Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1008482
18 LIVE IT UP! FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018 SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL restaurants. Seating is on the lawn, seawall, benches or the beach. Visit cityofcapitola.org/acc/page/2018- twilight-concerts-esplanade-park. Fri-Sun, Sept. 7-9, Santa Cruz Greek Festival outside the Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church at 223 Church St.: the longest-running cultural festival in SC County returns for its 37th year. There's always a bounty of Greek food and drinks, plus live music, dancing and more. Visit livelikeagreek.com. Saturday, Sept. 8, 11 am-5 pm, Mole & Mariachi Festival at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park (144 School St.): the sixth annual festival is a benefit for nonprofit Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks in support of Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park. Free admission; tasting kits are available for purchase (includes mole and chip samples from the mole contest chef participants). Several vendors also sell food, beer and wine. See thatsmypark.org/events/mole-and- mariachi/. Sept. 12-16, Santa Cruz County Fair at the fairgrounds in Watsonville: this year's theme is "Bounty of the County." Seniors get discounts each day of the fair, and they get an extra discount on senior day (Sept. 12). It's always a fun event to attend, and if you are a baker or have other talents, remember that there lots of contests but you need to plan ahead. For example, the apple pie baking contest entry forms are due Sept. 4, and pies must be brought in the morning of Sept. 12. The Watsonville and Pajaro Valley Apple Industry host this contest with support from the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. See general site at santacruzcountyfair.com and get pie info at santacruzcountyfair.com/ images/stories/docs/fair/2018/2018- apple-pie-baking-contest-entry-form. pdf. Sunday, Sept. 16, noon-3 pm, Capitola's Esplanade Park Stage: Opera at the Beach. Live opera performance of Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte performed by Bay Shore Lyric Opera, Conductor Michael Di Giacinto and Winchester Orchestra members. Visit cityofcapitola.org/acc/ page/opera-beach. Fri-Sat, Sept. 28-29, it's the annual Monterey Bay Birding Festival: there are many field trips and workshops leaving from the Watsonville Civic Plaza (275 Main Street). As stated on the web site, the festival is designed for "both seasoned and beginning birders, as well as outdoor lovers" and is "a unique opportunity to explore, learn, and appreciate world-class habitats such as the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Elkhorn Slough National Marine Estuary, and Pinnacles National Monument." Keynote speakers include Jonathan Franzen on Saturday. Visit montereybaybirding.org. Sat-Sun, Sept. 29-30 on the Esplanade: First annual Capitola Beach Festival (after the long-running Begonia Festival ended last year), with horseshoe tournament, sand sculpture contest, fishing derby, and rowboat races, plus a new race from the organizers of Wharf to Wharf. The Saturday morning 5K (or 3 mile) "family fun run/walk" goes from the East Cliff Village shopping center to the Esplanade in Capitola. Visit capitolabeachfestival.com and raceroster.com/events/2018/18986/ little-wharf-3-miler. CONTINUED FROM 17