The centerpiece of the concert is Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem, a sweeping and deeply moving work exploring the human cost of war and the enduring longing for peace.  The music moves from quiet, intimate passages to moments of overwhelming orchestral and choral power.

Although its title means “Grant Us Peace” in Latin, Dona Nobis Pacem is not a traditional sacred-music setting.  Much of its text draws from the poetry of American poet Walt Whitman, alongside biblical passages and other texts.  Vaughan Williams weaves these sources into a deeply human meditation on conflict, loss, compassion, and the hope for reconciliation.

The 50-member orchestra will be the largest ever presented by VCC, accompanying more than 150 singers in a performance designed to showcase the full emotional power of Vaughan Williams’ score.  The concert will also feature a special performance by Voces Lumine, VCC’s chamber ensemble.

Presented in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Grant Us Peace centers on themes of unity, peace, compassion, and our shared humanity.  Students and community members will raise their voices together in a powerful expression of those ideals.  The performance continues VCC’s longstanding partnership with College of the Sequoias.

VCC Artistic Director John Sorber, who also serves as the Choral Music Instructor at the College of the Sequoias, leads the performance, strengthening the artistic connection between the college and community chorus.

Tickets for Grant Us Peace go on sale to the general public Monday, October 5.

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College of the Sequoias presents “Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead,” a tragi-comedy about two minor characters in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” runs Oct. 8-17 in the COS Theatre, 915 S. Mooney, Visalia. Facebook: College of the Sequoias Performing Arts

Art shows

Arts Visalia exhibits Arturo Martinez’s Mexican Culture work, touchable ceramics by Tim Clark and abstract inspirations from Biblical texts by Jamie Meadows in October. Open Wednesdays-Saturdays, 12-5:30 p.m. 214 E. Oak, 559 739-0905 or www.artsvisalia.org

Arts Consortium displays “De Cambros” by internationally acclaimed Fernando Campos. This touring show by the Mexican Consulate features oils, acrylics and watercolors inspired by Campos’ traditions from his home in Jalisco, Mexico. 340 E. Oak, Visalia. Open Wednesdays-Saturdays 12-5 p.m. www.artsconsortium.org  

College of the Sequoias Art Gallery is exhibiting an Alumni Exhibition in honor of COS’ 100^th anniversary from Oct. 6-Nov. 27. Open Tuesdays 10-2, Wednesdays 11-2 and Thursdays 11-4. 915 S. Mooney, Room 214 (downstairs in the Kaweah Building at the corner of Meadow Lane and Mooney.) Free 20-minute parking in the circle drive. Facebook: College of the Sequoias Art Gallery

Brandon-Mitchell Gallery is showing “Where Stories Grow,” art by local illustrator Merry Miller-Gass in her just-published children’s books, during September and October. Open during the First Friday Art Walks in Downtown Visalia, after service at 11:30 a.m. on Sundays and by appointment. 117 S. Locust, Visalia. 559 625-2441 or www.brandonmitchellgallery.com

The Oval Gallery is featuring art by Janel Claybon and Priscila Bustos exploring themes of identity, reflection, and growth as women of color through print media and sculptures. Open Thursdays and Fridays from 5-9 p.m. and by appointment if requested through Instagram, www.instagram.com/theovalgallery

Tulare City Historical Museum has on display “Transform Art” by watercolorist Valerie Estes from Sept. 17-Oct. 10. Open Thursdays-Saturdays 10-4. 444 W. Tulare in Tulare. 559 686-2074 or www.tularehistoricalmuseum.org

CACHE (Center for Art, Culture & History Exeter) shows landscapes by Justin McKinzie from Oct. 3 to Dec. 27. Wednesdays-Fridays 10-4 (closed 12-12:30) and Fridays and Saturdays 12-4. 125 South B. 559 592-5900 or www.cach-exeter.org

Lindsay Arts presents “Guilt and Forgiveness” by Julio Oseguera, who explores identity, memory and the emotional complexities of the human experience in figurative oil paintings. Open Fridays 12-4 p.m. Sept. 19-Nov. 7. 165 N. Gale Hill. www.lindsayarts.com

The Pierpoint Bar & Grill & Gallery is showing “Heaven in the Sierras” by local photographer Trish Logan. Open 10-6 daily. 801 Highway 190, Springville. 559 483-9110 or liz.pierpointgallery@gmail.com

Ongoing events

Vossler Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze open daily Sept. 26-Nov. 1, weekdays 10-9, Saturdays and Sundays 10-10. On weekends, includes food vendors, train and pony rides. 26773 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia. www.visitvisalia.com/calendar

Vossler Farms adds Field of Screams from Oct. 16-31 with a haunted after-dark walk through the corn maze.

Hannegan’s Harvest Pumpkin Patch open daily from Oct.2-25. Train rides, giant slide, obstacle course. 2227 E. Noble, Visalia. www.visitvisalia.com/calendar

Events by date

Friday, Oct. 2

• The Doo Wop Project features classic doo wop sounds plus more contemporary songs given a doo wop vibe. Featuring stars from Broadway shows like “Jersey Boys,” “Motown,” “Beautiful” and “Hairspray.” Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main. 559 625-1369 or foxvisalia.org
• Downtown Visalia First Friday Art Walk from 5-8 p.m. Pick up a map at the Arts Consortium, 340 E. Oak, Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak, or the Brandon-Mitchell Gallery, 117 S. Locust, and visit venues with art, music and snacks. artsconsortium.org

Saturday, Oct. 3

• Living History Day will bring well-known historical figures in Tulare and Kings counties to life from 12-3 p.m. at the Tulare County Museum in Mooney Grove, 27000 Mooney Blvd., Visalia. Talk to actors portraying Walt Disney, Amelia Earhart, Wilma McDaniel, Ben Maddox and others to learn their local history. tularecountymuseum.org
• 3^rd Annual Moon Festival Tribute from 12-5 p.m. at the Carnegie Museum of Kings County, 109 E. Eight St., Hanford. Gumyo Taiko performances, lion dance, origami demos, tea and Mooncakes, food vendors. chinaalley.com/news
• Cat Haven Twilight Tour and fund raiser at 5 p.m. Walk the trail to see tigers, lions and jaguars when the cats are the most active. Buffet dinner and auction. 16+ only. 38257 E. Kings Canyon Rod, Dunlap. cathaven.com
• 1^st Saturday in Three Rivers features open studios, food and art shows from 11-5. Pick up a map and schedule at Kaweah Arts, 41841 Sierra Dr. (Highway 198) or the Three Rivers Historical Museum, 42268 Sierra Dr. 559 799-1473 or 1stsaturdaytr.com
• Los Yonics, Los Caminautes, Los Freddy’s y Amigos, a night of Spanish-language musical classics, at 7 p.m. at the Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main. 59 625-1369 or foxvisalia.org
• Zalud House Pioneer Day and Rib Cook-Off from 11-3 on Main Street, Porterville, which will be turned into an old west street complete with shoot-out, displays and re-enactments. visitvisalia.com/calendar

Monday, Oct. 5

• Miss Exeter Coronation dinner at 6 p.m. at the Exeter Veterans’ Memorial building, 324 N. Kaweah. With fashion show. business.visaliachamber.org/events

Friday, Oct. 9

• “How to Train your Dragon” (2010) will be shown at dusk as part of the free Movies in the Park series hosted by the City of Visalia at Lions Park, 345 N. Jacob. Bring a picnic, blankets and lawn chairs. Food vendors on site. visitvisalia.org/calendar

Saturday, Oct. 10

• The annual Marjorie Brandon Award ceremony will present its award at 7 p.m. to Ignacio Diaz, local painter and sculpturer, who learned collage from Brandon herself. Entertainment by Andrew and Sarai, guitar and violin. Center for Spiritual Living, 117 S. Locust, Visalia. Tickets: 559 625-2441 or cslvisalia.org/events
• Tea Tasting Gala to celebrate the Autumn Moon Festival by the Center for Integrated Medicine. Chinese hors d’oeuvres and moon cakes. Learn Chinese tea etiquette and the meaning of the tea ceremony. Information and tickets: 559 625-4246
• Just Think Pink Breast Cancer Awareness from 11-3 at the Visalia Mall, 2031 S. Mooney, Visalia. Pink banners, info booths and giveaways. visitvisalia.com/calendar
• Exeter Fall Festival starts at 10 a.m. with a parade on Pine Street and continues 10-4 at Exeter City Park, 314 W. Firebaugh, with vendors, live entertainment, food and family activities. visitvisalia.com/calendar
• Good Riddance: A 90s Murder Mystery at 7:30 p.m. features dinner, drinks, questionable fashion choices and murder. Follow the clues, question the suspects. Visalia Rawhide Stadium, 300 N. Giddings. visitvisalia.com/calendar
• Dino-mite Boo Bash from 10-2 with family friendly live dinosaur encounters, vendors, treat or treat, music, activities. 2950 E. Douglas. facebook.com/events

Sunday, Oct. 11

• Matt Stone as Elvis, recognized by Graceland, performs at 7 p.m. at the Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main. 59 625-1369 or foxvisalia.org
• Neighborhood Market in the Arbor from 10-3:30 at the International Agri Center, 4500 S. Laspina, Tulare. Dress up, get treats and visit 70 vendors. visitvisalia.com/calendar

Tuesday, Oct. 13

• Annual Taste of Visalia invites people to walk downtown from 5-8 p.m. and enjoy bites, sips and specialties at participating stores. Tickets: downtownvisalia.com/event

Wednesday, Oct. 14

• KJUG annual Girls & Guitars at 7 p.m. will celebrate Dolly Pardon featuring Karen Hester as Dolly. Wear your rhinestones and boots. Benefits Kaweah Health Breast Center. Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main. 559 625-1369 or foxvisalia.org

Friday, Oct. 16

• Elias Medina, a Mexican singer/songwriter whose songs have been recorded by many of Mexico’s biggest artists, performs at 8 p.m. at the Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main. 559 625-1369 or foxvisalia.org

Saturday, Oct. 17

• Annual Taste the Arts Festival takes over four blocks of downtown Visalia Garden Street from 10-5 with artists, music, interactive activities and food. artsconsortium.org
• Pride Visalia celebrates its 10^th anniversary from 11:30-5 featuring entertainment, food, vendors and drag artists at Rawhide Stadium, 300 N. Giddings
• Boos & Booze Halloween Fest from 4-11:30 p.m. at Adventist Health Amphitheater, 455 E. Tulare in Tulare. A night with haunted attractions, professional scare actors, EDM dance music and food vendors. 18+ only. visitvisalia.com/calendar
• Vintage Fall Market from 10-3 at Salty Walrus Brewing, 2415 E. Valley Oaks Dr., Visalia. Shop vintage goods, seasonal decor, woodworking, vinyl and macramé from local vendors while enjoying pizza from You Be’s, craft beer and live music from Biscuits & Gravy. visitvisalia.com/calendar
• “Practical Magic 1” (1998) starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as witch sisters will be shown free at 7 p.m. at the Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main. 559 625-1369 or foxvisalia.org

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The upcoming session features guest speaker Professor Hollie Marquess from Fort Hays State University. Professor Marquess serves as the Dr. Leo Oliva Distinguished Professor of History at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, where she also earned her B.A. and M.A. Currently a doctoral student in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Gratz College, her research focuses
on women, gender, sexuality, and the Holocaust, with previous publications exploring gender and sexuality in the American Midwest.

Professor Marquess’s presentation, titled “Sex Work in Frontier America,” will examine the vital yet often overlooked roles of women who engaged in sex work as early arrivals to western frontier towns. While the Wild West era is widely remembered for lawlessness, sex work operated both within and outside formal legal structures. This presentation delves into the historical realities, lives, and livelihoods of these frontier sex workers and their integration into frontier life.

The presentation is open to campus members and the wider community. For more information about this event or the CHAP program at Porterville College, visit the CHAP website at https://www.portervillecollege.edu/about-pc/chap/index.html or contact CHAP Coordinator Leslie Keele at leslie.keele@portervillecollege.edu.

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What happens when Belle becomes the Beast, the fairy-tale characters aren’t quite what you remember, and Gaston has a very unexpected new identity? Redwood High School Theatre is finding out this October with its production of Beauty Is the Beast by Don Zolidis.

Unlike the classic story audiences may know, this comedy turns the traditional fairy-tale world upside down. Belle is transformed into the Beast, sending Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White and Ariel on a mission to find the witch who caused it all.

Along the way, audiences will meet a Fairy Godfather, a Fairy Athletic Trainer, an Unpleasant Dwarf and a Gaston who takes on a very unexpected persona.

The production is the second time Beauty Is the Beast has been performed and marks the first production of the show in California.

For Redwood Theatre students, rehearsals have been filled with laughter, learning and plenty of unexpected moments as they bring the unusual fairy tale to life. The cast and crew have been working together since September to prepare the production for the stage.

The Redwood Theatre production of Beauty Is the Beast will be presented October 7, October 8 and October 10 at 7 p.m. at Rotary Theater in Visalia.

Tickets are available to purchase now. You can purchase online at redwoodrangersdrama.ludus.com or on the Redwood Theatre Instragram page. Tickets will also be available to purchase on show dates at the door. For more information, contact Redwood High School Theatre or follow Redwood Theatre on social media.

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The 19th Annual Happy Hearts Golf Tournament will take place Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Ridge Creek Dinuba Golf Club, with all proceeds benefiting Valley Children’s Hospital in loving memory of Heather Nugent.

Just two days shy of her 18th birthday, Heather lost her life following a tragic car accident. In her final moments, she was cared for by the compassionate medical team at Valley Children’s Hospital — something her father, Skip Nugent, has never forgotten. Out of that heartbreak, Happy Hearts was born.

For the past 19 years, Skip, along with family, friends, sponsors and community supporters, has transformed the memory of his daughter into an annual tradition that gives back to the hospital that cared for her.

This year carries special significance as Happy Hearts hopes to reach an extraordinary milestone: $2 million raised for Valley Children’s Hospital.

“Heather would have been so proud of what Happy Hearts has become. When we started this, I never could have imagined that 19 years later we would be closing in on $2 million for Valley Children’s. I still miss my daughter every single day, but knowing that her memory is helping children and families when they need it most means more to me than I can put into words. My hope is that this is the year we reach that $2 million mark. What an incredible way that would be to honor Heather and the beautiful heart she had.”
— Skip Nugent, Founder of Happy Hearts

The tournament brings together golfers, businesses and community members for a fun day on the course while supporting the lifesaving work of Valley Children’s Hospital.

Registration is $165 per player and includes green fees, range balls, golf cart and lunch.

EVENT DETAILS

19th Annual Happy Hearts Golf Tournament
Thursday, October 8, 2026 – 9am check in. 11am start time.
Ridge Creek Dinuba Golf Club

For 19 years, Happy Hearts has ensured that Heather Nugent’s memory continues to make a difference. Every golfer, sponsor and donor who participates becomes part of a legacy that began with one father’s gratitude and has grown into nearly $2 million in support for Valley Children’s Hospital.

All proceeds benefit Valley Children’s Hospital in loving memory of Heather Nugent.

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Complete all 6 spots on your punchcard by visiting the Library, checking out books, and reading. Turn in your punchcard by Tuesday, November 3 to earn a prize and be entered into the grand prize drawing! TeenTober is supported by the Friends of the Tulare County Library.

Teen fun and learning doesn’t just happen in October. The Library offers books, DVDs, online tutoring and research tools, there’s something for everyone. Plus, there’s always a lineup of exciting activities, events, and programs!

Tulare County Library serves all the residents of Tulare County with 17 locations, an adult literacy center, Pop Up Tulare County outreach and bookmobile, and online at tularecountylibrary.org . Follow the Library on Facebook www.facebook.com/tularecountylibrary or your local branch page, Instagram, @tularecountylib, or X (formerly known as Twitter) https://x.com/TulareCountyLib.

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In her presentation, titled “The FBI’s War on Black Marriage,” Dr. Parker-Lewis will explore how federal surveillance programs intentionally targeted intimate relationships during the mid-twentieth-century Black Freedom Movement.

Drawing upon extensive historical documentation, the talk examines state-sponsored efforts to manufacture distrust between partners, destabilize marriages, and undermine the personal and domestic support networks underpinning prominent civil rights leadership.

Attendees should note that the lecture includes discussion of sensitive themes, including sex, infidelity, and the weaponization of sexual surveillance against African American activists.

Dr. Parker-Lewis serves as an Associate Professor of History at the University of California, Davis. She is the author of Department Stores and the Black Freedom Movement: Workers, Consumers, and Civil Rights from the 1930s to the 1980s (UNC Press, 2019) and co-editor of The New Civil Rights Movement Reader: Resistance, Resilience, and Justice (UMass Press, 2023). Her extensive research on twentieth-century social movements and personal relationships continues with several major upcoming publications, including Revolutionary Love with Bloomsbury Publishing, a scholarly biography of Coretta Scott King, and a co-edited collection on American marriage. In April 2027, Yale University Press will release her co-edited work, I Was Called: The Activist Life of Coretta Scott King, marking the centennial of the civil rights leader’s birth.

The presentation is open to campus members and the wider community. For more information about this event or the CHAP program at Porterville College, visit the CHAP website at https://www.portervillecollege.edu/about-pc/chap/ index.html or contact CHAP Coordinator Leslie Keele at leslie.keele@portervillecollege.edu.

The post RESCHEDULED: Renowned historian Dr. Traci Lynnea Parker-Lewis to present “The FBI’s War on Black Marriage” at Porterville College on Sept. 21 appeared first on Valley Voice.

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet local historical figures portrayed by talented local actors and hear their stories firsthand. Through engaging first-person performances and conversations, Living History Day offers an immersive way to learn about the people, experiences, and events that helped shape Tulare and Kings Counties.

Among the historical figures visitors may encounter are Alsalio Herrera, Wilma McDaniel, Carroll Barnes, and Eva Evans, each representing a unique chapter in the region’s rich and diverse history. While some may be more well-known historical figures, there are some that may surprise you!

“Living History Day gives our community the opportunity to experience local history in a very personal way,” said Amy King, curator of the Tulare County Museum. “When you can stand face-to-face with someone from the past and hear their story, history becomes more than names and dates—it becomes something you can see, hear, and connect with.”

The event is a collaborative effort of the Museum Alliance of Tulare-Kings Counties, bringing together local museums and historical organizations to celebrate and share the stories that make the region unique. The participating museums work collectively to preserve local history and make it accessible and engaging for the community.

Living History Day is designed for visitors of all ages and is especially well suited for families, students, history enthusiasts, and anyone interested in learning more about the people who helped shape the Central Valley. As you wander through history you can enjoy food from Tacos Galacticos and refreshing lemonade from Faye’s Lemonade.

Living History Day will take place at the Tulare County Museum on Saturday, October 3, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Come meet the people behind our history and discover the stories that helped shape our community.

For more information, contact Amy King at (559) 624-7326, aking1@tularecounty.ca.gov, or visit tularecountymuseum.org.

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The calming presence of nature inspires the collection. “I believe viewing, observing, spending time in and experiencing landscapes in its natural and curated state can be one of the simplest ways to find rest,” said McKinzie.

“A Visalia native, McKinzie is building his career within the region he depicts, lending his work an insider’s specificity rather than an outsider’s romanticism. He has held solo exhibitions at The Creative Center (2022), CACHE (2023), the Lindsay Art Museum, and Arts Visalia (2025). His practice today is sustained largely through sales and private commissions, a testament to his deep and continuing engagement with the community whose landscape he documents,” said Aaron Collins, San Joaquin Valley-based arts and culture writer.

The event is free and open to the public and features live music by local pianist Richard Garoogian. Hometown Emporium provides appetizers and drinks.

For more information, visit our website at cach-exeter.org/event-details/austin-mckinzie.

About CACHE

The Center for Art, Culture, and History- Exeter (CACHE), formerly known as the Exeter Art Gallery and Museum Association, rebranded in 2023 in order to communicate its new mission of bringing to life the art, culture, and history of California’s heartland. The new museum board hosts quarterly art exhibitions showcasing local and regional artists. CACHE’s historical displays are committed to telling the stories of the people and events that have shaped our Tulare County area from its earliest days. We are proud to present a variety of educational programs and unique community events, and we invite everyone to experience the rich culture of Exeter.

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