April 2008 Events Calendar California

ANAHEIM -  - Disneyland. Pixar Play Parade at Sunshine Plaza (California Adventure at 5:15 p.m.); Princess Fantasy Fair with a Royal Coronation Ceremony (9 a.m.); Fantasmic at Frontierland where Mickey Mouse battles evil in a pyrotechnic spectacular with floating scenes  projected on water, fiber optics and lasers (9 & 10:30 p.m.); Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams on Main Street (3:30 & 6:30 p.m.); and "Dreams" Fireworks show at 9: 25 p.m., plus Electrical Light Parade with over half a million lights in California Adventure at 8:45 p.m. will keep park hoppers hopping. Location: 1313 South Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, CA.

COSTA MESA - Beethoven's Violin Concerto with Hilary Hahn.  28-year old Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn, named “America’s Best” young classical musician by Time magazine, will perform Beethoven Violin Concerto. Preceding Hahn is the world premier of  “Tour de Force” by the Symphony’s Principal Tubist Jim Self. Also on the program is a work by Paul Hindemith, who took a few tunes by Carl Maria von Weber and turned them into showpiece “Symphonic Metamorphosis.” Time: 8 p.m. Location: Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Costa Mesa, CA.Tickets are $25-$95, call (714) 755-5799. pacificsymphony.org. 

COSTA MESA -  the 5th Annual O.C. Breast Cancer Fundraiser! The cocktail reception will showcase a few local artists and include give away prizes donated by Anaheim Ducks, Oakley, Fiesta Florists, Vestal, T-Mobile, Saige Nicoles, and Hope Wine to name a few. The O.C. Breast Cancer Fundraiser is hosted by one young female trying to make a difference each year by planning and implementing a large-scale charity event benefiting the Orange County Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This year's goal is to raise over $25,000. Location: Sutra Lounge, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA. Time: 6 to 10 p.m. Cost: Minimum of $30 donation. Complimentary appetizers and live entertainment. ocbreastcancerfundraiser.com 

DANVILLE - Hats Off America Casino Night. 4th annual event will be an evening. with the fun of gaming, along with dancing to local D.J. Steve Fox .  The evening with kick off with the appearance for the second year of “Lets Get it Started” by "Teri Crippen's Jazzercise Performance Team," a local dance troupe, delicious hors d’oeuvres, live and silent auctions, a drawing and a no-host bar.  Lori Beath will display her Cookie Lee jewelry collection and donate a portion of sales to H.O.A. Time: 8 p.m. to midnight. Location: The Sycamore Clubhouse, 635 Old Orchard Drive, Danville, CA.  $40/  person, reservations required. Dress is business casual, Guests must be 21 years of age. Contact Sparky at (925) 855-1950 or thebearflagrunner@yahoo.com

DEL MAR - The Del Mar “TITANIC” Walkabout! 5th Annual Del Mar Costumed Walkabout includes clothing, attire and accessories from the Titanic Era (formally known as the Edwardian Age). The Del Mar Antiques and Collectibles Show is host for two HUGE buildings stocked full of wonderful and knowledgeable vendors of antiques, collectibles and knick-knacks. You are sure to find many treasures (and just as many KODAK moments)! (Titanic Attendees please note: Comfortable shoes may work better than period footwear – the floor of one building is a concrete slab and the second building is (softer, but sometimes sticky) asphalt flooring). Admission for Titanic Walkabout attendees is FREE, but the Fairgrounds parking fee is a mandatory $8.00 per car. FREE ADMISSION is only available to those attending in attire. Time: 11 a.m. Location: Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, California. the-elegant-harlot.com

DOHENY - Doheny Wood will be held at Doheny State Beach beginning at 8 AM and concluding at 3 PM. Doheny State Beach is located in Dana Point Harbor area at 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, CA 92629. The woodie meet has no entry fee for Doheny Wood 2008. State Park entry fee: $10. Public can look at the cars for free. Participation, call: 714- 968-9798 socalwoodies.com/doheny.htm

HUNTINGTON BEACH - Earth Day at Bolsa Chica Wetlands. Help restore the Bolsa Chica Mesa. Volunteers of all ages can plant and water native plants, under the guidance of Bolsa Chica Stewards. Wear closed-toed
shoes, sun protection, and gloves. The Bolsa Chica Land Trust will  provide the rest—-including lunch! Time:  9am to noon. Location: Bolsa Chica Parking Lot on Warner and Pacific Coast Highway. Call: Kim Kolpin  (714) 717-6304. bolsachicalandtrust.org.

IRVINE - Orange County Health and Wellness Expo  6 speakers and 60 exhibitors providing empowering information on expanding your life, health and the environment. Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Location: 1691 Kettering Ave., Irvine , CA 92614. healthexpoOC.com

LANCASTER - California Poppy Festival. Family fun is at the heart of the annual California Poppy Festival with two days of live music, exotic animal exhibits, more than 200 arts and crafts/fine arts vendors, a farmers’ market, aerospace displays, a children’s carnival, and much more. With more than 55 acres of exciting activities, discover why people keep coming back to be part of the California Poppy Festival! When: 10 am to 6 pm daily. Where: Lancaster City Park, 43011 N. 10th Street West, Lancaster, CA 93534. Contact: Laurie Butts, Special Events Manager (661) 723-6077 / lbutts@cityoflancasterca.org.   poppyfestival.com

LEMOORE -  Central Valley Pizza Festival. 8th annual pizza fest has a home where the world's largest mozzarella cheese producing company, Leprino Foods of Lemoore exists. This is the epicenter of culinary freshness with its abundance of pizza produce grown locally. Cheese, olives, garlic, tomatoes and beef all hail from Lemoore. Teams vie for prizes in the 9-foot pizza competition, plus many more games, live entertainment and events. Location: Downtown Lemoore, D St. and Lemoore Ave., Lemoore, CA. Cost: Free. Open: daily. Call: (559) 924-6401. lemoorechamberofcommerce.com

LOMPOC - Art Festival and Chili Cook-off.  Lompoc Valley Festival Association's 22nd Annual Spring Arts Festival & ICS Sanctioned Chili Cook-Off.  Location: Ryon Park in Lompoc, CA. flowerfestival.org

LOMPOC - Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Festival - More than 100 wine & food booths, music and more. Event only tickets: $75 each. Festival Visa 12-winery tasting Passport: $35 each. Combo Festival/Passport $100. Location: River Park, Lompoc, CA. (805) 688-0881. sbcountywines.com

LOS ANGELES -  Cowyboys & Presidents. New Exhibit at Autry National Center. Hours:  Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Special summer hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 1 through August 31.Admission: Adults $9, Students $5, Seniors 60+ $5, Children 3-12, $3. Admission is free on the second Tuesday of every month and free for veterans year round. Location: 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, California. Phone: (323) 667-2000. AutryNationalCenter.org

LOS ANGELES - Splash! A Celebration of Mermaids and the Sea. The Fowler Museum at UCLA welcomes all ages to a free, fun-filled day celebrating art, mermaids, the environment, and more! Performances by dance sensation Viver Brasil and the L.A-based, Congo-inspired group Balobi Bandeko; art workshops; water-science attractions including sea creature touch tanks (provided by community partner Heal the Bay); and a variety of food and vendor booths will be featured at this unique event. Dress up as a group or on your own, and take part in merfolk procession honoring Mami Wata. Presented in celebration of Earth Day and in conjunction with the Fowler exhibition "Mami Wata: Arts for Water Spirits in Africa and Its Diasporas." Time: 11:30 am - 3:30pm. Location, Directions: Enter UCLA from Sunset Blvd. at Westwood. Drive ahead to the Parking. Information Booth in Lot 4. Convenient Fowler parking is at the northeast or southeast ends of Lot 4, where automated pay stations accept $1 and $5 bills and credit cards. The parking fee is a maximum of $8. The Fowler is visible to your left when you ascend from the elevator or stairs (follow pedestrian walkways, indicated by arrows). The Fowler is a lovely walk from the UCLA Transit Center at Hilgard  and Strathmore Avenues, where several public bus lines stop. Call: (310) 825-4361 or www.fowler.ucla.edu.

REDDING - Kool April Nites. Car show with 68 car prize categories that include Most Bitchin, Kool Deuce, Pro Street Pick, Mighty Mustang, Street Sweeper, Chick's Choice and many more at the Redding Convention Center includes miles of Classic Cars, great food, concerts every night in the Big Tent beginning Wednesday. Call: (530) 226-0844.  Tickets and times: koolaprilnites.com

ROHNERT PARK - Spring Wildflower Walks. Crane Creek Regional Park in Rohnert Park, meet at parking lot. Bring water, sunscreen, a hat and sturdy shoes. Time: 10 a.m. to Noon. Day use is $5/car. Call to register: (707) 565-2041. sonoma-county.org

SAN DIEGO - Taste of Uptown / Hillcrest. and promises to satisfy your appetite. More than 40 of the area’s prominent restaurants participate in the walking tour, a smorgasbord of flavors from classic cafés to ethnic eateries. Time: Noon to  p.m. Ticket: $30/person. Tickets: (619) 233-5008. hillcrestassociation.com.

SANTA MARGARITA - Earth Day Food & Wine Festival. The Earth Day Food & Wine Festival is an intimate celebration featuring earth friendly cuisine, sustainably produced wines, live entertainment and educational exhibits highlighting innovative products. The food and wine featured are grown on local Central Coast farms committed to innovative practices that protect both our natural resources and communities. Proceeds support sustainable agriculture research and farm worker outreach programs conducted by the Central Coast Vineyard Team (CCVT), a non-profit organization. Time: 1 - 5 p.m. Location: From 101 North or South (between Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo) take Exit 211 for Santa Margarita/Hwy 58 and proceed east. Turn left on Yerba Buena and proceed to Santa Margarita Ranch entrance. From entrance gate, drive 0.6 miles (past the homestead) to the event. Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia California's Central Coast, Santa Margarita, CA. Tickets: $75 General Admission; $35 Designated Driver. Call: (805) 369.2288. earthdayfoodandwine.com

SAN DIEGO - A Day in Pompeii & Photography at the Poles - Exhibits at San Diego Natural History Museum include discovery of the ancient story of human drama and natural disaster in Pompeii (through June 15, 2008), plus images of the Arctic and Antarctic by leading National Geographic photographers at Ordover Gallery (through May 5, 2008).  Photography shows the mass breeding grounds of King Penguins, and the abundant wildlife found in the coldest, most remote areas of the Earth. Location: San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. TICKETS

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA - Antique Fair along Mariposa Street in the downtown area is sponsored by San Juan Bautista Antique Committee.  Time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location: San Juan Bautista, CA. Call: (831) 623-4491.  san-juan-bautista.ca.us

SANTA MARGARITA - Earth Day Food & Wine Festival. The Earth Day Food & Wine Festival is an intimate celebration featuring earth friendly cuisine, sustainably produced wines, live entertainment and educational exhibits highlighting innovative products. The food and wine featured are grown on local Central Coast farms committed to innovative practices that protect both our natural resources and communities. Proceeds support sustainable agriculture research and farm worker outreach programs conducted by the Central Coast Vineyard Team (CCVT), a non-profit organization. Time: 1 - 5 p.m. Location: From 101 North or South (between Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo) take Exit 211 for Santa Margarita/Hwy 58 and proceed east. Turn left on Yerba Buena and proceed to Santa Margarita Ranch entrance. From entrance gate, drive 0.6 miles (past the homestead) to the event. Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia California's Central Coast, Santa Margarita, CA. Tickets: $75 General Admission; $35 Designated Driver. Call: (805) 369.2288. earthdayfoodandwine.com

SANTA MONICA - Academy of Art University Southern California Open House. Meet Successful Alumni & Get Portfolio Feedback, See Online Art & Design Class Demonstrations and answer all you questions about this program. Time: 9am – 4pm (Ongoing). Location: Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, 1700 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401. RSVP: academyart.edu, click on “You’re Invited”. Call: (800) 544-2787.

VACAVILLE - Medieval Fantasy Festival - Medieval Fantasy Festival offers entertainment and fun such as Pumpkin Chucking with catapults. This Ratapult will have several divisions so that all can have their chance at flinging artificial rats. Creative folks may design and make fantastic costumes for their puppet rat. These have two chances to win, first the rat costume contest and second the best distance launch on the festival catapult or trebuchet. If you don’t have the time to sew up costumes, enter the distance launch part. Little kids will enjoy hurling rubber squeaky rats. Longest distance for each age group wins a prize. All are welcome to walk in the Pied Piper Parade. For more information on all division of the Ratapult,  and the annual Medieval event with booths, food, entertainment and costumes, entries to Ratapult will be available during the two day  festival. Location: Downtown Vacaville, CA, centering on Merchant, Main, and Parker Streets. Admission: Free. Time:  medievalfantasyfestival.com.

 Apr. 18 < April 19  > Apr. 20

calsite