Sunday

COSTA MESA - Free Train Rides. Orange County Model Engineers club operates 1/8th scale trains in Fairview Park that the public are invited to watch and ride. The 12 minute journey includes a trip around the park, picnic tables for parties and a gift shop with train and logo related items for children and adults. Time: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

IRVINE - So... You Wanna Dance! - Imagination Celebration 2009. Jennifer Backhaus and Backhausdance take you on a behind the scenes peek at the world of dance with different styles of dance. Learn how dancers train and prepare for an audition. Audience participants will be chosen to come onstage and learn a portion of a new dance and work with the professional company. Time: 2 p.m. Cost: $8/person. Location: Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine CA. Call: (949) 854-4646. thebarclay.org

LEMOORE -  Central Valley Pizza Festival. 9th 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

LONG BEACH - Giuseppe Verde's Requiem on Stage. 75-piece symphony orchestra and 125 singers perform this classical work. Time: 4 p.m. Cost: $25. Location: Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach, CA. Call: (562) 985-7000. carpenterarts.org

LONG BEACH - Grand Prix Car Racing. One of the most exciting California car races hits the streets of downtown Long Beach for celebrity races, professional drivers, cool bands, great food, and the smell of rubber tracks laid down in this event filled with four days of automotive fun sponsored by Toyota.

MALIBU - Magician David Minkin Magic & Wine Tasting - Evening of Enchantment. Magician to the stars, David Minkin performs. You've seen him on television shows such as American Idol, and this world class illusionist has a fan base that includes Fonda, Depp and Reiner. Join him at Beau Rivage in Malibu for an evening to remember with his performance and fine wines. Hors d’oeuvres and a tasting of four Rosenthal - The Malibu Estate wines from a winery winning numerous awards of excellence, will be served during the first hour of an “Evening of Enchantment” show. Time: 5 p.m. Cost: $85. Location: Beau Rivage, 26025 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265. 1- 800- 595-4849.  davidminkin.com 

MALIBU - 13th Annual Whale Festival. Celebration the annual migration of the California gray whale and its successful return from the brink of extinction, the event includes experienced naturalists on hand to spot bottlenose dolphins and gray whale seen from the beach, where live entertainment, environmental conservation booths, arts & crafts for kids, music, food and activities all greet guests. The public is invited to attend this event sponsored by Santa Monica Mountains Natural History Association. Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: Free, $10 parking. Location: Leo Carrilo State Park, 35000 West Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA. Call: (805) 488-1827 x 106. malibuinterp.com

MENLO PARK -  Sidewalk Fine Arts Festival. 27th Annual Art event invites the public to join in. Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Santa Cruz Avenue at El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA. Call: (209) 267-4394. pacificfinearts.com

PARADISE - Gold Nugget Days. Commemorates 1859 discovery of a 54-pound gold nugget. Historical Queen Contest, old fashioned melodrama, arts & crafts fair, parade, donkey derby, costumed ball, and many fun activities will be in store for attendees. Location: Paradise, CA. Call: (530) 872-8722. goldnuggetmuseum.com

PETALUMA - Spring Tea. 7th annual event includes food, refreshment, and auction of gift items. Time: 1 to 3 p.m. Tickets: $25 each. Location: Wedgewood Banquet Center at the Foxtail Golf Club at 100 Golf Course Drive in Rohnert Park, CA.  To reserve your ticket, please email: pmcspringtea@gmail.com or phone: 707-347-6697. petalumamothersclub.org.

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

RIVERSIDE - AVP Volleyball Tournament. Launching the California tournaments with Olympic favorites such as Misty May Trainor and Kerri Walsh, this event brings top volleyball athletes to Riverside for 3 days through April 19. Time:  Day Session - 10:00 am to 5:15 p.m.; Night Session - 7:30 pm to 10:30 p.m. Cost: $20 general; $40 courtside; $10 kid.  Location: Downtown Riverside, 3300 Market St., Riverside, CA. avp.com

SAN DIEGO - Day at the Docks. The Port of San Diego’s 30th annual event , Day at the Docks®, celebrates the beginning of Southern California's spring saltwater fishing season with open house on many of the 70 renowned, modernized Sportfishers, one of the largest, most modern fleets to be found anywhere in the world. Skilled sportfishing Captains will be aboard their vessels sharing their vast fishing knowledge and discussing their perspectives and schedules for the upcoming season. Throughout the festival, the industry’s leading manufacturers will display the latest in fishing tackle; antique tackle collections and historical displays highlight innovations which have been developed during the evolution of sportfishing; and a Kids Fishing Adventure will be held. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Kids Adventure 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: Free. Location: San Diego Sportfishing Landings, Harbor Drive and Scott Streets in Point Loma, San Diego, CA. sportsfishing.org

SAN DIEGO - Multi Cultural Earth Day. 20th annual event includes The Meditations, one of the most highly regarded harmony trios, plus Health & Sustainability Workshop, world music, dance, world marketplace and speakers. Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: Free. Location: WorldBeat Cultural Center (Outdoor lawn area at Balboa Park), 2100 Park Blvd. San Diego, CA. Call: (619) 230-1190. worldbeatcenter.org

SANTA BARBARA - Earth Day Celebrates Green. So popular is the event where Earth Day began, that it is moving to Alameda Park in downtown SB. Time:  Time: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Cost: Free admission.  Location: 1400 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara, CA. SBEarthDay.org.

SANTA ROSA - Santa Rosa Symphony: Soviet Titans. Khachaturian's Three Pieces from Gayane; Miaskovsky's Cello Concerto; and Prokofiev's Selections from the ballet Cinderella include violinist Gary Hoffman.  Time: 3 p.m. Cost: $27 - 50. Location: Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa, CA.  Call: (707) 546-3600. wellsfargocenterarts.org

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

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.  medievalfantasyfestival.com.

WESTMINSTER - Circus Vargas. Amazing acts under the big tent offer fun entertainment for all ages. Circus Vargas appears in Westminster through Apr. 27, then moves to Orange, CA. Time: 1:30; 4:30; 7:30 p.m. Location: Westminster Mall, 1025 Westminster Mall,  Westminster, CA 92683. Call: circusvargas.org

 Apr  18 < April 20

 2010