From outdoor beach-side festivals to Memorial Day celebrations, check out the top Orange County weekend events for May 24-28.
Edited by Whitney Lauren Han.
EVENTS
P!NK – “Beautiful Trauma World Tour”
May 25. Known for her incredible and entertaining live show, international pop icon P!NK brings her world tour to Orange County. P!NK last hit the road on her The Truth About Love Tour which saw her play 142 sold out shows across 13 countries. 8 p.m. See website for prices. Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella, Anaheim, 714.704.2400. hondacenter.com
Garden Grove Strawberry Festival
May 25-28. Celebrate Memorial Day weekend at the 60th annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival. Festivities include a giant strawberry cake cutting ceremony, a parade, 35+ carnival rides, a Strawberry Stomp 5K Run, a VIP celebrity breakfast, contests, games and more. The parade will feature floats, bands, equestrians and characters like Knott’s Berry Farm’s Snoopy. See website for full schedule of events. F 1-10 p.m.; Sa-Su 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; M 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Free, $1 for rides. Village Green between Main St. and Euclid Ave., Downtown Garden Grove, 714.638.0981. strawberryfestival.org
Movies on the Beach
May 25-26. Start your weekend of festivities with a family movie night at the beach! Bring your own blankets, chairs and jackets and cuddle up for Transformers: The Last Knight on the big screen. Arrive early and stop by Back Bay Bistro for summer bites and refreshments on the waterfront. Movies start at dusk and are offered every Friday and Saturday through Labor Day. Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, 1131 Back Bay Dr., Newport Beach, 949.729.3863. newportdunes.com
Fish Camp’s Clam Bake
May 26. Don’t miss out on fresh lobster, clams, mussels and more at Fish Camp’s clam bake event. While nomming on seafood, enjoy live music, outdoor games and prize giveaways. Diners will also have the opportunity to order from the regular menu, featuring countless seafood and side combinations. 4-8 p.m. Free, $25 clam bake. Fish Camp, 16600 Pacific Coast Hwy., Sunset Beach, 562.592.2267. samsfishcamp.com
Monarch Beach Resort’s Master of Illusions
May 26. Prepare yourself for a night of comedy and illusions with magician and illusionist Anthony Hernandez, who has been voted “Best Theatre Show” and “Best Entertainer” by the IE Hot List and Inland Empire Magazine. Guests will receive cotton candy and a magic wand bracelet. 7-8 p.m. $30 for the first child; $20 each additional child; free for adults and children under 3. Monarch Beach Resort, One Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, 949.234.3900. monarchbeachresort.com
Newport Beach Beerfest
May 26. Spend your weekend indulging in unlimited tastes of more than 150 craft beers, wines and spirits. Beyond unlimited tastings of libations, enjoy a food truck tasting village featuring 15 local trucks. Stick around for live entertainment by Atlas Genius, Jill and Julia and Bass Punks. GA 7-10 p.m., VIP entry at 6 p.m. $35 GA, $50 VIP. Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, 1131 Back Bay Dr., Newport Beach, 949.729.3863. newportbeachbeerfest.com
Rooftop Pool Party at Renaissance Newport Beach
May 26. Kick off summer with DJ Chayu spinning the hottest jams and Renaissance Newport Beach’s mixologist serving handcrafted cocktails. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Noon. Free with complimentary valet parking. 4500 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach, 949.955.5612. renaissance-hotels.marriott.com
Scottish Fest USA
May 26-27. Experience Southern California’s largest Scottish and Celtic festival. Indulge your senses to the sounds of bagpipes and drums, the flavors and smells of authentic Celtic foods and the sights of traditional kilts, dancing competitions and more. All ages welcome. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. See website for schedule of events and ticket prices. OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa, 714.708.1500. scottishfest.com
Boots on the Beach
May 27. Grab your cowboy hats and dancing boots for this annual country fest at The Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort. Enjoy craft beer tasting and barbecue all evening long while listening to live music from Gethen Jenkins, Shotgun Jefferson, Morgan Leigh Band, Tina Michelle and host/DJ for the evening David Bugenske from Go Country Radio. 5-10 p.m. $20-$60. 1131 Back Bay Dr., Newport Beach, 800.765.7661. newportdunes.com
Foodways Summit
Through May 31. Expand your knowledge of Long Beach’s local food movement at this week-long culinary celebration. Expect talks, tastes and tours, with a special emphasis on expanding health food access, education and opportunities. See website for complete schedule. foodwayssummit.org
New Observation Wheel at the Queen Mary
Through June 17. Hop aboard the largest traveling observation wheel in the Western Hemisphere for spectacular views of the Long Beach skyline. Sip on beverages (alcohol available for purchase) while you cruise through the sky; for a romantic setting, opt for an evening ride when the wheel lights up with over half a million LED lights. Open daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m. $15 adults; $10 military, seniors 60+, children 4-11; Free children under 4. 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach. queenmary.com
MEMORIAL DAY
Memorial Day Weekend Sidewalk Sale
May 26-28. Get ready for summer at Southern California’s largest Memorial Day weekend sidewalk sale at Outlets at San Clemente. Find everything you need to get ready for summer, from sunglasses and flip flops to swimsuits and shorts. Shoppers will save up to 75 percent off more than 55 designer brands. See website for list of activities and entertainment. 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, Suite 190, San Clemente, 949.535.2323. outletsatsanclemente.com
Fairhaven Memorial Park’s Annual Memorial Day Service
May 28. Honor our heroes as more than 3,500 people gather to listen to inspirational speeches from veterans, among many other activities. Enjoy musical entertainment, flyover by a vintage WW2 Texan aircraft, a white dove release and much more. 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Fairhaven Memorial Park, 1702 E. Fairhaven Ave., Santa Ana. dignitymemorial.com
Laguna Hills Memorial Day Run
May 28. Celebrate our nation’s heroes with the City of Laguna Hills 20th annual Memorial Day run, honoring the United States Marine Corps Dark Horse Battalion. Participants can choose between a kids run, 5K, 10K or half-marathon. Runners and walkers of all levels are invited to come out and enjoy the Memorial Day festivities. After the race enjoy food from local food trucks, a beer garden and DJ tunes. 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Register online. El Toro Road & I-5 Freeway, 24155 Laguna Hills Mall, Laguna Hills, 949.975.8506. lagunahillshalfmarathon.com
Memorial Day San Clemente
May 28. Observe Memorial Day with keynote military speaker Lt. Col. Stephen Mount and Mayor Tim Brown, among other activities at the San Clemente Community Center. See color guard teams dressed in authentic uniforms while enjoying patriotic music and live entertainment from bag pipers and tap buglers, plus watch a presentation of wreaths and flowers. 11 a.m.-noon. Free. 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente, 949.361.8264. san-clemente.org
FOOD + DRINK
Crepes Bonaparte Weekday Lunch Hours
Now Available. Stop by Crepes Bonaparte’s brick and mortar location in downtown Fullerton for its new lunch hours. Indulge in signature crepes such as the California Sunrise made with avocado, crisp slices of bacon, roasted tomato, cheddar and a freshly cracked egg; and the HazelBerryAna made with fresh strawberries, sliced bananas and Nutella topped with whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle. Tu-Th starting at 11 a.m. 115 S. Harbor Blvd., Suite A, Fullerton. crepesbonaparte.com
Highway 101 Wine Dinner
May 24. Join TAPS Fish House & Brewery for a five-course wine dinner with master sommelier Michael Jordan. Course entrees include Argentinian rock shrimp salad crostini, Harry’s Berries strawberry and octopus salad, crispy confit duck leg and New Zealand lamb two ways. 6:30 p.m. $99 (excludes tax and gratuity). 13390 Jamboree Road, Irvine, 714.619.0404. tapsfishhouse.com
Berry Brand Grand Opening
Opens May 26. Looking for your next açaí bowl destination? The founders of Milk Box bring you Berry Brand, where diners can customize their own açaí bowls—the superfood smoothie bowl treat that continues to surge in popularity across SoCal. Choose your preferred base—açaí, pitaya and warm chia—and choice of granola along with any combination of unlimited toppings such as peanut butter, cashew butter, chia seeds, fresh fruits and many more. The first 50 people in line will receive exclusive swag. Opening at noon. $7 for a 12-oz bowl; $9 for a 16-oz bowl; $13 for a 24-oz bowl. The District at Tustin Legacy, 2493 Park Ave., Tustin. thedistricttl.com
Newport Beach Wine Festival
May 26-28. Sip your way through the weekend at the 14th annual wine festival. Learn how to cook a wine-themed meal or take the opportunity to expand your knowledge on wine characteristics and blending. See website for complete schedule of events. Balboa Bay Resort, 1221 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.630.4146. balboabayresort.com
ARTS + CULTURE
Heartbeat of Mexico
May 26-27. Feel the beat of Mexico with a celebration dinner and a performance by two-time Grammy winner Mariachi Los Camperos on opening day. On the next day, enjoy the free daytime festival featuring performances by some of the top local and regional Mexican and Mexican-American music, dance and folklórico ensembles. Grammy- and Latin Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade will also perform. Sa dinner 4:30-7 p.m., performance 7:30 p.m.; Su festival 1-7:30 p.m., performance 6 p.m. See website for performance tickets. Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, One University Dr., Orange, 844.626.8726. muscocenter.org
P!NK – Beautiful Trama World Tour 2018 photo by Ryan Aylsworth. Boots on the Beach photo courtesy Redneck Rodeo. Observation Wheel at the Queen Mary photo provided by The ACE Agency. Heartbeat of Mexico photo by Daniel Reyes.
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