(Updated July 2026)
This is your go-to list of Orange County events for families happening this weekend (July 3 -5, 2026). Discover the best things to do in Orange County on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, including free family-friendly events across OC.
Looking for free family-friendly weekend events in Orange County? This guide highlights the best things to do in Orange County this weekend, including kids' activities, community events, food trucks, live music, and craft fairs. Events are organized by date to help families plan their weekend with ease. Always double-check the event website for the latest details.
To submit a weekend event, email jill@sandytoesandpopsicles.com.
Jump to: All Weekend · Friday · Saturday · Sunday
Things to Do in Orange County - All Weekend
Orange County 4th of July Celebrations
List of all the Orange County 4th of July Firework shows and celebrations listed by city for 2026.
Orange County Summer Movies in the Park
List of all the Orange County Summer Movies listed by city for summer 2026.
Orange County Summer Concerts in the Park
List of all the Orange County Concerts in the Park summer 2026.
Orange County Splash Pads
List of all the Orange County Splash Pads and Water Parks open for summer 2026.
Orange County Storytimes
Huge list of every story time in Orange County.
OC Public Library FREE Events
Here you will find all the family-friendly library events in your Orange County library.
🐾🔍Scooby-Doo Mansion Mayhem at Discovery Cube (Santa Ana)
📅 May 23 - September 6, 2026
📍 Discovery Cube OC
2500 N Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92705
💰
Join Scooby-Doo™ and the Mystery Inc. gang for a spooky-fun adventure packed with clues, mysteries, and surprises! Kids can help solve puzzles, search for clues, and discover how teamwork, courage, and curiosity can help crack any case. It's a family-friendly experience filled with laughs, mystery, and plenty of Scooby-Doo fun!
Knott's Soak City (Buena Park)
📅 Open Select Dates, May 16 - September 7, 2026
📍 Knott's Berry Farm
8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA
💰
A 15-acre water adventure park immediately adjacent to Knott's Berry Farm. Soak City boasts 23 speed, tube and body slides including Shore Break featuring 6 different waterslide experiences and a thrilling family raft ride, The Wedge, Tidal Wave Bay wavepool; a one‑third‑mile Sunset River; and the three‑story Beach House, featuring 200 water guns, nozzles, sprayers and other interactive surprises.
Things to Do in Orange County - Friday
🍂 Wild Tales (Newport Beach)
📅 Friday, July 3, 2026
📍 Upper Newport Bay
2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, CA
💰 FREE
Wild Tales is offered every Friday from 10-11 a.m. and includes a story time, age-appropriate hike and themed craft. Each week will focus on a different topic that encourages young ones to learn about the outdoors.
🚘 Main Street Classic Car Show (Garden Grove)
📅 Every Friday
📍 Historic Main Street
Garden Grove, CA
💰 FREE
The Main Street Classic Car Show is the longest-running car show in Orange County. With roughly 50 parking spaces, and the show running every Friday, you're bound to catch a wide variety of rides on display.
Things to Do in Orange County - Saturday
📚 Storytime and Activity at Barnes & Noble (Fullerton)
📅 Saturday, July 4, 2026
📍 Barnes & Noble Fullerton - Amerige Heights Town Center
1923 West Malvern Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92833
💰 FREE
Join us for Storytime every Saturday in our Kids department! Fun activities will vary from book to book! Parents/guardians must attend with their kiddos!
📚 Storytime and Activity at Barnes & Noble (Tustin)
📅 Saturday, July 4, 2026
📍 Barnes & Noble Tustin - The District Tustin Legacy
2857 Park Avenue Suite #M0004, Tustin, CA 92782
💰 FREE
Join us for Storytime every Saturday in our Kids department! Fun activities will vary from book to book! Parents/guardians must attend with their kiddos!
📚 Storytime and Activity at Barnes & Noble (Orange)
📅 Saturday, July 4, 2026
📍 Barnes & Noble Orange - Outlets at Orange
20 City Blvd W. Suite 1000, Orange, CA 92868
💰 FREE
Join us for Storytime every Saturday in our Kids department! Fun activities will vary from book to book! Parents/guardians must attend with their kiddos!
📚 Storytime and Activity at Barnes & Noble (Aliso Viejo)
📅 Saturday, July 4, 2026
📍 Barnes & Noble Aliso Viejo - Aliso Viejo Town Center
26751 Aliso Creek RoadAliso Viejo, CA 92656
💰 FREE
Join us for Storytime every Saturday in our Kids department! Fun activities will vary from book to book! Parents/guardians must attend with their kiddos!
📚 Storytime and Activity at Barnes & Noble (Huntington Beach)
📅 Saturday, July 4, 2026
📍 Barnes & Noble Huntington Beach - Bella Terra
7881 Edinger Ave. #110, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
💰 FREE
Join us for Storytime every Saturday in our Kids department! Fun activities will vary from book to book! Parents/guardians must attend with their kiddos!
🏹 Archery for 10 and up (Anaheim Hills)
📅 Every Saturday Morning
📍 Oak Canyon Nature Center
6700 E Walnut Canyon Rd, Anaheim, CA 92807
Do you know how to shoot a bullseye? Join us for open range archery and we will teach you the basic skills needed to point, aim, and shoot an arrow. We will cover the correct way to draw a bow and talk about range safety. Ages 10 and up.
🚘 Anaheim GardenWalk Cars, Coffee & Culture (Anaheim)
📅 Every Saturday Morning
📍 Anaheim GardenWalk
400 Disney Way Anaheim, CA
💰 FREE
California's only indoor covered Cars & Coffee event! Every Saturday morning, call GardenWalk your home cars & coffee or simply stop by and bring your crowd for a covered C&C late morning gathering. All makes, models, projects, and finished builds are welcome. Enter at Clementine Street north (Clementine & Disney Way).
🚘 South OC Cars and Coffee (San Clemente)
📅 Every Saturday Morning
📍 Outlets at San Clemente
101 W Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente, CA 92672
💰 FREE
The name says you'll find cars and coffee there. But you'll also find people and conversations. And those conversations will cover anything from powertrains to politics.
🚘 Exotics & Espresso (Irvine)
📅 Every Saturday Morning
📍 Eurocar
150 Progress, Irvine, CA 92618
💰 FREE
Each Saturday morning, car enthusiasts from all over gather in the parking lot of Adams Ave Donuts to enjoy a donut, a cup of coffee and a spectacle of hot rods and classic cars.
🚘 Classic Cars at Donut Derelicts (Huntington Beach)
📅 Every Saturday Morning
📍 Donut Derelicts
9015 Adams Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92646
💰 FREE
Each Saturday morning, car enthusiasts from all over gather in the parking lot of Adams Ave Donuts to enjoy a donut, a cup of coffee and a spectacle of hot rods and classic cars.
Things to Do in Orange County - Sunday
Soccerfest at Old World (Huntington Beach)
📅 July 11 - July 19, 2026
📍 The Biergarten at Old World Huntington Beach
7561 Center Ave, Huntington Beach, CA
Watch every World Cup 2026 match on the big screens at Old World Huntington Beach, with German beer, food, and the energy of fans from around the globe.
🚂 Free Family Sundays: COA Performances (San Clemente)
📅 Sunday, July 5, 2026
📍 Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens
415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA 92672
Enjoy FREE admission to Casa Romantica with live music performances from Community Outreach Alliance (COA) musicians through the day.
Free Things to Do This Weekend in OC
These Orange County places are FREE to visit, and open year round to the public. They make great places to visit on the weekends with family:
- Centennial Farm - OC Fair & Event Center | Times Vary
Centennial Farm is open to the public. Visit the animals and the farming gardens. Admission and parking are free - Family-Friendly Tide Pools in the OC Beaches in Orange County
Check out this list of the best family-friendly tide pools in Orange County. - Niguel Botanical Preserve - Crown Valley Community Park | All Day
If you are looking for a scenic, family friendly nature experience, then the Niguel Botanical Preserve in Laguna Niguel is a great place to check out. - The Ecology Center - The Ecology Center, San Juan Capistrano
Every Saturday and Sunday - Open for self-guided exploration. Be sure to check their calendar for workshops and events happening every weekend! FREE - Pier Plaza Art Afaire - Pacific Coast Highway & Main, adjacent to the Huntington Beach Pier
An arts and crafts fair overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Fun Things to Do this Weekend in OC
These OC places are open year round, and make great places to visit on the weekends with family:
- Orange County Farmers Markets - All Over OC | Times Vary
Check out this list of all the farmers markets happening in Orange County. - Balboa Fun Zone - 600 E. Bay Avenue, Newport Beach
The Fun Zone has over 8,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor restaurants, carnival games, vendors, food and fun overlooking the Newport Harbor & Balboa Island. - Anaheim Packing District - 440 S. Anaheim Boulevard, Anaheim
One of the last remaining citrus packing warehouses in OC, that has been historically preserved and retrofitted into a market hall with restaurants, food and vendors. - Irvine Park Railroad - Irvine Regional Park, Orange | All day
Ride the train, concessions, Wheel Fun Rentals - paddleboat and bike rentals, pan for gold, OC zoo, and enjoy the park. - OCC Planetarium - Orange Coast College | Times Vary
The OCC Planetarium is an innovative and immersive experience. Regular showings are offered on weekends so everyone can come enjoy a rotating schedule of breathtaking full-dome experiences that transport you to faraway worlds.
Don't forget about all of these fun things to do in Orange County!
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- 61 Lunar New Year Events in Orange County for Kids and Families [2026]
- 🏁 Best Tips for Monster Jam Anaheim 2026 at Angel Stadium [2026]
- Where to Take Photos with Santa in Orange County, CA (2024)
- Best Christmas Lights in Orange County (2025)
