Anaheim Events and Festivals

(Anaheim, California - CA, USA)

Anaheim and the rest of Orange County are home to a surprising number of festivals, including concerts, food fairs, boating parades and sporting events.

Disneyland also gets in on the action, with a Gay Days parade towards the end of the year, while in the month of June, the Summer Food and Wine Festival offers the chance to enjoy some affordable fine dining at over 30 different participating restaurants. The following month sees the arrival of the Anaheim Hills 4th of July Fest, which features a lengthy procession and various family oriented activities at the Peralta Canyon Park.

Further annual events and things to do tend to be staged close by, being based around Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, all of which are nestled together and roughly 25 minutes to the south.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - New Year's Day
• Third Monday in January - Martin Luther King Day
• 12th February - Lincoln's Birthday
• Third Monday in February - Washington's Birthday
• Last Monday in May - Memorial Day
• 4th July - Independence Day
• First Monday in September - Labor Day
• Second Monday in October - Columbus Day
• 11th November - Veterans Day
• 4th Thursday in November - Thanksgiving
• 25th December - Christmas Day

Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Santa Ana Artists Village Open House - first Saturday each month, featuring 150 studios and galleries at the Artists Village Open House, this free art event attracts people from all over the county

February

• African Heritage Festival - mid-February, a fun time is had by all at this celebration of African and African-American cultures including arts, crafts and ethnic food. Held at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach

March

• St. Patrick's Day Celebration - March 17th, held at the Anaheim Farmer's Market, celebrations feature Irish dancers, music, food and much consumption of Guinness
• Glory of Easter - late March to early April, featuring a re-enactment of Christ's last days with a cast of 200 thespians and live animals

April

• Youth Expo - early April, a free festival held every year at the Orange County Fair and Exposition Center, where games, a jazz festival, crafts and a science and engineering fair make for a fun and interesting day out
• Fabulous Fords Forever Car Show - mid-April, held at Independence Hall's parking lot at Knott's Berry Farm, this free show features a line up of classic Ford cars including a range of Mustangs

May

• Cinco de Mayo - early May, celebrating the defeat of the French Army by Mexican militia at the Battle Puebla
• Anaheim Children's Art Festival - late May, a day-long festival at the Center Street Promenade, which sees thousands of kids racking their brains
• OC Greek Fest - late May, a party (glendi) held at the St. John Greek Orthodox Church, featuring traditional Greek cuisine and folk dancing exhibitions, stalls, as well as activities and rides for children

June

• Summer Food and Wine Festival - late June, a night of food and wine tasting where top chefs gather from dozens of South Coast Plaza restaurants to offer up samples of their acclaimed menus
• Taste of Anaheim - late June, 40 restaurants take part in this feast of ethnic cuisines at the Center Street Promenade

July

• Anaheim Hills 4th of July Festival and Parade - July 4th, a fun parade held at Peralta Park with entertainment featuring a pancake breakfast, dog show, short walk / run and fireworks
• Art-A-Fair - early July through to September, Laguna Beach is the venue for this gathering of art lovers

August

• Saturday Car Cruisers - the 'Best Free Car Show in the World' staged at Huntington Beach features hot rods and classics
• Fiesta Street Fair - mid-August, held at San Clemente and consisting of live music, food and a salsa challenge

September

• Taste of Newport - mid-September, a three-day festival of food and wine at Fashion Island mall in Newport, where dozens of restaurants and wineries provide the sustenance

October

• Gay Days at Disneyland - early October, a follow on from the earlier mini-event of Gay Days in April, featuring much frivolity and parading at Disneyland
• Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade - starting with a pancake breakfast, followed by marching bands, a children's costume contest and an afternoon of fun and activities at Pearson Park

November

• Holiday Trees at Richard Nixon Library - early November, held at the Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, displays include decorated trees from around the globe as well as the presidential tree, first lady Tree and the Hometown Heroes Evergreen

December

• Nutcracker Festival - early December, this December festival is held at the Center Street Promenade
• Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade - mid-December, the largest event of its kind in Southern California, the event features a week long boating parade where hundreds of vessels cruise Newport Harbor