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Good morning, Orange County. You’re reading Thrive OC, your weekly guide to the best local spots, happenings, and hidden gems across the coast and beyond. Here’s what’s on deck:

  • Costumes, crafts & dancing

  • Beer, cupcakes & ofrendas

  • Neighborhood pizza worth sharing

  • Irvine’s library planning survey

  • New Anaheim Hills groceries

  • SR-55 lane changes ahead

Let’s dive in.

— Dave Berry

🍽️ Restaurant of the Week: Folks Pizzeria (Costa Mesa)

Folks Pizzeria at The CAMP builds its menu around pizzas for the table, seasonal California ingredients, and natural wines. Indoor and outdoor seating make it a good choice for a small-group dinner, with reservations and walk-ins welcome. The dining room is small and parking at The CAMP can be busy, so leave a little time before your table.

Where: 2937 Bristol St., A102, Costa Mesa | Phone: (714) 617-4888

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📅 Upcoming Events 🎉

Air Plant Jellyfish, San Clemente (October 26)

Make an air plant jellyfish and learn how to care for it. Materials are provided, but space is limited; contact the branch for registration details. 4:00 pm | San Clemente Library, 242 Avenida Del Mar | Event Info

Sugar Skulls, Dana Point (October 27)

Decorate a sugar skull with icing and candy for Día de los Muertos. Supplies are available while they last, with face painting from 3:30–4:30 pm. 3:00 pm | Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Rd. | Event Info

Spooky Cooks, Costa Mesa (October 28)

Make guacamole and a jack-o’-lantern pepper at this Halloween cooking activity. The recipes require no cooking. 10:30 am | Donald Dungan Library, 1855 Park Ave. | Event Info

Nightmare on Center Street, Anaheim (October 29)

Downtown’s farmers market adds trick-or-treating, costume contests, and Halloween vendors to its Thursday lineup. Bring the family for a daytime costume outing. 11:00 am–3:00 pm | Center Street Promenade, 201 W. Center Street Promenade | Event Info

Treats in the Streets, Orange (October 29)

Dress up for free trick-or-treating around the Orange Plaza. Streets close for the celebration, so allow extra time to park and walk in. 4:00 pm–7:00 pm | Plaza Park and surrounding streets, Old Towne Orange | Event Info

OktoBOOfest, Fullerton (October 29)

Downtown Fullerton’s Halloween night market brings craft vendors, a mini art walk, trick-or-treating, and a kids’ corner to the plaza. JukeBoxx Band plays from 6:30–8:30 pm. 4:30 pm–8:30 pm | Downtown Fullerton Plaza, 125 E. Wilshire Ave. | Event Info

Alt Rock Revolution Halloween Party, Garden Grove (October 30)

U2, Oasis, Offspring, and White Stripes tribute acts take the stage at Garden AMP’s Halloween party. The show is open to all ages, with tickets required. 5:00 pm–10:00 pm | Garden AMP, 12762 Main St. | Event Info

Brewers Mash, Santa Ana (October 30)

Local breweries pour unlimited tastings at this Halloween beer festival, with live music and a costume contest. Tickets are required, food costs extra, and admission is strictly 21+. 6:00 pm–10:00 pm | Heritage Museum of Orange County, 3101 W. Harvard St. | Event Info

Spooky Silent Disco, Irvine (October 30)

Dance outdoors with glowing headphones at this free Halloween Eve gathering. No reservation is required; headphones are first come, first served, and the event is weather permitting. 6:00 pm–9:00 pm | Irvine Spectrum Center, 670 Spectrum Center Dr. | Event Info

Boo-Heny Costume Surf, Dana Point (October 31)

The Doheny Longboard Surfing Association gathers for costumed surfing and an informal costume contest. Costumes are encouraged, and visitors should allow for temporary parking restrictions during storm cleanup. 9:00 am–about 1:00 pm | Boneyard at Doheny State Beach, 25300 Dana Point Harbor Dr. | Event Info

Surf City Spooktacular, Huntington Beach (October 31)

Bring your costume to Main Street for downtown Huntington Beach’s Halloween celebration. 4:00 pm–7:00 pm | Main Street, downtown Huntington Beach | Event Info

Halloween Events Across OC (October 26—31)

Still making Halloween plans? Find more ways to celebrate in our roundup of events across Orange County. Dates and times vary | Locations across OC | Event Info

Fall Harvest Festival, San Clemente (November 1)

Search the grounds for decorated pumpkins, sip warm apple cider, and try a fall craft at Casa Romantica’s free family day. RSVP through the venue’s event page. 10:00 am–2:00 pm | Casa Romantica, 415 Avenida Granada | Event Info

Día de los Muertos Family Festival, Santa Ana (November 1)

Music, dance, art making, and face painting fill the museum’s free courtyard festival. Bring a photo of a departed loved one or pet for the community ofrenda; free RSVPs are available. 11:00 am–3:00 pm | Bowers Museum, Key Courtyard, 2002 N. Main St. | Event Info

Mission 250th Birthday Cupcakes, San Juan Capistrano (November 1)

Celebrate the Mission’s 250th anniversary with birthday cupcakes for the first 1,000 guests. Regular admission is required, and public visiting hours end at 2:00 pm that day. Noon–2:00 pm | Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Old Mission Rd. | Event Info

Día de los Muertos, Dana Point (November 1)

Ofrendas, mariachi, folklórico dancing, crafts, and food vendors bring this free community celebration to La Plaza Park. A shuttle runs from Dana Hills High School from 1:30–7:30 pm. 2:00 pm–7:00 pm | La Plaza Park, 34111 La Plaza | Event Info

🏄 Local News You Should Know

Irvine Wants Your Library Ideas

Irvine is asking residents to help shape a 20-year Library Master Plan, covering future facilities, services, technology, and staffing. The community survey is open through November 30, with pop-up surveys also available at Heritage Park, Katie Wheeler, and University Park libraries. The plan is expected to be completed by December 2027, so this is a chance to weigh in while priorities are being developed.

Trader Joe’s Opens in Anaheim Hills

Trader Joe’s new Anaheim Hills store is now open at 6336 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd. The store lists daily hours of 9:00 am–9:00 pm, including this coming weekend. Its shelves include the chain’s own-label groceries, fresh produce, bakery items, cheese, and flowers.

SR-55 Traffic Shift Could Start Monday

OCTA says a northbound SR-55 traffic shift between I-405 and I-5 could begin as early as October 26, allowing work on the center median and new carpool lanes. Expect intermittent lane and ramp closures around 9:00 pm–5:00 am for roughly two weeks. Once restriping near McFadden Avenue is complete, that northbound on-ramp will serve northbound I-5 only; drivers heading onto northbound SR-55 or southbound I-5 will need another route. Check construction updates before traveling, since the schedule can change.

🌟 OC Trivia: Did You Know?

Doheny, the setting for Saturday’s costume surf, became California’s first state beach in 1931 after Edward L. Doheny donated the property for public use.

Think you know OC? Reply with your best trivia, and we might feature it next!

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🎶 Live Music This Weekend

Looking for live tunes? Here’s what’s happening:

Friday, October 30:

  1. Barnoa Wine Company (San Clemente) – Poul Pedersen, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

  2. Knolls Restaurant (Laguna Niguel) – Sunglasses at Night, 6:00 pm

  3. The Coach House (San Juan Capistrano) – The Yacht Groove with Real Deal, 8:00 pm

  4. Swallow’s Inn (San Juan Capistrano) – Grand Junction Band, 9:00 pm – 1:00 am

  5. Pub Thirty-Two (Mission Viejo) – Anesha Rose, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

  6. The Ranch at Laguna Beach (Laguna Beach) – Zach Churchill, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

  7. THE RANCH Saloon (Anaheim) – Dawson, 8:00 pm

  8. Old World Festival Hall (Huntington Beach) – The Bluebirds, 6:30 pm – 11:30 pm

  9. Musco Center for the Arts (Orange) – Gaby Moreno, 7:30 pm

  10. Tartan Room (Orange) – The Sonoramics, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

  11. Campus JAX (Newport Beach) – K-Tel All Stars: 70s Soundtrack, 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

  12. The Observatory (Santa Ana) – The Black Angels: Passover 2026 Tour, 8:00 pm

🌦️ 7-Day Weather Forecast

🌅 Sunrise & Sunset in OC

Sunrise

7:05 am, 105° East-southeast

Sunset

6:04 pm, 255° West-southwest

Total Daylight

10 hours, 59 minutes

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