On Saturday, Santa Cruz VegFest returns to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville. This festival celebrates a plant-based, cruelty-free lifestyle with vegan food and drinks, vendors, crafts and more. Entry is $5. I’m excited to lead a behind-the-scenes tasting tour with 12 Lookout members to five vendors: Areperia 831, The Buzz Sushi & Market, Hole Foods Vegan Donuts, Samba Rock Acai Café and Santa Cruz Cider Co. – Lily Belli
Here are more local events you might be interested in this weekend:
Thursday, June 4
- Crow’s Nest beach BBQ party and concerts | 5 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Harbor | Free
- Afrobeats Nite Santa Cruz | 6 p.m. @ Woodhouse Blending & Brewing | Free
- Santa Cruz Works New Tech | 6 p.m. @ RiverRow | $15-$25
Friday, June 5
- Kids Makers Fair and Wild Critter Art Exhibit | 5 p.m. @ Tannery Arts Center | Free
- Midtown Friday Summer Block Party | 5 p.m. @ 1111 Soquel Ave. | Free
- Pride First Friday at Santa Cruz Hostel | 5 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Hostel | Free
- Vine to View Winemaker’s Dinner Series | 6:30 p.m. @ Chaminade Resort & Spa | $155
- “Carmina Burana”: 130 musicians under the stars | 7 p.m. @ Quarry Amphitheater | $10-$57
- “Paris Is Burning” film screening | 7 p.m. @ The 418 Project | $10-$15
Saturday, June 6
- Private VegFest Tasting Tour with Lookout’s Lily Belli | 10 a.m. @ Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds | $10-$20
- Ben Lomond Village Market | 10 a.m. @ Ben Lomond County Park | Free
- Santa Cruz VegFest | 11 a.m. @ Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds | $5-$10
- Life on the Ranch: A Living History Event | 11 a.m. @ Wilder Ranch State Park | Free
- Culinary Lavender Harvest Workshop & Wine With Cottage Lunch | 11 a.m. @ Roberts Ranch Vineyards | $80
- Bicycle Film Festival | 3 p.m. @ Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center | $22-$35
- Outstanding in the Field: Happy Valley Farm | 4 p.m. @ Happy Valley Farm | $390
- Queerlantis 2026 | 4 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Veterans Memorial Building | $33.85
- UCSC Jazz Big Band | 7 p.m. @ Music Recital Hall | $12
- Dance or Die: A Drag Rave Hotter Than Hell! | 9 p.m. @ The Catalyst | $28.72
Sunday, June 7
- Corralitos Farm and Garden Market | 11 a.m. @ 127 Hames Rd. | Free
- Singles Mixer Ages 30-45 (Western Edition) | 2 p.m. @ Laughing Monk Brewing and Gastropub | $23.18
- Santa Cruz Pride Parade and Festival – 51st Year | 11 a.m. @ Downtown Santa Cruz | Free
- Pride @ the MAH: Free Art Activity | 1 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History | Free
- Dueling Pianos-Santa Cruz | 2 p.m. @ Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building
- Endless Pride Pool Party | 2 p.m. @ Hotel Paradox | $65.87
