What’s dry, wiggly, wriggly, scaly, and comes in every color? A desert full of LIZARDS! World Lizard Day is this month (Aug. 14), and we’re excited to talk about the diverse world of lizards! Skitter to Artswalk and join the Museum of Riverside at the corner of Main Street and University Avenue from 6 to 9 p.m. as we wax poetic about the wonderful wacky lizards we have in our region!
Historic Wintersburg on the coast in Huntington Beach embodies three generations of the Japanese American experience, from immigration in the late nineteenth century to the return from the federal incarceration camps following World War II. It is a very rare surviving remnant of a century-old Japantown. Find out about this fascinating site, its recent challenges, and its path forward through this talk with Ernie Nishii, an attorney and president of the Historic Wintersburg Conservancy in Huntington Beach who is involved with many community and educational organizations. Mr. Nishii states that “History is not a textbook. It is lived.” He will discuss Historic Wintersburg, a historic site key to Southern California’s Japanese American history. His talk will dispel myths and stereotypes about Huntington Beach and describe how the area welcomed and supported immigrant farmworkers. His talk will also be a precautionary tale regarding how national prejudices weakened and even destroyed communities after World War II and how our country can thrive through understanding of the past.
Celebrate Asian cultures under a full moon! Moon festivals are celebrated throughout Asia with moon cakes, lanterns, and gratitude for friends and family. These celebrations originated with the ancient tradition of honoring the moon in autumn for the harvest. The Moon Festival at Heritage House marks the importance of Chinese Americans in building Riverside’s citrus industry. Join us for an evening of storytelling by Barbara Wong, performances by Gió Nam Múa Lân (Southern Wind Lion Dance, 南風醒獅團), and Chinese calligraphy demonstrations by Riverside’s Hua Xia Chinese School. The festival will also feature moon viewing with the UC Riverside astronomy department and Astronomy Club outreach members, demonstrations, and a fun craft for all ages. Moon cakes will be available for purchase. Hope to see you there! This event is free! Parking is available across the street from Heritage House at the Family Service Association parking lot at 8172 Magnolia Avenue. Street parking is available. Heritage House is located at 8193 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, California, 92504.
Explore the history of the natural history of Riverside! How was Riverside’s ecology different 250 years ago? Or 250 million years ago when Riverside was underwater?! As Bob Dylan sang, "The Times They Are A-Changin'!" Join us as we discuss these changes and then explore our current ecology on a nature walk around the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District's LandUse Learning Center! The Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District is located at 4500 Glenwood Drive, Riverside, CA, 92501.
Calling all fossil lovers! National Fossil Day is October 14, 2026, and we’re excited to talk fossils! Big fossils, small fossils, broken fossils, perfect fossils – we love them all! Join us at La Sierra Library from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. as we talk about what fossils are, why we love them, what they tell us, and why they’re useful! Free and family-friendly. The La Sierra Library is located at 4600 La Sierra Avenue, Riverside, CA 92505.
Join the Museum of Riverside for the Victorian Dark Carnival . . . not a midway fair, but a gathering of curiosities and amusements as the Victorians knew them. Enjoy “Tea with the Undertaker." Hear about the life and times of one of Riverside’s preeminent undertakers and funeral directors, Stephen Squire, as well as the skills of his wife, Marion Mingo Squire, as a “layer-outer” of the dead. Be swindled or amazed by a mermaid. Get cured or taken in by a cure-all. Consult with a tarot reader and see what the future holds. View oddities in jars and participate in a free activity! Be sure to book a tour of the house to experience Victorian mourning and death practices.