Things to do in San Bernardino County

Apple Valley Airshow returns, celebrates 20 years with full military A-10 flying demo team

The 20th Annual Apple Valley Airshow and NAPA® Auto Parts Car Show is set for Saturday, Oct. 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Apple Valley Airshow, a family favorite event, attracts spectators from all over Southern California. This year’s highlights include the USAF A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team with Capt. Lindsay “MAD” Johnson, along with the Air Force Heritage Flight Team performed by Steven Hinton in the P-51 Wee Willy II and Capt. Johnson.

This is the very first time the Apple Valley Airshow has been granted a full military Demo Team. Capt. “MAD” Johnson and 10 team members are coming from Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona. “MAD” has more than 1,250 hours in the A-10 including 431 in combat in support of both Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and the Resolute Support Mission. A full schedule is planned, including Dawn Patrol RV Formation Team of seven, breathtaking aerobatics by the Undaunted Airshows formation aerobatics team of two, Air Racer Tony Higa in the Pitts S-1S, John Collver in his AT-6/SNJ “Wardog,” Yuichi Takagi in the Pitts, Torrey Ward in the Micro Jet, and Chuck Coleman in the Extra 300L performing extreme aerobatics. Coleman flight-trained eight actors of “Top Gun: Maverick” in the same airplane he is flying at the Airshow.

In addition to aerobatics, you will see Skydivers, Round Canopy Parachute USA Team paratroopers jumping from the C-53 Skytrooper D-Day Doll, vintage warbirds like Jason Somes in the MiG-17 jet, two North American P-51 Mustangs from Palm Springs Air Museum and TBM-3E Avenger and SBD-5 Dauntless, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-38 Lightning, and the F4U Corsair from Planes of Fame Air Museum to name a few.

Spectators will have the opportunity to meet pilots and get autographs after their performances. On the ground, you will see experimental and vintage airplane static displays, military vehicles, and the NAPA® Auto Parts Car Show “Show and Shine” along with Inglis Classics “Hot Rod Hotties.”

Spectators are encouraged to stop by the NAPA® booth and pick up a form so you can vote for your favorite car.

The STEM Expo tent is fun for people of all ages, where they can learn to fly a plane, build an airplane or a rocket! And, you won’t want to miss the General Atomics display and booth where you can see what they do right here in the High Desert.

Community groups, volunteer organizations and our sponsors are a big part of the airshow. The show provides scholarships for local students in the STEM field.

You can browse booths offering information, souvenirs, food, and support the Rotary Club of Apple Valley Beer Garden. Gates are open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission is only $10 cash, active duty military with ID only $7 cash, children 11 and under are free. Parking is free. Apple Valley Airport is located at 21600 Corwin Rd. in Apple Valley. No animals except service animals are allowed at the event.

No large coolers and no alcoholic beverages are allowed, no drones, no canopies or large umbrellas either. Bring chairs, sitting blankets, sunglasses, hats, sunscreen, ear plugs and don’t forget your camera. For a complete list on how to plan your day at the show, go to AppleValleyAirshow.com and click on FAQs. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for the latest announcements.

Family-friendly Harvest Festival, haunted hayride kicks off fall season with ghoulish fun

Mojave Narrows Regional Park will be hosting its first Harvest Festival and Haunted Hayride event on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 2 – 9 p.m. The festival celebrates the beginning of fall with a touch of Halloween spookiness in the haunted hayride. The event will also include a pumpkin patch, trick-or-treating, costume contest for all ages, including fur babies, as well as family games, pie-eating contest, event booths, live music, food and more.

The haunted hayrides have sold out, but there’s still plenty to enjoy at the festival. Park admission is $10 per vehicle and $5 for hayride tickets. Regional Parks is excited to bring this event to the high-desert communities and intends to host this as an annual event every year. For more information about the Harvest Festival, please visit parks.sbcounty.gov/harvest-festival. Mojave Narrows Regional Park is located at 18000 Yates Rd. in Victorville.

Stimulate your imagination with second Saturdays at the Victor Valley Museum

Families can enjoy onsite themed art projects every month through Second Saturdays at the Victor Valley Museum (VVM) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located in the quaint town of Apple Valley, the museum is an easy drive from Victorville, Hesperia, Adelanto, Oak Hills and Spring Valley Lake. It also makes for a perfect family road trip.

VVM Associate Curator Tiffany Talavera shared, “It’s very educational and eye-opening to see the children having fun while learning something new and to see the amount of energy they have is so cheerful; plus, it is a great opportunity for parents and kids to share time doing something new together! We are looking forward to continuing and expanding our offerings with Second Saturdays.”

Second Saturdays schedule:
October 14: Homemade Bookmarks
November 11: Slime Time
December 9: Christmas Carols

VVM is located at 11873 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military/senior), $7 (student), and $5 (children ages 6 to 12). Children 5 & under and museum members are free. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. For more information, visit museum.sbcounty.gov/events.

VVM’s exhibits of regional, cultural and natural history and the museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture, and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.

First 5 San Bernardino, Museum partner to promote reading at Gift a Kid a Book fair

First 5 San Bernardino is partnering with the San Bernardino County Museum to promote reading and literacy for young children in the community.

Come join us for FREE books, face painting, balloon creations, photo ops with Potter the Otter, a performance by Twinkle Time and Friends and more!

Bring your family to Apple Valley on October 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for free access to the museum, resources and books from the pop-up bookstore.

Visit First5Sanbernardino.org for more information.

Museum adds treats to annual Shake Out Emergency Preparedness Fair

No tricks, just treats! Bring the entire family to the San Bernardino County Museum on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the annual Earthquake and Emergency Preparedness Fair. Local businesses and county departments will hand out candy, goodies and emergency preparedness information as kids and families walk through the parking lot dressed in costumes.

This free event offers residents the opportunity to learn how to prepare themselves, their families, their homes and their neighborhoods for wildfires, earthquakes and other disasters. The day will also feature hands-on preparedness demonstrations, expert speakers, resources and emergency supplies at partner booths.

The museum has partnered with a multitude of departments and organizations throughout the county that will be on hand including the San Bernardino County Aging and Adult Services, San Bernardino County Child Support Services, San Bernardino County Behavioral Health, San Bernardino County Library, San Bernardino County Public Works, San Bernardino County Children and Family Services, Devore Animal Shelter, Redlands CERT, Inland Empire Resources Conservation District (IERCD), Redlands Fire Department, American Medical Response (AMR) and more to get you better prepared for any kind of disaster.

The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands. Museum galleries will be open during the event with general admission pricing which is $10 (adult), $8 (military/senior), $7 (student), and $5 (children ages 6 to 12). Children 5 & under and Museum members are free. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. For more information, visit museum.sbcounty.gov/events.

The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional, cultural and natural history and the museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture, and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.

Daytime fun, nighttime scares return to Calico Ghost Town for two weekends of ghost haunting

Regional Parks is excited to host its annual Ghost Haunt event for the last two weekends of October, beginning October 20-22 and October 27-29. The weekend events will be filled with plenty of daytime activities including live musical entertainment from bands such as The Storytellers, Southern Spirit, Blue Henrys and the High D Boys as well as a special performance by the mystical Salem Sisters and their magical potion act and the Kalvan Family Circus. Other events include pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, a Halloween costume contest for all ages and fur babies too. Other activities include family-friendly games and arts & crafts, including the egg toss, pie-eating contest, scream contest, tarot card reader and more. Food and beverages are available for purchase.

Nighttime tricks and scares rev into high gear after dark with town scarers roaming through Calico preying on unsuspecting victims for high-spirited screams. Scare hours are Fridays from 5-9 p.m. and Saturdays from 6-10 p.m.

After dark concerts continue on Saturdays with The Nomads Band, a local cover band who jams all the favorites and on October 21 The J-Birds Band performing classic rock tunes on October 28. Concert performances are scheduled from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. A costume Monster Mash dance party will be held on both Saturday evenings at 6:30 p.m. for those who want to boogie and howl with the town scarers. Schedule of events are subject to change.

Our sold-out Calico campgrounds will light up at night with our annual Halloween decorating contest that can get quite competitive and elaborate. Who will win this year?

Event Days & Times

Fridays: Oct. 20 & Oct. 27 from 5-9 p.m.
Saturdays: Oct. 21 & Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sundays: Oct. 22 & Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information about Calico Ghost Haunt events and schedules, visit parks.sbcounty.gov/calico-ghost-haunt. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for kids ages 4-11 and kids under three are free. Leashed pets are welcome and pet supplies are available at Dorsey’s Gourmet Dog House. For Ghost Tours and attractions, visit www.calicoattractions.com.

Calico Ghost Town is located at 36600 Ghost Town Road in Yermo.