FEBRUARY 20, 2016

Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park: Spectacular Full Moon Snowshoe Tours: Time: 6:30 Beginners Clinic / 7 p.m. Hike Rangers lead Full Moon Snowshoe Tours exploring the natural and cultural history around the Hellman-Ehrman estate and Lake Tahoe shoreline.

 Tijuana Estuary Speaker Series Time: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Recurrence: every 3rd Saturday of the month Location: Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center Questions: 619-575-3613 

Silver Strand State Beach: Junior Rangers Time: 3:30pm-4:30pm Kids age 7 to 12 are invited to these outdoor activities which include walks, presentations, games, investigations, art, and more!

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park: Hides and Tallow at the Santa Cruz Mission. Time: 1 pm Come and see how Mission Santa Cruz participated in a world economy back in the early 1800's. 

Big Basin Redwoods State Park: Winter Wildflower Walk at Big Basin Saturday, February 20 at 10 am Sunday, February 21 at 10 am Winter rains bring a whole new flowering season upon us! Lichens, mosses and many chaparral plants are in bloom.

Fort Ross State Historic Park: Winter Celebration Time: 12-4 p.m.  Warm your hearts and hands during these wintery months at the Fort Ross Winter Celebration. The old style Russian brick oven will be used for baking  at Fort Ross State Historic Park

Sutter's Fort State Historic Park: Hands on History: By Land and By Sea. Offered each month.

Lake Oroville State Recreation Area: Meet at the Visitor Center for Saturday Morning Hikes -- Palermo Canal and the Burp Tube 

Big Basin Redwoods State Park Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walks at 11 am. Two-hour natural history excursions you will explore the plants and animals.

Wilder Ranch State Park: Romance on the Rancho Open House Time:11 am to 3 pm. Life in California before the Gold Rush wasn't all-Zorro, all-the-time, but it did have its share of romantic charm and excitement.  Castro Adobe

FEBRUARY 21, 2016

Big Basin Redwoods State Park: Mushroom Hunt Time: 11 am and Sunday, February 28 at 11 am. Big Basin is home to many different species of fungi. Some look like our traditional pizza mushrooms, but others are wild.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park Winter Wildflower Walk Saturday, February 20 at 10 am Sunday, February 21 at 10 am. Winter rains bring a whole new flowering season upon us! Lichens, mosses and many chaparral plants are in bloom.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park The Road Less Traveled   Dog-Friendly Walk on Sunday, February 21 at 10:30 am Sunday, February 28 at 10:30 am. This dog, stroller and wheelchair friendly walk travel son North Escape Road, a paved road closed to traffic.

San Diego Silver Strand State Beach – Nature Walk Time: 1:30pm-2:30pm During this 1-hour walking tour, you'll look for animals and plants in various habitats of the state beach, using binoculars and hand lenses to aid in discovery. 

 Tijuana Estuary - Bird Walk - Every 1st, and 3rd Sunday 3- 4:00pm. Take a leisurely stroll down the McCoy Trail and view and learn about some of the 370 species of birds that live or stop by this Reserve on their yearly migration.

Carlsbad State Beach: Guided Tide Pool Exploration  - Explore reef tide pools with a naturalist guide from California State Parks. Meet at 2:00pm below the concrete stairs at Cerezo Dr and Carlsbad Blvd.

PAST EVENTS

HALF MOON BAY: 150th Coastal Wildflower Day. April  10:00a.m.- 4:30pm Location: Half Moon Bay State Beach, 95 Kelly Avenue, Half Moon Bay, CA. Description Celebrate spring with fun activities for all ages! Tour the native plant garden and nursery. Get native plants and seeds for your garden, and help Park Champions restore native habitat. Enjoy games for the kids as we commemorate 150 years of California State Parks with the exciting history exhibit. http://coastsidestateparks.org/ or email charris@coastsidestateparks.org

OROVILLE: Bidwell Bar Day. May  12- 4pm Location: Lake Oroville State Recreation Area, Oroville, CA. Description Learn about California's boomtown gold rush heritage with family activities hosted by costumed living history pioneers. Rip-roaring fun for young and old includes gold panning, pioneer crafts, and a melodrama at the historic Bidwell Bar Bridge and Toll House. The event highlights State Parks' 150th anniversary commemoration. Participants may be photographed with old photos and maps of Yosemite Valley, our first official state park! Location: Bidwell Canyon Campground from noon to 4 PM. For more information, call (530) 538-2219.

BOULDER CREEK: Mother's Day Event. May   Location: Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Big Basin Highway, Boulder Creek, CA. Description Celebrate Mother's Day in the park by honoring the spirited women who lived in, worked in and fought for the Basin throughout its long history. As we commemorate the 150th anniversary of California State Parks, we honor Big Basin, which is our oldest state park. Meet at 1 pm for this half-mile trailside reenactment telling the stories of the brave pioneer homemaker Alice Maddock, Josephine McCrackin, the savior of the redwoods”, and Harriet Petey” Weaver, the first female ranger. Meet at Park Headquarters at 1:00 pm. The park is located 9 miles from Boulder Creek on Hwy 236 at 21600 Big Basin Way. Day use parking fee is $10.00. For more information, call (831) 338-8883 or check the State Parks website at: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=855

EARLIMART: Old Time Jubilee.   10a.m.- 4pm Location: Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, Grant Drive, Earlimart, CA. Description This is the time of year. the carnival came to Allensworth.The Friends of Allensworth provides a great family festival atmosphere with entertainment featuring gospel, jazz, and drama. Children's activities and historic building tours too! Talk with pioneers and their heirs. Enjoy the exhibit featuring the 150th anniversary of California State Parks while you explore the open air arts and crafts market and try some of the best varieties of ethnic food in the country! For more information, check our web page at: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=583

MORGAN HILL: Ranch Day.  10a.m.- 3pm Location: Henry W. Coe State Park, Morgan Hill, CA. Description Bring the family and learn about Ranch Life in the 1800s. You can pet farm animals and meet mini horses! There will be lots of crafts and exhibits and a hot dog lunch for $3.00. This exciting event also features the 150th anniversary of California State Parks with an educational display. Meet at the Hunting Hollow entrance. The parking lot is located on the southwest edge of the park. For more information, call (408) 683-2247. The Pine Ridge Association, a long-time partner with State Parks, hosts this event. For more information, check our web page at: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=561

JACKSON: Diggin's Tent Town 1852. Thu, May 29, 10a.m.- June 1, 2014, 4 p.m. Location: Columbia State Historic Park, Jackson Street, Columbia, CA. Description In commemoration of State Parks' 150 Anniversary, Columbia State Historic Park will present Diggins Tent Town 1852”, their annual living history event this coming May 29th through June 1. Sponsored by Friends of Columbia and Columbia State Historic Park and depicted by over 150 costumed volunteers, visitors can experience the events and environment of an 1850's mining camp that is re-created in detail from the clothing, food and entertainment to the powerful stories of the early miners as they struggled to strike it rich.” Meet the merchants, artisans and entertainers who have come to the Diggins to mine the miners' pockets.” Interact and observe the lifestyles of the early miners as they prepare their meals, launder their clothing and care for gardens and livestock. Learn about their crafts, how their children played, their music and other forms of entertainment – including gambling! Open from 10AM to 4PM daily, admission to Columbia Diggins 1852” is $5 per adult and $1 per child 12 and under. There is no charge for parking and admission to the park. For more information call (209) 588-9128 or check the State Parks website at: SHP http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=552

JAMESTOWN: Singing Rails Railroad Music Festival.   Location: Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, Jamestown, CA. Description In the words of Woodie Guthrie, This Land is Your Land”! Railtown is an example of one of many historic parks preserved for posterity for the people, by the people just like those early park visionaries did 150 years ago in 1864. Celebrate the park preservation movement and the music of Woody Guthrie at this exciting music festival with a railroad themed folk music contest against the backdrop of steam train rides, followed by an evening concert featuring The Wailing Woodies in a Woody Guthrie Review. For tickets or information, call (209) 984-3953 or http://www.railtown1897.org/events-and-exhibits

MENDOCINO: 105th Anniversary of Point Cabrillo Light Station.  10 a.m.- 4pm Location: Point Cabrillo Lighthouse State Historic Park, Mendocino, CA. Description Celebrate the 105th Anniversary of the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse by touring the lantern room and the beautifully restored operational Third Order Fresnel Lens. These tours are offered only eight days each year. The event is from 10-4 and guided tours are courtesy of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. As we celebrate the 105th anniversary of the Light Station, see an exhibit on our 150th Anniversary of California State Parks. For more information, call (707) 937-6122 or check the State Parks website at: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22276

HOLLISTER: Summer Solstice Event. Jun 21, 2014 Location: Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area, Cienega Road, Hollister, CA. Description Join the fun in our commemoration of 150 years of California State Parks and the beginning of summer at Hollister Hills SVRA. Experience a bonfire, music, children's crafts, games and programs that highlight the summer solstice and the history of Hollister Hills and California State Parks. It will be fun for the whole family. The highlight of the event will be the summer solstice OHV parade Location: off-highway vehicles can participate by decorating their vehicles to commemorate 150 years of California State Parks as well as the longest day of the year! For more information, call (831) 636-2065 or check the State Park website at: http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1179

SANTA CRUZ: Life on the Ranch: 1864 Living History Day. Fri, July 4, 2014, 11a.m.- 3pm Location: Wilder Ranch State Park, Coast Road, Santa Cruz, CA. Description In honor of 150 years of California State Parks, Wilder Ranch invites you to experience hands-on activities from 1864! Activities abound during this exciting event with butter churning, ice cream making, cooking, roping skills, wagon rides, and much more old fashioned fun for the entire family! Day-use parking is $10.00. For more information, please call (831) 426-0505 or check the State Park website at: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=549

SAN DIEGO: Stagecoach Days, Women of the West Quilt Walk. July 19, 2014, 12- 4 p.m. Location: Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, Wallace Street, San Diego, CA. Description Step back in time to the Women in the West event! Stagecoach Days are each Saturday in July and August. This event honors women who did the chores to keep life going during the times. life was hard and so were chores! Making quilts was an enjoyable pastime, with the result being a beautiful piece of art that kept everyone warm! Park staff plan to commemorate the 150th anniversary of California State Parks by hosting a quilt show. Quilts will be hung throughout Old Town in seven house museums. Join the fun to see historic and contemporary quilts sewn by talented women from then and now. Check out the events flyer at: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=663

POINT SUR: Point Sur Anniversary Open House. Friday, Aug 1, 2014 Location: Point Sur State Historic Park. Description Point Sur SHP will be celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the building of the light station. The event will be an open house Location: visitors can visit the restored buildings. At the barn they will be able to make shell frames. Children will learn how to raise and fold the American flag at the flagpole and play period games. A docent dressed as a Lighthouse Keeper will show visitors the light station and another will demonstrate blacksmithing at the Carpenter/Blacksmith Shop. Visitors will be treated to a homemade cookie by the Lighthouse Keeper's wife in the kitchen of the Headkeeper's House. Then they will tour the recently restored rooms. A van will bring visitors up the hill for the event. To learn more about Point Sur State Historic Park, visit: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=565menu-link

RED BLUFF: Adobe Day. August 16, 2014, 12- 4 p.m. Location: William B Ide Adobe State Historic Park, Adobe Road, Red Bluff, CA. Description Join in the fun at this annual event highlighting pioneer living in this lovely park along the Sacramento River. Try your hand at pioneer crafts such as candle dipping, making corn husk dolls, schooling, and watch the blacksmith make you your own nail ring! You can even dance to old time live music by the Ide Adobe Players. As we commemorate 150 years of California State Parks, there will be a special park-inspired quilt show by the Redding Sew-Ciety. These quilts are truly amazing! Call (530) 529-8599 for more information or check the State Park website at: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=458

SACRAMENTO: Park-Inspired Quilt Show. Wed, September 3, 2014, 10 a.m.- September 28, 2014, 5 p.m. Location: Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park, N Street, Sacramento, CA. Description The Stanford Mansion gallery will host a quilt show with park-inspired art quilts created by the Quilter's Sew-Ciety of Redding. To view the quilts, you must come on a free Mansion tour, which is on the hour from 10-4 Wednesdays through Sundays. The Park is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. This quilt show starts September 3 and closes September 28. The quilts are truly works of art and a must-see! For Stanford Mansion information, check the State Park website at: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=489 For more information on how you can participate in our 150th Anniversary online quilt show, check: http://150.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=27534

EARLIMART: Annual Rededication. October 11, 2014, 10a.m.- 4pm Location: Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, Grant Drive, Earlimart, CA. Description As we commemorate 150 years of California State Parks, we also renew our commitment of the citizens of California to help State Parks preserve the history of the ethnically diverse contributions made in the development of this state and our nation. Children can enjoy a history education day with square dancing, two room schoolhouse tours, and games with prizes! Entertainers will be on hand, arts and crafts and food booths too! Look for staff wearing an 1864 Ranger uniform! To learn more, go to: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=583

RANCHO CORDOVA: Visitor Appreciation Day. October 12, 2014, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Location: Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area, Rancho Cordova, CA. Description As we commemorate the 150th anniversary of State Parks, we also honor you, our visitor, at Visitor Appreciation Day! It's Prairie City's day to say thank you to our visitors and also an opportunity to invite those who have never visited the park to experience the many recreational opportunities at Prairie City SVRA. The event features demonstration rides, club displays, and off-highway demonstrations. The 150th anniversary exhibit will be there too. For park event information, go to: http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24068

TEHACHAPI: State Historic Landmark Dedication. October 18, 2014, 12- 3 p.m. Location: Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park, Tehachapi, CA. Description State Parks' 150 anniversary is in 2014 and Tomo Kahni will receive a high honor by being designated a State Historic Landmark. More information soon.

LOMPOC: Founding Day Concert. December 8, 2014, 7- 8:30pm Location: La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, Lompoc, CA. Description Over 500 luminarias lead the way to an evening of candlelight and music commemorating the anniversary of the founding of La Purisima Mission in 1787. Enjoy a musical candlelit performance in the setting of the historic La Purisima Mission church by candlelight with a reception following the concert with complimentary refreshments. Tickets: $6 For more information call (805) 735-2174 or check the State Park website at: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=598

SAN DIEGO: Holiday in the Park. Dec 13, 2014 Location: Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, Wallace Street, San Diego, CA. Description Old Town Park Merchants Association presents a unique holiday open house and shopping opportunities. All of the State Park stores and restaurants will be festively decorated with special holiday treats, activities, caroling and extended shopping hours. The 150th Anniversary exhibit will be displayed for those interested in this important year for State Parks. For a complete events listing, go to: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=663

RANCHO CORDOVA: Prairie City Headlight Festival. December 13, 2014, 5- 7pm Location: Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area, Rancho Cordova, CA. Description The Headlight Festival gives visitors an opportunity to experience recreating at Prairie City SVRA after dark. Visitors are encouraged to decorate their vehicles and exciting activities include Headlight Festival ride, best decorated vehicle contest, and a campfire program. The 150th anniversary exhibit will be up to learn the facinating history of State Parks! As part of this event, we are collecting canned food donations for the local food bank. Come out and enjoy off-highway recreation in a whole new light, in the dark. For park event information, check the website, http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24068