Labor Day Picnics Will Be Held at Three Local Parks

Labor Day picnics are an American tradition. How could any kid go back to school without one last fling? Old-fashioned picnics--the kind small-towners take for granted but that we big-city folk know are a rare treasure--are planned at three local parks Monday.

South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula, is making two major changes in its Labor Day routine. First, admission is free after 4 p.m. (Earlier, it’s $3 for adults, $1.50 for seniors 62 and over and students with ID, 75 cents for children 5-12.) Second, visitors can picnic inside the gardens (a no-no the rest of the year) and can enjoy the late-afternoon and early-evening hours picnicking in the meadow area. The Palos Verdes Symphonic Band and the Dan O’Sullivan jazz combo will entertain until dusk. Bring your own blanket and food; soft drinks will be for sale. Information: (213) 377-0468.

Heritage Square, 3800 Homer St., Highland Park, welcomes Labor Day picnickers from noon to 4 p.m. Bring a blanket and enjoy the green lawns surrounding the park’s eight Victorian Era buildings. Several will be open for viewing. From 1 to 4 p.m. a barbershop quartet, Bellow Canto and the Augmented Force and the Union Brass Band will stroll and entertain. Soft drinks are available in the gift shop. Information: (818) 449-0193.

Garden Grove Elks Lodge Labor Day picnic will include game booths and band music at the lodge, 11551 Trask Ave., Garden Grove. Activities begin with a pancake breakfast, served by the Elks Clowns from 7 to 10:30 a.m. Barbecue dinners will be served from 2 to 6 p.m. Add to this feast hot dogs, sodas, corn on the cob and bakery goods for sale all day. Information: (714) 534-0226.

SPECIAL EVENTS

If you’ve ever wanted to feast on Greek food and dance to bouzouki music, this is the weekend to get revved up for it. The Long Beach Greek Orthodox Church will serve hundreds of Greek dinners and play music in the afternoon. Plan to arrive early (before the food runs out). Hours are noon to 9:30 p.m. today through Monday at Rainbow Lagoon, between the Hyatt Regency, 200 Pine Ave., and Shoreline Village, 419 Shoreline Village Drive. Free dance instruction will enable everyone to join in the fun. Three bands and seven dance groups will provide entertainment. Admission: adults, $2; children 11 and under, free. Information: (213) 499-7788.

The sound of six steel drums will fill the air in Alhambra Park, 500 N. Palm Ave., Alhambra, Sunday afternoon when the group Pandemonium provides free entertainment in the bandshell from 2 to 4 p.m. The program will range from traditional Caribbean tunes to contemporary fare. Picnicking is encouraged. Spread a blanket out on the band shell seating. Early birds will find several umbrellas set up and shady seats on the periphery (or bring your own). Beverages for sale.

OUTDOORS

“Meet the Chumash,” a free 2-hour walk and talk at Paramount Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, begins at 9 a.m. on Labor Day. A ranger will describe how the local Indian tribe lived off the land in terms that kids can understand. To reach the ranch, take the Kanan Road exit off U.S. 101, go south three-fourths of a mile, left on Sideway Road, right on Cornell Road, then 2 1/2 miles to the park entrance. Information: (818) 888-3770.

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