Orange county never ceases to surprise its visitors and residents with its diverse creative and cultural history. As one of California’s most populous counties, it serves as a mecca for harnessing different creative talents and voices. With that comes many opportunities for creative exploration through a number of fairs and festivals that are put on in the area. Therefore, we encourage you to take the time to step out from inside the insulated campus bubble and explore all that CCI has to offer around you.
1. The Great Junk Hunt
February 25th-26th, 2022
Pomona, CA
4pm-9pm & 10am-12pm
Do you enjoy sifting through mismatched aisles full of vintage and antique items and hunting for hidden gems amidst the organized chaos? Then the Great Junk Hunt is the place for you. This antique market will take place at the Fairplex this weekend in Pomona and features a diverse collection of vintage, industrial, re-purposed, handmade, and stylish home goods for everyone. Beyond combing through aisles of hidden treasures, visitors can add to their experience by sipping on cocktails and listening to live music. By the end of their visit shoppers are bound to walk away with items that are unique to them.
2. 2022 Riverside Dickens Festival
February 26 & 27th
10am to 5pm
The Dickens festival was established nearly three decades ago in 1992, by Carolyn Grant and Joan Patton. Together they wanted to find a creative way to promote literacy, provide educational entertainment, and expand awareness of the similarities between Victorian times and the present. This year the event will run during the last weekend of February from February 26th to the 27th. This two-day festival is jam-packed with immersive activities for the whole family including live singing and dancing performances, theatrical showcases, tea parties for children, fashion shows highlighting Victorian fashion, an array of artistic vendors, opportunities to ask questions about renowned victorian authors, inventors, and historians, and plenty of opportunities to learn about the history, art, entertainment, music, and foods that formed the unique creative expressions of the Victorian era.
3. Whale Watch in Dana Point
March 5 – 6, 2022
Dana Point Harbor
34555 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629
Even though there's a couple more weeks of winter left, the migration of our oceanic companions heralds hints that spring is right around the corner. The Dana Point Festival of Whales is a two-day event that celebrates the annual return of the gray whale species back to the Southern California coast. During this event, visitors can expect to see dozens of whales from smaller minke whales to gigantic gray whales return to their natural habitat, as well as watch them visibly interact with other aquatic species such as dolphins and starfish who are also native to the region. The event includes narrated excursions, food and art vendors, music & entertainment, paddle boarding clinics, art lessons, car shows, educational lectures, and fishing clinics for all to enjoy! Be sure to mark your calendars because you won’t want to miss this exciting welcoming event!
4. Laguna Beach Music Festival
March 28 – April 3, 2022
Laguna Playhouse
606 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Soak in diverse sounds of music at the upcoming Laguna Beach Music Festival. For the last 20 years, the festival has been considered one of the premier classical music events in California and this year visitors can celebrate the best in various genres from classical to rock, jazz, and bluegrass by an unparalleled roster of great musicians including Grammy-winning mandolinist, singer, and songwriter Chris Thile. The event will include community outreach initiatives, educational programs, and special events such as the Festival Prelude at the Laguna Art Museum and the Music Meets Dance Opening Night Event. Audiences can expect a memorable experience where the fascinating scenery of Laguna Beach becomes a natural part of the festival, and people from all walks of life come together to listen, learn, and appreciate the heritage and new perspectives that stem from these classical genres.
5. Boca de Oro Festival of Literary, Visual & Performing Arts and Culture
March 5th 2022
Downtown Santa Ana
11 am to 10pm
Next on the list is the Boca de Oro Festival of Literary, Visual, Performing Arts & Culture that will be returning to Santa Ana for its sixth year next weekend. The festival features an exciting selection of live performances, interactive workshops with writers, storytellers and artists, engaging panelists, author talks, and readings, presented by Santa Ana’s very own community of creatives. The event is centered around uniting local artists and creatives together to share their innovative ideas with the community, which is further highlighted through the event theme of "Together We Rise.” A theme centered around the idea of bringing people together through a shared experience that fosters recovery, rebirth, and reconnection through the arts. Visitors can expect to hear and learn from diverse writers, poets, storytellers, and artists through literary readings, workshops, panel discussions, performances, poetry slams, and both visual and performance art experiences.
6. Rose Bowl Flea Market & Long Beach Antique Market
Long Beach
March 20, 2022
5:30am to 2pm
4901 E Conant St, Long Beach, CA 90808
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Rose Bowl
March 13, 2022
9am to 4pm
1001 Rose Bowl Dr, Pasadena, CA 91103
Whether you’re hunting for vintage clothing, shopping for household goods, or just looking for an item with a bit of history, the Long Beach Antique Market and Rose Bowl Flea market are sure to have the treasures you’re looking for. The Long Beach Flea Market boasts 800 vendors, while the Rose Bowl accommodates over 2,500 vendors who all exhibit their collection of antiques and collectibles through thousands of authentic and popular mainstream items that can be purchased at significantly low prices. From its vendors and staff, these flea markets deliver a unique experience and possess an energetic environment that can be enjoyed by first-comers and returners alike.
Aside from the festivals, marketplaces, and events mentioned above, there's always fairs and festivals to look forward to in Orange County. For now we hope that our list has provided you with some helpful insight into ways you can immerse yourself and enjoy experiences in the creative and cultural industries through events that are happening around us in the coming weeks.