Orange County Fair
Type: County Fair
Location: OC Fair & Event Center
Month: July-August
Description: A massive county fair with the theme “Find Your Happy” featuring acres of mouthwatering food, heart-pounding carnival rides, farm animals, and spectacular competitions for all ages.
Official Website: ocfair.com
626 Night Market
Type: Food/Cultural
Location: OC Fair & Event Center
Month: May-June
Description: Inspired by the famous open-air nighttime bazaars of Asia, this festival features hundreds of food vendors, merchandise, crafts, artists, games, and live concerts in a vibrant atmosphere. The market aims to unite and empower the community by showcasing local talent.
Official Website: 626nightmarket.com
Pacific Coast Sportfishing Show
Type: Outdoor/Sports
Location: OC Fair & Event Center
Month: March
Description: The West Coast’s premier fishing and outdoors show featuring seven halls and 217,000 sq feet of fishing tackle, boats, travel destinations, and outdoor products.
Official Website: sportfishingfestival.com
Tet Festival
Type: Cultural
Location: OC Fair & Event Center
Month: February
Description: A vibrant celebration of Vietnamese Lunar New Year attracting over 60,000 guests annually. Visitors are immersed in traditional foods, live entertainment, cultural displays, festive games, and a spectacular firecrackers show celebrating the beginning of spring.
Official Website: tetfestival.org
Scarecrow Festival
Type: Community
Location: Lions Park Event Lawn
Month: October
Description: A free family-friendly community event featuring scarecrow displays, activities, and entertainment.
Official Website: costamesaca.gov
Orange County Marketplace
Type: Market/Shopping
Location: OC Fair & Event Center
Month: Year-round (Weekends)
Description: A regular weekend marketplace where visitors can shop from various vendors for goods, crafts, and local products in a lively atmosphere.
Festival of Children
Type: Family/Charity
Location: South Coast Plaza
Month: September
Description: A free family event celebrating National Child Awareness Month with activities, celebrity appearances, live performances, and showcases of over 70 youth-serving organizations.
Official Website: festivalofchildren.org
Grapes & Grains
Type: Food/Wine/Beer
Location: City National Grove of Anaheim
Month: May
Description: A festival celebrating wines, beers, and spirits with tastings, food pairings, and entertainment.
Golden Pineapple Fragrance Festival
Type: Specialty
Location: Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa
Month: June
Description: A unique festival dedicated to fragrances and scents with exhibits, demonstrations, and sensory experiences.
Classic VW & Porsche Car Show and Pinball Rally
Type: Automotive/Gaming
Location: Captain’s Arcade Showroom
Month: May
Description: A distinctive event combining classic Volkswagen and Porsche vehicles with pinball gaming, appealing to car enthusiasts and arcade fans alike.
Concerts in the Park
Type: Music
Location: Fairview Park
Month: July-August
Description: A summer concert series featuring live music performances in an outdoor park setting, offering free entertainment for the community.
Cruisin’ For A Cure
Type: Car Show/Charity
Location: OC Fair & Event Center
Month: September
Description: A charity car show event raising awareness and funds for health causes, featuring classic and custom vehicles.
Great Labor Day Cruise
Type: Car Show
Location: OC Fair & Event Center
Month: September
Description: A Labor Day weekend car show showcasing various automobiles from vintage classics to modern showpieces.
Lunar New Year Celebration
Type: Cultural
Location: South Coast Plaza
Month: January-February
Description: A festive celebration of the Lunar New Year with cultural performances, traditional displays, and family activities.
Pacific Playwrights Festival
Type: Arts/Theater
Location: South Coast Repertory
Month: April
Description: A prestigious festival showcasing new plays and theatrical works from emerging and established playwrights, featuring readings and full productions.
Spring Garden Show
Type: Home & Garden
Location: South Coast Plaza
Month: April
Description: An exhibition featuring garden displays, plants, landscaping ideas, and home garden products with expert demonstrations and advice.
Costa Mesa Community Run
Type: Sports/Community
Location: Various locations in Costa Mesa
Month: April
Description: A community running event promoting fitness and community spirit with various distance options for participants of all ages and abilities.
Centennial Farm Discovery Days
Type: Educational/Agricultural
Location: OC Fair & Event Center
Month: April-June
Description: Educational farm tours with farmers stationed to provide information and demonstrations, offering opportunities for children to pet chicks and plant radish seeds.
Official Website: ocfair.com
Newport Beach Wine & Spirits Festival
Type: Food/Wine
Location: Balboa Bay Resort
Month: May
Description: A premier tasting event featuring a variety of wines, spirits, and gourmet food offerings in an elegant setting.
SHAM EL NESSIM
Type: Cultural
Location: William R Mason Regional Park
Month: May
Description: A traditional Egyptian spring festival celebrating the arrival of spring with cultural activities, food, music, and family entertainment.