Memorial Day was created to honor and remember all who died in service of the United States. It was originally inspired by the 63,200 deaths of soldiers in the Civil War and was originally called Decoration Day but renamed Memorial Day after World War II.

The Crestline ceremony will be held in Lake Gregory’s South Shore parking lot at 11 a.m. Remember our fallen heroes on May 31, arrive early and stay in your cars. Music will be provided by the Mountain Fifes & Drums. A color guard will be provided by members of American Legion Post 360 and members of VFW Post 9624, and Quilts of Valor will be presented. This ceremony is sponsored by the Crest Forest Senior Citizens Club and the Lake Gregory Company which is donating the parking lot for the event.

Also, at 11 a.m. on Monday in Running Springs at the flag pole on Hilltop Boulevard, a flag raising will take place in honor of those who gave their all in the protection of this nation.

On Saturday, May 29, the Veterans of Foreign Wars will be holding a chili cookoff at their canteen in Cedarpines Park at the corner of Waters Drive and Crest Forest Drive. It begins at 3:00 p.m. with the results of the voting announced at 6:00 p.m., when the prizes will be awarded. There will be raffle opportunities and the bar will be open.

Crestline

Lake Gregory Regional Park will open its beach, water park and boat house for fishing beginning Saturday, May 29. For fishing, parking and entrance fees you may go to www.LakeGregory.com and get all the prices and details. Lake Gregory Regional Park includes an 84-acre lake for swimming, fishing and many other water activities, including a floating splash pad water park. It has wall climbing, water slides into the lake, bounce pads, trampolines and more.

Wearing a mandatory life jacket, those over 48 inches in height, may swim out to the splash pad and are supervised by a local lifeguard. Those under 48 inches have a second splash island where parents may also play with their kids. There is also a zero-level waterpark with sprays and sprinklers. There are also non-water activities including three miles of hiking trails, a dog park and a covered space for picnics and a sand beach for sunbathing.
There are two-person kayaks, water cycles, paddle boards and more for rent. The snack bar/grill will be open after a complete makeover with new appliances, and the freshly raked sandy beach will be open for the first time this year. It appears there may be a farmers market on Friday night at 5 p.m. with music. Check the website for additional information, www.lakegregory.com.

Lake Mud Pottery is holding its Handmade and Aged Artisan Fair on Saturday, May 29 with music from the Green Label Band from noon to 3 p.m. at the pottery shop at 23988 Lake Drive. There will be artisans, antiques, live music, food and vendors. Some of the artisans showing their works will be Tropical Heat, Dissertation Soap, Sew-What, Common Grounds Organic, Fort Gregory Outdoor Company, Roothound Glass, Gemstonz and 2-Stone Jewelry Guys, as well as Lake Mud Pottery. This event will repeat on July 3. For more information log onto www.Lakemudpottery.com.

At Woody’s Mercantile at the corner of Thousand Pines Road and Lake Drive, they will be honoring Memorial Day weekend with their grand opening event. They also plan to have a band on their outdoor bandstand each afternoon of the weekend. They have a room inside their store dedicated to military items and always want to honor those who served and remember those who didn’t return.

The Crestline Renn Faire, advertised as the “smallest Renn Faire ever,” will be held at The Treasure Box from 1 to 6 p.m. on May 29-30 and June 5-6. Tickets must be purchased in advance at $5 per person plus fees at www.eventbrite.com/e/the-crestline-renn-faire-tickets-153425518857..There will be in-period games and food, music, falconers, storytelling wizards and a puppet show, and the Bear Claw will be pouring beer. This is the very first pop-up Crestline Renn Faire event with Renaissance entertainment, merchants and activities.

Green Valley Lake

The Artisans of Green Valley Lake Studio Tour 2021 is Memorial Day Weekend, May 29-31, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Monday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Green Valley Lake has a long history of celebrating artists. Anne Howe started the annual studio tour 31 years ago. It is now the longest running art show of its kind on the mountain. This year will have 13 studios and 15 artists displaying their photography, art, crafts and live theatre. Maps to the art studios will be available at Green Valley Lake businesses, at the post office and on sandwich boards on Green Valley Lake Road, directing visitors to the studios.

The Black Dog Shoppe in Green Valley Lake is offering a weekend full of activities, music and food as well. Located at 33232 Green Valley Road, it is across from Green Valley Lake, which opened on May 24 for fishing and boating.

Lake Arrowhead

The Mountain History Museum is opening for the summer season after being forced to be closed all last year due to COVID restrictions. Run by the Rim of the World Historical Society, the museum will open Friday, May 28 from noon until 4 p.m. and Saturday, Sunday and Memorial Day Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All the displays are new or reimagined. A new display room has been added to the museum with a timeline of history in the mountain communities and a traditional general store circa 1920s, with post office history inside of it, as most from that time period were both post office and general store.

Each mountain community is given a display of their town’s histories, demonstrating their individual differences over the decades. Communities included are from Green Valley Lake to Silverwood Lake. There is also a history of the U.S. Forest Service and the transition of the Rim of the World Drive into Highway 18, which was at one time intended to become a freeway to Big Bear.

The central display is on the building of the water outlet tower in Lake Arrowhead and a model train display on the engine Black Annie with moving train cars demonstrating how the dirt was dumped to build Lake Arrowhead dam. The museum will be open all summer long at 27671 Peninsula Drive, around the corner from MPH Intermediate School, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For more information https://mtnmuseum.org.

The Heaps Peak Arboretum native plant sale will be held May 29, at 9 a.m. It is recommended to arrive early to get an advantageous place in line for the best selection. The sale lasts until all the plants are sold, or until about noon. For more information and a list of the plants that will be sold, go to www.hparboretum.com. Their information kiosk will be open this summer from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

On Saturday, May 29, start the summer off right with the 60 Grit band as it returns to the Tudor House in Arrowhead Villas at 800 Arrowhead Villas Road, Arrowhead Villas. Their music has roots in American rock and blues and showcases their original songwriting. They will be the first show of the Tudorville Summer Music series. 60 Grit is quite popular, having spent many years as the house band for “Bands, Burger and Brews” shows, and usually sells out their shows.

The show begins at 5 p.m. The 60 Grit band members are Dave Ferguson, lead vocals and rhythm guitar; Frank Orecchio, lead guitar; Brian Haringa, bass and backing vocals; and Steven Rubio on drums and backing vocals. Order advance tickets at (909) 336-5000 or https://www.tudorhouseentertainment.villas. 

Running Springs

The Farmers Market in Running Springs on Saturday, May 29 runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. They have vegetables and fruits from Buenrostro Farms, Gaytan Family Farms, Little Wingnut Farms and Happy Hawk Farm, as they ripen. They have many booths and vendors and are adding more every week as the season progresses. The Running Springs Farmers Market and Artisan Faire is located at 2645 Whispering Pines Drive between the bank and library and next to the Tot Park.

On May 29 at SkyPark at Santa’s Village is skate night with the dress the theme of Superheroes and Villains night. Every Saturday night from 5 to 7 p.m. is skate night at SkyPark through Oct. 30, weather permitting. Each Saturday will have a different theme. Check for the theme each week at www.skyparksantasvillage.com.

All Communities

There will be other pop-up events in the towns, so watch for pedestrians, and since Memorial Day often begins the yard sale season, also be aware that parked cars along residential roads may be customers going to the sales. Extra traffic is anticipated from visitors coming to the mountains, since the temperatures are predicted to be hot in the valley this weekend.