Boomeria

Boomeria returns! 
Santa Cruz Baroque Festival’s yearly celebration of music, science, food and fun will take place Saturday July 13, from 1-5 pm. For the uninitiated, the Kingdom of Boomeria is a monument to physics and whimsy located in the redwood forest of Bonny Doon, and a treasure of our region. Containing a multitude of delights for all ages, it has been built and maintained by San Lorenzo Valley High science teacher Preston Boomer, AKA “Boom”, whose delight in aesthetics, physics, and fun is evident around every corner.

Due to its proximity to Bastille Day (July 14), we honor the spirit of the French Revolution with wine and snacks in the style of French cuisine. A full sized Guillotine will be on hand, at which a dastardly and treasonous cucurbit will meet its richly deserved demise.

A centerpiece of the festivities is the magnificent Baroque-style tracker organ built into a charming chapel. Santa Cruz Baroque Festival favorites Vlada Moran, William Visscher and others will perform on this unique instrument. Interested visitors will be invited to observe the workings of the organ, peering into its guts to see how its manuals and bellows work below the surface to create its glorious sound. A few brave individuals may be allowed to play when open console begins, after the official program.

For the kids, and any particularly game grown-ups, there is much to do. A three story castle is there to be climbed on, though this is easiest done by those with short legs! An impressively long-roped swing that dangles from the forest canopy is a delightful way to pass the time. One can also demonstrate simultaneously the physics of centripetal force and the joy of youth on an old-fashioned playground carousel. Myriad gadgets endow the grounds with visual, audible, and nerdish delights. 

So come feed your senses and your sense of fun with the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival as we frolic in the Kingdom of Boomeria, Saturday July 13, 1-5 pm. Space in the Kingdom of Boomeria is limited, so advance tickets are recommended. Early birds will be rewarded with a special discount.

Tickets available at scbaroque.org