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Featured Events:Old Growth Redwood ToursActivities will range from sketching and watercolor to nature journaling and more Every Sa at 1:00pm Location: Graham Hill Rd, Scotts Valley ![]()
Old-Growth Redwood Tours
Saturdays at noon Are there different kinds of redwoods? How do coastal redwoods grow to become the tallest organisms on earth? Why are there so few old growth trees left? How important are banana slugs to the redwood ecosystems? Answer these questions and more every Saturday on our Redwood Grove Walks. One of our knowledgeable and friendly docents will lead you through the wondrous old growth forest and answer any questions you may have. Meet at the visitor center. Event free. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. Event made possible by Mountain Parks Foundation and California State Parks. |
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Guided History Tour
Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park, Pescadero, CA
Guided half-hour history walks of the lighthouse grounds are available 10am - 4pm Fridays through Sundays, except on rainy days.
Life on the Ranch Day - The Early Days on a Dairy Farm
Saturday, August 11 from 11am to 3pm
Wilder Ranch State Park invites you to experience old-time activities from its rancho, dairy farm, and cowboy rodeo days. Hands-on activities and living history presentations may include butter churning, ice cream making, roping skills, and demonstrations in the ranch buildings. Come for a picnic on the lawn and follow it up with a game of tug of war, sack races, hoops, stilts, and Wilder Ranch's famous old-fashioned bubbles! This event is appropriate for all ages. Event is free; parking is $10. Please call the park to confirm at (831) 426-0505. Event made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks.
It's that time of year again! Join BirchBark Foundation, the Coastal Watershed Council, and WoofPack831 for a community dog walk along the San Lorenzo River.
At 10:00 AM, we will meet at the Gateway Plaza fitness area. The walk will loop across the pedestrian street bridge, down the east side of the Riverwalk, through San Lorenzo Park and back up the west side to the Plaza.
The first 20 walkers will receive a BirchBark Foundation portable pet food dish. Don't forget to start your WoofTrax when you walk! BirchBark will receive donations as our group of walkers grows.
The Road Less Traveled: A Dog-Friendly Walk
Sundays at 9:30am
On this dog-friendly walk, we travel North Escape Road, a paved road closed to traffic. We tour stunning old-growth redwood groves along beautiful Opal Creek. We'll discuss redwood ecology and park history while exploring the deep shade of the redwood forest. This is a fun and easy, 3-mile, 2-hour walk with docent Diane Shaw. Dogs not required, but welcome! Bring water. Meet at park headquarters. For more information, call (831) 338-8883. Event free. Vehicle day use fee is $10. Event made possible by Mountain Parks Foundation and California State Parks.
"I have been attending the Renaissance Pleasure Faire for over thirty years. Although like most Faires it's booths are more in focus for making money than for historical acuracy, it's fun. The jousting matches are as good as I've seen anywhere and I've been at a lot of different Faires. The people that put on the Faire do an excellent job. If you enjoy history, art, music, fencing, costume, food, faires and culture then you should go to this fun event." John Barrows
What's your favorite part about The Joust? Is it the handsome Knights, the swords, the fight for victory?
From swords to clothing to fine art & more, you'll find what your heart desires with our 200+ fine artisans that will hawk their wares in our village! Which vendor are you looking forward to seeing?
BY POPULAR DEMAND - 6th weekend now added!
Dates: Sept. 15th - Oct. 21st / WEEKENDS: 10AM to 6PM.
Location: Casa de Fruta 10031 Pacheco Pass Hwy 152,
Gate 6, Hollister, CA 95023-9541
Kids 12 & under FREE every weekend!
Details /ticket prices & specials: https://www.norcalrenfaire.com
Come on down to the Live Oak Grange to eat delicious pie, play pie games and help raise funds for our Grange Hall Renovation!
Pie eaters - 3 slices for $10 - Vote for your favorite pie!
Pie Bakers - Deliver your pies to the Grange by 12pm to enter the contest. Win $50 cash if your pie gets the most votes!
Pie Contest Categories:
1. Savory
2. Fruit
3. Cream
4. Gluten-Free
A mimimum of 2 pies is required to enter a contest category.
Family Fun! - Old-fashioned bingo ($5/card, 3 cards for $10), pie walk , ice cream, and more!
The Pigeon Point Lighthouse is currently under repair, but that doesn't mean that the First Order Fresnel Lens can't shine! The Fresnel lens, the original lighthouse beacon, will light up once again from its temporary home in the Visitor Center. As dusk settles, the 24 beams of light provide a dramatic glimpse of how the lighthouse once guided ships passing by this rocky coastline. Bring a flashlight and join us for a unique experience. For more information, call the park at (650) 879-2120 or go online to www.Parks.CA.gov/PigeonPoint. Event is free. Events made possible by Coastside State Parks Association and California State Parks.
* Please note the lighthouse will NOT be lit. The original lighthouse beacon, the First Order Fresnel lens, will be lit but in its temporary location inside the Visitor Center. The lighthouse is being repaired and is currently not accessible to the public.
Come join us at The Felton Library for Adult Afternoon Arts and Crafts. It's every Sunday from 2-4:30pm.
Bring something portable that you are working on or come prepared to have fun!
A week of fun at the Santa Cruz County Fair
Get ready for pig racing, frisbee dogs, bands, art, wine. poetry, gardening, garlic fries, concerts, carnival rides and livestock exhibits. 400-pound pumpkins, and more!
2018 Fair Hours:
Wednesday 9/12 to Friday 9/14 Noon to 11:00PM
Saturday 9/15 10AM to 11PM & Sunday 9/16 10AM to 10PM
Michael Mezmer
Michael is known as the "Phenomenist" who combines his talents as one of the world's top performing stage hypnotists with his award winning skills in the field of organic magic phenomena to create amazing performances.
Michael's TranceNosis Comedy Hypnosis Show and BrainStorm Phenomena Shows have been seen at major casinos, amusement parks, cruise ships, fairs and festivals throughout the world.
Wild West Turkey Stampede
....If you are within the sound of my voice... you are just seconds away from the funniest show in America...
It is time for the Wild West Turkey Stampeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeede!
These turkeys will keep you cheering and laughing all "race" long.
All Alaskan Racing Pigs
The Famous All-Alaskan Racing Pigs are a team of the fastest and funniest athletes to serve up entertainment anywhere!
Flat-track racing and hurdling are their specialties, but a good gag is always on the menu.
If you are looking for entertainment don't miss these Racing Pigs.
Check back for the daily schedules!
DIY Crafts @ Live Oak (1:00 PM-4:30 PM)
Join the fun with DIY crafts every Sunday afternoon between 1pm and 4:30 pm! Come and create a self-directed craft.
Hablamos Juntos/Together We Speak
August 8 - October 7, 2018
Curated by Juan R. Fuentes and Michelle P. Mouton, Hablamos Juntos explores visual dialogs created by prominent California Latinx artists at the Pajaro Valley Arts gallery in Watsonville. In this extraordinarily rich exhibit, you will experience how our artists give voice to and navigate: daily life, current events, social, political and cultural issues, community, ethnicity, as well as personal narratives, myths, and history. Click here for a virtual tour. Visit our Facebook page for additional photos.
Artists: Susana Arias, Eduardo Carrillo, Yreina D. Cervántez, Pablo Cristi, Amy Díaz-Infante, Juan R. Fuentes, Daniel Galvez, Lorraine García-Nakata, Carlos Jackson, Carmen León, Jose Lozano, Dionicio Mendoza, Amalia Mesa-Bains, Viviana Paredes, Pancho Rodriquez, Michael Roman, Ivan Rubio, Manuel Santana, Linda Vallejo, Cruz Ortiz Zamarron
A collaboration between Pajaro Valley Arts, Museo Eduardo Carrillo, and the Young Writers Program, this project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Hablamos Juntos exhibit is also presented in partnership with the San Jose Museum of Art, New Terrains collaboration. Through New Terrains: Mobility and Migration, South Bay arts organizations band together to present a series of cross-disciplinary exhibitions, programs and experiences that explore how bodies move through spaces-social, political, literal, and figurative. Projects address timely topics such as transportation and urban planning, navigation and orientation, public protest, immigration and migration, and mobility in its many forms. For more information on New Terrains: https://sjmusart.org/new-terrains/connect
Ranch History Tours
Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm
Monday, September 3 at 1pm
Discover what life was like a century ago on this innovative dairy ranch. This hour-long tour includes the 1897 Victorian home, 1859 Gothic Revival farmhouse, 1896 water-powered machine shop, barns and other historic buildings. Event is free; parking is $10. Please call the park to confirm at (831) 426-0505. Event made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks.
The Farm & Garden Market is a small, friendly, open air market made up of local farmers and gardeners who grow within about a five mile radius of Corralitos.
Seasonally we have the tastiest strawberries, blueberries, cherries, lemons, tomatoes, herbs, squash, potatoes, carrots, peas, beets, and avocados, as well as a variety of other fruits, vegetables, lettuces and salad greens.
We have bakers that offer wonderful treats, along with a table full of beautiful potted flowers.
You may find expertly handmade natural soaps, and homemade jams and preserves.
The market is open to all of our friends and neighbors who grow anything from a garden to a good back yard fruit tree.
For a booth we request a $5 donation to the CVREA, the non-profit who maintains the Corralitos Cultural Center.
Farm & Garden Market (including vendor inquiries)
Contact Wayne Miller: wayne@catalyst2001.com / (831) 724-1332
EASY HIKES
Castle Rock Loop Sat & Sun 11am
Trailhead: main parking lot; 1 mile loop; elevation gain 300 feet
Ascend through Douglas-fir, madrone, and tanoak to see the park’s imposing namesake peak—a good spot for bouldering and roped climbs. The surrounding smaller rocks are a great playground for children.
Castle Rock Falls and Goat Rock Overlook Hike Saturdays at 2:30pm
Join us on a 3-mile, 2.5-hour hike to Castle Rock, Castle Rock Falls and Goat Rock Overlook. We’ll discuss Castle Rock’s unique geology, rock climbing history, human impacts and important preservationists that helped give Castle Rock State Park the protections we have today. Please bring plenty of water, hiking shoes, snacks, a camera, and binoculars if you have them. Event is free; day use fee for vehicles is $8. Meet at the kiosk. Event made possible by California State Parks in partnership with Portola and Castle Rock Foundation.
MODERATE HIKES
Ridge/Trail Camp Loop
Trailhead: main parking lot, 5.15 miles, elevation gain 1,190 feet
Hike through the forest and past Castle Rock Falls and Goat Rock. Enjoy views of the San Lorenzo River Valley and glimpses of Monterey Bay. Learn about history, wildlife, and habitats at the Interpretive Shelter. Castle Rock Trail Camp has picnic tables, pit toilets, water and a rain shelter.
Skyline/Loghry Woods/Saratoga Gap Loop
Trailhead: main parking lot; 6.1 miles roundtrip; elevation gain 750 feet
Head through the forest past Castle Rock Falls and Goat Rock. Enjoy views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the San Lorenzo River with glimpses across to Monterey Bay if there’s no fog. Castle Rock Trail Camp has picnic tables, pit toilets, water, and a rain shelter.
STRENUOUS HIKES
Middle of the Park from the Gap Loop
Trailhead: Saratoga Gap; 9 miles roundtrip, elevation gain 1,530 feet.
This challenging hike or run through the forest takes you past mountain and valley views with some glimpses of Monterey Bay on a clear day. Castle Rock Trail Camp has picnic tables, pit toilets, water and a rain shelter. Begin at Saratoga Gap and either go down Saratoga Toll Road Trail or across Skyline Trail (Bay Area Ridge Trail). Close the loop on the Loghry Woods and Travertine Springs trails.
Gap to Gap Loop
Trailhead: Saratoga Gap or Waterman Gap; 16.4 miles round trip, elevation gain 1,860 feet
A good workout for strong trail runners and hikers. You can also backpack and stay overnight at the Waterman Gap Trail Camp (reservations required). Trails are mostly wooded, with occasional views of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Skyline to the Sea Trailhead: dropoff at Saratoga Gap or park at main parking lot, pickup at Waddell Beach, 25.2–28.2 miles; elevation from 1,660–2,130 feet.
One of the region’s most rewarding backpack options. Start on the spine of the Santa Cruz Mountains and descend to the ocean in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Camp at trail camps along the way. Two to four days of backpacking or four to eight hours of trail running.
Castle Rock Falls and Goat Rock Overlook Hike
Saturdays at 2:30pm
Join us on a 3-mile, 2.5-hour hike to Castle Rock, Castle Rock Falls and Goat Rock Overlook. We'll discuss Castle Rock's unique geology, rock climbing history, human impacts and important preservationists that helped give Castle Rock State Park the protections we have today. Please bring plenty of water, hiking shoes, snacks, a camera, and binoculars if you have them. Event is free; day use fee for vehicles is $8. Meet at the kiosk. Event made possible by California State Parks in partnership with Portola and Castle Rock Foundation.
Free Academic Help at All Levels.
Brainfuse offers live online tutoring in elementary, middle school, high school, college, and adult education.
Live Tutoring: Students draw or type their question in our online classroom and receive live homework assistance from a Brainfuse-certified tutor. Our tutors don't simply give answers but help students master underlying academic concepts.
SkillSurfer: SkillSurfer includes an extensive library of Brainfuse-created lessons, video tutorials, and practice tests in a wide range of academic subjects, and further integrates them with live tutoring.
Join other homeschool moms for a monthly stitch and chat get together. Bring your favorite handwork (it doesn't have to be stitching, any kind of creative task is great!) and a snack to share. We'll provide the coffee and tea! This monthly get together offers great conversation and some time to nurture yourself. Third Tuesday of every month from 7-9pm.
This free event is hosted by long time homeschooling mom Heddi Craft at Knit Sew Make, located in the former sanctuary area of the building at 111 Errett Circle, Santa Cruz.
Check to confirm for location and date.
30 Days of Doing is a chance for kids across the nation to do with purpose through hands-on learning. Through activities in agriculture, STEM, community service, healthy living and more, 30 Days of Doing will help kids gain the skills they need to be successful in life-and have fun along the way.
Plus, starting September 1 you could win a $10,000 scholarship for your kid - and your state 4-H program could receive $10,000 to inspire kids in the community!
Submit a photo that shows how your child inspires themselves or others to do with purpose for themselves, their family, their community, their country or the world. Check back September 1 for more details!
Reading in the Redwoods book group meets monthly at the Felton Library on the fourth Wednesday at 6:15 pm.
Copies of the book are usually available at the Felton branch library.
For more information call 427-7708 or drop by the branch.
To be added to the book group email list, please call 831-427-3151.
Our family of five farmers' markets showcases the best in regional organic produce, pasture-raised meats, eggs and dairy, sustainably-harvested seafoods and artisan-made goods.
Purchasing your food through the area's farmers' markets ensures that you are getting the freshest, healthiest and tastiest foods while supporting local jobs, increasing local spending and promoting the region's strong farming tradition.
We provide direct access to sustainable sources of fresh produce and other unique foods and education about food issues, both local and beyond.
Santa Cruz/Downtown | Weds 2:30-6:00 | Lincoln & Cedar | Year-round |
Santa Cruz/West Side |
Sat 9-1 | 2801 Mission | Year-round |
Scotts Valley | Sat 9-1 | King's Village Dr | April - October |
Live Oak/East Side |
Sun 9-1 | 15th & Eastcliff Dr | Year-round |
Felton | Tues 2:30-6:30 | 120 Russell Ave | May - Oct |
Google Science Fair is an online science competition, open to students between the ages of 13 and 18 from around the world.
You can sign up starting September 13th 2018 by visiting googlesciencefair.com and clicking on the Start your project button. If you're not sure where to start, you can get help by taking a look at our Student resources and checking out some out some of our previous winners.
This competition is open to full-time and home-schooled students around the world, between ages of 13 and 18 (these ages are slightly different in a few countries like Israel, South Korea and Europe). See the Official Rules for more details.
Submissions close December 12th, 2018
Global finalists announced May 2019
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