Ojai Valley Full Moon Nature Hike & After-Party

On Saturday evening, October 28, from 5:00 to 7:15 p.m., Ojai naturalist and author Lanny Kaufer will lead a Full Moon Sunset Nature Hike to a vista point above the Ojai Valley where his group can watch the simultaneous sunset and full moonrise. The sun will set and the full moon will rise at about 6:20 p.m., providing a nice window of time to take it all in. Following the hike is an optional “after-party” at the Ojai Valley Brewery. Read more about that below.

Registrants will receive instructions on where to park. From the trailhead they’ll gradually walk about 1.5 miles on a well used dirt road with gradual elevation gain to the vista point, stopping along the way to meet some valuable native plants including:

California Buckwheat

Black & Purple Sage

Coastal Sagebrush

Toyon

Yucca

Prickly-Pear

and, hopefully, the fragrant night-blooming Brickellbush.

After witnessing the setting of the sun and rising of the moon, they’ll walk back to the trailhead by remaining daylight, moonlight, and flashlight, returning to the trailhead at about 7:15. Lanny is the author of the field guide, Medicinal Herbs of California 9Falcon Guides, 2021). He will have copies with him for sale and signing.

The After-Party: Then at 7:30 p.m. everyone is invited to join Lanny and his wife Rondia on Bryant Street at Ojai Valley Brewery’s heated outdoor dining area where brewmaster Jeremy Haffner and his staff will be pouring his amazing locally-sourced beers, ales. stouts and non-alcoholic beverages. They’ll also have food and music!

Jeremy’s brews change with the seasons and reflect the plants of Ojai. Three staples you’re likely to find on his list any time of year are Sugar Bush IPA, brewed with wild local Ojai “Sugar Bush” Sumac; White Pixie Ale, brewed with Pixie tangerine zests and orchard blossoms; and an amazing Chaparral Ale flavored and bittered with White and Black Sage and local Sagebrush instead of the usual Hops. Jeremy describes it as “built to mimic the scent on Shelf Road.” That’s where we’ll be walking! Non-alcoholic offerings also change with the seasons and may include an Elderflower-Blackberry Spritzer.

REGISTRATION INFO:

The cost for the hike is $35/person. Senior, student and child discounts are available by request. Paid registrants will receive a confirmation email a few days prior to the event with all necessary info, including what to bring, weather forecast, and directions to the trailhead. Afterwards, they also will receive a follow-up email with a list of all plants and wildlife seen.

No dogs or smoking, please. Light rain will not cancel. Heavy rain or solid chance of thunderstorm will. Registrants will receive a refund if Lanny needs to cancel due to weather. REGISTRATION/TICKETS: https://herbwalks.com/event/october-full-moon-sunset-nature-hike-after-party-at-ojai-valley-brewery/