Tuesday, August 25, 2026
The Last Bit of Summer
Santa Cruz County · August 25, 2026
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If you ever thought there weren't kids in this town, just go to Blue Ball Park on a Saturday morning. Our son had his first soccer game this weekend, along with hundreds of other littles in their cute Mid-County Soccer uniforms. Grab a coffee from the Cliffside Coffee Bar and enjoy the chaos.
Let's get into this week:
TOGETHER WITH
Let's talk about water.
Better water starts with knowing your options. Westside Water Store is a family-owned neighborhood shop on Mission Street offering advanced-filtered, mineral-balanced refill water, reusable bottles, and under-sink and whole-home filtration systems. Refill what you have, grab a jug, or talk through a filter for the house.
Mention Low Tide Local and receive $8 OFF a 3- or 5-gallon BPA-free water bottle through September 8 (with a free fill-up).
Considering whole-home filtration? The First Low Tide Local Reader to order a whole-home system by August 31 will receive $350 OFF MSRP. But don't worry, every Low Tide Local reader who orders by August 31 will receive $250 off MSRP. But the earliest bird gets the biggest worm!
Either way, come by Westside Water Store at 1715 Mission Street, Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM, and leave with a full bottle. westsidewaterstore.com · (831) 222-3585
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CONDITIONS · TUESDAY, AUGUST 25
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A little misty fog before 8, then it burns off and we get 82. Water is 60. Full 3/2.
The Lane is 2 to 3 and fair. Pleasure Point is 2 to 3, not much to write home about.
Morning incoming tide is the window. High is 3.8 ft at 10:37 AM.
The last posted trip is still Tuesday the 18th. The 10 AM boat had one blue whale and four humpbacks, plus about 1,000 short-beaked common dolphin. The 9 AM run saw two blues and six humpbacks, plus a mola mola. Afternoon was six more humpbacks. The sightings log has the trip list. Photos live on the Whale Watch Facebook.
Dry-farmed Early Girls are still open at Live Earth Farm in Watsonville, $3 a pound ($2.50 if you walk out with 20 or more). Strawberries and cherry tomatoes are the same price. Galas and Fujis are listed for Sunday the 30th at $2 a pound, still marked closed as of Monday, so check the board before you drive. Stand hours 10 to 3, Saturdays and Sundays, 1275 Green Valley Rd. Leave the dog at home.
Crystal Bay Farm is still the midweek strawberry move, Wednesdays and Sundays 12 to 5, $8 a pound plus $2 a head to get in. And Dynomite Farm in Live Oak is still cut-your-own dahlias by appointment, one party at a time, through mid-October.
We post between Tuesdays now. Extra events and conditions, plus whatever we spot around the county. Come say hi.
Council takes West Cliff path and Bay Street today
City Council meets at 1 PM at City Hall, 809 Center St. On the table is a roughly $497,000 plan to pull the West Cliff path inland near Lighthouse Point and Getchell, where the bluff has been chewing at it. Eight parking spots go away at Getchell. Same meeting covers Bay Street, a $5.4 million corridor job, including a quick-build median at Bay and Escalona.
Cabrillo's fall started Monday with more than 9,600 students
Aptos and Watsonville are both in session. New certificates this year include CNA and early childhood education pathways, plus Python and a new HVACR program. Some of the certs are free. Costa Vista, the 624-bed housing project by the Aptos fields, is still aimed at fall 2027. President Jenn Capps says it is not too late to register.
?Or use that space for local restaurants and artists? |
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. Know of one? Submit it here.
★ = family-friendly
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25
★ Jade Street Park Reimagined opening · Noon · Community Center Patio, 4400 Jade St, Capitola · Free
The city makes Treasure Cove and the renovated community center official. We wrote about the playground last week. Bring the kids.
★ Tuesday Night Live: The Joint Chiefs · 6 to 8 PM · Wharf Commons, 55 Municipal Wharf · Free
Fourth Tuesday, funk on the commons stage. Stamp at any Wharf shop for two free hours of parking.
Seacliff Resilience Phase 3 open house · 6 to 8 PM · New Brighton Middle School, 250 Washburn Ave, Capitola · Free
State Parks wants eyes on the first camping-relocation and site-design concepts for Seacliff and New Brighton. Same clock as the Wharf show, different job.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26
★ Esplanade Park: Dueling Pianos · 6 to 8 PM · Esplanade Park, Capitola Village · Free
Two pianists, requests welcome. Low chairs and a picnic.
Built to Spill at the Rio · 8 PM, doors 7 · 1205 Soquel Ave · $40, all ages
Doug Martsch, PLAYDEAD opening. Have a listen ↗
Wednesday-night sailboat races · 6:30 to 8 PM · Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor · Free to watch
Best watched from the Crow's Nest deck.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27
★ Crow's Nest Beach BBQ with the Alex Lucero Band · 5:30 PM · Harbor Beach, 2222 East Cliff Dr · Free
One more Thursday after this, then the beach series is done. Free harbor water taxi. Have a listen ↗
Bargetto Winery: Music in the Courtyard · 6 PM · 3535 N Main St, Soquel · Free
Creekside courtyard at the county's oldest continuously operating winery.
★ Quail Hollow Full Moon Hike · 8:30 to 10 PM · 800 Quail Hollow Rd, Felton · Free
Guided walk on the lower trails, ages 8 and up. Headlamp for the return. Rain cancels.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28
CreativeMornings at the MAH · Doors 8:25 AM, talk 9 AM · 705 Front St, Downtown · Free, register
Mireya Gomez-Contreras on this month's theme, Nakhlah. Coffee first. If you bail, release the ticket so someone else can take the seat.
★ Midtown Fridays Block Party · 5 PM · 1111 Soquel Ave, midtown · Free
Last one of the summer series. Food trucks and a band on the lot.
★ Zootopia 2 at Capitola Esplanade · 7:30 to 9:30 PM, movie at dusk · Esplanade Park, Capitola Village · Free
Blankets, low chairs, a picnic. No dogs or booze on the beach.
★ Roaring Camp Sequoia Lights · 8:30 to 10 PM · 5400 Graham Hill Rd, Felton · $15.90 to $26.50
A 0.8-mile night loop past 26 lanterns hung about 50 feet up. Kids under 2 are free.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29
Club Aligne Club Day · 11 AM to 4 PM · Brommer Street County Park · from $55, code TIDEXCLUB takes 15% off
Our Weekend Pick. Full plan below.
★ Palace Art 77th Anniversary Art Demo Weekend · 10 AM to 6 PM · 1501-K 41st Ave, Capitola · Free
Our Spotlight this week. Sunday too, same hours.
★ The Freedom Blvd Market · 10 AM to 3 PM · The Farm at Lavender Hill, 6411 Freedom Blvd, Aptos · Free
25 local vendors on a small farm. Garden, greenhouse, and peacocks.
FUDŌ at the Rio · 8 PM, doors 7 · 1205 Soquel Ave · $20
Kolohe Andino's 35-minute surf film, one night here before it streams. Local grom Jackson Taylor is in it. Tickets at steko22.com.
★ MAH Day of Awe at Big Basin · 12 to 3 PM · 20580 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek · $7.18
Park interpreters and an awe walk. You get materials for a field journal. Parking passes come with the ticket.
Nicholson Vineyards Summer Series · 1 to 4 PM · 2800 Pleasant Valley Rd, Aptos · $25 to $50 tasting
Art in the vineyard this Saturday. Picnic if you want one.
★ Henry Cowell Guided Star Walk · 8:45 to 11 PM · Campground, 2591 Graham Hill Rd · Free, $10 to park
Ranger-led mile to the Observation Deck. RSVP on the page. Meet at the campground, not the main lot.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30
★ KoaStrong Fishing Derby · 7 AM to noon · Capitola Wharf, 1400 Wharf Rd · Free
Weigh-and-release off the wharf, no license needed there. Prizes for biggest fish, smallest fish, and most caught. Check in at the weigh-in tables toward the end of the wharf.
★ Try Water Polo at Soquel High · 12 to 2 PM · Soquel High Pool, 401 Old San Jose Rd, Soquel · Free, grades 1–8
A reader sent this one. Santa Cruz Water Polo Club, no experience needed.
★ Henry Cowell Redwood Grove Guided Walk · Noon to 1:30 PM · 101 N Big Trees Park Rd, Felton · Free, $10 to park
Docent loop through the old growth. Meet at the visitor center.
★ Boots 'N Brews · 4 to 7 PM · Murray St at Seabright Ave · Free
Surf City Line Dance on the closed stretch of Murray. Beer and wine sales go back to the Seabright and harbor shops sitting through the bridge work. Free bike valet at Seabreeze, 542 Seabright Ave.
MONDAY, AUGUST 31
Rockapella at Audrey Stanley Grove · 7 PM · 501 Upper Park Rd, DeLaveaga · $40
Monday Night Revels, the Carmen Sandiego five. Grove seating, layers.
Board Game Night at The Cruz Room · 5 to 10 PM · 1520 Mission St, Westside · Free
The Game Night Collective runs it every Monday with a 30-plus game library and someone to teach you the rules.
Palace Art & Office Supply · 1501-K 41st Ave, Capitola
Seventy-seven years on 41st, and this weekend they fill the store with more than 20 artists and manufacturers doing live demos. A reader sent the anniversary weekend in. First 77 through the door each day get a swag bag. Everyone else can spin the prize wheel. Saturday and Sunday, 10 to 6, free to walk in.
Club Aligne Club Day · Saturday, August 29, 11 AM to 4 PM · Brommer Street County Park · from $55, code TIDEXCLUB takes 15% off
Join Club Aligne for the ultimate wellness event of the weekend. Pickleball, pilates, a recovery suite, wellness market, product samples, & goodie bags. There's a full line up of local businesses including Perch Sauna, Kold Krate cold plunge, Bronza Bikinis, and so many more. Create community and leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Use code TIDEXCLUB for 15% off your club day pass.
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
Thursday: Boulder Creek Farmers Market · 1:30 to 5:30 PM · Junction Park, Boulder Creek
Friday: Watsonville Farmers Market · 2 to 9 PM · Peck and Union, Downtown Watsonville
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.
Any day: the library Puzzle Exchange · Most county branches · Free
Take a jigsaw off the display, finish it at your pace, then swap the box at the desk. No library card. Kelly, who helps with it, says every branch but Downtown and Live Oak has it.
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See you next Tuesday. 🌊
Low Tide Local