Corn harvesting, cider pressing, train rides and live music will take place during the Harvest Festival on October 10 from 10am-4pm at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont. 8-9.
Visitors will be able to pick flint ears of corn or popcorn and take home some of the harvest (with a bag of corn). Historical crafts will be for sale. The farm’s narrow-gauge train will run, and the farm’s restored 19th-century Paterson House will be open for tours.
Tickets to the event are $10 per adult, $8 for seniors 62 and older, and $6 for children 4-17. Parking is free and children 3 and under are admitted. You can purchase advance tickets by calling 888-327-2757 and selecting option 2, and online sales will end Friday. Advance tickets are non-refundable.
Ardenwood Historic Farm at 34600 Ardenwood Blvd brings life back to life on a thriving 19th century agricultural estate. In Fremont, just north of Hwy 84. For festival information, call 510-544-2797 or email awvisit@ebparks.org.
Sunor: Now that fall has officially begun, there are many other activities planned for the regional park. For example, you can drop by the newly remodeled Visitor Center in the Sunol Regional Wilderness anytime Saturday from 9am to 3pm, pick up an activity sheet and start a self-guided scavenger hunt in the park.
While you’re at the park, stop at the Ohlone Cultures Table to learn about the cultural history of the Native Americans who formerly lived in the park now.Also on Saturdays, you can join naturalist Kristina Parkison to learn and play some Ohlone games on the 1-2pm show
Sunol is the gateway to thousands of acres of remote and wild open space in southern Alameda County. The park is located at the end of Geary Road, near Calaveras Road, about 5 miles south of Interstate 680 and the town of Sunol. These programs are free, but there is a $5 parking fee per vehicle. For information, please call 510-544-3243.
Castro Valley: You can also take a Saturday walk with naturalist Michael Charnofsky at Lake Chabot Regional Park in the Castro Valley this weekend from 9:30 am to 11:45 am. Meet Michael at the Chabot Staging Area on Saturday morning for a moderate hike of 3.5 miles, ending with a great view. The staging area is on Redwood Road a few miles north of town. For information, please call 510-544-3187.
Berkeley: Spiders and scorpions will be the focus of a short walk Saturday from 3 to 4:30 p.m., starting at the Environmental Education Center in the Tilden Natural Area near Berkeley.
Naturalist Trent Pearce will lead the way to discuss how these and other arachnids can benefit the environment. If it rains, the event will be cancelled. The center is located at the northern end of Tilden’s Central Park Avenue. For information, please call 510-544-2233.
Oakley: Moonlight meandering at the Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley on Saturdays from 6:15pm to 7:45pm. Naturalist Misti Marsh will lead the hike on dark trails, watching the moon rise while listening to the screams, hoots, howls and clicks. Bring a flashlight.
There is also a nature-based craft project every Saturday and Sunday in October, from noon to 2pm, led by an interpretive student assistant. Saturday and October theme. 9 is “abundant bat”.
The Big Break Regional Shoreline is located at 69 Big Break Road off Main Street in Oakley. There are no parking fees, and shows are usually free. For information, please call 510-544-3050.
online: There are many other activities planned for the regional park this fall. For the full story, visit ebparks.org/things-to-do online.
Ned MacKay writes about sites and activities in the East Bay Regional Park District. Send an email to nedmackay@comcast.net.