Consider starting your weekend this Saturday by learning to grow healthy tomato plants at the Rancho Santa Margarita Library, or take the kids on a family hike in Agua Chinon.
On Sunday, consider attending an event celebrating the stories and traditions of Orange County’s Vietnamese community, or a musical performance at the Newport Beach Central Library.
This is just a handful of the many free events and activities happening throughout Orange County – funded by public tax dollars.
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That same kind of watchdog reporting now fuels a vibrant weekend calendar, choc full of free public services and assets your tax dollars finance.
Here are a few noteworthy free events happening this weekend.
North Orange County
Women Authors Storytime
Take the kids to a storytime featuring Korean-American picture book author and illustrator Sarah Hwang at the Buena Park Library – part of a series of storytime events highlighting women authors in celebration of Women’s History Month.
No registration is required, but seating is limited.
The library will host a storytime on March 17 featuring Hyewon Yum, and another on March 27 featuring Niña Mata.
When: March 15, 2:00 p.m. to 2:35 p.m.
Where: 7150 La Palma Ave., Buena Park CA 90620
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 826-4100
Family Coloring Club
Take the kids to Family Coloring Club at the Brea Library. No registration is required, and all materials will be provided.
When: March 15, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: 7150 La Palma Ave., Buena Park CA 90620
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 826-4100
3D Printing Workshop
Learn how to 3D print objects at an adult-only workshop at the Anaheim Central Library.
Register is required, as space is limited. Call (714) 765-1880 or sign up at the Help Desk.
When: March 16, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: 500 W Broadway, Anaheim, CA 92805
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 765-1880
Central Orange County
Watch Anime at the Library
Ages 15 and up are welcome to Animescapes at the Fountain Valley Library. Watch anime and enjoy refreshments with other anime fans.
When: March 15, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: 17635 Los Alamos, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (714) 962-1324
DNA Activity for Teens
Teens in grades 6-12 are welcome to the Orange Public Library to learn how to visualize DNA by running a gel to determine “who committed the crime.”
CSI Orange: How to Use DNA to Solve a Crime-Steam is presented by Melissa Rowland-Goldsmith, professor of Biological Sciences and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Chapman University.
Registration is required.
When: March 15, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: 407 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, California 92865
Cost: Free
For more details, contact theLibrary Foundation at (714) 288-2468 or email OPLibraryFoundation@gmail.com.
OC Archives Bazaar
Attend a day of various activities featuring the stories, traditions and memories of Orange County’s Vietnamese community at From Saigon to Little Saigon: Reflections on 50 Years of Home, an event held at the Great Park.
Make ‘zines’ in Hangar 244 starting at 10:00 a.m., or attend other activities throughout the day – a Vietnamese storytime and talks from Vietnamese filmmakers, authors and artists, and a walkthrough of the Great Park Gallery’s exhibit, More Than You Can Chew.
Entry is free and open to all ages.
When: March 16, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Hangar 244 & the Great Park Gallery, 8000 Great Park Blvd. Irvine, CA 92618
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the Orange County Archives in Action at ocarchivesbazaar@gmail.com
Coastal Orange County
Lego Mania
Take the kids to play with Legos at the Seal Beach Library.
When: March 15, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: 707 Electric Ave., Seal Beach, CA 90740
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (562) 431-3584
Learn About Healthy Eating
Visit the Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library for a presentation on how to read nutrition labels and other healthy eating tips.
When: March 16, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: 1855 Park Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (949) 646-8845
Sunday Musicale
Enjoy an “alternative classical” musical performance at the Newport Beach Central Library’s Sunday Musicale featuring the band Astral Mixtape.
The band’s music combines pop, jazz and contemporary music.
When: March 16, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach, California 92660
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (949) 717-3800
South Orange County
Play-Doh Playtime
Kids are invited to engage in hands-on play with Play-Doh and build Kindergarten-readiness skills at the Foothill Ranch Library.
When: March 15, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Where: 27002 Cabriole Way, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (949) 855-8072
Learn to Grow Tomatoes
Attend a workshop on growing healthy tomato plants at the Rancho Santa Margarita Library presented by the Master Gardeners of Orange County.
When: March 15, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: 30902 La Promesa, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (949) 459-6094
Craft at the Library
Children ages 4-12 are welcome to work on a salt rainbow craft at the San Juan Capistrano Library.
When: March 15, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Cost: Free
For more details, contact the library at (949) 493-1752
If you know of a free public agency event that the Voice of OC should be aware of, send an email to etaylor@voiceofoc.org
For more events, please refer to the Voice of OC Calendar.
