HOME TOUROrange--You can take a stroll into...

HOME TOUR

Orange--You can take a stroll into Orange County history Sunday when several private residences and businesses in Old Towne will be open to the public for the fifth annual A Walk in Time home tour.

The buildings on the tour were constructed between 1889 to 1929 and include classic Victorian homes with wrap-around porches, a craftsmen bungalow, a residence built in the popular Mediterranean style, the only surviving carriage house in Orange and a 63-year-old section of St. Joseph Hospital.

The buildings were selected with an eye to their historical importance.

The Parker House was once home to Dr. Ida Parker, the first woman admitted to the Orange County Medical Assn.

What: Walk in Time home tour.

When: Sunday, Oct. 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Old Towne in Orange.

Whereabouts: Orange’s historical district. Locations of the homes will be made available at the time of ticket purchase.

Wherewithal: $10.

Where to call: (714) 637-5873 or (714) 633-5653.

COOK-OFF

San Clemente--Just in time for the opening of the West Coast lobster season, the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce’s fifth annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off will be Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the city pier.

About 30 teams of individual and restaurant chefs will be vying for the People’s Choice chowder award.

For $5, visitors will get to taste eight different chowders.

There will also be free entertainment, including music at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. from the Surfaris, known for their hit “Wipe Out,” Polynesian dancing, games for children and a lobster race. At 11 a.m. will be a volleyball exhibition game featuring professional players Karch Kiraly, Larry Mear, Adam Johnson and Wes Welch.

Visitors can park at San Clemente High School and take a free shuttle to the pier. The shuttle runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What: San Clemente Clam Chowder Cook-Off.

When: Sunday, Oct. 4.

Where: San Clemente Pier. Free parking at San Clemente High School, 700 Avenida Pico.

Whereabouts: To catch the free shuttle service from San Clemente High School, take Interstate 5 to the Avenida Pico exit. Head east to the high school, which is on the right side of road.

Wherewithal: $5 ticket is good for a taste of eight different chowders; entertainment is free.

Where to call: (714) 492-1131.

SANDCASTLES

Huntington Beach--Not just another pretty sandcastle, but a continuous mile-long sandcastle sculpture, running along the beach from the pier to Beach Boulevard, will take shape Saturday at the Huntington Beach Sand Castle Festival.

The Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau is inviting groups, businesses and families to join in the team building project or to come and kibitz as the structure rises from the sand on the city beach.

Those who want to be creative and not just browse can buy sand plots at $2 per foot, sold in 10-foot increments ($20 minimum).

People can sign up on the morning of the event, but advance registration is recommended.

There will be commemorative awards for participants.

What: Huntington Beach Sand Castle Festival.

When: Saturday, Oct. 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Huntington City Beach, beginning between the pier and lifeguard headquarters near the terminus of First Street.

Whereabouts: From the San Diego (405) Freeway, take the Beach Boulevard off-ramp and go south to Pacific Coast Highway. Turn right and drive into one of the parking lots south of the pier.

Wherewithal: $20 minimum; free for spectators.

Where to call: (714) 969-3492.

STAGE

Costa Mesa--A relaxing night at the theater it isn’t.

Full Contact Theatre at Orange Coast College is described more as a game of ice hockey, except that Wayne Gretzky is replaced by Hamlet.

The improvisational production, staged by the college’s Repertory Company, is based on a new movement in theater, called “theatre sport.”

During the production, two teams are pitted against each other as they tackle improvisations suggested by members of the audience.

The Sunday night show, directed by Orange Coast theater instructor Alex Golson, comes complete with referees, fouls and penalties.

Theatergoers also have a role as they cheer on their favorite team or shout down opponents from the sidelines.

Members of the audience may be asked to join in the fun and try their hand at acting out some of the skits.

What: Full Contact Theatre.

When: Sunday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m.

Where: Orange Coast College Drama Lab Theatre, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa.

Whereabouts: Take the San Diego (405) Freeway to the Fairview Road exit. Go south. The college is near the corner of Fairview Road and Adams Avenue.

Wherewithal: Advance tickets $5, at the door $6. A $1 discount is available for OCC students and senior citizens.

Where to call: (714) 432-5880.

OKTOBERFEST

Cypress--Lots of yodeling and oom-pah-pah dancing will be going on Saturday night in Cypress as the community celebrates its annual Oktoberfest.

The six-hour festival, which includes everything from traditional German songs and dancing to the usual samplings of knackwurst, bratwurst and beer, is sponsored by Friends of the Cypress Cultural Arts and the Cypress Cultural Arts Commission.

More than 1,000 people are expected to come out to celebrate German-style and enjoy the entertainment by the Jolly Al’s oom-pah-pah band.

What: Oktoberfest.

When: Saturday, Oct. 3, from 4 to 10 p.m.

Where: Cypress Community Center, 5700 Orange Ave., Cypress.

Whereabouts: From the Artesia Freeway (91) take the Valley View Street exit and head south. Turn right on Orange Avenue.

Wherewithal: $3. Children under 6 are free.

Where to call: (714) 229-6780.

DANCING

Laguna Hills--It’s prom time again, but not for high school students. The third annual Big Band Dance, also know as the Seniors’ Prom, will be held Saturday at the Laguna Hills Mall.

Senior citizens will be able to swing to the classic big band sounds of the Senior Class Band. Light refreshments will be served during the dance.

Tickets are $10 each and can be bought in advance at Dimension Cable, 26181 Avenida Aeropuerto, San Juan Capistrano.

Tickets also will be available at the door.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the South County Senior Services’ Meals on Wheels program.

What: The Seniors’ Prom.

When: Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m.

Where: In the former Buffums store at the Laguna Hills Mall.

Whereabouts: Take Interstate 5 to the El Toro Road exit. Head west to the Laguna Hills Mall. Signs will direct prom-goers to mall parking areas close to the dance.

Wherewithal: $10.

Where to call: (714) 240-8828, Ext. 345, or (714) 831-8580.

LECTURE

Laguna Beach--The revolutionary developments in video art, animation and experimental documentaries will be the topic of conversation Thursday, Oct. 8, when video artist Anne Bray appears as part of the “Good Morning Laguna” discussion series at the Laguna Art Museum.

“Everyone is very conscious of what video means,” Bray says. “The Rodney King incident is powerful proof that one individual with a brand new camcorder who wasn’t even sure how to operate it could end up bringing down L.A.”

The Los Angeles-based artist will speak and take questions for about an hour beginning at 11 a.m.

Bray is the director of L.A. Freewaves, a video festival involving Los Angeles area arts and media organizations, cable stations and schools. She also teaches a class on independent video at UCLA.

What: Anne Bray lecture.

When: Thursday, Oct. 8, at 11 a.m.

Where: Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach.

Whereabouts: Take the San Diego (405) Freeway to Laguna Canyon Road exit. Head west on Laguna Canyon Road to Coast Highway, turn right, go to Cliff Drive and turn left.

Wherewithal: Lecture free with museum admission of $3; $1.50 for students and seniors.

Where to call: (714) 494-8971.

OPEN HOUSE

Newport Beach--A fire set on purpose won’t be the work of a pyromaniac, but the Newport Beach Fire Department, which on Sunday will show the public how firefighters get their job done. The demonstration is part of the city’s annual Public Safety Day.

Tours of the fire and police stations on Santa Barbara Drive will be given, and children will get a chance to sit in the police helicopter, play with Smokey the Bear and talk to firefighters, police officers, lifeguards and the Harbor Patrol officers.

Visitors will be encouraged to slide down the fire pole, scale a wall with the SWAT team, try on firefighting gear and participate in earthquake and fire drills. Police also will demonstrate how they pry open doors of wrecked cars at crash sites and will show cars that were totaled in drunken-driving accidents.

Flyers and booklets on fire safety, earthquake preparedness, anti-burglary devices, harbor cleanliness and beach swimming safety will be handed out. Cookies and punch will be provided.

What: Public Safety Day.

When: Sunday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Newport Beach Fire Station 3 and adjacent police station.

Whereabouts: Take Corona del Mar (73) Freeway or San Diego (405) Freeway to Jamboree Road, go south to Santa Barbara Drive and turn left. The fire station is on the left, next door to the Police Department on the corner.

Wherewithal: Free.

Where to call: (714) 644-3111.

MINIATURES

La Habra--The small world of miniatures will come alive Saturday at the Children’s Museum at La Habra.

The National Assn. of Miniature Enthusiasts will celebrate National Miniature and Doll House Month by presenting a Doll House Miniature Display and Workshop, a program featuring displays of handmade, scaled-down versions of houses, furniture and buildings.

The show will include displays of tiny porches, toys and room settings.

A workshop teaching the art of making miniatures will be held for children age 5 and older.

What: Doll House Miniature Display and Workshop.

When: Saturday, Oct. 3, noon.

Where: Children’s Museum at La Habra, 301 S. Euclid St.

Whereabouts: Take Orange (57) Freeway north to Lambert Road off-ramp. Head west on Lambert Road four miles to Euclid Street and turn right. Go north on Euclid for four blocks. The museum will be on the left side of the street.

Wherewithal: Children age 2 to 16 $2.50; senior citizens $2.50; general admission $3.

Where to call: (310) 905-9793.

COUNTRY FAIR

Anaheim--West Anaheim United Methodist Church will be host of a “down-home-good-ol’-time” Country Fair featuring entertainment and arts and crafts for display and sale.

The fair, which replaces the church’s biennial Quilt Show, will have handcrafted items including Christmas decorations, dolls and doll furniture, teddy bears, jewelry, quilted items, quilting patterns, picture mugs, T-shirts, magnets, stationary and decorative rubber stamps.

For those who want to sink their teeth into something tasty, homemade baked goods, jams, jellies and candy will be for sale.

What: Country Fair.

When: Saturday, Oct. 3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: West Anaheim United Methodist Church, 2045 W. Ball Road, Anaheim.

Whereabouts: Take the Santa Ana (5) Freeway to Brookhurst Street exit, head south to Ball Road and turn left. The church will be on the right side of street.

Wherewithal: Free.

Where to call: (714) 772-6030.

WALK-A-THON

Garden Grove--Seniors Meals and Services, which is responsible for serving more than 300,000 meals each year to west Orange County residents over age 60, will hold its fourth annual Miles for Meals walk-a-thon Saturday in Garden Grove.

The event, which will raise money for meals for the coming year, kicks off at 8:30 a.m. at the Atlantis Play Center. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Walkers raise money by participating on teams or by getting pledges for donations from sponsors based on the number of miles that they walk.

Participants who raise more than $50 are eligible for T-shirts, dinners and trips.

What: Senior Meals and Services fourth annual Miles for Meals walk-a-thon.

When: Saturday, Oct. 3. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m.; walk-a-thon begins at 8:30 a.m.

Whereabouts: Take the Garden Grove (22) Freeway to Brookhurst Street south, turn right on Westminster Avenue, go past Bolsa Grande High School and turn right (the only way you can go) on Atlantis Way just before Magnolia Street. Atlantis Play Center is at the end of Atlantis Way.

Wherewithal: Free.

Where to call: (714) 894-9779.

MUSIC

Lakewood--Traditionally, barbershop harmony was a singing style thought to belong strictly in the male realm, but Sweet Adelines International is working to change that image.

On Saturday, the Golden Shores Chorus, the Long Beach chapter of Sweet Adelines International, will present “Whistle Stop, U.S.A.,” a musical show presented by an all-women chorus singing in four-part harmony, barbershop style. The show follows the campaign of a woman running for President. Songs range from such dance tunes as “Chatanooga Choo-Choo” to patriotic favorites such as “My Country.”

This is the fourth annual fund-raiser for Sweet Adelines International, a nonprofit group whose purpose is to teach and train women the art of barbershop harmony.

“For years it was thought that barbershop harmony was strictly suited to men’s voices, but that is not the case anymore,” said Sally Hecathorn, a 20-year member of the Golden Shores Chorus. “This type of singing is for anyone. Our members are lawyers, nurses and teachers, and they range in age from 20 to 70 years old.”

Panache, the 1990 winner of the Queens of Harmony award from the Sweet Adelines International contest, and the 139th Street Quartet, a male barbershop quartet, are two of the special-guest quartets that will perform throughout the show.

What: “Whistle Stop, U.S.A.,” an annual barbershop show.

When: Saturday, Oct. 3, at 2 and 8 p.m.

Where: Lakewood High School Auditorium, 4400 Briercrest Ave., Lakewood.

Whereabouts: From the San Diego (405) Freeway, take the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway north, exit at Del Amo Boulevard, go west to Briercrest Avenue and head south two blocks to the auditorium.

Wherewithal: $8, $10 and $12.

Where to call: (310) 427-4879.