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What a weekend lies ahead

Elizabeth Gabriel

(Updated: Thursday, April 16, 2009, 7:25 PM)

Rest up this weekend. As you can see over to your left, there are some swell things to do, but it's nothing compared to next weekend. April 25 and 26 are so stuffed with stuff to do, you're going to have to sit down and prioritize.

You can get into your grubbies and help pick up trash to make Bass Lake look pretty. You can get into your glitteries and go to the Elegant Auction and support Oakhurst Community Park.

You can take the kids to a family carnival, watch Civil War re-enactors, see artists at wineries, have a fling in El Portal, boggle at wood carvers, snarf up tri-tip in North Fork, watch the Clampers dedicate a monument and ... you get the picture. To see a really good list (we don't claim it's totally and completely comprehensive, only the events someone has told us about) see our Calendar on Page B5. Here is a list of activities to weigh.

24th annual Elegant Auction:

Oakhurst Community Park is a Mountain Area treasure. Events there draw thousands of people who go to see car shows, hunt Easter eggs, hear drumming, show off their pets, eat chocolate, drink wine -- you name it, it happens in the park. Then there are the folks who just like to go there with the kids, use the walking trail, have a good time.

All that happens because of the Elegant Auction. OCP is not funded by taxes, it is funded by the people who work so hard to make the auction a huge success. That means the people who ask for donations for the silent and live auctions, the people who give the donations, the committee that plans and executes the evening and, of course, the people who buy the items up for sale.

The blue-ribbon symbols you see on businesses all over town mean that business has offered support to the auction.

The Elegant Auction is Saturday, April 25 at the Pines Resort Lakeview Room at Bass Lake. The silent auction tables open at 5 p.m. and the live (and often spirited) auction begins at 8. Most folks make this a dress-up night, but as long as you come with your bidding shoes on, no one will grouse about what else you're wearing. For $40, you get in, get free champagne, heavy duty hors d'oeuvres and desserts and get to see your friends and neighbors.

For more information, call co-chairs Rhonda Salisbury at (559) 683-7162 or Susan Macaulay at (559) 683-4494.

Bass Lake Spring Clean

This is one great family morning. Volunteers gather Saturday, April 25 at 9 a.m. Recreation Point at Bass Lake to pick up their bags and gloves, then head out to pick up trash and litter. Support vehicles will be along to see how you're doing and take in the trash you've gathered. Tip: if you have those trash grabber thingies, they're a great help.

A morning spent doing this and you will be far less likely to throw out that cigarette butt, candy wrapper or even that mattress -- yep, those have been picked up.

Once the trash bags are turned in, there's a free picnic-style lunch, courtesy of California Land Management, and everyone sits around talking about what they found and falling in love with the lake all over again. There is a good chance that "fire-preventing bear" will show up for some great photo ops with the kids.

For each bag of yuck you turn in, you get a ticket for a prize drawing. A lot of the prizes are perfect for the kids.

The cleanup is great for several reasons: you're outdoors in one of the most beautiful places in the area; you're being a part of your community; you're among like-minded people and you're doing something good. You will leave the lake feeling great.

For more information, call (559) 683-3353 or e-mail sadlergraphics@sti.net.

Community Carnival

If you've ever been the mother of a preschooler, you'll know that job keeps you plenty busy and that you can use all the camaraderie and fun times you can get your hands on. MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) groups are well aware of that.

The Oakhurst groups have decided to put on a Community Carnival Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Sierra Star parking lot.

One of the nifty things about the carnival is that admission is $3 per child, but there's a $12 maximum. Adults are welcome for free. The money will go to membership scholarship, families who need a bit of financial help and running the group, which aims to encourage, equip and develop women to be the best moms possible.

You'll find games, food and a bounce house to keep the little ones occupied while you get a chance to chat up other adults.

Call Julie Davidson at (559) 760-2117 or e-mail jewel_davidson@hotmail.com.

North Fork Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary annual tri-tip barbecue

It's been a long time coming, but the North Fork Volunteer Fire Department is finally going to get out of its damp, cramped digs and move into a brand new firehouse where all the equipment fits. The new station will be at the old mill site. Ask anybody at the shindig to tell you the history and prepare for a long story.

The Auxiliary works hard to keep the firefighters in good equipment and supplies and this barbecue is one way to do that.

It's from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North Fork School. For $8, adults get tri-tip, beans, salad, bread and drink. People 65 and older and children under 10 pay $5. There are sure to be a few other things, such as T-shirts or house numbers for sale at the barbecue.

Information, Ginger or Jerry at (559) 877-2442.

Woodcarvers Rendezvous open house

The rendezvous is for people who are serious about carving. They have a full week of workshops, classes, demonstrations and seminars for all levels of experience, then on Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. they welcome the public to come to the Oakhurst Community Center to see what's been happening and marvel at the works of art created by the rendezvousers.

From tiny sharp knives for fine work to chain saws for big impact, the art is something to see. And as a bunch, carvers are like so many artists -- they're thrilled to talk about their art, how it's created, where the ideas come from -- just about everything.

E Clampus Vitus monument dedication

The local Clampers, Grub Gulch Chapter 41/49, will be out on Road 600 Saturday, April 25, at 10 a.m. to dedicate a monument they say is "our largest and best one yet." This one marks the old stage route that ran from Raymond (600 is also known as the Raymond Road) and on up to Ahwahnee then on to Yosemite.

To attend, take Highway 49 to Road 600 and go past the Clampers' Grub Gulch monument.

ECV is also planning a new monument for the Ahwahnee Tavern and will have a spot in Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park as well.

Parking lot sale for Relay for Life

Relay for Life is not just a fundraiser to fight cancer, it's a spiritual encampment that will take place at Wasuma Elementary School May 16 and 17. People take pledges to walk the track. They camp out there, eat there, share their stories and send positive vibes out into the universe.

The run-up to the event brings on a flurry of activity. One is this parking lot sale Saturday, April 25 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oakhurst Medical on Junction Drive.

Relay co-chair Rebecca Morris said the sale has become bigger each year and is expecting some really good shopping that morning.

Las Mariposas Civil War Days

The days are Friday, April 24 to Sunday, April 26 on 50 acres of Longs' Mariposa Ranch. Civil War re-enactors will set up camps, engage in battles, do demonstrations and bring history to life.

Friday is education day for schools only. Saturday and Sunday, there are events from 9 a.m. and tickets cost $5 per day per person and are available at the gate.

The website is one of the best: www.thecivilwardays.com. Or you can call (866) 425-3366 for more information.

Weekend in the Country

This is another Mariposa County phenomenon. Ranches, farms, wineries and all manner of agricultural places open their doors to the public, which drives from site to site to see what goes on and also meet artists who have set up shop for the weekend.

In addition there are such things as photography seminars and bird walks to get even more people out into the springtime mountains. The whole thing is put on by the Mariposa Agri-nature Trail Committee to help introduce people to the diversity to be found in Mariposa County.

Look for brochures of the sites -- there are 11 stops -- at local stores or go to the website, www.mariposaagtour.com. The cost is $10 per person or $25 per family. You can get tickets at your first stop or at the Mariposa County Visitors Center, wineries and the Mariposa County Arts Council Gallery. For more information, call (866) 425-3366.

Mariposa Symphony Orchestra

New York virtuoso violinist Lewis Wong will be featured in two pieces for the symphony's concert Saturday, April 25 at 7 p.m.in Fiester Auditorium at Mariposa County High School and on Sunday, April 26 at 1 p.m. in the great lounge of the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park.

The Saturday concert costs $6 for adults, $4 for students. The Sunday concert is a donation setup.

El Portal Spring Fling

A whole day of activities, starting with a Lion's Club pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. is what you can expect at the Fling. There will be food, music, drinks with arts, crafts well into the night of Saturday, April 25. It's a benefit for the El Portal Community Hall.