Enjoy the fall weather and daylight savings time (while it lasts!), and get outside to enjoy a wide variety of events in Davis and the surrounding area.

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On Saturday, Oct. 6, the first annual Davis Jazz Artists Festival, sponsored by the John Natsoulas Center for the Arts, will offer a wealth of sparkling musical gems and a selection of exciting performance painters for families and fans of all ages.

This free festival will take place from noon to 6 p.m. at four downtown Davis venues - the John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 First Street; Bistro 33, 226 F Street; the lawn of Davis Commons, 500 First Street; and the Log Cabin Gallery on the corner of First Street and Richards Boulevard.

All venues will feature artists painting to the music of jazz bands.

The event will provide collaboration between music and visual arts, and serve as an educational event for younger artists and musicians. The festival will benefit the Davis High School Band’s program.

Featured performers include Nancy Ostrovsky, UC Davis Jazz Combo, Davis High School Jazz Band and Combo, Adam Jenkins and The Ganbare Spirits Ensemble, Race!!!, Capital Jazz Project, Latin Jazz Ensemble CSUS, Gerry Pineda Trio, Lambazz, Dream

Door, Jonqui Albin, Emilio Soltero, Steve Vanoni and the Horse Cow Artists.

For more information, go to http://natsoulas.com/html/jazzweb or call (530) 756-3938.

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On Saturday, Oct. 13, education, recreation and fun will abound at Lake Solano Park, 8685 Pleasants Valley Road, in Winters, as the 50th anniversary of the completion of the Monticello Dam is celebrated from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event is free to the public, however, there is a $5 parking fee at the park facilities.

Entertainment for the event includes music by the Putah Creek Crawdads from 10 a.m. to noon, and music by Hardwater from 1 to 3 p.m. Also available are free wagon rides at the park hosted by Buzzards Roost Ranch of Winters.

Various non-profit organizations throughout Napa, Solano and Yolo counties will have displays, information and activities for children at the park. All exhibiting organizations have a tie to the dam - agriculture, education, water conservation, recreation, water resources or environment.

A limited number of 45-minute tours of the Monticello Dam will be given throughout the day, beginning at 10:30 a.m. and leaving every half-hour until 2:30 p.m. Shuttles will leave Lake Solano Park and go up to the dam, where a narrated tour will be given.