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.

County Library Partners with Ono Hawaiian BBQ for Fall Reading Program

The San Bernardino County Library is pleased to announce a new partnership with Ono Hawaiian BBQ restaurants to promote reading among children between the ages of 0-17 this winter. It’s an Autumn Ono at the Library program will run from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 at all San Bernardino County branch locations.

“We are thrilled to partner with Ono Hawaiian BBQ to promote literacy and a love for reading among our youngest residents,” said Board of Supervisors Chair and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe. “In order to achieve our Countywide Vision, we need to ensure our children are meeting their grade level requirements, particularly with reading.”

San Bernardino County residents are invited to participate in the program by signing up through Beanstack at sbclib.beanstack.org. To earn an achievement award, participants must check out five books with their library card, read those five books and track their reading through Beanstack. A voucher for a free kids meal will be issued at any of the 32 San Bernardino County library locations. Participants may earn up to three vouchers for the duration of the program.

Participants do not need to have their own library card in order to participate but are encouraged to sign up for one.

Receipts must be presented at the service desk during the library’s operating hours, including renewed items. Ono Hawaiian BBQ restaurants will honor the vouchers at any Southern California location. All vouchers are available while supplies last.

In support of the Vision2Read literacy campaign as well as San Bernardino County’s Opportunity Campaign, this program aims to improve literacy rates among children between the ages of 0 to 17 by inspiring an excitement to read, providing achievement goals and encouraging a reading routine.

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 County Library plays a key role in the achievement of the Countywide Vision by contributing to the 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.

Calico Days returns with skilled miner competitions, gunfight shows, live entertainment

Do you ever wonder how Calico miners lived and worked? Join San Bernardino County Regional Parks and Calico Ghost Town for its 58th Annual Calico Days event held over the weekend of September 28-29, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Calico Ghost Town that recreates the life and times of miners during the late 1800s.

The event focuses on the spirit of the Old West and features an 1880s costume contest, reenactment skits, pie-eating contest, Miner’s Triathlon competition, Burro Run competition, Bucket Brigade contest, live musical performances, egg toss competition, gunfights and more.

The Miner’s Triathlon and Bucket Brigade will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28 and the Burro Run will be held on Sunday, Sept. 29.

Food options during the event include the Calico House Restaurant, Lil’s Saloon and food vendors. Attendees can also visit Calico shops and attractions including Maggie Mine, Mystery Shack, Dorsey’s Gourmet Dog House shop and the Odessa Railroad train ride. Calico is pet-friendly and leashed pets are welcome.

This family-friendly event embraces the life and culture of the 1880s when Calico was a bustling silver mining town from 1881 through the late 1890s, when Calico began to see a steady decline in population as silver lost its value and people fled the town.

At the height of its glory, the town’s population rose to about 1,200 people in 1887, and had about 22 saloons, a schoolhouse, post office, its own version of a China Town, a cemetery and its own newspaper. The town produced about $86 million in silver and about $45 million in borax hauling its product by the infamous 21-Mule Team.

In 1966, Walter Knott, the founder of Knott’s Berry Farm, donated Calico to San Bernardino County, which is now managed by the Regional Parks Department.

Costume Contest registration

All ages are welcome to enter the contest. To pre-register and view the costume rules, scan the QR code on the flier or visit https://bit.ly/4dGYNHw. Ticket prices are $10 per adult and $5 for children ages 4-11. Children under age 3 are free. For more details and a daily schedule of events, visit parks.sbcounty.gov/calico-days. For prices on all Calico attractions or for ghost tours, visit www.calicoattractions.com. Calico Ghost Town offers full and partial camping at the park. Reservations may be booked directly online at www.sbcountyparks.com. Cabins and bunkhouses may also be available.

Calico Ghost Town is located off I-15, just 10 miles north of Barstow at 36600 Ghost Town Rd. in Yermo.

Follow Regional Parks on Facebook and Instagram, and Calico Ghost Town on Facebook for all event updates and park news.

Annual Recovery Happens community fair rescheduled

Join the Department of Behavioral Health as they host Recovery Happens on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Inland Empire 66ers Stadium located at 280 South E. Street in San Bernardino.

Recovery Happens is a celebration of the power of resilience through recovery and a chance to recognize the hard work and dedication of our staff and community, who strive to help others live a life in recovery. Click here to RSVP.

The Sound of Recovery community concert

Join the Department of Behavioral Health as they host The Sound of Recovery on Thursday, Sept. 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. at San Bernardino Valley College located at 701 S. Mt. Vernon Ave. in San Bernardino.

The Sound of Recovery brings life to real stories of recovery through the art of music. Artists throughout the Inland Empire create powerful renditions of community members’ real-life stories, celebrating the power of hope and healing. The Sound of Recovery is an annual event in partnership with San Bernardino Valley College. Don’t miss out on this inspiring production. Click here to RSVP.

Office of Suicide Prevention community trainings

Throughout the month of September, the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) Office of Suicide Prevention will host free community trainings throughout San Bernardino County. SafeTALK is a three-hour training where participants will learn how to recognize and support a person with thoughts of suicide. Participants will become a: “safeTALK-trained suicide alert helper.”

Date	Time	Location
Sept. 10	9 a.m. – noon	WET Training Center, San Bernardino
Sept. 14	10 a.m. – 1 p.m.	Mt. Zion Church, Ontario
Sept. 16	5:30 – 8:30 p.m.	Yucaipa Community Center, Yucaipa
Sept. 19	5:30 – 8:30 p.m.	The Flipside Church, Rancho Cucamonga
Sept. 24	9 a.m. – noon	Abundant Living Family Church, Hesperia

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a free two-day workshop designed for all community members. This training will enhance a person’s ability to assist a person at risk of suicide.

ASIST Workshop

Dates: Sept. 26 – 27
Time: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: One Stop TAY Center
780 E. Gilbert St., San Bernardino

Training and registration information can be found on the Office of Suicide Prevention website.

Mojave Narrows harvest festival, haunted hayrides return with bewitching tales

Get ready for the witches of the narrows! Mojave Narrows Regional Park will be hosting its 2nd annual Harvest Festival and Haunted Hayride event on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 12:30 to 9:30 p.m. The festival celebrates the beginning of fall with the theme, Witches of the Narrows, to spook and bewitch our hayride guests.

The event will also include trick-or-treating, costume contest for all ages and pets, family games, live music and entertainment, food vendors, petting zoo, live animal presentation and more. All ages are welcome, including leashed pets!

The hayride seating is limited to the first 325 who pre-register and pay for the event using the QR code or visiting. The hayrides will be scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. (9:30 p.m. being the last ride of the night). The rides will run every 15 minutes with a maximum of 25 people per wagon.

The event will be held rain or shine, and no refunds will be issued. Park entry can be prepaid in combination with the hayride tickets or separately.

Park admission is $10 per vehicle and $5 for hayride tickets. Scan the QR code to purchase tickets and park admission or click here.

For event schedule of events and hayride rules, visit parks.sbcounty.gov/harvest-festival. Mojave Narrows is located at 18000 Yates Road in Victorville. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest park news.

Child Support Services to hold third annual trunk or treat event

San Bernardino County Child Support Services (CSS) will hold its third annual Trunk or Treat, a free community event to provide a safe and fun way for children to celebrate Halloween and receive some free candy too, on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 10417 Mountain View Ave., Loma Linda.

The popular outdoor event features over 25 community partners who will provide services and resources to families in San Bernardino County.

CSS professionals will be available to provide child support information and case specific services. There will be games, prizes and special treats for the whole family. Don’t forget to dress up in your favorite costume and invite your friends.

Additional County Update News – September 19, 2024