We decided to come back to the 626 market this year. We were already prepared for what to expect…read moresince we were here last year. Some of the things from last year are still valid but this year it was a little bit different. One of the things we noticed is that they had a dance show of K-pop music and they did not have the washing stations in the middle. They did have more tables closer together rather than different sitting area areas. There were less beer stations so the lines were a little long for beer later in the night. Not having the middle washing stations made it so you had to go all the way to the restroom if you needed to wash your hands and you didn't have that extra supply of napkins. This year it wasn't as hot as the previous year so it felt nicer. Overall, we enjoyed it and we'll probably be back next year

So FoodieLand acquired 626 Night Market in October 2025 and this was my first time visiting since…read morethe new corporate ownership. [Parking]: $15 per vehicle for on-site parking just to enter the OC Fair & Event Center. [Admission]: Our party purchased the same-day tickets and paid a $16 per person entry fee. [What to expect]: The market was approximately half food vendors and half arts / crafts / gift vendors. There were solid craft and gift vendors, but not too many art vendors. The food was extremely overpriced ... a simple appetizer = at least $15+ & a filling meal = at least $25. The only real positive? There was a mahjong area that offered free lessons. The performance stage was alright. [Food]: Our party ended up getting only 6 pieces of soup dumplings (aka XLB) from Dumpling Dream for $14 and a cup of gelatea from Boutcha for $7.20 (one of the most affordable and best item to get at the market). [Conclusion]: If I ever come back to 626 Night Market, I would probably stick with the Arcadia location as parking is free and the admission fee is slightly cheaper. I am still having a hard time digesting the fact that getting into the market cost $30+ before even buying any food if I come here alone and I would also need to spend another $25+ just to feel like I had eaten a legit meal. I am good with this one-and-done visit.

For the past two years, Jen and I have come to the OC Fair together and I think we have found out…read morehow to make this a great experience. We came on the last Saturday of the season and was told it was the best weather they had all summer. For transportation, we took the OC Fair Express from Laguna Hills, which cost us each 75 cents each going there and again coming back. No hassle to pay or fight for parking or deal with traffic. We came early before noon and took advantage of all the $5 tastes. I checked my credit card the following day and we tried about 10. We also buy the refillable soda cup. It's still a bit pricey, but a little savings softens the blow. We loved the interactive displays in the VHS exhibit. Jen did her best Austin Powers and then we recreated Jack and Rose on the bow of the Titanic. We also checked out the art contests and noticed a friend from high school won a blue ribbon in photography. We love watching the Pig Races. Even though it's the same show each year, it's a nice break from walking and eating. Last year I won her a stuffed animal and while I would have loved to win a giant sloth this year, the games were just too tough. I did buy her a stuffed pig toy outside of the pig races for a consolation prize. We tried one ride last year, but passed this year. Instead, we stopped by Planet Popcorn and bought a sample box to take home with us. For 2 of us it was around $150 and that included everything from tickets, transportation, food and souveniers. For us, this is now an annual event that has become a fun adventure.

OC Fairgrounds hosts a ton of events, but our favorite is the annual OC Fair! Yes, it can get…read moreexpensive, but I'll give you the lowdown on how to save some time, money, and sanity. Parking: Parking at the fairgrounds is $15, but it's not guaranteed to be available. The lot fills up early, and once it does, they put out the cones; they'll remove the cones when a few spaces become vacant. Your best bet is Orange Coast College, where parking is $10 via QR code at the parking lots. It's only about a block away on Fairview. I wish they'd bring back the Experian shuttle. Wear comfortable shoes: You will definitely get your steps in at the OC Fair! Heels are a hard 'no' unless you enjoy crying on the walk back to your car. Flip-flops are okay, but be prepared for your pretty exposed feet to be pretty dirty by the end of the day. This year, the lines to enter the gates moved much quicker. Have your e-tickets ready to go. Most things are cashless--bars, food trucks, games, etc.--but I'd still bring some cash just in case. ATMs are available on the property. Entertainment: Concerts and shows are held at the Pacific Amphitheater and The Hangar. There's plenty of space outside The Hangar to enjoy the show, so you don't necessarily have to spend extra money on a ticket. There are also several smaller stages scattered throughout the fairgrounds with live entertainment. Food: Food vendors are everywhere, with options ranging from Wahlburgers and Hawaiian food to donuts, Thrifty ice cream, BBQ, and more. We always get the Impossible Burger from Wahlburgers. You can't go wrong with it, but the price is definitely steep. And you have to top off the fair experience with a Chocolate Malted Crunch ice cream from the famous Thrifty's! Games: Want to win a prize for your loved one? Some games take skill, while others are pure luck. I'd avoid the basketball game where you have to make two shots in a row...unless you're a pro. The water gun games are fun with a group, especially when everyone is competing for a medium plushie. I also enjoy the games where you throw a ball to break a plate or bottle. And then there's the elite prize, which is only allowed once per fair. If you're curious, message me. Tickets for games and rides can be purchased at the booths or online. Shopping & attractions: I'd definitely recommend checking out the free art installations and the indoor shopping/hobby areas. We found a new vendor this year, The House of Halloween, with vintage-looking umbrellas, a Predator leather mask, Halloween-themed bags, and other fun stuff. My go-to shop every year is Nifty Fifty, which has book-like purses and bags, cool metal signs, and fun '50s memorabilia. Face painting is another fair favorite, but beware--the lines can get pretty long. And don't forget to visit the farm animals! There was even some friendly animal racing happening this year. Drinks: A few of the bar areas had live music and dancing. Drinks are pricey, and you'll need to have your ID checked before they give you a bracelet that allows you to purchase alcohol. Save some money: The OC Fair has some pretty good deals during the week that can help cut down the cost of food and drinks, so check those out before you go. If you want to avoid spending money on food altogether, get your hand stamped before exiting and bring a cooler to keep in your car with sandwiches and water. That way, you can take a food break without having to buy another overpriced fair meal. Final tips: Avoid the last weekend of the OC Fair if you can. Traffic on the streets and inside the fairgrounds can be A LOT. If you're arriving during the day, bring sunblock, sunglasses, and a hat. There are lockers available near the entrances, although I'd personally just bring a backpack to hold everything you need. The OC Fair may not be the cheapest day out, but with a little planning, you can have a great time without completely emptying your wallet.

Baker Street Bash is the best! We all look forward to kicking off Summer at this festival. Packed…read morewith cool rides, lots of live music, great brews and bartenders at the beer garden, and best of all the food (provided by members of the parish and school) is all fresh made and awesome. They even have thai tea, blended mochas, and boba in the hot afternoon and fresh made funnel cakes for dessert each night!

A fun family outing. The SJB Festival Team announced this year's Festival will be held May 31,…read moreJune, 1, and June 2, 2013. This Festival has been the best kept secret in Orange County. Here is what I Mean: --The rides are fun, even your teenagers will have fun --The many carnival games will keep the kids laughing for hours --You'll enjoy the many foods and it won't break your budget --You can relax with a unique glass of wine or a cool beer --The live entertainment is awesome --The Silent Auction has great money saving deals --You can win many exciting prizes --The proceeds help support education and the community

OC Winter Fest unfortunately wasn't worth the hype or the price. While I appreciate that we…read moreattended on a discounted Sunday night (thank you for that), the overall experience still felt underwhelming. Admission gets you inside the gates, which is fine -- but once you're in, everything is à la carte through a mobile app, or you're expected to purchase separate "fun bundles." This felt more like a money grab than a holiday experience. I couldn't help but wonder why some of these activities weren't included with the ticket price to begin with. For example, putt-putt golf was an additional $5.25 per person, and it wasn't even a real mini golf course. It was made from wooden cornhole-style boxes with turf glued on, rebranded as an attraction you pay extra for inside the festival. There were some cute moments -- the Winterland of lights and the bubble suds that imitate snow were adorable, especially for kids. That area was probably the highlight of the event. As for the food... not great. Very greasy, carnival/fair-style food, which may work for some people, but it wasn't what I envisioned for a holiday festival. Nothing really stood out, and I wouldn't recommend coming here for the food alone. I don't write this to be negative -- just honest. For the price, I think your money could be better spent elsewhere this holiday season. OC Winter Fest may appeal to families with very young children who don't mind paying extra for each activity, but for everyone else, I'd skip it.

My son is 10 years old and asked to see snow for Christmas, so I took him to OC Winterfest as an…read moreearly present. We accidentally showed up an hour early, since it actually opens at five, not four. Parking was easy, but twelve dollars. Tickets for the three of us were a little over eighty dollars, so the night started off on the expensive side. Once inside, the lights were beautiful. There are light tunnels, decorated trees and tons of photo ops. The bubbles at the entrance look like falling snow and made for adorable pictures. His favorite part was the snow play area. He had a blast, even though he was freezing and soaked by the end. We skipped the skating rink and the inflatables since both cost extra. Most things here cost extra, so plan for add-ons. Toward the back there are carnival rides and games. I bought him the cheapest wristband for twenty dollars and he got three rides out of it. I caught a bit of the live singer on stage, which added to the atmosphere. The highlight was my son saying this is going on his list of top memories for a long time. My son loved it. My pockets did not. Helpful tip. I overheard another mom say wagons are not allowed this year, but strollers are. Overall, OC Winterfest feels like a fair dressed in Christmas lights. Go in knowing it is cute, fun and definitely not cheap, and you will enjoy it for what it is.

This was a pretty fun event - not cheap, but fun. The ticket booths at the entrance were really…read moredisorganized and slow. We could not figure out why it was taking so long for each customer. Then, supervisor dude in pig hat started to sell admission tickets, cash only, on the side of the lines and that was awesome!! So apparently the ticket booths were slow because of credit card transactions or just customer indecision about what to buy? We heard supervisor pig hat dude talking to his staff at the end of the days about ideas for next year on how to alleviate the congestion, so hopefully it will run more smoothly! $10.00 admission just gets you in the door, then $10.00 for 5 BBQ tastes and $10.00 for 5 Beer tastes. The highlight for me was Three Men & A Smoker - they had delicious bacon wrapped meatballs and this super smokey corn souffle! My other favorite was Que'n & Brew'n and their Moink Balls - also bacon wrapped meatballs! If there were any other bacon wrapped meatballs at that festival, they would have also been my favorite! I'm monotonous and boring, I know. I felt bad for customers coming late in the day because the Beer area was totally depleted and out of samples. But there were still booths with BBQ! Definitely a fun time with live music and lots of happy tummies!

I've watched the OC BBQ Festival grow over the last few years, and it's been fun to participate --…read moreeither as a visitor or as a judge. The competition has always drawn local teams from around the area, from 20 teams in its inception to a whopping 70 teams this year. In years past, there was just the car show and a few vendors. For this year, they really increased the amount of entertainment and family fun activities. That's probably part of the reason why the admission price was raised, but all of the proceeds go to charity. If the event organizers are reading, I would suggest having some sort of an "early-bird" admission price, starting at $10 and gradually raising the price as things get closer to the event. At a lower price point, you could bring in a lot more people through the gates, that's for sure.

The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is one of the most iconic traditions around the holidays in…read moreOrange County. I know the coastal cities in California all have their own variation of this experience, but the Newport Beach one is the closest one to me and the one that I have taken family who visit for Christmas. When you book boat tours during this season, keep in mind to pick a tour after sunset. You'll see that the 5-8pm times are slightly more affordable because those tours will see the decorated houses along the water but the best time to see the boat parade would be taking a 8pm or 8:30pm tour. You have to check in with your tour company an hour prior, and the lines form quickly so you might even want to come earlier than that. Whatever time your tour is I recommend arriving 2 hours earlier because it takes a while to find parking. We arrived 90 minutes prior to our tour time and barely made it, and we even split up. My niece and nephew went to get our wristbands and got in line while my cousin and I circled around for over an hour for parking. The line began to move to board as soon as we got there. In retrospect I would have driven down there even sooner to have dinner in the area so we wouldn't have to stress so much about being late. The tour boat we were on had snacks and beverages, both alcoholic and nonalcohilic, for purchase. We got a window seat and was able to see all of the beautifully decorated boats of all sizes. Some of these people get super creative. Some pick a theme. Some just put on a lot of lights. It's hard to describe but it's such a wonderful feeling of feeling the joys of the holidays. I uploaded a few pictures, but I promise my pictures don't do the experience justice. Great for family and spectators of all ages. Just be patient and come early to ensure your optimal experience. Being early also ensures you get a good window seat on the boat. This is definitely one of the unique attractions when spending Christmas time in California.

I've been to other boat parades in California and the Newport Beach one is my favorite (and one of…read morethe most renowned) While it's fun to be in a boat for the boat parade, I truly believe the best view is from the shore! We try to go every year and the best time I've had is getting one of the coveted restaurant reservations and being able to sit by the window of a restaurant and eat a great meal and watch the boat parade go by from the warmth and comfort of inside one of the many restaurants that line the harbor. Another option is just to bundle up (although this year it wasn't that cold on a few days) and find parking and then watch it from the shore. That is the free option and since the boat parade is really good at publishing their schedule you can time your visit to when the parade will pass by that location. I love seeing all the creatively (and some professionally!) decorated lit up boats! My kids really enjoy it too and we always take hot chocolate and make it a fun family holiday activity!

One of my favorite food and spirit festivals. We came sober and left full and drunk. There were…read moreso many different tastings. My favorite was affogato and vodka. The food was all really good. We came in an uber. The dock next to the yachts was pretty cool with caviar tasting. We will be back next year. Happy Yelping!

This event is super luxurious! Where else are you going to try out 90+ wines, drink $50+ Wisky,…read morefollowed by seafood tastings such as scallops, foie gras, and melt in your mouth beef dishes with live jazz playing in the background and have the opportunity to become a home version of the Top Chef? Wait there's more. The all inclusive ticket also lets you mingle with Star Chefs such as Hubert Keller, Rick Bayless, and Rick Noonen. You also get your very own Riedel wine glass for the tastings. Joseph Phelps, Pipillon, St. Supery? These aren't second labels and also if you scour carefully, there were some boutique wineries present that had stunning wines! Of course there were tons of food, love Anqi's crab dish, Driftwoods Porchetta, B candy's rainbow bright mini cake, braised beef cheeks from chef JoJo from the Honda Center, Buttercake from Mastros, Clubster roll from SlapFish....tons of rediculous good stuff! You get to lounge on oversized sofas overlooking the swirly building that of the Civic Center. There were also beer/vodka/tequila/non alcoholic drinks available. Super fun event, would HIGHLY recommend taking people who enjoy food and wine pairings to the next level.

Parking was a nightmare, but you could pay 10 for parking in the businesses. Live music and alot…read moreof friendly people.

The street fair this year was great! Some streets have moved location but the food was great!…read moreLively bands and people all around. Fun, food and libations all in one area! Bring the family or come with friends or go solo and make friends. So fun!

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.

The 2012 event was held at the Hyatt on Chapman in Garden Grove Nov. 2-3 and benefited both the…read moreBoys and Girls Club AND Hurricane Sandy relief (kudos for both)! We had no idea what to expect as this was the first time attending. Simply put, OMG!!! This was truly a chocolate nirvana! Everything from truffles to home-made marshmallows to gelato to chocolate wine & martinis. The list goes on!! A very relaxed atmosphere, fun food demonstrations, a very pleasant MC, and plenty of areas to sit and relax occasionally. A giant 5 tier cake was cut and just watching them remove the top 2 layers before serving was very entertaining! Excellent musical performances filled the room with piano and violin concertos and between those, the DJ played great tunes. One very popular area was the King Frosch wine tasting booth where their host "Klause" shared his excellent knowledge of German wines. This event was well worth the cost and I can't wait to go again next year!

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.