GROWING GROUNDS FARM presents its second annual Harvest Festival, featuring fresh flowers, organic vegetables, art, music, and unique products on Oct. 8 from noon to 6 p.m. at the farm at West Foster Road and California Boulevard. in Orcutt. Info: 541-5144, Ext. 175, or hbrown@t-mha.org.
THE CENTRAL COAST RAILROAD FESTIVAL celebrates railroad history in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties with events featuring rides, modeling, exhibits, ceremonies, family activities, music, films, and historical tours Oct. 8 through 12. A full schedule is available at ccrrf.com. Info: 773-4173.
FIGHTING BACK SANTA MARIA VALLEY presents the San Diego HARM Coalition and their forum on marijuana usage on Oct. 8 from 4 to 6 p.m. at 511 East Lakeside, Santa Maria. Info: 346-1774.
THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA presents bestselling author Jay Asher and his book Th1rteen R3asons Why on Oct. 9 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Altrusa Children’s Theatre, Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland, Santa Maria. Info: 925-0994, Ext. 821.
THE LOMPOC PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT presents a bus trip to the Scottish and Celtic Festival in Ventura on Oct. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The bus meets at the Anderson Recreation Center in Lompoc. Cost is $25. Info: 875-8100.
THE NIPOMO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE presents the Nipomo October Festival, featuring an antique tractor parade, food, music, a beer garden, a car show, and local vendors on Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in downtown Nipomo. Info: 929-1583 or nipomochamber.org.
AN AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING EVENT featuring Leonard V. Makofske and his book The Adventures of Skipperjack: An Epic Fairy Tale is Oct. 10 from noon to 3 p.m. at B. Dalton, 177 Santa Maria Town Center, Santa Maria. Info: 888-361-9473 or traci@tatepublishing.com.
THE LUIS OASIS SENIOR CENTER presents, as part of its “Celebrate Our World” series, a “Celebrate Germany” event featuring food, fun, and music on Oct. 10 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Luis Oasis Senior Center, 420 Soares Ave. Old Orcutt. Info: 937-9750 or 868-8021.
ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE presents a free military appreciation event at the Hancock football game starting with a tailgate party on Oct. 10 at 4 p.m. at Righetti High School’s parking lot, Foster Road, Orcutt. Info: 922-6966, Ext. 3280, or hancockcollege.edu.
THE SANTA MARIA ELKS LODGE presents a Super Bingo event on Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge No. 1538, 1309 N. Bradley Road, Santa Maria. Info: 922-1538.
THE PUEBLO EDUCATION FUND presents “Building America Together: Celebrating Senator Ted Kennedy’s Legacy, Continuing the Struggle,” a candlelight vigil in support of Congressman Luis Gutierrez on Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at South Broadway and Cook Street in Santa Maria. Info: 922-4447 or sbpueblo.org.
THE SANTA MARIA JOINT UNION HIGH SCHOOL RETIRED TEACHERS group holds its fourth annual reunion barbecue on Oct. 14 from noon to 4 p.m. at Waller Park, Santa Maria. Cost is $7. Info: 922-6886 or famcoop2@aol.com.
WORTH THE DRIVE
THE SANTA BARBARA HUMANIST SOCIETY presents a fundraising auction featuring live music in benefit of Health Care for All on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center, 1118 E. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara. Info: 636-5011.
UCSB ARTS AND LECTURES presents a screening of Food, Inc. on Oct. 8 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at the UCSB Campbell Hall, Santa Barbara. Cost is $6, $5 for students. The “Telluride Mountainfilm on Tour” features several short films and animations Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the UCSB Campbell Hall, Santa Barbara. Cost is $10, $8 for students. Info: 893-3535 or artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.
NEW LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH invites the men of the Central Coast to a conference titled “Awaken the Giant,” featuring speaker Paul Coughlin and standup comedian Brad Stine on Oct. 10 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church in Pismo Beach. Info: awakenthegiant.org or 710-6568.
THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION hosts its 16th annual Mental Health Arts Festival on Oct. 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the De La Guerra Plaza, Santa Barbara. Info: 884-8440 or mhainsb.org.
THE SANTA BARBARA DANCE ALLIANCE presents its “Dance with Our Stars!” dancers ball featuring fun, food, and dance on Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. at the Maritime Museum, Santa Barbara. Cost is $55, $100 per pair. Info: 966-6950 or sbdancealliance.org.
CAL POLY’S College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences’ Sustainable Agriculture Resource Consortium holds its fifth annual fundraiser dinner, “Taste of the Future,” on Oct. 14 at Cal Poly, SLO. Info: 756-5086 or sarc.calpoly.edu.
This article appears in Oct 8-15, 2009.