Choo-choo!

Model train enthusiasts and choo choo-crazy kids can ride the rails Saturday and Sunday at Railroad Weekend in Arroyo Grande.
The free two-day event will feature running model trains, storytellers, screenings of the movie “The Polar Express” and festive holiday decorations, sponsored by the SLO Model Railroad Association and the South County Historical Society.
The first 300 youngsters receive wooden train whistles from Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab in Arroyo Grande.
While kids enjoy stories about trains, history and the holidays, adults can catch brief lectures by rail historian Loren Nicholson about Avila Beach’s historic Pacific Coast Railroad.
He’ll also offer signed copies of his book, “Rails Across the Ranchos.”
After the afternoon talks, there’s a complimentary wine tasting from the newly opened Wood Winery.

Railroad Weekend takes place at the IOOF Heritage Hall, the historical society’s headquarters at 128 Bridge St. in Arroyo Grande.
Saturday’s events run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday’s events from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, call 489-8282 or visit www.southcountyhistory.org or www.slomra.org.

Smarter than a fifth-grader?

Hey, smarty-pants!
Show those wise guys how clever you are at the Adult Spelling Bee, this weekend at the Arroyo Grande Valley Harvest Festival.
No, it’s not a contest for spelling words commonly used in pornography and Playboy.
The Adult Spelling Bee pits teams of three adults against each other in a contest familiar to fans of the documentary “Spellbound.”
Here’s how it works: The Pronouncer, Gary Thompson, will say a word, define the word and use it in a sentence, and then pronounce the word again.
Each team will have 30 seconds to write that word on a board. They’ll be eliminated if they misspell two words, continue to write after time is called or try to change their answer.
Teams that make it to the Champion Round can compete for the chance to donate 30 percent of the funds raised by the event to the charity of their choice.
The Adult Spelling Bee takes place at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Rotary Bandstand in the Arroyo Grande Village. Registration is $100 per team.
For more information, call Curtis Reinhardt at 773-4173.

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Not much for book-learnin’?
Lucky for you, the festival lets men (and some ladies) flaunt their facial hair at Saturday’s Whiskerino Contest.
This year’s categories are: Longest Sideburns, Longest Mustache, Longest Beard and Longest Whiskers on a Pet. Prizes include gift certificates for auto detailing and Branch Street Deli.
The contest starts at 1 p.m. Saturday at Branch Street Deli, 203 East Branch St. in Arroyo Grande. Call John at 489-9099 for more details.

-- Sarah L.

Summer's last musical breath

Summer officially comes to a close this weekend, ushering a season of cooler weather and waning light.
Fortunately, for lovers of the season, there’s one last chance to bask in the summer sun.
Arroyo Grande’s summer concert series wraps up on Sunday afternoon with a concert featuring some of Cuesta College’s finest musicians.

Voce, the community college’s vocal jazz ensemble, performs in a variety of styles ranging from pop and bebop to funk and Latin jazz. Since its creation in 1981, the award-winning ensemble has released two albums and toured Europe eight times.
The group is currently planning a trip to Spain and France next summer.

The Cuesta Wind Ensemble, featuring local wood and percussion musicians ages 16 and up, will perform John Phillip Sousa’s “On the Campus March” and other works. One piece, “The British Grenadiers,” features soloist Carlos Gama on euphonium.
Jennifer Martin conducts the ensemble.

Members of the Cuesta Jazz Ensembles will also play.
Cuesta’s jazz program includes two big bands -- a student group and a local professional group -- and seven small combos.

The free concert starts at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Rotary Bandstand in the Arroyo Grande Village.