1. OC Fair
88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa; 714-708-1500; ocfair.com
For many locals, a trip to the OC Fair is an essential part of any summer. There’s so much to experience that multiple visits are common, with more than a million people attending annually. OC Fair Chief Business Development Officer Joan Hamill says the event “is a place where memories are made. Families, friends, and (those) you’ve never met come to gather and celebrate together. It attracts a wide variety of people from all different walks of life.”
Besides fun rides, midway games and the Ferris wheel, fair activities include dozens of shows across three venues. The 8,200-capacity Pacific Amphitheatre, which marked its 40th anniversary in July, hosted concerts by Beck, X, Styx, Dwight Yoakam, Ziggy Marley, Cheap Trick, and others this season. Tribute bands appear at The Hangar, while the Action Sports Arena is the place for motocross, rodeos, themed demolition derbies, monster trucks and the annual craft beer roundup. Local and community entertainment also happens on other stages throughout the fairgrounds.
From funnel cakes, huge turkey legs and buttery corn on the cob to Chicken Charlie’s deep-fried delights and California Grill’s vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free options, there are all types of culinary fare. Courtyard wine seminars and tastings are offered near the food contest winners. Shopping opportunities abound. Marveling at the work of OC’s best amateur visual artists and photographers provides plenty of inspiration.
Hamill notes that some chilled water stations help reduce plastic water bottle usage and the Every Day Passport allows patrons to visit anytime.
— George A. Paul
2. Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters
650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach; 800-487-3378; foapom.com
Pageant of the Masters, renowned for its “living pictures” presentation, where stage illusions, original music and storytelling are combined, recently celebrated its 90th anniversary. The festival’s two-month summer season encompasses a professional juried fine art show featuring paintings, sculpture, photography, ceramics, jewelry and more. Interactive activities were also expanded this year.
Live music is performed nightly via weekly series in different genres. There are guided art tours, art workshops and special events (a fashion show, junior artists spotlight). The on-site restaurant Terra Laguna Beach offers California Cuisine.
“No other festival anywhere in the world re-creates famous works of art with real people,” says Sharbie Higuchi, a Festival of Arts director, adding that O.C. artists “undergo a rigorous selection process to participate. This combination sets it apart” to create “an immersive experience where art comes to life. The festival’s niche lies in its ability to seamlessly merge art, theater, and music.” As a nonprofit, the Festival of Arts “supports scholarships and art education programs, nurturing the next generation of artists,” Higuchi says.
3. Orange International Street Fair
Old Towne Orange; orangestreetfair.org
Each Labor Day Weekend, Old Towne Orange becomes a one-stop worldwide travel destination. Originally launched in 1973 to mark the city’s centennial, the multicultural fair attracts 100,000 visitors daily. Streets around Plaza Park are divided into themed countries (Australia, England, France, Germany, Mexico, Italy, Denmark, Japan, Switzerland, Greece, and Ireland, among others), with food booths to match. Local restaurants provide menu samples and alcohol offerings are abundant (sales are curtailed by a certain point in the evening).
Entertainment stages feature ethnic groups, original musicians, and cover bands. There are children’s games and local vendor booths serving up items such as Churros, gyros, beef sticks, beignets, kettle corn and sausages. Commercial and community booths support various causes and businesses, while arts and crafts booths sell handmade items like home décor, jewelry, clothes and more.
The event is run by Orange International Street Fair Inc., a nonprofit founded in 1985. Admission is free.
