Festival fantasies: Readers kick around ideas about the ultimate Santa Cruz event

In the process of party planning, the idea stage is the fun stage. Dreaming up the possibilities of party themes is catnip for just about anyone with a social sense and an imagination. So, when word came out that many artists and arts organizations throughout Santa Cruz County were pondering the possibilities of a big, monthlong Santa Cruz-oriented festival, locals wanted to weigh in.

A couple of weeks ago, I put forth a few ideas about what a quintessential Santa Cruz-themed festival might look like. I mentioned, in the post-COVID era, that it was difficult to find an exciting and lively big festival that was not absurdly expensive or thematically exhausted. And that maybe, just maybe, this was the ideal time for inventing a new thing, an event or concept that only Santa Cruz could present to the world.

The logistical part comes later. But before that reality check, why not really toss out some wild edge-of-the-envelope ideas? Maybe one of them can form a foundation to build on. 

Readers were delighted to jump into the fray. So, while we’re still spitballing, let’s take a second to scan some more ideas for a big festival that might bring attention to Santa Cruz County and celebrate the unique creative spirit of the people who live here. 

“The Liminal”

I like where Santa Cruz’s Chris Gray is going here. It’s high-concept, but it might work. “Liminal” is a term that often describes an in-between state, or the process of one thing as it transitions into another thing. Chris links the obvious ecological state of Santa Cruz County — that space between sea and mountains — and the transitional phase that the nation seems to be now experiencing politically and socially. 

Chris, who holds a Ph.D. from the fabled History of Consciousness department at UC Santa Cruz, also cites UCSC as an example of “a crucial source of new ideas and even disciplines.” He’s talking about what used to be “cutting-edge” (a term that, alas, is no longer cutting-edge). Art, performance, poetry reading, even lectures that each focus on the in-between state might yield something intriguing. But it would take a talented coordinator to translate all that creative forward momentum into a festival. (Imagine the challenge of marketing “The Liminal.”) Still, it’s also broad enough to contain multitudes. 

The “Think Tank”

Reader Doreen O’Donovan of Aptos really sunk her teeth into conceiving a new festival. She suggested several festivals in other parts of the world that might serve as inspiration for a local event. They include Australia’s Vivid Sydney festival, which embraces “light, music, ideas and food”; the STRP Festival, based in the Netherlands, which uses art and technology to anticipate possible future scenarios; and the bleeding-edge digital art and technology Sonar in Barcelona.

These are all big reaches, but Doreen’s own idea underscores Santa Cruz’s reputation for forward-thinking cultural ideas. “[Let’s] tackle many, or a just one single big idea/problem by creating a community ‘think tank,’” she writes. “Don’t necessarily just talk about it — although you could include lectures, etc., since it’s a month long — but find other ways to highlight a big problem and move people to action.”

Have a good time and solve social problems? It’s the best of both worlds. But will the world come to a “Make Housing Affordable Fest”?

“Earth Day” redux

Earth Day is an event first celebrated more than 50 years ago now. Though many still observe it, Earth Day simply doesn’t have the cultural cachet it once had. Sarah Borgeson of Santa Cruz suggests a full-on re-embrace of Earth Day, something beyond hippie-style tree hugging, but more “a very cutting-edge comprehensive lineup, spanning from the local Indigenous culture to tech innovation. Think-tank/conference vibes meets off-the-charts street festival,” she writes.

It’s a very inclusive idea. Most people in Santa Cruz are, in fact, natives of Earth. 

Shroom with a View

Diana Chapman seconded my own suggestion of an arts festival structured around the possibilities of psychedelics. 

“Bring all the experts [in psychedelics] here year after year to talk about the latest research, and the arts. We do have a big interest in mushrooms in this town with the Fungus Fair. That could bleed into magic mushrooms. I went to a conference years ago in San Jose on the topic and found it very interesting. You can look at it from the medical, the psychological and the religious/spiritual [point of view].”

Do you want to continue to live in a world where you have to drive from Santa Cruz to San Jose to learn about psychedelics? No, me either.

“Defying Gravity”

Maybe the above suggestions are just a bit too brainy. Maybe a purely fun approach would work better. Rena Dubin of Santa Cruz has a great idea in that vein: “Defying Gravity.”

“Skateboarding and surfing,” she writes, “BMX and mountain biking, and dance. … Plus, the Boardwalk rides and the history of the world-class diving that once drew hundreds to [The Plunge at the Boardwalk].” 

The dance part of it could also include the aerial arts, of which Santa Cruz has a tradition. She also says such a festival could include psychedelics “if we want to stretch what defying gravity means.” Ha!

And, as a culminating event, how about a tightrope walk across the redwoods, or at the Boardwalk, or even somewhere downtown (“I guess there’s a reason for that 16-story Workbench building after all!” she writes). 

There were so many other entertaining ideas: Don’t the redwoods deserve their own festival? Can’t we build off the obvious love of Halloween in Santa Cruz? Let’s play to our strengths with a focus on the beautiful murals of Santa Cruz. Wellness culture is an obvious winner. 

And then, there’s this:

Dogs!

“Everybody loves dogs,” said reader Joan Fuhry of Santa Cruz. I wouldn’t say everybody, but those who do love dogs, really love dogs. She’s not suggesting some fussy dog show, but rather a festival with agility contests, police K9 demos, entertainment shows, dog surfing/skateboarding, and, of course, a grand parade. Think a mini Olympics for dogs.

As for what does any of this have to do with the arts, Joan gives a rather brutal assessment that shows what we’re up against in envisioning an event that breaks through the noise of all other events. “Once you’ve seen one art festival, you’ve seen them all,” she wrote. “Santa Cruz could become world-renowned for the Dog Olympics, but I doubt we’d become world-renowned for another art and wine festival.”

Ouch! But she’s right. What’s the point in putting so much energy into something that won’t jump out at the jaded weekend adventure seeker? The idea can be small. It can be controversial. It can be a little eccentric even. But, ultimately, it’s gotta be bold. 

Let’s continue the conversation. Which of the already mentioned ideas appeals to you? Do you have an even better idea? 

Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here.