California Corner

SAN DIEGO--Join the United Italian Americans at the 31st annual Columbus Day Parade and Festival, Oct. 14-15. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. Oct. 14 down Grape Street, followed by music, food and entertainment in Amici Park. On Oct. 15, on India and Date streets, there will be more music and food, plus crafts and street painting. Little Italy. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Oct. 14; 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 15. Free. (619) 469-0795.

HALF MOON BAY--The 30th Art & Pumpkin Festival, Oct. 14-15, will include pumpkin carving; costume and pie-eating contests; and a parade at noon Oct. 14. There will be about 260 arts and crafts booths, plus 30 food booths selling everything pumpkin, from bread to wine to ice cream. Main Street. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. Free. (650) 726-9652.

RIVERBANK--About 370 vendors, entertainment, children’s activities and wine and cheese tasting will be featured at the Cheese & Wine Exposition, Oct. 14-15. Downtown. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. Free admission; wine and cheese tasting $18 per hour.(209) 869-4541.

GOLETA--When life gives you a lemon, you host a Lemon Festival. Visitors to the Oct. 21-22 event can check out a pie-eating contest, sample lemonade and other lemon items, and enjoy entertainment, arts and crafts and children’s activities. Stow House, 304 N. Los Carneros Road. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. Free. (800) 646-5382.

RIDGECREST--The 24th annual Maturango Junction will be held along with the Four Winds Inter-Tribal Council Pow-Wow, Oct. 21-22. Events on Oct. 21 include a pancake breakfast and staged “shoot-outs.” On both days, there will be intertribal dancing, food, music and arts and crafts booths. Leroy Jackson Park. 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 21; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 22. Free. (760) 375-8331.

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