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Good morning, Orange County. You’re reading Thrive OC, your guide to the best of local life—from tucked-away bars and glowing holiday walks to the kind of city news that actually affects your week. Here’s what’s on deck:

• Holiday Boat Parades & Festivals

• OC Fairs & Artisan Markets

• Intimate Micro-Restaurant in Santa Ana

• Newport Oil-Well Update

• Dana Point Community Mural

• Nationwide Cheese Recall

Let’s dive in.

— Dave Berry

🍽️ Restaurant of the Week: Fat of the Land (Santa Ana)

Fat of the Land is a tiny, intimate bar-restaurant on North Main in Santa Ana, dreamed up by a travel photographer who wanted a spot that felt like a crowded late-night bar overseas. With Chef Van Duong running a small, constantly changing kitchen, you’ll never quite know what’s on the menu—but that’s half the fun.

Where: 700 N Main St, Unit A, Santa Ana (entrance on Main, parking in rear) | Phone: (714) 486-2372

📅 Upcoming Events 🎉

Old World Christmas Market, Huntington Beach (Now–Dec 28)

German-village vibes with festive goodies, crafts, and holiday gifts in a cozy, old-world setting. Mon–Tue 10 AM–6 PM, Wed–Thu 9 AM–8 PM, Fri–Sat 9 AM–9 PM, Sun 9 AM–8 PM | Old World Village, Huntington Beach | Event Info

Tanaka Farms Hikari Lights (Now–Dec 28)

Walk or ride through thousands of holiday lanterns and light displays, plus Sanrio-themed decor. Nightly (hours vary) | 5380 University Dr, Irvine | Event Info

Santa’s Village, Irvine Park Railroad (Now–Dec 30)

A beloved OC holiday tradition with cookie decorating, games, activities, and the Christmas Train (advance tickets required). Weekdays 4:00–9:00 PM; Weekends 10:00 AM–9:00 PM | Irvine Regional Park, Orange | Event Info

Dream Glow Festival – Wild Rivers, Irvine (Now–Dec 31)

Wild Rivers transforms into a glowing holiday walk-through with millions of lights, tunnels, sculptures, music, and seasonal treats. Now–Dec 31, 4:30 PM–10 PM | Wild Rivers Waterpark, Irvine | Event Info

Knott’s Merry Farm, Buena Park (Now–Jan 5)

A full holiday transformation of Knott’s Berry Farm featuring nightly snowfall in Ghost Town, a Christmas Crafts Village, seasonal shows, festive food, and holiday lights throughout the park. Admission ticket required. Hours vary | Knott’s Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park | Event Info

Winter Fest OC, Costa Mesa (Now–Jan 4)

A full winter festival at the OC fairgrounds with ice tubing, glowing light displays, seasonal food, rides, and entertainment for all ages. Admission ticket required. Hours vary | OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa | Event Info

Holiday Movie Night, Laguna Hills (Dec 10)

Free screening of Elf at the Laguna Hills Community Center—bring friends and family, they’ll bring the movie. 6:30 pm | Laguna Hills Community Center | Event Info

Tamale Festival & Tree Lighting, Placentia (Dec 11)

Tamale vendors, live music, kids’ games, and a tree lighting in Old Town Placentia. 4–10 pm | Santa Fe Ave & Bradford Ave, Placentia | Event Info

Dana Point Parade of Lights (Dec 12–14)

The Harbor’s 50th Annual Boat Parade of Lights with a “Carol of the Boats” theme, decorated vessels, and viewing from the boardwalk, parks, or harbor restaurants. Parade starts 6:30 pm nightly from Dec 12–14| Dana Point Harbor | Event Info

DTSA Tamalfest, Santa Ana (Dec 13)

Downtown Santa Ana’s 6th Annual Tamalfest with 15+ vendors, live entertainment, kids’ activities, and a goal of selling 40,000+ tamales. Dec 13, 3–10 pm | W. 4th St between Broadway & Ross St, Santa Ana | Event Info

Huntington Harbour Boat Parade (Dec 13–14)

Holiday boat parade with festively lit vessels cruising through Huntington Harbour. 4:30 pm | Huntington Harbour (various viewing spots) | Event Info

Modern Makers Mart, Irvine Woodbury (Dec 13–14)

Outdoor makers market with handmade goods, local foods, live music, and a relaxed community vibe. 10 am–4 pm | Irvine Woodbury | Event Info

Merry & Made Holiday Artisan Market, Irvine (Dec 14)

Irvine’s largest holiday artisan market with 70+ local makers, live reindeer, performances, photo ops, train rides, kids’ crafts, and Santa. Free and pet-friendly. 11 am–4 pm | Westpark Plaza, 3735 Alton Pkwy, Irvine | Event Info

Holiday Lightings, Parades & Festivals Across OC (Dec 8–14)

City tree lightings, neighborhood parades, and holiday festivals happening all over the county. Dec 8–14 | All across Orange County | Full Guide

🏄 Local News You Should Know

Newport Beach: Emergency Work on an Orphan Oil Well

The State of California and the City of Newport Beach are launching a 3–4 week emergency operation near Marcus Avenue and 36th Street on the Peninsula to fix a leaking 1920s “orphan” oil well beneath the neighborhood. Crews will drill a new angled well, intercept the old one hundreds of feet underground, and seal it around 800 feet deep to stop methane and oil from migrating. The work will run 24/7 and bring full street closures at the drilling site, heavy equipment, noise, and limited garage access for nearby homes through late December, followed by street restoration once the project wraps.

Dana Point: New Mural at the Community Center

The Dana Point Community Center now sports a bold new mural on the back of the building at 34052 Del Obispo Street, created by artist and landscape architect Lovisa Kjerrgren. The piece celebrates Dana Point life—think ocean adventures, beach treasures, palm-lined streets, and food—through bright, graphic shapes inspired by the local coastline. If you’re in the area, it’s worth a quick stop before or after a harbor walk.

Heads Up: Shredded Cheese Recall

More than one million bags of shredded cheese have been recalled nationwide over potential metal fragments, affecting brands like Great Value (Walmart), Good & Gather (Target), Happy Farms (Aldi), Sprouts, Stater Bros., and others in 31 states, including California. The manufacturer says recalled product has been pulled from shelves, but if you bought shredded mozzarella or Italian-style blends in October and still have them at home, check the FDA recall list—when in doubt, toss it or return it to the store for a refund.

🌟 OC Trivia: Did You Know?

Dana Point’s harbor and headlands helped inspire Richard Henry Dana Jr.’s classic 1840s memoir Two Years Before the Mast, which is where the city gets its name.

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, Dec 12:

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

2. Knuckleheads (San Clemente) – Eli Crane EP Release + The Electric Shrine & Cole Rowland, 8:00 pm

3. Five Vines Wine Bar (San Juan Capistrano) – Leroy Brown, 7:30–10:00 pm

4. The Cellar (San Clemente) – Jason Bohen, 7:00–10:00 pm

5. The Cliff Restaurant (Laguna Beach) – Steve Maggiora Band, 6:00–9:00 pm

6. The Coach House (San Juan Capistrano) – Which One’s Pink (Pink Floyd Tribute), 9:00 pm

7. American Legion Post 132 (Orange) – Country Mother Trucker, 7:00–10:00 pm

8. Garden Amp (Garden Grove) – Rush/Kiss/Pink Floyd Tributes – Spirit Under the Stars, 5:00 pm

9. Grove of Anaheim (Anaheim) – Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, 8:00 pm

10. The Bay Theatre (Seal Beach) – SURFIN’ – Beach Boys Christmas Tribute, 8:00 pm

11. Spaghettini (Seal Beach) – Erin Stevenson Holiday Show, 7:00–8:30 pm

12. The Wayfarer (Costa Mesa) – Kenny Feidler, 7:00 pm

🌦️ 7-Day Weather Forecast

🌅 Sunrise & Sunset in OC

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