COMMUNITY CALENDAR Sunday December 19
by a licensed grief counseling therapist, on the third Thursday of each month. Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/griefsupport or call 831-471-7255.
SANTA’S WORKSHOP 11 a.m.-3 p.m., VFW Hall, 1960 Freedom Blvd., Freedom It’s the most wonderful time of the year, so kick off the holiday season at Santa’s Workshop at the VFW Hall. Visit Santa and his elves, build a toy, make an ornament, play reindeer games, and enjoy elf snacks. Face masks are required for all participants. Enjoy all the festivities for $5 per child. Adults are free. Proceeds will support recreation scholarships for Watsonville youth. Santa’s Workshop is hosted by Recreation Advocates, a nonprofit, Watsonville McDonald’s and Home Depot. For information about Santa’s Workshop or to request financial support for youth recreation activities, call 831-722-6012.
Saturdays & Sundays ECOLOGICAL RESERVE TOURS AT ELKHORN SLOUGH Tours start at 10 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday,1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville Volunteers lead walks highlighting the natural history of the Elkhorn Slough. Capacity is limited due to physical distancing requirements, and individuals must sign up on a first-come, first-served basis. Groups of six or more should call ahead at (831) 728-2822 or visit https://www.elkhornslough.org/ group-reservation/ to reserve a tour. For more info, visit http://www.elkhornslough.org/esnerr/tours/
Thursday December 23
BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL IS BACK First Sunday Every Month WESTSIDE MARKETPLACE UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec presents the 2022 Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Santa Cruz. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Old Wrigley Building Parking Lot, 2801 Tickets go on sale Dec. 18 in time for gift giving. Mission Street, Santa Cruz 95060 Tour dates are: Feb. 25, 26 and 27, at 7 p.m. each night at the Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. Come by on Sunday and shop at over 40 unique & This event benefits the UC Santa Cruz Wilderness Orientation Willie Williams Scholarship Fund and wonderful artists, makers & vintage sellers — there’s Adventure Rec student scholarships. Each year, nearly $20,000 of scholarship funds are awarded to UCSC something for everyone at the Westside Marketplace! students based on financial need, affording them the chance to share in outdoor adventures. Rain dates are scheduled for the following Sundays. Each night features a different lineup, Maple, Larch and Spruce. Tickets are $25 for Saturday and $23 for The Market is free to attend and is 100% local! Friday and Sunday. All local and state health guidelines will be followed. To buy tickets, visit https://recreation.ucsc.edu/adventure/banff Please wear your mask, maintain social distance while you shop and stay home if you don’t feel well. Hand sanitizing stations will be available. This is the 14th annual Nutcracker for Santa Cruz City Santa (aka Peter Melton of Aptos) will be available for For more info, go to the event page: www.facebook.com/events/ photos and the ribbon-cutting will be at 4 p.m. Message Ballet. 170470481551895; Food Trucks A Go Go: www.foodtrucks This Nutcracker has it all — from the youngest dancing on Instagram @littletrendsllc agogo.com/; or SCM Makers Market: scmmakersmarket.com/ gingerbread cookies to aspiring professional dancers and for a list of all of the vendors. guest artists, Tchaikovsky’s iconic music, plus gorgeous WINTER WONDERLAND costumes, dazzling sets, and exquisite dancing. 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m., YMCA, 27 Sudden St., Watsonville Tickets are $40-$45 for the general public and Central Coast YMCA will host its annual Winter DATED EVENTS $35-$40 for senior citizens, students and children. Wonderland at the Watsonville Family YMCA. Purchase tickets at www.NutcrackerSantaCruz.com Thursday December 16 The free event for the entire community will feature thru Sunday December 26 ornament-making, face painting, gingerbread houseNUTCRACKER AT THE CIVIC TOY TRAINS ARE BACK making, snacks and more. 1 p.m. / 5 p.m., Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Noon-6 p.m., Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St., SC For info, call (831) 757-4633 or go to centralcoastymca.org. Street, Santa Cruz Visit the whimsical world of Toy Trains, hosted by the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre presents “The Nutcracker” Museum of Art & History for the 16th year. Friday December 17 on the stage of the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, accomMembers of the Golden State Toy Train Operators will be thru Sunday December 19 panied by a live orchestra, a tradition since 2002. on hand Thursdays thru Sundays to share their amazing AGAPE NUTCRACKER BALLET The production features SCBT company dancers, collection of toy trains. The exhibit will close early at 3 p.m. many of whom are on the cusp of professional careers Times Below, Monte Vista Performing Arts Theater, 2 School on Dec. 24, and will be closed Christmas Day. in dance. Way, Watsonville Masks are required when viewing the train display. A COVID vaccination card or negative test result Agape Dance presents the Nutcracker Ballet live at the There is no charge to view the exhibit. within 72 hours of admission — with matching I.D. for Monte Vista Performing Arts Theater. https://www.santacruzmah.org The sweet Sugar Plum Fairy, frosty Snow Flakes, tasty everyone age 17 and older — must be shown to enter the Civic. Ginger Snaps and the dramatic Nutcracker Soldiers all Friday December 17 The protocol applies to all ages. come to life on stage — plus stunning costumes, sets LITTLE TRENDS HOSTS SANTA SCBT recommends viewers be at least 3 years old: and Tchaikovsky’ s vivid music score. 2:30 to 5 p.m., Little Trends, 1052 S. Green Valley Road, The performance is 2 hours long with one 20-minute Shows are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Watsonville intermission. Concessions will not be sold. Saturday; and 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Little Trends boutique for babies, toddlers and tweens, Tickets can be purchased at SantaCruzTickets.com, or call The Petite Nutcracker featuring youngsters ages 3-7 owned by sisters-in-law Araceli Gonzalez and Laura (831) 420-5260, or purchased directly at the Civic Box Office and their favorite dances is 10-11 a.m. Saturday. Espindola, will host Santa Claus at a ribbon-cutting with Tickets are $20-$40 at: AgapeDance.com. Info: 831-359-0850. in front of the auditorium, which is open Tuesday-Friday 12-4 the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce. p.m. Saturday December 18 Sunday December 19 NUTCRACKER MAGIC IN APTOS 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m., Cabrillo College Crocker Theater, Lower Perimeter Road, Aptos Santa Cruz City Ballet at International Academy of Dance presents the full-length Nutcracker Ballet at Cabrillo College Crocker Theater. Masks must be worn indoors.
SANTA AT EL VAQUERO WINERY Times Below, El Vaquero Winery, 2901 Freedom Boulevard, Watsonville Santa (aka Peter Melton of Aptos) will appear at El Vaquero Winery. He will be on site Saturday, 5-5:30 p.m. and Sunday 2:15-2:45 p.m. The winery will also be hosting a holiday party Sunday from 2-5 p.m., with music and dance performances. Visit https://www.elvaquerowinery.com/ for more information. For Santa dates, visit www.SantaCruzPartyCompany.com
VETERAN FAMILIES: HEALING AFTER A DEATH 4 p.m., Online broadcast. Wreaths Across America Radio presents the final episode in its 2021 RoundTable series on Veteran Healing, sharing stories of resilience, purpose, and success at www. wreathsacrossamerica.org/radio via the iHeart Radio app. The RoundTable will focus on emotional support following a death in the military for veterans and their families, risk factors for complicated grief, and how to turn challenges into purpose. Guest panelists include: Dr. Chantel Dooley, director of Impact Assessment and Research for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. She came to TAPS as the surviving fiancé of U.S. Air Force Capt. Alex Stanton. Cindy Tatum, of Tennessee, who became a Gold Star Mother on Dec. 24, 2007. Her son, a veteran of Iraq, U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Daniel Lee Tatum, was killed in an automobile/train collision outside of Camp Pendleton.
Friday December 24 5TH ANNUAL REINDEER RUN 5 K 9 a.m., Junction Park, Boulder Creek The 5th Annual Reindeer Run will take place the day before Christmas, Dec. 24, at Junction Park in Boulder Creek at 9 am for runners, 10 am joggers and 11 am for walkers. Price is $20; includes T-shirt. Register: https://bcrpd2.wufoo. com/forms/renegade-reindeer-run-2022-p1ja0mc0177atq9/
Monday January 3 Tuesday January 4 BASKETBALL JONES CAMP 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (8:45 a.m. drop off), Aptos High School, 100 Mariner Way, Aptos, CA 95003 Youths ages 7-14 can attend the Basketball Jones Winter Camps at Aptos High School. Students attending should dress in (or bring) layers and wear shoes for outdoor and indoor surfaces, bring their own ball, water bottle, hearty lunch and healthy snacks as the camps do not provide either. Cost for two-day camps is $100; one-day camps, $50. Sibling, multiple camp and team discounts are available. To register see: https://www.basketballjonescamps.com/
Tuesday January 6 PVUSD BUS TOUR Noon-4 p.m., PVUSD District Office, 294 Green Valley Rd., Watsonville See what’s new on a tour of sites that have seen an upgrade, modernization or new construction, including Aptos Junior High (1:20 p.m.), funded by Measure L. A light lunch and beverages will be provided. To join the tour, you can ride the bus or meet at the site at the noted time. To ride the bus, email Alicia_jimenez@ pvusd.net by Jan. 4 and meet at the district office at noon. For full details about the tour stops, visit https://tinyurl.com/ y33o3wts n
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / December 15th 2021 / 29
