Brea Fest, Pacific Wine & Food Classic, Festival Ballet Theatre’s Gala and more…. Here are the top Orange County weekend events for August 15-18.
Edited by Whitney Lauren Han.
EVENTS
Yacht Rock Cocktail Cruise
Aug. 15. Rock out on the water, sip on a cocktail as you enjoy breathtaking harbor views at sunset and dance the evening away on a yacht with Hornblower cruises. Casual to dressy attire. Light jacket or wrap recommended. Boards at 6 p.m., cruise 6:30-8 p.m. $30, free for ages 3 and under; $10 parking per car (cash only). 2431 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.650.2412. hornblower.com
Yappy Hour
Aug. 15. Canines and their companions are invited to a cocktail party at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Pups can lap up drinks such as bacon-, chicken-, or beef-infused water—vegan options also available—and house-made dog biscuits; humans can relax with a glass of Mutt Lynch Unleashed Chardonnay, Merlot Over and Play Dead, Chateau d’Og Cabernet Sauvignon or a Tito’s Vodka cocktail. Barbecue items are also available for purchase. 5-8 p.m. Event entry is complimentary. One Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point, 949.240.2000. ritzcarlton.com
Brea Fest
Aug. 16. Celebrate Brea’s art programs while sampling fare from more than 35 restaurants and distributors at the annual event. Enjoy live music, theater, exhibits, live artist demonstrations and free activities for kids. 6:30-10 p.m. Free admission; food and beverage sold separately. Brea Civic & Cultural Center,
1 Civic Center Circle
, 714.990.7771. brea.ca.us
FOOD + DRINK
Affogato a la Rosé
Now Available. Davio Northern Italian Steakhouse’s newest dessert Affogato a la Rosé, perfect for those hot summer days and nights! A take on the Frozé, Davio’s version is made with two scoops of housemade peach sorbet and fresh raspberries with rosé prosecco poured tableside. 18420 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, 949.477.4810. davios.com
New Executive Chef and New Menu
Now Available. Heirloom Farmhouse Kitchen welcomes new executive chef Leonel De Leon and a new menu at the Marriott Irvine Spectrum’s fine-dining room. Menu highlights include roasted summer squash, herb-marinated grilled artichoke, cauliflower steak, Diver scallop, and Heirloom tomato and burrata. Valet parking only. Marriott Irvine Spectrum, 7905 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, 949.759.0200. heirloomfarmhousekitchen.com
Veuve Clicquot Champagne Dinner
Aug. 15. Oak Grill hosts what promises to be an unforgettable evening pairing five courses with as many bottlings of Veuve Clicquot Champagne: Yellow Label, Rosé, Demi Sec, Rich and La Grande Dame. A Veuve Clicquot representative will walk guests through each taste. Veuve Clicquot by the glass will also be featured at Aqua Lounge Aug. 16-18. Cocktail hour 6 p.m., dinner 7 p.m. $155. Fashion Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.760.4920. fashionislandhotel.com
Burger n Beer Festival
Aug. 16. Cheers to an evening filled with beer—unlimited samples of more than 30 local craft brews—and In-N-Out burgers. The Burger Boys take the stage with covers of hits from the 1990s and 2000s; DJ Cheeseburger Eddey also entertains. Other highlights include the spiked fresh-lemonade stand and New Heights Brewing Co.’s Animal Style IPA. Limited space available. 7-10 p.m. $39 pre-sale. 307 N. Spurgeon St., Santa Ana. Tickets
Pacific Wine & Food Classic
Aug. 17-18. The annual festival features sampling from scores of restaurants as well as chefs, winemakers, artisans and live entertainment. See website for list of participating vendors and ticket prices. VIP entry 1 p.m., GA 2-5 p.m. Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, pacificwineandfood.com
ARTS + CULTURE
Festival Ballet Theatre’s Gala of the Stars
Aug. 16. Ballet luminaries from internationally acclaimed companies and their inspired young protégés—stars and futures stars of dance—share the stage at the 12th annual Gala of the Stars honoring Festival Ballet Theatre’s 30th anniversary. 7 p.m. $55+. 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787. festivalballet.org
Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert
Aug. 17. Calling all Star Wars fans! The Pacific Symphony performs John Williams’ legendary score live while the iconic 1977 film is projected on a giant high-definition screen at the O.C. Fair’s Pacific Amphitheatre. 8 p.m. $434 GA, $10 parking. 100 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.1500. pacamp.com
Festival Runway Fashion Show
Aug. 18. Just like Project Runway! See who’s in and who’s out as Festival of the Arts artists compete to create the most inspired couture using reclaimed, reused or recycled materials. A panel of fashion experts including Diane Challis Davy, Pageant of the Masters director; costume designer Alex Jaeger; and Radar Online entertainment editor Alexis Tereszcuk select the winners. Noon-3 p.m. Free with $15 Festival of Arts admission, $25 for reserved section and admission. 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 800.487.3378. foapom.com
Photos: Yacht Rock courtesy Hornblower Cruises & Events. Affogato a la Rosé courtesy Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse. New Executive Chef courtesy J Public Relations. Veuve Clicquot courtesy Fashion Island Hotel. Burger n Beer, Ashley Green/Unsplash. Pacific Wine & Food courtesy the ACE Agency. Festival Ballet Theatre, Skye Schmidt. Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert, © 2019 & TM Lucasfilm LTD. All Rights Reserved © Disney. Festival Runway courtesy Festival of Arts.
