In partnership with

Hey friend,

Welcome to The Scene… your weekly roundup of what’s actually worth doing in South Orange County.

Our motto: the more you know, the more you go. That’s what this newsletter is all about — sharing ideas big and small to make it easier (and more fun) to get out and enjoy OC.

So… what’s on your weekend list?
Hit reply and let us know.
Lorna & Jason

~~ SATURDAY SEPT. 20th ~~

🎨 20th Annual Art in the Park Browse paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, and more from 100+ local artists. Enjoy live music, food, and activities in a seaside setting.
September 20 | 10am–4pm | Civic Center Green, Newport Beach

🍷 Fall Sip & Shop at Frisby Cellars Shop 10+ local vendors, enjoy live music from Olivia Rohde, and grab a bite from the food truck — autumn vibes all afternoon.
September 20 | 12–4pm | 28522 Airoso St, Rancho Mission Viejo

🌈 Ladera Pride Community Celebration Celebrate love, inclusion, and community with live music, food trucks, local vendors, and family-friendly activities. Free and open to all.
September 20 | 3–6pm | Chaparral Park | Ladera Ranch

🎸 Concert in Silverado Get groovy with Atomic Jones, a live tribute that brings the soulful, rock-infused energy of Tom Jones to the Silverado Concert Series. It’s free!
September 20 | 6 pm | Silverado Fairgrounds & Community Center, Silverado

🍻 Night Market – Oktoberfest Celebrate fall with an evening market featuring live entertainment, games, food vendors, and festive photo ops. Family-friendly fun with a seasonal twist, no tickets required.
September 20 | 5-9pm | North Paseo at Los Osos, Mission Viejo

💜 Walk to End Alzheimer’s   Be part of the world’s largest Alzheimer’s fundraiser with a morning of community, remembrance, and hope. Festivities kick off at 9am, followed by a ceremony and short walk to raise funds for care and research.
September 20 | 9am | Sendero Field Park, Rancho Mission Viejo

Scroll down to see what’s happening next weekend and beyond:
➡️  PLAN AHEAD…

🎶 🎶 Checkout South OC Live Music Options

~~ SUNDAY SEPT. 21st ~~

🥾 Beginner Hike in Bommer Meadow Start your Sunday in the quiet beauty of Irvine’s Open Space Preserve. This slow-paced, 2-mile interpretive walk winds through coastal sage scrub and wildlife habitat—perfect for beginners. FREE. Registration required.
September 21 | 7:30–10am | Bommer Canyon Preserve, Irvine

🌊 Bioluminescence Night Cruise See the ocean light up after dark as glowing plankton, darting squid, and curious sea lions come to life under the stars.
September 18-21 | 8:30–10:30pm | Ocean Institute, Dana Point

🏡 Discover Mission Viejo’s Past at Heritage House Step inside Heritage House to explore the city’s rich past, from its roots as a dream-home hub to its legacy as “The California Promise.” FREE.
September 21 | 11:00am | Heritage House at Melinda Park, Mission Viejo

🧘 Soul Flow Yoga Stretch, breathe, and reset with Kelley Doyle’s gentle Sunday class in the Peace Dome.
September 21 | 9–10:15am | The Ecology Center, San Juan Capistrano

🥕 Sunday Farmers Markets Stroll the San Clemente market for beachy vibes, stone fruit, and fresh-baked treats (9am–1pm, Avenida Del Mar).
Or swing by Laguna Niguel’s Plaza De La Paz for crisp produce and neighborly chats (8am–12pm, La Paz Rd).

🤠 Country Sunday Line Dancing Kick up your boots at Bigshots Billiards Bar & Grill. Free line dance lessons, food and drink specials, and country tunes.
September 21 | 8pm–1am | Bigshots Billiards Bar & Grill, Lake Forest

Scroll down to see what’s happening next weekend and beyond:
➡️ PLAN AHEAD…

🎶 🎶 Checkout South OC Live Music Options

💌 Quick note from Lorna: 1440 is the one daily newsletter I read almost every day. It gives me the gist of what’s happening in the world—clean, clear, and without all the drama…

The Daily Newsletter for Intellectually Curious Readers

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Join for free today!

☕ Espresso Yourself
Coffee for the Indecisive

Can’t pick just one drink? Redshift Coffee Roasters in Lake Forest has the answer: coffee flights that let you try four drinks at a time. It’s the perfect cure for commitment issues.

Jason and I went on Saturday and dove right in. For $10.99, the pours are generous, and trying a mix of flavors was more fun than settling for just one..

You’ve got two options:
1. Coffee Flight, with classics like espresso, flat white, drip, and cold brew.
2. Fun Flight, which balances comfort picks, vanilla latte, and strawberry matcha, alongside more unique flavors, like like citrusy bumble coffee, and sparkling choco tonic.

Coffee flights turn your coffee into an experience. Share with a friend, or tackle the tray yourself.

📍 Redshift Coffee Roasters | Lake Forest

🦄 NICE NEWS…

🏈 Mission Viejo No. 1 in OC High School Football
For the first time in years, Mater Dei isn’t No. 1! Mission Viejo’s Diablos now lead the Orange County high school football rankings, with JSerra back in the Top 10 and El Toro and Laguna Beach moving up.
Learn more

🥕 New Dana Point Harbor Farmers Market
Dana Point Harbor is debuting its own farmers market starting September 24, running Wednesdays, 9am–1pm.
It joins the city’s longtime Saturday market at La Plaza Park, giving locals two chances a week to shop fresh and local.

🐾 Puppy Pool Party Reunion
Remember the Mission Viejo pups abandoned in the bushes last summer? Fast-forward one year, and nine of the ten siblings reunited and the reactions were heartwarming.
Watch video

⚾ Ladera Ranch Player Eyes Women’s Pro Baseball
A brand-new Women’s Professional Baseball League is set to debut in 2026, and one of the players chasing that dream is a 22-year-old from Ladera Ranch. Bella Espinoza-Molina grew up playing men’s baseball and just advanced in league tryouts, keeping her lifelong goal alive.
Learn More

🎃 Mission Viejo’s Halloween Decorating Contest Returns
The 4th Annual Fall & Halloween Home Decorating Contest is officially open! With categories from Scariest, to Pumpkin-tastic, neighbors will battle it out for bragging rights and gift baskets. Sign up by October 17 at 5pm.
Learn More

✏️ PLAN AHEAD…

🧐 Trivia Answer: 

✅ Answer: A) Rancho Niguel — Granted in 1842 to Juan Avila, Rancho Niguel stretched from Laguna Canyon and Laguna Beach past Aliso Creek toward Dana Point, covering areas that became Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo and Laguna Hills.

🥱 Boring Stuff

Publication Disclaimer: Everything included here is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. It is always best to double-check links to be sure event information hasn’t changed if you plan on attending something.

*Affiliate Disclaimer: This publication contains affiliate links which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We only share things we believe in. Anything you buy through our affiliate links supports the ongoing publication of The Scene. We greatly appreciate your trust in us. Thank you!

©️ 2025 The Scene: South OC | All content and information set forth above was created by Lorna Ladd and Jason Ladd and is the intellectual property of this publication. It is protected under US copyright law, including but not limited to “The Digital Millennium Copyright Act.” Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or duplication of any material, in whole or in part, without express written authorization & consent, is strictly prohibited by law and may result in legal action. Violators will be subject to prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.