Join us in exploring new cultural adventures! Registration is required and space is limited, so please sign up as soon as possible using the registration button below. Once you register, we will send details about the meeting location and other important information.
BAO members get a discount on the events. Basic BAO Membership is free and Premium BAO Membership is $25 for 12 months and pays for itself after the first few events. If you are not already a BAO member, and want to join to receive discounts, please Click Here before registering for the cultural events.
Please click the registration button below to register for the events.
If you need a ride to the event or you would like a buddy to meet you there, please email us at share@bayareaolderadults.org
Event 7: Experience the New Almaden Mining History
Friday May 15, 2020 from 10:30 AM to 2:30 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 guided tour of the artifacts and stories in the Mining Museum. Then we continue with a two-mile guided walking tour of the village that takes us to more than 20 historic sites including the famous Casa Grande, miners’ homes, offices, the jail, blacksmith, firehouse, church, hotel and stores. Afterwards, we enjoy a relaxing picnic lunch in the garden.
Location: San Jose, CA 95120
Additional Benefits: Two tours and lunch are included.
To register, please CLICK HERE
Event 8: FREE Wildlife Habitat Restoration Volunteer Event & Lunch
Tuesday May 21, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM
Celebrate wildlife by joining us for a Restoration Volunteer Event customized for BAO members! Help Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge by spending two hours weeding and mulching to help native plants grow at the refuge. Just for BAO: All volunteering activities will be standing up. For the past two years, we accomplished a huge amount - we cleared and mulched a large area for the local wildlife to thrive. This is a beautiful outdoors spot with bay breezes to spend the late morning. Our efforts will help preserve this important wildlife ecosystem for native plants and butterflies. All skill levels are welcome. Gloves and tools are provided. We will end with a social picnic lunch. Pay upfront and you will be reimbursed with cash at the end of the event. Space is limited to 20 people so reserve your spot now!
Location: Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge San Jose CA 95002
Additional Benefits: Lunch is included.
To register, please CLICK HERE
Event 9: Fire Museum Tour
Friday June 12, 2020 from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM
On this 90-minute private tour, we will split into two groups and be guided by the curators of the Santa Clara Fire Museum. We will learn about the history of the building and the city of Santa Clara starting from the early 1800’s. We will learn about the different modes of transportation used over time from the hose cart pulled by firemen and its bucket brigade to gas powered fire engines. There are many artifacts on view – hand written log books, photos, helmets, the old Gamewell alarm system, pull boxes and more as well as a 911 memorial. After the tour, we will go out for a group lunch. Lunch is optional and not included. Tour size will be limited so reserve your spot now.
Location:
Additional Benefits: Museum tour is included.
To register, please CLICK HERE
Event 10: Celebrate 100 Years of Women's Right to Vote
Wednesday July 15, 2020 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
One hundred years ago, the 19th amendment was ratified, and women were finally granted the right to vote in the United States. The fight did not end in 1920, and the struggle for women's equality continues here and around the world. Join us for an expert-guided, private tour of the Los Altos History Museum. The museum's exhibit called Rise Up! is curated by museum staff and an advisory council of women’s rights advocates and tells the stories of local women leading the fight for equality from 1920 to today. We break for a bring-your-own picnic lunch, then take a second tour the 1930's J. Gilbert Smith House to view artifactsand hear about the history of this era. Tour size will be limited so reserve your spot now.
Location: Los Altos CA 94022
Additional Benefits: Museum and house tour are included.
To register, please CLICK HERE
Event 11: Crime Scene Investigation Bay Area
Friday August 21, 2020 from 6:00 to 8:30 PM
Are you fascinated with forensic TV shows like Crime Scene Investigation? Have you wondered what it’s like to work in a REAL crime lab? This virtual tour of the Santa Clara County Crime Lab walks through all the different areas of the lab via photographs and stories from real cases. The presentation is given by a criminalist with over 17 years of experience who has worked on many different kinds of cases, from crime scenes to shoeprints to bloodstain patterns. She is an engaging presenter with lots of local crime stories.
Location: San Jose CA 95110
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
To register, please CLICK HERE
Event 12: Kirigin Winery Tour, Tasting & Picnic Lunch
Wednesday September 16, 2020 from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Did I mention this event includes a free bottle of wine of your choice? Join us for a 90-minute tour and tasting at Kirigin Cellars, 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. The current owner has modernized the facilities and handcrafts wines from 11 different wine grapes grown on 33 acres of vineyards. We will tour their historic buildings, learn about their wine-making process and taste six wines including their to die for Vino de Mocca dessert wine. After the tour, we will picnic in an area surrounded by aromatic wine barrels and beautiful flowers. Space is limited so reserve your spot now.
Location: Gilroy, CA 95020
Additional Benefits: Tour, tasting, bottle of wine and lunch is included. Participants receive a 50% discount on wines purchased during the event. BAO will arrange carpooling.
To register, please CLICK HERE
Event 13 TBD
Event 14: Historic Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs Walking Tour & Lunch
Wednesday November 11, 2020 from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Join us for a visit to Gilroy Hot Springs, discovered in the early 1860s by Mexican shepherd Francisco Cantua. It was developed into a destination mineral water resort by H. K. Sakata. After WWII, it became a healing transitional home for Japanese-Americans from Internment Camps. It is now a National Park Service's National Historic Site and California Historic Landmark. Our expert guide will take us on a 90 minute walking tour of the grounds to see ten different historic sites including the mineral springs, shrine, bath houses and Grand Hotel. We end with an included group picnic lunch. Space is limited so reserve your spot now.
Location: Gilroy CA 95020
Additional Benefits: Tour and lunch are included. BAO will arrange carpooling.
To register, please CLICK HERE
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