The California Wolf Center is preparing to celebrate its expansion at Mariposa Ranch during its annual Wolves and Wine fundraiser on Oct. 17, according to East County Magazine.

The event is scheduled from 2 to 6 p.m. at 4859 Highway 79 in Julian, less than two miles from the center's longtime home. The afternoon will feature local food and beverages, live music, performance art, a keynote address, auctions and raffles.

East County Magazine reported that the event will include barbecue from Mar & Ember and beverages from Blue Door Winery, Julian Beer Co., Nickel Beer Company, Julian Hard Cider and Julian Cider Mill. Performances are scheduled from Elizabeth Bowersox and MadBusker, with live performance art by Jimmy Ovadia.

The fundraiser is tied to the center's Guardians of the Wild capital campaign. The Mariposa Ranch expansion is intended to support larger, naturalistic habitats for resident wolves and broaden the center's education work to include other native California predators.

For East County residents, the event is both a Julian day trip and a window into one of the region's long-running conservation organizations. Source: East County Magazine.