California Corner Festivals, Feasts & Fairs

PINECREST--Taste the fruits of area microbreweries and listen to live music at Brew Fest 2000 on Feb. 12. Dodge Ridge Ski Area, off Highway 108 and Pinecrest Lake Road. 2:30-6 p.m. Proceeds benefit Disabled Sports USA. $10 (includes pint glass and three samples). (209) 965-3474.

MONTEREY--In honor of Valentine’s Day, hear romantic stories at “A Day of Romance in Old Monterey” Feb. 12. There will be food, music and tours of four historic buildings at Monterey State Historic Park. Cooper-Molera Adobe, Polk Street and Munras Avenue. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $10; $17.50 with box lunch (reservations required for lunch). (831) 647-6204.

SAN DIEGO--Celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Chinese New Year Food & Cultural Faire Feb. 12-13. Asian cuisine, a bazaar, lion dancers, dragon parades (twice each day), cultural exhibits and traditional music will fill 3rd and J streets downtown. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Free. (619) 234-4447.

KERNVILLE--Whiskey Flat Days, Feb.18-21, is an old-fashioned Western festival that includes music and a carnival all four days. There will also be a parade (11 a.m. Saturday), rodeo (1 p.m. Saturday-Sunday), melodramas and a frog-jumping contestNoon-10 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; 9 a.m.-noon Monday. Most events free. Rodeo $10; $5 ages 12 and younger. (760) 376-2629.

INDIO--Camel and ostrich races will contribute to the Middle Eastern theme of this year’s Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival Feb. 18-27. The festival includes exhibits of Coachella Valley dates and produce, a rodeo and an Arabian Nights pageant. Fairgrounds, 46-350 Arabia St. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays-Sundays. $6; $5 seniors; $4 ages 5-12; under 5 free. Daily carnival pass $18, all ages. (800) 811-FAIR.

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Schenden’s e-mail address: lkschenden@msn.com.