FestivalBuena Park--The city’s Silverado Days celebration at...

Festival

Buena Park--The city’s Silverado Days celebration at Peak Park will offer old-fashioned family-oriented fun today through Sunday.

A parade, chili cook-off, carnival rides, game booths, international food and even a “mutt show� will be featured at the annual event. The community is also invited to meet the event’s mascot, Silverado Sam (Jack Miller, a Buena Park police officer) and Miss Silverado (Wendy Myers) and her court.

“It’s a real down-home event--everyone in the city gets involved,� said Gail Dixon, community activities coordinator for the event.

Silverado Days is sponsored by the Buena Park Noon Lions Club in cooperation with the city, with proceeds benefiting community service projects, Dixon said.

The event kicks off today at 3 p.m. at the park. A kids’ carnival begins at 4 p.m. in front of the park’s clubhouse, where children 13 and younger are invited to play free carnival games.

The Silverado Days Parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday along La Palma Avenue--between Knott and Western avenues--and heads east, ending at the park about noon.

Parade marshal is Albert (Blackie) Robison, 79, who’s lived in the city for 77 years.

A pancake breakfast begins at 7 a.m. Sunday with the 18th annual “Mutt Show� beginning at noon on the main stage. Dogs can be entered in categories such as “Best Trick or Talent,� “Craziest Costume� and “Mutt/Owner Look Alike.� Registration begins at 11 a.m.

Silverado Days ends at 9 p.m. Sunday with a raffle drawing for a 1992 Chevrolet pickup.

No alcoholic beverages are served or permitted.

What: Silverado Days.

When: Thursday, Oct. 15, through Sunday, Oct. 18. Thursday, 3 to 9 p.m.; Friday 3 to 11 p.m.; Saturday noon to 11 p.m.; Sunday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Where: William Peak Park, 7225 El Dorado Drive, Buena Park.

Whereabouts: Take the Artesia (91) Freeway, exit south on Knott Avenue. The park is on the left.

Wherewithal: Free.

Where to call: (714) 826-5666 or Buena Park Recreation Department at (714) 562-3844.

Music

San Juan Capistrano--Latin jazzman Justo Almario returns Saturday to the San Juan Capistrano Regional Library with his quartet. Almario’s previous performance at the library with pianist Abraham Laboriel was voted one of Orange County’s Top 10 jazz performances by OC Live! in 1991.

Almario, a Colombian-born composer, flutist and saxophonist, combines the Latin sound with American blues and jazz. When not performing with his quartet, Almario tours and records with Charles Mingus, Freddie Hubbard, the Commodores, Jon Lucien, Roy Ayers, Tania Maria and Frank Foster.

He has four albums in release, including the new “Heritage� on the Bluemoon/Moo label. His performance at the library will most likely be packed with his loyal following, including members of the Justo Society, a group of hard-core fans from Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Seating at the outdoor concert is limited, and concert-goers should bring blankets or lawn chairs.

What: Justo Almario and the Justo Almario Quartet.

When: Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7 and 9 p.m.

Where: San Juan Capistrano Regional Library, 31495 El Camino Real.

Whereabouts: Take Interstate 5 to the Ortega Highway exit. Head west on Ortega Highway and turn north on El Camino Real. The library is just past the mission, near Acjachema Street.

Wherewithal: $2 donation.

Where to call: (714) 493-1752

Walking Tour

Fullerton--It will take no more than 1 1/2 hours, but a local historical group says it will be nothing less than a walk into Fullerton’s historic past.

The Fullerton Heritage, a nonprofit organization concerned with the preservation of the city’s historic structures, is sponsoring a guided walking tour of downtown Fullerton on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Featured are several of the city’s historic buildings, including the Chapman building on the corner of Harbor Boulevard and Wilshire Avenue, which is in the National Registry of Historic Places. Built in 1923 in the style of the Louis Sullivan buildings in Chicago, it was one of the first tall buildings in Orange County.

Also included in the tour are the Post Office, which houses a Julian mural done during the Depression, and the Methodist church on the corner of Pomona Avenue and Amerige Street, which is a replica of an English church in the 12th Century. The Christian Science Church and the Masonic Temple, both built in the 1920s, are also on the tour.

What: Walking tour.

When: Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Where: Downtown Fullerton.

Whereabouts: Take the Orange (57) Freeway to the Chapman Avenue off-ramp. Go west on Chapman, turn left on Pomona Avenue to Museum Center patio, 301 N. Pomona Ave.

Wherewithal: $3.

Where to call: (714) 526-4617.

Travelogue

Costa Mesa--Free-lance photographer Jurgen Ankenbrand on Friday will relive his journey through the world’s most populated country in “Mysterious, Intriguing and Fascinating China� at Orange Coast College.

The slide and lecture presentation captures the people, country, lifestyle and scenery of China through Ankenbrand’s camera lens. He will recount his adventures of a three-week trek that took him from the countryside to Shanghai and other exotic locales.

The world traveler will show more than 250 slides from his private collection. His presentation includes trips to Beijing, the Great Wall and a side trip to Hong Kong.

Among the highlights will be pictures of the Terra Cotta Army, the life-size soldiers found several years ago by a farmer tending his fields.

What: Lecture on “Mysterious, Intriguing and Fascinating China.�

When: Friday, Oct. 16, from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Where: Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, Counseling and Admissions Building, Room 110.

Whereabouts: Take the San Diego (405) Freeway to the Fairview exit. Go south. The college is near the corner of Fairview Road and Adams Avenue.

Wherewithal: Registration is $7 in advance or $8 at the door.

Where to call: (714) 432-5880.

Crafts Bazaar

Fullerton--No commercially manufactured items allowed! That’s the warning--and the promise--of the holiday bazaar Saturday at the Senior Multi-Service Center.

Eighty vendors from around the county will attend to sell handmade porcelain dolls, wooden children’s toys and Christmas-tree ornaments.

Judy Parrott, the bazaar’s organizer, says she makes sure mass-produced items are not being sold. “If there is someone who has something that is not handmade, we do not invite them back the next year,� she says. But Parrott does allow for creative artists who use high technology; one vendor writes children’s books on her computer and will personalize them for a buyer, making him or her the hero of the text.

Food and beverages will be for sale, and one item from each of the vendors will be raffled off to the public.

What: Holiday bazaar.

When: Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Fullerton Senior Multi-Service Center, 340 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton.

Whereabouts: Take the Riverside (91) Freeway to Harbor Boulevard. Go north to Commonwealth Avenue and turn left.

Wherewithal: Free.

Where to call: (714) 738-6305.

Art Auction

Costa Mesa--Hit by staggering budget cuts, the Costa Mesa Girls Tennis Team is fighting to keep its club alive with an Art Auction fund-raiser Saturday at the Costa Mesa Senior Center.

Co-sponsored by Goju Karate, which will receive a portion of the profits, the event begins at 6 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres, wine and a preview of the art that will be auctioned. Several different media including sculpture, watercolors and oils will be represented. Bidders also can choose from a variety of genres from primitive and Western to modern pieces. The bidding, expected to range from $25 to $2,000, begins at 7 p.m. after the preview.

The auction is one of several strategies the 27-member team has come up with to raise money since losing almost its entire financing during recent school budget cuts. Earlier this year the team, composed of freshman through seniors, held a car wash to help pay for new jerseys. The money raised Saturday will go to pay for essentials from court resurfacing to new balls.

Goju Karate will use its share to provide scholarships for people who, because of the recession or other circumstances, cannot afford to continue karate classes.

What: Art Auction.

When: Saturday, Oct. 17, preview starts at 6 p.m. followed by auction at 7 p.m.

Where: Costa Mesa Senior Center, 695 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa.

Whereabouts: Take the Newport (55) Freeway into Costa Mesa. Turn right on 19th Street. Center is near the corner of Pomona Avenue and 19th Street.

Wherewithal: $5.

Where to call: (714) 751-6301.

Festival

Laguna Hills--The Wild West isn’t quite so wild anymore, but a hearty, action-packed time can still be had by all at this Saturday’s Frontier Days festival.

The 21-year-old annual event will feature a children’s fashion show, square dancing and a performance by the St. George’s Academy’s Children’s Choir.

While the kids can busy themselves with game booths and pumpkin decorating, adults can participate in a silent auction that will include items from Saks Fifth Avenue, restaurant dinners, haircuts at local salons as well as tickets to Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm.

Festival-goers also will be able to munch on baked goods while sampling a wide array of craft and white elephant items.

What: St. George’s Church and Academy Frontier Days Harvest Festival.

When: Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: 23802 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna Hills.

Whereabouts: Take Interstate 5 to the El Toro Road exit. Make a right off the exit ramp onto Avenida de la Carlota. The church is at the first corner.

Wherewithal: Free.

Where to call: (714) 837-4530.

Poetry

Orange--You can travel around the world without leaving your chair when listening to the poetry of Michael Andrews. Andrews, an experienced globe-trotter and photographer as well as poet, will read from his book “The Poet in the City of Angels� at Chapman University on Saturday at 8 p.m.

Andrews’ collection of poetry and photographs recounts his adventures in Vietnam, in Iran during the Islamic uprising and in the wilds of the Central American jungle, among other hot spots.

“He is a natural-born storyteller. What his poetry misses, his photos catch,� said Michael Logue, director of the Chapman reading series.

Following the reading, Andrews will sign copies of his book.

What: Michael Andrews poetry reading.

When: Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m.

Where: Chapman University, Guggenheim Gallery.

Whereabouts: Take the Garden Grove (22) Freeway to Glassell Street. Turn left onto Glassell and take road for about a mile. Chapman University is at 333 N. Glassell St., just three blocks north of Chapman Avenue.

Wherewithal: $3.

Where to call: (714) 997-6519.

Casino Night

San Juan Capistrano--The fountain courtyard at St. Margaret of Scotland Episcopal Church will be turned into a ballroom Saturday as the church holds its annual Masquerade Ball and Casino Night.

The fund-raiser begins at 6:30 p.m. with a five-course Cajun-style dinner, followed by dancing to a nine-piece orchestra. For the $50 fee, ball-goers receive $500 in fun money for casino play. Those willing to take a chance at the poker table and other game booths become eligible to win raffle tickets for prizes that include a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise, jewelry and dinning certificates at local eateries.

It is the second year the church has held the fund-raiser to help pay for items not included in their yearly budget. Last year money raised went to repair the church’s 40-year-old organ. This year’s funds are expected to help pay for Sunday school programs and a new youth program for junior and senior high school students.

Participants are encouraged to come in costume or black-tie attire.

What: Masquerade Ball and Casino Night.

When: Saturday, Oct. 17, from 6:30 p.m. to midnight.

Where: St. Margaret of Scotland Episcopal Church, 31641 La Novia Ave., San Juan Capistrano.

Whereabouts: From Interstate 5 take the Ortega Highway exit and head east. Turn right on La Novia Avenue, which is two lights down from the exit.

Wherewithal: $50.

Where to call: (714) 661-0110.

Art Lecture

Santa Ana--Guerrilla artist Robbie Conal will speak Monday at a free Rancho Santiago Community College art forum.

Conal, known for his “urban beautification projects� across the country that typically include unflattering caricatures of political figures, will speak on his artworks and philosophy during a two-hour forum beginning at noon.

Conal has created 14 poster caricatures targeting such public figures as President Bush, James A. Baker III and former Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates. He and his guerrilla teams have plastered more than 70,000 posters on buildings in Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Chicago, Houston, New Orleans and San Francisco.

What: Robbie Conal lecture.

When: Monday, Oct. 19, noon to 2 p.m.

Where: Rancho Santiago College Santa Ana campus, 17th and Bristol streets, Room C-104.

Whereabouts: Take the Santa Ana (5) or Costa Mesa (55) Freeways to 17th Street. Go West on 17th Street and turn left at first light past Bristol into the campus.

Wherewithal: Free.

Where to call: (714) 564-5600.

Festival

Garden Grove--Beer from around the world will be on tap Saturday at Autumnfest ‘92, a fund-raiser for the Garden Grove Community Adult Day Care Center.

The German-style festivities at the Courtyard Center Village Green include dinner, international beer tasting and dancing to the accordion music of Dick Schober. Festival-goers also can participate in a silent auction, bidding on such prizes as two round-trip tickets to Germany, a week’s lodging in Hawaii, restaurant gift certificates, hockey tickets and golf packages.

The annual fund-raiser is held to collect money for the many programs offered by the center, which serves elderly west Orange County residents.

The funds are used to provide art classes, field trips and other activities for the center’s participants, many who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other debilitating illnesses.

The Garden Grove Center cares for about 25 residents each day, often giving relief to family members who must work.

What: Autumnfest ’92.

When: Saturday, Oct. 17, from 2 to 6 p.m.

Where: Courtyard Center Green, 12732 Main St., Garden Grove.

Whereabouts: Take the Garden Grove (22) Freeway to the Euclid Street exit. Head north on Euclid, turn left on Acacia Parkway and right on Main Street.

Wherewithal: $25.

Where to call: (714) 530-1566.