Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens Events: Holiday Sale for the Nursery and Garden St ore, Nov 1-15. Do your holiday shopping here at the Gardens! Mushroom Walks, Mondays Nov 17-Jan 26. Join staff gardeners every Monday (except the occasional 5th Monday) and hunt for our fall “wildflowers”- mushrooms! Walks will continue through the end of January or while the mushrooms last. Free with Garden’s admission. Hours: 1:30pm-3:30pm.

Mushroom Identification for Beginners, Nov 22, 29 and Dec 20. Understand the wild mushroom, with the help of a professional naturalist. Class is followed by a guided walk through the Garden at 1:30pm (come prepared for all weather). Reservations required. Cost: $10. Class hours:
10am-1pm.  
Information on Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens:
707-964-4352 ext. 10
www.gardenbythesea.org

ANDERSON – Return of the Salmon Festival, Oct 18-19. Salmon spawning and tagging, information booths, wildlife art, children’s activities, food and craft booths, and a salmon bake at the Coleman Fish Hatchery. Free shuttle buses from Anderson Outlet Mall and Shasta District Fairgrounds.
530-365-8622
www.shastacascade.com

QUINCY – Mountain Harvest Plumas Arts Brewfest, Oct 18. Microbrew tasting, arts and crafts and live music set against a backdrop of fall colors at the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds. Belly dancing, children’s festival, auction, food and more.
530-283-3402
www.shastacascade.com

RED BLUFF – 26th Annual Western Open Fiddle Champion-ships, Oct 23-25. The festivities begin Thurs at 6pm with a free country-dance held at the Tehama District Fairgrounds. Contests begin Friday morning and last until Saturday night with fiddlers from all age groups participating. 
530-527-2787
www.shastacascade.com

CHICO – Artoberfest, Oct 1-31. A festival of arts, theatre, music, dance, and special events held in downtown Chico.
530-896-5451
www.shastacascade.com

REDDING – Area Events:
Fall Festival at the Hawes Farm, Oct 6-31. Family activities include a corn maze, animal barnyard, cow tipping, pig races, haunted barn, barnyard jump, “farmtastic” food, pumpkin patch and craft fair. Location: Hawes Farm, Anderson.
530-365-2332
www.hawesfarms.com

Nash Ranch Pumpkin Patch, Oct 6-31. Families can enjoy a pumpkin patch, train rides, petting zoo, wagon rides, produce and corn (corn maze, too!) and special events each weekend. Location: 10925 Old Oregon Trail (one mile south of Shasta College, Redding).
530-241-0763
www.nashranch.com

Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot, Nov 27. Fun runs, including Kids Diestlehorst Dash, Wheelchair Race, 6-mile race, and 2-mile fun run/walk. No race-day registration; online registration: www.active.com. Events begin at 7:45am. Cost: $15-$30, children 8 and under are free. Location: Sacramento River Trail. Starts and ends at United Way Parking Lot, 2280 Benton Drive.
530-241-7521 x 101

Holiday Light Display, Dec 1-25. Jim McDilda’s award-winning Christmas light show, train rides, and Santa’s workshop is held at the north end of Redding Downtown Mall. Hours: 5:20pm-10:30pm. Admission is free.
530-243-7773
www.vivadowntownredding.org

WinterFest Tree Lighting and Downtown Open House, Dec 5. Annual festival includes tree lighting, holiday art and craft booths, live music, entertainment, carolers, Santa Claus, food and beverages. Location: Redding Downtown Mall parking lot on California Street. Hours: 4pm-8:30pm. Admission is free.
530-243-7773
www.vivadowntownredding.org

City of Redding’s Lighted Christmas Parade, Dec 6. Parade begins at California and Shasta at 6pm.
www.reddingtradeclub.com

Victorian Christmas, Dec 5-6. This holiday event at the Old Shasta Schoolhouse includes a general store and Christmas shops, Victorian Tea, Christmas tree lighting, bonfire with marshmallows and food. Santa arrives at dusk.
530-243-5399

HUMBOLDT COUNTY – Events:
Lighting of America’s Tallest Living Christmas Tree, Dec 7. Decked with colored lights by Ferndale’s volunteer firemen, the huge spruce at the end of downtown is visible for miles. The whole town turns out for the lighting, a tradition since 1934, along with the booster band, chameleon singers, 4-H and boy scouts. Afterwards, warm up with a dinner of traditional Linguica and beans at nearby Portuguese Hall. Location: Main Street, Ferndale.
707-786-4477
www.victorianferndale.org

Trucker’s Christmas Convoy, Dec 13. Thousands line the streets of Eureka and delight at the spectacle of a hundred huge trucks adorned in holiday lights, many with horns blaring Jingle Bells. Location: Redwood Acres Fairgrounds, Eureka.
707-442-5744
www.truckersparade@keka101.com

Craftsman’s Days, Nov 28-29. This artisan fair in Old Town Eureka presents traditional music, food, blacksmithing, woodworking and spinning demonstrations. Don’t miss Belgian Blue oxen Babe and Blue, full-grown draft animals trained to work in tandem in a yoke. Location: Blue Ox Millworks, Eureka - the premier Victorian gingerbread restoration millworks in the country.
800-248-4259
www.blueoxmill.com