Festive Activities Herald the Beginning of a New Season

Break out of that winter cocoon, unwind, put the rain aside and reach for the sun. Spring is almost here.

In the Southland, the new season heralds a renewal of popular events. Whatever your fancy, whether it’s to frolic like a kid again, relive history or just smell the flowers, here is a cross section of activities to put the bloom on spring.

Kite Festivals--The Santa Barbara Family Day Kite Festival is held March 20, Shoreline Park at Mesa Lane, Santa Barbara, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Registration starts at 11 a.m. Free. Prizes will be awarded to the highest-flying, most beautiful and largest kites aloft. Also, competition in stunt kites and kite fighting. Call (805) 966-2694.

Santa Monica Pier Spring Kite Flying Festival, March 27, starts at noon if there is wind. “If there’s no wind,” festival coordinator Gloria Lugo says, “come anyway, and enjoy a day at the beach.” Participants gather at the north (Malibu) side of the pier on Colorado Avenue. For parking, take Pico Boulevard and turn right on Appian Way; $4 fee. Telephone (213) 822-2561.

Cabrillo Marine Museum Grunion Programs--3720 Stephen White Drive, San Pedro. Runs are Monday, 11 p.m.; March 19, 10 p.m.; April 4, 10:50 p.m.; April 17, 10:25 p.m.; May 3, 10:25 p.m.; May 15, 9:55 p.m.; June 1, 10:12 p.m.; June 14, 9:38 p.m. Museum gates open at 8 p.m., educational program starts at 9 p.m. Program includes a film describing the grunion as it develops from egg to maturity. Then it’s down to the beach. Grunion run for two hours after starting times, but museum activities cease at midnight. Weather and tides may cause time changes.

Be prepared with flashlight, blanket and appropriate clothing. Telephone (213) 548-7562.

Antelope Valley Poppy Day--April 10, Wildflower Information Center in the Lancaster Museum, 44811 Sierra Highway, Lancaster, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. This is the day the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve will have its annual celebration (the official day for honoring California’s state flower is April 6). Start your tour at the information center with a brief slide show and a look at labeled specimens. Then head for the reserve, 15101 W. Lancaster Road, to view poppy displays. At the reserve, docents hand out free packets of poppy seeds. Park ranger John Crossman says poppies are “most photogenic close to noon.” A paved walkway provides access for the handicapped. Fee is $3 per car.

Take California 14 to Avenue I, Lancaster, then head west about 15 miles. Call (805) 948-1322 after April 1 for update on blooms.

The Ramona Pageant--Saturdays and Sundays from April 16 to May 1, Ramona Bowl, Hemet. All performances are 3-5:30 p.m. Admission prices for adults range from $7 to $15. Children 11 and under accompanied by adults getting the $7 ticket pay $3.50 in Section K only; if they sit in other sections, they pay full price. Free nursery for children age 1 to 6.

This is the 61st year that the people of Hemet and San Jacinto will be presenting the play “Ramona,” Helen Hunt Jackson’s adaptation of a true story. A tender, tragic love story, the play reflects the hard times the Indians endured during the days of the early California settlers. Local residents are cast in most of the parts. A nearby museum housing historic memorabilia is free and open to the public 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. until the middle of May.

From California 60 or Interstate 10, take California 79 south to Hemet. From Interstate 215 take California 74 east. In Hemet, turn south on Girard Street and follow the banners to the Bowl.

Information is available from P.O. Box 755, Hemet, Calif. 92343, or telephone (714) 658-3111.

Flower Shows--The 43rd Annual Santa Barbara International Orchid Show, Earl Warren Showgrounds Exhibit Building, U.S. 101 and Las Positas Road, Santa Barbara. March 11, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; March 12, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; March 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

“Magic of Orchids” is the theme of this year’s show. Featured will be exotic varieties from around the world, elegant orchid table settings and an orchid-culture booth. Corsages and plants are for sale. Educational materials are also available.

Admission: adults, $5; seniors and students with ID cards, $3; children 11 and under admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Advance single or group ticket sales, $3 each. Parking adjacent to Exhibit Building is $1. Telephone (805) 687-0766 for information, (805) 967-7153 for tickets.

Also, the Wistaria Vine Open House, March 27, Feeney House, 535 N. Hermosa Ave., Sierra Madre, noon-4 p.m.

The spectacular wistaria, more popularly spelled wisteria, is reported to be the world’s largest blossoming plant. Free seed packets will be given away by the Sierra Madre Beautification Committee members. Events are free. Telephone (818) 355-0768.

Renaissance Pleasure Faire--Saturdays and Sundays, April 23-May 30, Paramount Ranch, Agoura, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

For the 26th year, ordinary people can turn on an Elizabethan persona as they don elaborate costumes to merge with the spirit of Shakespeare’s England. Musicians, dancers and strolling mimes are among the 2,000 performers adding to the medieval atmosphere.

Admission at gate: adults, $14.50; students and senior citizens over 60, $11.50; children 6-11, $7.50; ages 5 and under free. Parking free.

Take the Chesebro exit off U.S. 101, go south on Comado Canyon, turn right on Agoura Road, left on Cornell Road to the ranch. Telephone (213) 202-8854.

The Gordon Bennett Balloon Race--April 30, Ruth Hardy Park, Tamarisk Road and Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs.

The race attracts top-notch pilots and co-pilots from around the world. Entry fee, $3,500. April 29 there will be a fireworks ceremony. Then at 6 p.m. April 30, the race begins with the inflation of the gas balloons. Between 8 and 11 p.m., it’s take-off time.

Telephone (619) 323-8277. Telephone the 24-hour balloon hot line at (619) 323-8279. California Strawberry Festival--April 30 and May 1, South Harbor Boulevard, Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. both days.

Imagine succulent red berries in a variety of gourmet foods: binge on strawberry shortcake, wines, parfaits, cheesecake. On April 30 at 11 a.m., there’s a competition to pick the adult and child with the most outstanding strawberry-blond hair color (wigs allowed). On both days, strawberry shortcake eaters will compete at 2 p.m. A tea dance will be held April 30 at 3 p.m. Strolling acts, mimes and jugglers as well as 10K and two-mile runs are all part of this “paint the town red” event.

Admission at gate: adults $3, children 5-12 and seniors 65 and over pay $1, age 4 and under free. Free parking for shuttle: Oxnard College, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard; the Naval Seabee Base, Pleasant Valley Gate, Port Hueneme, and Ventura County Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. Telephone (805) 984-4715.

UCLA Mardi Gras ‘88--UCLA Athletic Field at Westwood and Sunset boulevards, Los Angeles. May 13, 6 p.m.-midnight; May 14, 11 a.m.-midnight; May 15, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission gates will close at 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Student volunteers will be manning more than 70 game booths, including slingshot target practice, Frisbee throws and sponge tossing. Be sure to catch the laser-music show that was so popular last year. For Smurf fans of all ages, a special life-size show will be offered six times daily. Food booths will sell everything from beef teriyaki to hot dogs and hamburgers.

Admission: adults $4; children 2-11 pay $2; children under 2 free. Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., all children under 11 free when accompanied by adult.

Parking: Take shuttle from the Federal Building, 11000 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Information: (213) 825-8001.

L.A. Jewish Festival--May 15, Rancho Park, Pico Boulevard and Motor Avenue, West Los Angeles. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

This year’s 15th annual celebration ties into Israel’s 40th birthday. Present at this event, the largest of its kind outside of New York City, will be representatives of the consul general of Israel. When they give a party, it has a haimish (homey) flavor. At this year’s carnival you can savor kosher ethnic food, browse among Israeli products and Jewish folk crafts and dance the hora . Admission and parking free. Guests can purchase food and tickets for rides. Telephone (213) 938-2531.