THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA Recreation and Parks Department hosts a fiesta event on Oct. 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Maria, 901 N. Railroad, Santa Maria. “Spooktacular Hallowe’en Parties” are presented by the city Oct. 21 and 22 in Santa Maria. Info: 925-0951, Ext. 414.
THE NIPOMO SWAPMEET holds a Halloween Bucks Giveaway for kids on Oct. 18 and 25 at noon at the Swapmeet in Nipomo. Cost is $3. Info: 929-7000.
THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC LIBRARY Children’s Room presents “Slighty Spooky,” featuring scary stories for kids ages 3 to 7 on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. at the library. “Totally Terrifying” features scary stories for ages 7 and up on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland, Santa Maria. Info: 925-0994, Ext. 117.
THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB presents Youth Basketball League Sing-Ups on Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon at the club, 901 N. Railroad, Santa Maria. Info: 922-7763.
THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA Recreation and Parks Department presents an “Improv for Teens” class for kids ages 13 to 18 years through Nov. 16 at the Abel Maldonado Youth Center, 600 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. Cost is $54.50, $43 for city residents. A “Fitness Training by Aztec” class for those 14 years and older meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 7 to 8 p.m. starting over the first of each month at the Minami Community Center, 600 West Enos Drive, Santa Maria. Cost is $60, $45 for city residents. Info: 925-0951, Ext. 264, or ci.santa-maria.ca.us.
THE PISMO BEACH YOUTH THEATRE presents musical theater production classes for 4th through 8th graders for a production of Annie meeting Wednesdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. through Dec. at Temple Beth El, 1501 E. Alvin, Santa Maria. Cost is $40 per month. Info: 471-4976 or pismobeachyouththeater.com.
ADVENTURES IN LEARNING PRESCHOOL hosts a free “Story and Sing-A-Long Hour” the first Monday of the month from 10 to 11 a.m. at the preschool, 145 Verbena St., Nipomo. Info: 929-1889.
WORTH THE DRIVE
THE CACHUMA LAKE NATURE CENTER presents a “Creepy Creatures” event for kids featuring live animals on Oct. 17 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Cachuma Lake Nature Center, Cachuma Lake. Cost is $8 for parking. Info: 693-0691 or cachuma.com.
THE STUDIO OF PERFORMING ARTS presents a “Monster Mash” party for ages 8 through 18 on Oct. 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the studio, 116 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande. Info: 473-0377 or thestudioofperformingarts.com.
ONGOING
LA LECHE LEAGUE SANTA MARIA offers pregnant and nursing moms free breastfeeding support and information the third Wednesday of each month. Info: 734-9895 or 938-0789.
THE LITTLE VILLAGE offers a daily enrichment program for kids ages 3 to 6 during the summer and fall. Activities include arts and crafts, baking, music, gardening, and creative play. Info: 925-7515.
MUSIC TOGETHER is a music and movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the adults who love them. Classes are offered in Arroyo Grande and Santa Maria. Free demonstration classes available. Info: 264-5545 or strawberrymusic2gether.com.
MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS GROUP (MOPS) is a non-denominational group that meets for speakers, crafts, mom’s night out, and other fun activities every second and fourth Monday of the month, 6:30 p.m. at Pacific Christian Center. Santa Maria. Child care is provided. Info: 934-3491.
MOM’S CLUB OF SOUTH SLO COUNTY offers friendship support, weekly play groups, and other activities for moms and kids. Info: momsclubinfro@sbcglobal.net, of southslomomsclub.org.
MOMS OFFERING MOMS SUPPORT offers weekly playgroups and other activities for moms and kids. The club meeting is on the fourth Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. at Hunter’s Landing, 1156 E. Grand Avenue, Arroyo Grande. Info: 473-2548.
ORCUTT MOMS CLUB meets for playgroups, mom’s nights out, and other fun activities. Info: 350-3148.
SANTA MARIA M.O.M.S. CLUB is a support group for stay-at-home moms who meet for play and activity groups, mom’s night out, and park days on the fourth Tuesday of each month, 10 a.m., at Maramonte Community Park. Info: 928-0655 or 925-0351.
PERFORMANCE ATHLETICS GYMNASTICS offers a “Parents Night” every second Saturday of the month. Parents can drop their kids off from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. for pizza and gymnastic activities. The facility is located at 720 Aerovista St., Suite C, San Luis Obispo. Info: 547-1496.
THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF SANTA MARIA, 412 S. McClelland (next to lawn bowling) is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Regional habitat exhibits are interactive and multi-sensory. School tours are by appointment only. Donations accepted. Info: 614-0806 or naturalhistorysantamaria.com.
SANTA MARIA STAY AT HOME MOMS GROUP meets for weekly play groups at local parks on Thursdays at 10 a.m. Info: sahm.meetup.com/2515.
THE SANTA MARIA RECREATION AND PARK DEPARTMENT offers the Minami After School Time program for kids ages 6 through 12 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on each school day throughout the school year. A full list of classes and events offered by the city is available at ci.santa-maria.ca.us. Info: 925-0951, Ext. 264, or ci.santa-maria.ca.us.
SANTA MARIA VALLEY DISCOVERY MUSEUM is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, closed. Enjoy themed events on Thursday nights until 7 p.m. Admission is $8 per person, kids under 2 get in free. Location is 705 S. McClelland. Info: 928-8414.
THE SANTA MARIA VALLEY RAILROAD COMPANY freight depot is located at 628 S. McClelland St. The Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad hold monthly programs every second Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at the depot. Info: 922-7941.
SOLVANG PUBLIC LIBRARY holds a preschool story time at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The library is located at 1745, Mission Dr., Solvang. Info: 688-4214.
RAILWAY HISTORICAL MUSEUM offers a trip into the Santa Maria Valley’s past when railroads ruled. See miniature railroad layouts, pictures, and artifacts. Learn about railroading in the present and future. Admission is free. The museum is located in the Santa Maria Town Center. Open Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Info: 714-4927.
ABEL MALDONADO COMMUNITY CENTER offers daily activities for kids in 7th through 12th grades. Activities include indoor sports, a computer lab, games, fitness equipment, basketball courts, movies, and more. The center is open Monday through Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 2:30 to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Free tutoring for grades seven through 12 is Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. and Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. The center is located at 600 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. Free. Info: 925-0951, Ext. 252.
COLUMBIA CHILDREN’S CENTER is located at 840 E Stowell Road, Santa Maria. The center offers preschool and child care, kindergarten readiness, potty training, and more. Info: 922-KIDS.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB of Santa Maria Valley offers an Early Bird Program for children 6-12 years old. The program provides year-round students with the opportunity for supervised, structured programs during their off-track time from school. It runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cost is $8 per day. Regular club hours during the school year are Monday through Friday from 2 to 6 p.m., and from noon until 6 p.m. during the summer. Info: 922-7763.
HANCOCK “COLLEGE FOR KIDS” CLASSES include ballet, ballet folklorico, hip-hop, and jazz-funk. Info: 922-6966, Ext. 3209.
VOLUNTEERS FOR INTER-VALLEY ANIMALS (VIVA) hold pet adoptions Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Adoption Center, 133 North D St., Lompoc. Info: 735-6741.
This article appears in Oct 15-22, 2009.