This weekend in Santa Cruz, CA

Enjoy a welcoming yoga session on the sand that is suitable for all experience levels. Breathe with the ocean air, settle into the earth, and move together under the open sky. This gathering is donation based, pay what you can. Please bring a mat and water, and come with an open heart.

Scrumptious, honored by Good Times as Santa Cruz’s Best Takeout and Seafood for five consecutive years, brings its classic British fish and chips to Humble Sea Brewing Co. The menu includes the signature fish and chips along with shrimp and bangers. There are also three loaded chip options, including one for vegan diners. Ordering through DoorDash and Uber Eats is enabled at the brewery while Scrumptious is on site.

The fifth installment of this offbeat cabaret series brings together an eclectic lineup of poets, actors, musicians and singers, dancers, and stand-up comics. Expect surprises that could range from mind reading to fire eating or contortion, all in a setting that invites unexpected moments to unfold. Attendees are welcome to bring a picnic and their favorite beverages and settle in for performances by artists who share their craft out of passion. This is a pay-what-you-can event, with no one turned away for lack of funds. Proceeds support the Performer’s Fund to bring in professional talent and to help with upkeep and equipment improvements. Wheelchair access can be arranged with advance notice for those with mobility needs. The gathering takes place at a private residence in the Seabright neighborhood, where respectful behavior helps keep live performances going. The venue is smoke free, with a designated smoking area on the front porch. Dogs are not permitted. Parking may require a short walk of a block or two, and attendees are asked to be considerate of neighbors.

A family dance glow party at The Grove: Santa Cruz Event Center features a DJ, plenty of dancing, magic, face painting, and food for a fun-filled experience. Tickets will go on sale, with more details to come.

Spend an evening in the forest that starts at Roaring Camp with a hearty barbecue dinner and a slice of homemade-style apple pie. After dinner, board a historic steam train and ride to the mountain top for music and hot cider.

Laurie Anderson brings The Republic of Love to the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz, presented by (((folkYEAH!))) and the Crepe Place. Born from an invitation to a multidisciplinary festival in Vienna that examined the rise of fascism in Europe, this evolving program looks at the relationship between government and love through music, storytelling, and history. The evening features Anderson works such as Big Science and Language Is a Virus, alongside words and ideas from American artists and thinkers including Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, John Cage, Gertrude Stein, William S. Burroughs, and Allen Ginsberg. Anderson performs on electronics, voice, and violin with Sexmob and guests, including Steven Bernstein on trumpet, Briggan Krauss on alto saxophone, Doug Wieselman on guitar and woodwinds, Tony Scherr on bass, and Kenny Wollesen on drums and percussion, with Mazz Swift and Christina Courtin providing backing vocals and violin. Open to all ages. All sales are final.

Fall Ball League brings together boys and girls divisions at Branciforte Middle School for skill-building lacrosse sessions designed for both newcomers and experienced athletes. Participants move through small-group stations and structured clinics where returning players can sharpen technique, improve spacing and field awareness, and try new skills without the pressure of interclub competition. New players receive dedicated instruction on fundamentals to build confidence and stick skills, then blend into shared drills and friendly scrimmages that tie everything together.

Settle into a soothing sound bath guided by Taia Sound Healing, where sacred instruments foster deep relaxation, meditation, and restoration. The session concludes with warm tea. To reserve a spot, contact Ariella Laver at 650-9969484 or ariellabresler@gmail.com. The cost is $15 by cash or Venmo, and walk-ins are welcome. Please bring your own mat and anything else you need to stay comfortable.

Scrumptious is at Humble Sea Brewing Co. with its award-winning seafood, celebrated by Good Times with Santa Cruz's top takeout and seafood honors for five years running. The menu highlights classic British fish and chips. Other offerings include shrimp and bangers, along with three loaded chip dishes, one designed for vegan diners. Door Dash and Uber Eats ordering is available at the brewery while Scrumptious is on site.

NextStage Productions presents a storytelling program about chance encounters and the perspective changes they spark. Directed by Brad Roades in the spirit of The Moth Radio Hour, the event features two separate casts sharing personal stories on stage. It takes place at Actor's Theater in Santa Cruz. Admission is $20 at the door.

Felton Music Hall hosts Spafford for a night of adventurous improvisation and expansive jams. Known for creating music in the moment, the band relies on a shared musical language and a broad palette of influences, from 90s alternative rock to Steely Dan and The Crystal Method, so every performance becomes its own journey. Their track record includes a long run of sold out headline shows and standout appearances at major festivals such as Bonnaroo and Firefly. Spafford is also marking the release of Cat Shop, available on streaming services, with physical editions on double vinyl and CD. The vinyl pressing includes exclusive demos and a special Fire Alarm Jam that can be heard only on that format.