EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FAIR The city of Berkeley is holding a free fair to encourage emergency preparedness on Saturday, Apr. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Berkeley BART station. The theme this year is on protecting kids and pets, and among the demonstrations will be one on pet first aid and hands-only CPR led by the Red Cross, and one on animal safety, led by Berkeley Humane. In addition, there’s live music, food, children’s activities, survival demonstrations, fire extinguisher practice and family preparedness games. North Berkeley BART, 1750 Sacramento St.
OUR LAND SYMPOSIUM The Agrarian Trust is holding its Our Land Symposium on Saturday and Sunday to examine farmland access in the 21st century. The focus is the estimated 400 million acres of farmland that will change hands as 70% of current farmland owners retire. At the same time, entering farmers struggle to compete with real estate prices, particularly in peri-urban areas critical to food security. Sunday’s program at the Brower Center is sold out, but there are still tickets available for the Saturday evening session at Wheeler Hall on the UC Berkeley campus. Speaker there include Richmond mayor Gayle McLaughlin, Anuradha Mittal from the Oakland Institute, Wes Jackson from The Land Institute, and Doria Robinson from Urban Tilth. Our Land Symposium, Wheeler Hall, UC Berkeley, Saturday, Apr. 26, 6 p.m. Tickets $15-$100.
CIDER SUMMIT Berkeley’s first-ever Cider Summit will be held at Civic Center Park on Saturday, Apr. 26, from noon to 6 p.m. More than 90 hard ciders from the U.S., England, Scotland, France and Spain will be available. Owners and cidermakers will guide attendees through the tastings. Tickets, $25 in advance, $30 at the event, include a souvenir tasting glass and eight tasting tickets. Proceeds will benefit The Ecology Center and the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research. Attendance is strictly limited to ages 21 and over.
REBUILDING TOGETHER Volunteers will work on critically needed house repairs at 12 low-income households on Saturday, Apr. 26 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., as part of a day organized by Rebuilding Together East Bay North. The homeowners selected for help by Rebuilding Together affiliates must meet low-income qualifications and usually face challenges such as disabilities, illness or isolation. In many instances, the properties have endured long-term neglect that has led to problems such as mold or fire hazards. Volunteers must be 16 or older (under 18s require parental consent). Morning snacks, lunch and water are provided, as are commemorative work T-shirts. Sign up and get details of where to go by emailing Marie at Rebuilding Together.
CRYSTAL BOWERSOX Former American Idol runner-up Crystal Bowersox plies “the territory between folk and country,” according to the Chicago Tribune. Bowersox will perform on Friday, Apr. 25 at 8 p.m. at the Freight & Salvage, with a special VIP meet and greet one hour before the show. The Freight describes her as “an artful songwriter and a soulful singer with a warm alto capable of belting out a big ballad or gently coaxing a delicate melody.” Tickets $25 in advance, $27 on the door (VIP add-on is $50) from the Freight, 2020 Addison St.
Don’t miss these other events recently featured on Berkeleyside:
Michael Ray Wisely: Grand dramas on everyday stages
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘Alan Partridge,’ ‘Teenage,’ ‘Trap City’
Smith Dobson V, Friends with Benefits, play Berkeley
Bay Area Dance Week: A smorgasbord of offerings for all
Acis & Galatea promises to be grand sensory delight
Are you ready to help kids, pets when disaster strikes?
Check out Berkeleyside’s event calendar for many more events, and make sure to post your own community happenings.