Labor Day Weekend fun

By Beth Nottley, Staff Reporter

In addition to the traditional Labor Day weekend yard sales that Idyllwild is known for, there are many other activities — arts and entertainment events — that promise good end-of-summer fun and lots of good food prepared by local service organizations.

Bargain hunters and collectors won’t want to miss the Labor Day yard sales happening all over the Hill. Of note is the Mountain Community Patrol’s Labor Day Yard Sale. For 15 years, this group’s sale was held over the Memorial Day weekend. They changed the sale to Labor Day after frustration with late spring snowstorms that threatened their sale in recent years. Their “new” Labor Day weekend sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 3 and 4 at 54185 South Circle Drive.

Check out the “Classifieds” section of the newspaper for listings of other Labor Day weekend yard sales and use the specially marked map to easily find each sale.

Over the weekend, on Friday through Sunday evening, Isis Theatre Company will present “The Clean House,” Sarah Ruhl’s award-winning play that, through a cast of complex and unconventional characters, examines the jokes that life plays on people. The play, which is produced by Isis Theatre Company Artistic Director Suzanne Avalon, and directed by Idyllwild Arts Theatre Department chair Howard Shangraw, stars a cast with impressive stage credits. The curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m. each evening at the Caine Learning Center. A 7 p.m. reception precedes the performance with wine and other refreshments served.

Children, their families, and animal lovers of all ages will want to check out the Labor Day Family Fun events at the Idyllwild Nature Center being held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday through Monday. On Saturday, Living Free Sanctuary and Idyllwild Animal Rescue Friends will host a pet viewing where furry, playful friends who need love and homes will be available for adoption. On Sunday, live snakes will be featured in a program called “Characteristics of Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes” by Loma Linda University professor Dr. Bill Hayes. On Monday, Dr. Kirk Olsen, also known as “Dr. Bug Guy,” will present his program on “What makes a bug a bug?” Kids will get a magnified look at bugs. There will also be children’s crafts all three days.

Another event good for young and old alike is the free Ice Cream Social hosted by the Idyllwild Area Historical Society (IAHS) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the IAHS Museum. The museum, a 1920s cabin housing historical artifacts from Idyllwild and the San Jacinto Mountain area will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday through Monday. Admission is also free, although donations are welcome.

For those who like to relax under the pines, reading a good book, the Idyllwild Library’s annual Labor Day Book Sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A wide range of collectible and children’s books, as well as CDs and DVDs, will be for sale at great prices.

No end-of-summer celebration would be complete without an old-fashioned barbecue and there are two planned this weekend. On Saturday, the American Legion Post 800’s Annual Deep Pit Barbecue — choice of beef or pork with all the fixings — will be served from 2 to 8 p.m.

At Town Hall from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday, the Idyllwild Rotary Club will serve a dinner of beef or pork, homemade barbecue beans, corn on the cob and watermelon.

For a delicious alfresco breakfast, the “Nutty Ladies” will be serving up a breakfast to raise funds for educational scholarships awarded to women by the Philanthropic Educational Organization. The menu will include nutty and traditional pancakes, eggs, turkey sausage, fresh fruit, granola and yogurt.

Finally, from 10:04 a.m. to 4:11 p.m. Sunday is the End of Summer Art Fair at Dore’s Mountain Art Garden in Mountain Center, three miles south of Idyllwild. In addition to viewing the unique art by artist Dore Capitani, fair goers can peruse booths by local artists and listen to music by local musicians. Admission to the fair is free and a portion of all sales will be donated to the future Idyllwild Community Center.

Many Idyllwild restaurants will feature live performances by local musicians throughout the weekend. Be sure to check the Arts and Entertainment calendar in this issue for these and other local events.

Beth Nottley can be reached at beth@towncrier.com