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Nationally Ranked Castle Dark Haunt Event Returns to SoCal!

October 8, 2025 By Leave a Comment

 Get ready for a Halloween experience like no other: Castle Dark is back at Castle Park in Riverside, bringing terrifying thrills and family-friendly fun to Southern California. Running on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from September 19 through November 1, Castle Dark 2025 offers visitors a full night of scares, excitement, and entertainment—all included with a Castle Dark ticket. Tickets include access to all mazes, scare zones, live shows, and park rides.

National-Scale Haunts and Highlights for 2025:

  • Three All-New Mazes: Step into twisted worlds with Feary Tales (dark fairy tales), Midnight Manor (a cursed mansion), and Containment Breach (science gone wrong).
  • Chilling Scare Zones: When night falls, twisted characters roam The Endless Chapter, The Forgotten Kingdom, and Outbreak, filled with monsters, creatures, and spine-tingling surprises.
  • Live Shows: Echoes from the Grave debuts as a theatrical performance set to mesmerize audiences.
  • After Dark Party: Step into the Big Top Tent for high-energy fun with a live DJ, delicious food, refreshing beverages, and specialty cocktails and drinks for guests 21 years and older.

For families seeking more treats than scares, Castle Park also presents Día de los Muertos every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5:30 p.m., September 20 through November 2. The event celebrates Mexican and Latin American fall traditions with vibrant decorations, local performers, kid-friendly activities, and trick-or-treating.

Tickets & Admission:

Castle Dark promises thrills for Southern California and visitors from across the nation. Don’t miss your chance to experience the ultimate Halloween event—including rides, mazes, and scares—all in one night.

For more information on Castle Park, visit https://castlepark.com

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

Peanut, Oct. 10 Pet of the Week

October 8, 2025 By Leave a Comment
AWWWWW!

No matter how good a shelter is, it’s no place for a dog, especially a big and bighearted one like Peanut.Peanut, an American pit bull terrier, came to Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) over a year ago, which makes him one of the shelter’s longest-stay residents. When he first came, he was overwhelmed by the noise and strange smells and was terribly shy. But the staff and volunteers were determined to get Peanut out of his shell! They taught him commands like sit and stay, motivated him with treats, and took him on a recent photo shoot to Dogma Portraits. You can see his inner goo’ boi in the photo! Peanut also took a Fido Field Trip in a car driven by his friend volunteer Ellen — he had a wonderful time rolling in the grass and reveled in the quiet of an actual backyard! Life in a shelter kennel, said volunteer Nici, can make even the best dogs feel invisible, and Peanut has been overlooked too many times. It’s starting to weigh on his spirit. Please come in and meet Peanut—you’ll find that he’s not at all a tough nut to crack! The shelter’s way over capacity with dogs, so speed the process to adopt or foster Peanut or any of our other pets by emailing PetAdopt@longbeach.gov or petfoster@longbeach.gov. You can also call (562) 570-4925. Our shelter hours are Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 7700 E. Spring St. at the entrance to El Dorado Park (no parking fee for shelter visitors. Ask for ID#A728674).

Filed Under: Featured Content, Pet Corner

Laguna Art Museum’s 13th Annual Art + Nature Reveals Family Friendly Events Schedule

October 8, 2025 By Leave a Comment
Ana Teresa Fernández holding SOS acrylic mirror on Main Beach. Photo courtesy of LAM.

 Laguna Art Museum (LAM) proudly announces the return of its 13th annual Art + Nature, a vibrant celebration that explores the relationship between art and the natural world. Starting the week of November 1, this dynamic event brings together thousands of attendees and continues to be one of LAM’s marquee events, as emphasized by this year’s unprecedented free admission throughout November generously provided by the Office of Vice Chair Katrina Foley, Orange County Board of Supervisors.“The 13th annual Art + Nature continues to deepen the museum’s exploration of the profound relationship between creativity and the environment,” said Julie Perlin Lee, Executive Director of Laguna Art Museum. “This year’s events and exhibitions invite the community to engage with the natural world in bold new ways, reflecting our commitment to inspiring dialogue, awareness and action through art.”

This year’s Art + Nature will feature a full schedule of exhibitions and community events, including:

SOS by Ana Teresa Fernández:

This year’s Art + Nature commissioned artist, Ana Teresa Fernández, presents SOS, a multi-dimensional project incorporating sculpture, performance and photography that will bring a dynamic and community-focused approach to Art + Nature 2025. 

From November 6 – 10, Fernández’s  SOS  will unfold in phases, culminating in a collective activation involving 800 participants holding circular mirrors. The sculptural installation, An Ocean in a Drop, will invite exploration on Main Beach while Fernández engages visitors with a photography station named We Are Water, where visitors can pose with Fernández’s artwork that reflects the ocean. 

Silence and Solitude: Conrad Buff and the Landscapes of the American Southwest:

Silence and Solitude will be on view from September 20, 2025 -January 25, 2026. This landmark exhibition, curated by Dr. Deborah Solon, marks the first major museum exhibition dedicated to modernist painter Conrad Buff. Through evocative depictions of the American West, Buff forged a unique vision that contributed to California’s artistic identity in the 20th century. 

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On the Road to Zion, Oil on canvas, 47 1/2 x 64 1/2 in. Courtesy of Phoenix Art Museum

Eternal Construction: Photographic Perspectives on Southern California’s Built Environment:

Eternal Construction will be on view from September 20, 2025 – January 18, 2026. This exhibition brings together artists from Laguna Art Museum’s permanent collection who have engaged deeply with themes of urbanization, infrastructure, environmental transformation and conceptual interpretations of space. Rather than presenting a wide survey, this exhibition offers an in-depth exploration of artists with multiple works in the collection, allowing for a richer, more layered engagement with their investigations of land-use and development. 

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Barbara Kasten (b. 1936), Construction A&A, 1984. Polacor ER Photograph. 28 x 21 1⁄2 in. 1994.127. Gift of the Richard H. Mumper Trust. Image courtesy of Laguna Art Museum.

Event Highlights:

Saturday, November 1, Art + Nature will kick off with Upcycled Couture: Restoring the Future Runway Show at Laguna Art Museum. This innovative runway show brings together the creative talents of students and early-career designers with the impactful missions of LAM’s community partners. The runway will feature one-of-a-kind sustainable and upcycled designs, which artfully interpret and illustrate the partner organizations’ missions, blending sustainability with high fashion. This exciting showcase highlights the powerful synergy between art, nature and our community.

On Sunday, November 2 , Art + Nature will host a Block Party at Main Beach featuring local non profit partner organizations, local vendors and family art activities.

On Thursday November 6,  Ana Teresa Fernández will debut her multi-dimensional project, SOS. The project incorporates sculpture, performance and photography that will bring a dynamic and community-focused approach to Art + Nature 2025 and will be on view from November 6 – 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. daily at main beach. Also on November 6, artist Ana Teresa Fernández will host an engaging Artist Talk at Laguna Art Museum. 

On November 9 at 10:30 a.m., 800 participants will come together on Laguna’s Main Beach to create Fernández’s social sculpture SOS. The participants will use the artist’s handheld acrylic mirrors to spell “SOS” or “Save Our Seas” in morse code along the beach and mimic the movement of the waves on the shoreline. Sign up as a participant in the SOS Social Sculpture here.

Other special events include an SOS Performance by Laguna Dance at Main Beach on November 7, Keynote speech by former NASA scientist Jonathan Trent on November 8 and an SOS Paddle Out on November 11.  To sign up as a participant in the SOS Social Sculpture and all other events, visit lagunaartmuseum.org/event-calendar. 

Art & Nature 2025 Events Schedule:

  • Saturday, November 1: 
    • 5 – 8 p.m.: Upcycled Couture: Restoring the Future Fashion Show at Laguna Art Museum
  • Sunday, November 2: 
    • 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Art + Nature Block Party at Main Beach
  • Thursday, November 6: 
    • 5 p.m.: Artist Talk: Ana Teresa Fernández at Laguna Art Museum
    • 6  – 9 p.m.: First Thursdays Artwalk
  • Friday, November 7: 
    • 3:15 – 5:00 p.m. – SOS Performance by Laguna Dance at Main Beach
  • Saturday, November 8: 
    • 3 – 4 p.m.: SOS Artistic Swimming Performance at Laguna Beach High School & Community Pool
    • 6:00 p.m.: Keynote: Jonathan Trent at Laguna Art Museum
  • Sunday, November 9:
    • 10:30 a.m.: SOS Social Sculpture at Main Beach
  • Monday, November 10:
    • 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.: SOS Paddle Out at Main Beach

Laguna Art Museum’s Art + Nature continues to bridge art and nature, inspiring creativity, sustainability and deeper reflection on the environment’s role in our lives. This year’s event promises to be an enriching experience for all ages, showcasing cutting-edge art and fostering environmental awareness.

Art + Nature is generously sponsored by early support from: Capital Group, Anonymous, McBeth Foundation, Laguna Beach Garden Club, FOA Foundation of Laguna Beach, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Kathleen and Richard Malcolm, The Bush Family Foundation, Jan and Ken Kaplan and Lori and Harley Bassman.

Free admission during the month of November is generously provided by the Office of Vice Chair Katrina Foley, Orange County Board of Supervisors. This support partially funds Laguna Art Museum’s 13th annual Art + Nature initiative.

For more information about Art + Nature and Laguna Art Museum, visit lagunaartmuseum.org. To stay connected and learn about upcoming events, follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Credit: Laguna Art Museum.

Filed Under: Featured Events

Festival of Arts Debuts New Off-Site Exhibit at foaSouth: Magical Moments: Suspensions of Time

October 8, 2025 By Leave a Comment
“Brian and Friends” (2022) by artist Michaela Yoro

The Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach is pleased to announce the opening of its latest off-site exhibition at foaSouth, Magical Moments: Suspensions of Time, on view now through January 12, 2026. The gallery, located inside Active Culture at 1006 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, CA 92651, is free and open to the public daily from 9am to 8pm.

Magical Moments: Suspensions of Time investigates how still life and landscape genres can reframe everyday subjects into experiences that feel dreamlike, meditative, and timeless. Through realistic representations of objects and scenes, this exhibition highlights how the familiar can be transformed into something extraordinary, offering viewers moments of pause where the ordinary becomes otherworldly.

“The creation of images has evolved far beyond documentation, it’s about capturing a feeling or an experience,” said exhibition curator Morgan Matthews. “With Magical Moments, we hope visitors will slow down, reflect, and discover how these realistic depictions of familiar scenes can create emotional connections that feel almost suspended in time. We invite everyone to take the opportunity to experience these works firsthand during the run of the exhibition.”

The exhibition features works by Festival of Arts exhibitors and selections from the Festival’s Permanent Art Collection. Highlights include Robert A. Hansen’s “Mayan Vendors from Yucatan Passages Portfolio” (1994–2004) and “Winter Fog from Yucatan Passages Portfolio” (1994–2004); Sharon Hutchison’s “Arise” (2023) and “Veiled Light” (2023); Elizabeth McGhee’s “On the Rag” (2018) and “Tiny Tears” (2023); and David Milton’s “An American Flag in New England” (2013) and “Hollywood and Vine” (2023). Additional works on display include Michael Ward’s “Absorb” (2021) and “Moving Day” (2019); Marc Whitney’s “Teacup” (c. 1996); and Michaela Yoro’s “Brian and Friends” (2022) and “Trader Joe’s Run” (2023).

The public is invited to a special artist reception on Thursday, November 6, 2025, as part of First Thursdays Art Walk. Attendees can meet the artists, explore the exhibition, and enjoy an evening celebrating creativity and community.

The foaSouth gallery is part of the Festival’s commitment to providing year-round art experiences for the public. As a nonprofit organization, the Festival of Arts supports the arts in and about Laguna Beach through exhibitions, scholarships, and educational programs.

Magical Moments: Suspensions of Time is on view daily, 9am to 8pm, through January 12, 2026, at the Festival of Arts’ foaSouth gallery inside Active Culture (1006 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, CA 92651). For more information, visit www.foapom.com or follow @FestivalPageant on social media. To support the Festival of Arts and its programs, visit www.foapom.com/supportnow.

Credit: Festival of Arts.

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

OC Parks’ Annual Fall-O-Ween Brings Fall Fun to Heritage Hill Historical Park

October 8, 2025 By Leave a Comment

Join OC Parks and celebrate the spooky season at the fifth annual Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill Historical Park, Oct. 10-12 and 17-19.

Enjoy festive, family-friendly activities and explore the decorated historic grounds during special park hours. Grab your costumes and take your photo at a variety of fall and Halloween-themed photo opportunities, as well as enjoy a scavenger hunt for spooky surprises and a spirited straw maze. The event is free to attend with free parking.

“We’re thrilled to mark five years of Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill Historical Park,” said Supervisor Donald P. Wagner, Orange County Board of Supervisors. “This beloved tradition continues to bring friends and families together year after year, while also introducing them to one of Orange County’s treasured historic spaces.” 

Costumes are highly encouraged. Pets are welcome on leashes no longer than 6 feet. Bring your cameras and join the tradition as OC Parks marks five years of fall festivities in one of Orange County’s most charming historic settings.

Fall-O-Ween

Date: October 10-12 & 17-19

Time: 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Location: Heritage Hill Historical Park 

Address: 25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630

Website: www.ocparks.com/heritagehillhistoricalpark

Cost: Free

Parking: Free

Public Contact: (949) 923-2230 

Credit: OC Parks.

Filed Under: Featured Events

Musical Theatre West Announces Talented Cast for Hello, Dolly! Including Tami Tappan Damiano’s Return to the Stage

October 8, 2025 By Leave a Comment

Musical Theatre West (MTW) is proud to announce the cast of its final production of the 2025 Season of Legends, the quintessential Broadway hit Hello, Dolly! Set to dazzle audiences for select performances October 17 – November 2, 2025, at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, this iconic musical comedy promises to be the season’s crowning jewel. Tickets are available today at musical.org.

Taking center stage is Broadway veteran Tami Tappan Damiano, making one of the most anticipated returns to Southern California theatre in recent memory as the irrepressible Dolly Gallagher Levi. Beloved by LA audiences for her powerhouse performances across the region, and by MTW audiences for standout roles in Spamalot, Guys & Dolls, Crazy For You, and Singin’ in the Rain, Tappan Damiano stepped away from the stage to raise her family. Now, with her child grown, she makes a triumphant return in one of Broadway’s most iconic roles. Her casting marks not only a homecoming to MTW but also a celebrated return to the greater Los Angeles theatre community, where she has long been recognized as one of its most cherished leading ladies.

She will reunite on stage with David Engel, who stars as the curmudgeonly yet endearing Horace Vandergelder. A six-time Ovation Award winner, Engel’s celebrated career with MTW spans over two decades, with memorable performances in La Cage Aux Folles, Hairspray, The Producers, Newsies, White Christmas, and many more. Known for his impeccable comedic timing and commanding presence, Engel is a true MTW legend.

Together, Tappan Damiano and Engel are no strangers to delighting audiences side by side, having starred together in MTW’s Singin’ in the Rain (2001), Crazy For You (2003), Never Gonna Dance (2006), and The Full Monty (2007). Their reunion in Hello, Dolly! marks a highly anticipated onstage pairing that promises sparks, laughs, and unforgettable moments.

“Concluding our 2025 Season of Legends with Hello, Dolly! is a dream,” said Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer of Musical Theatre West.. “Welcoming Tami back to our stage for such a triumphant return, alongside David’s remarkable legacy, is truly special. This production is not only a celebration of Broadway’s golden age, but also a celebration of MTW’s history and the artists who have shaped it.”

Joining the duo is an exceptional company of MTW favorites and fresh talent, including Robert Pieranunzi as Cornelius Hackl, Anna Mintzer as Irene Molloy, Benjamin Raanan as Barnaby Tucker, Natalie Holt MacDonald as Minnie Fay, Domonique Paton as Ermengarde, Landen Starkman as Ambrose Kemper, Jane Papageorge as Ernestina Money, Ricky Bulda as the Judge, Janna Cardia as Mrs. Rose, and Roger Castellano as Rudolph. Rounding out the cast is a dynamic 10-member student ensemble, bringing fresh energy and showcasing the next generation of talent through MTW’s commitment to arts education.

Set in turn-of-the-century New York, Hello, Dolly! follows the larger-than-life Dolly Levi, a quick-witted matchmaker determined to find love and adventure for herself and those around her. Bursting with Jerry Herman’s unforgettable score, including “Before the Parade Passes By,” “It Only Takes a Moment,” and the beloved title number “Hello, Dolly!” the show is a joyous celebration of love, second chances, and the spirit of community. With show-stopping dance numbers, lavish costumes, and a story brimming with heart, MTW’s production promises to deliver Broadway magic at its finest.

Hello, Dolly! is a musical by Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart, based on Thornton Wilder’s play The Matchmaker. Since its Broadway debut in 1964, the show has become a cultural touchstone, inspiring generations with its larger-than-life characters and timeless score.

Tickets start at $20 and are available for purchase by phone at 562-856-1999 or online at musical.org. Fees may apply. Student rush tickets for $15 are available at the Box Office one hour prior to showtime, with a valid student ID. More information, a full line-up of performances, and additional details can be found at https://musical.org.

Credit: Musical Theatre West.

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News