Summer attractions include the 86-acre California Botanic Garden, the Folk Music Center and Museum, the Claremont Museum of Art at the Claremont Depot, the new Benton Museum at Pomona College, and public art installations on The Claremont Colleges campuses. Find specials at information at DiscoverClaremont.com.

Following are selected upcoming visitor events in Claremont:

May 20–September 25 –  Claremont Collects: Art, Creativity, Community at Claremont Museum of Art

Since the 1930s Claremont has been both magnet and haven for artists. Millard Sheets, Jean Ames, Phil Dike and their contemporaries cultivated a tight-knit community of artists, centered around The Claremont Colleges, that promoted collaboration, innovation, and experimentation. The inaugural exhibition in the newly expanded Claremont Lewis Museum of Art in the historic train depot celebrates Claremont’s rich artistic legacy, vibrant creative community, and robust support for the arts, featuring highlights from the Museum’s permanent collection. More details at clmoa.org.

May 21 – Robbie Fulks at Folk Music Center

The Grammy-nominated artist (Best Folk Album, “Upland Stories”) performs as part of the Folk Music Center Concert Series. More details at folkmusiccenter.com.

July 4 – “Red White & Blue in 2022”

A fireworks spectacular and concert at Pomona College’s Strehle Track highlights this full day of hometown-style public activities.

July 14-24 – 9^th Annual Midsummer Shakespeare Festival, Presented by Ophelia’s Jump

Presented by Ophelia’s Jump Productions, in co-production with Pomona College, this year’s show features MEASURE FOR MEASURE, Thursdays to Sundays, at Sontag Greek Theatre at Pomona College. All performances begin at 8:00 p.m. The beautiful lawns surrounding the Sontag Theatre are perfect for BYOB picnicking; local restaurants will offer picnic specials in town to order and bring to the show. A “Green Show” featuring local musicians and performers begins at 7:00 p.m. each night. More details at opheliasjump.org.

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One year ago, the Benton was preparing for the fall opening of its new, state-of-the-art building designed by Machado Silvetti and Gensler. When the museum closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, Benton staff completed the move of the collection, installed its inaugural slate of exhibitions, debuted its new graphic identity and redesigned website, continued its robust internship and school outreach programs remotely, and hosted online events that drew hundreds of participants.

Visitors to Claremont are now invited to see the exhibitions installed over the course of this last year: Alison Saar: Of Aether and Earthe; Alia Ali: Project Series 53; Art, Object, Specimen; CrossBorder Photography: Images of the US and Mexico from the Permanent Collection; In Our Care: Institutional History in Material Form; and Helen Pashgian: Primavera.

Reservations will be accepted for groups of up to 6 people for one-hour visits on the hour at 2, 3, 4, and 5 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays. Please visit the Benton’s online reservation system to make a viewing appointment. The museum will be following the safety protocols and practices of Los Angeles County and Pomona College, including required masks, social distancing, a limited number of people in the building at one time, and an online health check to be completed the day of your visit.

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Discover Claremont has launched a new visitor website, a new visitor app, and an overall refreshed brand look as the Southern California college town – 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles – prepares to welcome back visitors to stay, dine and shop.

With its walkable Claremont Village of locally owned boutiques and restaurants, inviting guest rooms, burgeoning craft beer scene, public art, and vivid examples of early and modernist California architecture throughout the city and campuses, Claremont is a hidden destination in “busy L.A.” The city’s five local hotels – Claremont Lodge, DoubleTree by Hilton Claremont, Hotel Casa 425, Knights Inn Claremont, Motel 6 Claremont – will be offering attractive overnight rates this summer to welcome travelers back.

The new Discover Claremont logo and font treatment is a modern nod to the city’s collegiate heritage and the historic brand labels of Claremont’s citrus co-op members of the early 1900s. The logo features bold lettering in a bright, red-orange hue, and will be featured on merchandise for sale in the Claremont Chamber of Commerce Office and Visitor Center at 205 Yale Avenue.

The DiscoverClaremont.com visitor website has been updated with a brand-new look, user-friendly navigation and directories, and expanded information about Claremont’s local attractions. The site also is fully integrated with the city’s new Discover Claremont interactive guide and visitor app, designed by VisitWidget, that helps guests plan their itineraries whether at home or on their mobile devices. Some of the website’s other features include direct links from the city’s hotel pages to their booking sites, an updated calendar of visitor events, social media integration, and curated itineraries for visitors seeking dining, bicycling or family trips and more. 

Both the new Discover Claremont interactive guide and companion mobile app enable visitors to map out everything they don’t want to miss while in town, making it easy to create personal itineraries of lodging, dining, shopping and attractions. Foodies will discover dozens of eateries to choose from in the Village, Claremont Packing House, and along Historic Route 66 (Foothill Blvd.). The Folk Music Center and Museum, James Turrell Skyspace at Pomona College, Margaret Fowler Garden at Scripps College, and California Botanic Garden are among the local music and arts attractions visitors can select. Guests can retrieve their itineraries on their mobile devices using the companion Discover Claremont app for iOS and Android. Search for “Discover Claremont” on Apple App Store and Google Play to download.

About Discover Claremont

One of America’s top college towns, Claremont lies just 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, and boasts a thriving arts scene and a “food neighborhood” of more than 70 restaurants, bakeries, and international cuisines. Explore Claremont’s five museums, two public gardens, seven theaters, dozens of unique, locally owned boutiques, and the nearby San Gabriel Mountains. In addition to The Claremont Colleges, the city is home to Grammy-winner Ben Harper’s Folk Music Center and Museum, the 86-acre California Botanic Garden, and the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology at the Webb Schools.

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One of America’s top college towns, Claremont lies just 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Foodies can walk to nearly 60 international eateries in the Claremont Village and Claremont Packing House, or find additional dining and shopping along Historic Route 66. The James Turrell Skyspace at Pomona College, Folk Music Center, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, and Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theater are among the local music and arts attractions. And guests seeking locally made craft beer and spirits will find Claremont Craft Ales, Ironbark Ciderworks and Citrus Grove Distillers appealing stops.

Claremont visitor events that can be part of a weekend getaway to the “City of Trees” in 2019 include these favorites:

April 13-21 – Wildflower Week at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden: The 86-acre garden hosts a bonanza of color, fragrance and beauty at this week-long celebration of California’s wildflowers featuring wild-collected species, annual displays, and an art exhibition. Admission: $10 adults, $6 seniors, $4 children.

April 27 – A Taste of Claremont: Enjoy Claremont’s finest cuisine, wine, and spirits at this fundraiser as local establishments dish up their very best. Tickets: $75.

May 13 – 11th Annual Claremont Film Festival: A curated presentation of shorts from around the world. Visit ClaremontFilmFest.com for information. Tickets: $15-40.

June 8 – Claremont Village Craft Beer Walk: Claremont Village businesses will serve as craft beer tasting and food sampling sites while entertainment rocks the Village at this 10^th annual event.

July 11-21 – Midsummer Shakespeare Festival: Ophelia’s Jump Productions presents its fifth annual evening festival with “Pericles” and “Taming of the Shrew” performed in repertoire under the stars at the Sontag Greek Theatre at Pomona College. Picnicking with beer and wine is permitted at this outdoor venue. The festival includes pre-show entertainment, arts and crafts by Claremont businesses and organizations on Saturdays, and food and spirits options. Discover Claremont will once again offer a “Room and Bard” package for visitors that includes festival tickets, lawn chairs, and $50 in Claremont Chamber gift cards to secure a picnic meal for a memorable outdoor evening in Claremont. Visit DiscoverClaremont.com/specials for more information on the hotel specials; find festival tickets at OpheliasJump.org.

September 14 – Claremont Village Wine Walk: Claremont Village businesses will be serving wine and offering food tastings at more than 40 sites. Live music performances will be held throughout the Village.

October 26 – Village Venture Arts & Crafts Faire: The region’s largest annual Arts & Crafts Fair. Get your holiday shopping done early as you walk the streets of the Claremont Village lined with over 400 booths selling unique art, original crafts, and apparel. This 38^th annual street fair also features a food court, beer and wine garden, and local entertainment.

Claremont’s five hotel choices range from economy to upscale. Full-service options include the 14-acre DoubleTree by Hilton Claremont on Historic Route 66, and the boutique Hotel Casa 425 in the Claremont Village. Budget-minded tourists will find Claremont Lodge, Knights Inn Claremont, and Motel 6 Claremont along Interstate 10, each featuring outdoor pools. Pets are welcome at Motel 6 and Hotel Casa 425 with advance reservations.

Inviting nighttime entertainment for adult travelers includes dueling pianos at Piano Piano (at DoubleTree), dinner theater at the Candlelight Pavilion, local bands at various restaurants, and popular and arthouse movies at Laemmle’s Claremont 5.

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Claremont hotels will offer a special “Room and Bard” package that includes festival tickets, a picnic-for-two, and other benefits. Visit DiscoverClaremont.com/specials for hotel specials; find festival tickets at OpheliasJump.org or by calling 909-734-6565.

This year’s Midsummer Shakespeare Festival celebrates diversity and inclusion with an adaptation of Shakespeare’s masterpiece, ROMEO & JULIET. First produced as a 45 minute version for LA Fringe Festival, the piece has been expanded to its full length and scope for the festival. Juliet and other members of her family are deaf. The rift that divides the lovers is cultural and linguistic, but their love transcends their families’ prejudices. The production will be double cast with both deaf and hearing actors. The aim is to make this timeless story accessible to all and to create a shared understanding and communal experience for all audience members. AS YOU LIKE IT incorporates the world of wrestling with humor and high energy. Both productions will take place under the stars at the beautiful Sontag Greek Theatre, an outdoor amphitheater renovated in 1997. The productions will be performed in repertory, alternating each night.

ABOUT ROMEO & JULIET
Capulet. Montague. Deaf. Hearing. Our identities tell the world who we are and shape how we interact with others. This modern production of Romeo and Juliet examines what can hap-pen when we choose to see certain groups as “other” or as our enemies, instead of finding commonality and community. Accessible to Deaf and hearing audiences in American Sign Lan-guage (ASL) and Shakespeare’s spoken English.

ABOUT AS YOU LIKE IT
Freedom to create is air to an artist – without it they would perish. But when every poet, musi-cian, comedian, and philosopher is exiled to the wilderness, and a vicious media baron re-places them with bloodsport, is art enough to survive on? Rosalind and her cousin Celia navi-gate the crazed world of wrestling, cross-dressing, and ennui-plagued men to find true love and true expression in this modern production of As You Like It.

In it’s fifth year, Ophelia’s Jump’s Midsummer Shakespeare Festival artfully presents tragedy and comedy under the stars in a beautiful outdoor setting. We invite you to bring your own picnic and don’t forget a small blanket or cushion for added comfort.

Weekend Festival

On Saturdays, arrive early and enjoy local musicians, artists, and crafts before settling in for an evening of timeless Shakespearean classics. Enjoy festival booths, crafts, and vendors starting at 5:30 p.m. Local restaurants and businesses will be offering special in-restaurant dining menus and selected take-out options to enjoy prior to all performances.

• Title: ROMEO & JULIET: AN ASL LOVE STORY and AS YOU LIKE IT
• Directors: Ophelia’s Jump Company Member Alexandra Easton (ROMEO & JULIET) and Founding Associate Artistic Director Caitlin Lopez (AS YOU LIKE IT)
• Location: Sontag Greek Theatre, Pomona College, 300 East Bonita Ave., Claremont
  (located behind Seaver Theatre)
• Opening: Thursday, July 12 (AS YOU LIKE IT) & Friday, July 13 (ROMEO & JULIET)
• Regular Run: July 12-July 22, 2018

 Specific Show Schedule:

                        AS YOU LIKE IT – July 12, 14, 20, 22

                        ROMEO & JULIET – July 13, 15, 19, 21

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays at 8 p.m

Ticket prices: $25 General Admission. Group tickets available, contact info@opheliasjump.org or call 909-734-6565 for info.

About Ophelia’s Jump

Ophelia’s Jump is a non-profit regional theatre company based in Claremont and performing in Claremont and Upland.  Ophelia’s Jump Productions was founded by artists and educators who believe that the purpose of theatre is to create unending conversations, spark imagination, incite conscience, and elicit a visceral response. Ophelia’s Jump aims to invigorate the creativity and intellect of the community by working with local emerging artists. Additional information available at opheliasjump.org

About Pomona College

Located in Claremont, California, Pomona College is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges. Established in 1887, Pomona is known for its quality academic programs, a challenging curriculum, close relationships between students and faculty, a range of student research and leadership opportunities, and a strong commitment to the arts.

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Some Claremont events in 2018 that are “worth the drive” – or a Metrolink ride to the Historic Claremont Depot – include:

March 17 – Claremont Pie Festival: A fun-filled day for pie lovers, featuring bakers and makers demonstrations, pie baking and pie eating contests, artisan vendor booths, classic car show, and more. Organized by I Like Pie Bake Shop.

April 28 – A Taste of Claremont: Enjoy Claremont’s finest cuisine, wine, and spirits at this fundraiser as local establishments dish up their very best.

April 28-July 29 – Butterfly Pavilion at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden: Housed in the 86-acre botanic garden, home to the largest collection of native California flora, visitors can walk among butterflies, caterpillars, and the California native plants they depend on for food and nectar.

May 17 – 10th Annual Claremont Film Festival: This event features the finest in documentaries and shorts from around the world. Visit ClaremontFilmFest.com for information.

May 19 – Claremont Folk Festival, presented by Folk Music Center: Located at the stunning Sontag Greek Theater at Pomona College, festival-goers will enjoy a full day of music, workshops, vendors, food and beverages, and more for the entire family. Visit FolkMusicCenter.com for tickets to this 34^th annual event.

June – Butterflies and Brews at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden: Local musicians provide the soundtrack as guests walk among butterflies on Friday nights in June.

June 2 – Claremont Village Craft Beer Walk: Claremont Village businesses will serve as craft beer tasting and food sampling sites while entertainment rocks the Village at numerous locations.

July 12-22 – Midsummer Shakespeare Festival, presented by Ophelia’s Jump: Under the stars at Pomona College’s outdoor Sontag Greek Theater, Ophelia’s Jump will perform “As You Like It” and “Romeo & Juliet: An ASL Love Story” (performed in English and American Sign Language) in repertory. Claremont hotels will offer a special “Room and Bard” package that includes festival tickets, a picnic-for-two, and other benefits. Visit DiscoverClaremont.com/specials for hotel specials; find festival tickets at OpheliasJump.org .

September 8 – Claremont Village Wine Walk: Claremont Village businesses will be serving wine and offering food tastings. Live music performances will be held throughout the Village.

October 19 to April 2019 – Origami in the Garden: Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden will host this curated exhibition of pedestal-sized and larger sculptures, created by American artists Jennifer and Kevin Box and others, that tells the story of Origami in museum quality metals.

October 27 – Village Venture Arts & Crafts Faire: Autumn’s largest arts & crafts fair in the Inland Empire. Get holiday shopping done early as you walk the streets of the Claremont Village lined with over 400 booths selling unique art, original crafts, and apparel. Stop by the food court for an array of international foods and entertainment, and the beer and wine garden to sample local brews.

Overnight visitors to Claremont can choose from a range of lodging. In the Claremont Village, the boutique Hotel Casa 425 features rooms that open onto a tranquil courtyard; on Historic Route 66, the resort-like DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Claremont offers a large pool, perfect for cooling off during the summer. Both hotels feature uniquely styled rooms and top-notch dining. Budget-minded tourists will find Claremont Lodge, Knights Inn Claremont, and Motel 6 Claremont along Interstate 10, each featuring outdoor pools.

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Claremont hotels offer special “Claremont Is the Place to Stay” packages, inspired by the tourism board’s award-winning short that pays homage to film director Wes Anderson. The package includes a comfortable guest room and $100 in Claremont Chamber gift cards – redeemable towards food and services at local hotels, and meals, shopping and services at more than 140 participating Claremont businesses. Guests can redeem cards at many of the city’s most popular eateries, and for nighttime entertainment including lively dueling pianos at PianoPiano, stand-up at Flappers Comedy Club, and live music at The Press Restaurant.

Guests can book directly through participating Claremont hotels: Hotel Casa 425 (909-624-2272), DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Claremont (909-626-2411), Motel 6 Claremont (909-621-4831), Claremont Lodge (909-626-5654), and Knights Inn Claremont (909-626-2431). The package, underwritten by the Claremont tourism board, is subject to availability at each hotel.

Claremont visitor attractions include Folk Music Center, owned by musician Ben Harper and family; Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden; the walkable Claremont Village; Claremont Packing House entertainment and dining center; Candlelight Pavilion dinner theater; vivid examples of California architecture throughout the city and along Historic Route 66; and public walks, galleries and libraries at the Claremont Colleges.

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Claremont events that are “worth the drive” – or a train ride on Metrolink to the Historic Claremont Depot – include:

• March 18 – Claremont Pie Festival, a day-long celebration of pies sweet and savory, organized by I Like Pie bake shop.
• May 13 – The Butterfly Pavilion at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden opens for the season, through August 6. The 86-acre botanic garden is home to the largest collection of native California flora.
• May 18-21 – Claremont Film Festival, the ninth annual curation of documentaries and shorts from around the world. Scheduled screenings include the documentary “Meru” about climbing Meru Peak, and filmmaker Kerry Candaele showing “Love & Justice: In the Footsteps of Beethoven’s Rebel Opera.” DoubleTree by Hilton Claremont is the host hotel for this event. Visit com for tickets.
• June 4 – Mi Casa Es Su Casa wine, spirits and craft beer tasting event at Hotel Casa 425, benefitting the Claremont Community Foundation and Claremont Education Foundation. Call 909-398-1060 for tickets.
• June 24 – Claremont Village Craft Beer Walk
• July 13-22 – Midsummer Shakespeare Festival, held outdoors at Pomona College’s Sontag Greek Theater, welcomes patrons to bring picnic baskets and Pinot Noirs. Ophelia’s Jump will perform “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Hamlet” in repertory this year. Call 909-734-6565 for tickets.
• September 9 – Claremont Village Wine Walk
• October 28 – Village Venture Arts & Crafts Faire, the largest autumn street fair in the Inland Empire with over 500 arts & crafts booths, takes over the Claremont Village.

Participating Claremont hotels are offering special “Claremont Is the Place to Stay” packages, inspired by the tourism board’s award-winning short that pays homage to film director Wes Anderson. The package includes a comfortable guest room and $100 in Claremont Chamber gift cards – redeemable towards food and services at local hotels, and meals, shopping and services at more than 140 participating Claremont businesses. Guests can redeem cards at many of the city’s most popular eateries, and for nighttime entertainment including lively dueling pianos at PianoPiano, stand-up at Flappers Comedy Club, and live music at The Press Restaurant.

Guests can book directly through participating Claremont hotels: Hotel Casa 425 (909-624-2272), DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Claremont (909-626-2411), Motel 6 Claremont (909-621-4831), Claremont Lodge (909-626-5654), and Knights Inn Claremont (909-626-2431). The package, underwritten by the Claremont tourism board, is subject to availability at each hotel.

Claremont visitor attractions include Folk Music Center, owned by musician Ben Harper and family; Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden; the walkable Claremont Village; Claremont Packing House entertainment center; Candlelight Pavilion dinner theater; vivid examples of California architecture throughout the city and along Historic Route 66; and public walks, galleries and libraries at the Claremont Colleges.

Follow Discover Claremont’s social media channels on Facebook (DiscoverClaremont), Twitter (@visitclaremont), Instagram (visitclaremont), Pinterest (visitclaremont), and YouTube (DiscoverClaremont). A list of Claremont merchants participating in the gift card promotion can be found at http://discoverclaremont.com/giftcards.

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Claremont Restaurant Week, the city’s showcase of its talented chefs and international cuisines, will take place from January 16-29, 2017. The annual event will run for 14 days, including two weekends, to encourage foodies from all over Southern California to relax and unwind in Claremont with an overnight stay at one of the city’s five hotel properties.

This year’s program will include both restaurants and specialty food shoppes, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to sample favorites from all over Claremont’s thriving food scene. Participating chefs and business owners will feature locally sourced #dineClaremont specials during the two-week campaign. Some restaurants will offer prix fixe lunch and dinner menus, while others will showcase customer favorite dishes, inspired seasonal specials, and housemade desserts as their #dineClaremont offerings.

Claremont Restaurant Week, a two-week event, is presented by the Claremont Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Discover Claremont, the Claremont tourism board. The program is part of California Restaurant Month, designated by Visit California. More information on participants and menus is at www.ClaremontRestaurantWeek.com.

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