Best of Santa Cruz County entertainment, arts & food events this weekend, Aug. 6-9

Feel like sharing a brew with friends this Saturday? You have options. Beer Thirty Bottle Shop & Pour House in Soquel is throwing a 12th Anniversary Beer Fest starting at noon with 30 breweries, live music and food vendors. Tickets are $50 in advance and $65 at the door. 

Reggae on the Wharf returns to the Humble Sea Beer Garden on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf at 3 p.m. with three live reggae acts and two DJs. This event is free. 

In the Santa Cruz Mountains, get ready for two days of beer and barbecue. Roaring Camp Railroads’ National BBQ Cook-Off starts at noon on Saturday and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, with pitmasters and grill gurus from far and wide, along with local breweries, live music and kids activities. This event is free to enter. – Lily Belli

Here are more upcoming local events you might be interested in:

Thursday, Aug. 6

• Bargetto Winery’s Thursday Night Music | 6 p.m. @ Bargetto Winery | Free
• Seabright Summer Movie Nights: Hoppers | 8 p.m. @ Murray Street and Seabright Ave | Free
• “The Rocky Horror Show” | 8 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Veterans Memorial Building | $15-$30 
• The Houserockers | 5 p.m. @ The Crow’s Nest | Free

Friday, Aug. 7

• Creative Kontrol: AI and the Future of Music | 1 p.m. @ Civic Auditorium 
• Community Bridges WIC 19th Annual Breastfeeding Walk and Health Fair | 3 p.m. @ Community Bridges Plaza | Free
• Midtown Fridays Summer Block Party 2026 | 5 p.m. @ 1111 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz | Free
• Summer Carnival | 5 p.m. @ Downtown Boulder Creek | Free
• A History of Jug Band Music by the Trolley Drops | 6 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
• Vine to View Winemaker’s Dinner Series: Fableist Wine Co. | 6:30 p.m. @ Chaminade Resort & Spa | $155
• Cantine 12th Anniversary Party | 7 p.m. @ Cantine Winepub
• Sequoias At Night | 8 p.m. @ Roaring Camp Railroads | $16-$27
• Free Movies on the Beach: “The Goonies” | 9 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk | Free

Saturday, Aug. 8

• Beer Thirty 12th Anniversary Beer Fest | Noon @ Beer Thirty | $50-$65
• 2nd Annual Santa Cruz Jug Band Festival | Noon @ Abbott Square | Free
• National BBQ Cook-Off | Noon @ Roaring Camp Railroads | Free
• Reggae on the Wharf | 3 p.m. @ Humble Sea Beer Garden | Free 
• Shawn Colvin | 8 p.m. @ Rio Theatre | $40-$60
• Mickey Avalon | 8 p.m. @ Felton Music Hall | $34.48
• Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music: “Control” | 7 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium | $26-$96

Sunday, Aug. 9

• Tri Santa Cruz | 8 a.m. @ Cowell Beach | $86.30-$192.30
• Dip & Drip by Perch Sauna at Davenport Roadhouse | 11 a.m. @ Davenport Roadhouse | $25
• Songrise International Benefit Concert | 4 p.m. @ Bargetto Winery | $100- $120
• Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music grand finale: “Hope As Our Banner” | 7 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium | $26-$96