Things to do in San Bernardino County

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 Oct. 20-22 and Oct. 27-29. The weekend events will be filled with plenty of daytime activities including live 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 activities include pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, a Halloween costume contest for all ages (and fur babies too), games, arts & crafts, a 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 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 6 to 10 p.m.

After dark concerts continue on Saturdays with The Nomads Band, a local cover band who jams all the favorites. On Oct. 21 and 28, The J-Birds Band will be performing their classic rock tunes on the Main Street Stage. 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.

Mobile Blood Drive

Lifestream Blood Bank will host a mobile blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. onsite at Calico Ghost Town for both weekends. According to Lifestream, 500 blood donations are needed every day to fulfill the needs of our local community. Regional Parks is offering a giveaway for every blood donation given. For more information about Lifestream or donating blood, visit www.lstream.org.

Final Event Days and Times

Friday, Oct. 27 from 5 to 9 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information about the Calico Ghost Haunt schedule, please 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.

Trunk or treat event to be held at Ayala Park in Bloomington

Bloomington Recreation and Parks District is partnering with Olive Branch Development and Empowerment Services, Inc. to host a trunk or treat event on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Ayala Park in Bloomington. The event will offer free treats, a corn maze, inflatable games, vendors and live entertainment. Attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite costume. The event will be located at 17909 Marygold Avenue in Bloomington. For more information, visit specialdistricts.sbcounty.gov.

Child Support Services to host 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat event

San Bernardino County Child Support Services (CSS) will host its 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat event on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Victorville and Loma Linda. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet community partners and representatives from CSS as well as receive treats and participate in games. Attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite costume.

Event locations:

CSS Loma Linda Office, 10417 Mountain View Ave., Loma Linda
CSS Victorville Office, 15400 Civic Dr., Victorville

For more information about CSS programs and services, visit childsupport.sbcounty.gov.

Victor Valley Museum hosting interactive event for fossil enthusiasts of all ages

Become a paleontologist or archaeologist for a day! Join us on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Victor Valley Museum for Trowel or Treat: The Science of Breaking Ground, a hands-on event that offers visitors the opportunity to learn about archaeology and paleontology — the sciences that literally work in dirt. Visitors are encouraged to come in costume too!

If you really dig words like Cenozoic/Pleistocene, Mesozoic/Cretaceous, Paleozoic, or if you would like to learn more about fossils, this is the experience for you. This outdoor event has so many fun learning activities and will make natural history come alive. Plan to spend a whole day making discoveries and connecting to the natural sciences in the most fun ways.

The museum has partnered with organizations including the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), California State University, San Bernardino ALPACA Student Anthropology Club, Dr. Aubrey Bonde, a paleontologist from the National Park Service, and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

The Victor Valley Museum is located at 11873 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley. 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 and 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 Victor Valley 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.

Dia de los Muertos Mask-Making

Regional Parks invites the public to participate in a cultural tradition of mask-making for Dia de los Muertos on Wednesday, Nov. 1 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Yucaipa Regional Park. Attendees can either decorate a paper plate with arts & crafts or make a plaster mask.

For those who decide to make a plaster mask, please wear comfortable clothing that you don’t mind getting a little dirty. All ages are welcome and parents/guardians must be present for children under the age of 14.

***PROCESS TO MAKING THE MASK***

This activity will entail tucking your hair under a shower cap and coating your face with petroleum jelly (Vaseline). This will prevent the plaster from sticking to your face.

This activity is not advised for those with facial hair, such as beards or mustaches, and for those who may feel uncomfortable with coating their face with Vaseline and/or plaster. The plaster will need to sit and dry for about 20 minutes.

All resources will be provided, while supplies last. This activity is free for those camping with us or for those with park admission of $8 per vehicle.

Yucaipa Regional Park is located at 33900 Oak Glen Rd. in Yucaipa. Daily park hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Christmas Day). For more information about Yucaipa Regional Park, visit parks.sbcounty.gov.

Candy Apples at Prado Regional Park

Regional Parks invites the community to come out and make candy apples loaded with delectable toppings including crushed candy canes, peanuts*, pretzels, marshmallows, peanut butter and chocolate chips, while supplies last. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own toppings.

*If you have a food allergy or special dietary requirement, please let the park staff know.

All supplies will be provided. This activity is free for those camping with us or for those with park admission of $8 per vehicle.

Prado Regional Park is located at 16700 S. Euclid Ave. in Chino. Daily park hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Christmas Day). For more information about Prado Regional Park, visit parks.sbcounty.gov.

Movie in the Park at Glen Helen Regional Park

Join us for a movie in the park screening of E.T. The Next Terrestrial. Arrive early at 6 p.m. for some yard games before the movie begins at approximately 7 p.m. We encourage you to bring your own chairs, blankets, snacks and dress comfortably. Leashed pets welcome. Popcorn will be served, while supplies last. Bring the entire family. This activity is free for those camping with us or for those with park admission of $10 per vehicle.

Glen Helen Regional Park is located at 2555 Glen Helen Pkwy. in San Bernardino. Daily park hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Christmas Day). For more information on Glen Helen Regional Park, visit parks.sbcounty.gov.

Prado Regional Park sets stage for Veterans Day country music festival, featuring Chris Janson

Presented by Subaru, Prado Regional Park will host the annual Country Campout Weekend & Music Festival on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 1-10 p.m.

The one-day music festival will feature a lineup of country artists including Chris Janson, Drew Baldridge, Sean Stemaly, Catie Offerman, Daniel Bonte, Presley Tennant and Joe Peters.

Enjoy a day of festival food vendors, bars, line dancing lessons, yard games, mechanical bull rides, axe throwing, country shopping and all-day musical entertainment by some of Nashville’s best artists and So Cal’s leading country acts.

The festival will also support veterans through matching funds provided by Subaru, which will go toward the Shelter to Soldier campaign.

For festival general admission tickets, schedule and event FAQs, visit www.countrycampoutweekend.com.

Prado Regional Park is located at 16700 S. Euclid Ave. in Chino.

Regional Park, visit parks.sbcounty.gov.

Cosmic Nights at San Bernardino County Museum

Looking for a starry-eyed start to your weekend? Head over to the San Bernardino County Museum on Friday, Nov. 17 from 7 to 10 p.m. for Cosmic Nights. In partnership with the Riverside Astronomical Society (RAS), the museum invites the public to view stars, planets, the moon and other astronomical phenomena.

The evening features telescope viewing and an opportunity to discuss astronomy with telescope operators. Visitors are also encouraged to bring binoculars or set up their own telescopes. The event takes place outdoors and visitors are advised to wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Guests are welcome to set up portable lawn chairs and blankets for extended viewing.

Not able to visit the museum during evening hours? Stop by during the day instead and see some of the fascinating exhibitions currently on display, including Power of the Press: Black Voice News @ 50, which takes a look into the power of the Black church, illustrating the impact of Black-led non-profit organizations, and documenting the legacies of Black professionals – doctors, educators, elected leaders, business owners and corporate executives.

The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child ages 6 to 12). Children five and under are admitted free. Museum Association members receive a 50% discount. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.

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.

First 5 Gift a Kid Book Community 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 the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands on Nov. 18 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.