Free Outdoor Movies and More This Spring at Irvine Spectrum Center

As the weather warms up, Irvine Spectrum Center is the place to be for weekend fun—offering endless ways to enjoy spring days and make lasting memories. Orange County’s open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment destination comes alive this season with free outdoor events perfect for family outings, date nights, and catching up with friends.

From movie nights under the stars to live music in the open air, Irvine Spectrum Center has something for everyone this spring.

Here’s a look at what’s coming up:

Movies Under the Stars – Free
Location: Giant Wheel Lawn
Date: Every Saturday through May 17
Time: 7 p.m.

Bring a blanket, lawn chair, and snacks for a magical movie night under the iconic Giant Wheel. Back by popular demand, Movies Under the Stars offers family-friendly favorites every Saturday evening.

The upcoming schedule includes:

• Saturday, April 5 – Wicked
• Saturday, April 19 – The Wild Robot
• Saturday, May 3 – Inside Out 2
• Saturday, May 17 – Moana 2

Admission is free and no reservations are required. Movies, dates, and times are subject to change without notice. For more details and updates, click here. 

670 Spectrum Center Drive in Irvine. 

Festival Ballet Theatre Presents The Sleeping Beauty at Irvine Barclay Theatre

Festival Ballet Theatre’s full-length production of The Sleeping Beauty returns to Irvine Barclay Theatre April 12–13, 2025, with performances the entire family will enjoy.

The timeless fairytale features internationally acclaimed guest artists Liudmila Konovalova of Wiener Staatsballett and Vsevolod Maievskyi of English National Ballet in the lead roles.

Audiences will be enchanted by the beloved storybook characters brought to life on stage—Princess Aurora, Puss in Boots, Little Red Riding Hood, and the Big Bad Wolf—in this heartwarming celebration of good triumphing over evil.

Set to the glorious score of Peter Tchaikovsky and staged by Artistic Director Salwa Rizkalla after Marius Petipa’s original choreography, The Sleeping Beauty was first performed by the Russian Imperial Ballet in 1890.

Performance times:
Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 13, 2025, at 2 p.m.

For tickets and information, call (949) 854-4646 or visit thebarclay.org.

Irvine Barclay Theatre is at 4242 Campus Drive in Irvine.

Puesto Welcomes Spring With Seasonal Dishes From Creative Chef Raul Casillas

Puesto is welcoming spring with new seasonal menu additions from Creative Chef Raul Casillas, available now at all three Orange County locations in Anaheim and Irvine. A beloved family-owned brand with eight restaurants and three stadium locations across California, Puesto’s latest chapter includes a refreshed culinary direction led by Chef Casillas, who brings decades of experience and a deep love for regional Mexican cuisine and culture.

Casillas, who joined Puesto in January 2025, has cooked in Michelin-starred kitchens including L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Las Vegas and Valle in Oceanside, led by James Beard nominee Roberto Alcocer. His spring creations spotlight the complexity and variety of Mexican flavors—from the coastlines of Ensenada to the kitchens of Nayarit.

Seasonal Debuts

The new seasonal dishes showcase fresh bounty from land and sea:

Ceviche Zarandeado – Bluefin tuna, serrano, chipotle crema, pickled onions, blue corn tostadas
Inspired by the grilled fish of Nayarit and Sinaloa, Chef Casillas interprets traditional flavors with a fresh aguachile approach.

Crudo Verde – Ensenada kampachi, avocado, hoja santa leche de tigre, tomatillo
Delicate, rich fish meets bright mint, citrus, and serrano spice in this vibrant crudo.

Asparagus Taco – Grilled asparagus, zucchini, hoja santa, pipián verde
A bold spring taco with grilled asparagus on a guisado of zucchini and asparagus, finished with pipián verde and a handmade hoja santa tortilla.

CDMX Ribeye Taco – Ribeye a la plancha, escabeche, ash salsa, avocado salsa
Seared ribeye is layered with encurtidos and smoky ash salsa for a balanced blend of spicy, umami, and acidity.

Corn Flan – Corn, roasted pineapple allspice atole, popcorn
A rich corn custard complemented by bright pineapple atole and a playful popcorn topping.

Spring Cocktails

Vice President of Bar & Spirits Beau du Bois introduces new cocktails for the season:

• Poblano Paloma
• Clarified Guava
• Mole Old-Fashioned
• Cantaloupe Mojito
• Peach & Habanero
• Raspberry & Bergamot

Chef Raul Casillas

Raised between San Ysidro, Tijuana and Mexicali, Casillas grew up cooking with his grandmother and originally aspired to become a doctor. Eventually, his passion for cooking led him to culinary school. Now, as Puesto’s creative chef, he represents a new generation of Mexican-American chefs celebrating the depth and diversity of Mexican regional cuisine.

Weekly Specials

Taco Tuesday
Half off all tacos for dine-in guests from 3 p.m. to close every Tuesday. Puesto tacos are made with organic, non-GMO, stone-ground blue corn tortillas and feature sustainably sourced meats and seafood, including chicken from Wayne Farms and line-caught Baja fish.

Happy Hour
Weekdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy $10 Puesto Perfect Margaritas, $6 Puesto Cervezas, $9 wines by the glass, and half off all Snacks & Shares. All Puesto beers are brewed at the Puesto Cervecería in Mission Valley, San Diego.

Orange County Locations

Los Olivos Irvine
8577 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine
(949) 608-9990
Mon–Thu: 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Fri: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Sat: 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
Sun: 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.
Taco Tuesday: 3–9 p.m. | Dine-in only

Park Place Irvine
3311 Michelson Drive, Irvine
(949) 608-7272
Mon, Wed, Thu: 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Tue & Fri: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Sat: 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
Sun: 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.
Taco Tuesday: 3–10 p.m. | Dine-in only
Happy Hour: Mon–Fri, 3–5 p.m.

Anaheim
1040 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim
(714) 294-0362
Daily: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Taco Tuesday: 3–10 p.m. | Dine-in only
Happy Hour: Mon–Fri, 3–5 p.m.