Plan your weekend getaway around these two amazing September events
Our local happenings are often restricted to Solano, Napa and Contra Costa counties. However, we live in an amazing place that’s relatively close to some of the best attractions the world has to offer! Why not take advantage? If you’re looking to expand your happening horizons, we found two events in neighboring Nevada happening on the same September weekend! Did someone say mini vacay?
57th Annual International Camel & Ostrich Races
Traditions are often based on history. Such is not the case for the camel races in Virginia City, Nevada. Sure, camels had a brief Virginia City presence in the mining days of the late 1800s, but they didn’t get along too well with the horses, so, bye camels! The camel chronicles didn’t officially begin until 1961 when a farcical newspaper article was written by the editor of the Territorial Enterprise, who thought it’d be funny to announce an upcoming camel race down the city streets—a precursor to The Onion, indeed. Once word got out to the San Francisco Chronicle, they decided to call their bluff and bring camels from the local zoo. And now? You can attend the 57th Annual International Camel & Ostrich Races in Virginia City, September 9-11th.
“There’s not too many places where you’re going to watch this type of entertainment,” said Deny Dotson, Tourism Director for Virginia City. “People don’t realize how much fun and how quirky it is. It’s very unique.” If you disagree, please write to us and let us know how many times you’ve seen people race camels, ostriches and zebras (yes, zebras) all in one day, with a mariachi band playing in the background, in such a historic setting at that of Virginia City. “People just kinda scratch their head,” Dotson laughed. “Mariachi, camels, ostriches, Virginia City … I don’t get all this … Whatever! People are laughing, having a good time.” And that’s really all that matters. (Note: they had a mariachi band last year, entertainment options this year may vary.)
Before we go any further, Dotson assures us that all the animals are very well taken care of. “The handlers are some of the best in the country,” he said. “The animals are in superb condition. We provide shade, we provide feed, and they don’t race more than once a day.” One race and they’re done for the day? Not a bad gig indeed. And, just in case, there is a veterinarian on call as an extra safety precaution.
Dotson attests from experience that camels are fun to ride and says the experience is much like riding a horse. Ostriches, however … “that’s a different story,” he said. “They’re just so unpredictable. They’re no match for anyone who wants to get on them! They just spin ‘em right off.” He laughed. “That’s what makes the entertainment value so much fun.” There’s plenty of fun attractions for kids as well, including chicken chasing, rock climbing and trampolines!
Select individuals do get an opportunity to race a camel. A surefire way to do so is to become a sponsor! Or be a kid. Dolan Auto Group, the presenting sponsor of the event, will also be sponsoring the first 100 kids (on Sunday only!) to ride a camel for free. Plus there’s a daily raffle where, for $5, one lucky person gets to ride! All amateur camel racers are required to take an on-the-spot training course before mounting their mighty camel steed.
While this event spans over three days, Dotson informs us that there won’t be much of a day-to-day difference, so if you attend the races one day, you can spend the rest of your weekend exploring Virginia City! They have some very unique lodging opportunities such as staying in a “haunted room” at the Silver Queen Hotel or enjoy the 1860’s vibe of Edith Palmer’s Country Inn where Marilyn Monroe stayed while filming The Misfits.
With plenty to see and do in Virginia City, the 57th Annual Camel & Ostrich Races is the icing on the cake. As Dotson says, “It’s just something that everybody should have on their bucket list.” For more information head to visitvirginiacitynv.com or call 1-800-718-SLVR.
35th Anniversary of The Great Reno Balloon Race
Fact: most of us have experienced far more sunsets than sunrises. But they say the early bird gets the worm, so, if you’re up early enough on the mornings of September 9th, 10th or 11th and just so happen to be near Rancho San Rafael Regional Park just a few miles north of Reno, Nevada, the early bird gets to witness the 35th anniversary of the phenomenal spectacle that is The Great Reno Balloon Race.
“You’ve never seen anything like it,” said Pete Copeland, Executive Director for The Great Reno Balloon Race. “There’s nothing more beautiful.” And he’s right! There actually is nothing quite like it as, sure, there are other hot air balloon events, but there is none to be found on this scale that is also—for free! “I get many comments from other event directors about when we’re going to start charging,” said Copeland. “But that’s not going to happen with us. We’re going to stick to our identity and keep this thing free.”
This is, in fact, the largest free hot-air ballooning event in the world. The world! And it’s practically right next door to us … Most ballooning events have about 30-40 hot air balloons, and they’ll charge you admission! Thanks to more than 75 generous sponsors of the event, you can see upwards of 100 balloons floating in Nevada for free. Plus, the top 10 finalists of the race get to split a prize purse of $11,000! So you can expect some serious competition.
As you can imagine a hot air balloon “race” would probably result in a tie as they can only go as fast as the wind. So instead, pilots are allotted one bean bag per day that they are to fling toward a target on the grounds of the park. After three days the scores are tallied up and the winner is chosen based on who had the most accurate aim while maneuvering their balloon as close to the target as possible.
Despite 35 years of tradition there will still be some surprises in store! As well as some fan favorites like the Smokey the Bear balloon. Last year you may have noticed an Elvis-shaped balloon, this year you can look for a super secret balloon inspired by a hit gaming app that has to do with birds … that are angry …
Expect some pretty amazing photo opportunities. In fact, the imagery here is so picturesque that last year, Sony came out to take some footage of the event. Now, whenever you go to a Best Buy or Costco or any place that sells TVs, if you see hot air balloons on a Sony monitor you’re looking at the vibrant colors of The Great Reno Balloon Race! It’s really quite the spectacle.
Gates open at 3:30 a.m. daily (which is arguably more of a night owl than an early bird event. But hey, an average of 125,000 people attend the event every year, so if they can do it, so can you!). Before the big balloon launch you can witness some pretty incredible precursor events each day, especially the Glow Show and the Dawn Patrol. The Glow Show is a visual display where a bunch of hot air balloons, still static on the ground, are majestically lit up in the dark of night with the lights being choreographed to music (the Super Glow Show, held Friday morning only, will feature up to 30 balloons!). The Dawn Patrol is similar in that the balloons are also lit up against the dark morning sky, but then they float up into the air, beautifully illuminated.
With the exception of the Friday morning Super Glow Show, you’ll see a similar spectacle on all three days, so it’s recommended to come Friday and either Saturday or Sunday. Other draws to the event include shopping along “Balloon Boulevard,” participating in the Biggest Little Pajama Party, and much more. So bring a chair, blanket, even coffee and a lunch if you like, layer up! And don’t forget the camera. For more information visit renoballoon.com or call (775) 829-2987.
SO … here you have two remarkably unique events occurring on the same weekend just a few hours away. Our suggestion? Mark your calendar for September 9-11th! Maybe arrive in Reno on the 8th as you’ll have a (very) early ballooning morning on Friday the 9th. Then check out some silly camel and ostrich racing festivities on Saturday the 12th. Find a cool place to stay and discover a bit more of Virginia City on Sunday the 11th before heading home. If you plan it right you could get the fam back by bedtime! Pretty awesome opportunity here, and we’re pretty proud we thought of it. Seize the days!
Larson is a writer/actor/comedian native to Vallejo who travels back and forth from Los Angeles way too much. He’s desperate for attention and urges you to follow him on all social medias @MarsLegstrong. He lives for likes, please keep him healthy.
A new season for minor league baseball, The Vallejo Admirals
During a hot morning in late April, more than 100 young men made their way to a Vallejo baseball diamond, each waiting patiently in line to audition as a group of local scouts watched on. They were all pining for a shot to play for the Pacific Association of Baseball Clubs, an independent league based in California that offers its players an average salary of about $600 a month. There are only four teams in the league: The Sonoma Stompers, the San Rafael Pacifics, the Pittsburg Diamonds, and the Vallejo Admirals. Besides that, only a small handful of spots were open. Each who auditioned had to know that their chances of making a team were around 10 percent, or less.
But they still turned out and, as a matter of fact, hundreds of players from all over the world have flocked to the Pacific Association in recent years, including a few former major leaguers. Many who come to play are hoping for a chance to make it to “the show,” but a lot are simply doing it for the love of the game.
“If you love baseball, you don’t play it for the money; it’s something that’s played with your heart,” newly appointed Admirals Manager Mike Samuels said. “Willie Mays told me he wouldn’t pay players a million dollars. I asked him why, and he said, ‘Because if you’re playing baseball for the money, you should be doing something else.’”
The 2016 Admirals season began on May 31, and will end August 28. Due to the small size of the league each season is broken into halves and the leaders from each half compete during a championship game at the end. Those familiar with the league say the skill level is comparable to Double-A minor league baseball, and some former league players have been drafted into affiliate ball.
“Even for us working in the front office or things like that—I’m in it to climb the levels of broadcasting and media relations,” Admirals broadcaster and media relations director Tim Fitzgerald said. “We’re all in it to start that path, to start in rookie ball and work your way up.”
In the olden days, before Major League Baseball came here, California was a hub for independent baseball leagues year-round, with long-forgotten team names like the San Francisco Seals, the Oakland Oaks, or the Sacramento Solons. Many who played for those teams went on to become major leaguers, while others retired and spent their days plowing farms or forming their own mom and pop shops. There was even a winter league in Southern California that became the first in the nation to be integrated (and ended the same year Jackie Robinson made his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers). But nowadays, only a handful of independent leagues exist around the country.
Going into this season, the Admirals’ front office was optimistic of the team’s chances of putting up a winning record. They’ve ramped up their scouting efforts, even traveling as far as Florida to snag players from Major League Spring Training, and re-signing key players from last year.
“We’re evolving in everything we do,” owner (and local real estate agent) Kevin Reilly said.
They’ve also been stepping up their sponsorship game, and as Reilly pointed out, “If you’re clever, you won’t ever have to buy a ticket.” That’s because the Admirals front office has handed out hundreds of tickets to local sponsors, like Gracie’s restaurant, the Mare Island Dry Dock, Sprankles Village Deli in Benicia, and Gentleman Jim’s Sports Bar to name a few. Generally, customers of Admirals sponsors who ask for free tickets will get them, so any baseball fans that happen to traverse those places in the next couple weeks, don’t forget!
The Admirals are coming off a year that saw them finish last place in the league with a 25-53 record, but the year had a few highlights. Among them, the Admirals completed the season with a victory against former Oakland A’s slugger Jose Canseco, who took the mound that day as a starting pitcher for the Diamonds. Coincidentally, the Diamonds also signed former A’s 2nd baseman Tony Phillips (who has since passed away) last year, and he played what turned out to be his last game as a pro ball player against the Admirals at Wilson Park.
During the offseason, Reilly took full ownership of the team following a public fallout involving former owner Kathy Beistel. He has since made a number of offseason changes, including hiring Samuels — an Admirals coach since 2013 — to replace last year’s manger, Garry Templeton II. Samuels, a former Reds prospect, has been involved in Solano County baseball for decades. He’s a colorful character whose passion for baseball and competitive spirit shine through.
“I don’t go on baseball fields to lose, and I don’t put guys on the field who are gonna embarrass me,” Samuels said. “If I see a ballplayer, I wanna know that guy can get on the field with me.”
The Admirals are also bringing more to the off-field aspect of the game. They’ve acquired a hot dog warmer that was used for years in Candlestick Park and they’re stepping up the between-innings entertainment, with public calls for local acts to audition and with plans to set up an entertainment stage behind the visitors’ dugout at Vallejo’s Wilson Park (the Admirals Home). They’ll also have discounts available on Tuesdays, they’re coordinating with Vino Godfather Winery for “Winesday Wednesdays” (where Italian food will be served), and beer promotions for “Thirsty Thursdays,” where they’ll offer sausages and other German selections.
“We want to deliver a sense of value for coming to the ballpark, and we have that with everything we do,” Reilly said. “For five or 10 bucks, we want to give folks a great game, some great food, and then you’re back in your house in five minutes.”
The Admirals will be playing 38 home games in June-August. All home games will be played at Wilson Park, located at 119 Stewart Street in Vallejo.
They are also looking for local talent for between-innings entertainment, so if you’re an entertainer or know someone who is, email Fitzgerald at tfitzgerald@vallejoadmirals.com.
For more information or to buy tickets, call (707) 647-1111 or swing by the Admirals front office at 444 Georgia Street, in downtown Vallejo. It’s open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends. You can also visit www.vallejoadmirals.com .
Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied journalism in college, and has written for a handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and to hit the trifecta at the horse track.
What to expect at the 30th annual Bay Area Storytelling Festival
Storytelling has been around since the dawn of humankind. A bold statement, but it’s probably true. It’s also the most common form of entertainment today, though it’s usually disguised as film, music, dance … stand-up comedy is probably the most recognized form of direct storytelling that we’re used to experiencing. But if what you’re looking for is raw, unadulterated, next-level storytelling, and you live in the Bay Area—you’re in luck.
The 30th Annual Bay Area Storytelling Festival takes place from April 29th through May 1st. It is also, at this writing, slated to be the last, but we’ll get to that later. For years it was held in El Sobrante, then in Point Richmond, and is now being held at the Orinda Community Center as of last year. If you don’t quite know what to expect, a professional storyteller may provide you with an experience you’ll never forget.
“The stories often will stay with you,” said Linda Yemoto, a co-chair of the festival who attended the first one as a guest 30 years ago and has remained involved ever since. “The stories will get to your head through your heart. You sort of take it in and think about it; often there’ll be a story that really hits you.”
Experiencing a storyteller is a bit different than other forms of entertainment. “It’s a direct communication,” said Yemoto. “Not like a player performance where there’s a fourth wall, that doesn’t exist in storytelling. What makes it so special is that connection between the teller and the audience.”
Subject matter for these stories comes from as broad a range as Yemoto and her team can find. “When we put our lineup together we’re looking for diversity,” she said. “Diversity in culture, but also diversity in style of storytelling and the types of stories that the tellers tell.” To scout for new talent she’s attended the National Storytelling Festival in Tennessee about every year. Professional storytelling is actually a pretty big deal as there’s also a National Storytelling Conference and a whole circuit of storytellers that are part of the National Storytelling Network organization. Storytellers are touring the country all year round it seems. This particular festival is also a project of the Storytelling Association of California.
“There are people that can make their living as professional storytellers,” said Yemoto. “And they do it so well.” If you’ve never been to such an event before, she adds, “You’ll be blown away at the quality. It’s something that most people don’t expect.”
Upcoming tellers for the 30th anniversary festival include Bil Lepp, an internationally known storyteller and humorist who is a 5-time champion of the West Virginia Liars’ Contest; Antonio Rocha who incorporates the art of mime into his unique storytelling; Elizabeth Ellis who is a veteran family-friendly storyteller with more than 35 years in the game; Eth-Noh-Tec who specializes in “Kinetic Story Theater”, and many more amazing individuals.
Older kids are encouraged to attend, the younger ones may struggle with their attention span as some stories can end up lasting a whole hour. Also, not all of the content is family friendly. “We do have a kids concert on Sunday that we gear toward younger kids,” said Yemoto. “This year on Sunday we’re going to dedicate one of the spaces for family-oriented stories.”
Performing storytellers are booked up far in advance, but if you feel you’ve got what it takes, there will be some opportunities to both hone your technique and put it to the test at the festival. Friday morning you can sign up for a 3-hour workshop led by one of their professionals to help any potential storyteller—from those looking to get their start to those looking to hone their art. There may be some other learning opportunities, but as this is the 30th anniversary festival they’re packing it with as many performances as possible. Plus, watching the experts is a great way to learn any skill, especially if you’re in search of inspiration.
If you feel ready enough for an audience, the festival will have some open mic opportunities! Or as the festival calls them, “Story Swaps,” complete with an emcee and all. You can sign up to tell stories of either 5 or 10 minutes and maybe get yourself started on a new career path! Or, ya know, just do it for fun. Signups are done on-site only, not in advanced, and names will be drawn out of a hat. So if this interests you, start getting the wheels churning about what you’d like to share with the world.
If you’ve been attending regularly over the last 30 years, you know how much the Bay Area Storytelling Festival has added to the community. “People who have come for many years have gotten such a broad education in terms of different cultures, different stories and different styles of storytelling,” said Yemoto. “I’m going to miss it…” Which takes us back to the fact that this is slated to be the last Bay Area Storytelling Festival of its kind.
“We made a commitment a couple years ago that we would see the festival to it’s 30th, and let our community know that was going to happen in hopes that if people were interested, they would step up and take it over,” said Yemoto. At this point nobody has done that, so with a heavy heart, she and her team are planning to make this last festival the best one ever. “I know people are going to miss it,” she said, but they’ll never forget it. “Some of what they’ve gotten over the years will just stay with them forever.”
To get tickets, to get involved, to inquire about taking the reins for next year, call (510) 869-4946 or visit www.bayareastorytelling.org. Last year’s event pretty much sold out, so get your tickets soon! Happy listening.
Matt Larson is a writer/actor/comedian native to Vallejo who travels back and forth from Los Angeles way too much. He’s desperate for attention and urges you to follow him on all social medias @MarsLegstrong. He lives for likes, please keep him healthy.
The year’s end is here again and the holidays are upon us once more. Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are but a few celebrations in the month but December is also the winter solstice. Man has been marking the first day of winter (the point when the days’ start getting longer, not shorter) long before the birth of Jesus and even before the events that led to the Festival of Lights in the Jewish religion. Many other events have sprung up as well such as Newtonmas (for Atheists) and Festivus (for the rest of us) so that everyone, regardless of religion, can celebrate something this month, which is not a bad thing! Whatever you happen to celebrate, it is great that you are celebrating and spending time with your family and/or friends. We think it’s an excellent time to raise your glass in cheer and to savor why we are alive—something that we should do throughout the year as well.
Christmas, as we know it today, marks the day of Jesus’ birth, but the rest of the reasons for the traditions of the holiday have been lost by many. Christmas trees, for example, were a German tradition that didn’t really make its way to our shores until the 1830’s. I think many would be surprised to learn that the early Puritans in New England thought of things like Christmas carols and decorated trees as a mockery of a very sacred event. People were fined for even hanging decorations at that time. It wasn’t until the mid- to late-19th century when the practice of decorated trees even gained popular acceptance here, not even 200 years ago.
The term Yuletide, or Yule, is more Germanic or Norse in origin, and it’s actually more closely related to paganism than Christianity. While there was, in fact, a Saint Nicholas, a Greek Christian bishop from Myra who famously gave presents, many of us would not recognize him as the Santa Clause we know today. The Santa we know is seemingly closely tied to Germanic Yule traditions and legends than Christianity. The figure we recognize today was more a figment of the advertising staff of the Coca-Cola Company in the 1930’s, and then from traditional texts and legends. Mistletoe was used by Druid priests for what they felt was its magical properties, in their winter celebrations hundreds of years before the birth of Christ as well. Poinsettias are actually native to Mexico and South America and their red ‘flowers’ are really leaves of the plant. Its association with Christmas began in the 16th century with a story of a young girl too poor to bring a Christmas offering to church. Candy canes and Christmas cards also did not appear until the mid-19th century.
Hanukkah is a much older celebration which marks the successful Jewish (second century B.C.) Maccabean revolt for religious freedom and their rededication of their Holy temple afterwards. The Festival of Lights, as it is also known, begins on the 25th day of Kislev (which is the ninth month on the Hebrew calendar) and that date may fall from late November to Late December on our Gregorian calendar. The celebration last for 8 days because after the original revolt they could only find one small jug of oil that was uncontaminated, expected to be only enough to light their sacred lamp of the temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil sustained the lamp for 8 days, until more could be secured. The menorah and the festival today represent those 8 days the lamp burned.
Kwanzaa, which is celebrated from December 26 to January 1, is a California creation from the mid 1960’s. Maulana Karenga, a professor at Cal State Long Beach at the time, is credited with its creation to celebrate and remember the African-American culture. It is also marked with gift giving and a traditional feast much as Christmas is. While originally created as an alternative to Christmas, many now celebrate both.
Sir Isaac Newton’s birthday is on December 25th as well, albeit on the Julian Calendar. Atheists invoke this man of science’s name when they created Newtonmas (also celebrated on December 25) to give them an alternate to Christmas. We think they just wanted to get in on party without feeling they were supportive of religion.
Those fans of Seinfeld will also recognize Festivus: “A Festivus for the rest of us!” This was a tradition created by the family of one of the show’s writers, and entered popular culture via the show. It has now caught on more as a parody of the commercialism of Christmas but how can you not like an event that features both feats of strength AND the airing of grievances?!
Many other nationalities and religions celebrate holy days and festivals during the month of December. We would encourage you to do the same. Embrace the traditions of your family or friends or create new ones to celebrate. We at Local Happenings are big fans of both family and friends and they play a significant part in our lives. We would hope that all of you have someone, or a group of someone’s, consisting of family and friends that you gather together with to celebrate … something. The point of this little story is not to tell you what to celebrate but to show you that men and women have been celebrating for thousands of years in the month we now know as December, and those celebrations and traditions have changed over time to be what they are today. Enjoy the month with your celebration of choice. Cheers!
Robert Briseño – Likes to celebrate Christmas and all the holidays with his wife, his three wonderful children and as many of his family & friends as possible and hopes that he will be able to do so for decades to come.
Visions of Sugar Plums from Artistic Director Margaret Kenrick
In 2007, my husband asked me, “Why Nutcracker?” I had to figure out a way to convince him our mission was not impossible as we launched into our new roles at Benicia Ballet Theatre. I put my entire family on the plane to Seattle to see Pacific Northwest Ballet’s beautiful Nutcracker choreographed by Kent Stowell, designs by Maurice Sendak. I had performed this many times with excitement. I even had the honor of meeting Sendak during our filming of the production. I knew Where the Wild Things Are by heart but was speechless when I met the great author. At the performance my husband sat quietly and my daughter watched intently. My son fell asleep on my shoulder, but he was only five years of age. My husband walked out and said, “Ok. I get it. That was amazing.” He has been our stage manager ever since.
Now my son is taller than me and performs the role of Nutcracker. He stays awake these days. My daughter jumps on a plane herself from UCLA to get back in time. My former students are now faculty members who urge me on to bring new life to each production. We create the dance from the dancer. Nutcracker is about family, dreams, movement, and bringing art to life. It is my pleasure to bring it to our community as the artistic director.
Benicia Ballet Theatre (BBT) is proud to announce its 25th Anniversary Production of The Nutcracker Ballet, with Live Orchestra! Please join us in celebrating this achievement on December 5 and 6, 2015 at the Downtown Theatre in Fairfield.
Margaret Rose Kenrick is beginning her ninth year as the Artistic Director of BBT and is committed to the continued growth of the arts and health education in Benicia. Margaret has been dancing since the young age of 4 and professionally performed with Pacific Northwest Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, traveling throughout the United States and appearing in major cultural venues, including the Kennedy Center, Washington D.C. Ms. Kenrick appeared in the Nutcracker movie, released by Atlantic Productions in 1987, and made her first guest appearance as the Sugar Plum Fairy for Redlands Festival Ballet. After completing a BA from UCLA and an MA from UC Riverside in biological sciences she moved to the Bay Area. Her 21 years in research in the biotech industry included multiple areas of disease progression and drug development for Xoma Corporation, Berlex Biosciences, and Genentech, Inc. Currently she is a biology professor at Los Medanos College and pursuing her doctorate degree in organizational leadership. Mrs. Kenrick has taught, choreographed and performed with Benicia Ballet Theatre, Valley Dance Theatre of Livermore, and the Community Youth Center in Concord. She was awarded two grants by Berlex Biosciences to sponsor volunteer work in this artistic endeavor, including an educational seminar on nutrition for dancers. She has also been supported by Genentech’s generous company match for her donations. BBT is honored to have such a wonderful leader of its company.
For 25 years Benicia Ballet Theatre has been committed to arts education and providing non-discriminatory performance opportunities for local dancers. BBT brings to the stage two high-quality performances for the local North and East Bay communities yearly, in addition to providing outreach programs, a summer dance workshop and scholarships to deserving students in need.
Benicia Ballet Theatre is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your support through tax deductible sponsorships and donations is greatly appreciated. Help us continue our mission by donating today at: www.beniciaballet.org/sponsorship
You are invited to celebrate with us on December 5 & 6, 2015. Help us reach our goal of a sell-out crowd for this special 25th anniversary. There are only three limited-engagement performances this holiday season, so get your tickets today! Tickets are available at: www.downtowntheatre.com
To our community, Benicia Ballet Theatre thanks you for your continued support through donations and attendance of our performances. We look forward to another 25 years of serving you with quality performances. See you at the show!
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Anais in Snow – Photo credit Peter Lichty
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Lauren as doll – Photo credit Peter Lichty
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Luna Evan SugarPlum – Photo credit Peter Lichty
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Miriam as Clara – Photo credit Peter Lichty
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The Nutcracker – Photo credit Peter Lichty
The Visions of the Wild H2O festival returns to downtown Vallejo, Calif. October 15-18. The free festival will celebrate water in all of its dimensions: human and environmental needs, maritime history, recreation, and beauty. The U.S. Forest Service, along with many partners, is sponsoring the festival, which will feature films, field trips, speakers, and art exhibits.
“The U.S. Forest Service is delighted to once again partner with the community to host this exciting and important festival,” said Steve Dunsky – a representative from the agency who is heavily involved in the festival. “Restoring California’s watersheds is perhaps the most critical part of Forest Service’s mission, particularly in this time of drought and warming climate.”
Visions of the Wild H2O celebrates the role water has played in the Vallejo community’s and watershed’s history as well as the changing relationship with water use in light drought conditions.
The festival is a partnership among conservation and arts organizations, local governments and businesses. “The artists and merchants are adding their creativity to make this a spectacular, vibrant regional celebration,” said Susan McDonald, board member with the Vallejo Community Arts Foundation.
“Whether kayaking at Vallejo’s Lake Chabot, viewing the beavers in Napa, checking out the Science Discovery Lab at Rush Ranch, or helping to restore native vegetation along Blue Rock Springs Creek, Visions of the Wild H20 is here to connect us with our often invisible, yet ever present watershed,” said Doug Darling from the Vallejo Watershed Alliance. “There is something for everyone in this festival.”
For more information about the festival including a schedule of events visit: www.visionsofthewild.org
