Find the best Orange County things to do for the weekend of May 25-29
Edited by Laura Okey
EVENTS
Boots on the Beach: Nashville Meets Newport
May 28. Grab your cowboy hats and dancing boots for the 2nd annual country fest at The Newport Dunes. Enjoy craft beer tasting and barbecue all evening long. Listen to live music from PicklebackShine, Southern California’s premier top 40 country cover band. The Kelley Boys will be teaching you all the right moves—learn to line dance, the Electric Slide, Two Step, Cowboy Cha Cha and more. 5-10 p.m. Free. $10 parking. 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach, 800.765.7661. newportdunes.com
Newport Beach Beerfest
May 27. Celebrate Memorial Day weekend with unlimited tastes of the best craft beer, wine and spirits. More than 60 breweries will be on hand, including Stone Brewing Co., Bootlegger’s Brewery, Hangar 24, Valiant Brewing Company and Left Coast Brewing Co. Also enjoy a food truck tasting village featuring 15 local food trucks including Bacon Nation, Rain Cajun, Mess Hall, Eat em Up and Mexico Calbi to name a few. Enjoy live entertainment by The Black Eyed Tease paying tribute to The Black Eyed Peas with chart-topping hits, No Duh, the renowned No Doubt tribute band and Bass Punks spinning the ultimate party mix to get you on the dance floor. General admission 7-10 p.m., $35; VIP 6 p.m. entry, $50. Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach, 949.729.3863. newportbeachbeerfest.com
Garden Grove Strawberry Festival
May 26-29. Celebrate Memorial Day weekend at the 59th annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival. Festivities include a giant strawberry cake cutting ceremony, a Strawberry Stomp 5K Run, a VIP Celebrity Breakfast and much more. A parade will feature floats, bands, equestrians and characters like Knott’s Berry Farm’s Snoopy. Enjoy over 35 carnival rides, contests, games and more. 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. Rides from $1. Village Green between Main Street and Euclid Ave., Downtown Garden Grove, 714.638.0981. strawberryfestival.org
John Wayne Birthday Fundraiser Cruise
May 26. Celebrate John Wayne Day, the anniversary of the legendary star’s birthday, with an exclusive event aboard his former yacht, The Wild Goose. The event features an intimate performance by Wayne’s granddaughter, along with appetizers, cocktails and tours of the yacht and its staterooms. You will have the opportunity to purchase an autographed book, “On Board With the Duke”. Boarding 6 p.m., cruise 6:30-9:30 p.m. $195/pp. Mariner’s Mile, 2431 W. Pacific Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 888.HORNBLOWER. hornblower.com
Yappy Hour
May 25. Canines and their companions are invited to a special cocktail party where pups can lap up bacon, chicken, beef-infused water and housemade dog biscuits, while their companions relax with a glass of Mutt Lynch Unleashed Chardonnay and other selections. Cocktails, beer and barbecue items are also available for purchase. As part of the resort’s Community Footprints program, proceeds from Yappy Hour will benefit The Veterans Initiative of Canine Companions for Independence. 5-8 p.m. The Ritz-Carlton, One Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point, 949.240.2000. ritzcarlton.com
Newport Beach Wine Festival
May 26-28. Sip your way through Memorial Day weekend at the 14th annual Newport Beach Wine Festival at Balboa Bay Resort. This beautiful waterfront setting is ideal for sipping fine wines, savoring delicious entrees, tasting craft beers and more. 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 West Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.630.4146. balboabayresort.com
SOCIAL Costa Mesa Dance Party: Our House
Beginning May 25. Kick off your long weekend with this inaugural upscale dance party at Social Costa Mesa. Inspired by the sophisticated debauchery of Studio 54 in its heyday, Social has partnered with Modern Disco Ambassadors to bring you a weekly house party. Get your groove on with music curated by DJ Toros Bros, while enjoying Social’s one-of-a-kind craft cocktails and a late-night dinner. Get the latest news and updates on the weekly event on Instagram at @ourhousesocial. 9:30 p.m. No cover. 512 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa, 949.642.2525. socialcostamesa.com
Memorial Day Yacht Party
May 29. Make the most of your Memorial Day by hopping on board a three-hour luxury yacht cruise through Newport Harbor. Indulge on American food (sliders, fried chicken, bacon-wrapped hotdogs and more) while sipping summertime cocktails and listening to high energy Top 40 beats from a mix master DJ. Tickets include 4 cocktails and unlimited finger foods. 21 and over. 1-4 p.m. $69. Royal Princess Yacht, 2901 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 714.485.6543. annualyachtparties.com
Laguna Hills Memorial Day Run
May 29. Celebrate our nation’s heroes with the City of Laguna Hills 19th 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
Find more places to celebrate Memorial Day weekend in Orange County here >>>
Scottish Fest USA
May 27-28. 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. Take the opportunity this Memorial Day weekend to honor and give thanks to the men and women of the military with a memorial service on Sunday morning. All ages welcome. See website for schedule of events. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Order tickets online. OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.1500. scottishfest.com
SPONSORED
The FIFTH’s One-Year Anniversary Celebration
May 28. Join The FIFTH rooftop restaurant and bar in celebrating their one-year anniversary. Festivities start at noon and go all night with live music from your favorite tribute bands. Enjoy a fully stocked bar of local brews and cocktails along with tastings, giveaways and a new menu release. Come share a toast as The FIFTH celebrates its first year as Anaheim’s only rooftop restaurant and bar, located across the street from the Disneyland Resort. Noon. $25. 1650 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, 714.772.0899.
FOOD + DRINK
Test Kitchen Dinner at Puesto
May 25. Capture the flavors of Mexico City at Puesto’s ticketed, five-course prix-fixe test kitchen dinner. Executive creative chef Katy Smith will prepare tacos and other specialties along with unique Valle de Guadalupe wines and margaritas in an exclusive in-kitchen dining space. Reservations required. 7 p.m. $40; optional beverage pairings additional $30. Tax and gratuity not included. Puesto Los Olivos, 8577 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine. eatpuesto.com
Taco Mesa – Tortillería Orgánica & Café
Experience the next evolution of the Taco Mesa brand, which offers artisan GMO-free corn masa and tortillas and healthy, authentic Mexican cuisine. From gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan and organic, diners of all kinds can indulge on grab-and-go fresh salads, hot entrees, aguas frescas and organic cold-pressed juices. Also find an expanded pastelería displaying fresh-baked Mexican pastries including meringues, tres leches and profiteroles and more. Adjacent to the pastry display will be a sleek Modbar espresso station serving direct trade Stumptown Coffee. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. 3533 East Chapman Ave. tacomesa.com
ARTS + CULTURE
The Bodyguard
Opening May 28. See the exciting story of a former Secret Service agent hired to protect a superstar from a stalker. Enjoy classic tunes like “Saving All My Love,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and the huge hit, “I Will Always Love You.” Photo by Joan Marcus. See website for showtimes. Tickets start at $29. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787. scfta.org
John Wayne: At Home in SoCal
Opening May 26. See a showcase of curated images and memorabilia highlighting the Duke’s life at home from 1920-1979. The images depict John Wayne ranging from his daily life at his Bay Shore home to shots on his boat the Wild Goose, to enjoying life around Southern California and more. A new Newport Beach capsule collection with 70’s inspired t-shirts and hats will also be sold with proceeds benefiting the John Wayne Cancer Foundation and the Balboa Island Museum. Balboa Island Museum, 331 Marine Ave., Balboa Island, 949.675.3952. balboaislandmuseum.org
Above and Beyond at Discovery Cube
Opening May 27. Experience a groundbreaking traveling exhibition that commemorates Boeing’s 100th anniversary. Above and Beyond features immersive simulations, interactive design challenges, iconic historical touchstones, visionary concepts for the future and inspiring stories from game-changing innovators, past and present. Showcasing five themed galleries, enjoy dozens of interactive experiences made possible using flight simulation, augmented reality, touch-tables, design and skill challenges, virtual reality and more—take an elevator ride to the edge of space or pilot a drone into the eye of a hurricane! See website for hours. $12.95-$17.95. Discovery Cube, 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714.542.2823. oc.discoverycube.org
STYLE + BEAUTY
UFC Gym Huntington Beach
UFC Gym has opened it’s latest location— the second largest in the world—in Huntington Beach. The 42,000 square-foot gym is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and boasts to be one of the most advanced signature gyms in the world. This state-of-the-art facility features a 30-foot Octagon®, top-of-the-line strength training and cardio machines, battle ropes, agility ladders, Brazilian jiu-jitsu studio and more. Find group classes, a kid’s gym, an Arm Bar Café, locker rooms with full amenities, indoor running track and more. The Recovery Corner will feature the latest sports recovery methods, including Compression Therapy (NormaTec), Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (Graston) and Percussion Therapy. All treatments will be administered and overseen by highly trained staff. 17091 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, 657.237.7500. ufcgym.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
LA Times’ Food Bowl at SOCO and The OC Mix
May 30. Meet the Chefs and culinary experts at SOCO and The OC Mix for the event LA Times’ Food Bowl. Enjoy Chef Talks, where you may ask questions to SOCO’s extraordinary culinary crafters, taste their creations, and then stay for dinner at any of SOCO’s award winning restaurants. Live entertainment. RSVP encouraged. 5-8 p.m. Free. 3303 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa. socoandtheocmix.com
