From first impressions, the themes of the Vacaville Museum Guild’s children’s party on Thursday ranged from honey and public safety to books and bubbles to farm animals and rock ‘n’ roll.
But what was particularly notable was the large number of people who gathered in the museum’s courtyard under the tall shade trees to attend the popular annual event. And every parking space along Buck Avenue and side streets for several blocks was bumper to bumper.
Word had apparently spread through social media such as Facebook and Instagram, traditional media such as The Reporter, and word of mouth that the party – for children ages 3 to 9 and with the theme “Fun on the Farm” – promised several hours of fun for families.
From 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. this promise was kept.
Bonnie Moreno, a member of the guild, wore a bonnet on her head to represent Mother Goose. Next to her was a box of children’s books from the Solano County Library. She was there to read to the children who passed by her chair.
“I always pick up the children after 10 or 15 minutes, after they have seen everything and have calmed down, then they come to me,” she said with a smile.
At a nearby table, guild members Layton Damiano and Maryann Henn sat happily holding court over two small containers of black soil, two cups of flower seeds, and dozens of 4-inch paper cylinders that the children could fill with soil and seeds and take home to plant. No wonder the table was partially covered with spilled soil.
“The children like to make a mess,” says Henn, smiling as the children, usually accompanied by their mothers, excitedly move from one table to the next.
Damiano noted that the party was only the guild’s second since the COVID pandemic largely subsided.
Just behind Damiano and Henn were containers of soapy water into which children dipped plastic stencils with holes of different sizes and then waved them in the air to create one or more bubbles. One guild member also walked around with a bubble machine that produced hundreds of golf ball-sized bubbles that floated in the air to the delight of the young children.
In the parking lot behind the museum, where hot dogs and refreshments were available, musicians from the School of Rock Vacaville entertained families.
From time to time, the children watched in awe as 16-year-old singer Emma Vonduyke, accompanied by a quartet on drums, bass, keyboard and guitar, passionately sang the 1967 song “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, which became famous primarily for its interpretation of the late soul and R&B singer Aretha Franklin.
Zachary Corpuz, a Vacaville resident and petty officer second class with the U.S. Coast Guard at Alameda Base, said he read about the party and thought it would be a fun few hours.
He comes from Vallejo and accompanied his wife Cristine and their two children Sylas (3) and Mya (9), the latter of whom enjoyed the musicians of the School of Rock.
“The music is pretty good,” she said, standing next to her friend Phoebe Wilson, also 9.
“I really enjoy all the activities,” Phoebe said of the children’s party. “It makes me feel good.”
Interviewed at the museum, where the exhibit “Sew-lano Quilts: A Pattern of Change” continues, event co-chair and guild member Diana McLaughlin said 200 tickets at $3 each had been sold by 10:30 a.m.
“Unfortunately, we had to turn some people away,” she said, citing a lack of space in the courtyard. She explained, adding that the crowds were partly due to the fact that “people are always looking for something to do with their kids. I was a mom.”
McLaughlin, an artist and former interior designer who has lived in Vacaville for about four years, mentioned the list of participating agencies: the California Highway Patrol, the Vacaville Fire Department, the Vacaville Police Department and the Solano County Library, among others.
The general reaction of the children?
“Overjoyed,” she said, wearing a straw cowgirl hat and her eyes shining with joy behind her red-rimmed glasses.
Outside the museum doors on the left, Tina Currie, a farm owner near Allendale and member of Vaca Valley Grange No. 298, cared for Stanley, a 20-year-old miniature donkey, a popular attraction among many others.
As they lined up to pet the donkey or brush his coat, the children generally wanted to know two things about Stanley: his name and his age, she said.
In addition to Stanley, Currie also showed a pair of chickens and a pair of pygmy goats.
At the Solano County Library booth, library staff Katie Cordova and Laura Barrow handed out some free books and stickers
“The kids love the stickers,” Barrow said, while Cordova pointed out that the library system has a new app and that the cultural center library will be closed from August 23 to November 2025 for renovations and expansion.
CHP officers Erica Tatum and Michael Borday said they asked the children who remained at their table if they had a bicycle and wore a helmet while riding.
“It’s about safety, whether on a bike or a scooter, anything that has wheels,” Tatum said, adding that she and Borday also advise parents on child seat safety.
“Eighty percent of car seats are installed incorrectly,” she said. Anyone who wants to make sure their car seat is installed correctly should call the nearest CHP office and schedule an appointment, Tatum added.
Standing near the museum entrance was Sparky the fire dog, a person in a yellow and red cuddly-looking costume, a symbol of fire safety and the official mascot of the National Fire Protection Association, greeting children and everyone entering or leaving the event.
Another big party attraction was sticky, sweet and ranged from almost colorless to dark brown: honey.
A costumed queen bee – reportedly a retired doctor who declined to give his name – walked around handing out honey sticks donated by Amina Harris of Z Food Specialty/The Hive in Woodland. They are always fun to see and observe, and a bee observation hive was on display.
The queen bee costume came from UC Davis’ California Master Beekeeper Program, which is founded and directed by beekeeper and bee scientist Elina Lastro Niño, a UC Cooperative Extension associate professor and faculty member in the university’s Department of Entomology and Nematology.
For almost three hours there was actually fun for young and young-at-heart people on the farm. At least on the farm that is temporarily located in the Vacaville Museum.
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