Thomas Farm Films Film Festival
Feb
22
4:00 PM16:00

Thomas Farm Films Film Festival

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Premiering the Summer Camp 2024 short films.

Matinee Screening begins at 4:00 pm (doors open at 3:30 pm) Matinee will include all 2024 summer camp films except for our PG-rated horror, Trim The Barley (2024). Red Carpet Reception begins immediately after the matinee. The main show starts at 7:00 pm. Evening Show includes all seven 2024 summer camp films plus two bonus horror shorts created by local high school students!


Show time: 4:00 PM, doors 3:30 PM
Tickets: $30
Advance tickets: www.thomasfarmfilms.com
Event website: www.thomasfarmfilms.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com

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Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour
Feb
28
7:00 PM19:00

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour

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The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

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Hosted by UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec

Join UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec in bringing the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour to town for the 34th year! Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world! Hot on the heels of the Festival that is held every fall in beautiful Banff, Alberta, the World Tour hits the road with the award winning and audience favorite films. With stops in over 40 countries across the globe, the Banff World Tour celebrates amazing achievements in outdoor storytelling and filmmaking worldwide.

Traveling to remote vistas, analyzing environmental issues, and bringing audiences up-close and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports the 2024/2025 World Tour is an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world.

Join UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec when the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour brings the spirit of outdoor adventure to the Rio Theatre at 7:00pm on February 28, March and 2. For tickets and information, visit recreation.ucsc.edu/adventure/banff, or contact Adventure Rec (831/459-2806; adventurerec@ucsc.edu).


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $23.50
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.banffcentre.ca

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Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour
Mar
1
7:00 PM19:00

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour

  • Rio Theatre for the Performing (map)
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The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols


Hosted by UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec

Join UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec in bringing the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour to town for the 34th year! Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world! Hot on the heels of the Festival that is held every fall in beautiful Banff, Alberta, the World Tour hits the road with the award winning and audience favorite films. With stops in over 40 countries across the globe, the Banff World Tour celebrates amazing achievements in outdoor storytelling and filmmaking worldwide.

Traveling to remote vistas, analyzing environmental issues, and bringing audiences up-close and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports the 2024/2025 World Tour is an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world.

Join UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec when the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour brings the spirit of outdoor adventure to the Rio Theatre at 7:00pm on February 28, March and 2. For tickets and information, visit recreation.ucsc.edu/adventure/banff, or contact Adventure Rec (831/459-2806; adventurerec@ucsc.edu).


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $25.50
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.banffcentre.ca

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Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour
Mar
2
7:00 PM19:00

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols


Hosted by UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec

Join UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec in bringing the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour to town for the 34th year! Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world! Hot on the heels of the Festival that is held every fall in beautiful Banff, Alberta, the World Tour hits the road with the award winning and audience favorite films. With stops in over 40 countries across the globe, the Banff World Tour celebrates amazing achievements in outdoor storytelling and filmmaking worldwide.

Traveling to remote vistas, analyzing environmental issues, and bringing audiences up-close and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports the 2024/2025 World Tour is an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world.

Join UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec when the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour brings the spirit of outdoor adventure to the Rio Theatre at 7:00pm on February 28, March and 2. For tickets and information, visit recreation.ucsc.edu/adventure/banff, or contact Adventure Rec (831/459-2806; adventurerec@ucsc.edu).


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $23.50 + $10 UCSC Student
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.banffcentre.ca

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The Glenn Miller Orchestra
Mar
12
7:00 PM19:00

The Glenn Miller Orchestra

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Join us on Wednesday, March 12th at 7:00 PM for an evening concert with the most popular and sought after big band in the world today. With its unique jazz sound, the Glenn Miller Orchestra is considered to be one of the greatest bands of all time.

Hear all the great classics: Moonlight Serenade, Little Brown Jug, A String of Pearls, Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Pennsylvania 6-5000, In The Mood, At Last, and many more.

All seats General Admission - Gold Circle $59 plus fees, GA $45 plus fees

Plenty of space to accommodate wheelchair and companion seats in all price zones. Please purchase ticket in whichever general admission zone you prefer. Ushers will be available to assist.

For group sales please call 321-441-9135, ext 2 To learn more about the orchestra visit: https://glennmillerorchestra.com/


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $45 gen. $59 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.glennmillerorchestra.com

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Bookshop Santa Cruz Presents: Rick Steves | ON THE HIPPIE TRAIL
Mar
16
4:00 PM16:00

Bookshop Santa Cruz Presents: Rick Steves | ON THE HIPPIE TRAIL

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols


Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer

ABOUT THE EVENT + TICKETS:
This in-person event will include a 90-minute discussion and visual presentation, plus audience Q&A and a book signing. Doors open 45 minutes prior to showtime. Open seating.

All packages include both a ticket and a book (no entry-only/companion tickets, sorry) and the $40 price is inclusive of all taxes and fees.

Books available for pickup at the venue as you enter, or early at Bookshop Santa Cruz beginning on its publication date (2/4/25). Books uncollected at the event will be held at Bookshop Santa Cruz for two months, after which they will be donated.

Tickets are final sale and do not qualify for Readers Club credit.

This event is cosponsored by The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz. Thank you! We can't wait to see you at the event!

ABOUT THE BOOK + AUTHOR:

Stow away with Rick Steves for a glimpse into the unforgettable moments, misadventures, and memories of his 1978 journey on the legendary Hippie Trail.

In the 1970s, the ultimate trip for any backpacker was the storied "Hippie Trail" from Istanbul to Kathmandu. A 23-year old Rick Steves made the trek, and like a travel writer in training, he documented everything along the way: jumping off a moving train, making friends in Tehran, getting lost in Lahore, getting high for the first time in Herat, battling leeches in Pokhara, and much more. The experience ignited his love of travel and forever broadened his perspective on the world.

This book contains edited selections from Rick's journal and travel photos with a 45-years-later preface and postscript reflecting on how the journey changed his life. Stow away with Rick Steves on the adventure of a lifetime through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal.

You know Rick Steves. Now discover the adventure that made him the travel writer he is today.

Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe. His mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. Rick produces a best-selling guidebook series, a public television series, and a public radio show, and organizes small-group tours that take over 30,000 travelers to Europe annually. He does all of this with the help of more than 100 well-traveled staff members at Rick Steves' Europe in Edmonds, WA (near Seattle). When not on the road, Rick is active in his church and with advocacy groups focused on economic and social justice, drug policy reform, and ending hunger. To recharge, Rick plays piano, relaxes at his family cabin in the Cascade Mountains, and spends time with his son Andy, daughter Jackie, and his grandson...baby Atlas. Find out more about Rick at www.ricksteves.com and on Facebook.


Show time: 4:00 PM, doors 3:15 PM
Tickets: $40
Advance tickets: www.buytickets.at/bookshopsantacruz
Event website: www.bookshopsantacruz.com/rick-steves

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TOP DOG FILM FESTIVAL
Mar
22
7:00 PM19:00

TOP DOG FILM FESTIVAL

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Supporting Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter

The Top Dog Film Festival, Australia's premier showcase of the best dog-themed movies from around the world, ​c​omes to Santa Cruz to celebrat​e the passion of dog lovers.​ The festival will bring a curated selection of hilarious, heartwarming, and delightfully dog-centric films​.

Feature films and short programs will showcase the full range of humanity's enduring bond with dogs – from local independent films to international award-winners​. As an inclusive and family- friendly event, the​ Top Dog Film Tour provides a welcoming space for dog lovers of all ages. Whether it’s a lifelong dog enthusiast, a recent dog adopter, or simply an appreciation for the unique bond between humans and animals, this tour promises an experience that will tug at everyones heartstrings and leave them with a renewed appreciation for the extraordinary spirit of dogs. ​

Don't miss out on this year's event. It sells out each year. You'd be barking mad to miss it!


BIONIC PETS
In a modest workshop in Virginia, a modern-day miracle worker is changing the lives of animals in need. Derrick Campana is using his mastery of human prosthetics to forge a new path - crafting bionic limbs that allow four-legged companions to run, jump and play once again. With a deep passion for animals and unwavering determination, he pioneered the field of animal prosthetics from the ground up. But the true magic happens when Derrick’s bionic creations are bestowed upon recovering pets unable to walk, run or live their lives to the fullest after illness, injury or birth defects.

ANDY: A Dog’s Tale
Andy a Dog's Tale follows Andy, a puppy with an unwavering spirit, as he overcomes obstacles to become a service dog. Despite humble beginnings, he encounters friends who teach him about perseverance, compassion, and unlocking his true potential. Facing extraordinary challenges, Andy's courage and abilities are tested, but his heart of gold propels him forward. This uplifting story celebrates the resilience within even the smallest creatures, reminding us that unlikely heroes can emerge from unexpected places.

DOGSVILLE
Dogsville is a tale of love and passion, a Shakespearean drama set in the world of dog sports. The unsung hero is a fiery ball of energy called Crocodile Crunch. The mutt, found abandoned at a horse auction, lacks the lines of pedigree treasured by her rivals. Nonetheless she has risen to the top in the agility world. Along her teammates, Radical Rabbit and Posh Piranha, she competes against the best purebred dogs in the world at the Agility World Championship in the Netherlands. Crocodile Crunch is determined to prove that talent and heart can defeat bloodlines and privilege.

THE COMFORTER: PENNY RUTHBERG
Penny Ruthberg is an artist on an emotional quest to capture the essence of man’s best friend through her ceramics. Operating from her studio in rugged Tasmania, Penny’s interdisciplinary art practice investigates the profound bond between humans and canines that has existed across cultures throughout history. More than just sculptures, her pieces attempt to interpret the inner life and individuality of each dog subject - their quirks, emotions, and spirits immortalised in clay. Her work is a celebration of our kindred relationship with these faithful companions and a window into the soul of canis familiaris.

A DOG’S TALE
The freedom of the trail is what so many of us long for and so do many of our most loyal companions. Millions of canines enjoy their homes and lives in metropolitan areas, but there’s something about the primal instinct to feel the forest floor under their paws and smelling a thousand different smells, all surrounded by the best friends one could ask for. This is a trail dog’s life, one cherished by both dogs and their humans every time they head out for a ride together.

MAN’S FIRST FRIEND (custom tour edit)
For 20,000 years, dogs have stood steadfast alongside humanity - our first friends, our protectors, our guides in the world. But how did this unbreakable bond begin? We journey through the remote villages of India where packs of pariah dogs have waged war on marauding monkeys to protect the livelihoods of banana plantation owners for centuries. In the forbidding elevations of the Tibetan Plateau, we bear witness to the ancient Mastiff lines developed by nomadic tribes to fearlessly guard their camps and herds against predators and thieves.


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $21
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event Website: www.topdogfilmfestival.com
Event Website: www.scanimalshelter.org

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Banana Slug String Band
Mar
29
4:00 PM16:00

Banana Slug String Band

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4oth Anniversary Family Show

The Banana Slug String Band, a beloved children’s music group known for their quirky characters and educational tunes, is thrilled to announce their 40th Anniversary show for the whole family. With 40 years of experience and counting, the Banana Slugs have captured the hearts of millions of children with their infectious energy and environmentally conscious message. Their unique blend of folk, rock, and reggae creates a fun and engaging atmosphere that inspires kids to learn and grow.

The Banana Slug String Band is a group of passionate musicians and educators dedicated to creating music that entertains and enlightens. Their songs cover a wide range of topics, from the wonders of nature to the importance of kindness and cooperation. With their catchy melodies and silly antics, the Banana Slugs make learning fun for kids of all ages. Doug Dirt, Airy Larry, Marine Mark, and Solar Steve are the Real Deal…..Impassioned musicians, songwriters, performers, educators, and eco-warriors! With guitars, voices, crazy characters, and an extraordinary ability to connect with children…. they change the world, one child at a time!

Their new CD is called Pollinator Nation and is all about the world of pollinators. Songs including “Don’t Swat It”, “Go Organic”, and the title track “Pollinator Nation” lead the world to the understanding that insects are helpful, organic food is healthy, and pollinators are crucial to our beautiful planet. The Slugs use their usual wit to create songs that you will remember and learn from, helping us explore together the world of birds, bees, butterflies, and bugs who keep the world vibrating with life!


Show time: 4:00 PM, doors 3:00 PM
Tickets: $30
Advance tickets: www.snazzyproductions.com
Event website: www.bananaslugstringband.com

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ABRA Cadabra - A Tribute To ABBA
Apr
10
7:30 PM19:30

ABRA Cadabra - A Tribute To ABBA

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Moon Coin Productions Inc.

ABBA fans! Mark your calendars because on April 10th 2025 "ABRA Cadabra" bring their spectacular Tribute to ABBA to Santa Cruz for the 1st time! Don't miss this all ages & family friendly stage extravaganza that has been receiving rave reviews from coast to coast!

Featuring a captivating live band, powerful vocals, dancers, dazzling costumes and engaging multi-media, this interactive stage show will have you moving, laughing & singing along to your favourite ABBA hits such as Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen, Take A Chance, SOS, Waterloo, Fernando, Gimme Gimme Gimme & more!

ABRA Cadabra from Vancouver, Canada has been touring the world for over 20 years bringing the timeless music of ABBA to audiences of all ages & cultures. Past performances include several shows for the Malaysian Royal Family, The Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, Universal Studios in Florida, The Esplanade Theatre in Singapore, The Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary, Dalhousie Arts Centre in Halifax, The Portland’5, The Washington Center For The Arts & more! See more info at www.iLoveABBA.com or follow ABRA Cadabra on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/TributeToABBA Instagram: www.instagram.com/ATributeToABBA

“Best show we've ever seen!” – Gilberte Nowlan – Moncton, NB

“OMG!!! What a spectacular show last night in Saint John!!! Thank you and come back soon… PLEASE!!!” - Judy McNab – Saint John, NB “Labels like "tribute" band don't cut it with these people. Powerful, tight bang-on lite-em-up delivery with a real joy in the performance! I would go see them again anywhere, anytime!” - Rob Randall – White Rock, BC

“I wanted to give a giant thank you, thank you, thank you for your show in Kelowna. We had so much fun and enjoyed it so much that I can't even put it into words. We were all grinning ear to ear! You sounded so great and were so on point. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving us all such a fun, special evening” - Dylan & Cavelle Wurfel – Kelowna, BC


Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $69
Advance tickets: www.vtix.com
Artists Website: www.mooncoinlive.com
Artists Website: www.iLoveABBA.com

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FashionTeens 2024
Apr
18
6:30 PM18:30

FashionTeens 2024

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols


A Program for Social & Environmental Youth Activists

For 14 years, FashionTeens has been bringing teenagers from across Santa Cruz County together for a fabulous, fashion runway evening. After working for months, students with a passion for fashion and creativity design, source, create, construct and showcase their own unique piece of fashion art. With a focus on the environment and the impact we have on it, the creations are made from recycled or repurposed items giving new value to what otherwise would end up in our landfill. By literally taking fashion into their own hands, students express their creativity, gain design and engineering skills, explore complex social issues, experience creative problem-solving, gain confidence and learn valuable life skills. After all their hard work, there is nothing more rewarding than the excited, beaming faces of these teenagers as they walk the runway in front of cheering crowds. We hope you will join us for this year’s production of FashionTeens!


Show time: 6:30 PM, doors 5:30 PM
Tickets: FREE
Advance tickets: www.fashionteens-santacruz.com

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The Trail Running Film Festival
May
3
7:00 PM19:00

The Trail Running Film Festival

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The Trail Running Film Festival is back on tour and returning to Santa Cruz for a great night of films, inspiration, and community. Come explore our collective and individual potential, and let's pursue our wildest dreams. We’re excited to bring you stories from around the world by filmmakers sharing their work of adventure, inclusivity, wilderness, art, and diversity across the trail and ultra community.

Plus we will have some very cool raffle prizes!


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $15
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.trailfilmfest.com

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JOURNEY USA
May
9
8:00 PM20:00

JOURNEY USA

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

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The Hits of Journey

Journey USA, one of America's favorite Journey tributes, brings their engaging concert experience to the Rio Theatre on Friday May 9th. With 2 former members of the legendary band, Great White, and a singer who did vocal work for Steve Perry during his solo career, Journey USA's unparalleled live show brings to life all your favorites like Any Way You Want It, Don't Stop Believin', Faithfully, Open Arms and more! Come sing along and enjoy a night filled with smiles and fond memories!


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $47
Advance tickets: www.tix.com
Event website: www.JourneyUSABand.com

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Valerie: A Tribute to Amy Winehouse
May
10
8:00 PM20:00

Valerie: A Tribute to Amy Winehouse

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

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Valerie: A Tribute to Amy Winehouse captures the essence of Amy’s soulful voice and timeless music. Performing hits from her Grammy-winning Back to Black album and more, Valerie delivers authentic and captivating shows.

Based in Santa Cruz and the Greater Bay Area, their talented musicians bring Amy’s music to life with passion and precision. Touring across California, they honor Amy’s legacy with dynamic performances that leave audiences mesmerized.

For a night of soulful tunes and unforgettable memories, Valerie is a must-see!


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $47
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.valerieamyband.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ValerieAmyBand

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Bookshop Santa Cruz Presents: Isabel Allende | MY NAME IS EMILIA DEL VALLE
May
11
4:00 PM16:00

Bookshop Santa Cruz Presents: Isabel Allende | MY NAME IS EMILIA DEL VALLE

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols


Cosponsored by the Dolores Huerta Research Center for the Americas and The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz

In this spellbinding historical novel from the New York Times bestselling author of A Long Petal of the Sea and The House of the Spirits, a young writer journeys to South America to uncover the truth about her father—and herself.

Find tickets and more info at: https://bookshopsantacruz.com/isabel-allende-2025


Show time: 4:00 PM, doors 3:00 PM
Tickets: $38
Advance tickets: www.buytickets.at/bookshopsantacruz
Event website: www.bookshopsantacruz.com

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Devendra Banhart
May
15
8:00 PM20:00

Devendra Banhart

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols


plus::: Kath Bloom

Rio Theatre Santa Cruz, CA

May 15, 2025

Doors 7pm / Show 8pm

All Ages


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $36.75 gen, $50.40 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com

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Bookshop Santa Cruz presents: Alison Bechdel | SPENT: A Comic Novel
May
28
7:00 PM19:00

Bookshop Santa Cruz presents: Alison Bechdel | SPENT: A Comic Novel

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

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Cosponsored by Santa Cruz Pride

Alison Bechdel, the celebrated and beloved New York Times bestselling author of the modern classic Fun Home, presents SPENT, a comic novel that's a laugh-out-loud funny, brilliant, and passionately political work of autofiction. Join us!

For tickets and more information, visit: www.bookshopsantacruz.com/alison-bechdel


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $39
Advance tickets: www.bookshopsantacruz.com/alison-bechdel

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LITTLE FEAT
Jun
13
8:00 PM20:00

LITTLE FEAT

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

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Strike Up The Band Tour

The members of Little Feat emerged from the pandemic with their sense of humor, chops, and collective joy in playing intact. Over the past three years, they’ve focused tours on their epic live album Waiting for Columbus and re-issues of their second through fourth albums (Sailin’ Shoes,Dixie Chicken, and Feats Don’t Fail Me Now. Audience response has been rapturous. Their groove –in songs like“Dixie Chicken,” “Spanish Moon,” “Fat Man in the Bathtub,” and “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now” –was so infectious it allowed them to endure and press on even when losing their founder, Lowell George, and founding drummer, Richie Hayward. They’re in top form now with Scott Sharrard on lead/vox and Tony Leone on drums/vox, and with founder Bill Payne on keys/vox, Fred Tackett on guitars/vox, Kenny Gradney on bass, and Sam Clayton on percussion/vox

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY FEB 21ST AT 10 AM


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $65 Gen, $95 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.pulseproductions.net
Event website: www.littlefeat.net

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VALERIE JUNE
Jun
17
8:00 PM20:00

VALERIE JUNE

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

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Owls, Omens and Oracles Tour

Valerie June Hockett is a Grammy-nominated artist from Tennessee. She’s been hailed by the New York Times as one of America’s “most intriguing, fully formed new talents.”


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $35 Gen, $48 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.pulseproductions.net
Event website: www.valeriejune.com

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Jai Uttal & The Pagan Love Orchestra
Sep
27
8:00 PM20:00

Jai Uttal & The Pagan Love Orchestra

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Join Grammy nominated multi-instrumentalist Jai Uttal for an evening of celebration, kirtan and a very special concert with his world music band, The Pagan Love Orchestra. Performing old and new songs, touching on many moods and colors, Jai & friends invite you to dance, sing, cry, laugh and celebrate together!

This show, originally scheduled for April 12th, has moved to September 27th to accommodate Jai's foot surgery in March. Tickets purchased for April 12th will be honored Sept 27th


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $30
Advance tickets: www.pulseproductions.net
Artists Website: www.jaiuttal.com

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Bookshop Santa Cruz Presents: Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud | THE CARTOONISTS CLUB
Oct
28
6:00 PM18:00

Bookshop Santa Cruz Presents: Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud | THE CARTOONISTS CLUB

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#1 New York Times bestselling cartoonists Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud team up for a one-of-a-kind friendship story about creativity and self-expression that blends how-to and comics magic. Welcome to the club!

Visit https://bookshopsantacruz.com/cartoonists-club for event details!

ABOUT THE BOOK + CREATORS:
Makayla is bursting with ideas but doesn't know how to make them into a story. Howard loves to draw, but he struggles to come up with ideas and his dad thinks comics are a waste of time. Lynda constantly draws in her sketchbook but keeps focusing on what she feels are mistakes, and Art simply loves being creative and is excited to try something new. They come together to form The Cartoonists Club, where kids can learn about making comics and use their creativity and imagination for their own storytelling adventures!

Raina Telgemeier is the #1 New York Times bestselling, multiple Eisner Award-winning creator of Smile, Sisters, and Guts, which are all graphic memoirs based on her childhood. She is also the creator of Drama and Ghosts, the adapter and illustrator of the first four Baby-sitters Club graphic novels, and, with Scott McCloud, the co-creator of The Cartoonists Club. Facing Feelings: Inside the World of Raina Telgemeier is based on an exhibition that was held at The Ohio State University's Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. Raina lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. To learn more, visit her online at goraina.com.

Scott McCloud is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art; Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels; Zot!; and The Sculptor. He is also, with Raina Telgemeier, the co-creator of The Cartoonists Club. Scott is a frequent lecturer on the power of visual communication, creator of the international 24-hour comic movement, and, in 2021, was inducted into the Will Eisner Awards Hall of Fame. He lives with his family in Oregon. His art and stories are available in more than 30 languages and on the web at scottmccloud.com.


Show time: 6:00 PM, doors 5:00 PM
Tickets: $22.99
Advance tickets: www.buytickets.at/bookshopsantacruz
Event website: www.bookshopsantacruz.com/

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Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra
Feb
17
7:30 PM19:30

Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra

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Ottmar Liebert has become one of the most successful instrumental artists of the past decades, entertaining audiences around the world and releasing a catalog of 33 classic albums including live recordings, an orchestral album for Sony Classical, a binaural surround sound recording, remix albums, a lullaby and a flamenco-reggae album. During his career, he has played more than two thousand concerts worldwide.


Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $32 Gen, $45 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.pulseproductions.net
Artists website: www.ottmarliebert.com

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MJ Lenderman & The Wind - SOLD OUT
Feb
15
8:00 PM20:00

MJ Lenderman & The Wind - SOLD OUT

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"Hurray! We have adult beverages!

The Rio is proud to partner with our friends at Moe's Alley to provide a selection of great beers, Venus canned cocktails, hard cider and sparkling wine at this show. You must be 21 and present a valid ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. We prefer cash, but will accept cards as well!"


(((folkYEAH!))) presents
MJ LENDERMAN & THE WIND
plus::: Wild Pink
February 15, 2025
Doors 7PM / Show 8PM
Rio Theatre Santa Cruz, CA
All Ages. All Sales Final.


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $29.50
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com

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Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness
Feb
13
6:00 PM18:00

Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness

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Join Housing Matters for a screening of Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness, followed by a panel discussion with local leaders and the filmmakers, Don Sawyer and Tim Hashko.

BEYOND THE BRIDGE: A Solution To Homelessness is a documentary film and a social impact campaign designed to help communities align their efforts towards solving homelessness.

A Bigger Vision Films team traveled over 40,000 miles around the US to answer this question: How can this country solve homelessness in a comprehensive way? The answer surprised us with its simplicity, as two large cities proved that solving homelessness is within reach of any community.

Our goal is for this film to be a part of a community-wide conversation to answer the question, how can Santa Cruz County solve homelessness in a comprehensive way?


Show time: 6:00 PM, doors 5:00 PM
Tickets: $12
Advance tickets: www.give.housingmatterssc.org
Event website: www.asolutiontohomelessness.com

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Maya and the Wave
Feb
8
7:00 PM19:00

Maya and the Wave

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MAYA and the WAVE, a feature length documentary, tells the extraordinary story of Maya Gabeira, the first woman to surf the giant wave in Nazaré, Portugal. She nearly drowns - and is ridiculed by the male big wave surfers who dominate the sport. Three spine surgeries and five years later, she surfs the biggest wave a woman has ever surfed. When her accomplishment is disregarded, Maya enlists the help of her fans to fight for recognition --and becomes the first female surfer honored with a Guinness World Record in big wave surfing​.


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $20
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Artists website: www.mayaandthewave.com

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Bookshop Santa Cruz Presents: Neko Case | THE HARDER I FIGHT THE MORE I LOVE YOU
Feb
7
7:00 PM19:00

Bookshop Santa Cruz Presents: Neko Case | THE HARDER I FIGHT THE MORE I LOVE YOU

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Cosponsored by Streetlight Records and The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz

Neko Case has long been revered as one of music's most influential artists, whose authenticity, lyrical storytelling, and sly wit have endeared her to a legion of critics, musicians, and lifelong fans. In THE HARDER I FIGHT THE MORE I LOVE YOU, Case brings her trademark candor and precision to a memoir in luminous, sharp-edged prose. Case shows readers what it's like to be left alone for hours and hours as a child, to take refuge in the woods around her home, and to channel the monotony and loneliness and joy that comes from music, camaraderie, and shared experience into art.

THE HARDER I FIGHT THE MORE I LOVE YOU is a rebellious meditation on identity and corruption, and a manifesto on how to make space for ourselves in this world, despite the obstacles we face.

Each ticket includes 1 signed hardcover copy of the book.


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $37.25
Advance tickets:www.buytickets.at/bookshopsantacrz
Artists website: www.bookshopsantacruz.com

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Art and Life: The Story of Jim Phillips - SOLD OUT
Feb
6
7:00 PM19:00

Art and Life: The Story of Jim Phillips - SOLD OUT

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Hosted By Director, John Makens and Jim Phillips

A pioneer of graphic art, Jim Phillips, known for his bold and eye popping imagery, has left an unforgettable mark on the world of rock posters, surf, and skateboard art. Drawing inspiration from his life in Santa Cruz, California, Jim's journey from publishing his first artwork in 1962 to becoming the art director for Santa Cruz Skateboards, shaped the golden era of skateboarding.

This documentary explores Jim's dynamic life and career, showcasing his iconic work that has not only defined an era but has also secured his place in modern art history. Reflecting on a life lived with dedication and joy, Jim's story is a profound narrative of resilience, passion, and enduring artistic vision.


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $20
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Artists website: www.artandlifemovie.com

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Wade in the Water
Feb
5
6:30 PM18:30

Wade in the Water

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Film screening and discussion presented by the UC Santa Cruz Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Wade in the Water: A Film Screening and Discussion

Presented by the UC Santa Cruz Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in collaboration with Black Surf Santa Cruz and the NAACP Santa Cruz County Branch.

Join us for an inspiring evening of storytelling and community as we screen Wade in the Water: A Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture, a groundbreaking film written, directed, and produced by David Mesfin. This powerful documentary celebrates a thousand-year tradition of Black surfing across the globe, including here in Santa Cruz, while courageously confronting the painful legacies of racism and erasure.

Event Details -
Date: Wednesday, February 5, 2025 -Location: Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 -Doors Open: 6:00 PM | Film Screening: 6:30 PM -Cost: This event is free and open to the public.

Reserve your FREE ticket now on Eventbrite: wadeinthewatersantacruz.eventbrite.com

At 6:30, we will screen Wade in the Water, concluding with a discussion featuring Director David Mesfin, Executive Director of Black Surf Santa Cruz Esabella Bonner, and NAACP Santa Cruz County Branch President Elaine Johnson as moderator.


Show time: 6:30 PM, doors 5:30 PM
Tickets: FREE
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www,wadeinthewaterproject.com

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Counted Out: Math is Power Film
Feb
4
6:30 PM18:30

Counted Out: Math is Power Film

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Vicki Abeles

Counted Out shows us the power of math in our society, our economy, and our democracy. Help shape our community's vision. We invite the public to a FREE film screening and discussion.

Sponsored by Santa Cruz County Office of Education and the Monterey Bay Area Math Project


Show time: 6:30 PM, doors 5:30 PM
Tickets: FREE
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.countedoutfilm.com

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Take It To The Limit - A Tribute To The Eagles
Jan
30
7:30 PM19:30

Take It To The Limit - A Tribute To The Eagles

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Moon Coin Productions Inc.

Eagles fans! Mark your calendars because on January 30th, 2025 Eagles Tribute - "Take It To The Limit" from Vancouver, Canada performs in Santa Cruz for the 1st time!

Get ready for an unforgettable night of live music as some of Canada's most talented musicians and vocalists bring to life your favourite Eagles hits, including classics like "Hotel California," "Heartache Tonight," "Peaceful Easy Feeling," "Take It To The Limit," "Desperado," "Life In The Fast Lane," "Take It Easy," "Lyin' Eyes," and more!

With rave reviews from coast to coast, this show promises to be a fully immersive experience, capturing the essence and energy of an authentic Eagles concert. Get your tickets now and join us for an unforgettable evening of Eagles music! Catch a sneak peak of what’s in store here: www.EaglesTributeShow.com

“I’m Glenn Anderson from the NHL. I saw Take It To The Limit Tonight and they were fantastic! I highly recommend them. Good energy. Good people and lots of fun. Make sure you make it to the show. You have a good time coming.“ - Glenn Anderson – NHL (6 X Stanley Cup winner and NHL Hall Of Fame inductee) - Florida USA

“One of the best I’ve seen …if anyone has the chance to see these guys perform, it’s well worth going. Everything from sound, stage, lighting & vocals were perfect! A great show!“ - Angie Tatarniuk – Vancouver, BC
“Fantastic concert, perfect sound and worth every penny!“ - Gary Leiper – Surrey, BC

Facebook: @EaglesTributeShow / @MoonCoinLive
Instagram: @EaglesTribute / @MoonCoinLive


Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $69
Advance tickets: www.vtix.com
Artists website: www.mooncoinlive.com
Artists website: www.EaglesTributeShow.com

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She Adventures Film Tour
Jan
25
7:00 PM19:00

She Adventures Film Tour

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Supporting girlsROCK!

She Adventures Film Tour: Celebrating Inspiring Women in Adventure

The She Adventures Film Tour is thrilled to announce its highly anticipated return for another year of celebrating and honoring adventure women around the world. Join us in a celebration of the inspiring women of the adventure world.

This unique film event promises to captivate audiences with a carefully curated selection of short films that highlight the strength, courage, and passion of women in the outdoor world.

Born out of a desire to showcase the strong, inspirational, adventurous women of the outdoor world, the She Adventures Film Tour presents a carefully curated selection of short films that will entertain, enthrall and enlighten. Showcasing a 2 1/2 hour program of the most heartfelt, inspiring and entertaining films celebrating adventurous women from independent film makers around the globe.

The 2025 She Adventures Film Tour will embark on an exciting journey, captivating audiences with a diverse selection of adventure films.

A portion of ticket and beer sales will benefit girlsROCK! Join us when the doors open at 6 PM for a pre-show beer from Sante Adairius Midtown Portal.


List of films not necessarily in order. Please note that Impact to Ignite has subject matter that might not be appropriate to a younger audience.

23.4Degrees - 10 mins - This poetic film captures the essence of the Great Outdoors, showcasing the beauty of seasonal changes in the mountains and their impact on the outdoor community

Freea Ferrata - 14 mins - two local climbers set their sights upon a next level objective: making the first free ascent of the famed Telluride Via Ferrata.

Above the Noise - 6 mins - Delve into the life of Polish athlete Maja Kuczynska, revealing how her career as a Redbull Skydiver provides a refuge from the chaos of the modern world.

Impact to Ignite - 20 mins - (not rated yet has sensitive subject matter, suicide and eating disorders) An extraordinary journey unfolds as Brooke McIntosh embarks on a grueling 1,600-kilometre run along a treacherous Western Australian trucking route in 38°C heat.

The Debora Effect - 11 mins - After a life-altering brain injury, mountain biker Debora DeNapoli found profound healing on the trails she was warned never to return to.

Paddle X - 20 mins - Follow Britt Spencer, as she sets her sights on an unprecedented feat: crossing the notorious Cook Strait on a prone paddle board.

Finding the Line - 12 mins - From the adrenaline rush of navigating whitewater rapids in her kayak to the meticulous art of printmaking in her studio, Chachi draws profound connections between the geologic forces she studies and her passions for work and play.

The Speed Project - 12 mins - In a bold test of endurance, Erchana Murray-Bartlett embarks on an audacious 500-kilometre journey from Los Angeles to the Las Vegas Strip, traversing the merciless Death Valley with no rules or boundaries.

It Will Be Different For You -Lea Davison has always found her power through riding a mountain bike. A two-time Olympian, and one of the most decorated American women in the sport, Lea knows the toil, pain, and commitment it takes to compete at the highest level.



Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $21
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com

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Lewis Black - POSTPONED
Jan
24
8:00 PM20:00

Lewis Black - POSTPONED

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RESCHEDULED

Lewis Black’s Goodbye Yeller Brick Road, The Final Tour show at Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz, CA on 1/24/25 has been rescheduled for 8/17/25.  All tickets for the original performance will be honored, so fans should hold on to their tickets. For ticket inquiries, please contact point of purchase. For tour information, please visit lewisblack.com


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $57 Gen, $99 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.etix.com

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Chris Botti
Jan
13
7:30 PM19:30

Chris Botti

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GRAMMY-winning trumpeter Chris Botti has been one of the most popular instrumentalists in the world for nearly three decades. He’s collaborated with some of the biggest superstars on the planet, including Sting, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Steven Tyler, Andrea Bocelli, Herbie Hancock, Yo-Yo Ma, and others. He’s topped the jazz charts with numerous albums, earned multiple Gold and Platinum records, performed with symphony orchestras and on prestigious stages from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl to the Sydney Opera House.

In short, Chris Botti really needs no introduction. Yet with his Blue Note Records debut, he’s offering one anyway. Vol.1 is in many ways a fresh start for the trumpeter. Having successfully crossed over from jazz renown to pop stardom, Botti’s first album in more than a decade finds him crossing back, with a small group project focused on acoustic jazz and classic standards.

“I turned 60 in 2022, at a time that seemed like a restart for so many things in the world,” Botti says. “I wanted to strip away all the orchestral arrangements and special guests and focus more on my playing, the playing of my band, and these jazz classics that we always love playing on stage.”

While Botti could boast of the major names with whom he’s shared stages, this project allows him to share his enthusiasm for the jazz greats past and present that excite him – his conversation is peppered with references to everyone from Miles Davis to Keith Jarrett to Pat Metheny to Brad Mehldau. He points to landmark albums like Davis’ Kind of Blue, John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, or Metheny’s duo outing with Charlie Haden, Beyond the Missouri Sky as models for the kind of “lifestyle” music he set out to make – music that is exquisite on its own but can also set the scene for a coffee shop or hotel lounge, instantly generating a sophisticated mood.


Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $92.07 Gen, $115.38 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.kuumbwajazz.org

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The White Album Ensemble
Dec
30
8:00 PM20:00

The White Album Ensemble

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"The White Album"( Abridged, with Revolver

The White Album Ensemble has been performing the quirky double album "The Beatles" official name. It was never designed to be a "live" group of songs, but we did it for 20 years, often sell outs. But Many have said it was perhaps a better single lp, many songs were not up to the quality of previous "serious" lps, like Rubber Soul, and Revolver.

So this year we will do an abridged version, 16 song out of 30, making space for the comple "Revolver" lp at 30 minutes, for an opening act. We will utilize a string quartet, and a horn section, to "not cheat" on the accuray, alowing room for the group to express their musicianship, without rearranging the songs. A lovely local tradition, and wonderful Xmas present


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $37.50 Gen, $47.50 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.tix.com
Event Website: www.whitealbumensemble.com

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The White Album Ensemble
Dec
29
8:00 PM20:00

The White Album Ensemble

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The White Album(abridged)/ Revolver

he White Album Ensemble has been performing the quirky double album "The Beatles" official name. It was never designed to be a "live" group of songs, but we did it for 20 years, often sell outs. But Many have said it was perhaps a better single lp, many songs were not up to the quality of previous "serious" lps, like Rubber Soul, and Revolver.

So this year we will do an abridged version, 16 song out of 30, making space for the comple "Revolver" lp at 30 minutes, for an opening act. We will utilize a string quartet, and a horn section, to "not cheat" on the accuray, alowing room for the group to express their musicianship, without rearranging the songs. A lovely local tradition, and wonderful Xmas present! history- It began as a Luthier’s dream, to put together a crack team of top local musicians to perform the Beatles’ “White Album" live, in a theatre setting with lights, dance and a full-screen video presentation. After selling out both debut shows and creating a considerable buzz around town, the word of mouth from neighbors, friends and co-workers about the quality and vibe of the performance persuaded the group to keep on doing more concerts.

After six more sold out performances, including the Rio Center for the Performing Arts in Santa Cruz, Ca, and the Henry Mello Center, the group decided (rather ambitiously) to add another show, RubberRevolver, performing the Beatles’ Rubber Soul and Revolver albums, along with the four singles that were released concurrently (“We can work it out” and “Day Tripper” were released with Rubber Soul; “Rain” and “Paperback Writer” with Revolver). No small task, as many considered these to be the peak of creativity for the most popular group in history.

Once the "mission" was established, it became impossible to stop- performing post-touring era ( they stopped touring in 1966, at Candlestick park in San Francisco) Beatles recordings live, with real instruments, and no tapes. Wherever possible they began using horns, strings, indian instruments, additional background vocalists or whatever it takes to recreate the many overdubs which are the records' sound and feel.

There is an attitude when approaching this task of "What would the Beatles do, if they performed this song live?"


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $37.50 Gen, $47.50 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.tix.com
Event Website: www.whitealbumensemble.com

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Fishbone
Dec
18
8:00 PM20:00

Fishbone

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Fishbone is a band. Fishbone is Red Hot.

Starting in Junior High School as part of the bussing program transporting students to schools within or outside their local school districts as a means of rectifying racial segregation, Fishbone were breaking stereotypes. This essentially was the spark that started the bands creative and influential drive that would lay the foundation that other bands would follow for decades to follow.

Born out of the punk rock scene of Los Angeles, CA, Fishbone came out as a force of songs and live energy leaving bands not wanting to follow them. A feeling that continues today.

Signed to Columbia Records in 1984, Fishbone released 4 albums and 3 ep’s and toured the world headlining shows, festivals and leaving people stunned and still one of the best shows ever seen. A constant statement that still is used today from fans to artists that shared the stage with them. After years of touring and rotating members, Fishbone in 2024 is back to their most solid line up which includes original members, Angelo Moore (vocals/Saxophone), Chris Dowd (Keys/Vocals), Dirty Walt (Trumpet/Vocals), rounding it out with drummer, Hassan Hurd, Aryon Davis and Mark Phillips.

With their last critically and fan acclaimed EP recorded produced by Fat Mike of NOFX that came out on Fat Wreck Chords in 2023, in 2024, Fishbone is getting ready to reclaim their live touring throne, leave the audience wanting more, thinking more, influencing younger bands, and paving the foundation and legacy they have been laying for decades. #FuckRacism


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $42
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com

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Chelsea Wolfe
Dec
12
8:00 PM20:00

Chelsea Wolfe

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"Hurray! We have adult beverages!

The Rio is proud to partner with our friends at Moe's Alley to provide a selection of great beers, Venus canned cocktails, hard cider and sparkling wine at this show. You must be 21 and present a valid ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. We prefer cash, but will accept cards as well!"


Enhancement


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $36.75
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com

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Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra feat. Ekep Nkwelle & Robbie Lee –This show has been moved to the Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Dec
6
7:30 PM19:30

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra feat. Ekep Nkwelle & Robbie Lee –This show has been moved to the Kuumbwa Jazz Center

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"Hurray! We have adult beverages!

The Rio is proud to partner with our friends at Moe's Alley to provide a selection of great beers, Venus canned cocktails, hard cider and sparkling wine at this show. You must be 21 and present a valid ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. We prefer cash, but will accept cards as well!"


The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) spreads holiday cheer on its annual Big Band Holidays tour. Rising star vocalists Ekep Nkwelle and Robbie Lee join the JLCO to bring Yuletide greetings to dozens of cities across the country. Under the music direction of JLCO trombonist Chris Crenshaw, the evening will feature soulful renditions of holiday classics, playful improvisation, and entertaining storytelling. Enjoyed by audiences of all ages, these uplifting performances create lasting memories that will keep you returning to Big Band Holidays for years to come.

Please note: Wynton Marsalis will not appear with the JLCO on this performance.


Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $69.93 Gen, $93.24 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.kuumbwajazz.org

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An Evening of Comedy with Trae Crowder
Dec
5
8:00 PM20:00

An Evening of Comedy with Trae Crowder

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"Hurray! We have adult beverages!

The Rio is proud to partner with our friends at Moe's Alley to provide a selection of great beers, Venus canned cocktails, hard cider and sparkling wine at this show. You must be 21 and present a valid ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. We prefer cash, but will accept cards as well!"



Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $25 Gen, $45 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.etix.com

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An Evening with Marilynne Robinson
Dec
3
6:30 PM18:30

An Evening with Marilynne Robinson

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The Annual Noel Q King Memorial Lecture

Marilynne Robinson, a prolific novelist and essayist, is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and a National Humanities Medal. President Barak Obama applauded “her grace and intelligence in writing.” Her most recent book, Reading Genesis, is a meditation on the origins of humankind and the meaning of God’s enduring faith in humanity.

This year, Marilynne Robinson will deliver the Noel Q. King Memorial Lecture to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Humanities Institute and explore the Institute’s annual theme: Humanity. The Noel Q. King Memorial Lecture honors the life and work of Noel Kind, a founding faculty member of Merrill College and advocate for the comparative study of world religions.

Marilynne Robinson is the recipient of a 2012 National Humanities Medal, awarded by President Barack Obama, for “her grace and intelligence in writing.” She is the author of Gilead, winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award; Home, winner of the Orange Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; and Lila, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her first novel, Housekeeping, won the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award. In 2021, all four Gilead novels were selected for Oprah’s Book Club. Robinson’s nonfiction books include Reading Genesis, What Are We Doing Here?;The Givenness of Things, When I Was a Child I Read Books, Absence of Mind, The Death of Adam, and Mother Country.

This event is presented by The Humanities Institute and Porter College and co-sponsored by Merrill College, Bookshop Santa Cruz, and Shakespeare Workshop.


Show time: 6:30 PM, doors 5:30 PM
Tickets: FREE
Advance tickets: www.thi.ucsc.edu

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Pink Martini feat. China Forbes – 30th Anniversary Tour
Dec
2
7:30 PM19:30

Pink Martini feat. China Forbes – 30th Anniversary Tour

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"Hurray! We have adult beverages!

The Rio is proud to partner with our friends at Moe's Alley to provide a selection of great beers, Venus canned cocktails, hard cider and sparkling wine at this show. You must be 21 and present a valid ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. We prefer cash, but will accept cards as well!"


In 1994 in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, Thomas Lauderdale was working in local politics, attending every political fundraiser under the sun…but was dismayed to find the music at these events underwhelming and lackluster. Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world – crossing genres of classical, jazz, and old-fashioned pop – and hoping to appeal to conservatives and liberals alike, he founded the “little orchestra” Pink Martini in 1994 to provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for political fundraisers for causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, libraries, public broadcasting, education, and parks. One year later, Lauderdale called China Forbes, a Harvard classmate who was living in New York City, and asked her to join Pink Martini as the lead singer, and collaborator. Their first song “Sympathique (Je ne veux pas travailler)” became an overnight sensation in France, was nominated for “Song of the Year” at France’s Victoires de la Musique Awards and is still the band’s number one song. Says Lauderdale, “We’re very much an American band, but we spend a lot of time abroad and therefore have the incredible diplomatic opportunity to represent a broader, more inclusive America…the America which remains the most heterogeneously populated country in the world…composed of people of every country, every language, every religion.” Featuring a dozen musicians, with songs in 25 languages, Pink Martini performs its multilingual repertoire on concert stages on six continents. After making its European debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997 and its orchestral debut with the Oregon Symphony in 1998, the band has gone on to play with more than 50 orchestras around the world, including multiple engagements with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Boston Pops, the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, the San Francisco Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall in London. In 2014, Pink Martini was inducted into both the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame and the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. Pink Martini has released 11 studio albums on its own independent label Heinz Records (named after Lauderdale’s dog), selling over 3 million albums worldwide. In 2019, the band released two EPs featuring the vocals of Pink Martini’s newest members Jimmie Herrod and Edna Vazquez. Both vocalists have toured with the band for the past year and are officially part of the group with the release of Herrod’s EP Tomorrow and Vaquez’s Besame Mucho, both of which were co-produced by Thomas Lauderdale and China Forbes. In 2024 the band is celebrating its 30th anniversary.


Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $68.25 Gen, $99.75 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.kuumbwajazz.org

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A John Waters Christmas
Dec
1
8:00 PM20:00

A John Waters Christmas

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Help! It’s Christmas! To hell with Santa, Rudolph, Mrs. Claus and, yes, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, too! We’re not sitting on that man’s lap this year! Nosirree, not getting down on our knees for anybody either. All you need to get through this holiday season is John Waters; St. Nick the Dick, Father Fistmas, Kris Kringleberries! Ho ho ho was never like this!

Once again Waters is touring the country on his slippery sled of sewage with his comedy bag of tricks, handing out filthy sticks and stones to bad little nonbinary boys and girls and everybody in between and beyond. Ninety minutes of Christmas jeer and holiday beatings! Go ahead, teabag that tree with your own balls and then knock it over on yourself on purpose! Scream, drag queens and kings, scream! Yes! We’re all getting cha-cha heels this year! Postage-due Christmas cards, too. We want gift-wrapped get-out-of-jail holiday coupons! Mistle-toejam! As Dawn Davenport would say, "We asked and we’d better get!” Happy hole-iday! Merry Diss-mas! We’re the gift that keeps on desperate living. It’s a John Waters Christmas and you’d better watch out!


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $45-$125
Group Therapy Description: A limited number of Group Therapy Tickets will be available. This includes preferred seating, a small group therapy Q&A with John following the show and a selfie from distance. Those tickets are the $125 tickets shown above
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com

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The Search for Volcano Island
Nov
23
8:00 PM20:00

The Search for Volcano Island

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Presented by Fielder Films

From the creators of "Island X", comes a new film about five brothers who hitch a ride on a first-of-its-kind surf expedition, and voyage into a remote, mysterious region in pursuit of a dream.


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $15
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Artists website: www.fielderfilms.com

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The Fab Four: USA Meets The Beatles!
Nov
22
7:30 PM19:30

The Fab Four: USA Meets The Beatles!

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If you want to experience the best Beatles tribute ever, you won’t want to miss The Fab Four-The Ultimate Tribute. The 2024 tour brings their all-new show to the stage, celebrating The Beatles’ first visit to the USA, with performances from the Ed Sullivan show and the Meet The Beatles album, as well as the Beatles’ greatest hits of every era.

The Emmy Award Winning Fab Four is elevated far above every other Beatles Tribute due to their precise attention to detail. With uncanny, note-for-note live renditions of Beatles’ classics such as “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Yesterday,” “A Day in The Life,” “Twist And Shout,” “Here Comes The Sun,” and “Hey Jude”, the Fab Four will make you think you are watching the real thing.

Their incredible stage performances include three costume changes representing every era of the Beatles ever-changing career, and this loving tribute to the Beatles has amazed audiences in countries around the world, including Japan, Australia, France, Hong Kong, The United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico and Brazil.


Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: start at $39.50
Advance tickets: www.ticketmaster.com
Artists website: www.thefabfour.com

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Sweet Honey in the Rock®
Nov
18
7:30 PM19:30

Sweet Honey in the Rock®

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The Grammy-nominated African American vocal ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock® marked it’s 50th anniversary beginning in November 2023 with a powerful three-year celebration that will honor their storied past and set the course for the future of the group, which has been described as, “one of the most dynamic, versatile and still relevant musical collectives today.”

Since the group’s inception in Washington, D.C. in 1973, Sweet Honey in the Rock has thrived as a performance ensemble founded on the missions of empowerment, education, and entertainment. Their current lineup includes vocalists Carol Maillard, Louise Robinson, Aisha Kahlil, Nitanju Bolade Casel, and Rochelle Rice, with Romeir Mendez on upright acoustic/electric bass, and American Sign Language interpreter Barbara Hunt.

Throughout their five decades, the ensemble members have worked to create engaging and socially conscious music that consistently takes an active stance toward making our planet a better place for all in which to live. Their musical landscape embraces multiple genres/generations and addresses civil and human rights, women’s issues, gun violence, death, love, spirituality, children’s songs, and so much more.


Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $58.28 Gen, $81.59 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.kuumbwajazz.org

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Mountainfilm on Tour
Nov
16
7:00 PM19:00

Mountainfilm on Tour

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Supporting Second Harvest Food Bank

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Mountainfilm on Tour brings a selection of culturally rich, adventure-packed and incredibly inspiring documentary films curated from the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Colorado. The tour will visit Santa Cruz with films that explore themes connected to Mountainfilm’s mission of using the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world. This year's event will be screening the Medley Playlist - a little bit of everything from Mountainfilm.

About Mountainfilm Festival 
Mountainfilm is a documentary film festival that showcases stories about environmental, cultural, climbing, political and social justice issues. Mountainfilm is held every Memorial Day weekend in Telluride, Colorado. Along with exceptional documentaries, the festival goes beyond the film medium by bringing together world-class athletes, change makers and visionary artists for a multi-dimensional celebration of indomitable spirit. Mountainfilm’s mission is to use the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world. To learn more about Mountainfilm, visit www.mountainfilm.org.

List of films screening in the Medley Playlist
Leaving a TreadAs the popularity of mountain biking grows across Mexico, riders like Israel Carrillo work to blaze the trail — literally. Carrillo shares the challenges athletes face in a growing sport, financially and otherwise, while showing off his hometown of Guanajuato.

Dancing Warrior
On windswept hills surrounded by the bluffs of the Lakota Badlands sits the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. For the native youth, living here can be a struggle – the teen suicide rate is among the highest in the country. But many have found hope and purpose in the traditional sport of horse racing known as “Indian Relay.” We follow one teen racing team, named Dancing Warrior, who come together to compete and support each other as they face the challenges of life on the reservation. Witness the coming of age story of Lakota teens, as they find strength in tradition and passion in competition.

Ascend (some graphic scenes)
Ascend follows the inspiring story of a group of young women from Afghanistan who pursue their passion for climbing and mountaineering despite facing grave risks. But when the Taliban seized power in 2020, they were forced to flee their homes and start anew in the United States. Members of the Yosemite Search & Rescue team learned about the women’s plight and invited them to spend a week in Yosemite, where they could safely reunite and find solace with the climbing community. Through this heartwarming tale, viewers witness the strength and resilience of these young women as they adapt to life in a new country and forge new friendships with fellow climbers.

Re
Twenty years ago, Re forged a new path in the outdoor sports community as one of the few women in her field. As an action sports photographer, she is dedicated to working with and showcasing the strength and individual personalities of female athletes. Re landed the first cover shot of a woman for Backcountry Magazine and the first all-female cover shot for Skiing. She views her work as a catalyst, fostering a social shift in the perception of female athletes in popular culture.

Near the River
In the tourist town of Livingstone, Zambia, a group of local men who make their living portering kayaks aspire to become safety kayakers on the Zambezi River. However, the proposed Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Scheme threatens to flood the famous rapids of the Zambezi and eliminate river-related jobs.

Ghost Resorts: JapanWith ski lifts no longer spinning and buildings falling into disrepair, abandoned ski areas are nestled among the snowdrifted peaks of Japan. The country’s massive economic boom in the 1980s fueled a wild demand for skiing and an explosion of new mountain resorts. The financial collapse that followed in 1991 decimated both the Japanese economy and the ski industry. Today, hundreds of ghost resorts span the mountains as silent witnesses to the pace of change. Yet the deep powder beckons those who seek to experience an unconventional backcountry adventure.

The Last Observers
Lennart Karlsson and Karin Persson have recorded weather measurements every three hours — temperature, air pressure, wind, wave height and cloud types — at a lighthouse on the southwestern coast of Sweden for 36 years. The dedicated couple have amassed over 100,000 observations and seen rapid changes in recent years as migratory birds arrive earlier in the spring, and heavy rains and drought become more frequent. Theirs is the last remaining manual weather station in the country – and it too will soon become automated. In The Last Observers, the pair reflect on their simple yet joyful life where they find true happiness through symbiosis with nature.

Above The Noise
The world around us can feel overwhelming and loud. In response, Maya delves into her practice of skydiving as a means to focus inwards. She gently inspires us to find our own means of grounding ourselves in flow.



Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $20
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.mountainfilm.org

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Land Trust Santa Cruz County: HWY 17 Wildlife Crossing First Year Impacts
Nov
9
1:00 PM13:00

Land Trust Santa Cruz County: HWY 17 Wildlife Crossing First Year Impacts

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Land Trust Santa Cruz County: HWY 17 Wildlife Crossing First Year Impacts

The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County is thrilled by the amazing support our local community (and beyond!) has shown for the Highway 17 wildlife crossing! YOU have been key to the crossing’s success. The first year of data is in and we’re excited to share who has been using the tunnel, what we’ve learned and give you a peek at what’s next.

Featuring expert ecologists and researchers, Tanya Diamond and Ahíga Snyder from Pathways for Wildlife, with an introduction by Chris Wilmers PhD from the Santa Cruz Puma Project, the Land Trust will be sharing year one findings and lots of exciting footage of wildlife using the Highway 17 crossing.

We hope you can join us for this fun and informative event!

The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County

Th Land Trust protects, cares for, and connects all people to the vibrant natural and working lands that are essential for our community and nature to thrive together for generations to come. We see a future in which the amazing diversity of lands that define and connect us to the Santa Cruz County region — the wild and working forests, the globally unique wildlife habitats, the coastal landscape, and our rich farming and ranching heritage — are cared for and preserved forever.

Pathways for Wildlife

Pathways for Wildlife is a research organization developed by Wildlife Ecologist Tanya Diamond and Wildlife Researcher Ahíga Snyder. Tanya and Ahíga work with land trusts, conservation organizations, and transportation agencies to help identify important wildlife and habitat linkages by conducting wildlife connectivity surveys and implementing connectivity designs for wildlife movement within a landscape. The information used to develop wildlife connectivity plans includes data from field cameras, roadkill surveys, tracking data, GIS habitat suitability modeling, and linkage analyses. Pathways for Wildlife was a critical partner in building the scientific case for the Highway 17 crossing, and the Land Trust is grateful to have their expertise in monitoring wildlife engagement with the completed crossing.

Santa Cruz Puma Project

The Santa Cruz Puma Project is a partnership between UC Santa Cruz and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Their work involves deploying telemetry collars on mountain lions that collect continuous movement and location data from each animal. By studying and analyzing data collected from these collars, Chris Wilmers PhD and his team hope to answer important physiological and ecological questions that have so far evaded science. In addition to providing solutions to pressing environmental problems, the research project will further enhance the understanding of cougar habitat requirements as well as provide guidance on important movement corridors for lions within and between the Santa Cruz Mountains located in the central coast of California. The Puma Project’s partnership and collar data played a vital role in selecting the location for the HWY 17 crossing.

Chris Wilmers recently joined the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County board and has also contributed to land protection and management efforts for parks and open space in and around the Santa Cruz Mountains through his engagement in various capacities with the Trust for Public Lands, Wildlife Conservation Network, Peninsula Open Space Trust, Sempervirens Fund, the Bureau of Land Management, Caltrans, and other NGOs.


Show time: 1:00 PM, doors 12:00 PM
Tickets: FREE
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: landtrustsantacruz.org
Event website: www.pfwildlife.com

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Warren Miller's "75"
Nov
8
7:30 PM19:30

Warren Miller's "75"

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Warren Miller is going big for 75 years! Stacked with unbelievable action and unexpected stories, Warren Miller’s 75 will bring fans to powder stashes and chutes around the world, from Canada, Colorado, California, and Utah to Finland, Japan, Austria, and New Jersey. Catch a diverse lineup of snowsports legends, Olympic hopefuls, world champions, X Games stars, and emerging talents on the big screen this fall, including snowboarders Shaun White, Jeremy Jones, Danny Davis, and Toby Miller, plus skiers Max Hitzig, Lexi duPont, Caite Zeliff, Mark Abma, and Aaron Blunck.

With original segments and unique collaborations, this year’s film will set the tone for the next 75 years of ski and snowboard filmmaking. Get ready for the celebration that is “75”. Tickets are on sale now at warrenmiller.com.


Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $22
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: warrenmiller.com

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