Saturday, October 12th Happenings in San Benito County

How often have you heard -- or said it yourself -- there's nothing to do around here?

Ha! Can't say that tomorrow, Saturday, October 12. You can pick and choose of things to do, even at this late date.

24th Annual Red Ribbon Run
Feel like taking part in a run?  Since 1989, San Benito County Behavioral Health has hosted a 5K Run/Walk and 10K Run to bring awareness to the problem, as well as prevention, of alcohol and drug abuse. The races start and ends in San Juan Bautista. You can still register to enter on Saturday. The event hours are 7 AM to 12 PM. For more information, including the maps of the runs, click here.

Open House  at Luck Park
From 9 AM to 2 PM, the San Juan Bautista Historical Society Luck Museum and the Carl M. Luck Memorial Library Auxiliary will be hosting an open house at Luck Park in San Juan Bautista. The event will showcase projects of San Juan Bautista organizations and nonprofits. A BBQ lunch will be available. Funds raised from the BBQ will be used for renovations of Luck Park. For more information, click here.

Women's Center Open House
Hazel Hawkins Hospital invites the community to visit the newly built Women's Center on Saturday, from 10 AM to 1 PM, at 911 Sunset Drive in Hollister. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the facility and meet obstetrical staff, as well as take advantage of free health screenings and participate in giveaways and other activities. For more info, read this article at BenitoLink.com.  

Northern California Renaissance Faire
This will be the last weekend of the Renaissance Faire at Casa de Fruta. Hours of the festival on both Saturday and Sunday are 10 AM to 6 PM. Head over to the Renaissance Faire's website for all the details you may want to know.  

 

Relay for Life Pumpkin Patch
The Casillas Garner Family and Friends Team are holding their annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life on both Saturday and Sunday (10/13), from 10 AM to 7 PM,  at the old Ferry Morse Ranch on Highway 156. People can purchase pumpkins, fresh produce, baked goods, and a barbecue lunch. For more details, click here.

Swank Farms Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, and Haunted House Event
Every year Swank Farms creates a new elaborate and crazed corn maze for folks to make their way through. They also have a pumpkin patch, a kiddie corral, pedal go carts, and other fun activities for young and old. They're open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM through October. And, this Saturday night, from 6 PM to midnight, their haunted event called Terror in the Corn, Alien Invasion will be open for the brave of heart. To get all the details, click here.

Downtown Wine & Beer Stroll 
Taking place in historical downtown Hollister from 1 to 5 PM tomorrow afternoon will be a wine and beer stroll hosted by the Hollister Downtown Association. The event will provide an opportunity to learn about both downtown merchants and local wineries and breweries. Stroll participants will visit businesses and restaurants to taste samples of wines and beer. For more details, check out this Hollister Downtown Association web page.

BenitoLink.com Launch Party
BenitoLink.com is a free online resource for local news and information. Tomorrow evening, the nonprofit group will hold a launch party to formally introduce its website to the community. The party will be from 5 to 7 PM at  the Blak Sage Gallery, 727 San Benito Street. There will be live music and complimentary food and drinks. For more information, click here.

Another Great County Fair!

Who else went to the San Benito County Fair this past weekend? The Husband and I had lots of fun. Hope you all did, too.

There's nothing like wandering about the grounds. . .watching people. . . picking up free stuff. . .walking around the livestock. . .seeing the 4-H and FAA kids in their crisp uniforms. . .eating Silva hot link sandwiches. . .checking out the  entries. . .being amazed at the clever entrants' interpretations of themes. . .wishing we could eat the ribbon-winning cookies and cakes on display. . .bumping into friends. . .learning about new things around our county. . .hearing ribbon winners squeal in delight. . . and much, much more.

A huge round of applause to Kelly Ferreira, the manager of the San Benito County Fairgrounds, to his dedicated staff, and to the many volunteers for putting together another wonderful county fair for us. Thank you very much!

Would you like to see more photos of the 2013 San Benito County Fair? You're welcome to view my Facebook album by clicking here.  You won't need to sign on or even have a Facebook account to view it. Enjoy!

The 2013 San Benito County Fair

Whooo-hooo! It's the San Benito County Fair this weekend -- Friday, October 4 through Sunday, October 6. Are you excited, too? For information about this year's hours, ticket prices, and schedule, head over to the County Fair's website.

This year, the County Express will be offering a free shuttle to the fair. It drops off passengers near the Pavilion. That's rather convenient. Just think, no hiking a distance over uneven lawn. For the County Fair shuttle schedule, click here.

What do you like best about the fair? Me? I like it all.  To see some of my favorite things, check out the 2012 San Benito County Fair album at Facebook. (You don't need to have a Facebook account, or even be signed on, to view the album.)

Ding-a-Ling Cafe on Fourth

The Ding-a-Ling Cafe's new location is 696 Fourth Street. Have you been there yet since the owners moved from the airport a few months ago?

For you pilots, the cafe's new location is about 2 and 1/2 miles from the airport. But, if you're not into walking, the Ding-a-Ling delivers. The cafe's phone number is (831) 637-1566.

The other day, the Husband and I had breakfast for the first time in their new location. Food is as yummy as ever. Portions still happily large, too. I ate about  half of my large quesadilla (eggs, bacon, and jalapenos) and ate the other half for lunch the next day.

When I was a small kid in the 1960s, I remember the cafe being on Fourth, near or on the spot where the Cozy Cup is.  According to Rosa, the owner, the Ding-a-Ling was once by the Michoacano Restaurant further out on Fourth and on San Felipe Road where the Chevron Station is. I think she also mentioned one or two more places. Goes to show, nothing stops the Ding-a-Ling Cafe. Thank goodness.

FYI: Here's a post that I wrote about the Ding-a-Ling Cafe in 2010. Scroll down to the comments to find out how the cafe maybe got its name.

The Brick Beauty

If you're gonna take photos from 5th & San Benito, you cannot go home without one of the beautiful brick building on the northeast corner. Right? Right!

To learn more about the Victorian building that was constructed in the 1870s, click here.

The View from 5th & San Benito series
Click here if you want an answer to "Huh. Series?"