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May 2015
First Friday: FashionTEENS Santa Cruz
Kickoff the 2015 Summer Series the FashionTEENS Santa Cruz First Friday event at the Santa Cruz Mission. The free and family-friendly Summer Series at the Santa Cruz Mission Adobe State Historic Park in downtown Santa Cruz includes seven events with a wide spectrum of cultural experiences, fine art and outdoor movies, culminating with the third annual Mole & Mariachi Festival on Sept. 19.
Find out more »December 2015
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Holiday Sale & First Friday Event
SPECIAL PREVIEW EVENT Friday, Dec. 4 • 4 to 8 pm Enjoy music, Mutari Hot Chocolate, kids’ crafts, art and more during First Friday Santa Cruz! HOLIDAY SALE Saturday, December 5 • 10 to 4 pm Sunday, December 6 • 12 to 4 pm Shop the Santa Cruz Mission ParkStore for thoughtful holiday gifts. All proceeds benefit our local state parks and beaches. Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks members receive 30% off — iconic Michael Schwab park illustrations on…
Find out more »July 2016
PopUp Picnics in the Park
Join us for PopUp Picnics in the Park. Enjoy a relaxing lunch outdoors at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park on Thursdays this summer. PopUp Picnics in the Park will be held Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., June 30 through Aug. 25. Bring a sack lunch and enjoy the view of downtown Santa Cruz. Food trucks will set up for selected PopUp Picnics in the Park. Follow Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks on Facebook and Instagram for…
Find out more »September 2016
Mole & Mariachi 2016
The fourth annual Mole & Mariachi Festival is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016 at Santa Cruz Mission Adobe State Historic Park (144 School St.) in downtown Santa Cruz! Competing chefs prepared mole, a traditional Mexican sauce, sometimes made using chocolate, for festival-goers to sample. There will be live music, dance, activities for kids, craft vendors and more. The Mole & Mariachi Festival is a benefit for nonprofit Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks in support of…
Find out more »May 2017
Movie at the Mission: Disney’s “The Brave Little Toaster”
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks kicks off summer special events with Movie at the Mission featuring Disney’s “The Brave Little Toaster”. “The Brave Little Toaster” is the story of a group of outdated appliances whose home is about to be sold to new owners. Led by the loyal toaster, they embark on a journey in search for their original owner. The appliances battle the wildness of swamps, city streets and junkyards, and, in the process, learn that they are…
Find out more »June 2017
PopUp Picnic in the Park
Enjoy a relaxing lunch outdoors at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park and take in the view of downtown Santa Cruz on Thursdays this summer. PopUp Picnics in the Park will be held Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., through Aug. 17. Weekly food vendors will be announced soon. Visitors also are welcome to bring a sack lunch. A portion of food sales at each Popup Picnic will benefit Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park. The Mission is open…
Find out more »PopUp Picnic in the Park
Enjoy a relaxing lunch outdoors at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park and take in the view of downtown Santa Cruz on Thursdays this summer. PopUp Picnics in the Park will be held Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., through Aug. 17. Weekly food vendors will be announced on our website. Visitors also are welcome to bring a sack lunch. A portion of food sales at each Popup Picnic will benefit Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park. The Mission…
Find out more »December 2017
ParkStore Holiday Sale 2017
Shop four ParkStore locations for thoughtful holiday gifts on Saturday and Sunday, December 2 and 3. All proceeds benefit our local state parks and beaches. On Saturday, December 2, walk with us in the Holiday Parade in downtown Santa Cruz (meet on Pacific Avenue at 9:30 am). Follow us up to the Mission for the Holiday Sale and “Tacos on the Terrace” with Taquitos Gabriel’s. Friends members receive up to 30% off on select iconic Michael Schwab park illustrations on…
Find out more »January 2018
Storytelling Night: ‘Stories for a New Year’
Come together around the campfire as our storytellers weave yarns of adventure, mystery, and laughter. Bring warm clothes, blankets and the whole family. We'll provide the hot chocolate! This event is free. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.; storytelling begins at 7 p.m. For more information, call (831) 425-5849.
Find out more »September 2018
Mole & Mariachi Festival 2018
The sixth annual Mole & Mariachi Festival is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 at Santa Cruz Mission Adobe State Historic Park (144 School St.) in downtown Santa Cruz! Competing chefs prepared mole, a traditional Mexican sauce, sometimes made using chocolate, for festival-goers to sample. There will be a raffle, live music, dance, activities for kids, craft vendors and more. The Mole & Mariachi Festival is a benefit for nonprofit Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks in…
Find out more »December 2018
Holiday ParkStore Sale
Shop our ParkStore location for thoughtful holiday gifts. All proceeds benefit our local state parks and beaches. Friends members receive up to 30% off on select iconic Michael Schwab park illustrations on apparel and more, plus jewelry, maps, nature guides, local history books, educational toys and other merchandise that represent the special cultural history and environment of our parks. Non-members receive 20% off. Become a member at the Holiday Sale to receive the 30% discount!
Find out more »January 2019
Mission Strategy Game
Gather round the table and play a board game set in the 18th century. Spend Spanish real coins and roll the sheep’s knucklebone to determine the fate of your mission. Geared for ages 8 and older. For more information, please call (831) 425-5849. Event free.
Find out more »What They Wore
Color, cloth, & cut – the clothing worn by the people in the Mission was not all about style – it was about identity, status, and different roles in the community. We will demonstrate the apparel you may have seen here in the 19th century, and learn what the clothing meant to the people who wore it. For more information, please call (831) 425-5849. Event free.
Find out more »Guided Adobe Tour
Join us for a guided tour of the oldest building in Santa Cruz. Come learn about the many families who have called this 180-year-old mission adobe their home. For more information, please call (831) 425-5849. Event free.
Find out more »Wool, Spinning, and Weaving
How did an isolated settlement clothe the hundreds of people who lived there? Take an in-depth look at the cloth industry of Mission Santa Cruz. We will follow the path of wool from the sheep to the shirt. You will have the chance to try your hand at a drop spindle and spin your own wool. For more information, please call (831) 425-5849. Event free.
Find out more »Drop-In Family Craft – Yarn Baskets
Enjoy an informal afternoon at this hidden jewel near downtown Santa Cruz. Make a basket made of colorful yarn. For more information, please call (831) 425-5849. Event free.
Find out more »Skill and Luck
What kind of games did the Ohlone play? When the Spanish came did they bring games? Did the Ohlone still play their games during the missions? Come and find the answers to these questions about games at the mission. Make a game to take home! For more information, please call (831) 425-5849. Event free.
Find out more »Building Methods at the Mission
Come and see how the oldest building in town was made. We will look at the materials used by the Ohlone to build their homes and then at the materials used by the Spanish to build Mission Santa Cruz. You will have the chance to get your hands dirty and make your own mini abode brick. Rain cancels. For more information, please call (831) 425-5849. Event free.
Find out more »Hides and Tallow
Come and see how Mission Santa Cruz participated in a world economy back in the early 19th century. We will look at some of the major products of the mission, leather and tallow, and demonstrate how they were used. You will see how a branding iron works and get to make your own candle. Rain cancels. For more information, please call (831) 425-5849. Event free.
Find out more »Drop-In Family Craft – Papal Picado
Enjoy an informal afternoon at this hidden jewel near downtown Santa Cruz. Snip your way to your own colorful tissue paper decorations. For more information, please call (831) 425-5849. Event free.
Find out more »February 2019
Hides and Tallow
Come and see how Mission Santa Cruz participated in a world economy back in the early 19thcentury. We will look at some of the major products of the mission, leather and tallow, and demonstrate how they were used. You will see how a branding iron works and get to make your own candle. Rain cancels. For more information, please call (831) 425-5849. Event free.
Find out more »Guided Adobe Tour
Join us for a guided tour of the oldest building in Santa Cruz. Come learn about the many families who have called this 180-year-old mission adobe their home. For more information, please call (831) 425-5849. Event free.
Find out more »Mission Strategy Game
Gather round the table and play a board game set in the 18th century. Spend Spanish real coins and roll the sheep’s knucklebone to determine the fate of your mission. Geared for ages 8 and older. For more information, please call (831) 425-5849. Event free.
Find out more »June 2019
PopUp Picnics in the Park
PopUp Picnics in the Park return to Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park for the fourth summer in a row, taking place Thursdays from June 13 through August 15 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. (except for July 4). Take a break to enjoy tacos on the terrazza, with food by Taquitos Gabriel available for purchase. The full menu includes tacos, plates, burritos, quesadillas and drinks with occasional specials, such as mole. Prices range from $2 to $10, and Taquitos…
Find out more »September 2019
Mole & Mariachi Festival
The 7th annual event will be Saturday, Sept. 7th at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, 144 School St. in downtown Santa Cruz. The festival features authentic Mexican food and drink, mariachi music, folklorico dancing, kids’ activities, a mole tasting contest and more!
Find out more »