Best Activities To Do This Week In O.C. - October 31
The week kicks off with Halloween and, although it's a Monday this year, there is still one more spooky event left to finish off the season. The next day, the Thanksgiving activities start with an ever-important food drive. During the rest of the week, attend a local pop rock concert, celebrate Dia de los Muertos with tequila or sample local fare in San Clemente. When the weekend rolls around, stop by the famous Pumpkin Launch or compete in Tustin's annual Dino Dash.
Spooky Seas: Haunted Tales at the Ocean Institute
Ocean Institute
24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 496-2274
www.ocean-institute.org
Monday is the last night for the Ocean Institute's Spooky Seas event, which takes visitors on a spooky tour of a ship called the Pilgrim. The adventure moves through the ship to the harbor and finally ends in a mad scientist's lab. There will be additional activities within the Ocean Institute that are great for children under 10 who might be too scared to step aboard the actual ship, and once you've finished your tour, there will be hot cocoa and apple cider available for purchase as well. The tours start at 6 p.m. and run every 10 minutes until 8:50 p.m. This is a great way to involve the whole family in your Halloween fun.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Coastline Orthopaedic Associates
11160 Warner Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 850-7300
www.moveforhunger.org
Start the month off right with Move for Hunger's Thanksgiving food drive. Partnering with local business Coastline Orthopaedic Associates, the nonprofit hopes to obtain donated non-perishable foods to be distributed to the Orange County Food Bank this November. The food will, in turn, be used to provide those in need with meals this Thanksgiving. The medical office is accepting holiday-related items like cranberry sauce, stuffing and instant potatoes. In addition, Daly Movers—another local company—will be providing packaging supplies and helping move all of the donations over to the food bank. The drive will run through Nov. 21.
The Summer Set
Constellation Room
3503 South Harbor Boulevard
Santa Ana, CA 92704
(714) 957-0600
www.thesummersetband.com
Pop rock band The Summer Set comes to Santa Ana Wednesday, bringing with them a slew of their hit songs and an intimate atmosphere. The five-piece band, which hails from Arizona, will take the stage in the Constellation Room at the Observatory, a popular venue for smaller tours and lesser-known artists passing through Orange County. The Summer Set has now released four full-length albums and various EPs that showcase their catchy songs of love and nostalgia. Led by frontman Brian Dales, the group will play songs like "Lightning in a Bottle" and "Figure Me Out" as they deliver a feel-good set that will have everyone within the tiny room dancing.
Dia de la Tequila!
Bowers Museum
2002 North Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92706
(714) 567-3600
www.bowers.org
The first Thursday of every month marks Bowers Museum's Thirsty Thursdays, events featuring live music and themed treats as part of a program that encourages exploration of the museum. This month, in honor of Dia de los Muertos, the museum will feature Dia de la Tequila!, an exciting evening that offers music, tequila tasting and a chance to visit their exhibit titled "Virgin of Guadalupe: Images in Colonial Mexico." The menu for the night includes Oaxaca Cheese Tamales, a Roasted Mole Chicken Bowl and Candied Pumpkin With Mexican Caramel. The event will run from 5 to 8 p.m.; the neighboring Kidseum Creative Kids/Parents Night is happening at the same time so parents can drop their kids there before enjoying the Bowers event.
Taste of San Clemente
Casino San Clemente
140 Avenida Pico
San Clemente, CA 92672
(949) 492-1131
www.scchamber.com
For one night only, stop by Casino San Clemente for one of the most delectable events in the area. Now in its 26th year, the event gives locals a chance to sample fare from the restaurants in the surrounding area. It also features beer and wine tasting from nearby vineyards and microbreweries in a souvenir, limited edition wine glass or beer mug. While you're eating and drinking, stroll along the silent auction baskets and maybe make a few bids while you listen to live music from World Tour-Legends of Rock, a cover band playing rock anthems from the 1980s. Make sure to dress in cocktail attire as well.
Pumpkin Launch
California State University, Fullerton
800 North State College Boulevard
Fullerton, CA 92831
(714) 542-2823
www.discoverycube.org
Following Halloween, stop by the Pumpkin Launch to get rid of those jack-o-lanterns you no longer have any use for. Discovery Cube of Orange County hosts the fun, family-friendly event in association with both Cal State Fullerton and George Westrom & Family. The day brings a great deal of excitement as teams figure out the best way to launch their own pumpkins at targets using devices like trebuchets. There will be other interactive games and activities throughout the day as well. Dine on food from gourmet food trucks as you watch the flying pumpkins or register your group ahead of time so you can jump right in to launch one yourself.
Dinosaur Dash
Tustin Market Place
2915 El Camino Real
Tustin, CA 92782
(714) 832-6299
www.dinosaurdash.net
The annual Dinosaur Dash, lovingly referred to as Dino Dash in Tustin, serves as a major fundraiser for the Tustin Public Schools Foundation. Now in its 26th year, the event is expanding regularly to include the current schedule: a 2K, 5K, a 10K and a 50K bike tour. Though most are timed runs, the 2K is a non-timed fun run designed for little ones. Because the money raised for the run is being put back into the school system, it is a huge focus in local schools—both for funding as well as an effort to instill a love of exercise and movement.
