Several festivals and fairs take place this weekend, enticing us to play, eat and shop. We’ve got a local history celebration, an astronomy talk, dance event, duck race and more in store for you. And yes, we said duck race!

See our picks for the top events each day this weekend:





Friday

Branciforte Spring Festival

When: 4/29 from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Where: Branciforte Middle School

Cost: Activity Wristbands: $15 (food additional)

Branciforte Middle School will be putting on quite the party to help raise funds for this year’s 8th grade graduation dance. Whether your kids go to the school or not, there’s lots of fun to be had from the climbing wall, games, DJ music, food, entertainment, special appearances and more.

Get more info here.

The Event Santa Cruz Food Truck Roundup

When: 4/29 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Where: The Delaware Additon, 2120 Delaware Ave.

Cost: $3 plus food for purchase; Kids get in free

Exciting dinner options are rolling into the Westside this Friday. Brought to you by Event Santa Cruz and Food Trucks A Go Go, this food truck roundup features Ate3one, Tacos Las Varas Nayarit, and Aunt LaLi’s Mobile Cafe. Wash it all down with a Humble Sea brew and enjoy some fun local speakers.

Get more info here.

Also on Friday

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Saturday

OMEGA NU’s Annual DUCKY DERBY

When: 4/30 from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Where: Harvey West Park Friendship Gardens

Cost: Free

12,000 rubber ducks will race down a specially crafted waterway in this not-to-be missed fun festival. Adopt a duck to have your chance at winning over 100 great prizes, or just watch and cheer them on. In addition to the ducks, this event will have carnival games, entertainment and food. Step right up!

Get more info here.

Snapshot Day Volunteer Training

When: 4/30 from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Where: Santa Cruz Harbor Community Room

Cost: Free

Training begins today to become a water quality monitoring volunteer. You’ll learn methods of surveying, how to collect samples and how to test the water quality. Volunteers will participate in the Coastal Watershed Council’s 17th Annual Snapshot Day Saturday May 7th in San Lorenzo park where they will put their training to work by collecting water quality data from rivers and streams in Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties.

Get more info here.

En Route Urban Dance Showcase 2016

When: 4/30 from 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Where: Cabrillo College Crocker Theater

Cost: Presale: $15 Student, $20 General | At the Door: $20 Student, $25 General

Santa Cruz’s hip-hop dance team, Haluan, hosts this annual urban dance showcase featuring over 17 competitive performers or teams.

Get more info here.

Archery Tag

When: 4/30 from 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Where: Louden Nelson Community Center

Cost: $15

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Time, location & cost have changed for this event. It will now be held at Brommer Park from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM for $10.

Have a desire to act out the Hunger Games without anyone getting hurt? Archery Tag is a cross between dodge-ball, paintball and archery where two teams “hunt” each other with foam tipped arrows. Face masks, rules and safe zones make it a fun but safe time for all.

Get more info here.

Independent Bookstore Day! at Bookshop Santa Cruz

When: 4/30 from 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Where: Bookshop Santa Cruz

Cost: FREE Admission

This daylong event has a little something for everyone, all for a great cause — celebrating independent bookstores including this one, near and dear to our hearts. Check our link below for a full schedule including a flash mob, coloring book happy hour, literary trivia, a scavenger hunt, pop-up museum and photo booth. Verve coffee and Santa Cruz Mountain brewery will provide beverages. There will be raffles and prizes too.

Get more info here.

Explore the Night Sky

When: 4/30 from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and UCSC

Cost: $12 General/$6 Members

Join astronomy and astrophysics graduate student Kat Feng in a fascinating talk about neighboring exoplanets, planets around other stars. These other solar systems have only been discovered in the last two decades. If skies are clear, participants will caravan to UCSC for some guided stargazing.

Get more info here.

Community Celebration of Historic Aptos Village

When: 4/30 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Where: Bayview Hotel

Cost: Free

Interested in local history? Join other history enthusiasts in the Bayview hotel garden where long-time residents of Aptos will tell of Aptos Village’s background and relay their personal stories. Refreshments and live music will be on hand.

Get more info here.

Mad Hatter Tea Party

When: 4/30 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Where: Louden Nelson Community Center

Don’t be late for this very important date or it may be off with your head! Celebrate spring with a whimsical tea party complete with lawn games, live music, and a hat contest.

Get more info here.

Also on Saturday

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Sunday

Mother’s Day Gift Fair

When: 5/1 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Where: Live Oak Elementary School, 1916 Capitola Rd

Cost: Free!

Don’t know what to get Mom for Mother’s Day and looking for something unique? Come check out the Mother’s Day Gift Fair and get your shop on. Plenty of vendors will be there selling plants, beauty products, jewelry, clothes, ceramics and more. Food will also be for sale and family friendly games round out the event. All proceeds will benefit Live Oak Community Resources.

Get more info here.

SCM Makers Market

When: 5/1 from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Where: 6134 Highway 9, Felton

Cost: FREE Admission

Over 40 artists and crafters will populate the Santa Cruz Mountains Makers Market, displaying their goods for purchase. Enjoy live music while you shop and support Mountain Community Resources non-profit.

Get more info here.

Pottery & Glass Seconds Sale

When: 5/1 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Where: Cabrillo College parking garage

Cost: Free admission

Over 50 jewelry, pottery and glass artists as well as other creative types will have their works for sale at bargain rates. Items are overstock, seconds or experiments. Something here is bound to speak to you or for a loved one and Mother’s Day is around the corner!

Get more info here.

Also on Sunday

Featured Upcoming Event Bountiful brunches are just the beginning of things to do for Mother’s Day in Santa Cruz, which falls on Sunday, May 8. Check out our Guide to Mother’s Day Events in Santa Cruz and start planning mom’s special day!

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