{"id":262308,"date":"2026-04-11T06:11:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T06:11:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/262308\/"},"modified":"2026-04-11T06:11:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T06:11:16","slug":"free-things-to-do-hikes-and-art-outdoors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/262308\/","title":{"rendered":"Free Things to Do: Hikes and Art Outdoors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Explore Gypsum Canyon during a scheduled access day<\/a> or create art<\/a> at the Helena Modjeska Historic House and Gardens this Saturday.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, try a fitness hike<\/a> that starts on a paved road.<\/p>\n

These are 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 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

Wilderness Access Day<\/p>\n

\"\"The entrance to the Gypsum Canyon Wilderness in Sept. 2024. Credit: FASHION CASTILLO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

Explore six miles of trails in the Gypsum Canyon Wilderness on a wilderness access day<\/a>. The region features prehistoric rock formations formed 16 to 20 million years ago.<\/p>\n

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

When: April 11, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 390 South Gypsum Canyon Rd., Anaheim, CA 92887<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

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

[Read: 500 Acres of Sweeping Views in the Gypsum Canyon Wilderness<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Anniversary Screening of \u201cLady and the Tramp\u201d<\/p>\n

Watch a screening<\/a> of Disney\u2019s \u201cLady and the Tramp\u201d at the Anaheim Central Library.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When: April 11, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 500 W Broadway, Anaheim, CA 92805<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact the library at (714) 765-1880<\/p>\n

Central Orange County<\/p>\n

Fitness Hike<\/p>\n

\"\"Hicks Haul Road on April 10, 2024. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

See panoramic views of Orange County on a fitness hike<\/a> through Hicks Haul Road, West Loma and Shoestring trails in Limestone Canyon. The hike is just over 8 miles long, most of which on the paved road.<\/p>\n

Registration<\/a> is required.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When: April 12, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 11911 Hicks Haul Rd., Irvine, CA 92602<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

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

AstounD<\/p>\n

Neurodivergent youth are welcome to the Delhi Center in Santa Ana to practice social and reading skills by interacting with ASD robots<\/a> and sensory toys in a group setting.<\/p>\n

When: April 11, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 505 E. Central Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92707<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact the library at (714) 647-5358<\/p>\n

South Orange County<\/p>\n

Art in the Park<\/p>\n

Ages 8 and older are invited to create art<\/a> at the Helena Modjeska Historic House and Gardens.<\/p>\n

Attendees must bring their own art materials, including paint, pencils and other materials. The event includes a guided tour about the history of Arden and Helena Modjeska\u2019s artistic life.<\/p>\n

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

When: April 11, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 29042 Modjeska Canyon Rd., Silverado, CA 92676<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact the library at (949) 459-6094<\/p>\n

Learn to Run a Book Club<\/p>\n

Adults are welcome to a discussion<\/a> on how to develop and run a book club at the El Toro Library. No registration required.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When: April 11, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 24672 Raymond Way, Lake Forest, CA 92630<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact the library at (949) 855-8173<\/p>\n

Coastal Orange County<\/p>\n

Makerspace Open Hours<\/p>\n

\"\"The 3D Printing station inside the Huntington Beach Central Library\u2019s makerspace on Sept. 28, 2024. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

Visit the Huntington Beach Central Library\u2019s makerspace<\/a> \u2013 a creative space with machines such as a laser engraver, embroidering machine, 3D printers and other equipment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To reserve equipment, attendees must make an appointment.<\/p>\n

When: April 11, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92648\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact the library at (714) 842-4481<\/p>\n

Read to a Dog<\/p>\n

Take your child to practice their reading<\/a> skills by reading to a certified therapy dog at the Huntington Beach Central Library.<\/p>\n

When: April 11, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Where: 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92648\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n

For more details, contact the library at (714) 842-4481<\/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":"Explore Gypsum Canyon during a scheduled access day or create art at the Helena Modjeska Historic House and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":262309,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[163,165,164],"class_list":["post-262308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-anaheim","tag-anaheim","tag-anaheim-headlines","tag-anaheim-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262308","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=262308"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262308\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/262309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=262308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=262308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=262308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}