April flew by and soon it will be May which means a whole new month of community events in Orange County to enjoy. This month is bringing the OC Beer Festival, free comic book day, the Strawberry Festival and sooooo much more cool stuff. Check the list, check your schedule and start checking things off your to-do list this May 2016.
Cinco De Mayo Fiesta
Sunday, May 1st 12PM-4PM san-clemente.org
Source: Yelp
The Cinco de Mayo Fiesta has moved to a Sunday, May 1st. The Fiesta is in its 26th year of celebrating Mexican culture in our Spanish Village by the Sea. The program features live entertainment, beer garden hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, gourmet food trucks, deserts, and authentic beverages as well as childrens game booths and activities sponsored by the Friends Foundation. There’s tons of fun from rock climbing to a petting zoo and giant slide for the kids so come out and celebrate with the whole family.
Taste of Orange
Sunday, May 1st 3PM-7PM thetasteoforange.org
The Orange Blossoms Auxiliary, an Auxiliary of Assistance League® of Orange, will be hosting the annual Taste of Orange event. This food and beer tasting event will include tons of local restaurants, beer and wine tastings from top restaurants and breweries, silent auction, raffles, live music and more. Tickets are $40 for all food tastings, drinks sold separately. Did we mention $20 of the ticket price is deductible? Yep, it’s a responsible choice.
Star Trek The Ultimate Voyage - 50th Anniversary Concert
Monday, May 2nd 7:30PM startrekultimatevoyage.com
Five decades of Star Trek LIVE for the first time in this galaxy or any other. This lavish production touring the US includes an impressive live symphony orchestra performing the franchise’s groundbreaking and wildly popular musical achievements while the most iconic Star Trek film and TV footage is simultaneously beamed in high definition to a 40-foot wide screen. This never-before-seen concert event is perfect for music lovers, filmgoers, science-fiction fans and anyone looking for an exciting and unique concert experience.
8th Annual OC Beer Festival
Saturday, May 7th 1PM-5PM orangecountybeerfest.com
Following last year’s sold out event, this year’s promises to be even bigger and better. Sample dozens of international and domestic beers, hit up some delicious food trucks and enjoy the live entertainment. General Admission tickets are $43.19 and VIP Admission tickets are $53.74. Even better than all the quality beer is the fact that proceeds from the day will benefit Noahs B-ark, whose aim is to rescue dogs from shelters and find permanent homes for rescued pets. Save a dog, drink a draft.
Free Comic Book Day
Saturday, May 7th All Day, Various locations across Orange County freecomicbookday.com
Yep, that’s right. Free comic books. This year, Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) features a whole new selection of books for the comic book industry’s most anticipated annual event. Retailers on the FCBD Selection Committee chose 50 titles overall, 12 Gold Sponsor Comics and 38 Silver Sponsor comics to provide fans a wide range of stories to choose from as well as new genres and publishers to discover. Titles from this year’s free comics include The Pink Panther, Grumpy Cat (And Pokey), Strawberry Shortcake, Sanjay and Craig, Assassins Creed, March, Spongebob, and more.
Chili Cook-Off amp; Cinco de Mayo Festival
Saturday, May 7th 11AM-5PM smrpd.org
So much fun, all rolled into one day of fun The Silverado Modjeska Recreation amp; Park District is putting on the 11th Annual Silverado Chili cook-off and Cinco de Mayo festival. The day will include live music and entertainment, artists, vendors, a petting zoo, food and beverages and more fun.
Annual Soka University International Festival
Saturday, May 7th 10:30AM-5PM soka.edu
Enjoy 900 musicians and dancers performing on four stages, and over 250 non-profit, craft and business exhibitors. The 2016 International Festival will again be part of the Orange Countys Imagination Celebration, presented in cooperation with Arts Orange County and the Orange County Department of Education. Admission is free and the fun includes a wide and delicious variety of international foods, exhibitors, games and activities, art exhibitions, ceramic sales, arts areas and a kids play area.
Stand-Up for the Cure 2016
Saturday, May 7th 8AM suftc.org
Source: Flickr
Stand up against breast cancer by going standup paddle boarding at the Newport Dunes this May. In support of the OC Susan G Koman foundation, the day will be filled with fun including fun races, instructors to teach you how to paddle, music, silent auction, raffles, happy hour beer and wine and lunch from the Newport Rib Company. At the event you can also get a free breast or skin cancer examination with the friendly doctors and nurses of Kaiser Permanente.
Annual Taste of Anaheim
Thursday, May 12th 5:30PM-10:30PM tasteofanaheim.com
Taste of Anaheim features more than 40 local restaurants to get you familiar with all the latest delicious places opening up around town that you just HAVE to try. Attendees to enjoy include restaurants, bowling alleys, bakeries and much more from around Southern California at Anaheim GardenWalk for an evening full of food, drinks, music and fun Rock out to The Spazmatics 80’s cover band and more while you chow down on the best local eats. Tickets are $40 presale and $45 day-of.
OC Night Market
Friday, May 13th – Sunday, May 15th Fri amp; Sat: 4PM-12AM | Sun: 4PM-11PM ocnightmarket.com
Produced by 626 Night Market, the original and largest Asian-themed night market in the US, OC Night Market is in its third season this summer. There will be three weekends of festivities starting in May with food, merch, crafts, arts, games, music and entertainment for the whole family. Bringing together local talents, businesses and entrepreneurs, the OC Night Market is all about celebrating local flavor, community and culture.
Annual Irvine Korean Cultural Festival
Saturday, May 14th 10AM-5PM irvinekoreanfestival.com
This year will mark the 7th Annual Irvine Korean Cultural Festival celebrating the cultural heritage and artistic traditions of Korea and the broader Irvine community. This community event is a culture-filled extravaganza replete with fine Korean cuisine, games, art, music, and a wide variety of live entertainment. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
The Great Wine Festival 2016
Saturday, May 21st 2PM-5PM greatwinefestival.com
What better place to host The Great Wine Festival than the Great Park in Irvine? Now in its 6th year, the Great Wine Festival will feature live entertainment and unlimited tastings from more than 30 exceptional wineries, breweries and spirits, and restaurants. This event will take place at the Orange County Great Park located in Irvine among the citrus plantings, native shade trees, and iconic Great Park Balloon. Purchase single or couple tickets on the site and check out the full list of wine exhibitors.
Mission Viejo Film Festival
Saturday, May 21st 12PM-9PM missionviejofilmfestival.com
The Mission Viejo Film Festival is a showcase for aspiring filmmakers and supports a worthy and charitable cause. All proceeds from this festival will be donated to City of Hope’s research and treatment of cancer. All films are family friendly, 15 minutes maximum and are submitted for two categories: Elementary – High School and College and Indie. Screenings will take place at the Kaleidoscope in Mission Viejo with a question-and-answer period after each screening with the filmmakers.
Like Totally 80s Festival
Saturday, May 21st 12PM-10PM yosttheater.com
The Yost Theater will be hosting the totally rad “Like Totally 80’s Festival” featuring all the greatest things from your favorite era. The bomb-tastic line up includes The Motels, Flock of Seagulls, Dramarama, Clive Farington and more. Fun includes local 80s New Wave Bands, costume contest, games, full bar, food trucks, movie screenings and more. The event will be held outside closing off 2 city blocks so you have plenty of room to bust a move and enjoy the night
Balboa Island Artwalk
Sunday, May 22nd 9AM-5PM balboaislandartwalk.info
Balboa’s summer season kicks off with the Island Artwalk with over a mile of local art and live music. Admission is free to enjoy 100 artists exhibiting everything from paintings to photography and blown glass. The Balboa Island Artwalk is the perfect opportunity to support local artists and pick up some great new summer pieces for your home while you soak up some sun.
Taste of Brea
Thursday, May 26th 5PM-9PM breachamber.com/TasteOfBrea
For just $20.00 for adults and $10.00 for children attendees are welcomed to sample unlimited tastings from the best local restaurants and breweries. The Brea Chambers annual family-friendly festival regularly attracts over 2,500 visitors, and Birch Street will be closed for pedestrians only for live music and dancing. There will also be a vendor zone for tons of easy locally shopping.
Garden Grove Strawberry Festival
Friday, May 27th – Monday, May 30th Fri: 1-10PM | Sat amp; Sun: 10AM-10PM | Mon: 10AM-9PM strawberryfestival.org
The 58th Annual Strawberry Festival is this month in Garden Grove. The festival has all the trappings of a true community fair including arts and crafts, carnival rides, game booths vendors and food, food, food Stage shows feature celebrity and local performers and the largest Strawberry Shortcake devoured by hungry fairgoers on opening night. Don’t forget to bring the whole family for the parade on Saturday.
Frozen at Disney’s California Adventure
Friday, May 27th – Sunday, June 26th disneyparks.disney.go.com
A stage production of Frozen is coming to the Hyperon Theater at Disney’s California Adventure theme park. Audiences will be immersed in the emotional journey of Anna and Elsa with all the excitement of live theater, including elaborate costumes and sets, stunning special effects, show-stopping production numbers and a few surprises. Frozen will be replacing the long running Aladdin show.
Patchwork Show Santa Ana
Sunday, May 29th 11AM-5PM dearhandmadelife.com
Patchwork Show Santa Ana was the first location for the Modern Makers Festival and the biggest event drawing thousands of customers for over seven years. The collection of local artists and makers will be held downtown in the heart of the Artists Village next to The Gypsy Den, Lola’s, Little Sparrow, Grand Central Arts Center and El Centro Cultural de Mexico. This urban and historical setting encompasses three different streets and incorporates local galleries, museums and a handful of restaurants and bars. Come out and enjoy curated food trucks, DIY stations, live music and more
What events in Orange County are you looking forward to this May 2016? Leave a comment and share the details so we can make it out for all the fun too