Saturday, Aug. 3
Special events
2019 Watsonville Strawberry Festival
The Watsonville Strawberry Festival traces its roots to the Watsonville Strawberry Dessert Festival that was founded in 1995 to help downtown Watsonville recover from the Loma Prieta earthquake. Come for a weekend of family fun, food, crafts, and entertainment. New this year is the Kick-Off Dance party on Friday at 5:30 p.m., and the Strawberry Jam Fun Run on Saturday. For information visit cityofwatsonville.org.
Day out with Thomas
Thomas the Tank Engine will be chugging into Roaring Camp for a fun-filled day in the world of Thomas & Friends. The 25-minute train excursions run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for guests ages 2 and up. For tickets visit roaringcamp.com.
Recurring events
Aptos Farmers’ Market
Open rain or shine, the Aptos Farmers’ Market at Cabrillo College runs every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.
Researchers Anonymous
History buffs are invited to join this free monthly meeting held the first Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. at the Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz. Details: 429-1964, ext. 17 or www.santacruzmah.org.
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Sunday, Aug. 4
Recurring events
Farm and garden market
The Corralitos Farm and Garden Market offers locally grown fruits and vegetables and homemade baked goods prepared with organic and locally grown ingredients. The market runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 127 Hames Rd., Corralitos.
Wetlands Nature Center
Discover the wildlands on free exploration walks at 1:30 p.m. at the Wetlands Nature Center, 30 Harkins Slough Rd., Watsonville, behind Ramsay Park. Binoculars provided. Rain cancels. Information: 768-1622 or wetlandsofwatsonville.org.
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Monday, Aug. 5
Recurring events
Hamburger Night
The American Legion Post 121 invites all to its Hamburger Night from 5:30-7 p.m. at 214 Center St., Watsonville. Cost: $6. Proceeds benefit veterans and the post’s community activities.
Aikido
The Ten Chi Kai Aikido Dojo trains on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings from 7:15-8:45 p.m. at the Watsonville Police Activities League, 130 Rodriguez St., Watsonville. Details: Coresta Angelo at 763-4146.
NAACP
The Santa Cruz branch meets the first Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Education Building of Progressive Baptist Church, 519 Center St., Santa Cruz. Free and open to the public.
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Tuesday, Aug. 6
Recurring events
Boxing at Watsonville PAL
Come learn the ropes from Carina Moreno and Rick Noble at Watsonville PAL’s Rodriguez Street location form 3:15-4:15 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For information visit Watsonvillepal.org or call 763-4146.
Bingo at Senior Center
The Watsonville Senior Center, 114 E. Fifth St., hosts bingo from 1-4 p.m. All proceeds benefit the center and its programs. Free coffee. Open to anyone 18 or older. In addition, the Senior Center holds a flea market starting at 9:30 a.m. Details: 722-1333.
Legal assistance
California Rural Legal Assistance offers free legal services to low-income people. New clients on a first-come, first-served basis on Tuesdays between the hours of 3-6:30 p.m. at 21 Carr St. in Watsonville. Free housing hotline open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon/1-5 p.m. Call 724-2253 or 688-6535.
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Wednesday, Aug. 7
Recurring events
STEAM in Watsonville Library
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) meets in the library from 3-4 p.m. For ages 8-12, the ongoing program allows participants to learn about and make electronic creations from Little Bits kits.
Bilingual toddler time and lap time
Freedom Branch Library, 2021 Freedom Blvd., offers child socialization and early literacy skills for children ages 6-30 months at 10:30 a.m., and for ages 2-4 at 11:30 a.m. Details: 768-3420.
Watsonville Band
The Watsonville Community Band wants new members who can read music and competently play an instrument. Rehearsals at 7:30 p.m. in the Watsonville High School band room on Marchant Street. Information: band manager Bill Nestler at 768-8692 or watsonville-band.org.
Elks Lodge dinner
The Watsonville Elks Lodge, 121 Martinelli St., hosts dinners for members and guests. Lodge opens at 5:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. A full course dinner is included for $10 per person (special events may be higher). Contact the lodge for reservations at 724-2493. Reservations are a must.
Migrant assistance
The Community Information Center for Migrant Assistance/Centro Communitario de Información Migratoria at Trinity Lutheran Church, 175 Lawrence Ave., Watsonville offers immigration information and assistance from 6-8 p.m. Free. Details: 724-3461.
Evening Caregiver Support Group Santa Cruz
If you have a family member who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, a caregiver support group can offer you an opportunity to find out more about available community resources, learn from others who are going through similar experiences and obtain additional educational materials. The support group meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 5:30-7 p.m. at 550 Water St., Suite L2 in Santa Cruz, without a fee. Open to family members.
Special events
Fun Community Bike Ride
Come join Jovenes SANOS, in collaboration with Santa Cruz County Public Health and Watsonville organization Trips for Kids for a 2-mile community bike ride around the levee. Riders will meet at Trips for Kid’s Launch Pad at 345 Harvest Dr., Watsonville at 5:30 p.m. Bikes provided—first come, first serve.
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Thursday, Aug. 8
Recurring events
Bilingual toddler time
Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St., Suite 100, offers child socialization and early literacy skills for children ages 2-4 at 10:30 a.m. Details: 768-3400.
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Friday, Aug. 9
Special events
Camp Out 2019
Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County’s Camp Out returns to Mt. Madonna County Park Aug. 9-11. Camp Out is for middle and high school youth or Class of 2019 high school graduates (ages 11-18), who identify as LGBT+ or are allies. For information email Youth Program Coordinator Ashlyn Adams at yo***@di*************.org or call 425-5422 ext. 104.
Recurring events
Farmers’ market
The Watsonville Certified Farmers’ Market takes place every Friday from 3-7 p.m. on Peck Street in the downtown Plaza. Offers organic and ethnic produce, flowers, live music and plenty of goodies to eat.
St. Francis bingo
Bingo meets every Friday evening at the Kennedy Center, 2401 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville. Doors open at 5 p.m. Proceeds go to scholarships at St. Francis High School. Information: 722-2665 or 722-3274.
Senior dance
The Watsonville Senior Center hosts a free dance at 10:30 a.m. at 114 E. Fifth St.
Aromas 4-H Club
The club meets the first Friday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Aromas Grange, corner of Rose Avenue and Bardue streets. New members welcome. Details/directions: Rachel Stern at 632-2805.
VFW dinner
The Veterans of Foreign Wars holds a social dinner on the first and third Friday of the month at 5 p.m. at the VFW Hall, 1960 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville. Open to the public. $7 per meal; takeout is available. Information: 722-5228.
