BAO Cultural Events

BAO Cultural Events

SPECIAL NOTICE:For indoor settings, face masks must be worn by all attendees when not eating or drinking.

Learn about new cultures, history, technology and more! This year we have FREE environmental volunteering events. Pay upfront and be reimbursed at the event.

BAO members receive a discount on the events. BAO Premium Members ($50 annual fee) receive up to 50% discount and Basic Members (free) receive up to a 25% discount on BAO events. If you are not already a BAO member, and want to join to receive discounts, please Click Here before registering for the events.

**REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED** and space is limited, so please sign up as soon as possible using the registration button below. Detailed information, such as directions, will be sent one week before the event date.


Event 2 Coyote Creek Volunteer Cleanup Day

Monday April 1, 2024 from 09:30 AM to 01:30 PM

Help keep Coyote Creek watershed clean for our local wildlife and drinking water by joining our FREE Coyote Creek Volunteer Clean Up Day at Hellyer County Park! Coyote Creek watershed is an important water source for rare plants that grow on serpentine soils and steelhead trout that mate in its waterways. All activities will be standing up and supplies and tools are provided in addition to snacks, lunch and a bottle of water. This program is hosted in partnership with Valley Water. Image by Deb Kramer.

Location: Hellyer County Park, San Jose
Additional Benefits: Transportation, large hearty sandwich, snacks and water are included.


Event 1 Experience the San Jose Mining Era

Friday April 5, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

The small village of New Almaden was once a world famous quicksilver (mercury) mining community. The New Almaden Mine, first developed by Mexicans, produced mercury beginning in 1845, making it California’s oldest and most valuable mine, producing $70 million in mercury. The mine's mercury was used to process silver in Mexican mines and later gold in the California Gold Rush. Mexican, Chilean, Chinese and English immigrants as well as Americans worked together to extract the mercury from cinnabar. We will experience the diverse history of New Almaden, mining technology and the lifestyle of the mining families through a one hour tour of the artifacts and stories in the Mining Museum. We will break for a picnic lunch in the garden and then continue with a walking tour of the outdoor mining museum.

Location: San Jose CA 95120
Additional Benefits: Two tours and picnic lunch are included.


Event 3 Alviso Volunteering Day

Friday April 19, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM

Join other BAO members for this FREE social and environmental volunteering event to help restore the wetlands for the vital birds, insects and mammals that live by the bay! Help with raking and mulching to prepare the area for native plants. All activities will be standing up and supplies and tools are provided in addition to snacks, lunch and a bottle of water. This program is hosted in partnership with Valley Water and San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory.

Location: Alviso Marina County Park
Additional Benefits: Large hearty sandwich, snacks and water are included.


Event 4 Walk & Wine

Friday May 3, 2024 from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM

Did I mention this event includes a free bottle of wine from a choice of 17 wines? Join us for a 2-mile leisurely walk at Mt. Madonna, followed by wine and cheese pairing at Kirigin Cellars, which is one of California’s oldest wineries, established in 1916 by the Bonesio Family as Uvas Winery. Since then, they have used the techniques and wisdom that Nikola Kirigin brought from his family’s ancient wine-making processes in Croatia. Currently, they handcraft wines from 11 different grapes grown on 33 acres of vineyards. They are famous for their to die for Vino de Mocca dessert wine. After the tasting, enjoy lunch in an area surrounded by aromatic wine barrels and beautiful flowers. Space is limited so reserve your spot now.

Location: San Jose CA 95120
Additional Benefits: Transportation, lunch, wine & cheese tasting and bottle of wine included


Event 5 Guadalupe River Cleanup Day

Thursday May 9, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM

Come show your suport for our native fish and keep our drinking water clean by joining this FREE social volunteering event! Six of our drinking water reservoirs are part of Guadalupe Watershed. The watershed also supports warm and cold water native fish such as Pacific lamprey, Chinook salmon, threespine stickleback and prickly sculpin. All activities will be standing up and supplies and tools are provided in addition to snacks, lunch and a bottle of water. This program is hosted in partnership with Valley Water. Image by Ron Horii.

Location: Guadalupe River Park, San Jose
Additional Benefits: Transportation, large hearty sandwich, snacks and water are included.