[ Arts Index | Santa Cruz | MetroActive Central | Archives ]

Street Beat

The Cabrillo Music Festival also serves up a weekend of outdoor pleasures By Marlow de Ville THE CABRILLO Music Festival is always a feast for the senses, but in recent years it's doubled the pleasures by preceding itself with the bigger-than-ever Cabrillo Music, Art, Food & Wine Festival. This year it's happening Aug. 7 and 8 from 11am to 8pm. And to accommodate the crowds who just don't know when to stop, festival organizers have booked most of Church Street in downtown Santa Cruz so that revelers can eat, drink, be merry and listen to fine music on an outdoor stage on Center Street. Here's the deal: more than 70 artisans will display tempting handmade finery, from jewelry to furniture, art glass to homegrown bouquets. As you survey all of this eye candy, sip something premium from the Santa Cruz region's fine wineries. Bonny Doon and Roudon-Smith will be among those pouring their wares. A world-fusion menu of finger food will also fill this alfresco festival, with cuisine from the Middle East, Asia and downhome American South, to name but a few. Save room for some of those fab Greek pastries made by the ladies of the Prophet Elias Orthodox Church. For those who like to do it themselves, Sunday is Family Day, featuring new treats like free "hands-on" art workshops, performances by the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre and the annual Free Family Concert at 2pm inside the Civic Auditorium. That's a lot of action for a beach town. For details, call 429-3444. [ Santa Cruz | MetroActive Central | Archives ]