Things To Do: Orange County Festivals And Street Fairs

What’s better than getting out there in the California sunshine and checking out some of the best handmade products by creative and dedicated crafters? If you’re looking for things to do, Orange County natives and visitors, here are our top picks for street fairs and festivals in Southern Cali.

On March 10th and 11th, check out the California Irish Festival, at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds. This is an all-ages event which will feature live music from such bands as the Brick Town Blaggers and the Ploughboys, as well as a variety of food trucks specializing in Celtic and Irish cuisine. There will be dancing and bagpipes galore, so make sure and wear your green attire, as you head to the beer garden to make some new friends.

On Saturdays and Sundays from April 7th to May 20th, head to Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale for the Renaissance Pleasure Faire. If you dream of adventure in the Seven Kingdoms or you’re just an aficionado of all things Medieval, you’ll love the fully-armored jousting, the turkey legs, and the costumed characters. Try your hand at games of skill like archery and ax throwing, and finish up the day by scouting out the marketplace and braving the pub crawl.

On April 20th and 21st, it’s the California Wine Festival in Dana Point. If you’re a lover of merlot and cabernet, you don’t want to miss the nearly 250 selections from 80 different wineries. There will also be food to pair them with from over 30 gourmet food companies and area restaurants.

We conclude with the Orange International Street Fair, which takes place from September 1st through the 3rd, on East Chapman Avenue in Orange. This is an enormous event, featuring over fifty arts and crafts booths featuring only handmade products including paintings, pottery, jewelry, and sculpture. There are also food booths which represented sixteen different ethnicities, at last count. Shop and dine in a relaxed outdoor setting, and feel good about yourself for supporting local artists.

With so many activities, there’s bound to be the perfect selection for everyone. Enjoy the food, crafts, and vintages from California artists and craftspeople of all stripes, and we’ll be back next time with some more can’t-miss selections.