From The Color Vibe 5K to Jurassic Park with Pacific Symphony, check out the top Orange County weekend events for August 17-20.
Edited by Whitney Lauren Han
EVENTS
Ignite The Night
Aug. 17. Partygoers are invited to a glow-in-the-dark dance party on the poolside Bistro Deck, featuring upbeat electro and house music and neon decorations. Following the dance party, participants will enjoy an after-glow social hour featuring light appetizers; a cash bar will also be available. 21+. 8 p.m. $10. Life Time Athletic Laguna Niguel, 25600 Rancho Niguel Rd., 949.238.2719. lifetimefitness.com
2017 P&G Gymnastics Championships
Aug. 17-19. Watch as the country’s best gymnasts compete in the four-day competition at Honda Center. The P&G Championships determines the men’s and women’s U.S. champions and the U.S. National Team for the junior and senior elite levels. See website for schedule. Tickets starting at $85. Honda Center, 2695 East Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.704.2500. pgchamps.com
Celebrate Summer Concert Series with Kelly Rae Band
Aug. 17. Grab your cowboy boots and head on over to watch this high energy country rock band performing chart topping hits and crowd favorites. Whole Foods Market will serve fresh organic popcorn tastings to concert guests. 6-8 p.m. Free. Bella Terra Amphitheatre, 7777 Edinger Avenue, Huntington Beach. bellaterra-hb.com
The Queen Mary’s Local Band Hangout
Aug. 17. The Queen Mary’s popular, monthly local music showcase, Local Band Hangout, returns to the Observation Bar & Art Deco Lounge with special performances by Euse’bio Akasa and Buck Bowen. Akasa incorporates a melting pot of music genres through his mixes including funk, hip hop, world and soul. Bowen’s music is made up of catchy choruses, vibrant storytelling and a splash of dry wit. Happy Hour 5-7 p.m. Show begins at 7 p.m. The Observation Bar & Art Deco Lounge, The Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach. queenmary.com
Little Lido Kids Club
Aug. 17. Bring your children and enjoy a reading of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault. Kids will enjoy making their own, special alphabet tree during craft time and moms will love the raffles and specials from participating Lido Marina Village retailers. 10-11 a.m. 3424 Via Oporto Suite 102, Newport Beach. lidomarinavillage.com
Brea Fest
Aug. 18. Indulge on fare from over 35 local restaurants and distributors and enjoy live music, theater performances, gallery exhibits, live artist demonstrations and free activities for kids. The annual event celebrates Brea’s Art Programs such as the Curtis Theatre, Brea Art Gallery and Concerts in the Park. 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
Championship Soccer Stadium at OC Great Park
Aug. 18. Watch the Orange County Soccer Club take on Phoenix Rising FC in the newly constructed Championship Soccer Stadium. There will be fireworks postgame, food trucks and beer gardens with free parking at the event. 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $15. Championship Stadium at OC Great Park, 8272 Great Park Blvd. Irvine. orangecountysoccer.com
Costa Mesa Speedway – Harley Night #2/Sidecars
Aug. 19. Witness the most exciting and unpredictable live action racing event in the nation. Costa Mesa Speedway has put fans right on top of all the action from the comfort of Arena style grandstand seating since 1969. Suitable for the whole family. 6-10 p.m. See website for ticket information. Racetrack at OC Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 949.492.9933. costamesaspeedway.net
The Color Vibe 5K
Aug. 19. Celebrate The Color Vibe 5K as it stands out from other fun runs with its vibrant custom-made color. The company uses a unique cornstarch formula exclusive to Color Vibe to deliver a brighter, safer experience than any other color event. Made in the USA, the food-grade quality cornstarch is 100% nontoxic, nonflammable, and biodegradable. This year in Orange County, a portion of every runner registration will be donated to The OC Burrito Project. 9 a.m. See website for ticket information. 16400 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley. thecolorvibe.com
6th Annual Fash Bash
Aug. 19. Enjoy an afternoon of fun activities with your kids, including DIY pin-making, a pom-pom earring station, a photo booth, braid bar, sketching, mini-manicures and T-shirt deconstruction. Additionally, two fashion shows will showcase the designs and creations of Fashion Camp’s summer campers and another will feature a Project Runway-style presentation of designs. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The District at Tustin Legacy, 2477 Park Ave, Tustin. 714.259.0946. tustin.createdesignsew.com
Pacific Wine & Food Classic
Aug. 19-20. The inaugural wine festival will feature more than 200 restaurants, chefs, winemakers and artisans, plus a celebrity chef host, live entertainment and a beachfront location. Participating chefs will create dishes reminiscent of their favorite summer memories, Patron Tequila will offer “Patron Pops” as well as the ultimate Patron experience complete with summer margaritas and Bacardi. See website for full weekend schedule. Single day GA $150, single day VIP $200; two-day GA $250, two-day VIP $350. 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach, 949.287.3281. pacificwineandfood.com
The Queen Mary’s 13th Annual Art Deco Festival
Aug. 19-20. Revel in a weekend of spectacular live music, dancing, drinks, parties, food and history onboard The Queen Mary. The Art Deco Festival will immerse you in the era of artistic design that influenced the design of The Queen Mary itself, the world’s most advanced ocean liner of its time. The Grand Ball, taking place on Saturday, is a formal vintage evening complete with a lavish four-course historic menu complemented by the Dean Mora Orchestra. See website for full weekend schedule and pricing. Day passes start at $25. 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach, 800.437.2934. queenmary.com
Dana Point Lobster Beach Fest
Aug. 19. Get ready for a feast at the 8th annual Dana Point Lobster Beach Fest, presented by Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club. Admission includes a steak, lobster and seafood dinner and live entertainment. There will also be a silent auction and an opportunity drawing. Alcohol is available for purchase. 4 p.m.
Tickets start at $95. Parking $7.50-$15. Doheny State Beach
, 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. danapointlobsterfest.org
Plum Fest & Wiener Dog Races
Aug. 20. Old World has gone plum crazy. The Plum Fest features Pflaumenkuchen, a plum cake made with specialty plums that only ripen for a brief time once a year. Not to be missed are the plum flavors in crepes, plum schnapps, plum martinis and more. Enjoy live music, barbecue fare, full bar and street vendors. Watch the wiener dog races at 3 p.m. 2-6 p.m. Doors open at 1 p.m. Free. Wiener dog races $2. Old World, 7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach, 714.895.8020. oldworld.ws
FOOD + DRINK
Oak Laguna Beach
Opening Aug. 2. Oak Laguna Beach officially opens its doors to introduce its rustic yet modern menu and environment, rich flavors and local inspiration. The restaurant’s design boasts a warm, coastal modern feel, courtesy of local Laguna Beach architects, Todd Skenderian and Bill Dalke of Rancho Laguna Builders. Nestled on the second story overlooking South Coast Hwy., Oak offers an intimate dining room, inviting bar and wrap around outdoor balcony. See website for hours and menu. 1100 South Coast Highway #202, Laguna Beach. 949.940.3010. oak-lagunabeach.com
The Joint Creamery
Get a taste of OC’s newest ice cream sensation before summer is over. Opened in June 2017, The Joint Creamery specializes in rolling the freshest and best ice cream rolls with ingredients made in-house every day from scratch. The menu has 12 different flavors with classics such as vanilla and strawberry and more exotic flavors including durian, pandan mung bean and taro. Su-Th 12-11 p.m.; F-Sa 12 p.m.-1 a.m. 13281 Brookhurst Unit B Garden Grove, 714.989.6518. thejointcreamery.com
Cheese and Charcuterie Backyard Party
Aug. 16. Indulge in an all-you-can-eat cheese and charcuterie evening from premium creameries including By George, Cowgirl, Cypress Grove, and Willamette Valley Cheese Co., with two beverages included. The featured cheeses will also find their way into select SideDoor menu items for that evening only. 6-9 p.m. $80 (includes tax and gratuity), Five Crowns and SideDoor’s English Garden, 3801 East Coast Hwy, Corona Del Mar, 949.717.4322. eventbrite.com
Poke Me Grand Opening
Aug. 18. To kick off their fourth grand opening in Irvine, Poke Me will be giving away swag bags full of goodies to the first 25 customers, where one lucky winner will win free poke for an entire year! With over 40 options on their menu, customers can create thousands of unique variations including gluten-free, protein-packed, carb-loaded and vegetarian. To top it all off, customers can have all of these options wrapped in a burrito. 12 p.m. 14370 #C Culver Dr. Heritage Plaza, Irvine. 323.815.1566. pokeme.net
‘Treat Yo’ Self Saturdays’ at Bosscat Kitchen and Libations
Aug. 19. The Treat Yo’Self Saturday menu at Bosscat Kitchen and Libations offers specialty food items such as Mag’s Donut Burger and cocktails such as the Bosscat Frozé, Lavendar Lemonadae and Big Boss Mule. Think ideal day party meets crafty comfort food with a helping of coming-on-strong cocktails. Plus there will be DJ-spun tunes and “special treats” for customers. 11 a.m. 4647 MacArthur Boulevard, Newport Beach, 949.333.0917. bosscatkitchen.com
ARTS + CULTURE
10th Annual Gala of the Stars
Aug. 18. Don’t miss this one-night-only event, held at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. The evening will include ballet repertoire from world-famous choreographers rarely performed on the west coast, including Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet Pas de Deux performed by the unparalleled Misty Copeland and Alexandre Hammoudi of American Ballet Theatre. 6 p.m. Tickets start at $65. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787. scfta.org
‘Jurassic Park’ with the Pacific Symphony
Aug. 19. Come see conductor Richard Kaufman return to the Pacific Symphony for Jurassic Park. The John Williams score will be performed live while you watch the classic film starring Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill and Laura Dern. This exciting movie-concert experience takes place at the Pacific Amphitheatre at OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, the Symphony’s new summer home, where the orchestra continues to perform throughout the 2017 summer season. 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25. Pacific Amphitheater, 100 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.1500. pacamp.com
Photo credit: 10th Annual Gala Of The Stars by Rosalie O’Connor
