Page 101 - 2022-2023 Travel Guide to California

VIEW FROM HEISLER PARK,
Laguna Beach, opposite; surfing
in Hungtington Beach, left;
Newport Beach Regatta, top;
Renée and Henry Segerstrom
Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, above.
DOGORA SUN/SHUTTERSTOCK; J.D.S/SHUTTERSTOCK; CHRIS COSTEA. OPPOSITE: STEVE CUKROV/SHUTTERSTOCK
SPECIAL EVENTS 2022
DANA POINT FESTIVAL OF WHALES March 5-6, Dana Point festivalofwhales.org
SWALLOWS’ DAY PARADE AND MERCADO STREET FAIRE
March 12, San Juan Capistrano swallowsparade.com
BATTLE OF THE MARIACHIS May 14, Mission San Juan Capistrano
missionsjc.com/battle-of-the-mariachis
SAWDUST ART & CRAFT FESTIVAL June 24-Aug. 28, Laguna Beach
sawdustartfestival.org
HUNTINGTON BEACH 4TH OF JULY PARADE & FIREWORKS
July 4, Huntington Beach huntingtonbeachparade.com
PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS July 7-Sept. 2, Laguna Beach foapom.com
OCEAN INSTITUTE MARITIME FESTIVAL Sept. 10-12, Dana Point Harbor
ocean-institute.org/maritime-festival
NEWPORT BEACH CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE
Dec. 14-18, Newport Beach christmasboatparade.com
MUST
SEE,
DO
• DISNEYLAND RESORT After reopening from
the year-plus closure last spring due to the
pandemic, the parks have gradually been restoring
stage shows, nighttime spectaculars, and other
entertainment. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the Magic
Kingdom’s top draw now—who could pass up a
smuggling operation on the Millennium Falcon or
battling the First Order with the Resistance? Pixar,
Marvel Comics (see the new Avengers Campus at
California Adventure) and Twentieth Century Fox
acquisitions may overshadow classic Disney
characters, but princesses, witches and cute animals
galore still enchant youngsters. There’s also the new
Jessie’s Critter Carousel and Inside Out Emotional
Whirlwind ride at Pixar Pier.
• disneyland.disney.go.com
• ORANGE COUNTY GREAT PARK Marked by a
huge orange balloon floating 400 feet overhead, the
continually evolving 1,300-acre park is a family favorite
offering open space, educational play areas, art
galleries and studios, a playground and picnic area, 1.5
miles of walking/biking trails, an outdoor performance
plaza and a weekly farmers’ market. In addition, there
is a 194-acre Sports Complex with a championship
soccer stadium, 25 tennis courts and amenities for a
wide variety of sports. The latest addition is a public ice
and training facility with one Olympic and three NHL
regulation-sized rinks and a gym.
• ocgp.org
• LOT 579, HUNTINGTON BEACH Just south of
“Surf City’s” downtown, steps from Huntington Beach
Pier and the city’s famous sands, the sidewalk cafés
and markets of this modern waterfront food hall offer
12 unique restaurants and eateries. Lot 579 is an
anchor of Pacific City, a shopping, dining and
entertainment complex. The communal space upstairs
offers plenty of seating and a killer ocean view.
• gopacificcity.com/lot579
• LAGUNA BEACH’S PAGEANT OF THE
MASTERS Art literally comes to life in the unique
Pageant of the Masters, in which living actors take
up positions against painted backdrops to recreate
world masterpieces in eerie 3-D fidelity. It’s the pièce
de résistance among the festivals, workshops,
galleries and proliferation of public art in the
picturesque beach town that began life in the early
1900s as a small artists’ colony.
• visitlagunabeach.com
• foapom.com
• KNOTT’S BERRY FARM What started as a small
berry farm grew into a family theme park destination.
With attractions for all ages, the Park has four themed
areas. The Old West Ghost Town is the heart and soul
with cowboys, shootouts, shows and rides for all. Camp
Snoopy is for young ones and features the “Peanuts”
gang. Fiesta Village pays tribute to California’s Hispanic
roots with Mexican-style architecture, food, and eye-
catching works of art. Knott’s Boardwalk pays tribute
to the SoCal beach lifestyle and is home to California’s
first dive coaster, HangTime.
• www.knotts.com
2022-23 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA 99