Our picks of places to go and things to do to make the most of your month in and around Orange County.
FOR A FAIR AMOUNT OF FUN – Make time to catch the OC Fair before it leaves town August 11! From delicious deep-fried fare to all kinds of nighttime entertainment, the fair has something for everyone. See local bands perform at The Hangar or do karaoke with a live band at the Plaza Stage—just make sure to play some carnival games before you leave. Someone has to win those prizes!
FAM FRIENDLY FEST – Party for the arts at Brea Fest on August 16 at the Brea Civic & Cultural Center. From 6:30pm to 10:30pm, enjoy food from over 30 area restaurants, plus live music, theater performances, a balloon artist, magicians and much more. Admission is free, but there is a charge of $3 per ticket that can be used for food and beverages. The event celebrates and benefits Brea’s Curtis Theatre, Brea Art Gallery and Concerts in the Park.
MAKE SUMMER MEMS HERE – August 23-25, peruse more than 200 stalls of fresh food and cool arts and crafts at the eighth annual OC Night Market, the biggest and only large-scale night market festival in Orange County. Choose from a fab selection of fusion foods like unicorn elotes, pho tacos and agua frescas in gigantic baby bottles. This summer’s theme is Making Memories—so, get going!
FOOD FOR GOOD – On the lookout for a good Labor Day event? Check out the food booths at the Orange Street Fair Friday, August 30 through Sunday, September 1—each is run by a local non-profit organization, so you can feel great about sampling them all.
WHERE TO GO PLUM CRAZY – On August 25, the annual Plum Festival celebrates the noble fruit with plenty of fresh plum strudels, flaming plum crepes and German donuts filled with plum jam, plus chicken, brats and hamburgers. Take in live music, carnival games and the famous Wiener Dog Races. Admission is free and the festival runs from 2pm to 6pm.
WHERE TO WINE AND DINE – August 17 and 18, swing by the Pacific Wine & Food Classic, which will be pouring fine wine, creative cocktails and cold beer. Also, a selection of top local chefs will serve up vibrant summer-inspired cuisine. Tickets are limited, so move fast.
