Coloring pages, Crosswords, Scavenger Hunts, a Maze, and more! All centered around Fresno, Clovis, and the San Joaquin Valley.
After the success of our coloring book and crossword puzzle we couldn’t resist creating more fun activities and putting them all into one packet for you to print and have fun with – so please, stay well and enjoy some inside fun!
We’ve included the answer keys at the end so be careful not to reveal those last few pages too early.
When was the last time everyone in your household got in the car and went somewhere together? Odds are you really had to stop to think about the answer to that question given the unprecedented time we are all currently living through.
While there are numerous expert suggestions regarding how we should be structuring our time and helping our children learn while physically away from their schools, here at FresYes we thought it might be nice to give you an opportunity to do something that’s really low-pressure, a lot of fun, requires no planning AND even gives your family the opportunity to compete for a prize!
For the next 3 weeks, we will be hosting the FresYes Car Scavenger Hunt. This Scavenger Hunt keeps your family safe and socially distanced while giving you a fun reason to get out of the house together.
To be entered to win, your group must submit photos of all items listed for that week’s competition as one post. By participating, you grant permission to FresYes Realty to share photos you contribute online as a way of sharing the event with others. There is no cost to participate. All photos must be taken from inside the vehicle and while observing Physical Distancing guidelines. (i.e. don’t get out and take photos and don’t go on a scavenger hunt in the same vehicle with people who are not from within your household). You must observe all local laws and regulations and avoid parking in areas in which parking is not allowed.
Now that you know all the details – let’s kick this off with a bang! Our first week’s FresYes Car Scavenger Hunt list drops tomorrow afternoon at 3pm! Head to Facebook now to RSVP to ensure you’ll be able to see the list. Happy hunting and have FUN!
This weekend thousands of Valley residents would have been dressing up in their cowboy and cowgirl best and celebrating the 106th Clovis Rodeo.
Due to COVID-19, the annual event has been canceled. The only other time the Clovis Rodeo didn’t take place was during WWII.
“It was not an easy decision for the rodeo committee to cancel the 2020 Clovis Rodeo due to COVID-19, but one that we felt was necessary because the health and welfare of our friends and neighbors must come first,” said the Clovis Rodeo Committee in a statement to FresYes. “We have numerous charities and community organizations that benefit from the rodeo annually. The support of our fans, volunteers and incredible Clovis Rodeo sponsors make it all possible. The City of Clovis estimates that the economic impact of the Clovis Rodeo is almost $15 million annually.”
One of the non-profit organizations that rely heavily on funds raised during the rodeo is the Old Town Clovis Kiwanis Club. One-third of their yearly budget comes from the concession and beer booth they operate north of the area behind the grandstands.
“Our club is grateful every year for the opportunity to fundraise at the Clovis Rodeo,” said Taylor Hillman, a board member with the Old Town Clovis Kiwanis. “100% of the funds we raise go back into the community to further the Kiwanis mission, to serve the children of the world.”
The cancellation and postponement of other events such as the Clovis Rodeo Association’s golf tournament and Big Hat Days is also impacting fundraising efforts by the Old Town Clovis Kiwanis.
“Our fundraising efforts fuel a wide array of events and donations throughout the year that benefit the children of our community,” Hillman said. “Our club supports groups such as the Special Olympics, Clovis Unified Schools and Sports, Boys and Girl Scouts, the Clovis Police Department, and more. Our club also donates time and money to Clovis parks and trails beautification and improvements, holiday food baskets and clothing, scholarships for students, and our local high school key clubs. In addition, the Old Town Clovis Kiwanis Club puts on one of the biggest events in the city, the Children’s Electric Christmas Parade. This yearly event is not a fundraiser for our club and is something we do out of our budget for the community.”
The Old Town Clovis Kiwanis Board of Directors has already held a virtual meeting where tough decisions have begun to be made regarding planned donations.
Anyone who would like to contribute to the Old Town Clovis Kiwanis Club can do so online. They have a Paypal account set up on the “Donate” page of their website.
The Clovis Rodeo is traditionally a four-day event. This year it had been expanded to five days. In addition to the classic rodeo events, two concerts, a dance and large parade were set to take place.
During rodeo week, every hotel room in Clovis and the surrounding area is typically full. The Clovis Rodeo Grounds have 10,000 seats available per day and the events sell out each year.
All this activity is very important for local business. Julie Glenn and her family own the restaurants House of JuJu and Papa’s Place and On The Edge coffee shop in Old Town Clovis. Their revenue is already down 75% because of COVID-19 and with no rodeo this year; it’s going to be tough.
“Old Town Clovis is about community so the shutdown of these events, including the events like the wine walk and antique fair are crucial to our community,” Glenn said. “They not only bring people into our town but also provide free family entertainment.”
House of JuJu and Papa’s Place are open for takeout and you can still walk in for coffee at On The Edge.
“Our community has been so incredibly supportive,” Glenn said. “We are so blessed with an amazing community all throughout Fresno County. Every bit helps.”
As for the Clovis Rodeo, if you already had purchased tickets you have three options. You can receive a refund, exchange your tickets for the 2021 rodeo performance or in lieu of a refund, you can donate the face value of your tickets to the Clovis Rodeo Foundation.
The 107th Clovis Rodeo is April 21-25th, 2021. You can learn more at ClovisRodeo.com
Taking it outside for a walk? Be on the lookout for some inspirational rocks. Thinking about stepping it up to a nice jog or run? Cassie has you covered this week with her guide on how to get started.
Check out this weeks full edition of What’s Hot & Happening HERE
It seems like every day now I see someone posting on Instagram or Facebook a picture of a painted rock with an inspiring message they found while walking their neighborhood.
It makes sense, a lot of us are now taking daily brisk walks instead of being glued to our office chairs or pumping iron at our favorite gym. Back in June of 2017, we wrote an article about the then trend of placing and finding rocks – a kind of scavenger hunt/geocaching craze.
I’ve always loved the idea of people finding small motivating messages in something as simple as a rock. It’s like finding a rare four-leaf clover in a field of threes. To make sure there are plenty of rocks to be found randomly by folks in our community, FresYes agents and staff have gone to work carefully painting (we wore gloves and mask while doing) rocks and leaving them randomly in the neighborhoods we each live in. My hope is that you find one during one of your future rocks and it brings a smile and hope to your life. #fresyesrocks
Are your kiddos at home going a bit stir crazy? Ours too! One way to get some of the pent-up energy out is a scavenger hunt. We have one for inside and one for outside for you to have fun with. I love that they both end with a snack 🙂
Since 1975, people of all ages have enjoyed flocking to Fresno State’s campus to celebrate spring’s arrival at the Vintage Days Festival. Vintage Days is thrown each year by a student committee that spends months planning the event. Attractions include live music and performances, a huge craft and vendor fair, a car show, the kids zone filled with fun activities and inflatables for children to enjoy and of course the ever-popular student and club booths featuring foods and refreshments representing a wide-variety of cultures and carnival-style game booths.
I can personally remember riding through the crowds on my Dad’s shoulders, dancing to live music played by my uncle (local musician Roger Perry) and winning a goldfish at the ring toss booth. I’m certainly not the only one with fond favorite memories of Vintage Days. Alumni and former Student Director of USU Productions Eric Morin said, “We (my wife and I) usually look forward to our kettle corn, cinnamon roll and barbecue beef sandwich, and I also just really look forward to running into old classmates, faculty advisors – it feels like a mini-homecoming.
Raine Bumatay, Principal of the Fresno Adult School also shares Morin’s love of Vintage Day food, as she professed her love for the corn dogs from the Newman Center and “Fresno State’s root beer! That’s a must!”
Nicole Grace grew up in Fresno and now resides in Hayward, CA, however she makes the drive down to enjoy Vintage Days each year. “I always went as a kid, so many good memories with my parents and grandparents. Our favorite part is probably visiting the art building since I took so many classes there. We always leave with some pottery and blown glass made by the students.”
Given this year’s extenuating circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Vintage Days cannot take place in its typical fashion, attracting crowds of festival goers. However, all is not lost! The Vintage Days committee has been hard at work adapting plans to ensure Valley residents can still enjoy a large portion of their beloved attractions virtually – this year’s Vintage Days Festival has gone digital!
Here’s all the info you need to know, to enjoy Vintage Days 2020 from the comfort and safety of your home.
Vintage Days will run for three days, Friday, April 17th – Sunday, April 19th. The student-run festival, which typically attracts about 50,000 attendees, will this year shift to an online format featuring musicians, dance groups and other performance artists via social media posts and stories. Online festivalgoers will be able to enjoy curated playlists featuring local talent previously scheduled to perform during the event.
Arts and crafts activities for children will be downloadable on the Vintage Days website and be featured in instructional videos on Vintage Days social media accounts. Projects will utilize common household items for materials.
Automotive enthusiasts can also submit their vehicles to participate in the online car show by filling out the online application requesting photos, make and model and any interesting information about the vehicle. Community members will be able to vote for the people’s choice award on Sunday, April 19.
Fans of the expansive Crafts Faire, a staple of Vintage Days, will be able to peruse and shop the directory and gallery of artisans who create unique, handmade goods including jewelry, children’s toys, home décor and much more on the festival’s website.
To enjoy the festival and ensure you don’t miss a moment of your favorite performances, Connect with @FSVintageDays on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit fresnostate.edu/vintagedays to participate.
The festival is expected to return to its regular, in-person format outside the Satellite Student Union at Fresno State from April 16 through 18, 2021.
A downtown Fresno brewery is helping Valley residents stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing free hand sanitizer.
When the owners of 411 Broadway Ales & Spirits saw that hand sanitizer was selling out at stores, they took matters into their own hands. They followed the guidelines set forth by the FDA and the World Health Organization and started making hand sanitizer with 80% ethanol, water, glycerin, and hydrogen peroxide.
“We are currently trying to reach as many people as we can,” said Joshua Soleno, Co-Founder of 411 Broadway Ales & Spirits. “All our hand sanitizer is free of charge, we want to help combat COVID-19 and restore some sense of normalcy to our community.”
They’ve been passing it out at their brewery, located at 411 Broadway Street. Last Saturday, they weren’t set to open until Noon, but a line started forming at 9 a.m.
The biggest challenge has been finding packaging containers for the hand sanitizer. Residents have been encouraged to bring their own.
To find out what days and times the hand sanitizer is available for pick-up, follow 411 Broadway Ales & Spirits on Facebook and Instagram.
In addition to the hand sanitizer, the brewery has created a COVID-19 themed beer. The name comes from the owners’ frustration with the virus. It’s called #F**kcovid-19. It’s a Raspberry Berliner Weisse at 6.2%ABV.
“It’s slightly tart and malty,” Soleno said. “With some sweetness from the Raspberry, it is my personal favorite.”
411 Broadway Ales & Spirits opened in 2017. The micro brewery focuses on brewing unique, small batch, craft ales.
“Our team was built around friends, family and community,” Soleno said. “The seed was planted for the business after enjoying a glass of home brew between our co-founders; it just took off from there.”
The head brewer is co-founder, Joseph Soleno. He has studied Professional Brewing Science at UC Davis and has worked for nationally recognized breweries.
A tasting room is in the works. It will be located at 723 Fulton Street. The owners are also working with DAB Tacos, a local food truck, on plans to open a restaurant within the Brewery District.
“Downtown will always be home for The 411,” Soleno said. “We have had many opportunities and incentives to move, but the people in the downtown community are always so supportive of small business.”
The brewery works with other downtown Fresno businesses when possible. They’ve partnered with Cookies N Things on their Om Nom Nom Nom beer. The brew features the bakery’s Toffee Cookies.
411 Broadway Ales & Spirits is also Fresno’s first incubator brewery, meaning they’re helping others get their start. Grayview Brewing and Incinerati Brewing are the first to be part of the program.
“Just like every small business during this pandemic, we are currently facing hardships,” Soleno said. “It has not been easy. But we are lucky to have the means to give back to the community that has already given so much to us. We love the support that has been brought from the hand sanitizer attention, but we would like to remind the community that after this pandemic is over to please support all our local small businesses as much as you can. These small business owners are truly the heart of Fresno.”
