California Corner: Festivals, Feasts & Fairs

Vallejo--A wine and cheese reception and bird outing kick off the San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival, 3-9 p.m. Jan. 18. Family Wildlife Exploration and Birding Day is 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 19. Wildlife outings and exhibits will be offered 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. Jan. 20. Mare Island Building 897. Free. (707) 649-WING (9464), www.sfbayflywayfestival.com.

Blythe--The Colorado River Country Music Festival, Jan. 18-20, has bluegrass, crafts, contests and a dance 7 p.m.- midnight Jan. 19. Colorado River Country Fairgrounds. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. $10 per day; dance $3. (760) 922-8166, www.blythecoc.com.

Morro Bay--Bird-watchers will flock to the Winter Bird Festival, Jan. 18-21, for estuary tours, workshops, kayaking and whale- and bird-watching. Vendor fair 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 18-20. Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way. 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Jan. 18; 6:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Jan. 19-20; 7 a.m.-noon Jan. 21. $40 registration; events range from free to $45; one-day event pass $20. (800) 231-0592, www.morro-bay.net.

San Diego--The 22nd Martin Luther King Jr. Day Festival begins with a parade at 10 a.m. Jan. 19 from Grape Street and Harbor Drive to Seaport Village. Then come entertainment, exhibits and food. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. (619) 264-0542, www.sandiego.org.

Oxnard--Martin Luther King Jr. will be honored on Jan. 21. First is the Freedom March at 8:15 a.m. from Plaza Park. It ends at the Performing Arts Center, where there will be entertainment. $5. (805) 486- 2424, www.ci.oxnard.ca.us.

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--Laurie K. Schenden; Schenden’s e-mail address is

Lkschenden@msn.com.