Aloha Music & Arts Festival Santa Cruz

The first annual Aloha Music & Arts Festival Santa Cruz will take place Friday, July 31, and Saturday, Aug. 1, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, bringing together local musicians, hula schools, artists, food vendors, and community organizations for a weekend celebrating Hawaiian, Polynesian, and Pacific cultures. Gates open daily at 11 a.m. Admission to the festival is free. Donations are welcome. Parking will be available for $20 per vehicle. No in-and-out privileges will be allowed, and re-entry fees will be enforced. Produced by Victor Ohana Productions LLC, the festival aims to celebrate the Spirit of Aloha while creating a new cultural tradition for the Central Coast community. Organizers say the event was created to strengthen connections among local Polynesian communities, while offering residents and visitors a new summer cultural experience in Santa Cruz County. “This festival is about bringing people together through music, dance, food, art, and community,” said Marie Victor, founder of Victor Ohana Productions. “Santa Cruz has deep cultural and historical connections to Hawaiʻi through surf culture and the ocean lifestyle. We wanted to create an event that celebrates those shared influences while showcasing the incredible local talent we have here in Northern California.” Rather than featuring a national headliner, the festival will spotlight local bands and performers from throughout Santa Cruz County and the surrounding region. Organizers said the focus of the event is community participation and cultural authenticity. Festival attendees can expect: ● Food vendors featuring Pacific-inspired cuisine ● Local arts, crafts, and merchandise vendors ● Information booths from community nonprofits and organizations ● Family-friendly cultural activities and entertainment Local Live Music ● Victor Ohana 3 Generations ● Ho' Omana ● Hunawai ● Kanalu ● Laule'a Hawaiian Band ● Ka La'i O Mele ● George Kahumoku Jr (Grammy Award Winner in