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California Poppy Festival will usher in colorful spring season

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Cover Design by Andrew Nunez (130161)
Cover Design by Andrew Nunez

It’s time again to break out the sun hats, walking shoes, short pants and binoculars to capture the breathtaking beauty of the 2015 California Poppy Festival set for April 18 and 19 at Lancaster City Park, 43011 N. 10th Street West.. Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days, the annual showcase of multi-colored poppies is said to be one of the nation’s most picturesque events as thousands of visitors are expected flock to the region to catch a glimpse of the brilliant, beautiful blossoms.

Tickets are $8 for adults 13 to 61 years, $5 for children 6 to 12 years (no charge for kids under 5 years), $5 for seniors above 62 years, and $5 for active/retired military members (with current military identification). Wheelchair rentals are $10 for four hours. Also, groups of 20 or more persons may purchase refundable tickets. Parking is free in the dirt lot across from the park with trams circulating between the entrance/exit and the parking lots. Preferred parking at the Antelope Valley Transit Authority Park and Ride is $5; free parking for disabled persons is available at the Stanley Kleiner parking lot. Motorcycle parking is available on the grounds on Sunday only for $10.

Free wildflower maps may be obtained at the Lancaster Museum/Art Gallery. These maps can assist visitors in learning about the best viewing locations before heading out on foot. Also, the city of Lancaster and the Lancaster Women’s Club each year sponsors a Wildflower Information Center to allow visitors to gain a little more insight into the history of the festival.

California’s premiere poppy place

The California Poppy Festival takes place on the state’s most consistent poppy-bearing land, about 3,000 feet above sea level. The preserve is not all fields of gold flowers but is speckled with a mosaic of color from purple lupine to delicate cream cups. The brilliant display of blossoms and fragrance usually lasts through mid-May, with peak viewing at the time of the festival. The on-going drought resulted in minimal blossoms last year, but thanks to some welcome storms cascading throughout the Antelope Valley in late February, officials expect many more flowers this year.

While the canvas of poppies this year may not fully cover the rolling hills and glens as usual, there are a plethora of wildflowers which grow naturally in the Mojave Desert and should be on display during the festival. Among these are coreopsis (yellow with daisy-like petals), monolopia (in the daisy family), phacelia (blue cupped shape), blue dicks (clusters of blue petals), cream cups (upright, shaggy hairs), desert dandelion (tiny yellow sunflowers), thistle sage (purple topped sage), desert calico (white to deep rose-purple petals) and Mojave aster (lavender, oval-shaped blooms). Other wildflowers that a visitor may spot include baby blue eyes (bright blue, bowl shaped), blue sage (fragrant, two-lipped flowers), California buckwheat (tiny white flowers with pink centers), Chinese pusley (tiny tubular white blooms), comet blazing star (small yellow-orange petals), desert candle (dark red buds on top), Fremont pincushion (cream-colored cone flower), lacy phacelia (tiny blue or lavender flowers), paper bag bush (cream colored with purple top), red stem filaree (pink or magenta petals) and scarlet bugler (red tube-like blooms).

Several dozen exhibits will be part of the 55-acre festival, and there is considerable walking involved. Because spring temperatures can vary in the region—from 80 degrees before noon to below 60 degrees only a few hours later—organizers suggest visitors dress in layers, wear comfortable shoes and bring a supply of bottled water. Sunscreen and sunglasses are also recommended. Pets, alcoholic beverages, skateboards, bicycles, scooters, radios, roller blades, Frisbees, tables and coolers are not permitted on the preserve grounds. Bags may be subject to inspection by the Sheriff’s department.

Activities for all ages

Among the scheduled activities will be an Adventure Zone where festival performers will engage in a number of acrobatic feats. An Aerospace and Aviation Zone will focus on the history of the aeronautics industry in the Antelope Valley.

Animal Attractions will include a collection of reptiles, birds and insects, some of which are indigenous to the Mojave Desert. The Arts and Crafts Marketplace will offer to visitors a veritable “shopper’s paradise” with more than 200 vendors and thousands of homemade fine arts and quality crafts. Included will be handmade jewelry, wooden toys, glassware, aromatic soaps, silk floral pieces, denim clothing, candles, stained glass, hats, stoneware, baskets, quilts and blankets, leather craft work and even lawn accessories. Native Indian goods, metal items, and a variety of pottery items willalso be featured.

A Farmer’s Market will offer fresh flowers, assorted plants, decorative topiaries, bonsai trees, bamboo, wildflower seeds, cacti and, of course, colorful poppies. Homegrown fruits and vegetables will also be available along with assorted nuts, roasted corn, olives, garlic, honey, jams and jellies, salsa, gourmet spices, and fresh homemade dressings.

Outside of the midway at the famous Antelope Valley Fair, the poppy event may feature one of the largest arrays of festival foods in Los Angeles County. Included are the traditional “fair foods” such as funnel cakes, and kabobs, supplemented  by a wide assortment of ethnic foods.

The Fine Arts area will feature paintings, pottery, wood working and photographs from local artists.

A Healthy Living Pavilion will provide to visitors information and interactive workshops focusing on exercise, nutritional tips and general wellness advice. Representatives from the Los Angeles County Health Department will discuss smart ways and tips to pursue better health and have nutritional information; the Northern L.A. County Nurses Association will have representatives on hand to inform about summer injury prevention. Visitors can also access information about scuba certification.

A chiropractor will be there to perform requested examinations; consultants will also demonstrate how to use natural facial products such as aloe vera as a skin moisturizer.

Sights, sounds of different cultures

The International Marketplace is one of the more popular attractions each year. Here, visitors can experience the exotic sights and sounds of African, Chinese, Indian, Polynesian, Native Indian, Italian, Polish, Scandinavian, Austrian Aboriginal, Egyptian and Jamaican cultures. There will be a contingent of dancers, musicians and other performers demonstrating traditional arts and games from these various cultures.

Eight miles of trails meander through the park, including a paved section for wheelchair access. Benches are situated along the trails to allow visitors to gaze at red tail hawks and many species of song birds. Officials at the park ask that visitors be wary of rattlesnakes, gopher snakes and scorpions. Lucky viewers may even spot a bobcat or coyote. Shaded picnic tables are available on a “first-come, first-served” basis.

Picking or otherwise destroying wildflowers in the state park is prohibited by state law; all features of the park are protected, including wildlife, rocks and historic objects and may not be collected without a permit.

Despite the recent hot weather and continuing drought, the north slopes of the preserve provide an excellent vantage point for viewing because they are angled away from direct sun and still offer a mosaic of color with goldfields, forget-me-nots, gold cups and owl’s clover blossoms among scattered poppies. The best patches of wildflowers can be found on the first section of the North Poppy Loop Trail, and along the north sides of Kitanemuk Vista Point and Vista Point which is north of the east end of the paved parking lot.

Officials at California State Parks announced in February that the usual “orange carpet” of poppies is not dead and could be triggered to put out more buds, but no rain is expected soon. Therefore, the amount of poppies in bloom will be at a minimum as has been the case during the four-year drought. The California State Parks department does not water or use any other means to stimulate the flowers; the land is preserved to only be influenced by the natural forces of weather patterns.

Festival sponsors include: Sierra Toyota, Career Care Institute, High Desert Broadcasting, Antelope Valley Harley-Davidson, Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, Antelope Valley Hospital, Antelope Valley Transit Authority, Palmdale Regional Medical Center, The Boeing Company, City of Hope, Kaiser Permanente, Coca-Cola, Ford Motor Company, Re/Max All Pro and YMCA-Antelope Valley.

For tickets or more information about the California Poppy Festival, call (661) 723-6173.

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