Memorial Day Celebrations In OC
It's time to kick off the summer with Memorial Day celebrations. The weekend will be filled with fun and sun. There is no better way to get a glimpse of what Orange County has to offer for the summer season than with the numerous events taking place from Newport all the way to Santa Ana.
Santa Ana Memorial Day Carnival
Centennial Park
3000 W. Edinger Ave.
Santa Ana, CA 92704
May 24 through 27
www.fiestadecarnival.com
This annual event is available for the whole family and includes rides, games and live music. This location is one the largest parks in the Santa Ana region. Past events have had up to 29,000 attendees. The entire family will leave happy after a day of carnival fun.
Memorial Day Half Marathon
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 975-1812
May 27
www.lagunahillshalfmarathon.com
The race begins in front of the Saddleback Memorial Medical Center and ends at the Laguna Hills Community Center for the half-marathon, 5K and 10K. Runners that take part in this race will honor the United States Marine Corps Dark Horse Battalion. Three dollars per race participant will be donated to the 3/5 Support Committee by The City of Laguna Hills. The Kids Run begins about 9:30 a.m. and the day's festivities are open for all ages, runners and walkers in Orange County. This event goes through a course in Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Laguna Niguel and Aliso Viejo.
10th Annual Newport Beach Wine Festival
Balboa Bay Resort
1221 W. Coast Highway
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 6430-4146
May 24 through 26
www.BalboaBayResort.com
The evening starts with a six-course master chef dinner and reception. The chef for the evening is Executive Chef Josef Lageder and many other highly respected chefs from the area will prepare cuisine that will complement the old and new world wines that will be presented by the sommeliers. There are six scheduled events throughout the weekend. A Grand Tasting will be held in the Grand Ballroom that will feature more than 50 vineyards. It is an event you do not want to miss.
Related: OC's Best Upcoming Spring Events
Memorial Day Weekend Celebration
The Yost Theater
307 N. Spurgeon St.
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(888) 862-9573
May 26
www.yosttheater.com
It's time to usher in the summer, and in Orange County, there is no better place to do that than Yost Theater. This historic landmark is the oldest theater in Santa Ana and the host of this year's Memorial Weekend celebration. Some special DJs include A-baum, DJ Elri, Grizzly Adams, Join Tha Party, Minaya+Vikus, Mikey Made, Mister Blaqk, PartyFavor and Tempo. Doors are open at 9 p.m. and both pre-sale and tickets at the door are $10. There is free entry before 11 p.m. for those that RSVP on the website noted above.
55th Annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival
Village Green
Between Main and Euclid Sts.
Garden Grove, CA 92840
(714) 638-0981
May 24 through 27
www.strawberryfestival.org
When it comes to celebrating Memorial Day weekend, what better way to commemorate the occasion than at a strawberry festival? With more than 55 years of tradition and long-standing reputation in the Orange County region, the Strawberry Festival has entertained the community with dozens of exciting rides, contests, a parade, strawberry shortcakes and games for all ages. This year's grand marshals includes Miss California Leah Cecil and James Hong.
Elle Toussi is a freelance writer covering all things Orange County. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
