Celebrating Sacramento Valley agricultural history

The 2^nd annual California Nut Festival celebrates the rich heritage of Northern California�s nut and agricultural industry with a fun-filled day on April 16 with the very best in locally grown food, wine, brews, and live entertainment. 

You can enjoy guest chef cooking demonstrations, and art and farming displays at the Patrick Ranch Museum, 10381 Midway, Chico, CA from 11a.m. to 4p.m. (tickets $25 per person). The Butte Folk Music Society is providing musical entertainment throughout the day. The Festival features the works of local plein air artists on local farms throughout the seasons. 

The California Nut Festival began as a series of events including a blossom tour, spelling bee, book club and chef demonstrations that took place over the course of a two week period, but lacked a single event that brought consumers and local farms together in a meaningful way.

The mission of the California Nut Festival is to help consumers connect with local farmers and learn about the locally grown food available in the North Valley, and support the continued development of the Patrick Ranch Museum to preserve and interpret the agricultural history of the Sacramento Valley, including social, cultural and economic aspects.

Attendees have the opportunity to elevate their knowledge of culinary skills and locally grown foods, while also gaining a clearer understanding and appreciation of all that goes into producing the food they eat.

Proceeds from the California Nut Festival benefit the historic Patrick Ranch Museum which was bequeathed to the Chico Museum, the predecessor to the Far West Heritage Association, in 2001. 

For more information about top events in California take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in California. 

For more information on the California Nut Festival visit www.californianutfestival.com

Napa Valley Vineyard to Vintner

Napa�s Vineyard to Vintner Party

Join the Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association at its annual neighborhood block party Vineyard to Vintner (V2V 2011). 

V2V 2011 promises to be both more festive and more informative, as it has been extended to encompass the entire last weekend of April. The party begins with four intimate vintner-hosted �Friday Night Dinners� on April 29, followed on Saturday morning with �Style and Strength: A Stags Leap District Cabernet Seminar� hosted by Saveur Magazine�s wine editor David Rosengarten, continuing on to exclusive �Winery Open Houses� at 18 Stags Leap District properties. On Sunday participants welcome guests back for one last bit of complimentary tasting.

The four Friday night dinners will be the most intimate and, perhaps for some, the most memorable part of the weekend. Each dinner will be held at a separate Stags Leap District winery, with cuisine provided by a top chef, and limited space allowing only 45 guests each.  

During the winery open houses on Saturday April 30, guests can experience the 18 beautiful properties located within the appellation at V2V�s �Open Houses�, enjoying personal access to vintners and winemakers as they showcase their caves, barrels and cellars for special tours and tastings unavailable to the public. 

On Sunday May 1, guests will have an opportunity to enjoy a series of bonus complimentary tastings at participating retail rooms.

The Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association is a non-profit association of neighboring vintners and growers who work together to grow the reputation of their wines and appellation, and share the appellation�s quality with the wine loving world.    

For more information about top events in California take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in California. 

For more information visit the Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association at www.stagsleapdistrict.com

Spring Time in San Diego

April showers bring May flowers to many parts of the country; however, it is the winter rains that bring vibrant, colorful floral displays each spring throughout San Diego County. 

From the botanical splendor of Balboa Park to the gorgeous gardens of Coronado and Carlsbad, and from charming mountain daffodils of Julian to the surprisingly verdant transformation of the Anza-Borrego Desert, San Diego offers many spectacular spring floral displays and horticultural offerings.

Spring makes a colorful entrance on March 26 and 27 in San Diego East County's charming historic mountain town of Julian during the annual Julian Daffodil Show. 

On April 16-17, the city of Coronado presents the 86th Annual Coronado Flower Show - the largest tented flower show in the West, drawing thousands of gardening and flower enthusiasts to Spreckels Park. Two other Coronado events coinciding with the Flower Show include the MotorCars on Main Street classic car show on April 17 and a popular Friends of the Library Book Fair.  

During April 28 - May 1, the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park blossoms during the annual Art Alive, an enchanting spring exhibition that transforms the museum into a colorful, captivating display of art and flowers. More than 100 floral designers take inspiration from the museum's renowned art collection and create floral renditions of famous paintings and sculptures.  

The Mission Hills Garden Club hosts the 13th Annual Garden Walk, one of the biggest in San Diego, on May 7. 

For more information about top events in California take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in California. 

For more information on San Diego's springtime offerings visit www.sandiego.org 

Anaheim 50th Anniversary Facebook Sweepstakes

Anaheim�s 50^th Anniversary Facebook Sweepstakes 

Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau is celebrating their 50^th Anniversary as a leading destination marketing  organization in 2011. In recognition of this milestone, AOCVCB has launched a 50^th Anniversary Facebook Sweepstakes.  

The �Share our Sunshine� sweepstakes includes more than 50 destination prize packages with a total value estimated at approximately $70,000. 

Over the course of the six-week contest, Facebook users will have an opportunity to win prizes ranging from baseball suites at Angel Stadium, stays at Orange County�s luxury coastal resorts, personal shopping extravaganzas at South Coast Plaza, dining, and family vacation packages including accommodations and admission tickets to a variety of major Southern California attractions including Universal Studios� Hollywood, SeaWorld San Diego, LEGOLAND� California, Knott�s Berry Farm� Theme Park and Medieval Times.

Beginning April 5, 2011, Facebook fans will be eligible to win the Grand Prize, which includes a two-night stay at Disney�s Grand Californian Hotel� & Spa, four 3-Day Park Hopper tickets, VIP viewing for World of Color for a party of four, a character breakfast for four, plus airfare provided by American Airlines from within the continental United States.

�We are very proud of our organization�s five-decades as a leading destination marketing organization. This Facebook sweepstakes is a fitting way to share our destination and celebrate our 50th by showcasing all the fantastic reasons to visit the Anaheim and Orange County region� stated Charles Ahlers, Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau President.

A special deal tab will also be created to enhance this contest and give visitors special Facebook-only discounts and incentives.

For more information about top events in California take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in California. 

A 50^th Anniversary microsite will provide insider vacation tips and reasons to visit Anaheim and Orange County plus destination information

February is Museum Month in San Diego

Throughout February 2011, visitors to San Diego have the opportunity to experience the region's rich cultural offerings at half-price during San Diego Museum Month. Guests can participate by picking up a free San Diego Museum Month Pass at any area Macy's location; with the pass, they can receive half-price admission for up to four guests per visit at 40 of San Diego's museums, cultural attractions and historical sites.

Visitors can take advantage of San Diego Museum Month at facilities located throughout the region; for example:

The USS Midway Museum, Maritime Museum of San Diego and The New Children's Museum in downtown San Diego;
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla;
LUX Art Institute and the San Diego Botanical Garden in Encinitas;
13 world-class facilities like the Mingei International Museum, the Museum of Photographic Arts, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park, which is often referred to as the "Smithsonian of the West."
 
Visitors can pick up a San Diego Museum Month Pass, valid February 1 to 28, 2011, at any Macy's store location in San Diego County or neighboring Temecula and El Centro. 

San Diego Museum Month was created in 1989 by the San Diego Museum Council to promote the region's museums, historical sites and cultural offerings. In 2010, nearly 24,000 visitors used Museum Month Passes to explore San Diego museums at half-price.

For more information about top events in California take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in California.

For more information on San Diego offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.sandiego.org

Free Entry Weekends at California�s Gateway to Yosemite

Yosemite National Park will again be offering free entry weekends in 2011, with the first one this week as a celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 17). Tourism officials say the free entry days are not only the perfect chance to explore the scenic park, but the surrounding gateway region as well.

�Yosemite is obviously the main attraction in the region, but it brings people here where they find much more,� said Jarrod Lyman of the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau which represents Madera County, California�s Gateway to Yosemite. �When they discover things like Bass Lake, the Madera Wine Trail and other popular attractions, they realize there is much to see in the gateway region.�

MaderaCounty surrounds Highway 41, the most traveled entrance in to Yosemite. Located at the south entrance to the park, the entrance is the closest to popular spots like the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias, Glacier Point and tunnel view.

Madera County is also home to numerous art galleries and history museums. The region claims more artists per capita than any other in the country, and the rich history stemming back to Native American tribes, the gold rush and logging industry are on display throughout the county.

Organizations such as the Madera Arts Council and Sierra Art Trail hold numerous events to acquaint visitors with the galleries and works of Madera County, while the Consortium of Southern Yosemite Museums represents nine museums showcasing everything from clothing dating as far back as the 1700�s to gold panning, logging and even a working 100 year old steam engine, on which you can ride through the Sierra National Forest.

For more information about top events in California take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in California.

For more information visit www.YosemiteThisYear.com