Consider starting your weekend this Saturday by practicing yoga at the Placentia Library, or by volunteering at a native plant nursery in the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.
Heritage Hill Historical Park will also be hosting its annual Rancho Days Fiesta on Saturday, featuring rancho-era exhibits, children’s activities and cultural performances.
On Sunday, older adults are welcome to the Donald Dungan Library to solve puzzles while sampling a variety of pastries in celebration of Older Adults Month.
This is just a handful of the many free events and activities happening throughout Orange County – funded by public tax dollars.
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That same kind of watchdog reporting now fuels a vibrant weekend calendar, choc full of free public services and assets your tax dollars finance.
Here are a few noteworthy free events happening this weekend.
North Orange County
Founders’ Park Open House
Learn about Anaheim’s heritage at the Founders’ Park open house, a one-acre park featuring some of the city’s earliest homes.
When: May 3, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: 400 N. West St., Anaheim, CA 92805
Cost: Free
For more details, contact Founders’ Park at (714) 765-5155
Makerspace Open Hours
Work on a creative project at the Placentia Library’s Hangar Makerspace, featuring various crafting projects.
When: May 3, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: 411 E. Chapman Ave, Placentia CA 92870
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 528-1906
[Read: A Space to Create]
Yoga at the Library
Ages 14 and above are welcome to practice yoga at the Placentia Library.
No registration is required, but space is limited.
When: May 3, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Where: 411 E. Chapman Ave., Placentia CA 92870
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 528-1906
Central Orange County
Visit the Hilbert Museum
Spend time at the Hilbert Museum of California Art, one of the largest collections of California narrative art from from the late 19th century to present day.
Reservations are required, but admission is free.
When: May 3, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: 167 N. Atchison St., Orange, CA 92866
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the museum at (714) 516-5880
Craft Day
Take the kids to enjoy crafting at the University Park Library in Irvine.
When: May 3, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: 4512 Sandburg Way, Irvine, CA 92612
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (949) 786-4001
Play with Legos
Children of all ages are welcome to the Fountain Valley Library to play with Legos.
When: May 3, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: 17635 Los Alamos, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 962-1324
Coastal Orange County
Volunteer at a Plant Nursery
Ages 16 and up are welcome to care for native plants in a nursery in the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. Volunteers may collect or sow seeds in flats, bump plants up, work at restoration sites, sterilize plant containers and other tasks maintaining the nursery.
Tools and equipment are provided, but registration is required.
When: May 3, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Where: Laguna Canyon Foundation Headquarters, 10 Phillips Street, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Cost: Free
For more details, contact volunteer@lagunacanyon.orgor dulce@lagunacanyon.org
Bolsa Chica Walking Tour
Join volunteer naturalists on a walk through the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. Learn about the history, restoration, endangered species and ecology of the coastal reserve.
Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the reserve’s South parking lot on Pacific Coast Highway, halfway between Warner Ave. and Seapoint St..
Registration is required.
When: May 3, 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Where: 17885-17911 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, CA, 92648
Cost: Free
For more details, contact Amigos de Bolsa Chica at (714) 840-1575 or info@amigosdebolsachica.org
Puzzles and Pastries
Enjoy solving puzzles while sampling a variety of pastries at the Donald Dungan Library in celebration of Older Adults Month.
When: May 4, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: 1855 Park Ave. Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Cost: Free
For more details, please contact the library at (949) 646-8845
South Orange County
Wilderness Access Day
Explore Black Star Canyon, part of the Irvine Ranch Open Space, on a wilderness access day. Hikers, bikers and equestrians will have access to designated trails.
Registration is required.
When: May 3, 8:o0 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: 13333 Black Star Canyon Rd., Silverado, CA 92676
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the Irvine Ranch Conservancy at irvineranchopenspace@ocparks.com or info@irconservancy.org
[Read: Discovering Orange County’s Black Star Canyon Wilderness Park]
Bilingual Storytime
Take the kids to an afternoon Arabic storytime including songs, stories and crafts.
When: May 3, 3:00 p.m.. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: 30341 Crown Valley Pkwy., Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (949) 249-5252
Rancho Days Fiesta
Learn about Orange County’s rancho era at the annual Rancho Days Fiesta, hosted at the Heritage Hill Historical Park.
Activities and performances include: Native American and Folklorico dancing, Charro horse riding, roping demonstrations, piñata breaking, exhibits and ranching hands-on activities.
The park’s historic buildings will also be open.
When: May 3, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: 25151 Serrano Rd., Lake Forest, CA 92630-2534
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the Heritage Hill Historic Park at heritagehill@ocparks.com or call (949) 923-2230
If you know of a free public agency event that the Voice of OC should be aware of, send an email to etaylor@voiceofoc.org
For more events, please refer to the Voice of OC Calendar.