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Historical re-enactors will portray mission-era characters for the event.
JOLON — Take a step back in time to California’s mission era while attending Mission San Antonio de Padua’s annual Mission Days event Saturday, April 7, which coincides with the grand reopening of the mission’s museum.
Located within the Valley of the Oaks near Fort Hunter Liggett in Jolon, Mission San Antonio will host the celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring historical re-enactors in costume portraying soldiers, artisans, vaqueros, musicians and dancers.
Demonstrations of mission crafts and activities, such as weaving, rope making, candle making and tortilla making, will be shown. Authentic mission-era food will also be available.
Members of Los Arribenos de San Francisco will perform historical Californio music and dance from the mission period, and local artists will display original artwork, many of which will be available for purchase.
New this year, Harris Stage Lines of Paso Robles will offer free horse-drawn wagon rides through the wooded Mission San Antonio grounds from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
After being closed for nearly three years, the Mission San Antonio museum will have its grand reopening during Mission Days. The museum was closed in 2015 due to the earthquake retrofit construction.
“The museum houses one of the best collections of Native American baskets in California,” according to a news release from the Mission.
Also on display is a 200-year-old hand-scribed music book that is made entirely of sheep skin parchment and leather as well as the original brick wine vat and a wine cellar, which dates back to the early 1800s.
Parking and admission to Mission Days is $10 per vehicle.
Mission San Antonio de Padua, founded by Junipero Serra in 1771, is the third oldest Spanish mission in California and remains an active Catholic parish and retreat center. The Mission is located off Jolon Road, at 1 Mission Road, in Jolon.
For more information, visit the website www.MissionSanAntonio.net or call 831-385-4478 ext. 17.
