What to Do in Orange County: Two Weeks of Fun in Newport Beach and Beyond

One of the best things about living in Orange County is how many different ways there are to enjoy a day off.

You can start your morning with a walk by the ocean, head inland for a neighborhood festival in the afternoon, discover a restaurant you’ve never tried for dinner, and still be home that night.

That’s Orange County.

There’s always something happening, and the mix of business, community, food, entertainment, beaches, and outdoor living makes Orange County a special place to call home.

Sometimes we get so busy living here that we forget how many things people travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to experience are practically in our backyard.

If you’re searching for new things to do in Orange County, the next two weeks give you plenty of reasons to get out of the house and explore.

From September 26 through October 10, the calendar offers everything from a Greek festival and a sandcastle contest to carnival rides, international food, live music, classic cars, and country fair fun.

So grab your calendar, text a friend, gather the family, or just decide to explore on your own.

Here are a few ideas to help you make the most of the next two weeks in Orange County.

September 26–27: Greek Food and a Hometown Festival

If you enjoy trying new food, start the weekend at the San Juan Capistrano Greek Festival.

Running September 26 and 27, the festival brings Greek food, pastries, music, dancing, vendors, and family activities together for a lively community celebration.

Go hungry.

Take your time.

And definitely save room for dessert.

One of the best parts about local festivals like this is that they’re more than somewhere to grab something to eat. They’re a chance to spend a few hours outside, meet people, support organizations and vendors, and experience a piece of another culture without leaving Orange County.

There’s also the Cypress Community Festival on Saturday, September 26, at Oak Knoll Park.

Admission is free, and the event features a classic car show, chili and salsa contest, vendors, and activities for families.

If classic cars are your thing, you’ve already got a reason to go. If chili and salsa are more your speed, you’ve got another.

It’s an easy way to spend an afternoon outdoors, enjoy something tasty, and meet people from the community.

And that’s part of what makes weekends around Orange County interesting: two communities can offer completely different experiences on the same weekend.

September 27: Newport Beach’s Sandcastle Contest

For a classic Southern California Sunday, head to Corona del Mar State Beach for the 64th Annual Newport Beach Sandcastle Contest.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and invites teams to create sand sculptures inspired by this year’s “Surf, Sand & Sun” theme.

And these aren’t necessarily the little sandcastles you remember building with a plastic bucket as a kid.

Part of the fun is seeing just how creative people can get when sand becomes the building material.

You don’t have to enter the contest to enjoy it.

Bring the family, take a walk along the beach, and see what the builders come up with. There will also be music, food, and kids’ activities, so you can make a relaxed day of it by the water.

It’s also one of those events where you don’t need to over-plan.

Come down, enjoy the beach, check out the creations, grab something to eat, and see where the day takes you.

Make a Newport Beach Day Your Own

Newport Beach is worth exploring even when there isn’t a special event on the calendar.

That’s actually one of its best qualities.

You don’t need tickets.

You don’t necessarily need reservations.

And you don’t need a detailed itinerary.

Take a walk along the Balboa Peninsula, wander around Balboa Island, or browse the shops and restaurants at Lido Marina Village.

If you’re in the mood to get out on the water, look into a harbor cruise, kayak, paddleboard, or boat rental.

If you’d rather stay on land, grab a coffee and walk.

Sometimes that’s enough.

The best Newport Beach days don’t always need a strict itinerary. A quick walk can turn into a long lunch, a stop for a treat, some shopping, or an afternoon spent watching boats move through the harbor.

You might head out intending to spend an hour and realize three hours later that you’re still there.

That’s a pretty good day.

For additional current happenings around the city, check the official Visit Newport Beach events calendar.

October 2–4: Tustin Tiller Days

From October 2 through 4, head to Columbus Tustin Park for Tustin Tiller Days, a three-day festival celebrating the city’s agricultural roots.

The weekend brings carnival rides, games, food, vendors, and live entertainment.

This is the kind of community event that can work for almost everyone.

Families can bring the kids.

Friends can meet up for food and entertainment.

And longtime Orange County residents can enjoy a celebration connected to the area’s local history.

On Saturday, October 3, the Tiller Days Parade travels through Old Town Tustin at 10 a.m.

Get there early to find a good spot, then head over to the festival afterward.

You could easily turn the parade and festival into most of your Saturday.

It’s a fun plan for families, friends, or anyone who enjoys the sights, sounds, rides, people, and snacks of a fall carnival.

OC Helper has also covered Orange County events for kids and parents, so families looking for more local outing inspiration can continue exploring there.

October 3: Cars and Community in Placentia

If carnival rides aren’t your thing, here’s another option for Saturday.

Car lovers can check out Driving Hope Home: Community Car Show and Film Festival on Saturday, October 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event is listed at Placentia Presbyterian Church and offers a chance to enjoy a car show while joining a community gathering.

Orange County has a strong car culture, so an event like this can be a fun opportunity to see interesting vehicles while spending the morning with other people who appreciate them.

It’s also an easy outing.

You can enjoy the show in the morning and still have most of your Saturday afternoon and evening available.

Check the event page for the latest details before heading out.

October 10: Explore Cultures at the Irvine Global Village Festival

If there’s one event on this list where you may want to arrive hungry, this could be it.

The Irvine Global Village Festival returns to Great Park on Saturday, October 10, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This year marks the festival’s 25th anniversary.

The event celebrates cultures from around the world with food, music, dance, art, and activities for all ages.

Bring your curiosity—and an appetite.

You can enjoy performances, discover new flavors, experience art, and spend the day learning a little more about the many cultures represented throughout Orange County.

That’s one of the things that makes living here interesting.

Orange County isn’t one single experience.

Drive from Newport Beach to Irvine, Anaheim, Tustin, San Juan Capistrano, Costa Mesa, or Silverado and the personality of the day can completely change.

Events like the Global Village Festival give us a chance to experience some of that diversity in one place.

October 10–11: A Country Fair in Silverado Canyon

Want something completely different?

For a change of scenery, make your way to the Silverado Country Fair & Folk Festival, scheduled for October 10 and 11.

Set in Silverado Canyon, the festival brings together live folk music, food, vendors, and family activities in a relaxed country fair setting.

If your usual Orange County weekend involves the beach, restaurants, shopping centers, or freeways, this gives you an opportunity to see another side of the county.

Enjoy the drive.

Take in the canyon surroundings.

Listen to some music.

Browse the vendors.

Grab something to eat.

And slow down for a few hours.

Sometimes changing the scenery is all you need to make a weekend feel like a mini vacation.

You Don’t Need a Special Event to Have a Great Orange County Weekend

Here’s the other thing worth remembering.

Your weekend doesn’t have to revolve around an official event.

There are plenty of ways to create your own.

Visit a farmers market.

Try the little restaurant you’ve driven past 20 times.

Take a morning walk by the water.

Explore a neighborhood you’ve never really explored.

Meet friends for coffee.

Watch the sunset.

Head to a theme park.

Or just get in the car and see where the day takes you.

For theme-park fans, OC Helper also has a guide to the best rides at Disneyland as well as a roundup of some of the best thrill rides at Knott’s Berry Farm.

You don’t have to do everything.

You just have to pick something.

Orange County Is Also a Great Place to Discover Local Businesses

There’s another side to all these events that doesn’t always get talked about.

Local events introduce us to local businesses.

You may discover a restaurant because you attended a festival nearby.

You might meet a business owner at a community event.

You may find a vendor whose product you love.

You might visit a neighborhood for an event and return a month later because you discovered a shop, coffeehouse, restaurant, or service business you didn’t know existed.

That’s what makes a strong local community work.

Residents discover businesses.

Businesses support community events.

Events bring people together.

People tell their friends what they discovered.

Everybody benefits.

That’s one of the reasons OC Helper exists: to help connect people with businesses, activities, resources, and interesting things happening around the area.

Enjoy the Orange County Lifestyle

These events are just a few of the ways to enjoy the next two weeks.

Between them, you can visit a local farmers market, try a new restaurant, explore a neighborhood you haven’t seen in a while, spend a morning at the beach, or simply take the scenic route to the coast.

That variety is part of what makes living in Orange County such an opportunity.

You can grow a business here.

You can meet other professionals.

You can spend time outdoors.

You can raise a family.

You can experience food and cultures from around the world.

You can find major attractions and small neighborhood events within the same county.

And sometimes the best weekend doesn’t require traveling very far at all.

Newport Beach can be your weekend escape, while a neighborhood festival or community event might introduce you to a new favorite spot—or a new friend.

The challenge isn’t finding something to do.

It’s deciding which thing to do first.

Have Something Happening in Orange County? Tell People About It

OC Helper isn’t just about helping residents find their next adventure.

We also want to help Orange County businesses, organizations, event organizers, and community members get discovered.

If you’re an Orange County business looking for more local exposure, OC Helper also offers opportunities to feature local businesses, events, and community stories. 

Orange County has thousands of businesses and countless things happening every week.

Sometimes people simply need a little help discovering them.

That’s where OC Helper comes in.

So get outside.

Try something new.

Support a local business.

Visit a different part of the county.

And enjoy the fact that we get to call Orange County home.

One last reminder: Event dates, times, locations, admission information, and schedules can change. Check the official event pages linked above for the latest information before making your plans.