Free Fall Fun at Pine Cone Festival October 11th

The Alpine Camp and Conference Center in Blue Jay, California is the new home to the 8th Annual Pine Cone Festival on October 11th, 2014.  Located near Lake Arrowhead this is the only pine cone festival I am aware of in the country.  It’s free and fun and even has Smokey the Bear making an appearance.

The festival continues to promote the San Bernardino Mountains natural environment.  It was started by citizens of the Rim Communities and simply out grew its previous location in Twin Peaks.

What Makes This Such A Special Event

• Biggest Pine Cone Contest
• Pine Cone Craft Contest
• Pine Cone Olympics
• Free Games
• Artisans & Craft Vendors
• Fun Fair Foods
• Smokey the Bear
• Ropes Course adventure
• Climbing Wall

Pine Cone Contest

Enter to win part of $2500 in prize monies for their famous Pine Cone Contest.  The biggest Sugar Pine Cone based on length and the biggest Coulter Pine Cone based on weight will win the contestants up to $1250 each.  Last years “biggest” cone was 17-1/8 inches long and another that weighed 4 lbs. 8 oz.  The largest sugar pine ever submitted was over 23 inches long.

Craft Contest

What can you make with a pine cone?  Get involved in creating fun craft designs with your kids.  Volunteers are available to help you with ideas.  Make something humorous, beautiful, abstract, or natural.  Enter your creation in the contest for classes 6th grade and under, 7th through 12th grades, and adults.

Pine Cone Olympics

Children and adults of all ages compete for prizes in four categories each for males and females.  The events are Pine Cone Archery, Pine Cone Hoops Toss, and the Pine Cone Shot Put. 

Entertainment

Music and dancing takes place throughout the day.  Smokey the Bear makes a guest appearance to highlight the importance of forest fire prevention.  Volunteers will conduct presentations of fire safety, forest and wildlife information, and preserving our natural resources.  Games, food, and refreshments are available.

Alpine Camp & Conference Center

The home for this year’s event is well known for its mountain top conferences, summer camps, winter camps, ropes courses and mountain adventures.  It is one of the best facilities in California.  The event runs from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.  Admission, parking, and shuttle service are all free.  The event is located at 415 Club House Dr., Blue Jay, CA 92317.

So if you are looking for a fun event this fall and going to be in the Los Angeles area ten take the drive out to Blue Jay on October 11th.  They seem to have a little something for everyone.  Lots of good food, live entertainment, vendor, fun exhibits, kid’s activities, pine cone contests, and games of skill for all ages.

Funtober continues our countdown to Halloween.  We are now only 68 days away.  Continue to follow our fun things to do blog series and our other pages on Oktoberfest, fall festivals, corn mazes, haunted houses, and so much more.

Image: flickr [waferboard]