SANTA CRUZ

Celebrate State Parks Week with bird walks

On June 12, Natural Bridges State Beach is celebrating State Parks Week with birding walks at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., meeting at the Visitor Center at 2531 W. Cliff Drive. Join state park docents on these beginner-friendly bird walks to enjoy exploring the many park habitats, as you listen and look closely at the birds. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be about a dozen interactive, hands-on information tables about birds. Learn techniques to help you know who you are seeing, and skills for future adventures viewing birds, whether at home or afar.

All birding skill levels welcome. Attendees can borrow binoculars or bring your own. Weather can vary, so wear layered clothing. This is a free event, but parking at Natural Bridges is $10 and will be good for parking at all other state parks for the day. Visit tinyurl.com/NaturalBridgesBirdWalks for details.

SANTA CRUZ

Portuguese Hall’s 97th Festa weekend celebration

Join the C.P.D.E.S. Portuguese Hall for a weekend of tradition, music and community at the 97th Festa Celebration. The festivities kick off at the Portuguese Hall, 216 Evergreen St., with a Rosary Friday, July 4 at 7 p.m. July 5 at 8 p.m. will be a night of dancing, featuring music by Alcides Machado. The evening will also include the Grand March, the 2025 Queens’ presentation and the symbolic crown exchange between the outgoing and incoming queens.

The 97th Annual Holy Ghost Parade begins July 6 at 9:30 a.m. on Lincoln Street and Pacific Avenue, as fellow Portuguese societies from across California carry their flags and banners. The procession will travel down Pacific Avenue to Holy Cross Church for a 10:30 a.m. Mass, honoring the crowning of the Santa Cruz Queens. Following Mass, the celebration continues at the Portuguese Hall with a delicious serving of traditional Portuguese sopas, followed by an afternoon of community fun with a bazaar, auction and more dancing and music by Machado.

This tradition is open to the public, everyone is welcome! Donations are appreciated and help keep the community strong. For more information, please call 831-423-7753 or email infoscportuguesehall@gmail.com.

SANTA CRUZ

36 North collective kicks off summer season

The Santa Cruz Playwrights’ Collective, 36 North, has opened its annual summer season of “New Works Mondays” each month at 7 p.m. at the Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center St. There will be readings of new plays followed by a Q&A with scripts by Spike Wong, Susan Forrest, Deborah Bryant, Wilma Chandler, Kathy Chetkovich, Steve Capasso, Gail Borkowski and Ruth Elliott.

The Mondays included are June 16, July 14, Aug. 11 and Sept. 8. These are free events, with donations gratefully accepted. Everyone is welcome to attend.

WATSONVILLE

Celebrate Rancho Days at Castro Adobe

Join the historic Castro Adobe for a special event celebrating California State Parks Week June 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 184 Old Adobe Road. Visit this 175-year-old two-story adobe hacienda and hear tales of vaquero culture and the history of Rancho San Andrés. Entertainment will include traditional dance by the Alta California Dance Company, rancho-era music by Cisco Jim and modern guitar by Chris Vinson. Don’t miss Bob and Denise Gomez sharing harmonies in the garden.

There will also be demonstrations by the Santa Cruz Textile Guild in weaving and dyeing techniques from the 1800s. Kids’ activities will include leatherworking with the Santa Cruz 4-H Club and other unique crafts guided by volunteers. Admission is free. Parking is limited so please register at SantaCruzStateParks.as.me/CastroAdobeOpenHouse. This event is made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks.

CAPITOLA

Author talk with Alka Joshi at the library

Santa Cruz Public Libraries is thrilled to welcome internationally bestselling writer Alka Joshi, author of the Jaipur Trilogy, to the Ow Family Community Room of the Capitola Library, 2005 Wharf Road, June 14 at 10:30 a.m.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Capitola Branch Library, the event invites the public to join Joshi as she discusses her most recent book, “Six Days in Bombay.” The book is a tale of identity and self-discovery inspired by the mysterious death of India’s free-spirited painter Amrita Sher-Gil. Before her death, painter Mira Novak sends her nurse Sona on a perilous pre-WWII journey to deliver four paintings to friends and former lovers in Prague, Florence and Paris. Sona returns to Bombay wondering: Who was Mira Novak really?

Light refreshments will be provided and registration is required. Please register by visiting santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/14005206.

SOQUEL

Porter Library to hold ice cream social

The Porter Memorial Library, 3050 Porter St., is holding its summer ice cream social and story time event for preschool and primary school youngsters on June 11 and July 14. There will be books, songs, puppets, and a craft with storyteller Jeanne Jorgensen and Juli McDermott. The June topic is food, and the July topic is ocean fish.

Head to the library 1-2 p.m. June 11 and 1-2 p.m. July 16. For information, contact the library at 831-475-3326 or visit porterlibrary.org/upcoming-events.

SANTA CRUZ

‘Cinderella’ ballet tickets on sale

Santa Cruz Dance Theater is delighted to present “Cinderella,” a breathtaking full-length ballet, at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., June 21 and 22, with performances at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. each day. Featuring a talented cast of local ballet students alongside accomplished professional dancers from across the country, “Cinderella” promises to be a spellbinding experience for audiences of all ages.

Join the Dance Theater for an unforgettable journey as we follow Cinderella’s transformation from rags to royalty, proving that kindness, courage and a little bit of fairy dust can make dreams come true! Tickets are on sale now at SantaCruzDanceTheater.org.

If you have a news event or announcement for Coast Lines, email newsroom@santacruzsentinel.com and place “Coast Lines” in the email subject line. Coast Lines items are run at no charge. Please include contact information for questions. To view previous Coast Lines items, visit SantaCruzSentinel.com/tag/coast-lines.