Events & Activities

JUNE ACTIVITIES AT WILDER RANCH STATE PARK

A Special Event!
Wilder Ranch State Park
Life on the Ranch: Family Living History Day
Sunday, June 16, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Wilder Ranch State Park invites you to experience old-time activities from its rancho, dairy farm, and cowboy rodeo days.  Hands-on activities and living history presentations vary each month and may include:  butter churning, ice cream making, branding, cooking, roping skills, wagon rides and demonstrations in the ranch buildings. Come for a picnic on the lawn and follow it up with a game of tug of war, sack races, hoops, stilts, and Wilder Ranch’s famous old-fashioned bubbles! The event is held on the grounds of the Wilder Ranch Cultural Preserve. The park is located 2 miles north of Santa Cruz on the coast side of Highway 1 at 1401 Coast Road Santa Cruz, CA 95060.  Day-use parking fee is $10.  This event is appropriate for all ages.  For more information, please call (831)426-0505.

JULY ACTIVITIES AT WILDER RANCH STATE PARK

A Special Event!
Old-Fashioned Independence Day Celebration at Wilder Ranch State Park
Thursday, July 4, 11:00 AM-4:00 PM
Travel back in time at Wilder Ranch State Park on Wednesday, July 4, to experience an Independence Day Celebration 1913-style.  Festivities will run from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
At 11:45 meet at the apple orchard in front of the Highway 1 tunnel and join in the parade. Bring a musical instrument or noisemaker, dress in 1913 costume, or pull a decorated wagon. Parade walks through the complex to front lawn for flag raising, speeches, and patriotic music. 

Try the cake walk, historic lawn games, draft horse wagon rides, crafts, and listen to live 1913 music.  There will be food and drink for sale; ice cream cones, strawberry shortcake, dill pickles, watermelon, root beer and hand squeezed lemon aide, or bring your own picnic lunch.  Bratwurst USA and Lily’s Roasted Corn will be selling food at family prices.  Bank will exchange your 2013 dollars into 1913 tokens.

Wilder Ranch docents will be demonstrating living history as 1913 dairy-ranch workers, including; blacksmithing, a Pelton water wheel operated machine shop, hand cranked ice cream making and vegetable gardening.  Docent led tours through the historic Meder House (Old Farm House) and the Victorian home.  Musicians will include the Society Orchestra playing patriotic music, and the 5M’s will perform popular 1913 songs.

Wilder Ranch State Park is located 2 miles north of Santa Cruz on Highway 1.  The event is free; parking is $10.00 per car.  For more event information, call (831) 426-0505.

Wilder Ranch Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tours—
Weekends from 11:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. Tour of the ranch houses at 1:00p.m.
Visit an early day dairy ranch in Santa Cruz County and step back in time to the late 1800’s at Wilder Ranch State Park. Weekends at 1:00p.m., join the 1-hour tour of the 1897 Victorian home, 1896 water-powered machine shop, and other historic buildings. You can also play Victorian games or bring a picnic to enjoy on the front lawn, visit the farm animals and see what activities are taking place on the ranch this weekend. You may learn about hand quilting, watch blacksmithing, or learn about the Meder Family voyage to California.  July 7 and 21 learn about hand quilting with master quilter Carolyn Miller from 10-2 pm. Call (831)426-0505 for more scheduled activities.

History, Nature, and Scenic Views:  A Tour of the Grey Whale Ranch Area
Saturday, July 13 at 9:00 AM
This challenging guided three-hour hike will explore the natural and cultural history of the upper hills of Wilder Ranch State Park.  Meet at the Wilder Ranch parking lot.  Bring good walking shoes, lunch, snacks, and water.  Hike is cancelled if rain.

Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walks: Saturdays, July 6, 20, 27 at 11:00a.m.
On these two-hour natural history excursions you will explore the plants, animals, and geology of the spectacular coastal bluffs.  Meet at the Wilder Ranch Interpretive Center. Bring a snack, water, binoculars, and good walking shoes.  Binoculars are now available to borrow. 

Events made possible by California State Park Docents, California State Parks and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks

2013 Interpretive Events and Activities at Wilder Ranch State Park

Life on the Ranch—Family Living History Days at Wilder Ranch State Park
Sunday, April 14, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 12, 2013, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 16, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 11, 2013, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 21, 2013, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 9, 2013, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Find out how families lived during Mexican Rancho and early dairy ranching days at Wilder Ranch State Park’s Family Living History Days. Activities include a selection of hands-on activities and demonstrations and may include draft horse wagon rides, branding, horseshoes, hand-making tortillas and salsa, chuck wagon style cooking, roping skills and lawn games. Come for a picnic on the lawn and follow it up with a game of tug of war, sack races, hoops, stilts, bubbles, and more! The event is held on the grounds of the Wilder Ranch Cultural Preserve.

Spring Garden Planting Day and Sheep Sheering
Saturday, April 27, 2013  from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Imagine yourself in the early part of the 20th century as we gather to plant heirloom vegetables as it would have been circa 1900.  There will be composting demonstrations, gardening information and garden crafts.  If the weather cooperates,we will aslo be shearing the sheep and demonstrating how wool is processed from "sheep to shawl."  Bring your gardening gloves if you have them.  The event takes place on the grounds of Wilder's cultural preserve.

Old-fashioned Independence Day - Thursday, July 4, 2013  from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Have a grand time enjoying the 4th with a family parade at noon, old-fashioned games, live Big-Band music, and delicious food from 11:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. We'll be stepping back in time 100+ years ago to an ealy 1900's style Independence Day celebration including a noon family parade, games, children’s crafts area, live big-band music, living history demonstrations, historic speeches and flag-raising. To join in the old-tyme parade, dress up, bring an instrument or decorate a wagon, and join us by the chicken coop at 11:45a.m. The Suffragettes are sure to be there! Food and drink available for sale, or bring a picnic lunch.

Heritage Harvest Festival - Saturday, October 19, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Decorate a pumpkin, take a wagon ride, try your hand at some old-time harvest activities, listen to live bluegrass and western music, learn to square dance, play cow pie bingo, enjoy hand-cranked pumpkin ice cream to celebrate the harvest season from 11:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.

Holidays on the Ranch - Saturday, December 14, 2013, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Celebrate the winter holidays as folks did in Californio, Victorian, and early 20th century Santa Cruz with crafts to do, games to play, cookies to decorate, and more from 11:00a.m. to 3:00p.m.

Events made possible by California State Park Docents, California State Parks and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks