Things to do in San Bernardino County

This section focuses on family-friendly events that are sponsored by County departments including the Library, Museum, Regional Parks, Special Districts and more.

Join the fun at Regional Parks events this winter season

Saddle up: Old West Days is coming to county museums

Step back in time to the days of the great American West! Round up the family and join us for Old West Days, a family-friendly event taking place at Victor Valley Museum. Uncover the history of America’s western frontier, a unique landscape of converging cultures.

Old West Days at the Victor Valley Museum is a one-day event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27 with card games, live music, frontier arts & crafts, historic demonstrations, tasty treats and more. Museum galleries will be open during the event and regular admission applies.

The Victor Valley Museum is located at 11873 Apple Valley Road, Apple Valley. The museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (children ages 6 to 12). Children five and under and museum members are admitted free. Parking is free. The museums are 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.

Small cars, big Ideas: A model car exhibit scheduled to open in February

The San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) is pleased to announce its newest exhibition, Shifting Gears: A Miniature View of America’s Changing Car Culture, opening on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.

The exhibit will feature more than 150 model cars donated by collectors Charles and Shelby Obershaw. The cars may be small, but the ideas that the installation explores are big. SBCM uses this collection of model cars as a lens through which to explore America’s changing car culture.

The goal of the project was to transform the exhibit space that was previously on display, Crossing the Cosmos: Mesoamerican Music, Masks, and Mysteries, into an engaging installation that would speak on the evolving forefront of the American automobile culture.

The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 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 (children ages 6 to 12). Children five and under and museum members are free. 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.

Calling all stargazers! Museum Cosmic Nights returns for 2024

San Bernardino County Museum announces the 2024 dates for the popular Cosmic Nights astronomy-themed evening events in partnership with the San Bernardino Valley Amateur Astronomers (SBVAA) and the Riverside Astronomical Society (RAS). The public is welcome to view stars, planets, the moon and other astronomical phenomena.

San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands

Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, 7 to 10 p.m.
Friday, March 15, 2024, 7 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, June 15, 2024, 7 to 10 p.m.

The evenings feature 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 events take 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.

The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 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 (children ages 6 to 12). Children five and under are admitted free. Museum Foundation 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.

Stimulate your imagination with Second Saturdays at Victor Valley Museum

Families can enjoy on-site themed art projects every month with Second Saturdays at the Victor Valley Museum (VVM) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

2024 Second Saturdays schedule:

Feb. 10
March 9
April 13
May 11
June 8
July 13
Aug. 10
Sept. 14
Oct. 12
Nov. 9
Dec. 14

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.

Free train rides and live dairy cow at the Library New Book Festival in Chino Hills

The San Bernardino County Library invites residents to the James S. Thalman Chino Hills Library for the return of the Annual New Book Festival! Join us as we turn the library into a magical celebration of arts and literature. Thousands of new books will be available for patrons to check-out for the very first time. Be among the first to crack open one of these wonderful new titles. Don’t forget to take pictures and meet some special surprise characters! You won’t want to miss free train rides and a chance to meet a live dairy cow, brought by the Dairy Council of California! Build memories in our Jumbo Block play area, create fun crafts, enjoy face painting and balloon artists, dance to a live DJ and much more.

This event is another opportunity to celebrate and support the Countywide Vision’s literacy campaign, Vision2Read as well as San Bernardino County’s newest Opportunity Campaign. The Annual Chino Hills New Book Festival will take place on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024 from 2 to 6 p.m. Visitors should bring their library card, as every 15 items checked out during the event earns visitors an opportunity drawing ticket for a chance to win awesome prizes. All activities are free and open to all ages.

The James S. Thalman Chino Hills Library is at 14020 City Center Drive in Chino Hills.

The San Bernardino County Library System is a dynamic network of 32 branch libraries that serves a diverse population over a vast geographic area. The County library system strives to provide equal access to information, technology, programs, and services for all people who call San Bernardino County home.

The library plays a key role in the achievement of the Countywide Vision, by contributing to educational, cultural, and historical development of our county community.

For more information on the San Bernardino County Library System, please visit http://www.sbclib.org/ or call (909) 387-2220.