Event highlights for the week of December 13, 2017.
Green Fix
iSkate Capitola
It may not snow in Santa Cruz, but that doesn’t mean ice skating is out of the question. Capitola Village transforms into an idyllic winter wonderland this time of year, and ice skating is an integral part of the holiday festivities. The stunning Monterey Bay backdrop isn’t bad, either. Skating is open to all ages and levels.
INFO: Friday, Dec. 15-Sunday, Jan. 7. Two-hour time slots run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Esplanade Park in Capitola Village. capitolavillage.com/ice-skating-capitola. General admission plus skate rental $15, general admission $10.
Art Seen
‘Stockings: A Holiday Cabaret’
Are you naughty or nice? Motion Pacific’s sexiest holiday show is a little of both, and promises plenty of debauchery from some of the best local musicians and dancers. Because of its adult content, the show is 21 and up. Most tickets sold out weeks ago, and currently there are only VIP tables. So if you are still hoping to go, you’ll either need to grab a few friends for a front row night of luxury or keep your fingers crossed in the unlikely event of any last-minute dropouts.
INFO: Thursday, Dec. 14-Saturday, Dec. 16. 8 p.m. Motion Pacific. 131 Front St, Santa Cruz. 457-1616. motionpacific.com. Sold out, contact studio for VIP tables. Photo by Crystal Birns.
Friday 12/15-Sunday 12/31
Toy Trains Exhibit
Destined to delight the young and young at heart, the MAH’s annual Toy Trains exhibit is a marvel of astonishingly lifelike trains and landscapes to inspire any age group. The event showcases model trains through history, from the 1920s to today, and includes steam engines, electric trains and all of the bells and whistles to boot.
INFO: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., excluding Christmas. Ends at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Museum of Art and History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz. santacruzmah.org. Free.
Friday 12/15-Sunday 12/17
‘The Nutcracker’ Around Town
Tchaikovsky and the Trepak dance are finally here—too bad they are all on the same weekend at nearly the exact same time! Fingers crossed you aren’t out of town, because this would be the opportune moment to spend your weekend seeing Nutcracker shows back to back to back. After all, there’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit than overload on the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.” Who knows, maybe Santa Cruz will even meld into one giant Nutcracker experience so that you won’t have to bounce all over the county. If you haven’t seen the Nut, now you have no excuse.
- Agape Dance Academy Nutcracker 2017. Grande Nutcracker: Saturday Dec. 16 and Sunday Dec. 17. 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7 p.m. Mello Center for the Performing Arts, Watsonville. $16.00-$25.00. agapedance.com.
- International Academy of Dance’s Nutcracker: Saturday Dec. 16 and Sunday Dec. 17. 1 and 4:30 p.m. Cabrillo Crocker Theater, Lower Perimeter Road, Aptos. nutcrackersantacruz.com. $30-$40.
- Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre: Friday Dec. 15. 8 p.m, Saturday Dec. 16 and Sunday Dec 17, 1 and 4:30 p.m. Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz. scbt.org. $18.50-$78.50
Thursday 12/14
Chanukah Train
This year, experience Chanukah among the lights. Join Roaring Camp Railroads on the third night of Chanukah and see Santa Cruz like you’ve never seen it before. The cars will be covered in thousands of lights and Chanukah decorations, and the event includes Chanukah stories, dreidels and Kosher refreshments. After the menorah lighting, the train departs from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and runs on an hour-long tour through town. A ticket also includes a round of miniature golf, laser tag or arcade games.
INFO: 6:15 p.m. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. roaringcamp.com. 335-4484. $27 children/$33 adults. Advance registration recommended.
