Recreation

Get ready to make a splash on Sunday, October 20 during our annual Pumpkin Diving at the Sierra Recreation and Fitness Center. 

This fun-filled event from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. transforms the Sierra pool into a floating pumpkin patch. Along with diving for pumpkins, you can decorate your autumn squash, play fun carnival games and take a photo with Jack Skellington. 

Teens will get a Bite of Reality in a fun and realistic event Friday, October 11 from 6-8:30 pm at the City Hall Civic Center, 200 Civic Center Drive.

Bite of Reality gives students (ages 13-18) the chance to make financial mistakes in a realistic but safe environment. Teens download the program app and run through a simulation on their smartphone by visiting various interactive stations.

If you're looking for a fun and exciting day, make plans for the SoCal Bocce Association's final tournament of the season on Saturday, November 2 at the Mission Viejo bocce courts.   

The competition includes 16 teams from San Diego, Los Angeles and Orange County.

Opening ceremonies kick off at 7:30 am with tournament play starting at 8 am. The free daylong event is expected to end by 9 pm.

Get ready to celebrate Oktoberfest Mission Viejo style on Monday, October 21 at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center.

The Senior Citizen Activities Committee has a fabulous night on tap from 5-7 pm featuring musical "oompah" entertainment by Jim Gilman and traditional tasty fare including German potato salad, Bavarian Bratwurst boiled in beer, salad and more. (A kosher menu of chicken sausage and potato salad is also available.) Guests will enjoy meeting new people, mingling with friends and celebrating the festive fall season.

It still feels like summer, but fall is in the air - meaning scarecrow season is quickly approaching.

The City will place more than 50 scarecrows in public places throughout the community and is seeking nonprofit organizations - churches, scouts, schools and charities - to make a scarecrow for the chance to win a cash prize courtesy of the Friends of the Arts.

The fall season fun is about to begin when the City's Movie in the Park series returns this month!

First up is the screening of the animated "Zootopia" on Friday, September 27 at Cordova Park at 26931 El Retiro. Then on Friday, October 11, families will enjoy "Dumbo" at Pavion Park, 24051 Pavion. Things get a little spooky with "Hocus Pocus" on October 25 at Melinda Park at 28951 Melinda Road.

The City of Mission Viejo and Sage Hill on Saturday, September 14 will host the ACEing Autism Club fundraiser to provide tennis clinics for children with autism.  This “Play for a Purpose” event at the Marguerite Tennis Pavilion features a doubles exhibition with former French Open Singles Champion Michael Chang; former Wimbledon and number-one ranked ATP doubles player Rick Leach; and Vania King, who holds two Grand Slam women’s doubles titles including Wimbledon.

Have you heard of the Caring Fairies? These magical beings will return to the Oso Creek Trail on November 3, turning a 1-mile swath into a whimsical place of hidden fairy houses and other delights amid the tree trunks. Their return coincides with the Artisan Faire from 10 am to 4 pm at the Potocki Center for the Arts, 27301 La Paz Road.

Help your child get ready for kindergarten through the ABC's with Tiny Tots program at the Montanoso Recreation Center.

For ages 3-5, the program helps prepare children for kindergarten in a fun, loving and structured environment.  They develop skills in socialization, listening and patience by learning to write their names, letters and numbers along with enjoying cooking, music, science, story/circle time and art.

From music and art to knitting and the principals of design, the Potocki Center for the Arts hosts classes designed to tap your creative side. Here's the lineup for September: 

Beginning Ukulele