Weekend Events for Families in Orange County

Weekend Events for August 11 – 12, 2018 – it’s going to be a great weekend here in the OC with perfect weather! what are you planning on doing in Orange County? there are some great family-friendly events happening in the OC this Saturday and Sunday. some are FREE!!! or beat the heat and go to the movies or Discovery Cube OC. hope you have a great weekend. (to submit your event, email jillparkin@gmail.com by the wednesday before your event.)

All Weekend

Summer Movies in Orange County | Check out this list of over 100 Summer Movies! There are movies on the beach, movies at the park, summer movie programs for kids and a list of drive-in theaters. FREE

Summer Concerts in Orange County | Check out this list of over 100 Summer Concerts in the Park! FREE

OC Fair | OC Fairgrounds | All Day – The OC Fair is finally open for the summer! All the favorite sights, sound and smells of the Orange County Fair have come to life. Read this post here on How to visit the OC Fair on a Budget.

Watermelon & Corn Picking Tours and Watermelon Festival | Tanaka Farms – Watermelon and Corn Picking Tours are every half hour from 9:30 am – 2:30 pm. No reservations needed. Watermelon Festival runs weekends in August. Come celebrate the melon here at Tanaka Farms, and enjoy a day with lots of food, drink, games, crafts, samples, face-painting, vendors, ATV rides, wagon rides and more!

Summer Art Show | Crystal Cove State Park | 10:00am – 4:00pm – Join Crystal Cove Conservancy for a Summer Art Show & Sale at the Crystal Cove State Park Historic District. Over 20 renowned Plein Air artists will display paintings capturing the beauty of Crystal Cove State Park. Park in the Los Trancos lot (PCH inland at stoplight Los Trancos then walk through the tunnel or take the shuttle.) $15 day-use fee.

Sawdust Arts & Crafts Festival | Laguna Beach | 10:00am – 10:00pm – Opening weekend! Three stages of live music and entertainment! Craft beer and wine! Outdoor eateries and cafes! Free hands-on art classes and daily art demonstrations such as glassblowing! Located in Laguna Beach, the world-renowned Sawdust Art Festival is a short walk from one of the most beautiful destination beaches in Orange County. Set in a cool 3-acre eucalyptus grove, the Sawdust is a picturesque and eccentric hand-built village featuring the fine art and craft of over 200 local artists.

Ghost Town Alive! | Knott’s Berry Farm – Ghost Town Alive! has returned to Knott’s Berry Farm for the summer complete with bandits, cowboys, robberies, judges, a good ol’ western hoedown, and much more! Guests can visit the beloved town of Calico and experience an authentic western adventure by becoming a star in this summer’s story of the Wild West, where the power to unlock adventures is in the hands of every guest. Ghost Town Alive! Runs on select days now through September 3.

Aliso Viejo Fairy Trail is OPEN!!! | Oso Creek Trail in Mission Viejo – The Caring Fairies can be visited at the Oso Creek Trail in Mission Viejo. The begining of the fairy trail is located at 27301 La Paz Road, Mission Viejo, California 92692, adjacent to the Potocki Center for the Arts. The trail is open from sunrise to sunset. Free public parking and fairy map is available at the Potocki Center for the Arts.

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Movies on the Beach – Wall-E | Newport Dunes | Movie starts at Dusk – Newport Dunes’ Movies on the Beach is offered every weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The whole family can enjoy the movies, so bring the kids. Be sure to bring blankets, beach chairs and jackets for the cool Summer nights. FREE

Motorhome Demo Derby – Police vs Fire Departments | OC Fair | 8:00pm – VIP pre-event infield driver meet & greet + photo op options are available. Those with VIP meet & greet tickets may enter the venue 90 minutes before the event start time. There are a limited number of General Admission seats available for this event that are free with the purchase of Fair admission. These seats are available on a first come, first served basis. However, Fair admission does not guarantee a seat at this event.

Moana: Outdoor Movie at the Bowers Museum | Bowers Museum | 6:00 – 10:00pm – Enjoy a family night under the stars while viewing Disney’s Moana! Bring a picnic and grab some popcorn and a cocktail from Tangata’s cash bar. Kids can make art and the family can enjoy after-hours access to the Bowers’ premier exhibit covering the Pacific Islands, Spirits and Headhunters!

Tidepool Walk | Crystal Cove State Park | 11:00am – 3:00pm – Enjoy a 1.3 low tide, at Crystal Cove State Park where a volunteer will lead a guided tidepool walk to Pelican Point, and help identify animals and describe some awesome adaptations. Be prepared to walk on uneven, rocky, rough terrain. Meet at Pelican Point parking lot #2, at the top of the boardwalk near the parking lot (PCH coastward at Newport Coast, right at kiosk to first lot.) $15 day-use fee

Animal Tracking in Fremont Canyon | OC Zoo | 8:00 – 11:00am – Come search for evidence that animals leave behind in nature. Mule deer, bobcat, coyote and even mountain lion call this hidden canyon home. Gain the basic tracking techniques as we search for evidence such as tracks, fur, bones, homes and even scat. You never know what you may find! Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes that you do not mind getting a little dusty. This program is focused for older children and adults.

Rancho Summer Nights | Saddleback Church Rancho Capistrano | 4:00pm – Join us for our next Rancho summer night event – a Tyrone Wells concert! He will be performing for us here at the Ranch before he goes back on the road for his Days We Will Remember Tour! Invite your family and friends! We don’t want anyone living this life alone! So come join us after the 4pm service on the grassy area outside of the Worship Center. We can’t wait to see you here at Saddleback Church Rancho Capistrano!

Public Tour at Bolsa Chica Conservancy | Bolsa Chica Conservancy, Huntington Beach | 10:00am – Tour the wetlands and learn about the wildlife from one of the Bolsa China Conservacy members. FREE

Animal Feeding Day at Bolsa Chica Conservancy | Bolsa Chica Conservancy, Huntington Beach | 12:00 – 1:00 pm – Come join us to learn more about the animals at our interpretive center! During the feeding, we will cover feeding habits and general biology and anatomy of our reptiles and marine animals! *Please note: snake feedings involve live mice.* FREE

See Classic Cars at Donut Derelicts | Donut Derelicts – 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. FREE

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Ranger Led Hike | Caspers Wilderness Park | 8:00 – 9:15am – Join OC Parks Rangers for a 1-mile nature hike in the beautiful Bell Canyon area of Caspers Wilderness Park. Hike lasts approximately one hour and is suitable for all ages. FREE Parking is $5 per vehicle

Back to School Party! | MainPlace Mall | 2:00 -5:00pm – This weekend, MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana is hosting its Back to School Party of the year! MainPlace Mall will be hosting its free Party on the Patio and Artwalk. Friends and family will be able to join us for live music, refreshing mocktails, and delicious food samples from Applebee’s, Lucille’s, Panini Kabob Grill, Starbucks, Mrs. Fields and Hot Dog on a Stick. Guests will also have the opportunity to be entered in a raffle to win exclusive gifts and prizes, in addition to watching live art demonstrations, workshops, a live backpack fashion show and makeover opportunities from MAC and The Makeup Shop. Kids will also have the chance to create their own art journals using recycled materials and pastels.

Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts: The Emperors (Classic Rock) | Mike Ward Park, Irvine | 5:30pm – Grab your lawn chairs, picnic baskets and dancing shoes for an evening of classic rock music in the park with The Emperors. Gourmet food trucks will be on-site.

Orange Crush Demolition Derby | OC Fair | 7:00pm – VIP pre-event infield driver meet & greet + photo op options are available. Those with VIP meet & greet tickets may enter the venue 90 minutes before the event start time. There are a limited number of General Admission seats available for this event that are free with the purchase of Fair admission. These seats are available on a first come, first served basis. However, Fair admission does not guarantee a seat at this event.

San Clemente Fiesta Music Festival | 100 & 200 block of Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente | 9:00am – 7:00pm – Two main blocks of downtown San Clemente are dedicated to an entire day of FUN. Food and game booths sponsored by local nonprofit organizations, three stages with continuous live music throughout the day, contests for all ages, a Salsa Challenge, arts & crafts show, kiddie area, exhibits, face painters and much more