April Events Near the American and Tuolumne Rivers

With our first two weekends of rafting rapidly approaching (no pun intended), I thought I would look in to what other fun events are going on around town to herald in Spring. So far we’ve got rafting trips scheduled on the South Fork American, Middle Fork American, and the Tuolumne, so I’ve focused on their surrounding areas. Why not make a weekend out of it? Rafting one day and fly-fishing the next, or maybe wine tasting, or …

IN PLACERVILLE (15 minutes from the South Fork meet spot):

1. Kid’s Expo, April 14
Free event featuring hands-on activities for children (including candle-making, seed-planting and spin art), education demonstrations, and performances. 10 am to 3 pm at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Drive in Placerville

2. Earth Day Celebration 2007, April 28
Another free event featuring music by local bands, local crafts, face painting, food, drinks and other items for sale. Web site advises visitors to bring lawn blankets or low-back chairs. 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. El Dorado County Public Library Lawn, 345 Fairlane, Placerville.

3. A Toast to Wildlife
Wine tasting, silent auction & raffle to raise funds for rescue & rehabilitation of El Dorado County wildlife & the expansion of Sierra Wildlife Rescue’s wildlife education program. Music by Jerome, visits by Sierra Wildlife’s Education Birds: Zag the Harris Hawk,Sierra the Spotted Owl, Sammy the Kestral & Traveler the Peregrine Falcon. 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. David Girard Vineyards, 741 Cold Springs Road, Placerville Cost for Wine Tasting/Food Pairing: $20 advance/$25 at door (includes 6 wine tastes with 6 food tastes plus wine glass with charm). Information or tickets: (530) 391-1657

IN AUBURN (15 minutes from the Middle Fork and 30 from the South Fork):

1. The Borealis String Quartet, April 20th at 7:30 pm
The Auburn Community Concert Association presents the Borealis String quartet at the Placer High School auditorium: “As electrifying as the name they have chosen, the BOREALIS STRING QUARTET is lighting up the skies of the Canadian chamber music scene. The first resident professional string quartet on the University of British Columbia campus, the BOREALIS has already established itself as a leading-edge Canadian ensemble.” 275 Orange St., Auburn, CA 95603

IN COLOMA (If you were any closer to the South Fork you’ld be swimming):

1. Mountain Man Trader’s Fair and Historic Pioneer Demonstration Days at Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, April 20-22
Learn more about the Early Pioneers… In a unique program, vendors of merchandise selling the kinds of goods found during the 1800s will set up their tents inside the Fort walls. Items include clothing, house wares, toys, beads, knives and more. Visitors can also witness demonstrations of crafts and skills of the era presented by costumed docents and volunteers.

IN SUTTER CREEK (1 hour from the South Fork and 1.5 hours from the Tuolumne, on Highway 49):

1. 19th Annual Great Sutter Creek Duck Race, April 28
OK, you may think that I’m just messing with you now because I got bored and you managed to get this far down in the page… but I’m not. This is the real deal. I mean, could you really pass an event up with a title like that?! Anyway, here’s what the website says you’ll find there: “Food, entertainment, children’s games, duck races with grand prize of $10,000. Also Children’s Race, and Ugly Duckling race where children create their own ugly duckling ahead of time to race.” … Sounds highly entertaining. And no address required; Sutter Creek is a pretty small town, if you haven’t already guessed as much.

IN ROSEVILLE (30 minutes from the Middle Fork American meet spot):

1. The Placer County Strawberry Festival, Friday, April 20th – 5:00 to 9:00 PM
In addition to featuring strawberry treats, games, rides and contests, the 2007 PCSF also features the “Berry Best Buddy” Weiner Dog races, (which may rivel the Great Sutter Creek Duck Races), a showcase of specialty motorcycles (to accompany the PCSF’s popular Classic Car Show), and world-class entertainers on three stages. Located at the Placer County Fairgrounds, 800 All America City Blvd., Roseville. For tickets or more information, check the PCSF website at: www.Strawberry-Festival.com, or call the PCSF office: (877) 742-7066.