2026 Activities

11:00 am - 1:00 pm | Under the Oak: Stories & Songs of Carmel Valley

Oak Tree | Esselen Tribe of Monterey County

The Esselen Tribe of Monterey County invites children and families to gather beneath the shade of an oak tree to experience the living history of California. Through Indigenous storytelling, you'll hear stories about the oak tree as a provider of food, shelter, and wisdom for generations of Indigenous people. Cowboy music will bring songs celebrating the ranching life and the oak-dotted hills of Carmel Valley.

11:15 am - 2:00 pm | Meet DD the Red-Tailed Hawk

Outdoor Patio | SPCA Monterey County

Meet DD the Red Tailed Hawk, who was brought to the SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Center 18 years ago. Because of her injuries from a probable car strike, she's unable to be released back into the wild, so she now visits schools throughout Monterey County, educating children and adults about the world of raptors.

11:30 am - 12:30 pm | Live music by Kanilani

Fountain Courtyard | Kanilani

Enjoy the vibrant rhythms and melodies of Appalachian Folk Music played by Kanilani!

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | STRETCH & WALK (ESTÍRATE Y CAMINA)

Flagpole (Asta de bandera) | Ventana Wildlife Society | (en español)

¿Qué está pasando en Palo Corona? Únase a nosotros para estiramientos en familia seguidos de una caminata ligera por Palo Corona y conozca el Proyecto de Restauración de la Llanura Inundable de Rancho Cañada. La caminata es adecuada para familias y será guiada en español.

What is happening in Palo Corona? Join us for family stretching followed by a light walk through Palo Corona and learn about The Rancho Cañada Floodplain Restoration Project. The walk is suitable for families and will be led in Spanish.

11:45 am - 12:30 pm | Rumsen Cultural Presentation

Pub Presentation Room | Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe

Join the Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe’s Hummaya Singers and Dancers to hear the songs and dances of the Rumsen Ohlone in this interactive dance and presentation.

11:45 AM - 12:45 PM | STRETCH & WALK (ESTÍRATE Y CAMINA)

Flagpole (Asta de bandera) | Ventana Wildlife Society | (en español)

¿Qué está pasando en Palo Corona? Únase a nosotros para estiramientos en familia seguidos de una caminata ligera por Palo Corona y conozca el Proyecto de Restauración de la Llanura Inundable de Rancho Cañada. La caminata es adecuada para familias y será guiada en español.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | STRETCH & WALK (ESTÍRATE Y CAMINA)

Flagpole (Asta de bandera) | Ventana Wildlife Society | (en español)

¿Qué está pasando en Palo Corona? Únase a nosotros para estiramientos en familia seguidos de una caminata ligera por Palo Corona y conozca el Proyecto de Restauración de la Llanura Inundable de Rancho Cañada. La caminata es adecuada para familias y será guiada en español.

12:15 Pm - 1:00 pm | Walk to Rancho Canada Floodplain Restoration site

Flagpole | MPRPD

Take a walk with Jake Smith, MPRPD Planning and Conservation Program Manager, through the Rancho Canada Floodplain Restoration Site and learn about the natural processes that are being restored along the Carmel River.

12:30 pm - 2:00 pm | Birding the Carmel River

Flagpole | Monterey Audubon Society

Meet at the flagpole to join Amanda Preece from Monterey Audubon for a fun birding field trip to the Carmel River to search for birds! With 200 bird species reported at Palo Corona Regional Park, we'll have lots of opportunities to enjoy the birds, the ever-changing landscape, and share each other's company on our way down to the river. Amanda will have a spotting scope to share and some binoculars to lend out. Meet at the flagpole and come early if you'd like to borrow binoculars. Estimated distance for this field trip is 0.8 miles along paved, wood chip, and hard-packed trail surfaces. One hill at the start/end of the trip makes the trip technically not ADA accessible, but please check in with Amanda for options.

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm | Live Music by the Old Flannel Pajamas

Fountain Courtyard | Old Flannel Pajamas

Enjoy lively, toe-tapping tunes from The Old Flannel Pajamas, bringing fun and folk-inspired music for all!

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm | Beginner Bird Walk

Flagpole | Bird School Project

Join the Bird School Project at the flagpole for a beginner bird walk, where you'll learn to spot and identify local birds! Perfect for all ages, with binoculars available to borrow, this gentle walk will introduce you to the sights and sounds of our feathered friends.

All Day | Meet Reina the Albino Kingsnake

Table Merienda Room | Wildlands Conservancy

Come to the Wildlands Conservancy’s exhibitor table indoors to meet their sweet and gentle ambassador animal, an albino kingsnake named Reina!

All Day | Identify Common Oak Pests and Pathogens and Learn How to Get Help

Table Merienda Room | Sudden Oak Death

Visit Sudden Oak Death's table to get help identifying common California oaks, and then learn the basics about how to examine oak trees for pests and pathogens. We will talk about the different ways you can get help identifying problems and some basic best management practices to keep your oaks healthy.

All Day | Nature Coloring

Table Fiesta Room | Seven Ravens Studio

Relax and get creative with nature coloring at Seven Ravens Studio’s exhibitor table in the Fiesta Room! Enjoy beautifully designed coloring pages inspired by nature, perfect for all ages.

All Day | Kelp Forest Keystone Predators Coloring Pages

Table Merienda Room | Sunflower Star Lab

Visit Sunflower Star Lab's table to grab a coloring page of keystone predators living in the kelp forest.

All Day | Wildflower Planting

Table Fiesta Room | UC Master Gardeners of Monterey County

Learn about proper seed planting by planting your own wildflower seeds with the UC Master Gardeners of Monterey County!

All Day | iNaturalist BioBlitz in the Watershed

Self Guided Walks

Contribute to community science! Download the iNaturalist app, and upload observations of species you find for our California Wildlife Day BioBlitz! Take yourself on a self guided walk in the park and become a community scientist by exploring nature and documenting local plants and wildlife you see. Identify species and contribute to scientific research while enjoying a fun outdoor adventure.

Kids Zone Activities

11:30-2:30 | Face Painting

Yessica Infante Face Painting

Transform into your favorite wild animal with fun and colorful face painting!

All Day | Interactive Mural - Nature in the Balance: Sharing the River

Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District

What does a healthy river look like to you? Draw, place, and vote to help create a community mural showing how nature, water, wildlife, and people can share the river.

All Day | Make Your Own Plover Nest

California State Parks

Become a Snowy Plover protector by building your own plover nest! At California State Parks’ table, learn about the challenges shorebirds face and what we can do to help them. Get hands-on and create a mini nest just like a real plover would on the beach.

All Day | Solar Viewing

Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy

Visit the Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy’s exhibitor table just outside the Kids Zone Tent for an exciting solar viewing experience! Safely observe the Sun through a specialized telescope and explore its dynamic features up close.

All Day | Wildlife Giant Jenga

All Saints Day School

Try your hand at wildlife jenga, with a custom giant jenga set with native species painted by students at All Saints Day School.

All Day | Coastal Stewardship & Nature Trivia

Big Sur Charter School

Test your knowledge of coastal stewardship and nature with this fun trivia challenge.

All Day | Bird Specimens & Activities

Pacific Grove Museum

Get up close with real bird specimens, including a barn owl, red-tail hawk and more. Learn about the incredible birds that travel the Pacific Flyway and how scientists and bird lovers track them. Visitors of all ages can fold an origami hummingbird, color a Pacific Flyway scene, and discover helpful birding tools like eBird, iNaturalist, and Merlin Bird ID.

All Day | California Condor Conservation

Ventana Wildlife Society

Learn about the California condor and its important role as nature’s cleanup crew. Discover the species history, the threats it has faced, and why condors are vital to healthy ecosystems. Kids can also create their own California condor wing tag while learning about conservation and recovery efforts.

All Day | Buffet for Beaks

Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District

See how birds help nature through pollination, seed dispersal, and creating habitats. Try using tools that mimic local birds’ beaks to explore how they forage for food.