{"id":19573,"date":"2025-10-23T14:09:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T14:09:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/19573\/"},"modified":"2025-10-23T14:09:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T14:09:09","slug":"explore-and-volunteer-outdoors-in-oc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/19573\/","title":{"rendered":"Explore and Volunteer Outdoors in OC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Consider starting your weekend this Saturday by exploring the Saddleback Wilderness on an access day<\/a>. Those wanting to volunteer can tend to the land in Aliso Viejo Community Park<\/a> or take care of local hiking trails<\/a> in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.<\/p>\n

This is just a handful of the many free events and activities happening throughout Orange County \u2013 funded by public tax dollars.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

CHECK OUT OUR FULL CALENDAR HERE<\/a><\/p>\n

Every week, Voice of OC reporters work hard to help residents stay connected to upcoming civic events, putting locals in a position to save tax dollars and hold leaders accountable.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You can cut through the noise every morning by reading the free Voice of OC daily email newsletter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sign up here.<\/a><\/p>\n

You can also bookmark the Voice of OC calendar<\/a> to stay ahead of key civic meetings impacting your quality of life during the week.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That same kind of watchdog reporting now fuels a vibrant weekend calendar, choc full of free public services and assets your tax dollars finance.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here are a few noteworthy free events happening this weekend.\u00a0<\/p>\n

North Orange County<\/p>\n

Morning Meditation<\/p>\n

Start the day with a guided meditation session<\/a> at the Yorba Linda Public Library.<\/p>\n

When: October 25, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 4852 Lakeview Ave., Yorba Linda, CA 92886<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact the library at (714) 777-2873<\/p>\n

Halloween Crafts<\/p>\n

Take the kids for an afternoon of Halloween crafting<\/a> at the Buena Park Library. While supplies last, attendees can make paper plate spider webs and paper bag monster puppets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When: October 25, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 7150 La Palma Ave., Buena Park CA 90620<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact the library at (714) 826-4100<\/p>\n

Crochet<\/p>\n

Ages 12+ are welcome to crochet<\/a> a water bottle bag at the Canyon Hills Library in Anaheim. No crochet experience is required.<\/p>\n

When: October 25, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 400 Scout Trail, Anaheim, CA 92807<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact the library at (714) 765-6444<\/p>\n

Central Orange County<\/p>\n

Wilderness Access Day<\/p>\n

\"\"Mission Viejo resident Laurie Ha , 41, (right) and a friend finish hiking one of the newly opened trails at Saddleback Wilderness, part of OC Parks\u2019 Irvine Ranch Open Space in Orange, Calif. on Satuday, April 8, 2023. (CREDIT:Jack Sundblad\/VOICE OF OC)<\/p>\n

Hike 3.3 miles of trails in the Saddleback Wilderness during a scheduled access day<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

No registration is required, but access<\/a> is first-come, first-served until parking capacity is reached.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When: October 25, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 3081 Santiago Canyon Road, Orange, CA 92869<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact the Irvine Ranch Conservancy at info@irconservancy.org<\/a> or visit letsgooutside.org<\/p>\n

Bilingual Storytime<\/p>\n

Children of all learning levels are welcome to a storytime<\/a> in Vietnamese and English at the Fountain Valley Library.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When: October 25, 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 17635 Los Alamos, Fountain Valley, CA<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact the library at (714) 962-1324<\/p>\n

Movie at the Library<\/p>\n

\"\"The entrance to the Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library on April 28, 2024. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

Enjoy a screening<\/a> of the 1956 version of\u00a0 \u201cInvasion of the Body Snatchers\u201d\u00a0 at the Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library.<\/p>\n

When: October 26, 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 1855 Park Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92627<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact the library (949) 646-8845<\/p>\n

Coastal Orange County<\/p>\n

Trail Stewardship<\/p>\n

\"\"Sunit Nangia from Laguna Niguel, Calif. helps collect seed at Laguna Canyon Foundation Headquarters on Oct. 5, 2024. Credit: FASHION CASTILLO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

Volunteer to take care of local hiking trails<\/a> in the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. Volunteers will assist with clearing drains tl, pruning plants and moving dirt to restore impacted areas.<\/p>\n

Registration<\/a> is required.<\/p>\n

When: October 25, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 10 Phillips St., Laguna Beach, CA 92651<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact volunteer@lagunacanyon.org<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Adult Halloween Crafts<\/p>\n

Make a \u201cspooky\u201d birdhouse craft<\/a> at the Dana Point Library. The program is for adults only.<\/p>\n

When: October 25, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 33841 Niguel Rd., Dana Point, CA 92629<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact the library at (949) 496-5517<\/p>\n

Visit the HB International Surfing Museum<\/p>\n

\"\"A mural by Donald \u201cDJ Mac\u201d MacDonald on the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum on May 21, 2023. The piece was originally painted in 1996. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC.<\/p>\n

Learn about the history of surfing at the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum<\/a>, a nonprofit museum located downtown.<\/p>\n

The museum is free to enter, but donations are appreciated.<\/p>\n

When: October 25 & 26, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 411 Olive Ave., Huntington Beach, Ca 92648<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact the museum at (714) 960-3483<\/p>\n

South Orange County<\/p>\n

Outdoor Volunteering<\/p>\n

\"\"Marjorie Rhodes, Laguna Canyon Foundation Restoration Project Manager, stops to talk to a volunteer about the native plant seed that they are collecting in Laguna Beach, Calif. on Oct. 5, 2024. Credit: FASHION CASTILLO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

Spend time volunteering<\/a> in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park alongside Laguna Canyon Foundation staff. Assist with removing weeds, watering, collecting seeds and planting native species.<\/p>\n

No experience is necessary, but registration<\/a> is required.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When: October 25, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.<\/p>\n

Where: Aliso Viejo Community Park, 150 Cedarbrook, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact volunteer@lagunacanyon.org or dulce@lagunacanyon.org with any questions.<\/p>\n

Open Sewing Lab<\/p>\n

Teens ages 14+ and adults are welcome to the Laguna Niguel Library\u2019s open sewing lab<\/a>. Receive support and inspiration for sewing projects.<\/p>\n

Participants are asked to register by emailing ocpl.lagunaniguel@occr.ocgov.com or by calling the library.<\/p>\n

When: October 25, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 30341 Crown Valley Pkwy., Laguna Niguel, CA 92677<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact the library at (949) 249-5252<\/p>\n

D\u00eda de Los Muertos Celebration<\/p>\n

\"\"Maria Martinez, Program Coordinator at Roosevelt Walker Community Center, standing in front of an altar at a free D\u00eda de Los Muertos celebration held at the center\u2019s community garden on Nov. 1, 2023. Martinez is dressed as La Catrina, a symbolic figure rooted in Mexican culture. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC.<\/p>\n

Celebrate D\u00eda de Los Muertos in a free community festival<\/a> at the Norman Murray Center in Mission Viejo. Attendees can enjoy live mariachi music, dancing, artisan vendors, cultural food, free craft workshops and beautiful community ofrendas honoring loved ones who have passed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

D\u00eda de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated by Latinos during the first two days of November in Mexico, the United States, and in other Latin American countries such as Guatemala, Ecuador, El Salvador and Bolivia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

People memorialize their loved ones by constructing altars with photographs of the deceased, food and unique offerings that relate to the person\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

When: October 25, 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.<\/p>\n

Where: Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, CA<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact Carol Manley, Mission Viejo Activities Committee Event Coordinator, at (949) 338-6061 or cmanley@cityofmissionviejo.org<\/a><\/p>\n

If you know of a free public agency event that the Voice of OC should be aware of, send an email to etaylor@voiceofoc.org<\/p>\n

For more events, please refer to the Voice of OC Calendar.<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Consider starting your weekend this Saturday by exploring the Saddleback Wilderness on an access day. Those wanting to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":19574,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[163,165,164,16228,4799,16229,4800,4801,16230,2267],"class_list":["post-19573","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-anaheim","tag-anaheim","tag-anaheim-headlines","tag-anaheim-news","tag-free-things-to-do-oc","tag-free-things-to-do-this-weekend-across-oc","tag-libraries","tag-oc-parks","tag-oc-public-libraries","tag-ocpl","tag-voice-of-oc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19573"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19573\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19574"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19573"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}