May 2008 Events California

ANGELS CAMP - Jumping Frog Jubilee and Calaveras County Fair. A popular contest based on Samuel  Clemens’ trips to the Gold Country region that inspired his published work, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”, about Jim Smiley and his frog Dan’l Webster. Event includes a carnival, vendors, games, entertainment and the famous Jumping Frog contest. Cost: $9/adult; $5/child daily. Location: Fairgrounds along Highway 49 between Angels Camp and Sonora.  frogtown.com

CLEAR LAKE - Catfish Derby. 26th annual event  is the largest catfish tournament west of the Mississippi. Cost: $10/child; $40-50/ adult. Location: Derby Headquarters, Clearlake Oaks fire station, 12655 E. Hwy 20, Clearlake Oaks. Call: (707) 998-1006 / clearlakeoaks.org

CORONA -  Koroneburg European Old World Festival. Southern California's Only Permanent Renaissance Village! Visitors to this 1450-1600 European Village enjoy jugglers, music, jousting, battles and entertainment for the entire family.  Runs weekends through June 15, 2008. Time: 11 to 6 p.m. Cost: $18 adult (coupons on website). Location: Crossroads, Crossroads Riverview Park, 14600 River Rd, Corona, CA 92880 renaissanceinfo.com/

CORONA DEL MAR - Garden Tours. 12th annual garden tour includes visits to six local gardens in the Newport Beach area. Refreshment are served at Sherman Gardens, then ticket holders are issued a map to local gardens providing tours throughout the day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: $30 / day of is $35. Flat shoes required. No refunds, the event occurs rain or shine. Location: 2647 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Corona del Mar, CA.  Call:  (949) 673-2261.

COSTA MESA - Art Exhibit & Auction. Beautiful artwork and glass art will be for sale at an event that will include a silent auction, direct sales, refreshments and opportunity to meet many artists. Sponsored by the Zonta Club Newport Harbor, the event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Cost: Free admission. Location: 245 Fischer Ave., Suite A8C, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.  Call: (714) 549-4751. Time: 1 to 4 p.m. Cost: Free admission.  Courtesy RSVP: newport@zontadistrict9.org

DOHENY - Doheny Blues Festival. Open daily 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (approx.) Cost: $45/day; $75/pass -2 day. Location: Doheny Beach, Dana Point, CA. Box Office (949) 360-7800, info@omegaevents.com

HUNTINGTON BEACH - Duck-a-thon. Rubber duck race in which public purchases toy rubber ducks (around $10/ea). The ducks are dropped by a tractor into the ocean and the come ashore, collected by volunteers. The first ducks to arrive win prizes.  Location: Pier Plaza- Pacific Coast Highway at Main St. Time: Daily at 10 a.m. Cost: Free admission. duck-a-thon.org

IRVINE - Arthritis Walk. This  7th annual Orange County Arthritis Walk is a Benefit for the Arthritis Foundation. Location: Irvine Spectrum Center, where 405 and 5 Freeways meet. Registration opens at 7:00 a.m., and the walk begins at 9:00 a.m. The distance of the walk is 3 miles, with a 1-mile option. A kid’s activity zone, a Home Depot sponsored craft center, and a performance by 80s cover band Knyght Ryder will be held in conjunction with the walk. All participants are encouraged to raise donations to benefit the Arthritis Foundation. The Orange County Walk is the largest in the country and expects a turnout of more than 1,500 people with a fundraising goal of $400,000. Parking is free. Call (714) 436-1623. ocarthritiswalk.org.

KNIGHTS LANDING -  Gourd Festival. Sixth Annual Gourd Festival attracts artists from all over California who will sell their exquisite gourd art, gourd supplies and tools, plus free demonstrations from expert gourd artist Maria Dellos. Hay rides, children's gourd crafting area and a shaded picnic area on site.  Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Tickets: Free Admission and parking. Location: Greg Leiser Farms, 21886 Knights Road, Knights Landing, CA 95645. Contact: Mary Leiser 530-735-6677 or gleiser@afes.com.  GourdFarmer.com

LONG BEACH -Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride. 25th Anniversary Celebration of Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride – festival and parade will be held along the streets of downtown Long Beach. Call: 562-987-9191. More details may become available. longbeachpride.org

MADERA - Spring Wine Trail Adventure. Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location Madera Wine Trail, Madera, Ca. Cost: $20/souvenir glass. maderavintners.com

MOUNTAIN VIEW - A LA Carte Art Festival. Become Your Own Beauty Expert. The Great Beauty Tour visits Walnut Creek, San Ramon, and the Mountain View. Chuck Hezekiah, Mr. Makeover, and a team of beauty experts are coming to town with the Great Beauty Tour, an upbeat, educational, program that will help women take the guesswork out of choosing and using skincare products and cosmetics. The high-energy program, brought to you by Maybelline New York and Garnier Nutritioniste, is complete with live demonstrations, great makeup tips, and visuals. Those attending can also receive tips, and personalized one-on-one consultations. For more information on the Great Beauty Tour, visit maybelline.com. Time: 10am – 6 pm, Location: Safeway – 2505 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon, Corner of Mercy and Castro Sts, Mountain View, CA

NEWPORT BEACH - Home Show & Boutique - Last Day of Coastal Elegance style home tour fund-raiser. Open Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 to 5 pm, with evening hours until 9 pm on Thursdays, the event runs through May 18, 2008. Free parking and shuttle at Mariner’s Church, 5001 Newport Coast Drive, Irvine (Tuesday-Saturday) and Tarbut V’ Torah, 5 Federation Way, Irvine (Sundays). Proceeds benefit Philharmonic Youth Music Education. Cost: $30/presale - $45/unlimited. Information and tickets at www.philharmonicHouseofDesign.org or call 714-840-7542.

OXNARD - California Strawberry Festival. 25th anniversary Strawberry Festival celebrates the locally-grown crop, strawberries with foods galore. Bands, games, contests, entertainment and carnival rides offer a weekend of fun for all ages. Location: Strawberry Meadows of College Park, 3250 South Rose Avenue, Oxnard, California. Admission: $12 (approx.) - free (4 and under). strawberry-fest.org

PASO ROBLES - Paso Robles Wine Festival. The 26th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival weekend is the 2008 Paso Robles Wine Festival marquee tasting event in the downtown city park. It features more than 90 area wineries host an array of special events including winemaker dinners, food pairings, seminars, winery tours, special tastings and more. Advance purchase of tickets is highly recommended since there is a limited amount on the day of the event. $50 Tasting Ticket – advance purchase recommended - includes unlimited wine tasting (2-5 p.m.) in the designated tasting area and a commemorative Riedel glass; $15 Designated Driver/Child Ticket - includes access to the event, four non-alcoholic beverages and a commemorative beverage container. Call (805) 239-8463. pasowine.com

SAN DIEGO - North Park Festival of the Arts. Stroll through the neighborhood of historic North Park, San Diego and experience the culture at the 12th Annual North Park Festival of the Arts. This fun and educational event features a diverse collection of art, live entertainment, food and activities along University Avenue between 30th and 32nd streets. Explore the Artists’ Village where local artists showcase unique creations, purchase a masterpiece or admire pieces of work in the juried artists’ area. There will be more than 150 specialty booths, a wide variety of international cuisine, a pet zone, and a Children’s Art Beat area where kids of all ages can engage in interactive, educational and multicultural art activities. Choose from four stages with live entertainment from top San Diego bands

 and over 300 performers from dramatic theatres and dance groups. Proceeds for this day-long event will benefit the North Park Main Street, a non-profit organization committed to the revitalization of the North Park Business Improvement District, North Park’s Downtown and the historic heart of the community. Admission: Free. Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call: (619) 233.5008. northparkmainstreet.com

SACRAMENTO - Gem Faire. Classes, demos, and gems to adore in this popular event where you can even find jewelry repair while you wait! Time: Friday: 12pm-7pm, Sat: 10am-7pm, Sun: 10am-5pm. General Admission $5 Weekend Pass; Children 11 and under Free. Tel. (503) 252-8300. Location: Cal Expo, Building A, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815. gemfaire.com

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA - Country Canyon Car Show. 6th annual car event sponsored by Gold Coast Rods Car Show. Car registration: $25 -30. Call: (831) 424-2004. Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: San Juan Bautista, CA.

SANTA ANA - “Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor” will premiere on May 18, 2008 through Oct. 12, 2008 at Bowers Museum. 120 objects-including 20 complete life-sized figures, the most ever to have left China, found in what would have been gardens within the tomb complex belonging to China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang 259 – 210 B.C. Drawn from 11 different collections around Shaanxi Province, Emperor Qin is one of the most important men in history, credited with unifying several separate warring states into a unified China. He initiated the 30-foot-high, 3,000-mile-long Great Wall of China to protect his empire from invaders from the north.  Call: 714-567-3679. Location: 2002 North Main Street, Santa CA. bowers.org.

SONOMA VALLEY - Passport to Sonoma Valley. The charm of Sonoma Valley, California 's Original Wine Country, will be showcased in 40 Sonoma Valley Wineries presenting over 200 exceptional wines, gourmet food pairings and entertainment. Your passport and commemorative wine glass give you unlimited tastings, discounts on wine purchases and entry to Sonoma Valley 's acclaimed wineries and hidden gems not normally open to the public. Time: 11 am to 4 pm daily. Tour one day or the entire weekend. Cost:  Weekend Passport: $50; One-Day Passport: $45/person.  Ticket sales start March 1,  Call: (707) 935-0803. or buy online: sonomavalleywine.com

SUNOL - Toast of Spring on the Wildflower Train. Livermore Valley vintners host wine tasting to during a one hour excursion filled with views of California poppies, lupin and mustard wildflowers seen from a vintage train ride through Niles Canyon. Board at the old Sunol depot and travel part of the historic route of the first transcontinental railroad. The one-hour round-trip excursion is about 14 miles. Suggested donation for regular trips: $10 (this event may cost more, call for details). Sunol Station, 6 Kilkare Rd., Sunol, CA Call: (925) 862-9063. ncry.org

TOPANGA - Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest and Folk Festival. Location: Paramount Ranch, Topanga, CA. Tickets: $10 - 15. Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. topangabanjofiddle.org

WOODSIDE - Djerassi Sculpture Tour - Free tours of sculptures in a wooded mountain area last 2.5 hours and are strenuous in terrain. Time: 10 a.m. Location: Djerassi Resident Artists Program, 2325 Bear Gulch Road, Woodside, CA 94062. Pre-registration required. Call: (650) 747-1250 djerassi.org

May 17 < May 18 > May 19

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