Fairs and Festivals for Father's Day

If Mother's Day is about having brunch and bringing flowers, Father's Day is shaping up to be about drinking beer and hitting the fairs. This weekend there are fairs and festivals cropping up in all corners of Orange County. Here's a sprinkling of them.
 


Taste of OC is a 2-day event of
food, drink and fun (image via
 orangecounty.com)

Taste of Orange County: 5-Star Culinary Festival



Technically not a fair, but the Taste of OC is returning after sixteen years and is promising to be a foodie's dream with more than 50 restaurants and wineries taking part. Everything that is food will be represented at the event, being held at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine both Saturday and Sunday.

Wine and tequila tasting seminars (that sounds like code for having a bender, but whatever) restaurant tastings, and local celebrity chefs will also be on hand for cooking demonstrations. You need to buy tickets to the event, but dads get in free on Sunday, and children under 15 also get in free with an adult. Check out the details on tasteofoc.com.

June 16: 12 pm - 10 pm
June 17: 12 - 8 pm
Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Irvine

image via hb-downtown.com

Chili at the Beach
For something more informal, head over to downtown Huntington Beach where there's gong to be more than 30 teams competing in a chili contest. There's also going to be a marketplace with vendors, live music, and a beer garden. The event is free, but tasting that chili's going to set you back anywhere from $5 to $23. The proceeds will go for the Boys and Girls Club of Huntington Valley and CHOC Children's. For more information, visit downtown HB's website.

June 16: 11 am - 6 pm
Downtown Main St, Huntington Beach

The Big Irish Fair
Considered to be the largest Irish fair in the Western America, the Big Irish Fair takes place in Silverado Canyon, (located next to Irvine Lake) "where Ireland meets the wild, wild west." Taking place over the span of two days, there are 16 entertainment areas that will be featuring Irish music and dance competitions. Sheep herding demonstrations and children's rides will also be going on. Tickets range from $15 to $18 for adults, $12-$15 for students and seniors (kids 12 and under are free with an adult). Visit the Big Irish Fair's website for details.

June 16-17: 10 am -7 pm
Oak Canyon Park, Silverado Canyon

The areas in downtown Laguna Beach that will be featured
in the 5th annual Fete de la Musique (for a closer look, visit
the Laguna Beach Sister Cities website).

Fete de la Musique
A stroll through Laguna Beach on a Saturday afternoon sounds nice enough, but throw in a music fest for free and now it's entertainment! The fifth annual Fete de la Musique is a brief afternoon of live music that happens on various corners in downtown Laguna Beach. Consisting of mainly local musicians, be serenaded as you enjoy the sites, whether the trendy shops with beachwear, or the stunning view of the beach that's literally across the street. For the interesting history behind the Fete, visit the website here.

June 16: 1-4 pm
Downtown Laguna Beach