Summer nights and early morning hikes in East Bay Parks for August

SAN FRANCISCO EAST BAY AREA, CA (August 6, 2022) — “Encanto,” an animated movie about a teenage girl from Colombia who has to deal with the frustration of being the only one of her family without magical powers, is the feature attraction of movie night at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont.

The free film will screen from 8 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13 on the lawn in front of the Patterson House. No reservations are required.

This is a great way to spend an enjoyable evening outdoors with your family. Come early to get a good seat on the lawn. Bring a flashlight, warm clothes, and a blanket or chair for sitting. No pets, please.

Ardenwood is located at 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard in Fremont, just north of Highway 84. For information, call 510-544-2797.

Campfire fun

Nightowls might also enjoy the programs from 8 to 9 p.m. at the campground amphitheater in Anthony Chabot Regional Park near Castro Valley, featuring games, songs, photos and stories around the campfire.

Topics on Saturday, Aug. 13 include insects, climate change, and “Buy it where you burn it.”

This is a free, drop-in program and you don’t have to be camping at the park to attend.

The campground and amphitheater entrance road is at Marciel Gate off Redwood Road between Castro Valley and Oakland. For information, call 510-544-3187.

Night with a Naturalist

Or you can join “Night with a Naturalist” every Saturday from now through Labor Day in the campground at Del Valle Regional Park south of Livermore.

It’s another campfire program with a naturalist relating the park’s natural and cultural history. Programs are from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. until Aug. 27 and Sept. 3, when they are from 8 to 9 p.m.

Reservations are not required, and the program is free.

The park is located at the end of Del Valle Road off Mines Road about nine miles south of Livermore. For information, call the Del Valle Visitor Center at 510-544-3146.

Exploring mud flats

If you are more of a morning person, naturalist Trail Gail Broesder is leading a low tide walk starting at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14 at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline in Richmond. The group will explore the shore in search of lugworms and other mud flat inhabitants. Wear shoes that can get muddy.

Meet Gail at the park’s Giant Highway Staging Area, which is on Giant Highway south of Atlas Road. For information, call 510-544-2233.

Beat the heat walk

Or there’s an early morning “Beat the Heat” walk for ages six and up from 8 to 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14 at Contra Loma Regional Park in Antioch with naturalist Kevin Dixon.

It’s a three-mile stroll around Contra Loma Reservoir in search of early-rising wildlife. Meet Kevin at the park entrance at the end of Frederickson Lane off Golf Course Road.

This is a drop-in program, no registration necessary. For information, call 510-544-2751.

Sibley Volcanic Preserve

There’s an old volcano (10 million years) in the Oakland Hills. You can view geologic evidence of it on a naturalist-led four-mile Sunday Stroll from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 14 at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve.

Ancient volcanic activity shaped the landscape between Tilden Regional Park and the town of Moraga.

The program is free. Meet at the Sibley entrance on Skyline Boulevard a short distance south of the intersection with Grizzly Peak Boulevard in Oakland. For information, call 510-544-3187.

There are lots of other programs scheduled in coming days in the regional parks. For the full list, visit www.ebparks.org and click on “Things to Do” at the top of the home page. Ned MacKay writes a regular column about East Bay Regional Park District sites and activities. Email him at nedmackay@comcast.net.