Orange County
Baroque Music Festival
Corona del Mar, California has a Baroque Music Festival that has been running for over 40 years. A long running classical music event with five concerts in 8 days.
Annual event; June
Tag Archives: OC
Festival of Whales
Dana Point Festival of Whales
2 weekends long, Dana Point host this festival celebrating Whale Watching. Street Fair features arts and crafts booths, including food vendors and live entertainment.
Annual event; March
949-496-5794
festivalofwhales.com
US Open of Surfing
US Open
Surfing Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach host the annual surfing contest. Top surfers from around the world, a mix of action sports superstars of skate, BMX and freestyle motocross, as well as top musical talent – all combined in a festival atmosphere for a week-long youth cultural experience that will thrill and excite hundreds of thousands of spectators in beautiful Huntington Beach.
Annual event; July
Ocean Festival
The Greatest Show on Surf
The San Clemente Ocean Festival is a competition event for swimming & paddling on the Orange County coast. 45 years running!
- Lifeguard Competitions
- Surf Contest
- Tandem Boogie Board Contest
- 5K Beach Run/Walk
- Open Ocean Paddle
- Biathlon (1K Swim/5K Run)
- One Mile Ocean Swim
- Run-Swim-Run
- SUP Sprint Races
- Splash & Dash Relay
Annual event; July
949-440-6141
oceanfestival.org
Sawdust Winter Fantasy
Sawdust Winter Fantasy Art Festival
in Laguna Canyon
The Orange County beach haven known as Laguna Beach has long been known for their surf shops, gift shops and great art galleries.
Laguna Canyon Saw Dust festival grounds will be transformed into a winter wonderland where artists create, display and sell original creations over the course of five weekends. The Winter Fantasy is offers the most unique holiday shopping in all of Southern California. Art media includes jewelry, clothing, fused and blown glass, ceramics, woodwork, forged metals, painting, photography, sculpture, clothing and textiles.
Experience unique artwork from hundreds of artists, live holiday entertainment, outdoor cafes, art classes and demonstrations, petting zoo, plus Santa! With amazing art gifts, thousands of holiday decorations and picture-perfect moments.
Annual event; multiple weekends; December
Sawdust Art Festival
935 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA
949-494-3030
sawdustartfestival.org/festivals/winter-fantasy
Sawdust Art Festival
Laguna Beach Sawdust Festival
A 2 month long celebration of artists on the Orange County coast. Laguna Beach host the ever popular Sawdust Festival of Arts for over 56 years. Live music on 3 stages, roving musicians & circus acts. Local artists, food & open art galleries.
Annual event; July-August
sawdustartfestival.org
Silverado Country Fair
Silverado Canyon Fair
A good ole country style fair in the heart of SoCal. The 40th+ annual event, music and art festival in Silverado Canyon, Orange County. Explore the wonders of canyon history and culture, music, tasty food, handmade arts and crafts, games and silly contests, all nestled under the oak trees below the infamous Saddleback Mountain. Wild West theme! Folk, Country, Bluegrass, and Classic Rock bands will entertain through 2 days.
Annual event: October
714-649-2411
714-649-2820
facebook.com/silveradocountryfair
Orange County Fair
Orange County Fair
Nearly a million people attend the Orange County Fair & Expo, a 21 day event held in Costa Mesa. Various themes each year add to the uniqueness of this country fair.
Orange County Fair & Exposition Center
88 Fair Drive,
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Annual event; July-August
714-708-1500
ocfair.com
Silverado Days
Silverado Days, OC
Event not held in Silverado Canyon, but close enough. A local, long running tradition for this urban region. Chili cook off & car show, carnival rides & games are just part of the fun this weekend in Buena Park California. The good times can be found at William Peak Park in Buena Park, CA.
Annual event; October
silveradodays.com
Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot
Many California cities and towns host holiday runs or races called the Turkey Trot, or the Gobble Wobble (or any other equally silly name).
Traditionally held on Thanksgiving Day (in the morning hours), this event can be family friendly, with costumes or to some folks, a more serious race with thousands of runners. Each city has it’s own unique history of this annual favorite.
also known as –
Turkey Run, Thanksgiving Race, Thanksgiving Day 5K Run
Anaheim Turkey Trot
Apple Valley Turkey Run
Arroyo Grande Turkey Trot
Belmont Shore Turkey Trot
Big Bear Turkey Trot
Burbank Turkey Trot
Concord Turkey Trot
Coronado 5K Turkey Trot
Dana Point Turkey Trot
Orange County is the place & Dana Point holds the annual Turkey Trot every Thanksgiving Day. Over 10,000 runners participate in the coastal marathon event.
Davis Turkey Trot
Elk Grove Gobble Wobble
Encinitas Turkey Trot 5k & 10K
Fallbrook Turkey Trot
Folsom Turkey Trot
Huntington Beach Turkey Wobble
La Cañada Thanksgiving Day 5K Run
Lake Almanor 5K Turkey Trot
Lompoc Turkey Trot @ River Park
Los Angeles Turkey Trot 5K & 10K
Marin Turkey Trot in Novato
Napa Valley Turkey Chase
Oakland Turkey Trot
Oceanside O’Side Turkey Trot
Orange County Turkey Trot 5K
Pacific Palisades Turkey Trot
Palm Desert Thanksgiving Day 5K Run
Pasadena Rose Bowl 5K Turkey Trot
Petaluma Turkey Trot
Piedmont Turkey Trot
Roseville Turkey Trot
San Bernardino Turkey Trot
San Francisco Turkey Trot
San Jose Silicon Valley Turkey Trot
San Luis Obispo Gobble Wobble 5K
San Mateo Gobble Wobble
Santa Barbara UCSB Turkey Trot
Santa Cruz Turkey Trot
Santa Maria Turkey Trot
Santa Monica Turkey Trot
Solano Turkey Trot
Solvang Turkey Trot
Turlock Turkey Trot
Orange County Beach Camping
Orange County Coastal Camping
OC Beach Campgrounds
The overdeveloped Orange County coast is packed with condos, homes, parks and beaches, coastal villages, restaurants, shops and train tracks, so campgrounds in this region are few and far more popular than one might expect. Since Los Angeles has very limited beach camping options, most tourists wander further south for SoCal beach camping on the OC or San Diego coast line.
blue links lead to State Park pages with camp reservations.
Orange County Coast Campground reservations are highly recommended all year long, so make sure to plan ahead.
Bolsa Chica State Park
Huntington Beach, CA
Crystal Cove State Park
Tent Camp & Beach Cottages
Laguna Beach, CA
Doheny State Beach
Dana Point, CA
Huntington State Beach
Huntington Beach, CA
Newport Dunes RV Resort
Newport Beach Resort & Marina
Newport Beach, CA
San Clemente State Beach
San Clemente CA
see more on OC towns –
Seal Beach, CA
Huntington Beach, CA
Newport Beach, CA
Laguna Beach, CA
Dana Point, CA
Capistrano Beach
San Clemente CA
OC
the OC: SoCal culture – beaches, surf, mountains
Orange County. North of San Diego & south of L.A.
OC hikes
A wonderful resource for Orange County outdoors is
ocparks.com
maps for local weekends, local hikes:
- Orange Co Bike Trails (Franko)
- Angeles National Forest (Hwy 2 Angeles Crest)
- Cleveland National Forest (Hwy 74 Ortega Highway)
- Cucamonga Wilderness
- All the OC towns
- Mount Baldy Map
- San Berdu, Big Bear
- San Berdu, Idyllwild
- San Diego Back Country Map
- San Gorgonio Wilderness
- San Jacinto Wilderness
