2013 Events
Mission Life Days
Traditional Mission Life
March 16, April 20 & September 21
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Join the costumed docents and staff for an opportunity to observe and participate in the craft activities that supplied the needs of the mission residents. Demonstrated crafts may include: tortilla making, candle making, soap making, spinning and weaving, carpentry, pottery, and blacksmithing.
Mission Life Sheep Shearing Day
April 20
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Join us for the annual shearing of the Mission Sheep, and learn about how wool was processed and used at the Mission. (See the Sheep Shearing photo gallery.)
Childrens Mission Life
July 20
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
In addition to activities mentioned above, Children's Mission Life will emphasize children's life at the mission, kid friendly activities and dress up.
Village Days
August 17 & November 2
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The Tule Village comes to life as visitors experience the blending of traditional Chumash and Colonial Spanish life ways. Demonstrators help visitors learn a variety of skills such as grinding acorns, basket weaving, building a tule house, making soapstone beads or tule dolls, and playing Chumash games.
Purisima's People Day
March 2, May 4, June 8, July 6, & September 7
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Step back in time to 1822. Costumed re-enactors portray the people who call La Purisima Mission home. Visitors may meet Padre Payeras, the Mayordomo, blacksmith, and the women and children completing their daily chores. Feel free to visit with Purisima's People, but remember - its 1822!
Civilian Conservation Corps Day
April 6
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Thanks to the Civilian Conservation Corps of 1934 to 1941 La Purisima stands as the most restored mission in all of California! Join in the celebration of the CCC’s achievement as costumed docents and staff offer a chance to observe and take part in the reconstruction activities that put the mission back together again. Demonstrations of brick making, carpentry, tile making, and blacksmithing, as well as music and cars from the era, will take you back in time to 1934!
El Pastor
May 25
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Explore La Purisima Mission as costumed docents and staff provide craft demonstrations and conversation.
Mountain Men
March 22 & 23; August 16 & 17
10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Buckskin clad members of the American Mountain Men share mountain men history and skills. Cooking, hide preparation and tanning, leather working, rope making, and blacksmithing are among the skills that visitors may experience. Equipment will be on display and tall tales will surround the campfire.
Candlelight Tours
Friday, October 11 & Saturday, October 12
On an escorted walking tour by candlelight, guests travel back in time to the 1820s, moving from scene to scene enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of the evening at La Purisima Mission. The scenes are sometimes poignant, sometimes humorous and always entertaining. This walking tour includes a Mission dinner.
The tickets are $45 per person and are non-refundable. Participation is limited to ages 6 years and older. Tickets are advance purchase only and are for a specific date and tour time. Space on each tour is limited to enhance the experience. The walking tour is 1.5 hours over uneven ground. The show will go on rain or moonshine.
Tickets will go on sale in early July online [Eventbrite] and via mail [pdf].
Founding Day Remembrance 2013
Founding Day recognizes the day La Purisima Mission was established on December 8, 1787 on the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Events for this observation are:
Founding Day Mass
Sunday, December 8, 2013 - 12:00 p.m.
Held in the historic main church of La Purisima Mission.
Founding Day Concert
Sunday, December 8, 2013 - 7:00 p.m.
Luminaries lead the way to a magical musical evening by the glow of candlelight in the historic main church of the mission. Details of the event and advance ticketing instructions will be available in the fall.
