Gave it a miss for a handful of years, but went back in 2024…read more But why? I like the Street Fair for the nostalgic element of my childhood: always coming here with my family. But now: so much of the food is fried, inauthentic and expensive. The only good thing might have been some of the music stages. While I'm glad we gave it another go, I think we'll miss the next few years again. 2026: 5/100

As many know The Orange International Street Fair began in 1973 ! Ever since I can remember, I've…read morebeen attending this event. If you missed this year's, Labor Day weekend international Food, fair event, please make sure that you attend the next one. There is definitely something here for everyone, the schools, dance studios, you name it. Everything for everyone is here! I like the booth that read " meet the Orange County mayor". I didn't have any questions for him though. This year there was a wonderful area specifically designed for children. Apparently the restaurant, Canes chicken fingers, gave a lot of donations for this area. The only thing I didn't care for was the timeshare booth, they really didn't advertise what their intent was. I noticed that everybody was enjoying the food, it's just such a wonderful event! In conclusion, can't wait to go next year again, because it was really well organized, very clean, everyone seem to be polite. Parking was not an issue for us. We got there very early, and the weather was great.

Lots of interesting vendors with interesting things. Hardly any places to sit and eat, but very…read morespacious at the same time. Things are not cheap, so expect to pay a little extra compared to what you would find outside of the market.

We LOVE coming to 626 OC!!! We look forward to it all year. Great food choices. Some were better…read morethan others (I have edited my food post after a further review). Thumbs up to Cafe 949 (great lobster and garlic noodles) and MJ's Bellychon Basket for excellent lechon, Daddy's Catch for great dusted fries and lemonade, Molly Kitchen for grilled octopus, HGG Tanghulu for interesting sugar glazed fruits on a stick. Thumbs sideways for New England Seafood for lack of flavored oysters, and Bonanza Bakery and Cafe for creepy realistic animal shaped mousse cakes. Thumbs down for Kanto Filipino Street Food for chewy (not in a good way) fried chicken skin (old and rubbery probably leftovers from the previous day) and lack luster flavorless lechon. Overall 626 is an experience too good to pass up even though some foods are a disappointment. Atmosphere here is great, service is excellent! Just be choosy when making your selections. There were more to tastes we wanted to try, but our bellies and take home bag was stuffed.

When Taste of Santa Ana first opened at Main Place Mall a few years ago, it was an amazing event…read moreand experience (5 stars). There were more things to do,, unique places to eat, and cool vendors. However, these past two annual taste events have been uninspiring 2022. There were about 40 vendors. About 10 were taco vendors, 10 drink vendors, 10 mall shop vendors, and 10 random businesses. Hands down best food vendor was Gus Fried Chicken which had the longest wait. Best drinks were Native Son cocktails, Maz Coffee drinks, Cito cafes Rainy days are unexpected but we powered through and tried our best keeping dry. We wish there were more umbrellas for the general admission. Those at the VIP tent had 2 extra vendors and enjoying being dry under the tent. Would I come back to TOSA? Maybe in the future

It was a little hard to find the event on the grounds of Main Place as no signs were directing…read morewhere exactly the event was being held. We eventually found it and entered the VIP line which moved quite fast. There were a good amount of vendors with a variety of food to sample. A few vendors included a few taco trucks. After trying a few savory bites and sweet treats we concluded our favorite vendor was Gus Fried Chicken. The wait was about 10 minutes, but it was worth it. The chicken was perfectly fried and seasoned. The extreme heat of the chicken complimented the cold raindrops slowly landing on us as it was about to rain. The event and live entertainment continued despite the drastic change in the weather. We mostly spent much of our time under the VIP tent due to the rain, but enjoyed mingling with the other guests trying to stay dry, and continued listening to the live band while trying some bites located within the VIP tent. An open bar was also included for anyone attending as a VIP. The drinks were great and crafted pretty well by a small staff of bartenders working endlessly due to the rain. Thanks to the bartenders for keeping the vibe strong. We enjoyed our time at this year's event. Hopefully next time it won't be raining, but that didn't stop the Taste of Santa Ana event from being a success.

Let's start with the positive -Parking was packed, but it…read morewasn't that bad. We found a good spot two blocks down from the packing house. -the people were great, the etsy vendors had amazing creations and ideas for my wedding. -lines were long inside but they didn't take long to get through, service was fast. Food was fresh. -seating for the movies was great, we brought our chairs so it made for a relaxing wait. -music was great, she had a beautiful voice Negatives -the movie started 45 minutes late, to me this was a bit of a family outing and there were a lot of kids and that can sometimes be hard to deal with a toddler being out so late. -there was a private event, not sure that's the smartest thing to do on a day you're holding your own event. Other then that, it was great, would've liked a little more vendors around to keep me occupied while waiting for the movie but other then that well done. My family and I had an amazing time! It was especially awesome to see the Disneyland fireworks going off in the background as that's my favorite thing about Disney.

We didn't stay here very long as it was excessively packed creating as one would say a "Packing…read moreHouse" in the park! The Night Market itself was alright there wasn't many vendors or much of really anything to occupy our time with. The screen they were showing Back To The Future on was relatively small and just wasn't an all around enjoyable size for the large group of people in the park. What this appeared to be was something that wasn't a too well thought out idea had they had a bigger screen we might have stayed longer than the first few minutes of the movie. The atmosphere on the other hand was killer I mean come on your in a park next to the awesomeness that is the Packing District so that was definitely a plus as was the free admission to the event. Hopefully they do this again sometime and put a bit more planning into the event as it could potently be a spectacular family friendly outing for all ages to enjoy!

Beautifully done! Our community treasures the Nightmare…read moreBefore Christmas House. Today I had the wonderful opportunity conversing with the homeowner again he loves to share how he made each individual character from common items, such as washtubs, potato sacks, Water cans, etc. He mentioned that he does it for the community, especially the children. Furthermore, I found out today that as we grow closer to Christmas / winter holiday the outdoor decorations transitions/change into more of a Christmas theme (as the movie itself does) And as we get closer to December 25, he's going to put up a Christmas tree, and then the stockings! I love slowly driving by here, especially with a passenger, who's never seen the house before and is shocked at how beautifully done it is! In conclusion, we give Much thanks to the homeowner and the neighborhood for having this heartfelt display for all to enjoy !

Our family of six first learned about this truly amazing holiday spectacle right here in Orange…read moreCounty. For years we hoped to stop by, but life kept getting busy and we never quite made it--until now. On our very first visit, we were lucky enough to meet the homeowners themselves. They generously walked our four kids through each creation and section, encouraging them to ask questions and even sharing their own favorite parts of the movie that inspired it all. Watching our kids light up during that interaction made the experience even more special. What makes this display even more incredible is knowing that every single character in the yard is handcrafted by the homeowners themselves. The time, care, and love poured into this display is undeniable. A truly magical experience created by genuinely amazing people. We are so grateful we finally made the visit--and it's now a holiday memory our family will cherish.

I've been to enough similar events to have reasonable expectations and be disappointed by this…read moreevent. It was still fun, but improvements are needed to make this the great event it has the potential to be. There are so many things right about this event. It's in a unique and fun location (Tustin Hangar where they used to house blimps). There are dozens and dozens of vendors and room for even more. On paper, it sounds pretty perfect. In reality, the event space was incredibly dark and a significant portion of the lights were out for part of the night (music disappeared too, so probably a power issue). Mood lighting is great, but you shouldn't have to get your face right up to the bottles of wine or plates of food to figure out what is being offered. Some areas had better lighting than others, but they really need to get lighting everywhere. Tea light candles don't cut it. The other major issue was that so many vendors packed up and left before the first or second hour. So if you passed something earlier thinking you'd go back and try it later, too bad! Props to Fresh Brothers and Piadina for having food up until the end of the event. With an event this large, it's just not possible to do it all within an hour (at least not if you want to enjoy it), so it's terrible that some restaurants were gone before an hour had passed. If you are thinking of purchasing a ticket, let this serve as a warning so you will be prepared and not disappointed as I was. It's still a good event, but it has so much more potential.

Awesome event! They had tons of food and drinks and this was all inside of the Tustin Hangar. I've…read moreheard of the building several times but have never had the chance to actually go inside. It is my understanding that they used to house blimps inside of this building. Such a unique and interesting venue! I was very surprised with how organized this food festival actually was. I've been to a few food walks/festivals and they've always been so cluttered. They did an amazing job with organization. As soon as you enter they had several workers handing out wine glasses with the cutest Tustin Food and Wine logo on it. This would be your glass for most, if not all, of the tastings. Each vendor provided water for you to rinse out your glass with before a new taste. Most of the food was to the right side of the room and the alcohol to the left side of the room. Although it is titled a food and wine festival, they had such a wide variety of food and alcohol. They were serving everything from wine and beer to sake bombs and shots of bourbon. As for food vendors they had plenty of options. They were serving poke, clam chowder, indian food, and so much more. Expect to be full 15 minutes in. The only critique I truly have for this event is the lighting. I think they were going for a darker ambiance but it was very difficult to read the vendors signs or even see what they were serving. It was so hard to take any photos or videos. All in all, it was a great event. I could definitely see myself coming back next year. If you get a chance to go, come with an empty stomach and comfortable shoes.

Attended the 2nd Annual OC Chocolate Festival again this year. This is a charitable event…read morebenefiting the Fountain Valley Community Foundation that is held at the Fountain Valley Sports Park & Recreation Center. The festival runs only the Friday night and Saturday of the weekend it occurs and this year tickets sold out! I bought my tickets in advance online. The regular $25 admission gets you 8 chocolate/food tasting tickets and 3 wine tickets. If you are not a wine drinker, you can trade your wine tickets for additional chocolate tickets. There are many different vendors here including chocolate companies, wine sellers, candy makers, ice cream and gelato vendors, bakeries, and various boutiques. Many booths at the festival are there representing local businesses also. My friends and I always have fun sampling the different goodies and wines available. We were stuffed by the end of our tastings filled with yummy gelato, cheese, wine, stoli chocolate-covered raspberry martinis, caramel apples, flatbread, ice cream, and chocolates from Luisa Chocolatiere, Godiva, See's, M Josephs, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Lindt Chocolate, Sueann Molina, Chuao Chocolatier to name a few. Volunteers were circulating also with samples of pumpkin pie. We were definitely "chocolate wasted" by the end our tastings to quote our friend, Nick. Who doesn't love chocolate and wine?! A fun annual event for chocolate lovers to benefit a great local charity.

Why have I never heard of this before?!?!…read more This chocolate extravaganza was at an all-time high for me this weekend. Thanks to my sweet treats bff and her "foodie senses," we were on a mission to get our chocolate fix! The O.C.C. fest went on from Nov. 5-6 only. VIP tickets were sold out for Nov. 5th. On Nov. 6th, it's $25 per person. At the door, you receive 8 tasting tickets and 3 wine tickets. Yessss! We tried everything and anything inside. There were 3 different rooms. Each one had different chocolate/desserts and wine tastings. I'd have to say that I had my 3 top faves all lined up by the end of the day. So here they are.. 1) Socially Sweet Events by Mijauno Pham. She had beautifully decorated cupcakes and cookies. The setup was very cute and girly. I tried the strawberry with vanilla frosting and the banana chocolate. Both cupcakes were moist and delicious! I also tried the chocolate chip marshmellow cookie which was also pretty good. A definite two thumbs up for her and her mini-cupcakes! 2) Ruhl Family Vineyards by Al and Elain Ruhl. They were such a sweet pair. Uber friendly and explained in detail about their wine and what they've done over the years. I could tell they loved what they did. Their Merlot and Chardonnay were exquisite. The best I've tasted at the O.C.C. fest! I'm not too picky between reds and whites, but I have to say that the Chardonnay sure won me over! 3) Mangiamo Gelato Caffe by Bob Hoxsie. Big fan! His champagne gelato was unlike anything I've ever tasted. It had the perfect blend of gelato and bubbly. I went back a second and third time to savor more but they ran out completely! Bummer! It's alright though, I'm glad I got to taste it. It's a must-try! We spent a good three and a half hours there enjoying all the desserts, complimentary food such as steak and pasta salad, and not to mention all the free wine samples on top of the others! I'm not trying to sound like a major alcoholic (or maybe I am) but hellloooooooo buzzzz hahaha. It wasn't a huge, fancy place but if you go with friends or family that love trying new sweets and wines, it's definitely a place for you! I'm not sure when the next event will be but if you keep a look out on their website or info, I'm sure you'll be able to get more details. Here were my select contacts/information: 1) Socially Sweet Events by Mijanou Pham. Email: mijanou@sociallysweetevents.com Website: www.sociallysweetevents.com Phone: (949) 244 - 4280 Specialties: Gift baskets, parties, desserts, florals and decor, party favors, corporate, catering, showers, invitations, fundraisers, weddings, and more! 2) Ruhl Family Vineyards by Al and Elaine Ruhl. Email: kurtruhl@hotmail.com Specialties: Only available for retail at two fine wine establishments -California Wine and Cheese and Holiday Wine Cellar. Please call ahead to verify inventory. 3) Mangiamo Gelato Caffe by Bob Hoxsie. Website: www.mangiamogelatocaffe.com Phone: (714) 536-5388 Specialties: Can serve anywhere from a group of 30 to 180 people. For pick-up of 30-180 people, 24 hour notice is needed. For 120-350 people, reservations must be made in advance.

Great night! One or two minor flaws but all in all it was a great event!…read more Lots of food vendors with Elotes, Mangoñiadas, Tostilocos and Raspados! There's this one spot where the line was crazy long for tortas! I was tempted to wait but I decided to try the pupusas instead.... not spectacular but not bad either! We had a few churros and cheese nachos (meh)! The Champurado could have been better if it was warmer! However the spot with the pupusas did have pretty good Horchata! There was tacos stands everywhere you looked! TIP: Credit Cards are accepted at most booths! The alters were very beautiful! The families really took time to display all their loved ones favorite items! Some were very elaborate and some were very simple yet you still got the feel of what the person's interests were and what they loved in life! Other alters were dedicated to Victims of Domestic Violence, Comedians of the past and the 43 students that disappeared in Mexico! All of them were amazing in their own way that you had to stop and really admire all the objects that were included! Lucha Libre masks, incense, sugar skulls, blouses, flowers, necklaces, earring, bags and purses! All sold here! Face painting was a big thing! Prices ranged from $10 to $35 for the whole face! Local business were charging $1 -$1.50 to use the restrooms! The one star off was for the parking! It's a nightmare! LISTEN UP CITY OF SANTA ANA!! All of them empty parking structures could be making the city some extra cash if you opened them up, maybe charged $5 -$10 dollars a vehicle! It was a pain having to drive around looking for parking! I finally found a spot across from the library and just walked a couple of blocks over! Will I be back next year? YES of course!

Go early. Take a sweater/light jacket, and enough cash for that churro and a few trinkets. I go for…read morethe vendors now. I've been to this event 3 years in a row, I think it's overrated to go late in the day, too many people kind of kill the experience : / Is it worth it? Well, it's essentially "free". If you like Day of the Dead events, go for it. It's cool. Don't think I'll be attending again though. HUGE HINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT pay $25 - $30 to get your face painted!! Buy the face paint before Halloween and just watch a youtube video on day of the dead - calavera face painting.

It's a traditional for VNese folks to go here either for selfies or trying to get flowers or decks…read moreor clothing for Tet. Quite fun and festive, went during the weekday daytime so less traffic and easy to shop. Got some traditional flowers and that is pretty much it. Vendors are nice and kind and friendly. A lot of vendors to choose from a bargain too if you know how, so the value can depending on how good you can bargain. I parked on next street but they do have the back mall parking lot. Overall it was festive and happens once a year plus great to support the community.

Yelp must have reminded me 50x to review this so here it is:…read more Unfortunately the Asian Garden Flower festival only happens once a year about 3 to 4 weeks before the lunar new year "TET" n ends about a week later, it's better than the NGUYEN HUE STREET Flower market IN SAIGON. Why? As I recall Nguyen hue didn't have a food court. This had a food court which took over a side street n boy was that fun, they had my favorite "banh khot fr Vung Tau" grilled lobster tail. Soups, pancakes etc.. all the yummy street food you can afford wo having to sell your house these days. The flowers were amazing orchids, gladiolus there were many juicery stands, beef jerky stores, I bought a nice fake Chanel sweater only $25 just as good as the real thing. They also sell red envelopes for "lixi" happy or lucky money, on week ends they had live music n lion dance. I love the Asian Garden mall the only indoor mall we have here. Vietnamese from 49 states came here every year n most will immediately make plan to move to this land of milk n honey, it used to be really easy to move here n so cheap too. An average home I used to sell for $140k is now $1.4 million in Little Saigon so most VN tourists will just hang out here enjoy the ambiance, the food n have to go home, even then it's so worth it to visit a home away from home.

Heard about this festival for a few years now and made sure I had to pay a visit. I wish I hadn't…read more They said parking and admission is free. Unfortunately it took me 30 minutes to drive up and down the block before I got a parking space. This was during the last day of the fair. So the fair is held annually over Memorial Day weekend. I just don't know if it's because it's the last day, but it was sooo crowded! Like couldn't enjoy my time crowded. Maybe that's why I couldn't find parking. Anyways, for it being advertise as a strawberry festival, there was nothing strawberry about it. I thought it would be crafts and goodies that are strawberry themed. The only thing I saw was a strawberry stand that was charging $20 for three small baskets of strawberries, a strawberry lemonade stand and a funnel cake place. It was so unorganized. I had no idea where the line was for anything. And with the over crowdedness, it wasn't even worth it. I would describe it as a small scale county fair mixed with swamp meet vendors. I thought the vendors would be unique with fun/new products but it's just random items that I didn't care to look at. I cannot believe I drove over an hour to come here.

Garden Grove Strawberry Festival is a small and local festival that happens annually over Memorial…read moreDay weekend. This is the 65th year for the event and I only learned about this festival just few days ago. This is Garden Grove's annual signature event just like how The Tet Parade is City of Westminster's signature event. [Parking]: I came here on Sunday morning at 10 AM and visitors already began to fill up street parking, but I got lucky and was able to find a free street parking spot two blocks away from the festival (Lampson Ave). However visitors can also pay $10 at the Garden Grove United Methodist Church parking lot. [Admission]: Free admission. [Main reasons to come here]: The festival hosts a parade on Saturday morning of each year with marching bands, classic cars, and C-tier/D-tier celebrities. They also host family friendly contests, FREE concerts inside the Garden Amp, FREE strawberry shortcake cake (one piece per person) during the opening ceremony that started at 6 PM on Friday at the intersection of Main Street and Acacia, Saturday VIP Breakfast before the parade that started at 8:15 AM ($15 per person) inside the Garden Grove Community Center, and The GEM Theater Open House from 12 PM to 6 PM on Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the festival. [What to see here]: 50% of the festival grounds = classic carnival rides / fairground food and the other 50% = vendor booths. Vendor booths included local arts and crafts , bonsai, face painting, butterfly garden (not free), and even a barber booth. As for fairground food, local baseball teams / high school clubs / Kiwanis were selling funnel cakes, tacos, corns, boba, etc. If visitors just come here to do window shopping and are not doing any rides, then they can probably go through the entire fairground in about 30 minutes. [Other special notes]: No pets allowed on the festival grounds, except service animals. [Conclusion]: The festival brings a lot of nostalgia and it feels like an ultra miniature version of L.A. County Fair. If visitors expect to see strawberry-theme vendors, then they will be sorely disappointed as there were only few vendors that actually sell strawberries. With that being said, this festival wasn't all that bad - a great festival to bring kids or even go on a date.