There are always lots of fun things for kids to do in the East Bay Regional Parks, but some real crowd-pleasers are on the books for June 2-3.
Children and adults alike will enjoy the annual sand castle and sculpture contest at Crown Beach in Alameda. It’s a free event, co-sponsored by the Park District, Alameda Recreation and Parks and the Bay View Women’s Club. Registration starts at 9 a.m. June 2, with competition in categories of youth, families and adults for either castle or sculpture construction.
Viewing and judging are at noon, and awards are presented at 1 p.m. This event is as much fun to observe as it is to participate in. The location is on Crown Beach in front of the beach house. The entrance is at the intersection of Shore Line and Otis Drives. For information, call 510-544-3187.
While we’re at Crown Beach, mark June 8 on your calendar for the first of three free Concerts at the Cove. From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. there will be food for sale and family programs by Crab Cove naturalists. The music is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., featuring Long Train Runnin’, a Doobie Brothers tribute band.
Crab Cove is at 1252 McKay Ave. off Alameda’s Central Avenue. Parking is limited; there’s additional space at the Crown Beach lot a short walk away. Sponsors are the Park District and Alameda Rotary Club. For information, call 510-544-3185.
Fremont: The other June 2 event especially for kids is Katie Train Activities Day at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont. Katie is the park’s little green locomotive, and the event is especially designed for children ages 2 through 6.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. activities will include train rides, playing engineer and operating wooden model train layouts, coloring pictures of Katie, reading from the collection of train books and building using child-sized tools. All the regular Ardenwood farm activities also will be available.
The fee for the event is $7 for ages 2 and older, free for ages 1 and younger. Parking is free. Ardenwood is located at 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., just north of Highway 84 in Fremont. For information, call 510-544-2797.
Also in Fremont: And there’s more. Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont stages its 19th annual Butterfly & Bird Festival from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 3, a celebration of all our winged friends. Visitors can meet the birds and butterflies up close, learn to create a wildlife-friendly backyard and join in hands-on naturalist-led activities.
Live music and butterfly garden tours are also planned. Coyote Hills is at the end of Patterson Ranch Road off Paseo Padre Parkway. Parking is $5 per vehicle. The festival is free. For information, call 510-544-3214.
Berkeley: Speaking of wings, dragonflies and other insects will be the focus of a program from 2 to 3:30 p.m. June 2 at Tilden Nature Area near Berkeley, led by naturalist Anthony Fisher.
And from 7 to 9 p.m. June 3 and again on June 24, naturalist Trent Pearce plans a twilight walk in search of nocturnal creatures in the Nature Area. Both programs meet at the Environmental Education Center, which is at the north end of Tilden’s Central Park Drive. Call 510-544-2233.
Antioch: Another evening program is from 6 to 10 p.m. June 2 at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch, led by naturalist Kevin Dixon. The group will listen for sounds of waking owls on the park’s west side. This hike is a bit strenuous, 6 steep and rugged miles, so it’s for ages 12 and older.
And naturalist Eddie Willis will lead a hike in search of late blooming spring wildflowers at Black Diamond Mines from 10 a.m. to noon June 3. For either hike, meet the naturalist in the parking lot at the end of Somersville Road, 3½ miles south of Highway 4. Call 888-327-2757, ext. 2750 for information.
Online: This is just a sample. For a list of all programs planned in the parks, visit the district website, www.ebparks.org.
Ned MacKay writes a regular column about East Bay Regional Park District sites and activities. Email him at nedmackay@comcast.net.