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Happy Wednesday!
After running the A/C way more than we'd like to admit (or pay for), this “cooler” stretch feels like a gift. A few things on our radar:
🎤 Comedy legend and Dana Point local Rita Rudner is coming to Lido Theater this November for her only OC appearance this year. It’s a rare chance to see one of comedy’s sharpest voices close to home, and tickets are on sale now!
🎶 🎶 The Pageant of the Masters amphitheater, dark for 85 years outside Pageant season, opens up for three nights of concerts this October, with Ben Harper, Amos Lee, G. Love, and more.
🍺 We’re also excited about Ales & Trails on Sat, Sept 12. It’s a craft beer tasting with live music right on Mission Viejo’s Oso Creek Trail. Buy tickets in advance.
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
P.S…A Quick Favor: Click the sponsor ad below. It’s an easy way to support The Scene at no cost to you (We get paid when you click, even if you don’t buy).
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🗓️ THIS WEEKEND’S PICKS 🗓️
~~ FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4 ~~
🌎 Orange International Street Fair
Old Towne Orange turns into a global food-and-culture crawl with international street food, live music, beer and wine gardens.
Friday–Sunday, September 4–6 | Plaza Park/The Circle, Orange
🖼️ Last Night of the Pageant
Festival of Arts goes out with roaming magicians, photo ops, Beatles tribute band Hand a one-night-only version of the Pageant of the Masters hosted by Esai Morales.
Fri, Sep 4 | 5:30–10:30 pm | Festival of Arts Laguna Beach
🎸 Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers
The Arizona band blends rock, Americana, indie pop and mariachi influences, with Ted Z opening.
Fri, Sep 4 | 8pm | The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano
📚 Local Author Book Fair
Orange County authors take over the Murray Center with adult fiction, nonfiction and children’s books, plus books available directly from the writers.
Fri, Sep 4 | 5–8 pm | Murray Community Center, Mission Viejo
🤠 Cowboy Canyon Nights
Shop local vendors, sip cold drinks and line dance to country music amid the vineyard views.
Fri, Sep 4 | 6–10 pm | Giracci Vineyards, Silverado
🎸 Tunes at the Dunes Kickoff
The Back Bay comes alive with live music on the sand, food trucks, and beachfront bars.
Fri–Sun, Sept 4-6 | 5pm – 8pm | Newport Dunes Waterfront
➡️ NEXT WEEK
Scroll down to see events happening next week and beyond.
~~ SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5 ~~
You don’t need concert tickets to see the fireworks at 9:15 pm on Sat, Sep 5. The best views are along Alicia between Marguerite and Olympiad, or from Olympiad at the north end of the lake. Go early to claim a spot. Many people set out chairs in the morning and return later.
🎆 Fitz and the Tantrums + Annual Fireworks Show
Catch the multiplatinum indie-pop band live, followed by Lake Mission Viejo’s annual fireworks spectacular. (Concert for members + guests only)
Sat, Sept 5 | Concert 7 pm; Fireworks 9:15 pm | Lake Mission Viejo
🤠 The Highwayman Show
The music of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson comes together in one outlaw-country tribute.
Sat, Sep 5 | 8pm | The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano
🎻 José José by Candlelight
A string quartet performs “El Triste,” “Almohada,” “Amar y Querer” and other songs made famous by José José. Save 10% with code: SOUTHOC10
Sat, Sep 5 | 6pm | Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, Newport Beach
🎆 Tchaikovsky + Fireworks
Pacific Symphony pairs violinist Randall Goosby with Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto before finishing with the 1812 Overture and fireworks.
Sat, Sep 5 | 8 pm | Great Park Live, Irvine
🎨 Downtown Santa Ana ArtWalk
Explore art shows, live music, dancing, kids’ activities and more than 30 local vendors, plus a special Zine Walk pop-up along Fourth Street.
Sat, Sep 5 | 5–10 pm | Downtown Santa Ana
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~~ SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 6 ~~
Expect Bon Jovi favorites like “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Wanted Dead or Alive,” performed in a venue where every seat is just feet from the stage.
🎤 Wanted: A Bon Jovi Tribute
Sing along to Bon Jovi’s biggest arena-rock anthems as WANTED recreates the sound, energy and spectacle of the band’s live shows.
Sun, Sep 6 | 7pm | The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano
🎨 Last Day for Laguna’s Art Festivals
Sawdust Art Festival and Laguna Art-A-Fair wrap their summer seasons with artists, demonstrations, workshops and live entertainment.
Sun, Sep 6 | Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach
🚙 Coastal Cars & Coffee
Check out classic cars and beach cruisers while grabbing coffee at this new San Clemente automotive gathering. Spectators are welcome.
Sun, Sep 6 | 8–10 am | SurCoffee at Basham’s Surf Shop, San Clemente
🏺 All About San Clemente History
Docents share stories about Ole Hanson, Casa Romantica and San Clemente’s beginnings, with an archaeology activity for kids.
Sun, Sep 6 | 10 am–2pm | Casa Romantica, San Clemente
🍸 Spirited Performances👻
🕯️Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy
Four of Poe’s eeriest tales are performed inside a chapel at Fairhaven Cemetery, with a themed cocktail served alongside each story. We’ve been twice, and the cemetery setting makes this one especially good. Many of the best times are already taken, so book now.
🔮 The Obscure
Hidden behind an unmarked door in the LA Arts District, this is a two-hour cocktail tasting told in three acts. You’ll try three house-distilled spirits and three original cocktails as storytelling, live art and theatrical surprises unfold around you. Grab Tickets.
🤔 Trivia Time
In which OC city is this Dolly Parton mural located?
A. Fullerton
B. Anaheim
C. Newport
D. Costa Mesa
(Scroll to bottom for answer)
🗓️ NEXT WEEK…
✏️ Add these events to your Calendar
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 7
🐷 27th Annual Labor Day Pig Roast
Swallow’s goes full Labor Day with a long-running pig roast, carnitas tacos, raffle, drinks and live music.
Mon, Sep 7 | Carnitas 11 am–5 pm | Swallow’s Inn, San Juan Capistrano
🌊 Last Day: Frank Cuprien, For the Love of the Sea
See the final day of an exhibition celebrating one of Laguna Beach’s founding artists through his luminous paintings of the Pacific coast.
Mon, Sep 7 | 10 am–5 pm | Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach
🎸 Fernando Noronha at The Drake
Brazilian blues-rock guitarist Fernando Noronha performs during an early evening show at The Drake.
Mon, Sep 7 | 5:30 pm | The Drake, Laguna Beach
🀄 Mahjong Night at Left Coast Brewing
Beginners and experienced players can learn, play and meet other mahjong fans over food and drinks.
Mon, Sep 7 | 6–9 pm | Left Coast Brewing Co., Irvine
🎶 Gilligan’s Island at SeaLegs
Close out the long weekend with a live beach concert along the Bolsa Chica shoreline.
Mon, Sep 7 | 3–6 pm | SeaLegs at the Beach, Huntington Beach
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8
💃 Line Dancing with DJ Champagne Cowgirl
Free beginner and intermediate lessons lead into five hours of line dancing
Tue, Sep 8 | Lessons 6 & 7 pm, dancing until 11 pm | Swallow’s Inn, San Juan Capistrano
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 9
🎹 Dueling Pianos
Tom Bagley, Scott Doyle and Jon Sherman face off at the keys during an audience-driven night of music.
Wed, Sep 9 | Doors 6 pm, show 7:30 pm | The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano
🌲 Wild Child
A new pop-driven musical about two troubled teens sent to a wilderness therapy program, where the outdoors forces connection, friendship, and a little emotional excavation.
Sept 9–Oct 4 | Laguna Playhouse, Laguna Beach
🎷 Wednesday Jazz at Club 616
The Soul Organ Trio brings organ-led jazz and classics from the ’60s and ’70s to Club 616’s weekly Wednesday night.
Bonus: Find out how to get a $5 cocktail.
Wed, Sept 9 | 8–11pm | Club 616, Santa Ana
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10
🎶 Live Music on the Sand
The Longview Band plays the Doho Café patio right at Doheny State Beach, a good sunset option if the big concert isn’t the mood.
Thu, Sep 10 | 4–6 pm | Doho Café, Dana Point
🕯️ The Beatles by Candlelight
The Beatles’ biggest songs are reworked for string quartet inside the gardens of the Nixon Library.
Thu, Sep 10 | Time available in ticket selector | Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum, Yorba Linda
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11
⚓ Maritime Festival Returns to the Harbor
The 42nd Maritime Festival sails back with cannon battles, ship tours, live music, maritime re-enactors, and dockside fun for all ages, plus the Friday night Sails & Ales kickoff.
Sept 11–13, 2026 | Ocean Institute | Dana Point
👑 Queen Nation Goes Symphonic
Queen Nation expands into a 14-piece production with strings, brass, backing vocalists and Queen’s biggest songs.
Fri, Sep 11 | Doors 6 pm, show 8 pm | The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano
🏄 Lexus Trestles Pro Begins
The world’s top surfers return to Lower Trestles as the WSL Championship Tour begins a ten-day stop.
Fri, Sep 11 | Begins 8 am | Lower Trestles, San Clemente
🎃 Creep It Real OC
Step into a vintage Halloween world with 130+ spooky vendors, live music, roaming characters and nightly trick-or-treat parade.
Fri, Sept 11–Sun, Sept 13 | 4–10 pm | Heritage Museum of Orange County, Santa Ana
🍷 An Idiot’s Guide to Wine
Wine tasting meets stand-up comedy during a night designed for experts, beginners and everyone in between.
Fri, Sep 11 | 6 pm and 8:30 pm | The Charleston, Fullerton
🍺 Sails N’ Ales
Kick off Maritime Festival weekend with local craft beer, live music and waterfront views.
Thurs, Sept 11 | 6–10 PM | Ocean Institute, Dana Point
🥾 Fitness Hike & Yoga at Newport Coast
Work up a sweat on a 5-mile hike through Buck Gully Reserve, then unwind with a yoga session designed to stretch and strengthen hiking muscles. Registration required.
Fri, Sept. 11 | 8–11 AM | Newport Coast Community Center, Newport Coast
☕ Coffee Concert
Enjoy a morning performance by local musicians paired with fresh brews from High Tide Coffee.
Fri, Sept 11 | 10 AM | Casa Romantica, San Clemente
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12
🍺 Ales & Trails
Craft beer tasting and live music right on the Oso Creek Trail, held in the Celebration Garden. 21+.
Sat, Sep 12 | 2–4 pm | Celebration Garden, Oso Creek Trail, Mission Viejo
🎹 Piano Men: Generations
A father-and-son piano team celebrates four decades of music from Billy Joel and Elton John.
Sat, Sep 12 | Doors 6 pm, show 8 pm | The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano
👑 Queen and The Beatles by Candlelight
A string quartet brings together arena-rock anthems from Queen and enduring favorites from the Beatles. Save 10% with code: SOUTHOC10
Sat, Sep 12 | Time available in ticket selector | The Resort at Pelican Hill, Newport Beach
🔧 Get Your Stuff Fixed for Free at Repair Café OC
Broken lamps, wobbly chairs, busted gadgets — volunteers help you fix them at no cost.
Sept 12 | 8:30 am - 12:30pm | Norman P. Murray Community Center, Mission Viejo
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13
🎻 Pacific Symphony: Symphony on the Go
Pacific Symphony rolls its mobile stage into Melinda Park for an outdoor string quartet performing classical and contemporary music.
Sun, Sep 13 | 6 pm | Melinda Park, Mission Viejo
🎉 Fiesta Latina en Irvine
Celebrate Hispanic and Latino culture with live music, lotería, calavera makeup, art, crafts, food trucks and cultural performances throughout the Great Park.
Sun, Sep 13 | 11 am–4 pm | Great Park, Irvine
🎵 Mindful Melodies
Music and guided mindfulness come together during a calming Sunday morning session.
Sun, Sep 13 | 10–11 am | Crown Valley Community Center, Laguna Niguel
🌿 Nature’s Grocery Store
Taste prickly pear jam, buckwheat graham crackers and lemonade berry drink while learning how early settlers lived off the land, then take a short stroll through Baker Canyon. Registration opens Sep 4.
Sat, Sep 19 | 9–11 am | Black Star Canyon Wilderness Park, Silverado
🧘 Nature Meditation Walk
Unplug on an easy, less-than-one-mile guided walk with mindfulness exercises, quiet nature stops and a tea ceremony to finish.
Sun, Sep 13 | 8–10 am | Nix Nature Center, Laguna Beach
🛍️ The Coast Vintage Market
Browse vintage finds, antiques, retro treasures, handmade goods, and one-of-a-kind pieces at this free outdoor market.
Sun, Sept 13 | 8 AM–3 PM | Laguna Hills Mall Parking Lot, Laguna Hills
🎸 Metallica by Candlelight
Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” “Master of Puppets” and “Nothing Else Matters” get the string-quartet treatment. Save 10% with code: SOUTHOC10
Sun, Sep 13 | Time available in ticket selector | The Lido Theater, Newport Beach
🎶 Maná by Candlelight
A string quartet revisits the Latin-rock band’s biggest songs inside Newport Beach’s Art Deco theater. Save 10% with code: SOUTHOC10
Sun, Sep 13 | Time available in ticket selector | The Lido Theater, Newport Beach
In Case You Missed It…
🎣 Laguna Niguel Regional Park Is Getting Fresh Catfish with the next stocking planned for the week of Sep. 7.
🎬 Netflix’s A Toxic Love Story revisits one of OC’s strangest true-crime cases.
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📸 This Week’s Snapshot
The OC Bar Making Music-Infused Spirits
This week we continued our OC Cocktail Trail at Stone Groove Stillhouse in Anaheim, a Hi-Fi listening bar and restaurant where the music is actually part of the booze-making. With our cocktail passports we enjoyed full size cocktails for just $5.
Stillhouse pumps different genres into the tanks while the spirits age, and we tasted the same spirit “musically mastered” with different music. You really can taste a difference.
What surprised us even more was the food. Everything we ate was ridiculously good.
The cocktails matched it. I had the Tragic Kingdom, with Creamsicle vodka, while Jason had the August 12 with snap pea and mint vodka, cachaça and pine.
Here’s the move: grab the $20 Cocktail Passport, hit Stone Groove and get one of its $17 cocktails for $5.
Pro Tip #1 If you can make happy hour, start with the $25 Soundtrack Deal with an insanely good slider, fries and cocktail, then use your passport for cocktail #2.
Pro Tip #2: Walk about 20 yards across the street to the Packing House and head to The Blind Rabbit, a very cool speakeasy that’s also on the passport. 🍸
About Us:
Lorna’s an OC native who has lived in Spain, France and New Zealand but always returns home for the tacos, the trails, and the beautiful tree-lined streets of Mission Viejo.
Jason’s a Brit who swapped pub life for paddleboards and now splits his time between aquascaping and crafting perfect cocktails. We started The Scene because there’s so much to see, do, and savor.
Thanks for letting us be a small part of your weekend.
🧐 Trivia Answer:
✅ D. Costa Mesa
For the past five years, a massive mural of Dolly Parton has covered the side of a building in Costa Mesa. This week, it became something more: a gathering place for fans celebrating her life.
The nearly 52-foot-wide mural at 719 W. 19th Street Costa Mesa was painted in 2021 on the exterior of what was then Strut Bar & Club. And there’s a very Dolly reason it exists.
Why Dolly?
During the pandemic, Dolly Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, money that helped support research behind Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
When Strut owner Luke Nero learned about her contribution, he decided Dolly was exactly who he wanted on the club’s enormous blank wall. He also admired her longtime support of the LGBTQ+ community and wanted the mural to represent inclusivity, hope and gratitude to frontline workers.
The Artist Behind the Mural
Photo Credit: Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG
Long Beach artist David Gilmore spent about a month creating the massive portrait, combining photographs of Dolly from different stages of her life into one image.
The idea was to portray her almost like a goddess, with her arms stretched wide and light radiating from her hands. Gilmore said at the time that Dolly transcended pop culture, something the reaction to the mural quickly proved.
Now, It Has Become a Memorial
Following Dolly Parton’s death on Aug. 25 at age 80, fans began visiting the Costa Mesa mural with flowers and candles. On Fri, Aug. 28, the site became the gathering place for a candlelight vigil in her honor.
People gathered beneath the enormous portrait to remember her, and images from the Costa Mesa vigil were carried by Reuters around the world.
OC Is Remembering Her in Sweet Ways 🧁
SusieCakes in Laguna Niguel is offering Dolly’s Decorated Cupcakes benefiting Dolly’s Imagination Library!
And at the Marguerite Aquatics Complex, one of Dolly’s most famous reminders is lighting up the scoreboard for hundreds of Mission Viejo Nadadores swimmers and divers.
So while Dolly Parton will forever belong to Tennessee, Orange County has a few chapters in her story, too!
It’s A Wrap..
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🥱 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.