Orange County

Events

About Orange County Events

It's not only a delight to attendees but a testament to the varied interests and priorities of Orange County that its array of community events is so wide-ranging and entertaining. Some of the festivals share generously the area's coastal locale, including the Tall Ships Festival, the Annual Sandcastle Contest, and the Festival of Whales. Others remember the county's heritage, including Huntington Beach's Old World Village Oktoberfest and the Orange County Fair, which pays tribute to agricultural traditions and throws in a hefty measure of concerts and carnival rides to boot. Doheny Blues Festival delivers awesome live music by the water – a blissful combination – and Garden Grove's Strawberry Festival makes a fun-filled, delicious occasion of the advent of spring's favorite fruits. Certainly one of the most long-lived, and unusual, events is Laguna Beach's Pageant of the Masters, in which well-known works of art are brought to life with human stand-ins and elaborate special effects. Tickets are highly sought-after, so reserve them well in advance. And if you're around during the holiday season, make sure to catch the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. The spectacular event is a bright, merry display of light-strung, ornament-hung vessels that cruise local waters in celebration of the season. -- Kelly Sigmon, Senior Editor