In partnership with

Good morning, Orange County. You’re reading Thrive OC, your weekly rundown of what’s worth eating, seeing, and doing across the county. Here’s what’s on deck:

• Ice Rinks, Markets & Holiday Events

• OC Tree Lightings to Bookmark

• Modern-American OC Eats

• Disneyland’s Sky Mystery Explained

• Major Baby Formula Recall

• Fall Storm Hits OC

Let’s dive in.

— Dave Berry

🍽️ Restaurant of the Week: Solstice Seasonal Kitchen & Bar (Irvine)

Modern-American, seasonal, and surprisingly cozy for being in the heart of an office campus. Solstice serves lunch, dinner, and brunch with a rotating menu of salads, steaks, seafood, pastas, vegan dishes, and strong cocktails, all built around peak-of-season ingredients. The landscaped courtyard views and generous complimentary parking (2 hours at lunch, 5 hours at brunch/dinner) make it an easy yes for date night or a nicer weeknight out.

Where: 18555 Jamboree Rd, Irvine, CA 92612 (The Boardwalk) | Phone: (949) 241-7088

📅 Upcoming Events 🎉

Skating Under the Stars, Irvine Spectrum (Now–Jan 4)

Outdoor ice skating under the Giant Wheel with timed sessions, rentals, and themed Thursday nights through the holidays. Daily through Jan 4 (multiple afternoon & evening sessions; closed Thanksgiving & Christmas, special hours Christmas Eve & New Year’s) | Giant Wheel Court, Irvine Spectrum Center, Irvine | Event Info

Old World Christmas Market, Huntington Beach (Now–Dec 21)

German-village vibes with festive goodies, crafts, and holiday gifts in a cozy, old-world setting. Now–Dec 21 (Mon–Tue 10 AM–6 PM, Wed–Thu 9 AM–8 PM, Fri–Sat 9 AM–9 PM, Sun 9 AM–8 PM) | Where: Old World Village, Huntington Beach | 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

Annual Tree Lighting at VEA, Newport Beach (Nov 20)

Family-friendly tree lighting with hot cocoa, treats, live entertainment, Santa sightings, and complimentary valet parking. Open to the community. 5:30 PM–7:30 PM | VEA Newport Beach, 900 Newport Center Dr, Newport Beach | Event Info

South Coast Plaza Tree Lighting Ceremony (Nov 20)

A festive outdoor performance followed by the lighting of a spectacular holiday tree. 7:00 PM | Town Center Park, 651 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa | Event Info

Sawdust Winter Fantasy, Laguna Beach (Nov 21–Dec 21, Fri–Sun)

Laguna’s winter art village with 180+ local artists, live music, food, and festive activities—one of the best spots for unique, handmade holiday gifts. Fridays–Sundays, Nov 21–Dec 21 | Sawdust Art Festival Grounds, Laguna Beach | Event Info

Farmakis Farms Certified Farmers Market, San Juan Capistrano (Nov 21)

Farm-fresh produce, baked goods, small-batch foods, grass-fed beef, and handmade goods at a local family farm. 9 AM–1 PM | Farmakis Farms, San Juan Capistrano | Event Info

Merry Market Pop-Up – Fashion Island, Newport Beach (Nov 21–22)

A curated holiday pop-up with gifts and seasonal finds near the Neiman Marcus fountain—perfect for browsing between strolls around Fashion Island. Nov 21–22 | Fashion Island (near Neiman Marcus Fountain), Newport Beach | Event Info

Knott’s Merry Farm, Buena Park (Nov 21–Jan 4)

Knott’s goes full Christmas with a massive new tree, snow moments, shows, Santa’s cabin, carolers, a craft village, and holiday food throughout the park. Nov 21–Jan 4 | Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park | Event Info

Holiday Moonlight Market, Balboa Bay Resort (Nov 22)

Chic poolside night market with local vendors (including Roger’s Gardens and Lido Village Bookstore), seasonal bites and sips, and a letter-writing station for kids. Nov 22 (evening) | Balboa Bay Resort, Newport Beach | Event Info

Plaza Navideña, Santa Ana (Nov 22)

Downtown holiday celebration with photos with Santa, kids’ crafts, a tree lighting, and community activations. 5 PM–8 PM (tree lighting around 5:30 PM) | Plaza Calle Cuatro, 325 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana | Event Info

Outlets at San Clemente Tree Lighting (Sat, Nov 22)

Kick off the season with live entertainment and the big tree lighting experience! (Originally scheduled for Nov 15, the event was postponed due to the storm last week.) 5:00 PM | Outlets at San Clemente | Event Info

Seal Beach Christmas Tree Lighting (Nov 22)

Festive community event at the base of the pier featuring snow play, kids’ crafts, hot cocoa, cookies, and Santa photos. The evening concludes with the lighting of the community tree near the ocean. 4:00 PM–7:00 PM | Eisenhower Park, Ocean Ave at Main St, Seal Beach | Event Info

Holiday Tree Lighting, Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel (Nov 23)

Oceanfront tree lighting with festive entertainment, seasonal treats, and Santa photos on the Dana Lawn. 4 PM–7 PM | The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel (Dana Lawn) | Event Info

🏄 Local News You Should Know

Infant Formula Recall Linked to ByHeart Powder

Health officials are looking into a small number of infant illnesses that may be connected to two specific lots of ByHeart powdered formula. Out of caution, the company has voluntarily recalled those batches. Infant botulism is very rare, and no deaths have been reported. If you use ByHeart, just check the lot number on the can—if it matches the recalled batch, stop using it and contact your pediatrician with any questions.

Mysterious Black Smoke Ring Over Disneyland

Drivers on the 5 and locals near Disneyland spotted a strange black “ring” in the sky around 6:30 AM last week, sparking plenty of wild theories. Disneyland later confirmed it was simply smoke from pyrotechnic testing for its nighttime shows, like World of Color and Fantasmic!, as the resort gears up for its holiday programming—not a portal, glitch in the Matrix, or UFO, sadly.

SoCal’s First Big Fall Storm Arrives and More Rain Could Be Coming

Orange County experienced its first major fall storm this weekend as a fast-moving atmospheric river swept across Southern California, bringing rain, cooler temperatures, and gusty winds. The system moved in late Thursday, delivering widespread rainfall and prompting flood watches due to the risk of debris flows near recent burn scars. State and county agencies pre-deployed crews across the region, and meteorologists expect scattered showers to continue into early this week as another weak system moves in. The good news: this rainfall will hopefully mark the end of fire season for much of Southern California.

🌟 OC Trivia: Did You Know?

Fashion Island in Newport Beach once displayed a Christmas tree well over 100 feet tall—one of the tallest holiday trees on the Southern California coast. In later years, the tree size was scaled back to around 90 feet due to construction changes and updated display logistics.

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

Receive Honest News Today

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Sign up today!

🎶 Live Music This Weekend

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

Friday, November 21:

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

2. Bricco Cucina & Wine Bar (Laguna Niguel) – OC Elvis (Scott Robertson), 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

3. Brio Tuscany Grille (Dana Point) – Millertime Boogie 80’s Band, 7:00 pm

4. Knuckleheads (San Clemente) – Jacob Sørensen, Ian Hurst & Parker Russell, 8:00 pm

5. The Coach House (San Juan Capistrano) – Kevin Nealon (Comedy Night), 9:00 pm

6. The Rush Bar & Grill (Lake Forest) – Flashpants, 9:00 pm - 12:00 am

7. Campus JAX (Newport Beach) – Led Zepagain (Led Zeppelin Tribute), 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

8. Garden Amp (Garden Grove) – 80s Mixtape Party (The Smiths, Joy Division, The Cult Tributes), 5:00 pm

9. House of Blues (Anaheim) – Sinatra & Soul, 7:00 pm

10. Muldoon’s Irish Pub (Newport Beach) – Motorboat, 9:00 pm - 11:55 pm

11. Spaghettini (Seal Beach) – Andy Vargas Presents: November Nights – Art Laboe Tribute, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

12. The Harp Inn (Costa Mesa) – Sonoramics, 9:00 pm - 12:30 am

🌦️ 7-Day Weather Forecast

🌅 Sunrise & Sunset in OC

A free newsletter with the marketing ideas you need

The best marketing ideas come from marketers who live it. That’s what The Marketing Millennials delivers: real insights, fresh takes, and no fluff. Written by Daniel Murray, a marketer who knows what works, this newsletter cuts through the noise so you can stop guessing and start winning. Subscribe and level up your marketing game.

Sign Up Free

📢 Want to Advertise?

Do you have a business, product, service, brand, or event that you want to promote or feature? Contact us!

And if you loved this newsletter, forward it to a friend 👇

Thanks!

Thanks for reading Thrive OC today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who you think could Thrive in OC.

P.S. We value your thoughts, feedback, and questions - feel free to respond directly to this email!

… and if you enjoyed this email, be sure to thank the person who forwarded it to you and subscribe to get your own copy!