California Corner Festivals, Feasts & Fairs

RIVERSIDE--Don your 19th century duds for the Dickens Festival, Saturday and next Sunday. All participants are encouraged to dress the part for the street fair, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., on Mission Inn Avenue at Lemon Street. The fair will include military reenactments from the 1880s, juggling, and a London Marketplace with period food and crafts. Costumed characters in the guise of Mr. and Mrs. Dickens, Hans Christian Andersen, Queen Victoria and others will be on hand. Free. At Mr. Fezziwig’s Ball, 8 p.m.-midnight Saturday at the adjacent Municipal Auditorium, costumed guests will perform ballroom dances to live music ($25 per person to dance, $5 to observe). (800) 430-4140.

DANA POINT--The annual Street Faire, Feb. 14-16, provides a rollicking start to the city’s two-week-long Festival of the Whales. Activities include a petting zoo, parade (10 a.m., Feb. 14), live music, and more than 100 vendors selling food, and arts and crafts, including whale-themed items. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Pacific Coast Highway and Golden Lantern. Free. (800) 290-3262.

SOLVANG--Tales will be told and yarns spun at the seventh annual Flying Leap Storytelling Festival, Feb. 20-21. Storytelling sessions and how-to workshops will be at various venues downtown and within walking distance, with the Feb. 21 finale at 8:15 p.m. at Santa Ines Mission, on Mission Drive. $4-$15 adults, $4-$6 for children 12 and under. Two free events are at noon Feb. 21: At Solvang Park, 1st Street and Mission Drive, the public is invited to swap stories; and a storyteller will tell Danish folk tales at Solvang Designer Outlets, on Alisal Road. 8-9:30 p.m. Feb. 20; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Feb. 21. (888) 786-7998.

VENTURA--This city will salute the great gray whale noon-4 p.m. Feb. 22 at Ventura Harbor Village, Spinnaker Drive and Harbor Boulevard. The annual Whale Celebration includes a display of marine-themed art, marine life touch tanks, an art project for children, live music and a clown show. Free. (805) 644-0169.

SAN FRANCISCO--Tiptoe through more than 50,000 tulips, in 65 varieties, at the 19th annual Tulipmania, kicking off Feb. 28. Free guided tours will be conducted daily at 10 a.m. The blooms will be displayed throughout the day, through March 8, at Pier 39, Beach Street and the Embarcadero. Free. (415) 705-5500.

Call listed phone numbers for directions.