The street fiesta is always fun. There's good music, games, vendors. The street is closed to…read morevehicle traffic. I always take Metrolink when I come.

San Clemente's Fiesta Music Festival is a great festival with live music and a number of vendor…read morebooths offering food and various products and crafts and games for the kids. It's great to make a day of it with lunch and a walk along the beach walk down by the pier. Local musicians provide a lively atmosphere with live music on three stages offering different music genres so you will be sure to find the music you love.

Came for the Sunday event. Really liked that you can park at the San Clemente High School and they…read morehave free buses to transport you to the beach. The event isn't big, but they have activities throughout the day to keep you entertained. They have police patrolling the area to keep everyone safe. It got pretty crowded in the afternoon. Liked the surf and sand castle competition. It was nice to walk on the pier and look at all the vintage cars.

I was here for both days. There were so many things going on some I saw others I didn't. Saturday…read moreon the pier they had old Woodies, Sunday VW busses were there. They had multiple lifeguard competitions, body and board surfing. Both days I ate the city lifeguard pancake breakfast. Fisherman's restaurant had food like corn on the cob, burgers, corn dogs, teriyaki chicken next to the pier. Sunday there was a sand castle contest. I didn't see everything so I will return next year. You can drive and park at San Clemente High and take the free shuttle. I took Metrolink and got off right at the pier.

The Swallows Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano is one of the nation's largest non-motorized…read moreparades, celebrating the return of the swallows with a festive, Old West-style street party held on a Saturday in March. It features extensive equestrian groups, marching bands, dancers, and floats, followed by a lively Mercado Street Faire.

The Swallow's Day Parade is a nice (free) annual event held each March to celebrate the return of…read morethe swallows to the area. It's also "one of the nation's largest non-motorized parades." That's right, you'll see plenty of horses, wagons, bands, and beautiful costumes adorning parade walkers, but no motorized vehicles. You won't see many real swallows at that time, but they are around - their nests are very distinguishable with mud pellets stuck together often in a gourd shape attached to high outer corners of buildings. Growing up, my mom always let them build their nests right above our patio door, much to the displeasure of some visitors. But I digress. You probably want to attend this event only once in your life if you don't already live in the vicinity. It's very organized with a different theme each year, but the parade drags on for quite a bit as there was too much space between each group of paraders. TRAVEL THERE We rode the Metrolink (3/23/19) from Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs. Highly recommended this method of travel because a) parking is free in this particular lot on weekends, b) you can avoid traffic & the absolute hassle of trying to find parking when you reach San Juan Capistrano because it is SUPER crowded, c) children 5 and under ride free, and d) the train depot in SJC leads you within short walking distance of the streets where the parade will be passing through. Overall, the people of SJC including all the law enforcement were very welcoming and nice. SIDE STORY There may be one or two bad apples - like this woman who sat next to my husband halfway through the parade and later let her friends sit right in front of him. Mind you, we were already sitting on the street in front of people who are in chairs or standing. She didn't like it when he told them he thought they were being disrespectful since they kept scooting in front of him more. She turned up the psychometer real quick, spoutin' out stuff like "hit me!" What the... This chick was a brand new kind of crazy! A sheriff's deputy who was standing nearby kept listening to her and my husband go back and forth, but the deputy really kept his eyes on HER. Most likely because she was trying to instigate something that wasn't going to happen. Eventually man-hating crazy town left because I wasn't moving. Lol. I wasn't about to let this mouthpiece & her inconsiderate friends ruin our day, but then our 5-year-old daughter openly declared, "That woman was really mean to Daddy." TIPS Consider bringing a... - light jacket - hat and sunglasses - blanket to sit on - cash for the Mercado Street Faire! There's plenty of food, games, & merch

What a great music venue! Three years and running strong. The only disappointment is getting…read morethere early, securing great seats in front, and the Driftwood security folks allowing people standing IN FRONT OF those who established a front row seat in chairs. Standing should be behind chairs! Common sense 101...

"One's options in this world are as vast as the horizon, which is technically a circle and thus…read moreinfinitely broad. Yet we must choose each step we take with utmost caution, for the footprints we leave behind are as important as the path we will follow. They're part of the same journey -- our story." ― Lori R. Lopez, Dance Of The Chupacabras What an amazing event this was! OC Meets Napa and Baja, presented by Community Health Center AltaMed, brought primarily Latino-centric restaurants and chefs in Orange County and Latino-owned wineries in Napa and Baja together in a celebration of culture. Proceeds from all the ticket sales went toward supporting the Orange County health services and programs that AltaMed spearheads in underserved communities. When I was Housing Manager for the City of Huntington Beach, I funded Alta Med through the City's CDBG program and am very knowledgable about the great services they provide especially in a country that still has an imperfect and expensive healthcare system. What was cool about this event was actually seeing, meeting and talking to the chefs/winemakers. These are the people who chose their path, who chose their own story. The passion from chefs such as Beto Ygei from 930 Sushi (excellent spicy yellowtail), Carlos Selgado of Taco Maria (wonderful scallop here), Gabbi Patrick (I think they did a scallop dish too), Rogelio Martinez of Casa Oaxaca (so excited was he about his sorbets and ice cream), and winemakers such as Alex, Oscar and Lola Llamas (best wines at event and great people too who invited us to hang out afterwards). This is the type of event that I love to attend and is only second to the San Jose Jazz Festival as favorite yelp events of this kind that I was lucky enough to get tickets from Yelp. Was disappointed in the Baja wines as there was little balance or flavor with those wines, and a lot of rustic smells and astrigent finishes. However given that when traveling the local wines always taste better when you are visiting their area (Cinque Terre was an example of this where the wines are fabulous only when you are outdoors on a patio with a great view eating a sublime pesto dish in Italy), I will visit Baja soon and visit the better wineries on their home turf ;-) Thanks again Yelp for this event! Sidney

I was a lucky winner of VIP tickets ($125 pp) to OC Meets Napa and Baja sponsored by AltaMed. I…read morewas worried about rain but it cleared up right before the event started which led to the vendors scrambling to set up their tents. It was warm and muggy but there was plenty of food and drink for all the guests to enjoy. There were plenty of Napa and Baja wine vendors pouring wine throughout the event along with restaurants from LA, OC, and Baja. Some of my favorite food vendors were Anepalco's Cafe, Taco Maria, Gabbi's Mexican Kitchen, and Deckman's en el Mogor. Wine was definitely plentiful as was the food. There was a wine wheel that you could spin for $20, which went to the Women in Action charity and in turn you won a wine bottle valued anywhere from $40 to $80. I won an $80 bottle of wine. It was pretty awesome. There were tables for all the guests to lounge and mingle at. The event was held at Mission San Juan Capistrano which I had never visited before. We were allowed to walk around the exhibits while the Mission was closed to the public. Pretty cool. Thanks to Yelp OC for the tickets. My +1 and I had a great time.

Went to the Greek Festival today and it was soo much fun! Parking was free, entry $5. I have always…read morewanted to attend, and this year was the year i made it happen. I loved the live music, the dancing, the singing, the food vendors and other clothing, trinket vendors. They had a kids section with face painting. Something for everyone. It was awesome being in an environment with yaya's and pappoús, and family mixed young and old enjoying music, food, and just being happy. My parents made it there sooner than i had and already were immersing themselves with Side - Tzatziki & Pita $4.00 Spanakopita (1 piece) $7.00 Greek Salad - small $7.00 for $18.00 All while enjoying how to learn greek dancing and listening to music. When I arrived, the good times were still rolling and i had to order my chicken gyro with fries. Soo worth it. Yumm! I went for their Greek Sundae with Baghalava and they had to stop serving it for one reason or another. It was the talk of the festival about how great it was. Next year, definitely thats on my bucket list. Thats the first thing im getting. Seeing the lamb roasted on the spit reminded me of the movie "my big fat greek wedding". Same vibes, 1000%. Everything was clean and organized and loved it! It still going on until 11pm, as i was leaving at 5pm people were still arriving and the party was still getting lit! I have to pace myself next year. I purchased some cute stuff by the vendors , specifically : and Evil Eye Tote and evil eye accessories. For those who know me, know the "mati" is real and your girl here doesnt take any chances. Hehehe. Iykyk!! ;) Overall, 10/10.

Went to the San Juan Capistrano Greek Festival last night. It's always a cool charitable event…read more The vendors are nice and food is good (a bit pricey but it's for charity). The wine booth and beer tent are always fun. They always play the key college football games so the fans do not have an excuse not to go. We enjoyed a bottle of wine with some friends and strangely it paired well with a tasty gyro and some Greek fries. There is Greek music and dancers too. Fun family event.

I've been to the Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach probably three or four times now between the…read moresummer and winter festivals and despite the crowds, the traffic, and the absurd lines... I keep going back! I usually attend with a close friend and while she's more of the purchaser, I tend to be a window shopper and craft admirer soaking it all in while seeing what surprises the booths contain. Though last monthI did pick up a few Christmas gifts for friends and family even though there wasn't much holiday specific merchandise. It felt great to support local artists and find some unique pieces. The winter festival decor is especially great with the cozy lights, festive touches, and plenty of spots that are great photo ops for both adults and families. The whole place is whimsical and creative and part of the fun is simply wandering without a plan and seeing what you find! Now for the realities: parking is insane, traffic can be really bad, and the lines for entry, food, and sometimes even the restrooms can really test your patience. The food lines in particular are ridiculous, so I usually eat before and/or plan dinner outside the festival (it's cheaper and less crazy). Pro tip: buy your ticket online and show it at the door. Do not wait in line to purchase tickets on site unless you enjoy unnecessary suffering!! All that said, the Sawdust Festival remains uniquely Laguna and there's always that sense of mystery about what you'll discover. Overall, four stars from me!

We went on December 21st, which was apparently the last day of the Sawdust Winter Fantasy event in…read moreLaguna Hills. This was our first, and possibly our last time that we will be attending one of these events. The parking situation was insane. We sat in bad traffic (caused by the festival as well as the construction being done on the highway) heading to Lot 16, only to find out after 35 minutes of slowly creeping and lapping down the minimal amount of lanes of parking (along with many other drivers doing the same thing) that we should just turn around and head back to Irvine for their free temporary lot instead. So we sat in major traffic again now headed back to Irvine to hopefully catch a trolley from there. (There went about an hour of our lives wasted.) So we get back to that lot and wait another 20 minutes or so only to find out that the next trolley that pulled up leaking all kinds of stuff, and the driver telling everyone that the trolley is out of commission and that the group would have to wait for the next one. Oy! So at this point we would have called it quits and cancelled this option for the day, BUT we had already prepaid online for our tickets... So we decided to spring for an uber instead. We were originally FIRST in line, but because the trolley pulled up to the stop and just parked there (blocking) broken down, everyone turned and faced the other way and now we would have been the absolute LAST loading the next trolley. (There was a huge crowd by then.) Our uber experience was much more pleasant, but there we were once again sitting in heavier traffic heading back in the direction we were originally that morning. What a day... Long story short, we get in and there are just crowds EVERYWHERE. It was so tight at times trying to walk past the individual booths, and hearing people (including multiple vendors) just hacking and sneezing away WAS NOT helping. Our family had managed to remain healthy and disease free all Winter, and we were definitely not planning on getting the flu, COVID or whatever as this seemed like a true disease spreader event. The food and drinks area were much worse, and once we got our food we ended up squeezing ourselves into a little pocket of an area and stood to drink our drinks and eat our quick meals. After perusing the entire proximity and spending a little time chatting with a few of the vendors, we took a few photos by the central Christmas tree and a little scenery (trying my best not to get any crowds into our shots), and headed our way out to the trolley. As we passed the ticket booth, we asked a young gal which direction the trolleys would be picking up and she just rudely shrugged and said she didn't know. The afternoon and evening ended up being quite long because of all the parking hassles and crowds. I don't feel it was worth our time for that day.

Way more crowded than I was expecting, but the energy was infectious! Seating was limited, so be…read moreprepared to share a picnic table with others; find a an open spot at the bleachers (and camp out there); or do what we did and plop down on top of semi-dead grass! Some people didn't buy tickets and instead, camped out on the beach (behind the fenced boundary) where you can hear the music, but won't be able to see the stage. VIP definitely had the perks - its own bleachers, separate entrance (closer to the parking areas, so you walk less), and air-conditioned bathrooms. The stage had big screens which made it easy to see the bands perform from almost any viewpoint (except the back where the food vendors were located). By the way, there are plenty of food and drink options! Free hydration stations were available too (bring your own non-glass bottle to fill up). We arrived around 6 PM and lucked out with parking at the structure near Dana Point Harbor (the Ohana Fest website offered prepaid parking here, but indicated it was sold out). And... we didn't actually park in the structure, but on the outer side of it, which ended up being perfect since we avoided the long exit lines within the parking structure after the event ended. Parking was $60. Other options include parking further away and taking the free trolley, or taking an Uber and being dropped off at the venue entrance. Green Day headlined day 3 of the festival and absolutely crushed it. It was amazing to see one of my favorite childhood bands perform live! THE VERDICT. A bit chaotic but totally worth it for the experience, the music, and the memories. If we ever decide to come back, VIP is the route we're going. Our old asses need a seat closer to the stage and semi-decent restrooms.

Great event and I think he tried to do the right thing but for 2026 scalpers bought all the tickets…read morewith Chase cards and immediately put them on sale through StubHub. Regular attendees and fans with presale codes could not get tickets.

So freaking crowded in the Ritz ballroom. Oversold. No way to sample anything as the lines were…read moreridiculous. Not enough outside seating. People rushing for open seats. Food selection was very disappointing and sparse. Will not return to this event. More hype than substance. The dribbles of wine given as samples were ridiculous as well. Had to "negotiate" for a real sample size. No Covid protocols and extremely packed ballroom with total chaos. Very poorly run event.

Awesome event! My first time here and I can't wait to return next year. Great selection of beers…read moreand wines. I would like to see more food, but the choices that were available were delicious. The booths were generously spaced out giving plenty of room for walking or standing. The Spazmatics and Nutty were very entertaining to watch. It was great to see a diverse crowd... from young to old... from wild young and free to happily married with kids in tow! Despite all the drinking... this was a very family friendly event. Very positive and fun atmosphere.

I have been to the Doheny Blues Festival several years and every year I have enjoyed it completely!…read more It's basically just a chill day/weekend to sit on a chair, lay on a blanket or walk around. There are 2 stages of music, food booths, vendor booths and a great view of the beach and surrounding Dana Point. Seems the weather has always cooperated each year that I've attended (and if it didn't, I enjoyed the day so much that I've forgotten!) I love that you've got an event card to just keep on yourself and so not worry about money. Parking is awful if you come late, thank goodness for taxis ($5/person to drop you off closer to the main entrance... and $5/person to drop you off at your car door). A few years I've stayed at a motel/hotel during the event... THAT is the way to do it! Whether headliners are big names or not, the music never fails. Because of this festival I've become fans of some musicians and bands that I may never have heard of otherwise. Blues is amazing when heard live!! I'll always go back the the Blues Festival... made great friends, heard great music and had a great time every time! CHEERS!!!

Setup is cool and it has so much potential, but they really ruin it with two things:…read more 1. There is almost no place you are allowed to stand or dance. The entire viewing area for the main stage is chairs. I'd say 1% of the viewing area is a place you can stand (far right side up against a fence!) 2. To purchase food or drinks, you have to go to a special tent and buy and Event Card and load money on it. Then if you don't use it, go back to the tent and get a refund. It's like they had a meeting to see who could come up with the least efficient or most annoying way to pay for it, and then they decided to use it for their festival. I would not attend this ever again.