California Corner : Festivals, Feasts & Fairs

PORT HUENEME--Music, arts, crafts and spicy bowls of red are featured at the fourth annual Hueneme Chili Festival, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Rides, food booths and an outdoor saloon are part of the fun at the chili cook-off at Hueneme Beach Park. Free. California 1 north to Hueneme Road west; left on Ventura Road, then straight to park. (805) 986-6555.

SANTA BARBARA--Oak Park becomes a Greek village, complete with bouzouki music and costumed dancers, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and next Sunday. The 20th annual Santa Barbara Greek Festival also showcases traditional Greek cuisine, including souvlaki, moussaka and baklava. Visitors can also join in circle dances and visit import booths at the free event. U.S. 101 north to the Pueblo Street exit; follow signs to park. Proceeds benefit the Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church building fund. (805) 683-4492.

SAN CLEMENTE--Hand-crafted pieces by some 60 artisans are featured at next Sunday’s free Village Arts and Crafts Fair. The 100 and 200 blocks of Avenida Del Mar are filled with arts and crafts, clowns, face painters and musicians, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Interstate 5 south; go right at the Palizada exit, left on El Camino Real, then straight to Avenida Del Mar. (714) 492-6000.

CRESCENT CITY--A Native American museum, an exhibit of old farming equipment, rides, music, livestock, food and home arts exhibits are featured at the Jefferson State Fair, Aug. 5-8 at the Del Norte Fairgrounds, 421 U.S. 101 North. The event is named for the State of Jefferson, an early-20th-Century concept of Northern Californians and Southern Oregonians to gain local political control of natural resources. Statehood was shelved after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, but the region recalls the idea with this country fair. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Aug. 5, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Aug 6-7 and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 8. $5 general (seniors $2 on Aug. 6), $2 kids 6-12 (free on Aug. 5), free for kids 5 and under. (707) 464-9556.

PASO ROBLES--Basil’s culinary potential doesn’t end with pizza and pasta. At the second annual Basil Festival on Aug. 7, the sweet herb even finds its way into ice cream. Festivities, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Sycamore Farms, include basil food specialties, wine-tasting, herb sales, acoustic Irish music, farm animals and a clown for kids, and a book signing with herbologist/writer Lynn Alley. $2 general, free for kids 12 and under. Proceeds benefit the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center. U.S. 101 north to California 46 west; go three miles; farms are on the left. (800) 576-5288.

PETALUMA--History and fun join forces at the 32nd annual Old Adobe Fiesta on Aug. 8. Featured activities include hands-on demonstrations of early California crafts and food, period music and dance, food and game booths, kids’ contests, a petting zoo and self-guided tours of General Vallejo’s Rancho, now a state historic museum. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park, 3325 Adobe Road. $2 general, free for kids 12 and under. U.S. 101 north to California 116 east; follow signs to park. (707) 762-4871.