All weekend April 19-21
Hanamatsuri Festival free, Sat & Sun 1-7pm. food, cultural demonstrations, games. (Flower Festival) celebrates the birth of Siddhārtha Gautama, who became Śākyamuni, the historical Buddha. Free Parking and shuttle from Magnolia High School, OCBC, 909 S. Dale Avenue, Anaheim.
https://www.orangecountybuddhist.org/hanamatsuri Newport Boat Show $40, Fri & Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm. Free shuttle, park at Hoag Health 538 Superior Ave,Lido Marina Village, Newport Beach.
https://www.nbibs.com/ Free Kiddie Train Rides Sat &Sun, 10am-3:30pm. (3rd weekend every month is free) Goathill Junction Railroad at Fairview Park, 2480 Placentia Avenue,Costa Mesa. It's on the East side of Placentia Ave between Adams Ave & Victoria St. Look carefully for the entrance, as you will be entering via a gravel road that is difficult to spot.
https://ocmetrains.org/ Garden Bros Circus $20/kids, $40/adults. Thurs 4:30/7:30pm, Fri 4:30/7:30pm, Sat 1:30/4:30/7:30pm, Sun 1/4/7pm. Entertainment in a theatrical 5-ring setting, featuring the human cannonball, aerial artists, the “Wheel of Death,” motorcycles in the “Sphere of Fear,” the funniest clowns, jugglers. OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa.
https://ocfair.com/event/garden-bros-nuclear-circus/?wcs_timestamp=1713457800 Japan Fair$10 admission, $12 parking. Fri 5-11pm, Sat 12-10pm, Sun11am-7pm Cosplay show, tuna cutting show, popular Japanese artists/comedians performances, traditional instrument performances, games, kimono models. Anaheim Building, Lot I, OC Fair & Event Center, OC Promenade, OC Fairgrounds, Costa Mesa.
https://ocfair.com/event/oc-japan-fair-april-2024?wcs_timestamp=1713546000 OC Wine Fest $55 for 3 hours. Parking $12. Sat noon-3pm or 4:30-7:30pm. Sun Noon-3pm. OC Fair, The Hangar, Costa Mesa.
https://ocfair.com/event/oc-wine-fest/?wcs_timestamp=1713614400 Tibetan Sand Mandalafree to view Mandala creation in real time, Fri- 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm with kids activities and sound healing. Sun, 10am-2pm with procession to beach for Dissolution Closing ceremony, Mandala will be created by hand by monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery. Healy House, Sawdust Festival grounds, 935 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach.
https://www.monksinlaguna.com/schedule.html Beetlejuice MusicalApril 16-28, $59+, Segerstrom Theater, Costa Mesa.
https://www.goldstar.com/los-angeles/shows/37155-beetlejuice-oc Live Music on the Green free,Fri& Sat 6-9pm, Sun 12-3pm. Bella Terra Mall on The Green (new lawn area in front of Century Theaters) Parking: Park in the structure next to Costco. Huntington Beach.
https://www.bellaterra-hb.com/events Live Music on Forest free, Fri-Sundays, various times, downtown Laguna Beach in the Forest pedestrian area.
https://www.lagunabeachcity.net/government/departments/cultural-arts/performances/promenade-on-forest-stage#ad-image-0 Free Self-guided Earth Day Scavenger Hunt through April 22, Ten stops on interactive hunt with QR codes. Dana Point Harbor.
www.standuptotrash.com/ScavengerhuntDPHarbor More Earth Day Activities https://enjoyorangecounty.com/earth-day/ Friday April 19
Discovery Day at Centennial Farmfree, 9am-noon. For kids: Radish Seed Planting,Baby Chicks, Oxen Demo,Crops Education, livestock Animals
https://ocfair.com/event/discovery-day-at-the-farm-april-19-2024?wcs_timestamp=1713517200 Scavenger Hunt: Mo Willems characters Free, Fri, All day, El Toro Library. Prizes while supplies last.
https://ocpl.libcal.com/event/11987814 The Color Purple Movie free, Fri, 2-4:20pm. Laguna Niguel Library.
Teens: Create Ice Cream Sandwiches Fri, 3-4:30pm, Rancho Santa Margarita Library. free?
Saturday April 20
Bob Marley 4/20 Celebration free, Sat, 2pm, Sea Legs, Huntington Beach.
https://www.sealegsatthebeach.com/events Eat Around the World Sat, 5-9pm. Buy your food at this Food Festival, Center Street Promenade, Anaheim.
https://downtownanaheim.com/upcoming-events Scandinavian Heritage Festival free,Sat, 11am-3pm. Crafts, foods, genealogy, etc. Lefse. Murray Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo.
Earth Day Festival Free, Sat, 10am-2pm. Help plant trees. food trucks, yoga zone, kids activities, art exhibits, etc. City Hall Lawn, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa
Earth Day at the Bay free, Sat, 10am-4pm. Crafts, Music, Science, Scavenger Hunt. free parking. Muth Interpretive Center, 2301 University Dr, Newport Beach.
https://newportbay.org/earth-day/ Me Encanta Santa Ana free, Sat 7:30am-3pm. for adults and Kids age 8+. Adults MUST REGISTER
https://secure.rec1.com/CA/santa-ana-ca/catalog/tab/ 21287/009ffd05542dcf8aa5eee021fa68256b Free T-shirt and grab&go breakfast. Jerome Park, Santa Ana.
https://www.santa-ana.org/me-encanta/ Spring Madness Night Market free, 5-9pm, Music, food, beer garden. (3rd weekend every month.) North Paseo, 25282 Marguerite Pkwy, Mission Viejo.
https://www.mondaynightmarket.com/missionviejo $2 kids movies at Regal Saturdays through May 4, favorite family movies — like The Super Mario Bros. Movie or Harry Potter — for just $2 a ticket at the first showtime of the day.
https://shopthemarketplace.com/promo/2-saturday-morning-kids-flicks-at-regal/ Sunday April 21
Fallbrook Avocado Festivalfree, Sun, 9am-5pm. Avocado Attire Contest, bands, kids activities. free shuttles. Downtown Fallbrook, Main Ave. (Yes, occasionally I add in Non-OC Events.)
https://www.fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org/avocado-festival/ Earth Day Festival free, Sun, 10am-2pm. Live animals, water quality testing, activity booths. Bolsa Chica Wetlands,3842 Warner Avenue, Huntington Beach.
Santa Ana Zoo Residents Free Day (3rd Sun of month) w Dr Lic or utility bill proof.
https://www.santaanazoo.org/visinfoa.htm 5 Mile Group Hike at Nix free, Sun, 8-10:30am, Hike with Roxy and the Trail Mix group. Nix Nature Center, 18751 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach. RSVP and get details here:
https://meetu.ps/e/N4B37/1MDkT/i Free Sundays Concert 2pm, Nixon Library.
https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/sunday-concert-series. SAI Scholarship Winners perform.
Plan Ahead-
Ride Metrolink Free, Earth DayMon, April 22. No ticket required.
https://metrolinktrains.com/earthday?j=30125748&sfmc_sub=1683885364&l=4718102_HTML&u=482801651&mid=524000233&jb=11016 April Library Poetry Contest w $100 prizes https://ocpl.libcal.com/event/12154126 Sunset SerenadesFree Concerts every Friday in May at Heisler Park Amphitheater, up the stairs from Main beach in Laguna Beach. Down the street from Las Brisas by Whale Sculpture. Jazz, pop, and Rock bands. Bring your own alcohol beverage is allowed only if you have food also.
Laguna Walking Gardens Tour May 4, $60+, 10am-3pm. ,
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/laguna-beach-garden-club-2024-gate-garden-tour-tickets-761453737627 Rancho Days Fiesta May 4, Lake Forest.
Jazz Wednesdays in Laguna Beach https://www.lagunabeachlive.org/jazz2024 Crawfish Festival May 17-19, Fountain Valley.
Scottish Fest at OC Fairgrounds May 25, 26.
https://www.scottishfest.com/?fbclid=IwAR0BJMRlE5E3rN9AsTu9vxkRBTxQNeFLBRM1CxqJby2k8wu6gYaS9sggNu4 Memorial Day 1/2 Marathon, 10k/5k Laguna Hills.
$29 Aladdin Musical May at Segerstrom in Costa Mesa.
https://www.goldstar.com/orange-county/shows/38481-disneys-aladdin +++++ See Comment for Frau's Random Ideas