Consider starting your weekend this Saturday by taking the kids to a bilingual Vietnamese storytime at the Fountain Valley Library, or by attending a talk on growing avocado and citrus trees in your backyard.
On Sunday, consider a hike in one of Orange County’s nature preserves, or attend a screening of “The Birds” at the Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library.
For those wanting to pay tribute to fallen members of the armed services on Memorial Day, there are several public events at parks, monuments and cemeteries across the county.
[Read: Where to Honor the Fallen This Memorial Day]
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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Every week, Voice of OC reporters work hard to help residents stay connected to upcoming civic events, putting locals in a position to save tax dollars and hold leaders accountable.
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You can also bookmark the Voice of OC calendar to stay ahead of key civic meetings impacting your quality of life during the week.
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
Create in the Park
Enjoy an outdoor sketching and painting at a demonstration at the George Key Ranch Historic Park with OC Parks and artist Dawn Buckingham.
Participants are also welcome on a guided history tour of George Key Ranch.
Registration is required.
When: May 24, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: 625 W. Bastanchury Rd., Placentia, CA 92870
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the park office at keyranch@ocparks.com
Gardening Talk
Learn to grow avocado or citrus trees in your backyard at a talk with the UCCE Master Gardeners at the Fullerton Public Library’s main branch. Learn how to plant and care for varieties of trees that can grow in California’s climate.
When: May 24, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 738-6333
Family Karaoke
Take the kids to afternoon family karaoke at the East Anaheim Branch Library.
Registration is encouraged. Call (714) 765-3887 to reserve a spot
When: May 25, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where: 8201 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd., Anaheim, CA 92808
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 765-3887
Central Orange County
Cultural Drum Performance
Enjoy a taiko drumming performance in the courtyard of the Tustin Library.
Taiko drums and group music performances – which include shouts and choreographed movements similar to martial arts – have had a place in Japanese culture since 10,000 B.C.
When: May 24, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Where: 345 E. Main St., Tustin, CA 92780
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 544-7725
Bilingual Storytime
Take the kids to a family storytime featuring songs and stories in Vietnamese at the Fountain Valley Library.
When: May 24, 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Where: 17635 Los Alamos, Fountain Valley, CA
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 962-1324
Movie at the Library
Enjoy a screening of the 1992 film “The Birds” at the Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library.
When: May 25, 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: 1855 Park Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library (949) 646-8845
Coastal Orange County
Paws on the Trail
Take your dog on a 3-mile hike over unpaved terrain at the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve.
Registration is required.
When: May 24, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Where: 2301 University Dr., Newport Beach, CA 92660
Cost: Free
For more details, contact Resource Specialist Emma Arago at emma.arago@ocparks.com or call (657) 692-5401
Craft for a Cause
Teens ages 13-18 are welcome to the Huntington Beach Central Library to create toys, blankets and heating pads for OC Animal Care Center shelter pets.
All materials will be provided for creating fleece catnip toys and tie blankets, as well as rice sock heating pads. Volunteers are invited to bring clean knee, tube or crew socks without holes to turn into additional heating pads.
When: May 24, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 842-4481
LEGO Club
Take the kids to play with Legos at the Laguna Beach Library. Guardian supervision is required.
When: May 24, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: 363 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (949) 497-1733
South Orange County
Volunteer Outdoors
Spend time volunteering outdoors in the Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. Assist with land stewardship activities such as removing invasive plants.
Registration is required.
When: May 24, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Where: 150 Cedarbrook, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Cost: Free
For more details, contact volunteer@lagunacanyon.org or dulce@lagunacanyon.org
Cook & Chat
Enjoy conversation with other adults while making blue corn tortillas at the Rancho Santa Margarita Library.
When: May 24, 2:00 p.m.. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: 30902 La Promesa, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (949) 459-6094
Early Morning Hike
Embark on a hike into Fremont Canyon, one of Orange County’s more rugged nature preserves.
Registration is required.
When: May 25, 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: Fremont Staging Area, Silverado, CA 92676
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the Irvine Ranch Conservancy at irvineranchopenspace@ocparks.com
[Read: Hiking the ‘Rugged’ Remote OC — Fremont Canyon]
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.