Holiday festivities, Herb & Ranch food hall, Anne of Green Gables and more…. Here are the top Orange County weekend events for December 5-8.
Edited by Whitney Lauren Han.
EVENTS
Gem Faire
Dec. 6-8. Nearly 200 exhibitors from around the world make the Gem Faire one of the largest gem, jewelry and bead shows in the United States. Find precious and semi-precious gemstones, beads, crystals, fine jewelry, gold and silver, minerals and more. Hourly door prizes. F noon-6 p.m.; Sa 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Su 10 a.m-5 p.m. $7 GA, free for children 11 and under. OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 503.252.8300. gemfaire.com
Brew Ho Ho!
Dec. 7. The Brew Ho Ho! holiday ale festival features more than 100 craft beers from the finest breweries in Southern California and beyond, including rare and limited-release holiday and winter ales. Guests can pair their craft beers with bites from food vendors. 21+. Noon-4 p.m. $55 online, $65 at the door; $20 parking. Anaheim Phoenix Club, 1340 S. Sanderson Ave., Anaheim. ocbrewhoho.com
Pet Photos with Santa
Dec. 7. Bring your furry friend to the District at Tustin Legacy for photos with Santa Claus. Proceeds from the event, part of the District’s Wonderland Holiday Experience, benefit OC Animal Care, a local animal rescue shelter. Noon-2 p.m. $8. 2437 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.259.9090. hedistricttl.com
Run for a Claus
Dec. 7. Join more than 2,500 participants wearing fun, colorful and crazy holiday-themed costumes for the 5th annual Run for a Claus 5k and 1-Mile Kids’ Run/Walk. The event features a holiday expo with family-fun entertainment and free photos with Santa Claus. All runners receive a Santa hat and beard prior to the run and a medal and a mug of hot cocoa when they finish. 8:30 a.m. 1-mile Kids’ Run/Walk; 9 a.m. 5k. $5-$45. University of California, Irvine, Ring Road near Aldrich Hall and Student Center, Irvine, 949.222.0456. runforaclaus.com
Capistrano Lights
Starts Dec. 8. Mission San Juan Capistrano’s annual holiday event Capistrano Lights is an all-ages family event where guests can experience the festive spirit of the season. The event includes a nightly musical tree lighting and decorative light displays through January 6. $10 adults, $9 seniors ages 60+, $7 children ages 4-11. 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300. missionsjc.com
Light a Light of Love
Dec. 8. To kick off the holiday season, thousands count down to the Huntington Beach giant-snowflake lighting at the annual Light a Light of Love celebration. The event raises funds for the nonprofit Waymakers Huntington Beach Youth Shelter, a safe haven for homeless, runaway, abused and at-risk youth. 3:30-7 p.m. Downtown Huntington Beach on Main Street and Pier Plaza, 949.250.0488. waymakersoc.org
FOOD + DRINK
Herb & Ranch
Now Open. The new restaurant from celebrity chef-restaurateur Brian Malarkey is micro-food-hall concept serving breakfast and lunch at UCI Research Park. With a look of a food hall, Herb & Ranch operates like a fast-casual concept where diners order from the station of their choice and pay at a central register. Malarkey’s Herb & Wood in San Diego was named one of the country’s “Biggest Restaurant Openings of 2016” by Zagat, one of America’s “10 Best Restaurants” by USA Today and “Restaurant of the Year” by Eater San Diego. M-F 6:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 5301 California Ave, Irvine, 949.316.4491. herbandranch.com
Brunch Menu at Outpost Kitchen
Now Available. The Aussie-inspired eatery in Costa Mesa has introduced a new winter brunch menu boasting seasonal and organic ingredients from humanely raised sources. Enjoy vibrant dishes such as the Outpost Super Bowl, vegetarian breakfast “burger,” and steak-and-egg skillet. M-F 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Sa 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Su 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 1792 Monrovia Ave., Costa Mesa, 949.873.5123. outpostkitchen.com
North Pole at the Recess Room
Now Available. Get into the holiday spirit with holiday-inspired cocktails at the Recess Room. Libations include Bad Santa’s Milk and Cookies (left), Red Nosed Punch, Under the Mistletoe, Starbucks at North Pole, Naughty and/or Nice Shots, Rudolph’s Tipsy and Saint Nicholas’s Old Fashioned. DJs spin upbeat, pop Christmas music on Fridays in December. Reservations suggested. Holiday cocktails served in the evenings. The restaurant is closed Mondays. 18380 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley, 714.377.0398. therecessroom.com
Theorem Holiday Menu
Now Available. Portola Coffee Roasters’ new Theorem menu, available through January 5, features barista-created beverages highlighting seasonal ingredients with a whimsical twist. The menu includes Starlight Mint Mocha, Party S’more, Chilled Bourbon Eggnog, Spiced Sidecar and Mulled Tea Toddy. See website for locations and hours. portolacoffee.com
Holiday Mixology Class
Dec. 6. Red Bar and Lounge shakes up a good time this season with two mixology classes devoted top holiday cocktails. Advanced reservations required on Eventbrite; class limited to 12 guests. 8-10 p.m. $60 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Hotel Irvine, 17900 Jamboree Road, Irvine, 949.225.6757. hotelirvine.com
Champagne and Caviar Pairing
Through Dec. 31. Bourbon Steak welcomes guests for a delicious evening pairing Royal and Imperial caviar with Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Champagne. Additional offerings include specials featuring white and Périgord truffles. 5:30-9 p.m. $215. 1 Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, 800.722.1543. monarchbeachresort.com
ARTS + CULTURE
Anne of Green Gables
Opens Dec. 6. The musical adaption of the classic 1908 novel by L.M. Montgomery comes to Chance Theater. The story follows the Cuthbert family, expecting to adopt a boy, but receiving instead a red-haired, wide-eyed girl. Though clever young Anne Shirley has a penchant for getting into trouble, she works her way into the hearts of her adoptive parents as well as the residents of rural Prince Edward Island. See website for showtimes. $25-$49. Bette Aitken theater arts Center, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, 888.455.4212. chancetheater.com
Nutcracker for Kids
Dec. 7. The Pacific Symphony and the twirling ballerinas of Festival Ballet Theatre bring to life the world of toy soldiers, waltzing flowers and the Sugar Plum Fairy in a 45-minute version adapted for kids ages 5 to 11. Enjoy a musical carnival before or after the show. Activities begin at 9 a.m. (for 10 a.m. attendees) and 12:15 p.m. (for 11:30 a.m. guests). Showtimes at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. $45-$76. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.755.5799. scfta.org
Photos: Gem Faire courtesy Gem Faire. Brew Ho Ho courtesy Brew Ha Ha Productions. The District at Tustin Legacy courtesy FWD PR. Run For a Claus courtesy Peacock PR. Capistrano Lights courtesy Mission San Juan Capistrano. “Light a Light of Love,” Kait McKay Photography. Herb & Ranch courtesy Katalyst Public Relations. Outpost Kitchen courtesy Outshine PR. The Recess Room, Lisa Hu Chen. Theorem Holiday Menu courtesy Moxxe PR. Red Bar and Lounge courtesy Marguarite Clark PR. Bourbon Steak courtesy Outshine PR. “Anne of Green Gables” 2015 production, Doug Catiller / True Image. Nutcracker for Kids courtesy Pacific Symphony.
