courtyard, wine and snacks for purchase. Through September.

Friday: Midtown Fridays Block Party · 5 to 8:30 PM · 1111 Soquel Ave, Midtown · Free
New for the season. Live bands, food trucks, local makers. Through August 28.

Friday: Watsonville Farmers Market · 2 to 9 PM · Peck & Union, Downtown Watsonville
The prepared-food vendors are the move. Come hungry.

Friday: Skypark Food Truck Friday · 5 to 8 PM · 361 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley · Free
The biggest weekly food truck gathering in the county. Live music, kids everywhere, park near the dog park.

Friday & Saturday: Live Band at Abbott Square · 7 to 10 PM · 725 Front St, Downtown · Free
Rotating lineup in the open garden, no cover.

Saturday: Westside Farmers Market · 9 AM to 1 PM · Mission St Ext & Western Dr
Runs rain or shine. The one with the coffee line.

Saturday: Aptos Farmers Market · 8 AM to Noon · Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Dr
Year-round, nearly 90 vendors. Park in the upper lots.

Saturday: Scotts Valley Farmers Market · 8 AM to Noon · Boys & Girls Club, 5060 Scotts Valley Dr
Seasonal through November.

Sunday: Live Oak Farmers Market · 9 AM to 1 PM · 15th & East Cliff Dr
Quiet neighborhood version of the Downtown market. Go before brunch.

Sunday: Humble Sea + Scrumptious Fish & Chips · Noon to 6:30 PM · 820 Swift St, Westside · Free entry
Fog beer in the Westside beer garden with a fish-and-chips trailer parked out front. Dog- and kid-friendly. Saturdays too.

That’s #009. If something’s happening in Santa Cruz County that we should know about, tell us here or just reply to this email.

See you next Thursday.

Low Tide Local