Free Fall Fest Saturday at San Timoteo schoolhouse near Beaumont

A festival heralding the start of fall and celebrating renovations of a historic schoolhouse near Beaumont will be held Saturday, featuring exhibits, candy, music and children’s activities.

The San Gorgonio Pass Historical Society, in partnership with the Riverside County Parks & Open-Space District, will host the “Fall Fest” at the renovated San Timoteo Canyon Schoolhouse, 31985 San Timoteo Canyon Road, in the unincorporated area between Beaumont and Redlands.

The fest will include tours of the building, which was originally constructed in 1883 and recently underwent a series of upgrades, according to organizers.

Visitors will have an opportunity to take a look around the edifice, which is managed by the Parks & Open Space District and typically closed to the general public.

“Activities include … an exploration of Native American culture and traditions by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians Cultural Heritage Department, and local history exhibits by the Malki Museum, Two Canyons Conservancy, and Lorene Sisquoc and the Mother Earth Clan,” according to a San Gorgonio Pass Historical Society statement.

There will be a flag-raising ceremony by the Banning High School and Nicolet School California Cadet Corps color guard, as well as a Native American blessing by Elder Ernest Silva, who is president of the Dorothy Ramon Learning Center and a Morongo Band of Mission Indians tribal historian.

Southern California’s “singing cowboy,” Skeeter Mann, will be on hand, providing musical entertainment.

Organizers said snow cones, cotton candy and other treats will be served, and arts and crafts will be available for kids.