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Local Guide
Entertainment
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Taste of Downtown
The annual Taste of Downtown is each year on a Friday evening in June. This involves a walking tour of Downtown Ukiah where you’ll be enchanted by charming shops, dozens of world-class local wines, microbrews and brandies, Strolling musicians, acoustic bands and terrific hors d’oeuvres complete this popular event.
Cinco De Mayo Festival and Fair
The Latino Coalition presents Ukiah’s Cinco De Mayo Festival and Fair on School Street each year. Included are food booths, cultural entertainment, arts and crafts and a parade.
Comedy Alley
Seven times a year the Ukiah Main Street Program presents Comedy Alley at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center. The no-host bar and buffet is followed by entertainment with three professional stand-up comedians. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Showtime is 8 o'clock. For information contact Ukiah Main Street Program: 707-463-6729.
Flashback Car Show and Poker Run
The Fabulous Flashback Car Show and Poker Run is held each September, organized by the Early Iron Club of Ukiah. Friday evening offers music and dancing at Pear Tree Center. On Saturday you’ll enjoy more than 350 rare and beautiful automobiles as you dine and shop along School Street at the Alex R. Thomas Plaza.
Family-Live Expo & Home Show
The Family-Live Expo & Home Show is a weekend-long event held each year at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds in Ukiah, featuring more than 150 exhibitors, two stages of local talent and plenty of family fun. Admission is Free.
Holiday Preview
The Holiday Preview is held the Saturday after Thanksgiving from 10am to 6pm. The holiday shopping season starts that day in Ukiah with carolers, decorations, delicious treats and open-house celebrations by the downtown merchants.
Sundays In The Park Free Concert Series
The Sundays In The Park Free Concert Series is presented in Todd Grove Park six times each summer. This free series of concerts features world-renowned artists as well as local talent in a variety of musical styles and has become a big summer tradition in Ukiah. Audience members may bring a picnic or enjoy fresh food from vendors onsite.
Farmers Market
Downtown Ukiah’s Farmers Market is open Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings from May through October. The Farmers Market offers fruits, vegetables, cheeses, honey, eggs, jams, flowers, spices and more, along with live music.
A Taste of Redwood Valley
Every Father's day weekend A Taste of Redwood Valley draws people to the wonderful, warm, vineyards north of Ukiah where the wineries roll out the red carpet. The sound of music and the smell of Italian spices and garlic fill the air. Bright colored flags fly in the breeze high over the tasting rooms. A Taste of Redwood Valley combines traditional ethnic recipes with the family wines the valley has become famous for. For a weekend you Dad will love, call for information: 800-760-3739 or email: wine@ATasteofRedwoodValley.com
The Redwood Empire Fair
This fair is a long running Ukiah tradition. It combines agriculture, livestock, a carnival, country music concerts, auto races and lots of family fun. The Redwood Empire Fair happens each year on the second week in August. For information call 707-462-3884.
All American Fourth of July
Independence day in Ukiah includes an All American family picnic at Todd Grove Park. It's an afternoon of food, children's games and activities, arts and crafts, contests and fun for all ages. The swimming pool and other park facilities are open to the pubic at no charge. A concert and patriotic fireworks display at Redwood Empire Fairgrounds cap off Independence Day in Ukiah.
Ukiah Triathlon
September is the time each year for the South Ukiah Rotary to present the Ukiah Triathlon. This race includes a 1/2 mile open water swim in Lake Mendocino, a 21.7 mile bicycle ride through the countryside, and a 3 mile run at Mendocino College. For information on the Ukiah Triathlon call 707-463-7692.
Holiday Trolley
It's a free ride for holiday shoppers in Ukiah. It's the Holiday Trolley! This antique trolley runs from Thanksgiving through Christmas from the Pear Tree Center, to Orchard Long's Plaza and on to the Ukiah Downtown District!
Mendocino Crab & Wine Days
Two of Mendocino County's favorite products are celebrated and loved during this county wide event in late January and early February. Crab feeds, demonstrations, cooking classes and wine maker dinners highlight the event with the countywide "Crab Crawl" taking you to wineries throughout Mendocino County.
Ukiah Country PumpkinFest
Ukiah's rich agricultural tradition comes to live during the two day PumpkinFest. Arts and crafts, kids carnival, fiddling contest, and plenty of live music are all featured along with a visit to Scarecrow City! For information contact the Ukiah Main Street Program for more information.
Granite Construction Chili Cook off
Early September is the time each year for this benefit, a chili contest which helps local charities. Bring your favorite pot and recipe for this Annual Chili Cook-Off in downtown Ukiah.
Mendocino Wine and Mushroom Fest
That's right, Mushrooms! In mid-November each year you can joing guided mushroom walking tours, cooking classes, Winemaker dinners, demonstrations and exhibits.
MUSEUMS/GALLERIES
Grace Hudson Museum
Since its inauguration in 1986, the Grace Hudson Museum has become an increasingly important cultural and educational resource for Northern California. The Museum's collections consist of more than 30,000 inter-related objects, with significant holdings of Pomo Indian artifacts (particularly basketry) ethnographic field notes, unpublished manuscripts, historic photographs and the world's largest collection of Grace Hudson paintings. The Museum's exhibitions and public programs are thematically shaped by, and linked to, its collections with their focus on Western art, history and anthropology. The Museum also houses a gift store with exhibition-related merchandise and high quality books, children's items, local crafts and t-shirts. The Museum sits on the four acre Hudson-Carpenter Park containing picnic tables shaded by ancient oaks and a basketry garden featuring the plants used by Pomo Indian weavers to create their baskets.
The Sun House
The Hudsons' charming 1911 redwood Craftsman bungalow home, is adjacent to the Museum. It is interpreted for the public with docent led tours leaving from the Museum. Designed by John and Grace Hudson and furnished with the Hudsons' eclectic possessions, the Sun House allows visitors a glimpse into their Bohemian lifestyle. The Sun House is California Historical Landmark #296 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Grace Hudson Museum is a division of the City of Ukiah's Community Services department. The City owns and operates the Museum with a professional staff and the support of the Sun House Guild.
www.gracehudsonmuseum.org
Held-Poage Memorial Home & Research Library
The place to peek into Mendocino County's past is the Held-Poage Memorial Home and Research Library. A veritable treasure trove for historical buffs, the library contains over 4500 books covering local, state and national history, as well as over 13,500 historical photographic negatives, microfilms, documents, maps scrapbooks, Great Registers, genealogies, extensive newspaper collection and artifacts (including Mendocino County native basketry) - all relating to Northern California history.Corner of Dora & Perkins Streets, Ukiah (707) 462-6969.
www.pacificsites.com/~mchs/heldpoage.htm
Pomo Cultural Center
Lake Mendocino, Ukiah (707) 485-8285.
Ukiah's art galleries remain open late on first Fridays
Several art galleries are now open late of Fridays, offering a chance to socialize, enjoy refreshments and check out their original artwork. Extended hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Friday evenings with these art galleries participating: Corner Gallery, a new, cooperative gallery on State Street; The Grace Hudson Museum; T.B. Greene Gallery; Cinnabar Ceramics, formerly Red Frog Gallery; One Earth Gallery; and Tierra Gallery.
MUSIC
Mendocino College
presents a full schedule of concerts, plays, musicals and performances of all kinds at its 400 seat state-of-the-art performing arts center. A recording studio, classrooms and art gallery are also part of the facility. For information call 707-468-3000.
Ukiah Civic Light Opera
stages musical theater, light opera and revues. For information call 707-462-9155.
Ukiah Community Concert Association
presents series of high quality concerts covering a variety of musical genres. This series is part of a network of concert associations throughout the U.S. for information call 1-707-463-2738.
Ukiah Symphony is a full sized semi-professional orchestra of 60 musicians. The orchestra performs its eight concert season at the Center Theatre and Mendocino College. Guest performers are often featured. (707) 462-0236.
www.ukiahsymphony.org
THEATER AND DANCE
SPACE Near & Arnold's School of Performing Arts & Cultural Education
145 E. Church St., Ukiah, CA 95482 (707) 462-9370, Fax - (707) 462-0465. www.spaceperformingarts.org, space@pacific.net
Mendocino Ballet is a nonprofit Regional Ballet Company . The company presents an annual Nutcracker, other ballets and fundraisers throughout the year, featuring local dancers & professional guest artists. 209 South State Street, Ukiah, CA 95482 (707) 463-2290.
www.mendocinoballet.org
Ukiah Players Theatre is a professionally managed nonprofit community organization in residence at the Ukiah Playhouse. We are committed to providing our rural audiences with a wide range of theatre experiences including the classics and contemporary plays as well as original theatre pieces created for, by, and about our community. 1041 Low Gap Road, Ukiah, CA 95482 (707) 462-9226. www.ukiahplayerstheatre.org
MOVIES
Regal Ukiah Stadium 6
612 South State Street, Ukiah 95482 (707) 462-6788
SHOWTIMES
CASINOS
Coyote Valley Shodakai Casino & Bingo
7751 No. State St., Ukiah (707) 485-0700.
Hopland Sho Ka Wah Casino
13101 Nokomis Rd, Hopland (707) 744-1395.
SPORTS
Ukiah Speedway
At the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds, the Ukiah Speedway offers exciting entertainment for racing fans who enjoy motocross and stock car racing including the Westcar Late Model Series, the North State Challenge Series and the BCRA Midgets. For information online, visit www.ukiahspeedway.com.
Local Guide to Parks & Recreation