This Week on the Central Coast…
Roller rink coming back, Community Car Show, the best State Parks, and drones on the boardwalk.
Monterey
New Roller Rink Coming to the Fairgrounds
It’s been almost fifteen years since the Del Monte Gardens roller rink closed and five years since Marina’s Water City closed. Now, at long last, a new roller rink will be opening at the Monterey Fairgrounds.
The new location is being opened by two members of the Monterey County Roller Derby League, Max Troyer and Morgan Goyette. The league has been practicing at the fairgrounds since Water City closed in 2020. “Kids who grew up skating fondly remember the good times, and yearn for a place to take their own children to give them the experience of zipping around a rink. We’re here to change that.“
Monterey Skates will feature monthly events at the King City Building of the Fairgrounds. Once the company is fully set up, several amenities will be offered:
Rental skates in all sizes
Skate sessions for all ages
Pro sound and DJ lighting systems
Skating lessons
Birthday parties
Snack bar
They also have plans to expand the location to include an indoor play structure, an arcade, and cafe.
The first event will be on the weekend of June 20, 21, and 22. You can sign up for updates on the Monterey Skates website.
Salinas
Community Car Show at Hartnell College
Next month, Hartnell College is hosting a Community Car Show to promote its college of Agriculture, Business, and Industries. The Car Show will feature a variety of events and food by Pacheco’s Tacos and Casas de Humos BBQ.
Ninety pre-registered cars will be shown off alongside live performances by folkloric dancers, a cheer team, and drumline. Special events include a reception ceremony where advanced automotive graduates receive Snap-On toolboxes. Incoming freshmen of the fall semester and their families are invited to explore the campus, meet instructors, and connect with others at the event. Presentations in Mechatronics, Welding, Construction, Automotive, Diesel, and Agriculture will be offered, as well as onboarding workshops for English Learners.
Entry is free for general admission and $20 for those who want to enter the car show. The first 200 attendees will receive a lunch voucher for a free meal from one of the food vendors. The Community Car Show will be on Sunday, June 8 from 10am to 2pm.
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz State Parks Voted As Some of the Best
The California State Parks Foundation recently launched its first-ever Best of California’s State Parks poll. Over 1,300 submissions from the foundation’s members were submitted, nominating their favorite parks across a selection of categories. With over 250 parks, the “California State Parks represent the most expansive and diverse collection of public lands in the nation.”
One state beach and one state park in Santa Cruz County were the top of their categories:
Natural Bridges State Beach won Best Kid-Friendly California State Park for its tide pools, butterflies, and waves - “perfect for young adventurers”.
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park won Best California State Park for Learning About History. The foundation mentioned the park’s efforts to honor indigenous stories and how they are “re-examining California’s mission history” with the help of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band.
Carmel River State Beach also made the list as a runner up for Best California State Beach. However, top honor went to Crystal Cove State Park in Orange County.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the California State Parks Foundation, you can join on their website for as little as $5 per month. Membership benefits include a special branded tote bag, 10% camping discount to most state parks, an annual calendar sent in July, event invitations, and a sticker. The higher-level California Leadership Circle starts at $84 per month and provides extra benefits, such as an annual day-use hangtag for unlimited access to more than 200 state parks, an invitation to special events, as well as all the other perks in the standard membership.
Next week, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk will kick off summer with its first-ever drone show.
Fresno-based company, Skye Dreams, will be in charge of the formations of “flying light bulbs” decorating the night sky above the amusement park. The drones will launch in a “souls ascending to heaven” pattern around 8:45pm from the Main Beach. They will then get into position in the sky using GPS to prepare for the light show. The boardwalk’s manager of special events says the Boardwalk’s Ferris wheel is the ideal viewing location for the show. “If you’re on the Dream Wheel, it’ll be perfect.”
Drones are a popular replacement for fireworks since they are not a fire hazard and don’t create noise pollution that may scare people and pets. They can also create more intricate and detailed images, such as brand logos and animated designs, or even QR codes for marketing.
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s drone show will take place on the Main Beach next Saturday, May 17, at 8:45pm. Admission is free.