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The big headline this weekend is the Festival of the Whales in Dana Point. For three days the harbor turns into a celebration of the California gray whale migration with a parade, carnival, a clam chowder cook-off, and live music.

If art is more your thing, Thursday is a great night for a little culture.

You can stroll Laguna Beach’s monthly Art Walk, or head to the Moulton Museum in Laguna Hills for the opening of Reflections on Water, a coastal photography exhibition by Ryan Jensen where you can meet the artist.

With weather like this, there’s really no excuse to stay home. Keep scrolling and make a plan. ☀️

To all the new readers, welcome to The Scene… Our motto is: the more you know, the more you’ll 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.

See you out there!
Lorna & Jason

🐳 Festival of Whales
Three days dedicated to the California gray whale migration with parades, harbor events, live music, hands-on activities, and prime whale watching.
Mar 6–8 | Dana Point Harbor | Dana Point

🎪 Dana Point Carnival
Rides, games, and classic fair food roll in as part of the 55th Annual Festival of Whales.
Mar 6–8 | Afternoon hours | Lantern Bay Park, Dana Point

🕯️ Queen vs. The Beatles by Candlelight
A string quartet performs the biggest hits from Queen and The Beatles—Bohemian Rhapsody, Here Comes the Sun, We Will Rock You, and more—set against the oceanfront elegance of The Ritz-Carlton under candlelight.
Fri, Mar 6 | 8:45pm | The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point

🤠 Cowboy Canyon Nights
Line dancing, beer & wine, and local vendors take over Giracci Vineyards for this high-energy country night under the Silverado sky.
Fri, Mar 6 | 6–10pm | Silverado

🌵 Massive Cactus & Succulent Sale
Rare and unusual cactus, collector succulents and artisan pottery.
Mar 6 & 7 | 9am–5pm | United Methodist Church, Anaheim

🎬 Movie in the Park: How to Train Your Dragon
A free outdoor showing of the 2025 live-action film, plus hot chocolate and food trucks.
Fri, Mar 6 | 6pm | Forster Ranch Park Amphitheater, San Clemente

🍷 Taste of Laguna Hills
Small bites, live music, and local flavor return for this annual tasting event benefiting Laguna Hills High School programs.
Fri, Mar 6 | 6–9pm | Community Center | Laguna Hills

Scroll down to see what’s happening next week and beyond:
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🎶 🎶 Checkout This Weekend’s Live Music Options

🏮 Lantern Festival
Celebrate the first full moon of the lunar calendar with glowing lanterns, cultural performances and lantern decorating.
Sat, Mar 7 | Segerstrom Concert Hall, Costa Mesa

🐳 Magical Migration Parade
Dana Point’s annual kickoff to Festival of Whales weekend with giant helium balloons, marching bands, classic cars and colorful float.
Sat, Mar 7 | 10am | Dana Point Harbor

🪩 El Presidente Ball
Step back into early California at this signature Swallows season event celebrating the roots of San Juan Capistrano.
Sat, Mar 7 | 6–10pm | El Adobe de Capistrano | San Juan Capistrano

🦪 Clam Chowder Cook-Off
Taste unlimited chowder from top local restaurants, sip $8 libations, and catch live music.
Sat, Mar 7 | 11am–3pm | Dana Point Harbor

🌸 A New Season of Art Arrives in Irvine
Exhibition exploring renewal and transformation through painting, sculpture, and mixed media.
On view Mar 7–May 16
Free Opening Reception: Fri, Mar 7 | 2–4pm | Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine

😂 Live Stand-Up Comedy
Next Stop Comedy brings a lineup of touring comedians for a night of laughs at Mission Ready Brewing. Grab a pint and settle in.
Sat, Mar 7 | 7pm | Mission Ready Brewing, Rancho Santa Margarita

Scroll down to see what’s happening next week and beyond:
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🎶 🎶 Checkout South OC Live Music Options

Peru, Bhutan and Cambodia. That’s where Intrepid, the world’s largest adventure travel company, has launched three new Women’s Expeditions.

These small-group trips are designed exclusively for women, creating space to connect, explore and support local women-led businesses along the way.

Trek the lesser-known Chinchero to Urquillos route in the Peruvian Andes with an all-female crew. Discover Cambodia’s street food scene on a women-run tuk tuk tour. Unwind with a traditional herbal hot stone bath at a women-owned farmhouse in Bhutan.

Every trip is led by an expert female guide and built around meaningful, immersive experiences.

Explore Women’s Expeditions

🕯️ Taylor Swift by Candlelight
A live string quartet performs Swift favorites like “Love Story,” “Cruel Summer,” and “You Belong With Me” inside the Ritz-Carlton under a glow of candlelight.
Sun, Mar 8 | The Ritz-Carlton | Dana Point

🎶 Concert on the Water
Live bands perform from a floating stage just offshore while you relax on the sand with beach chairs and blankets.
Sun, Mar 8 | 12–5pm | Baby Beach, Dana Point

🚗 Cars & Café
A laid-back morning of classic cars, custom builds, coffee, food, and raffles—spectators and photographers welcome.
Sun, Mar 8 | 8–10am | River Street Marketplace, San Juan Capistrano

🍽️ OC Restaurant Week
Restaurants across Orange County roll out special menus for one week only. No tickets or passes needed.
Sun, Mar 8 – Sat, Mar 14 | Participating Restaurants | Orange County

🛍️The Coast Vintage Market
Authentic vintage from highly curated collections to family treasures—every booth is a surprise.
Sun, Mar 8 | 8am–3pm | Laguna Hills Mall Parking Lot, Laguna Hills

🍺 Dockside Drafts
During Festival of Whales weekend, sip craft brews and grab BBQ at this waterfront pop-up. Harbor views, salty air, cold beer.
Mar 7 & 8 | 11am–5pm | Ocean Institute | Dana Point

🏛️ Dana Point Walking Tour
A guided one-mile stroll through Dana Point’s historic town center, featuring 1920s Woodruff-era homes and bluff top harbor views, with stories from the area’s early days.
Mar 7 & 8, 2026 | 2pm-4pm | Dana Point

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🧐 Trivia Answer:

✅ A — O’Neill Museum, San Juan Capistrano

Built in the 1880s, this Victorian cottage was one of the town’s first wooden buildings.

The house was originally constructed as a private residence during the citrus and farming boom that followed the arrival of the railroad. Over time, it passed through several local families before being preserved and later designated as a historic resource.

Today, it operates as the O’Neill House Museum and headquarters of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society, named in honor of the O’Neill family, whose ranching empire once stretched across tens of thousands of acres in what is now Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Ladera Ranch.

And…it has a reputation. Volunteers and visitors have reported unexplained footsteps, doors moving on their own, and the distinct feeling of someone else in the room. Whether that’s 19th-century floorboards settling… or something else… is up to you.

Make a day of it: wander Los Rios, check out the museum then grab a margarita at El Adobe!

📍 O’Neill Museum
31831 Los Rios St, San Juan Capistrano

🎥 Watch the video to step inside.

🥱 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.

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