Month: January 2020

Fun Things To Do This First February Weekend in Orange County

Happy February, Orange County! It may be a short month, but OC is still packed with fun adventures of all kinds for your weekend…

All Weekend:

  • The Surf City Marathon and Expo is this weekend in Huntington Beach. The Active Lifestyle Expo runs Friday (1-7pm) and Saturday (10am-4pm) and the marathon and half-marathons are Sunday. Expo is free to attend. http://ocevent.co/1OmOgym 

Saturday:

  • February is Black History Month! Celebrate in Anaheim on Saturday 2/1 from 10am-4pm at the Black History Parade and Cultural Faire. Free to attend. https://bit.ly/3140H0x 
  • The 17th annual San Juan Capistrano Car Show is Saturday 2/1 from 7:30am-2pm at the Community Center and Sports Park. Over 400 hot rods, muscle cars & more on display. Tickets required. https://bit.ly/37Dx5cT 
  • Saturday 2/1 is a special Wilderness Access Day for the strictly protected Limestone Canyon area. Self-guided hikes (ranging from easy to strenuous) will be open to the public only on Saturday from 8am to 2pm. Pre-registration optional. https://bit.ly/3aUWi4z 
  • Celebrate World Wetlands day and give back to the beauty of nature by participating in a trash cleanup event in the Newport Back Bay on Saturday 2/1 from 1-3:30pm. Come prepared to get muddy! Tools provided, free to attend. https://bit.ly/2GBEkpA  
  • The Downtown Santa Ana Art Walk is Saturday 2/1 from 6pm-10pm. Food, shopping, performances & more. Now with a free trolley that goes from end to end of the art walk! FREE to attend. http://ocevent.co/1Y76hbQ   

Sunday:

  • Ever thought of trying birdwatching? On Sunday 2/2, the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve has opened its monthly bird survey to the public from 9am-12 noon. No experience necessary, registration suggested. https://bit.ly/2tawW1x 
  • Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine is celebrating Groundhog Day on Sunday 2/2 11am-3pm. Bring the kiddos to experience interactive play and learning about why we celebrate this goofy holiday. Museum admission required. https://bit.ly/3aMDELY 
  • The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana is hosting its Lunar New Year celebration on Sunday 2/2 from 11am to 3:30pm. Experience music and art from China, Vietnam, and Korea along with arts and crafts activities. Museum admission required, but free for Santa Ana residents. https://bit.ly/3aVliso 
  • Did you know there are free concerts every Sunday at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda? The Sunday 2/2 concert features ragtime piano music played by Eric Marchese and friends. Doors open at 1:30, concert begins at 2pm. https://bit.ly/314ulCN 

Fun Things To Do in Orange County This Weekend, Jan 24-26

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Orange County is celebrating the Year of the Rat, with many different festivals to choose from. With so many options, you could attend a different festival every day. And don’t forget, free museum day is this weekend too!

 

All Weekend:

  • Both Saturday and Sunday have several different Farmers Markets to choose from all over OC! Check out a full list of Orange County weekend Farmers Markets. https://ocevents.co/farmersmarkets/
  • Celebrate Vietnamese culture with food, rides, lion dancers, and more while you welcome in the Year of the Rat at the OC Tet Festival, Friday through Sunday at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley. FREE to attend. https://bit.ly/2vdp4g9 
  • Keep the celebration of culture and tradition going with the UVSA Tet Festival at the Orange County Fairgrounds Friday through Sunday–the largest Vietnamese Lunar New Year festival in the nation! Tickets required. https://bit.ly/2tPe0FR  

 

Saturday:

  • The Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine is hosting a Lunar New Year event on Saturday 1/25. Experience Chinese history and culture through a variety of hands-on, kid-friendly activities. Museum admission required. https://bit.ly/2NRQq28 
  • The Annual SoCal Museum Free-for-All Day is Saturday 1/25. Over 30 museums in SoCal will be opening their doors for free, including the Bowers Museum and the Orange County Modern Art museum here in OC. View the full list of participating museums: http://ocevent.co/1ZOT8l9
  • The 2020 Westminster Tet Parade is Saturday 1/25. The parade starts at 8 am on Bolsa Ave., but we recommend arriving early to scope out a good spot. Free to attend. https://bit.ly/2ROaNhT 
  • The District in Tustin will host a Lunar New Year celebration from 12-2pm Saturday, featuring a lion dance performance, Taiko drummers, stilt walkers, and kids’ crafts. Free to attend. https://bit.ly/2tPeV9h 
  • Lion Dance performers will take the stage at Diamond Jamboree Shopping Center in the main rotunda area from 7-8pm. Free to attend. https://bit.ly/2NTW4Rc 
  • Snow? In Orange County?! Visit SnowFest 2020 at Pittsford Park in Lake Forest and hit the slopes on Saturday 1/25. Make sure to pre-register; small fee required. https://bit.ly/37tuW3q 

 

Sunday:

  • CalComicCon 2020 is Sunday, 1/26 at the Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. The event features special guest comic artists and exhibitors from California and beyond! Tickets required. https://bit.ly/2NW0gQx  

Weekend Farmers Markets in Orange County

A trip to the Farmers Markets is a great low-key adventure for any weekend in Orange County. Here is a list of all of the weekend Farmers Markets. With 9 events on Saturdays and 5 on Sundays, pick from farm fresh produce, to handmade baked goods, to locally crafted treats, and so much more. The only tough choice will be which one to visit!

Saturday: 

Buena Park

The downtown Buena Park Certified Farmers Market is on Saturdays from 9am-2pm in the Sears parking lot at the corners of LaPalma Ave & Stanton Ave. https://bit.ly/2TxjfUZ 

Corona Del Mar

The Corona Del Mar Certified Farmers Market is Saturdays from 9am-1pm at the intersection of Marguerite & PCH. http://bit.ly/2Dp7p7Z

Costa Mesa

The Costa Mesa Certified Farmers Market is Saturdays from 9am-2pm at SOCO on Hyland Ave. http://bit.ly/2DmZhWe

Cypress

The Cypress Certified Farmers Market is Saturdays from 9am-2pm in the parking lot of Cottonwood Church on Katella Ave in Los Alamitos. https://bit.ly/2Tznm34 

Dana Point 

The Dana Point Certified Farmers Market is Saturdays from 9am-1pm at La Plaza Park, at the intersection of PCH & Golden Lantern. http://bit.ly/2rgH9Yg

Irvine

The Irvine Certified Farmers Market is Saturdays from 8am-12pm in the parking lot of Mariners Church, at the corner of Bonita Canyon and Turtle Ridge Road. https://bit.ly/2Ru4lMu 

Laguna Beach

The Laguna Beach Certified Farmers Market is Saturdays from 8am-12pm in the parking lot at the corner of Forest Ave and Laguna Canyon Road. https://bit.ly/2u5Tssq 

Orange

The Orange Home Grown Certified Farmers Market is Saturdays from 9am-1pm in the parking lot of Chapman University’s Becket Building on Palm Avenue. https://bit.ly/363jKc6 

Yorba Linda 

The Yorba Linda Certified Old Town Farmers Market is Saturdays from 9am-1pm on Main Street next to the winery. http://bit.ly/2Dp7p7Z

 

Sunday:

Garden Grove 

The Historic Main Street Garden Grove Certified Farmers Market is Sundays from 9am-2pm on Historic Main Street between Garden Grove & Acacia Pkwy. https://bit.ly/38hP9Jn 

Irvine

A second Irvine Certified Farmers Market is held Sundays from 10am-2pm at the Orange County Great Park. http://bit.ly/2Bf5gqe

Laguna Niguel

The Laguna Niguel Certified Farmers Market is Sundays from 8am-12pm at the Plaza de la Paz shopping center, at the intersection of La Paz and Pacific Park. https://bit.ly/2R6gKaR 

Newport Beach

The Newport Beach Certified Farmers Market is Sundays from 9am-1pm on the Newport Beach Pier. http://bit.ly/2mQwEFZ

San Clemente 

The San Clemente Certified Farmers Market is Sundays from 9am-1pm at the intersection of South Calle Seville and Avenida Del Mar. http://bit.ly/2DsSRE1

Can’t wait ‘til the weekend? There are even several Farmers Markets throughout the week in OC. https://bit.ly/2R1wYBK