Spring 2019 Events

Nevada City

June 7, July 5 & Aug. 2
Nevada City First Friday ArtWalk
A celebration of Nevada City’s diverse mix of galleries, artisan boutiques, retail shops, wine tasting rooms, restaurants and a thriving arts community.
Find them on Facebook

Grass Valley

May 23-26 Strawberry Music Festival

June 13-16 Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival

June 15-July 3 Music in the Mountains SummerFest

June 24 The Great Race
Over 120 vintage road racers will rumble down the streets in downtown Grass Valley from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. as part of a West Coast tour. The race awards $150,000 in prize money.

July 4 4th of July Parade and Fireworks
A colorful parade in historic downtown Grass Valley at 11 a.m. A fireworks spectacular blasts off at 9:30 p.m. at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.

Truckee & Lake Tahoe

May 13 Amgen Tour of California, Men’s Stage Two Race
The 122-mile route begins in Rancho Cordova — a new host city — and ends in South Lake Tahoe, even finishing uphill to Heavenly Ski Resort’s lifts. AmgenTourofCalifornia.com

June 13, 20, 27 Truckee Thursdays
Historic downtown Truckee offers an exciting street fair featuring local and regional artisans, food trucks, a beer garden and everyone’s favorite, live music for 11 Thursdays starting in June. TruckeeThursdays.com

Auburn

May 11-12 North Auburn Art Studios Tour
The tour is free and 18 participating artists are within a few miles of each other. NorthAuburnArtists.com

WILDFLOWER WALKS
Join docents at South Yuba River State Park on a guided walk on the Buttermilk Bend Trail on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. through Mother’s Day, May 12. Flowers seen on the walk could include: poppies, hill lotus, lupin, larkspur, pipevine, lace pods, pretty faces, bird’s eye gilia, bulb iris, silver puff, redbud, miner’s lettuce, fiddleneck, buttercups, popcorn flower, and caterpillar facilia.

Stop by the Bridgeport Visitor Center (open Thurs.-Sun., 11 a.m.-3 p.m.) to pick up a free copy of the plant list or to buy the booklet with photos of the most common flowers. Rain may can- cel. For more information, visit SouthYubaRiverStatePark.org.

BIRDWATCHING
Spring at South Yuba River State Park is when a large number of birds arrive to nest and raise their young, or rest before continuing their migration. Bird walks with park docents are offered at the park’s Bridgeport location the second Saturday of each month (May 11 and June 8).

All walks begin at 8 a.m. except in June, which starts at 7:30 a.m. The walks last about two hours over mostly flat terrain. Meet at the Bridgeport north parking lot (where the Buttermilk Bend Trail starts). Bring binoculars and good walking shoes. SouthYubaRiverStatePark.org

RAIL TOUR
The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum’s summer hours, as well as regular Saturday Railbus service, began April 27. Every Saturday the Railbus will be on track for six daily rides (weather permit- ting) of about 35 minutes each.

The Railbus will take riders through the rail yard and out into the local woods. They will get a chance to see the entrance to an old mine shaft, a beautiful meadow, ride past Deer Creek, switchback at the Northern Queen Hotel, see old Indian grinding rocks and more.

SORENSEN’S RESORT
Sorensen’s Resort, tucked away in Hope Valley near Lake Tahoe, is an ideal home base for a Sierra getaway. It has cozy cabins, a cafe, even a wood-fired sauna and offers creative activities. SorensensResort.com
May 12 Mother’s Day Brunch
May 18 Birding Under the Sierra Skies
June 3-6 Hope Valley Plein-Air Workshop
June 5, 26 Yoga on the Lawn
June 15 Forest Bathing
June 16 Father’s Day BBQ
June 20 Play with Clay