Community Calendar

Sunday Sept 15 thru Sunday Nov 17

FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Cornerstone Church, 26189 Girard St
$109 fee for materials. Millions have changed their futures with FPU by learning to create a budget, get out of debt, and make a plan for their money. Join us for this 10 week class (9 Regular Classes – Plus a special Financial Workshop). (951) 658-7133. [website]

Friday November 8

FRIDAY NITE LIVE! TRIBUTE TO REBA McENTIRE
7:00 pm, Historic Hemet Theatre, 216 E Florida Ave
$22 presale, $25 day of show. Corrie Sachs is the number one Reba McEntire tribute artist/impersonator in Las Vegas and stars in the award-winning production show Country Superstars Tribute Show. Winner of the 2011 Tribute Act of the Year, Corrie is widely considered one of the best, and best known, Reba McEntire tribute artists in the country! [website] (951) 658-5950.

Saturday November 9

HEMET WOMAN’S CLUB HOLIDAY BAZAAR
8:00 am – 2:00 pm, Colonial Country Club, 601 N Kirby Ave
Free admission. The Hemet Woman’s Club presents the annual Holiday Bazaar, with over 50 vendors. Jewelry, clothing, decor, food and gift items. Raffles, including drawing for 6 Disneyland Park Hopper Tickets. Proceeds benefit Scholarship Program for local students. [flyer]

FALL IN LOVE WITH THE MINIS
9:00 am – 12:00 pm, SoCal Mini Horse Sanctuary, 24793 Los Rancherias Rd
$15 adults, $10 age 12 and under. Open House and Barn Day. Last fundraiser of the year. Raffle tickets $1 each. Drawings for a big screen TV, Two private parties with the minis on their patio (2 hours), NO SANDLES OR OPEN TOE SHOES. SoCalMinihorse.org

THE ART OF THE GUITAR IN MEXICO
3:00 pm, Diamond Valley Art Center, 123 N Harvard St
DVAC presents Jesus Serrano. Call for information. (951) 652-3822

SAN JACINTO MAYOR’S HARVEST BALL
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Golden Era Club House, 19871 Gilman Springs Rd
$45 per person, $80 per couple. Full dinner, cash bar, cigar lounge, whiskey pairings, live music & dancing. Sponsored by the San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce. (951) 654-1645.

Sunday November 10

VETERAN’S STREET FESTIVAL & CELEBRATION
Free Street Festival: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Celebration & Speakers 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Historic Hemet Theatre, 216 E Florida Ave
Fundraising event for homeless veterans in the valley and neighboring cities. Free Street Festival will feature entertainment, vendors, & more. Free food & gifts for vets. $2 raffle tickets to win a wide range of prizes. (951) 536-9856.

Monday November 11

VETERAN’S DAY GOLF & CEREMONY
7:00 am – 5:00 pm, Golden Era Golf Course, 19871 Gilman Springs Rd
Free admission. Special Veteran’s Day ceremony 11:00 am, including fly-over, bagpipes, color guard, taps, anthem and more. Complimentary lunch sponsored by Authority Real Estate. Free golf for veterans at 7:30 am and 1:00 pm. Call for tee times (951) 350-8417. [flyer]

Tuesday November 12

SAGE SOCIETY: MARIA CARRILLO COLATO
2:00 pm, Ramona Room (behind Miller-Jones Mortuary) 1501 W Florida Ave
Guests free. The speaker will explore the ramifications and political considerations in Abraham Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation two years into the increasingly bloody and protracted Civil War,
Maria Carrillo Colato is associate archivist of the special collections division of the A.K. Smiley public library in Redlands, CA. The presentation title: In Defense of Emancipation” analyzes Lincoln’s letter to the Unconditional Union Men of Illinois that strongly defends the proclamation as well as discussing the public response to the announcement. Social hour from 1:30 til 2 pm. (951) 357-4207.

GARDEN WORKSHOP: WINTER GARDENING TASKS
6:30 pm, Valley-Wide Recreation, 901 W Esplanade Ave
Free workshop. Valley Beautiful Garden Club hosts a special workshop, “Winter Gardening Tasks.” Meeting in Modular Building 1 (take west driveway to ball field parking lot) (951) 719-9868 [flyer]

Friday Nov 15 thru Sunday Nov 24

THE MISS FIRE CRACKER CONTEST
Friday & 1st Saturday 7:30 pm, 2nd Saturday & Sunday 2:30 pm
Ramona Hillside Playhouse, 27402 Ramona Bowl Dr
$15 reserved seating. The place is the small Mississippi town of Brookhaven, the time a few days before the Fourth of July. Carnelle Scott (known locally as “Miss Hot Tamale”) is rehearsing furiously for the Miss Firecracker Contest—hoping that a victory will salvage her tarnished reputation and allow her to leave town in a blaze of glory. Reservations (951) 658-5300.

Friday November 15

HEMET SAN JACINTO CHAMBER CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
8:00 am, Country Club at Soboba Springs, 1020 Soboba Rd
$150 per person. The Hemet San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce hosts their annual charity golf tournament. $100,000 hole-in-one shootout. Registration 8:00 am; Shotgun start at 10:00 am. (951) 658-3211.

Saturday November 16

HERITAGE RANCH ANNUAL HOLIDAY EMPORIUM
8:00 am – 1:00 pm, Heritage Ranch RV Park, 800 W Community College Dr
Free admission. Annual holiday fair featuring handmade and retail items. Breakfast burritos, coffee and donuts, and lunch will be available. (619) 504-6360.

Sunday November 17

RAFAEL CRUZ
10:00 am (English); 1:00 pm (Spanish), Val Vista Assembly of God
Free. Rafael Cruz will speak on the current threat to religious rights and freedoms in America today. He is the Director of Grace for America, sharing the Word of God in churches and conferences across America. His son is US Senator Ted Cruz. (951) 927-6868.

VALLEY QUEENS
6:00 pm, Historic Hemet Theatre, 216 E Florida Ave
$20 general admission. It’s the annual scholarship pageant to crown Miss Hemet, Miss San Jacinto, Miss Teen Hemet, Miss Teen San Jacinto, Mrs Hemet and Mrs San Jacinto. Contestants compete in sportswear, evening gown and interview questions. Details at www.ValleyQueens.com (951) 208-5205.

TIM & THE GLORY BOYS – THE BUFFALO ROADSHOW
7:00 pm, Community Christian Church, 41762 Stetson Ave
Free. With a wild, new album in their saddlebags, the boys are cutting a path clear across the country. Don’t miss your chance to join the shindig! Buffalo Roadshow is a spirited, all-ages party. Whether you’re from the big city or a one bison town, you can be sure this rowdy music hoedown won’t be more than two whoops and a holler away. Tim & The Glory Boys are more than just a country bluegrass gospel band! Reserve your free ticket on Eventful.com.

Saturday November 23

ANNUAL TURKEY TROT
9:00 am, Diamond Valley Lake Soccer Fields, 1801 Angler Ave
$5-$10 per person. Annual Turkey Trot 5k Walk/Trot and 1k Gobble Trot for kids, sponsored by Valley-Wide Recreation. 9:00 am Gobble Trot, 9:15 1k Trot, 10:00 am 5k Walk/Trot. $5 fee for same-day registration. (951) 929-0047.

KIDS ART JAM
10:00 am – 11:30 am, Hemet Valley Art Gallery, 144 N Harvard St
$5 per student. Kids from age 6 to 12 will learn a variety of art techniques and occasionally, a craft project. All materials are provided. Monthly on the fourth Saturday. Call for more information (951) 553-3572.

TRIBUTE MANIA! TRIBUTE TO THE BLUES BROTHERS
7:00 pm, Historic Hemet Theatre, 216 E Florida Ave
$22 presale, $25 day of show. THE FAIRCHILD BLUES TRIBUTE has dazzled audiences world wide with their uncanny resemblance to Belushi and Aykroyd. With slick dance moves and witty banter with the audience, you’re sure to fall in love with their incredible recreations of the popular Rhythm & Blues tunes of yesteryear! [website] (951) 658-5950.

Friday December 6

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm, Valley-Wide Regional Park, 901 W Esplanade Ave
Free. Join in the 13th Annual Tree Lighting to kick off the Holiday Season. Experience a movie under the stars. Enjoy music and complimentary refreshments as we count down to the tree lighting. And don’t forget to bring a camera for your picture with Santa! Tree lighting at 6:00 pm. (951) 487-9234.

Saturday December 7

VETERANS CHRISTMAS DINNER
12:00 pm & 4:00 pm. American Legion Post 53, 124 N Ramona St
Free to veterans and their spouses, children & grandchildren. Festivities include free Christmas dinner and free toys for children. Presale tickets are required. Veteran ID required. Sponsored by From the Lord Ministry and Stater Bros. [flyer]

TRIBUTE MANIA! TRIBUTE TO STYX
7:00 pm, Historic Hemet Theatre, 216 E Florida Ave
$22 presale, $25 day of show. Transport back in time to a live Styx concert. ROCKIN’ THE PARADISE has the chemistry, the passion, energy and note-for-note accuracy of a legendary show — up close and personal. Relive it all over again with the music of one of the greatest rock groups in music history. [website] (951) 658-5950.

Sunday December 8

34th ANNUAL TINSEL TRIATHLON
7:00 am – 12:00 pm, West Valley High School, 3401 Mustang Way
$40- $55 per person. It’s the largest reverse triathlon in the country. Pre-reg & registration opens at 7 am, race starts prompt at 9 am. Pre-registration is encouraged – day of race registration available. Packet pickup is day of. Chip Timing – 3 split times for triathlon. 5K Run, 12 Mile Bike, 150 Meter Swim (heated pool). You need a bike & helmet for triathlon. Register at www.active.com

HARMONIZERS CHORALE
3:00 pm, First Presbyterian Church, 515 E Kimball Ave
$10 donation. The Harmonizers Chorale presents “Light Your Way to Christmas.” [flyer]

Tuesday December 10

HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD HOUSE NIGHT
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Valle Vista Community Center, 43935 E Acacia Ave
$3 per person. Advance registration required. Tis’ the season for making Gingerbread Houses! Bring the whole family for a fun filled evening. We will be serving hot cocoa and cookies and we may even have a special visit from Santa. (Limited to the first 200 children) Advanced registration is required. (951) 927-6673.

GARDEN WORKSHOP: MAKING SUCCULENT WREATHS
6:30 pm, Valley-Wide Recreation, 901 W Esplanade Ave
Free workshop. Valley Beautiful Garden Club hosts a special workshop, “Making Seasonal Wreaths.” Meeting in Modular Building 1 (take west driveway to ball field parking lot) (951) 719-9868 [flyer]

Friday December 13

FRIDAY NITE LIVE! TRIBUTE TO KEITH URBAN
7:00 pm, Historic Hemet Theatre, 216 E Florida Ave
$22 presale, $25 day of show. URBAN SKIES is the next best thing to a Keith Urban show with seasoned musicians performing all the songs you know with all the high energy and excitement you’d expect from a Keith Urban show. [website] (951) 658-5950.

Saturday December 14

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
8:00 am – 11:00 am, Valley-Wide Sports Center, 901 W Esplanade Ave
$3 per person. Come see Santa and have breakfast. At this 11th annual event, there will be lots of activities such as children’s games, vendors, music, opportunity drawings, arts and crafts, and much more. And don’t
forget to bring a camera for your picture with Santa! Food will be served 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. Tickets are limited. (951) 487-9234.

Thursday December 19

THE GREAT GRINCH CANDY CANE HUNT
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Winchester Park, 32665 Haddock St, Winchester
Free. The Second Annual Great Grinch Candy Cane Hunt. Santa’s elves
have hidden red candy canes in Winchester Park, but The Grinch is turning them green. Find the green candy canes to win a prize! (951) 926-5917.

Friday December 20

McWANE’S PHOTOS WITH SANTA
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm, McWane Family Funeral Home, 350 N San Jacinto St
Free. Santa is coming to McWane’s! Come take a FREE picture with him. (951) 658-9497. [flyer]

Saturday December 21

STONE SOUL CHRISTMAS
7:00 pm, Historic Hemet Theatre, 216 E Florida Ave
$22 presale, $25 day of show. A very special Christmas concert featuring the best of Motown and Soul, performed by the amazing STONE SOUL. Appearing at HHT for the first time, come celebrate the holidays with us! [website] (951) 658-5950.

Saturday January 4

SCIENCE SATURDAY: BOTTLES OF SCIENCE
10:30 am – 1:00 pm, Western Science Center, 2345 Searl Pkwy
Free. Learn about the science of winter at Science Saturday! Science Saturdays give you a chance to interact directly with WSC scientists and educators as they bring to life various facets of scientific exploration. Hands-on activities, games, and demonstrations give kids a chance to have fun while learning about science! Science Saturdays has something fun and informative for all ages (including parents!) but are most geared towards elementary and middle school ages. And best of all, Science Saturdays are always free! There is an additional fee to enter the museum. Children under 13 must be accompanied by a parent. (951) 791-0033.

Saturday January 11

POLAR PLUNGE
Valley-Wide Aquatic Center, 1801 Angler Ave
Donation. Celebrate the new year with a dip in the pool!!! Take a dip or ride down the slide into the unheated pool at the Diamond Valley Aquatic Center. Only the bravest swimmers will be able to take the chill at this inaugural event. Proceeds will benefit local nonprofit organizations. (951) 929-0047.

Friday Jan 17 thru Sunday Jan 26

A TUNA CHRISTMAS
Friday & 1st Saturday 7:30 pm, 2nd Saturday & Sunday 2:30 pm
Ramona Hillside Playhouse, 27402 Ramona Bowl Dr
$15 reserved seating. A Tuna Christmas is a broad comedy set in the fictional town of Tuna, Texas. The plot centers on the town’s annual Christmas Yard Display Contest, won 14 times in a row by Vera Carp. A mysterious “Christmas Phantom,” known for vandalizing the yard displays, has the contestants on edge. Reservations (951) 658-5300.

Sunday January 26

WISCONSIN WIND ORCHESTRA
2:00 pm, Tahquitz High School, 4425 Titan Trail
$30 general admission, free age 22 and under. Established in 1995 by director Lawrence Harper as one of the few professional chamber wind ensembles in the world, their repertoire spans from Mozart and Haydn, to Mendelssohn, Grainger and Mussorgsky, as well as modern composers. In addition to frequent performances all over the USA, they have recently participated in festivals in Holland and Italy. (951) 658-7319. [website]

Sunday February 16

KOUZOV DUO
2:00 pm, Tahquitz High School, 4425 Titan Trail
$30 general admission, free age 22 and under. The acclaimed duo will perform a program of cello and piano masterworks, including Beethoven, whose 250th birthday is celebrated this year. Legendary cellist Mstislav Rostropovich said: “Dmitry Kouzov is a true artist…” His wife and musical partner Yulia Fedoseev Kouzova is an esteemed soloist, chamber musician and teacher. (951) 658-7319. [website]

Sunday March 1

ILYA YAKUSHEV
2:00 pm, Tahquitz High School, 4425 Titan Trail
$30 general admission, free age 22 and under. The charismatic and fiery pianist will perform the original solo version of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” with slides of the art which inspired the composer, as well as one of Beethoven’s great piano sonatas. In a review, The New York Times said: “Mr. Yakushev can do just about anything he wants.” (951) 658-7319. [website]

Sunday April 19

FANDANGO!
2:00 pm, Tahquitz High School, 4425 Titan Trail
$30 general admission, free age 22 and under. This colorful quartet of flute, guitar, violin and cello performs a toe-tappingly spicy mix of Latin, Spanish, Sephardic, Balkan, and classical music. Featuring two GRAMMY-nominees, the globe-trotting virtuosi hail from Spain, the USA, former Yugoslavia, and the UK, and have played, separately and together, on the world’s most prestigious stages. (951) 658-7319. [website]