This year's Fourth of July carries a little extra weight: America turns 250. Whether you're drawn to live music on the water, fireworks over the harbor or a hands-on workshop to get into the spirit, Orange County's coastline has plenty of ways to mark the occasion. Here are three spots worth adding to your holiday weekend itinerary.
Mark your calendar for Thursday, Aug. 6, when Festival Ballet Theatre brings its beloved "Gala of the Stars" back to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall for a one-night-only celebration of ballet. Now in its 17th year, the gala pairs international ballet stars with a select group of young protégés for an evening that's equal parts mentorship and masterclass. This year's headliner is Maria Khoreva, first soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre, who joins guest artists from American Ballet Theatre, Dutch National Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, New York City Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Tulsa Ballet and Vienna State Opera. (Guest artists are subject to change.)
Summer at the track is back. The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club just released details on its 2026 Summer Racing Season, and tickets are on sale now at dmtc.com/tickets. The season runs from Opening Day on Friday, July 17, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7.
Sherman Library & Gardens is preparing to welcome Hazeltine’s, a new restaurant overlooking the gardens and Pacific Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. The restaurant will be operated by Damian Orozco, owner of the historic Tea House on Los Rios in San Juan Capistrano, and will focus on seasonal purveyor-to-table cuisine, thoughtful hospitality, and an expanded dining experience for Sherman guests.
Relive the Y2K era this summer as Segerstrom Center for the Arts brings back its popular Movie Mondays series with a nostalgic lineup of late ’90s and early 2000s favorites on the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza. Returning for its 18th year, the complimentary outdoor movie series begins July 6 with The Parent Trap, followed by Men in Black on July 13, How to Train Your Dragon on July 20, The Lizzie McGuire Movie on July 27, and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl on Aug. 3.
Sherman Library & Gardens is preparing to welcome Hazeltine’s, a new restaurant overlooking the gardens and Pacific Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. The restaurant will be operated by Damian Orozco, owner of the historic Tea House on Los Rios in San Juan Capistrano, and will focus on seasonal purveyor-to-table cuisine, thoughtful hospitality, and an expanded dining experience for Sherman guests.
Laguna Beach's Festival of Arts is bringing back one of the most unique theatrical experiences in the world this summer with the 2026 Pageant of the Masters production, "The Greatest of All Time." The show runs nightly from July 9 through Sept. 4, transforming famous works of art into living pictures, real people posed on stage to recreate masterpieces with remarkable precision. This year's theme digs into some of the most influential artists, artworks and creative achievements in history, and gives audiences a chance to think about the stories and innovation behind some of the world's greatest artistic accomplishments.
The Los Angeles fitness and longevity studio known for its red and blue light workouts, infrared heat, and celebrity following has officially landed in Orange County. BURN opened its doors in Newport Beach this week, marking its first location outside LA. The studio is celebrating with complimentary classes through the week. Spots are filling fast, but reservations are still open through the BURN app, so grab one while you can.
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