OC Summer Festivals

by Rich Manning

It may sound odd, but one of my fondest memories of summer consists of me and my cousins getting tersely ordered to go outside by my grandmother. Every year, after school had ceased interfering with my schedule, my days were spent at my grandparents’ home where my aunt’s two boys routinely summered, escaping the merciless meteorological beatdown of their native Houston in the process. And every day, usually around 10:00 or so, our grandma would beseech us to leave her premises and get outdoors. Oftentimes, she would bark this order so rapidly, it just poured out of her mouth in one messy and congealed word that, when committed to paper, would have most likely been spelled “gidoudoors!” Of course, we kids would struggle with adhering to the initial mandate, and it would typically take her a minimum of three times before we fell in line. Not that any of our Gen-X contemporaries could blame us for our lack of motivation. After all, my cousins had an Intellivision, and its allure on our barely pre-adolescent psyche was just too powerful to overcome at a moment’s notice. We needed sufficient time to break free from the compelling world of Astrosmash. And yet she would stop at nothing until we detached our hands from the controllers and marched rank and file into sunlight.

Looking back as an adult, I’m quite glad that she remained so persistent, because she was right. The abundance of fun and opportunity that only the stretch of time between Memorial Day and Labor Day can provide simply cannot be experienced properly by lounging inside some domicile with a joystick or a remote control in your hand. And nothing quite hammers that little factoid home more powerfully than a summer festival. At the base level, these communal gatherings all function on the same formula. That is, pick an outdoor venue, stuff it to the gills with merchandise and/or unhealthy food, and wait for the ensuing public swarm to merrily descend. But beyond this façade is a deeper feeling that convinces you this is what you should be doing, because so much of it feels right. Devouring vittles under an occasionally oppressive sun, eclectic forms of music wafting through the air, friendly conversations with the homemade necklace vendor – this is the true epitome of summer, because it bonds you so strongly to the surroundings and the folks that poses as its makeup. Let’s see an X-Box replicate that.

In Orange County, there is a ridiculous abundance of ways to prove just how crucial the summer fete is to filling the season with its inimitable joy. From massive shindigs that stretch for acres to humble happenings that cover a mere city block or two, there is guaranteed to be something going down this summer that will entice everyone, even the most jaded, shoegazing emo types. Here then, in no particular order, is a sampling of some of the fun that can be had by OC denizens betwixt the months of June and August.

OC Fair (July 16th – August 15th) – It practically goes without saying that this is the granddaddy of all OC summer events. Everyone knows what the fair offers: Concerts by performers just dripping nostalgia; barnyard animals that are becoming increasingly rare to see around these parts; hideously deep-fried foods that are a bona fide necessity to consume, latent gastro-intestinal reclamation projects be damned. But really, does it ever get old? More importantly, is it ever wrong to not deeply love the annual shenanigans afoot on this property? I say no…well, apart from the indigestion the morning after. This year’s fair theme, “The Beat Goes On,” can and should be viewed as a thinly veiled message aimed at those who would prefer to turn the Fair’s grand venue into suburban development for some indefensible reason. While that’s indeed a noble slogan, it may not be applicable to your heart if you overindulge in the obligatory deluge of deep-fried desserts.

Sawdust Festival (June 25th – August 29th) – Even after 43 years of operation, one still gets the feeling that the local artists and vendors that populate this annual Laguna Beach event are still warring with the perceived Laguna Beach bourgeoisie that accounts for the Festival of Arts. But that’s okay, because this famous fest still feels like a truer representation of the original spirit of this community. Indeed, if your vision of Laguna Beach consists of a cadre of local artists overlooking the beach armed with nothing but an easel, a mug of coffee, and an undaunted imagination, then this is the city get together that will sing to your soul. Granted, if you have a part of your psyche who yearns for the unparalleled joy that only a refined outdoor jaunt can provide (and who doesn’t, really?), then there is always…

Festival of Arts, featuring the Pageant of the Masters (July 7th – August 31st) – Even if you feel a stronger connection with the Sawdust crowd, there’s no escaping the fact the concept of “living pictures” that is the Pageant is just damn cool. So much so, in fact, people tend to forget that the Festival has much more to offer outside the annual showstopper. Which is a shame, since the fest consistently lays out a jaw-dropping array of incredible fine art for all to enjoy. And yes, that does includes those of you who still think of it as the “establishment.”

San Clemente Ocean Festival (July 17th – July 18th) – Two words: Rubber duckies. Yes, this weekend July gathering is the home for the Great Rubber Duck Race, where row upon row of Ernie the Muppet’s favorite bath time toys get plopped in the water and randomly float and jut toward the finish line for fabulous prizes. While this seafaring dash of randomness gets all the press, the fun factor found at the Ocean Festival goes well beyond wayward pieces of squeaky fake fowl. Various surfing contests, competitive sand sculpting, beach-centric art, and a classic Woody car exhibit all serve as a celebration of the county’s southern border, not to mention a blessed reminder that we don’t live in Nebraska. (July 17th and 18th)

La Habra Corn Festival (August 7th & 8th) – But what’s wrong with Nebraska, you say? Isn’t the Cornhusker State and its neighbors that true ambassadors of the summer event, primarily because it gives its residents something to do, you ask? If you found yourself a bit disgruntled after that unprovoked potshot at the flyover states, chances are one of those questions popped into your bean. And not that I can blame you; on some level, the words “summer festival” do indeed evoke images of pastoral, Midwestern charm and young girls being crowned “Miss Rutabaga” or something to that effect. To that end, the La Habra Corn Festival comes closest to replicating these special roots. And yes, part of the reason why is due to the weekend shindig being named after a food. It just naturally lends to a certain rustic charm to the community-driven food and crafts booths that propel the event. And to top it all off, the festival gives you the chance to rub shoulders with Miss La Habra, although I lament that she isn’t called something more entertaining and slightly embarrassing like “Miss Corncob.”

Cypress Community Festival (July 24th) – Here’s proof of the whole “naming your city festival after something edible” idea works like a charm. The Cypress gathering is similar to La Habra’s local event, but admit it – you would much rather go to a Corn Festival than a Community Festival, wouldn’t you? Not that the means of entertainment here are inferior, mind you. In fact, the bevy of chili cookoffs, food booths, and various other forms of family entertainment will keep you and the kids amused. And if such merriment does not come organically for some reason, don’t fret – they do have a beer garden to assist you in achieving that goal.

St. Paul’s Annual Greek Festival (June 25th – 27th) – Let’s face it: Greek food is the most underrated cuisine out there. Every time I throw down the flavors of Greece, my reaction is always some kind of variation on the phrase “why in the world don’t I eat Greek food more often?” And that’s why this somewhat obscure Irvine junket makes the list. Now in its 32nd year, this celebration of all things Greek has practically based its reputation solely on the authentic, homemade Greek grub that is lovingly produced here every year. Dancing, music, and boutique booths give you something to enjoy when you aren’t stuffing your face with edibles wrapped in phylo dough, which shouldn’t be all that often.

Orange International Street Fair (September 4th & 5th) – Over the past few years, this venerable festival has gotten a dark reputation as being primarily crowded by rolling waves of Ed Hardy-wearing frat boys who have drank their weight in Jager bombs by noon and are poised to flood its streets with vomit by sundown. And sadly, some of that is true to a point. But despite this issue, there is still no better way to wrap up the summer than to spend some time hanging out by the famous water fountain, eating meat on a stick, and becoming wistful about the blissful memories that you generated over the course of three months. And if you’re lucky, some of those fond thoughts will include a yelling grandmother.