WEEKENDER
Your cheat sheet for eating well and going out in Santa Cruz County.
July 30, 2026
FESTIVALS: STRAWBERRY, ALOHA AND BREWGRASS
South County is looking pretty sweet this weekend. The annual Watsonville Strawberry Festival will take over the historic downtown area on Saturday and Sunday with a family-friendly carnival, live entertainment, artists, vendors and an eye-popping array of strawberry-infused treats – churros, shortcake, beer, tacos, pizza and more. The festival is free to enter and starts at 11 a.m. both days.
A new event is coming to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds this Friday and Saturday. The inaugural Aloha Music & Arts Festival Santa Cruz celebrates Hawaiian, Polynesian and Pacific cultures through music, dance, artists and food, and Santa Cruz’s deep historic connections through surfing and oceana lifestyle. Admission is free. The festival goes from noon to 6pm both days.
In the Santa Cruz Mountains, the sixth annual SCM Brewgrass Festival returns to Roaring Camp on Saturday afternoon. Attendees can enjoy live bluegrass music under the redwoods, with Jesse Daniel and Sam Bush headlining, along with craft beer from nearby breweries and food truck eats. Tickets are $75 in advance and $85 at the gate. – Lily Belli
UPCOMING EVENTS YOU’LL LOVE
Get full access to Lookout Santa Cruz
Become a member to read all of Lookout’s local coverage, from politics and policy to education, dining and more. Annual and monthly membership options are available — start reading for as little as $17 today!
FROM THE LOOKOUT LIST
FAVORITE PLACE TO GO DANCING
ABBOTT SQUARE
“Best dancing on Thursday nights to Afrobeats.”
ICYMI: ARTS & DINING STORIES
A TREAT BEFORE YOU GO
Play the Mini Crossword Puzzle of the Day
Quick, clever and bite-sized.
Sudoku, crosswords and more word puzzles await – play new daily puzzles in the free Lookout App. Available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
