Tuesday, July 7, 2026
A Sigh of Relief
Santa Cruz County · July 7, 2026
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Good morning friends.
We hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th. No major fires or accidents that we know of, just the quiet week following the chaos, and the visitors back over the hill. We're traveling this week, but we wanted to make sure to get this out to everyone.
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CONDITIONS · TUESDAY, JULY 7
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Warm sunny week: 74 today, mid-70s through Friday, a couple degrees cooler for the weekend, and the fog is gone by the time the coffee is made. In the water, the west swell keeps Steamer Lane and the reefs at 3 to 5 on the sets, and a new 16-second south swell showed up on the buoy overnight; if it fills in through the day, Pleasure Point and 26th Ave wake up with it. Water is 61, still a full 3/2.
The year's biggest minus tides land this weekend but bottom out pre-sunrise (Monday's -1.6 hits at 4:32 AM). Unless you tidepool by headlamp, hold out for the mid-morning minus tides the following week.
The bay put on a show over the holiday weekend. The Monterey Bay Whale Watch crews logged around 35 humpbacks on a single morning trip on July 1, plus 20 Pacific white-sided dolphins, 30 long-beaked common dolphins, and a few Risso's; the afternoon boat turned up a returning whale they call "Mister Magic." Then on July 3, ten orcas from three families, the CA51As among them, showed up and put on a clinic: a big male breaching clear out of the water, a calf spy-hopping with its mouth wide open, while a humpback mom chin-slapped the water nearby.
Photos are on Facebook, including the teeth on that calf.
Peaches and apricots are peaking at the Watsonville stands right now, and the first blueberries are showing up alongside them. Strawberries are still hitting. Cherries have another week, maybe two, if you want them.
For pick-your-own: this weekend the lavender U-pick at Noble Harvest Farm is on both Saturday and Sunday, if you want a bundle for the kitchen counter. Crystal Bay Farm in Watsonville runs U-pick strawberries Wednesdays and Sundays, noon to 5, at $8 a pound plus $2 to get in. 40 Zils Road.
Carmageddon, take three: the annual county roadwork moves to North County
The county's summer roadwork wrapped up in Mid-County last week and moves up the mountains this week, starting on Empire Grade between Ice Cream Grade and Vick Drive. The rest of the summer is Felton Empire, Bear Creek, China Grade, and Mount Hermon Road. Weekdays 8:30 to 4, through August 21. Also worth knowing before you plan a run: the Highway 1 southbound Park Avenue on-ramp in Capitola is closed until August 19, and the auxiliary lane between Soquel Drive and 41st is down for six weeks of guardrail work.
Santa Cruz robotics team wins a world championship
Students from eight county high schools took home the MATE ROV World Championship, underwater robotics, in St. John's, Newfoundland late last month, outscoring 46 other teams from 13 countries. A win like that usually gets one line at a school board meeting and moves on. Consider this a bigger shout.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monterey Bay closes after 44 years
The mentoring nonprofit that has matched Bigs and Littles across Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties since 1982 quietly disaffiliated from the national organization on June 30. Executive director Gabriela Trigueiro has directed families to former partnerships manager M. Legere, now at BBBS of the Bay Area, which will pick up local matches. Some pairs, like Amé Yeager and Brenda Canizal, plan to keep their bond going on their own.
For the visual folks, we put l.t.l. on a map. View Mo's Map to see what's happening near you, plus the markets and the weekend's sales.
Garage sales get refreshed every Friday with the weekend's garage, yard, estate, and moving sales, so you can plot your Saturday route before you leave the house. Know of one? Submit it here.
Road closures, current and upcoming, the Murray St bridge included. Plus happenings, music, and the spots we send people to, all in one place. Tell us what you think:
★ = family-friendly
TUESDAY, JULY 7
★ Angelica Glass: "Scavenging Beauty" reading · 7–8 PM · Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave, Downtown · Free
The Santa Cruz social worker who walked every street in the county, 2,878 miles by her count, reads from her memoir with Lindsay Steigner. Anne Lamott called it "beautiful nature writing, coupled with depth and insight into trauma, forgiveness and especially love." Get there early, this one will pack the atrium.
★ Felton Farmers Market · 1:30–5:30 PM · 120 Russell Ave, Felton · Free
Quiet Tuesday in the valley. Get the peaches.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8
★ Capitola Twilight Concerts: B-Movie Kings · 6–9 PM · Esplanade Park, Capitola Village · Free
Classic rock on the water with B-Movie Kings. Bring a low chair and grab dinner from a Village restaurant. Park up the hill and walk down.
★ Abbott Square Trivia Night · 6:30 PM · Abbott Square, 725 Front St, Downtown · Free
Standing weekly trivia in the food hall. Grab Luna's empanadillas and play a round.
★ Ceramics for Everyone · 6 PM · Art Factory Studios, Aptos · $70
A guided handbuilding session with all materials, glazing, and firing included. All ages, kids under 10 bring a participating adult. Runs Mondays and Wednesdays all summer if you can't make this one.
THURSDAY, JULY 9
★ Crow's Nest Beach BBQ: Extra Large · 5:30–8 PM · Santa Cruz Harbor Beach, Twin Lakes · Free
Thursday beach party, band on the sand. The free water taxi runs 5 to 9 PM, and parking is a scrap, so take it.
Bargetto Winery: James Durbin · 6–8 PM · 3535A N Main St, Soquel · Free entry
James Durbin plays the creekside courtyard, wine by the glass, ItaliaFire pizza outside. Same guy who headlined Live at the Lane last Friday, warm room this time.
★ Seabright Ave Free Outdoor Movie Night: The SpongeBob Movie · 8 PM · Murray St & Seabright Ave, Seabright · Free
Blankets on the pavement, pineapple under the sea. Bring the kids.
FRIDAY, JULY 10
★ Midtown Fridays: Hijinx · 5–8:30 PM · 1111 Soquel Ave, Midtown · Free
Summer block party rolls on. Food trucks in the lot, Hijinx up on the flatbed.
Lester Estate Wines: Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash · 5–8 PM · 2000 Pleasant Valley Rd, Aptos · $25
Sundowner concert on the vineyard, Bastard Sons doing outlaw country, Uncle Papa's BBQ on the truck. Bring a hat, the sun sits low over Pleasant Valley.
★ Boardwalk Summer Luau · 6–8:30 PM · The Grove, 400 Beach St · Ticketed
Tropical buffet and hula dancers at the Boardwalk for the kids. Aloha attire encouraged. Check the site for pricing.
Bite Me! · 6 PM doors, live act at 8 · Upstairs at the Catalyst, Downtown · No cover
The second-Friday goth night above the Catalyst. Makeovers and open decks early, free pizza at 7, DJs until late. Come dressed as the weirdo you are; best-dressed takes home door prizes.
SATURDAY, JULY 11
Hop N' Barley Beer Festival · 11 AM–4:30 PM · Skypark, 361 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley · Ticketed
The big Scotts Valley beer fest. Full rundown in the Weekend Pick below.
★ Day on the Beach · daytime · Cowell Beach, Westside · Free
Shared Adventures runs the county's best day of the year: a plywood platform on the sand, outrigger canoes, adaptive kayaking, scuba dives, and beach wheelchairs for anyone with a mobility need. Over 300 participants, 250-plus volunteers, and one of those Santa Cruz things that reminds you what the town does well.
★ Lavender U-Pick at Noble Harvest Farm · daytime · Watsonville · Ticketed
A bundle for the kitchen counter. Also on Sunday.
SUNDAY, JULY 12
★ Downtown Santa Cruz Antiques Faire · 9 AM–5 PM · Lincoln St, Downtown · Free
Second Sunday flea. Coffee at Verve, walk two blocks, dig around.
★ DeLaveaga Park Free Archery Lessons · 10 AM–1 PM · DeLaveaga Park · Free
Free lessons at the range, equipment provided. Preregister online; walk-ins squeeze in as space allows.
MONDAY, JULY 13
The Cruz Room Hosted Board Game Night · 5–10 PM · The Cruz Room, 1520 Mission St, Westside · Free
Hosted games 5 to 8, trivia after. Food and drinks for order, the shelf is deep. Show up alone and get pulled into a game.
Village Foods · 21245 East Cliff Drive, Live Oak
Kelly Langstaff has been feeding this end of the county through her prepared-meal delivery service since early last year, and in mid-June she finally opened the storefront she has been sketching. Village Foods sits right by the Windmill on East Cliff, a small 1950s-style grab-and-go with the same food that made the delivery service work: miso teriyaki salmon, grilled tri-tip with herb rice, sticky orange chicken with Brussels sprouts, jumbo meatballs over polenta. She calls it a micro-grocery, and the pitch is honest: you swing by after work and take dinner home. Cut flowers, produce, wine, and candles are on the way. If you live between Pleasure Point and Twin Lakes, this is the one to know about.
Hop N' Barley Beer Festival · Saturday, July 11
The Scotts Valley summer beer fest is back at Skypark on Saturday, 11 AM to 4:30 PM. Over 50 breweries and cideries, more than 100 beers, food trucks, games, and a couple of bands going most of the day. Every ticket comes with a five-ounce tasting glass and a wristband, and proceeds go to the Homeless Garden Project up on the Westside, which runs the transitional job-training farm on Delaware.
The kids-and-dogs-free rule is on the page as gospel: "No Charge for Children, Dogs, Lizards or Raccoons. Marsupials are full price. This is Not Negotiable." Buy tickets at buytickets.at/kameleonlp/2056669. Ride your bike, walk the greenway, or take a friend, because parking around Skypark on a Hop N' Barley Saturday is a known event of its own.
The markets and standing plans that run every week.
Tuesday: Felton Farmers Market · 1:30 to 5:30 PM · 120 Russell Ave, Felton
Wednesday: Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers Market · 12:30 to 5 PM · Cedar and Church, Downtown
Friday: Watsonville Farmers Market · 2 to 9 PM · Peck and Union, Downtown Watsonville
Friday and Saturday: Live Band at Abbott Square · 7 to 10 PM · 725 Front St, Downtown · Free
Saturday: Westside Farmers Market · 9 AM to 1 PM · Mission St Ext and Western Dr
Saturday: Aptos Farmers Market · 8 AM to Noon · Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Dr
Saturday: Scotts Valley Farmers Market · 8 AM to Noon · Graham Plaza, 219 Mount Hermon Rd
Sunday: Live Oak Farmers Market · 9 AM to 1 PM · 15th and East Cliff Dr
Sunday: Humble Sea Brewing · 11 AM to 9 PM · 820 Swift St, Westside · Free entry
Fog beer and fish and chips in the beer garden. Dog and kid friendly, Saturdays too.
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If something in here sounds good, go. Tell a neighbor. And if you heard about something we should cover, hit reply or send it here.
See you next Tuesday. 🌊
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