đ Bees, Beaches & a Seriously Weird Voting OpportunityđȘ±đŠđȘŒ
âïž Hi There, Santa Cruz!
For many local families, the backpacks are packed and the school year is underway. But fortunately, some of Santa Cruzâs warmest, sunniest days often arrive this time of year, so the summer fun doesnât have to end just yet. From Shakespeare under the stars and live music to forest walks, mushroom mixers and even a behind-the-scenes beehive tour, hereâs a look at whatâs happening around the county this week.
đ Santa Cruz Shakespeareâs talented apprentice company takes center stage this evening, Monday, Aug. 17 (7pm), for this summerâs Fringe Series performance in the Audrey Stanley Grove. This yearâs pay-what-you-will staged reading features Yasmina Rezaâs award-winning comedy God of Carnage, a razor-sharp look at what happens when two sets of well-meaning parents try to settle a playground dispute...and everything quickly unravels. Itâs a chance to see the next generation of theater talent in one of Santa Cruzâs most magical outdoor venues.
đ„ Tuesday is a little quieter this week, making it a nice afternoon or evening to wander the Felton Farmers Market (2:30â6:30pm) for local produce, food vendors and live music.
đ Former Surfer magazine editor Steve Hawk comes to Bookshop Santa Cruz on Wednesday, Aug. 19 (7-8pm) to celebrate the release of his debut novel, Nearshore. Set along the California coast, the literary suspense thriller follows an unlikely trio investigating a nuclear terrorist plot. Hawk will be joined in conversation by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Charles Duhigg, so youâll have a chance to hear two accomplished storytellers share the stage. Admission is free.
đ¶ Summerâs weekly concert season is beginning to wind down, so now's the time to catch a few favorites before they disappear for another year. The Capitola Twilight Concert Series takes its final bow this Wednesday, Aug. 19 (6-8pm) with The Digbeats. On Thursday, La Familia brings the party to the Crowâs Nest Beach BBQ (5:30-8pm), while the 10 Oâ Clock Lunch Band takes the stage at Bargetto Winery in Soquel (6-8pm). This Fridayâs Midtown block party is the second-to-last of the season, with Rumba Madre providing the soundtrack from 5-8:30pm at 1111 Soquel Ave.
đš One of downtown Santa Cruzâs newest art exhibitions celebrates the places where creativity converges. Confluence at M.K. Contemporary showcases the work of Santa Cruz artists Susana Arias and Glenn Carter alongside pieces by more than 25 local and regional artists. The gallery is open Thursday through Sunday (noon-5pm) through Sept. 13.
đ If your interests lean a little more...fungal, Far West Fungiâs Myco-Mixer returns Thursday, Aug. 20 (2-5pm) with complimentary mushroom bites, product samples, cafĂ© specials and plenty of mushroom conversation. Whether youâre a foodie, mushroom enthusiast or simply curious, itâs one of those uniquely Santa Cruz gatherings.
đż Looking for a slower pace this Saturday, Aug. 22? The Elkhorn Slough Reserve is offering a free docent-led walking tour from 10am-noon through one of Californiaâs most remarkable coastal wetlands. Along the way, youâll learn about the estuaryâs unique ecosystem, native wildlife and ongoing conservation efforts while exploring one of the Central Coastâs natural treasures. The tour is first come, first served and suitable for all ages. If fresh air is calling your name, Saturday also offers a Guided Forest Therapy Walk at Chaminade Resort & Spa (10am-noon), a free redwood grove walk at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park (noon-1:30pm) and Historic Ground Tours at Wilder Ranch (1pm) exploring the parkâs Victorian ranch buildings and working dairy history.
đ Honey loversâand the bee-curiousâcan get a rare behind-the-scenes look at a working beehive during Chaminade Resort & Spaâs Beehive Tour & Honey Tasting on Saturday, Aug. 22 (2â3:30pm). The experience begins with a tasting of varietal honeys and light bites before participants suit up in beekeeping attire for an up-close look inside a live hive led by professional beekeepers from Northern Roots Bee Co. Advance registration is required. ($99, ages 14+)
đž Close out the weekend with an evening of live music at El Vaquero Winery on Sunday (5-8pm). Opening the show is Santa Cruz-based singer-songwriter JAMâJeffrey A. Meyerâserving up his signature blend of bluesy funk rock alongside harmonica player Brad Kava. Then acclaimed Texas singer-songwriter Dallas Burrow takes the stage with his blend of country, folk and rock, bringing a little Lone Star soul to your Santa Cruz Sunday evening.
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Six Arrested After High-Speed Chase in Santa Cruz
Car Drives Off Cliff
Supervisors Ease Process for Their Own Salary Increases
County to Explore Steam as an Alternative to Pesticides
City of Santa Cruz Expands Urban Forest Goal
Santa Cruz Wants to Make Big Buildings Less Ugly
Cabrilloâs Watsonville Center Sees Enrollment Boom
Plus No Parking at UCSC, Flower Power, Shanty Shack Brews Up Art, Raven Winery, Thai GameâŠand Much More!
TOP STORIES
Six Arrested After High-Speed Chase in Santa Cruz
Six people were arrested in Santa Cruz following a high-speed chase down Mission Street, police said. Police said the vehicle was connected to multiple collisions before failing to stop for officers, leading to the pursuit.
A woman died early Thursday morning after the car she was riding in plunged off West Cliff Drive and landed upside down in the ocean.
Supervisors Ease Process for Their Own Salary Increases
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a process that will allow them to approve their own raises.
County to Explore Steam as an Alternative to Pesticides
Santa Cruz County will test steam as an alternative to chemical soil fumigation on about 25 acres of Pajaro Valley farmland under a $175,000 state-funded pilot project set to begin this fall.
City of Santa Cruz Expands Urban Forest Goal
The Santa Cruz City Council approved an updated tree inventory and is setting its sights on adding 3,000 more trees by 2030, part of a broader effort to expand the cityâs urban canopy and improve climate resilience.
Santa Cruz Wants to Make Big Buildings Less Ugly
Trees arenât the only thing getting a makeoverâcity leaders also want future buildings to be easier on the eyes.
Cabrilloâs Watsonville Center Sees Enrollment Boom
Enrollment at Cabrillo Collegeâs Watsonville Center has jumped 71%, while course pass rates have climbed from 70% to 84% since fall 2022.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
On July 1, a 7â10% permanent yearly increase in UC Santa Cruz parking permit costs quietly went into effectâmeaning for faculty and staff, rates will rise from $841.63 in 2026 to $1,355.45 by 2031.
Santa Cruz herbalist Julie Rothman has spent 35 years helping people slow down, sip, and reconnect.
As the sun went down on a late July Tuesday, Shanty Shack Brewing came to life. As the smell of beer, weed and paint fumes mingled through the air, artists of every stripe crowded picnic tables, trading inspiration and joints over the booming music.
âRavens are intelligent birds who consistently observe whatâs around them. White Raven Winery emerged in a similar way,â says owner Dan Murphy.
đȘ±đŠđȘŒ WAIT, WHAT?!
Forget âPerson of the Year.â Voting is underway for the 2026 Invertebrate of the Year, celebrating the planetâs spineless superstars. This yearâs finalists include the immortal jellyfish, a photosynthesizing sea slug called the leaf sheep, a neon flying squid, a giant bumblebee, a bootlace worm and the ancient horseshoe crab. Cast your voteâor at the very least, take a closer look the next time you peek under a rock or into a tide pool. After all, not every superhero wears a spine.