Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center

The countdown is officially underway to the 2018 Symphony in the Cities and Prelude in the Park event on Saturday, July 28.

Boasting the spectacular Pacific Symphony Orchestra, this annual City tradition is from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Oso Viejo Community Park on the Village Green and neighboring Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way.

Parents and teachers are invited to an essential workshop designed to increase awareness of a public health crisis facing our country.

The “Youth Resilience Workshop” is at 6:30 p.m. on May 23 at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way.

If you served our country, you won’t want to miss the new Retirement Financial Literacy course designed to provide local veterans with life and retirement planning concepts.

Open to all veterans and their partners, the free program is from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 20 at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way.

Mission Viejo’s iconic Arts Alive Festival is once again primed to dazzle an array of art lovers from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29 at the Oso Viejo Community Park on the Village Green and neighboring community center at 24932 Veterans Way. The event also extends to the new Potocki Center for the Arts at 27301 La Paz Road.

The next time you drop by the Norman P. Murray Community Center, check out the amazing work by photographer Kurt Weston.

A resident of Mission Viejo, Kurt is a world-class glamour photographer turned blind visionary whose exhibit captures color-saturated, luminous images of garden flowers as well as hillsides and parks.

Ready to roll the dice for a good cause? Make plans for Casino Night for a Cure on Saturday, April 21 from 6:30-10:30 p.m. at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way.

Benefiting the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of South Orange County, the $65 ticket includes a delectable dinner by Outback Steakhouse; $200 in play money; a drink ticket for wine or beer; and fabulous raffle prizes.

Get ready to hop over to the annual Bunny Days celebration Saturday, March 31 at Oso Viejo Community Park, 24932 Veterans Way.

This fun-filled family event is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and boasts carnival games, crafts, interactive bubble making, inflatable obstacle courses, photos with the bunny and much more! Egg hunts take place for children 11 and under from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.  Children are encouraged to bring a bag or basket to collect their goodies.

When you stop by the amazing Arts Alive & Street Painting Festival this spring, don’t forget to swing by the new Potocki Center for the Arts!

This vibrant festival is from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29 at the Oso Viejo Community Park on the Village Green and neighboring Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way, as well as at the new Center at 27301 La Paz Road.

If you served our country any time from 1975 to the present day, we want YOU for the Wars of Freedom Veterans event in March.

This nostalgic day filled with music, gifts and patriotic moments begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 24 at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center.

The event includes a “Welcome Home Heroes” reception at 11 a.m. followed by a catered lunch, program and performance by the Marine Corps Band at 2 p.m.

Rain or shine, the Oso Fit Fun Run takes step in Mission Viejo this Saturday featuring a 5K and quarter- and half-mile runs along with a popular indoor Community Health Fair. By simply registering for this event, you can support your favorite local nonprofit.

The Oso Fit Fun Run will have some star power with RJ Mitte, an actor and model best known for his role on “Breaking Bad”; Kate Tomlinson of Disney’s “Stuck in the Middle”; and actors Aaron Schwartz; Niko Pepaj; and Lacianne Carriere on hand for the fun.