Jon Meacham Comes to Redlands, Ferdinand Turns 90, and Dierks Bentley Plays Next Door

A quick note before anything else.

You did not get RedlandsNow last week. The issue was written and ready; a technical problem held it up on our end, and it sat there.

That one is on us.

Most of what was in it has already happened, and we are not going to send you a guide to a weekend that is over. One piece was too good to lose, though, and it is still hanging on a wall on State Street.

A mural downtown near Redlands Jewelers has a pair of wings on it. You have probably stood in front of it for a photo.

Most people never learn the name of the woman who painted it, or that she has put close to a hundred murals on walls all over this town, starting at age 19 inside The Frugal Frigate. Her name is Christine Curry. The mural is called Hannah's Wings, and her oil paintings are up at the Redlands Art Association, 215 E. State St., through October 2, Monday through Saturday from 11 to 5. Walking in is free.

There is plenty more this week.

A Pulitzer Prize winner is coming to town at the end of the month and every seat is already gone.

Ferdinand turns 90 on Sunday, a free Day for Kids lands at Texonia Park on Saturday, and a fourth-generation family business just handed a local nonprofit the keys to a new car.

Let's get into what's happening around town.

🍊 Grove Street Headlines

🏛️ HISTORY & HERITAGE

Jon Meacham Is Coming to Redlands. The Real Treasure Is Already Here.

On Tuesday, September 29, presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Jon Meacham takes the stage at the University of Redlands' Orton Center. He is opening Liberty's Legacy, the Lincoln Memorial Shrine's two-day celebration of 250 years since the Declaration of Independence. In-person seating is already at capacity. The Shrine is offering overflow viewing by live stream in the Casa Loma Room, and registration for that closes September 22.

Here is the part you don't need a reservation for. The Shrine is running two companion exhibits through January 2027. Becoming the United States, from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, walks from colonial America through Reconstruction, and it includes the War Department's reward poster for John Wilkes Booth from April 1865. Alongside it, That All Men Are Created Equal draws on the Shrine's Slavery in America Collection to tell the harder part of the story, and the necessary one.

Think about that for a second. A museum devoted to Abraham Lincoln sits right behind Smiley Library at 125 W. Vine St., open Tuesday through Sunday from 1 to 5 PM. Pulitzer winners fly in to talk about the ideas inside those walls. We can walk over after lunch.

Source: Lincoln Memorial Shrine, Liberty's Legacy

🎓 COMMUNITY

A Fourth-Generation Family Business Just Handed Over the Keys

Family Service Association of Redlands has been helping local families since 1898. In 2025 alone it served 10,034 people across 3,072 families. That kind of work covers a lot of ground, and this week it got a new set of wheels to cover it with.

Bill and Lori Hatfield of Hatfield Buick GMC funded a brand new 2026 Buick Envista for the nonprofit. Staff will use it for housing inspections, meetings with community partners, and client services across the East and Central Valley. It isn't the first time, either. The Hatfields donated a truck to Family Service back in 2015, and Lori served as board president from 2021 to 2023.

“Their generosity will help us better serve families and respond more effectively to the needs of those who rely on our services every day,” said Executive Director Kyra Stewart. Hatfield has been in business since 1913 and is now in its fourth generation. That's what a hometown business looks like. Four generations in, still showing up.

Source: Community Forward Redlands

🌳 Around the Groves

Spaghetti for a good cause tonight. Redlands Troop 33 Scouts will serve dinner and bus tables at Martha Green's Eating Room for the second annual Scouting for Spaghetti, Thursday at 5 and 7 PM. $25 gets you spaghetti with Mama Kayte's Special Sauce, salad, toast, and a drink. Reservations required at iescouts.org/grayarrow.

Purses for the orchestra kids. The Redlands Symphony Purse Party returns Thursday, September 24 at 5 PM at the Museum of Redlands' Dangermond Events Pavilion. $60 covers food, drinks, and a shot at more than 100 designer bags, with proceeds supporting OrKIDstra's free concerts for elementary students.

Family Day at Smiley. A.K. Smiley Public Library's 23rd Annual Family Day is Saturday, September 26, from 10 AM to 1 PM, with the theme “Celebrate Redlands.” Local author Mrs. Stovall is featured.

Save the date: Oktoberfest. The Redlands Optimist Club's 15th Annual Oktoberfest takes over Sylvan Park October 3 and 4. General admission is $10 plus fees, a two-day pass is $15 plus fees, anyone under 21 gets in free, and all proceeds go back to local youth programs. Tickets here.

🍊 Live Music Events

THURSDAY 9/17

Mountain Grove — Chris Baylon (Live & Loud Solo Sessions)

📍 27511 San Bernardino Ave, Redlands, CA | 🕐 7–9 PM

A free acoustic set on the lawn, and the Live & Loud series only runs through the end of September.

The Three Stags Irish Pub — Live Music, check @thethreestags.irishpub for this week's performer

📍 328 Orange St, Redlands, CA | 🕐 8 PM

A proper pint and a live set on Orange Street is a fine way to start the weekend a day early.

FRIDAY 9/18

Hangar 24 Craft Brewery — Heather in Bluem, then Boots on the Runway line dancing

📍 1710 Sessums Dr, Redlands, CA | 🕐 Dinner set 5–8 PM, line dancing 8:30 PM

Eat to live music at the airport taproom, then stick around and learn a few steps.

Citrus Plaza — Andy Alvarez (Live & Loud Solo Sessions)

📍 27510 W Lugonia Ave, Redlands, CA | 🕐 7–9 PM

Grab dinner at the food court and let somebody else pick the soundtrack.

Septembers Taproom & Eatery — Live Music, check @septemberstaproom for this week's performer

📍 515 Orange St, Ste B, Redlands, CA | 🕐 8:30 PM

Downtown Friday night with a full tap list and a band in the corner.

The Three Stags Irish Pub — Live Music, check @thethreestags.irishpub for this week's performer

📍 328 Orange St, Redlands, CA | 🕐 8 PM

The Friday crowd fills in early, so grab your table before the music starts.

SATURDAY 9/19

Hangar 24 Craft Brewery — Coleslaw, then Boots on the Runway line dancing

📍 1710 Sessums Dr, Redlands, CA | 🕐 Dinner set 5–8 PM, line dancing 8:30 PM

Same winning format as Friday, with a different band on the dinner set.

Ritual Brewing Co. — Live Music, check @ritualbrewingco for this week's performer

📍 1315 Research Dr, Redlands, CA | 🕐 Typically 7–9 PM

Saturday music among the old bowling-lane tables is about as Redlands as a brewery gets.

The Three Stags Irish Pub — Live Music, check @thethreestags.irishpub for this week's performer

📍 328 Orange St, Redlands, CA | 🕐 8 PM

Saturday night on Orange Street, done right.

SUNDAY 9/20

The Three Stags Irish Pub — Live Music, check @thethreestags.irishpub for this week's performer

📍 328 Orange St, Redlands, CA | 🕐 4 PM

An afternoon set is the easy way to stretch the weekend out a little longer.

🎯 Your Redlands Weekend

🚗 Worth the Drive

Big nights just beyond the groves. These are not in Redlands, but they are close enough to matter.

Yaamava' Theater — Ralph Barbosa

📍 Yaamava' Resort & Casino, 777 San Manuel Blvd, Highland, CA | 🕐 Friday 9/18 and Saturday 9/19, 8 PM

Two nights of stand-up just up the road in Highland. 21 and over, tickets through AXS.

Yaamava' Theater — Dierks Bentley

📍 Yaamava' Resort & Casino, 777 San Manuel Blvd, Highland, CA | 🕐 Sunday 9/20, 8 PM

A country headliner on a Sunday night, a short drive from home. 21 and over, tickets through AXS.

🚗 Worth the Drive

Big nights just beyond the groves. These are not in Redlands, but they are close enough to matter.

Yaamava' Theater — Ralph Barbosa

📍 Yaamava' Resort & Casino, 777 San Manuel Blvd, Highland, CA | 🕐 Friday 9/18 and Saturday 9/19, 8 PM

Two nights of stand-up just up the road in Highland. 21 and over, tickets through AXS.

Yaamava' Theater — Dierks Bentley

📍 Yaamava' Resort & Casino, 777 San Manuel Blvd, Highland, CA | 🕐 Sunday 9/20, 8 PM

A country headliner on a Sunday night, a short drive from home. 21 and over, tickets through AXS.

🍊 Live Music Events

Mountain Grove Lawn — Ashley Felton (Live & Loud Solo Session)

📍 27511 San Bernardino Ave, Redlands, CA | 🕐 7:00-9:00 PM
Dinner from the center, a spot on the grass. Free.

The Three Stags Irish Pub — Live Music, check @thethreestags.irishpub

📍 328 Orange St, Redlands, CA | 🕐 8:00 PM
Downtown's most dependable Thursday.

Hangar 24 Craft Brewery — Crossroad Kings, then Boots on the Runway line dancing

📍 1710 Sessums Dr, Redlands, CA | 🕐 Dinner set 5:00-8:00 PM | Line dancing 8:30-11:30 PM
Blues-rock with your burger, then the boots come out.

Septembers Taproom & Eatery — Live Music, check Septembers on Instagram for this week's performer

📍 515 Orange St, Ste B, Redlands, CA | 🕐 8:30 PM
Loud, local, good taps.

The Three Stags Irish Pub — Live Music, check @thethreestags.irishpub

📍 328 Orange St, Redlands, CA | 🕐 8:00 PM

Hangar 24 Craft Brewery — Jaybird & Adair, then Boots on the Runway line dancing

📍 1710 Sessums Dr, Redlands, CA | 🕐 Dinner set 5:00-8:00 PM | Line dancing 8:30-11:30 PM
Acoustic duo early, dance floor late.

Ritual Brewing Co. — Live Music, check Instagram for this week's performer

📍 1315 Research Dr, Redlands, CA | 🕐 7:00-9:00 PM

The Three Stags Irish Pub — Live Music, check @thethreestags.irishpub

📍 328 Orange St, Redlands, CA | 🕐 8:00 PM

The Three Stags Irish Pub — Live Music, check @thethreestags.irishpub

📍 328 Orange St, Redlands, CA | 🕐 4:00 PM
Afternoon session, and with Monday off nobody leaves early.

Mountain Grove Lawn — Woody and the Harrelsons (Labor Day Music)

📍 27511 San Bernardino Ave, Redlands, CA | 🕐 5:00-7:00 PM
The summer send-off. Details below.

Gratitude & Community

Thank you for reading, for showing up, and for passing this along to the neighbors who need a good weekend plan.

If you do one thing this week, take a kid to the Contemporary Club Sunday afternoon for Ferdinand's 90th birthday.

Register first at akspl.org, and if you snap a great photo there, reply to this email and send it my way.

See you around town,
— Carlos Samaniego, EA
 RedlandsNow.com