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Lights along the arcade illuminate the Cocoanut Grove on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk as dusk falls on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf and Main Beach. Named a California Historic Landmark in May 1989, the building was designed by local architect William H. Weeks, who also designed Santa Cruz High School and hundreds of Mission-style public buildings throughout California from 1892 and 1936. Five hundred local workers took only seven months to complete the building, overcoming a lack of building materials due to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and strong winter storms. When the Cocoanut Grove (then called the Casino) opened in June 1907, more than 1,200 guests attended the grand opening. During the Big Band era of the 1930s and 1940s, the ballroom hosted many of the big bands of the day including Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Xavier Cugat. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
SANTA CRUZ – For more than 116 years, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has provided a certain appeal to residents and tourists, not only through its many rides, amusement park attractions and proximity to Main Beach but also through many other forms of it. in entertainment: music, movies, magic and more.
All of that will be available this summer, when the Boardwalk hosts a variety of entertainment, all free of charge.
The first major entertainment attraction is the Live Music in the Colonnade series every Thursday night from June 15 to August 10, featuring a mix of different bands, tribute acts and even some local groups. .
Boardwalk spokesperson Kris Reyes said the bands were selected through a rigorous process with the goal of finding quality performers.
“We spend a lot of time researching bands, talking to people in the industry who know good live acts and filters, trying to figure out what are good bands for our Boardwalk guests. and who is suitable for what we are trying to achieve,” he said.
In past years, the Boardwalk has hosted a free summer concert series on Fridays, drawing big names like Blue Oyster Cult and Eddie Money. However, Reyes said the park’s temporary closure during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes to how the Boardwalk presents its concerts.
“As we recover from COVID and reopen, it gives us the opportunity to re-evaluate the entirety of our entertainment offerings and look at things differently than before,” said he.
Last year, the Boardwalk experimented with hosting smaller local bands on weeknights rather than Fridays, and Reyes said it went down well with the audience.
“We know our guests really enjoy the experience, and it’s really aligned with our changed hours of operation after COVID,” he said. “It’s a perfect fit for us, so we want to expand on that this year.”
Opening on June 15 is Sang Matiz, a seven-piece San Francisco band that combines Afro-Latin beats, tropical elements and touches of funk.
Performing on June 22 is Man in Black, a four-piece Santa Cruz band that performs songs from Johnny Cash’s entire repertoire from “Ring of Fire” to “Get Rhythm.”
Extra Large will perform on June 29. The Santa Cruz sextet performs a blend of reggae, funk, Latin rock and classic California rock.
Fast Times will bring a real dance party July 6. The quintet is a true throwback with their neon outfits and setlist that includes everything from the Temptations, Queen and Michael Jackson to more recent hits by Lizzo, The Weeknd and Bruno Mars. Whatever your favorite era of music, Fast Times will hit that nostalgic sweet spot.
On July 13, local trio Santa Cruda will bring a mix of soulful harmonies and reggae rhythms.
The Tsunami Band will be making waves on July 20 with a mix of classic rock favorites from the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Jimi Hendrix and Tom Petty.
July 27 will feature a performance by the Deadlies, a band that mixes the surf-rock sound of the ’60s with a cowpunk and psychobilly-style reminiscent of the Cramps and Social Distortion.
On August 3, Watsonville/Salinas quartet 4to Prestigio will play a mix of corridos, zapateados, rancheros and other Mexican musical styles.
Closing out the season on August 10 is Pacific Roots, a Santa Cruz band that plays a blend of reggae and punk rock firmly rooted in California culture.
All performances will be held 8:30-10 pm Thursday in the Colonnade, near the pirate ship ride.
Reyes said he likes how the schedule provides something for everyone.
“It’s a really fun, eclectic mix, and the Boardwalk is a really fun, eclectic place, so it’s aligned perfectly with what we do on a day-to-day basis,” he said.
There’s plenty of fun for music lovers this summer, but movie buffs don’t have to feel left out. Free Movies on the Beach returns on Friday nights, and families are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs and enjoy the aromas of the ocean and carnival food while they watch some Hollywood hits. .
Kicking things off on June 16 will be a local favorite: the 1987 vampire classic “The Lost Boys,” which was mostly shot in Santa Cruz, including scenes on the Boardwalk. Following that is a lineup of classic and recent family favorites, including “Mamma Mia!” on June 23, “Space Jam” on June 30, “Labyrinth” on July 7, “Selena” on July 14, “Minions: The Rise of Gru” on July 21, “Top Gun: Maverick” on July 28, “Shrek ” on August 4 and “The Neverending Story” on August 11.
The shows will be shown at 9pm on Fridays at the Colonnade and there will be a 15-minute intermission. With the exception of “The Lost Boys,” “Mamma Mia” and “Top Gun,” all movies are rated PG.
Plus, every day on the Boardwalk from June 19 to August 11, there will be free daily entertainers at both locations, from juggler John Park to sword swallower Wendy Blades to surfing magician Doug Hopkins. For a full list of daily performers and schedules, visit Beachboardwalk.com/shows.
There will be no new rides on the Boardwalk this year, though Reyes said the park continues to experiment with new rides and food locations, including a pretzel stand currently under construction.
For Reyes, entertainment is as integral to the Boardwalk as its rides and classic carnival treats.
“People really want to have fun,” he said. “They want to have fun, they want to laugh, they want to sing, they want to dance, so whether it’s daily entertainers, movies or live music, there’s something for everyone.”
The Boardwalk’s address is 400 Beach St. For information, visit Beachboardwalk.com.