Shakespeare Santa Cruz | July 16-Aug. 31

July 16 - Aug. 31: Romeo & Juliet, William Shakespeare at Festival Glen theater
July 27 - Aug. 31: All’s Well That Ends Well, William Shakespeare at Festival Glen theater
July 15 - Aug. 31: Bach at Leipzig, Itamar Moses at Mainstage theater
July 30 - Aug. 31: Burn This, Lanford Wilson at Mainstage theater

UCSC Festival Glen and Mainstage theaters, Santa Cruz
Tickets: 831-459-2159, www.shakespearesantacruz.com

Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music | July 27-Aug 10

Civic Auditorium and other locations.
307 Church St., Santa Cruz
Tickets: 831-420-5260 x 5, www.cabrillomusic.org

Twilight Concert at Esplanade Park | Aug. 1 (6-8 p.m.)

Free concert featuring Stompy Jones - Jump, Swing & Boogie Woogie. A family event. Bring your own beach chairs and picnic. No alcohol.

Esplanade, Capitola Village
831-475-6522, www.capitola.com

"Jesus Christ Superstar" | Aug. 1-17

Aug. 1-17: Cabrillo Stage, Mainstage Theater

Cabrillo College
6500 Soquel Dr., Aptos
831-479-6154,
www.cabrillostage.com

Noon at the Nick - The Playboy of the Western World | Aug. 3 (1 p.m.)

FREE Shakespeare Santa Cruz lecture series. Bring your lunch and take advantage of this rare opportunity to meet the festival directors, actors, designers and artisans.

Nickelodeon Theatre
210 Lincoln St., Santa Cruz
831-426-7500, www.thenick.com

Twilight Concert at Esplanade Park | Aug. 8 (6-8 p.m.)

Free concert featuring Extra Large - Rock Funk. A family event. Bring your own beach chairs and picnic. No alcohol.

Esplanade, Capitola Village
831-475-6522, www.capitola.com

Weekend with Shakespeare | Aug. 10-12

This popular conference is an opportunity to hear well-known scholars and artists share their insights into the genius of Shakespeare and other featured playwrights. The weekend consists of lectures and discussions exploring the different aspects of the season's plays.

UCSC Shakespeare Festival
Tickets: 831-459-2159, www.shakespearesantacruz.com

Musical Saw Festival | Aug. 12

Listen to old time fiddlers play Blue Grass, Classical and Country music on musical saws at workshops, open mic and jam sessions. Musicians perform on washboards and spoons, harmonicas and accordions, guitars, banjos and other folk instruments from around the world family gatherings.

Roaring Camp, Felton
831-335-4484, www.roaringcamp.com

Star Stories | Aug. 12 (2-3 p.m.)

A fun story telling time with stories about various astronomical events and heavenly bodies. Free. Ages 5-12.

Quail Hollow Ranch County Park, Ben Lomond
831-454-7930, www.scparks.com

Shakespeare Fringe - The Mock-Temest | Aug. 14 (7:30 p.m.)

SSC's Fringe production is an opportunity for the season's interns to perform in a thematic play of their own. The seasons Fringe production is a "mash-up of Tempest-related materials" taking its cue from the spirit of The Mock-Tempest by Thomas Duffett. One of the earliest parodies of Shakespeare's play.

UCSC Festival theater, Santa Cruz
Tickets: 831-459-2159, www.shakespearesantacruz.com