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- September in OC: Pumpkin Patches, Craft Fairs, Concerts, and Cliffside Dining
September in OC: Pumpkin Patches, Craft Fairs, Concerts, and Cliffside Dining
PLUS: Surf-Ready Wave Pool Proposal, Little Saigon Revitalization Funds, and Anaheim’s Entertainment-Tax Debate
Thrive OC
September 15, 2025
In partnership with
Good morning, Orange County! This is Thrive OC, your go-to guide for the best eats, events, and local stories. Here’s what’s inside today’s issue:
Cliffside Dining in Laguna Beach
Pumpkin Patches & Oktoberfest Fun
Craft Fairs & Live Music Picks
Surf-Ready Wave Pool Proposal
Little Saigon Revitalization Funds
Anaheim Entertainment-Tax Debate
Let’s dive in.
— Dave Berry
🍽️ Restaurant of the Week: The Cliff (Laguna Beach)
Perched on the bluffs above Main Beach, The Cliff pairs Pacific views with seafood-forward California cuisine and an easygoing coastal vibe. Order a mojito and some fish tacos, then linger for sunset by the outdoor fireplace. Dogs are welcome—there’s even a pup menu.
📍 577 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach | (949) 494-1956
📅 Upcoming Events 🎉
Oktoberfest, Huntington Beach (Now–Nov 9)
Orange County’s biggest German celebration returns with imported beer, live bands, and award-winning bratwurst.
🕔 Wed–Sun, hours vary | 📍 Old World Village, Huntington Beach | Tickets at door
Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch, Irvine & Costa Mesa (Now–Nov 2)
Two beloved OC locations return for a new season of fall fun with wagon rides, photo ops, barnyard animals, and pumpkins in every size and color:
University Farm, Irvine – Opens Sept 13, 2025 – 🕔 Daily, 9 AM–6 PM | 📍 5380 University Dr., Irvine
Hana Field, Costa Mesa – Opens Sept 27, 2025 – 🕔 Daily, 9 AM–6 PM | 📍 427 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa
Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch, Orange (Sept 13–Oct 31)
Train rides, hay mazes, carnival games, and photo ops behind the historic Irvine Park train station. Reservations required on October weekends; $20 includes train ride and entry.
🕔 Weekdays 10 AM–6 PM · Weekends 8 AM–6 PM | 📍 1 Irvine Park Rd., Orange | Ticketed
Surf City Nights, Huntington Beach (Sept 16)
Downtown HB transforms into a street fair with farmers market finds, live music, and sidewalk sales.
🕔 5–9 PM | 📍 Main Street, Huntington Beach | Free
Taste of Lantern Village, Dana Point (Sept 17)
Sample bites from top local restaurants while strolling the Lantern District.
🕔 5 PM | 📍 Dana Point Lantern District | Ticketed
San Juan Summer Nites Concert (Sept 17)
Free outdoor concert featuring smooth yacht rock classics.
🕔 5 PM | 📍 Historic Town Center Park, San Juan Capistrano | Free
Knott’s Scary Farm, Buena Park (Sept 18–Nov 1)
Southern California’s longest-running Halloween haunt with mazes, shows, and more than 1,000 monsters.
🕔 Select nights, 7 PM–1 AM | 📍 Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park | Ticketed
TYR Wodapalooza SoCal, Huntington Beach (Sept 19–21)
CrossFit’s premier festival hits the sand with world-class athletes and lifestyle activations.
🕔 Daily, times vary | 📍 Huntington City Beach | Ticketed
La Palma Festival of Nations, La Palma (Sept 20)
Celebrate global cultures with music, dance, and international cuisine.
🕔 10:30 AM | 📍 Central Park, La Palma | Free
California Coastal Cleanup Day, Huntington Beach (Sept 20)
Join the county’s biggest coastal cleanup and sustainability fair at Huntington State Beach. Help protect the coast, meet local eco-organizations, and enter to win eco-friendly prizes.
🕔 9 AM–12 PM | 📍 Huntington State Beach (Huntington State Beach Tower 8 21601 Pacific Coast Hwy) | Free
Anaheim Craft & Vintage Fair, Anaheim (Sept 20)
Browse 30+ artisans and vintage sellers, enjoy Eastern European bites, and stock up on homemade jams.
🕔 9 AM–4 PM | 📍 995 N. West St., Anaheim | Free
The Dinner Detective, Orange (Sept 20)
Solve a hilarious murder mystery while enjoying a full plated dinner.
🕔 6–9 PM | 📍 Embassy Suites Anaheim–Orange | Ticketed
Brunch with the Beatles, Huntington Beach (Sept 21)
Beachside Beatles tribute paired with brunch favorites and mimosas.
🕔 10 AM | 📍 SeaLegs at the Beach, Bolsa Chica State Beach | Ticketed
🏄 Local News You Should Know
Newport Beach Wave Pool Moves Forward
A plan to bring a Wavegarden-powered surf lagoon to Newport Beach just passed a key milestone. The Snug Harbor Surf Park—featuring a 5-acre wave pool, viewing decks, warming pools, and a three-story clubhouse—earned unanimous Planning Commission approval on Sept. 4. The project now heads to the City Council for an October vote. If approved, construction would transform 15 acres of the Newport Beach Golf Course at 3100 Irvine Avenue, with an anticipated opening in spring 2028.
$250K for Little Saigon Revitalization
Westminster landed a $250,000 state grant to reinvigorate the Little Saigon business district. Plans include storefront makeovers, a “soap-and-water” cleanup program, new landscaping, and a dedicated outreach coordinator to help local shop owners modernize and market their businesses.
Anaheim Considers Entertainment Tax
Facing a $60 million budget gap, Anaheim Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava has floated a 2–3% tax on event tickets—think Disneyland, Angels games, major concerts—plus a 5% parking fee. The goal: tap tourist dollars without raising sales tax on residents. Expect a possible 2026 ballot measure.
🌟 OC Trivia: Did You Know?
Laguna Beach blossomed into a celebrated artists’ colony in the early 1900s, when plein-air painters set up open-air studios along the rugged coastline to capture the changing light and ocean views. Today, you can sip a mojito at The Cliff and enjoy the same dramatic panoramas that inspired those pioneering artists over a century ago.
Think you know OC? Reply with your best trivia, and we might feature it next!
🎉 VIP Shoutouts!
A big welcome to our newest Thrive OC VIPs—Alexis J.! Thanks for being part of the community—we’ve got some exclusive perks coming your way! 🚀✨
🎶 Live Music This Weekend
Looking for live tunes? Here’s what’s happening:
Friday, Sept 19:
Barnoa Wine Company (San Clemente) – Felisha, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Bigshots Billiards Bar & Grill (Lake Forest) – New Mr. Max (Rock/Pop Friday), 8:30 pm
Five Vines Wine Bar (San Juan Capistrano) – Will Heard, 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Marine Room (Laguna Beach) – American Mile, 9:00 pm - 1:00 am
The Coach House (San Juan Capistrano) – The Nelsons, 9:00 pm
The Drake (Laguna Beach) – Rain Bissou Band, 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Bayside Restaurant (Newport Beach) – Ron Kobayashi Band, 6:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Campus JAX (Newport Beach) – B.I.G. (Brothers Igniting a Groove), 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Garden Amp (Garden Grove) – Blondie, Madonna, Cure & more tributes, 5:00 pm
Spaghettini (Seal Beach) – Pretzel Logic: A Steely Dan Revue, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
The Observatory (Santa Ana) – Trish Toledo, 7:00 pm
The Wayfarer (Costa Mesa) – Sega Genecide, 10:00 pm
🌦️ 7-Day Weather Forecast
As of Sunday 09-14-2025 | (Source: Google Weather)
🌅 Sunrise & Sunset in OC
Sunrise | 6:34 am, 86° East |
|---|---|
Sunset | 6:58 pm, 274° West |
Total Daylight | 12 hours, 24 minutes |
🙌 Shop Local & Rep OC in Style
Thrive OC is more than your go-to newsletter for events and local news—we're your source for uniquely curated OC-inspired essentials, apparel, and more. Check out our latest arrivals, designed to keep you stylish and comfortable all season long:
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Celebrate fall in style—whether you’re raising a stein at Oktoberfest or cheering during Monday Night Football, these soft, classic-fit tees keep you festive and comfortable:
✔️ Lightweight & classic fit
✔️ Double-needle sleeve & bottom hem
✔️ Available for men, women, boys & girls
✔️ Prime eligible with FREE shipping on Amazon
Every purchase directly supports Thrive OC, helping us spotlight the best of Orange County every week.
💛 Want to support but not shopping today? You can still help keep Thrive OC running strong — Donate here.
Or, take your OC experience to the next level—join Thrive OC VIP for exclusive discounts, VIP event access, and insider perks while supporting local businesses!
Your support means the world—thank you for being part of the Thrive OC community! 🙌
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