Things to do in San Bernardino County – Welcome to San Bernardino County

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

Regional Parks kicks-off monthlong catfish derby with cash prizes for heaviest catches

August kicks-off the monthlong catfish derby at Cucamonga-Guasti, Glen Helen and Mojave Narrows Regional Parks, offering up to $1,000 for the heaviest caught from derby entrants. This event is a skilled competition open to the general public and anglers of all ages.

The monthlong derby begins August 1 and ends August 31. Daily derby hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The final weigh-in of the day must be recorded at the gatehouse with park staff by 5 p.m. for the catch to be eligible for the derby. Participants are allowed to enter the derby daily.

Cash Prizes include:

Overall heaviest caught: $1,000
Heaviest caught per park: $500
Second heaviest caught per park: $300
Third heaviest caught per park: $100

Participants must fish with one closely attended fishing rod. Derby rules prohibit hand lines, netting, or catch and release. Snagging of fish is also prohibited and will not qualify for derby prizes. All catfish must be freshly caught, fresh in appearance, intact and not overly stiff.

Derby entry forms, rules and prizes are available online, at each participating park or by scanning the QR code. A fishing license is required for ages 16 and over. A fishing license can be purchased online at wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing.

The derby fee is $5 per person. A fishing permit is also required and is $10 per person, Monday-Wednesday, and $12 per person Thursday-Sunday. Park admission is $8 per vehicle Monday-Friday, and $10 per vehicle Saturday-Sunday.

Derby winners will be announced Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, via San Bernardino County Regional Parks social media outlets and website. For more information on Regional Parks, visit parks.sbcounty.gov or follow us on Facebook and Instagram for weekly catfish stockings and announcements.

Yucaipa Regional Park hosts nocturnal scavenger hunt activity

Join us at Yucaipa Regional Park on Friday, Aug. 2, from 6-8 p.m. for a nocturnal scavenger hunt in the park. Look for items in the park to win a prize. Spend the day fishing, picnicking, hiking or biking before we start our scavenger hunt. Admission is $10 per vehicle and free for those camping with us. All ages are welcome! Leashed pets are welcome too! Yucaipa Regional Park is located at 33900 Oak Glen Rd. in Yucaipa. Park hours are daily from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information on camping and events, visit parks.sbcounty.gov or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Children and Family Services’s backpack giveaway and school supplies event

Join us for the 2nd annual Backpack Giveaway on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Victorville. This public event offers free backpacks and essential school supplies for children in grades K-12. Enjoy a live DJ, food and resources from local organizations. Supplies are limited to the first 300 children, so make sure your child is prepared for the school year ahead—don’t miss out!

San Bernardino County Museum unveiling new STEAM Lab

Join us at the San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. as we unveil Exploration Station: A STEAM Lab for Kids. This highly interactive space will encourage kids and families to explore core science, technology, engineering and mathematics principles, while also promoting the history, art and culture of our region!

In January 2024, the SBCM Foundation was awarded a $100,000 grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to develop an innovative new STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) exhibit.

“This interactive space that combines technological innovation with honoring Maara’yam culture through direct engagement, will provide a creative hub for children in the Inland Empire,” said Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. “By empowering youth to learn in this unique space, our community will inspire our future through education while preserving cultural traditions such as weaving.”

“This incredible new exhibit will complement our static displays by allowing visitors to learn a principle in our traditional exhibit space then test that principle in a fun, lab-like environment,” said Museum Director David Myers. “Our museum is growing and evolving with our community, and we believe exhibits like this are crucial to improving science literacy and opening the door to a better understanding of our world.”

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 Tuesday through Sunday 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 and museum members are admitted free. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.

About the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians: The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is a federally recognized Indian tribe located on the San Manuel Indian Reservation near Highland, California. San Manuel exercises its inherent sovereign right of self-governance and provides essential services for its citizens by building infrastructure, maintaining civil services, and promoting social, economic and cultural development. As the Indigenous people of the San Bernardino highlands, passes, valleys, mountains and high deserts, the Serrano people of San Manuel have called this area home since time immemorial and are committed to remaining a productive partner in the San Bernardino region. For more information, visit sanmanuel-nsn.gov.

About the San Bernardino County Museum Foundation: Established in 1952, the San Bernardino County Museum Foundation solicits, manages and distributes funds, engages in programs, and advocates for the benefit of the San Bernardino County Museum and its mission. The SBCM Foundation achieves its mission by conducting fund development efforts on behalf of the museum, including individual, corporate and foundation contributions. Further, the foundation partners with the museum to assist with developing deeper visitor engagement, enhancing stewardship and utilization of its collection, refreshing its facilities, diversifying sources of revenue, and building its organizational capacity. For more information, visit thesbcmf.org.

About the San Bernardino County Museum: 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. For more information, visit museum.sbcounty.gov or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

Prado Regional Park to host celebrating trees, arts & crafts activity

Join us at Prado Regional Park on Sunday, Aug. 4, from 10 a.m. to noon, as we celebrate trees and all the good they do for our environment. This activity is based around arts and crafts. Bring the family for a day of fishing, picnicking, hiking or biking. Admission is $10 per vehicle and free for those camping with us. All ages are welcome! Leashed pets are welcome too! Prado Regional Park is located at 16700 S. Euclid Ave. in Chino. Park hours are daily from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information on camping and events, visit parks.sbcounty.gov or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Glen Helen Regional Park to host celebrating trees, arts & crafts activity

Join us at Glen Helen Regional Park on Sunday, Aug. 4, from 1:30-3:30 p.m., as we celebrate trees and all the good they do for our environment. This activity is based around arts and crafts. Bring the family for a day of fishing, picnicking, hiking or biking or cooling off at our swim complex. Admission is $10 per vehicle and free for those camping with us. All ages are welcome! Leashed pets are welcome too! Glen Helen Regional Park is located at 2555 Glen Helen Pkwy., in San Bernardino. Park hours are daily from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information on camping and events, visit parks.sbcounty.gov or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Mojave Narrows Regional Park to host arts & crafts with free Popsicles activity

Join us at Mojave Narrows Regional Park on Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 3-6 p.m. for arts and crafts and free Popsicles, while supplies last. Spend the day fishing, picnicking, hiking, biking or cooling off at our splash pad. Admission is $10 per vehicle and free for those camping with us. All ages are welcome! Leashed pets are welcome too! Mojave Narrows Regional Park is located at 18000 Yates Rd., in Victorville. Park hours are daily from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information on camping and events, visit parks.sbcounty.gov or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Glen Helen Regional Park to host arts & crafts with free Popsicles activity

Join us at Glen Helen Regional Park on Wednesday, Aug. 7, from 3-6 p.m. for arts and crafts and free Popsicles, while supplies last. Bring the family for a day of fishing, picnicking, hiking or biking. Admission is $10 per vehicle and free for those camping with us. All ages are welcome! Leashed pets are welcome too! Glen Helen Regional Park is located at 2555 Glen Helen Pkwy., in San Bernardino. Park hours are daily from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information on camping and events, visit parks.sbcounty.gov or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

LEGO building event at Apple Valley Library

Calling all LEGO fans! The San Bernardino County Library encourages patrons of all ages to participate in a special contest to build their own one-of-a-kind LEGO creation, which can be entered in a competition during our LEGO event at the Newton T. Bass Apple Valley Branch Library.

To receive an entry form, builders must check out 10 items with their library card at any of the 32 San Bernardino County Library branches. Creations can be built individually or in a group but must be a unique build that does not use a LEGO kit.

Participants can drop off their entries at the Apple Valley Branch Library between August 20-22 in preparation for the grand showcase event on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, from 10 a.m. to noon. This event will also include jumbo block play, crafts and more! Winners will be announced at the end of the event, which will include award categories such as “most creative” and “most likely to become a kit sold in stores.”

For more information about rules and participation, customers are encouraged to visit https://www.sbclib.org or contact Library Administration at 909-387-2220.

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 Newton T. Bass Apple Valley Branch Library is located at 14901 Dale Evans Parkway in Apple Valley.

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 about the San Bernardino County Library system, please visit http://www.sbclib.org/ or call 909-387-2220.

County Museum brings summer of fun for the entire family!

The San Bernardino County Museum is all-in for a fun-filled summer! Mark your calendars for Summer Family Fun Days! These family-friendly events will take place every Saturday in August from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy a variety of entertainment, crafts and treats where the entire family will make lasting memories.

Art Adventures in New STEAM Lab

Weekly themes will reflect our region’s fascinating history, culture and natural history, as well as current exhibitions. Visitors will be encouraged to explore and create their own work, while working alongside the museum’s education team. All skill levels and abilities are invited to participate. Every Saturday in August from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To purchase admission tickets in advance or find more information on San Bernardino County Museum programs, events, exhibitions, volunteer opportunities and memberships, please visit museum.sbcounty.gov or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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.

Avis Marvelous: An inside look at native birds of North America

The Victor Valley Museum (VVM) is proud to showcase Avis Marvelous: Ornithology on the Western Frontier, an exhibition that explores the work of notable avian artists who documented the birds of North America during the 18th and 19th centuries.

The artworks are a collection of 50 historic engravings featuring a variety of birds ranging from the Columbia Magpie Jay to the Black-chinned Hummingbird, and Mountain Bluebird.

As nineteenth century reproduction technology improved, avian art became widespread and some artists became household names. John James Audubon, a contributor of the paintings, said, “I know that I am no scholar, but I am aware that no man living knows better than I do the habits of our birds; no man living has studied them as much as I have done.”

If you are curious about this exhibit, click here to find out more. The exhibit closes at VVM on October 27, 2024, and will be on exhibit at the San Bernardino County Museum from Friday, November 1, 2024 through April 19, 2025.

The Victor Valley Museum is located at 11873 Apple Valley Rd., in Apple Valley. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child ages 6 to 12). Children five and under and museum members are admitted 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.

The 2024 swim season at Glen Helen and Yucaipa Regional Parks has been a busy one. As summer comes to a close, both swim complexes schedules will be transitioning back to weekends (Saturday and Sunday only), beginning Saturday, Aug. 10. As a result of the transition, both swim complexes will be closed during the week (Tuesdays-Fridays), beginning Tuesday, Aug. 6, through the remainder of the 2024 swim season. The Labor Day holiday weekend will be the last weekend of the 2024 swim season and both pools will be open through Labor Day, Sept. 2.

Pool hours, including Labor Day, will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We advise swimmers to arrive early as the line begins to form when the parks open at 7:30 a.m. Once each complex reaches capacity, no new arrivals will be allowed inside. For pool schedules, admission prices and FAQs, visit parks.sbcounty.gov/swim-schedules.

DOWNLOAD PARKS SUMMER EVENT CALENDAR

Join us at any one of our Regional Parks this summer. From Cucamonga-Guasti to Yucaipa, there is plenty to do this summer. For more information on our events at Regional Parks, please visit parks.sbcounty.gov/events.