Consider starting your weekend this Saturday by taking the kids to Gypsum Canyon on a hike or to a celebration of Lunar New Year at the Garden Grove Tibor Rubin Library.
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
Family Hike
Enjoy views of Fremont and Weir Canyon Nature Preserves with your kids on a family hike through Gypsum Canyon.
Registration is required.
When: January 31, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Where: 390 Gypsum Canyon Rd., Yorba Linda, CA 92887
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the Irvine Ranch Conservancy at info@irconservancy.org or visit letsgooutside.org
Meditate at the Library
Practice meditating during a guided session at the Yorba Linda Public Library.
When: January 31, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Where: 4852 Lakeview Ave., Yorba Linda, CA 92886
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 777-2873
Family-Friendly Movie & Craft
Enjoy popcorn while watching the 2019 movie “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” at the Anaheim Central Library.
When: January 31, 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: 500 W. Broadway, Anaheim, CA 92805
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 765-1880
Central Orange County
Lunar New Year Celebration
Celebrate Lunar New Year with a lion dance performance at the Garden Grove Tibor Rubin Library.
Celebrated by many Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tibetan and other East and Southeast Asian communities, Lunar New Year festivals mark the start of the new year based on the lunar calendar.
When: January 31, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: 11962 Bailey St., Garden Grove, CA 92845
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 897-2594
Videogame Tournament
Teens ages 13-18 are invited to the Fountain Valley Library to play in a videogame tournament. Supplies will be provided, but are limited.
When: January 31, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: 17635 Los Alamos St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 962-1324
Bilingual Storytime
Take the kids to a storytime in Vietnamese and English at the Fountain Valley Library.
When: January 31, 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Where: 17635 Los Alamos St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 962-1324
South Orange County
Hybrid Book Group
Join a book discussion group that meets in-person and virtually through the Ladera Ranch Library.
Contact Rebecca Porter for more information and for the Zoom invitation at Rebecca.Porter@occr.ocgov.com.
When: January 31, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Where: 29551 Sienna Pkwy., Ladera Ranch, CA 92694
Cost: Free
For more details and to register, contact Rebecca Porter at Rebecca.Porter@occr.ocgov.com
Talk on Life Planning
Attend a talk on preparing for advanced care with loved ones at the Rancho Santa Margarita Library.
When: January 31, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: 30902 La Promesa, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (949) 4596094
STEM Talk
All ages are invited to a talk on the Mars rover in the Mission Viejo City Council chambers.
When: January 31, 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: 200 Civic Center, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Cost: Free
For more details, contact library programs at (949) 452-8342 or libraryprograms@cityofmissionviejo.org
Coastal Orange County
Volunteer Outdoors
Assist in land stewardship activities in the Upper Newport Bay. Volunteers will remove weeds and trash, or plant and water native plants.
Registration is required.
When: January 31, 9:00 a.m. to 11:o0 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
Lego
Take the kids to play with Lego bricks or toddler-safe Duplos at the Seal Beach Mary Wilson Library.
When: January 31, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: 707 Electric Ave., Seal Beach, CA 90740
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (562) 431-3584
Chess Club
Children ages 7+ and teens are welcome to the Oak View Branch Library to learn to play chess.
Registration is required.
When: January 31, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: 17251 Oak Ln., Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 375-5068
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.