California Corner : Festivals, Feasts & Fairs

ARROYO GRANDE--Celebrate autumn’s abundance at the 55th annual Arroyo Grande Valley Harvest Festival, Friday and Saturday. In addition to a cornucopia of fresh produce at a farmer’s market, the festival features a parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, agricultural displays, arts and crafts, games, scarecrow-building and zucchini-growing contests and a cow-chip throw. 5-9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Free. Downtown behind East Branch Street. Take the Grand Avenue exit from U.S. 101 north. (805) 489-1488.

OJAI--You don’t have to travel to Chicago or Memphis to hear the blues. The 10th annual Bowlful of Blues on Oct. 3 features, among others, blues artists Marva Wright, Honeyboy Edwards and Billy Boy Arnold, and zydeco musician Lynn August and his Hot August Knights. 2-10 p.m. Saturday. $20 in advance; $22.50 at the door. At the Ojai Bowl, downtown in Libbey Park. Take U.S. 101 to California 33 north, or Interstate 5 north to California 126 west to California 150 north. (805) 646-7230.

PARADISE--Johnny Appleseed Day, a celebration of apple season, is scheduled Oct. 3. The Butte County festival starts with a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m., followed by melodramas by Theater on the Ridge, an arts and crafts fair, an ice cream-apple pie social, and an apple recipe contest and auction. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Paradise Recreation Center, Skyway and Elliott roads. Interstate 5 north to California 70 north to the Paradise turnoff, California 191. (916) 877-9356.

SALINAS--A global lineup of flyers and daredevils is scheduled for the 1992 California International Airshow, Oct. 3-4. Gates open at 8 a.m. for demonstrations and static displays. Shows start at noon, featuring the Canadian Snowbirds, the Eagles Aerobatic Flight Team, the Chutin’ Stars Jump Team and others. Advance tickets: $7, general; $4, children; $10, grandstand seats; $15, single box seats. Tickets at the gate: $9, general; $5, children; $13, grandstand seats. At the Salinas Municipal Airport, off the Airport Road exit from U.S. 101. (408) 754-1983.

VISTA--The eighth annual Tour de North County bicycle ride through San Diego County’s northern reaches is Oct. 11. It starts at Rancho Buena Vista High School, 1801 Live Oak Road. The 75-mile ride begins at 6:30 a.m., 50-mile ride at 7:15 a.m., 25-mile ride at 8:30 a.m., 12-mile ride at 9:45 a.m. and five-mile ride at 10:15 a.m. Live music, a fitness fair and a French feast await riders at the end of the course. $20, general; $12, kids under 18. Proceeds benefit five San Diego County hospitals. (619) 275-5440.