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:

Let’s dive in.

— Dave Berry

Fable & Spirit brings Irish influences to a modern dinner in Newport Beach’s Lido area. Start with Guinness brown bread, butter and clover honey, then try the wood-fired octopus or 12-hour Kurobuta porchetta. Dinner runs nightly, with brunch on weekends if you’d rather make it a daytime visit.

Where: 3441 Via Lido, Suite A, Newport Beach | Phone: (949) 409-9913

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Jen Murphy, Eric Schwartz and Cory Baumgartner take the stage to support the Irvine Animal Care Center. This benefit is for ages 18 and older; tickets are required. 7 PM (doors 5:30 PM) | Irvine Improv, 527 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine | Event Info

Sample local restaurant dishes at this Lantern Village Association fundraiser supporting student scholarships. Advance tickets are available. 5–8 PM | La Plaza Park, 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point | Event Info

Haunted mazes, fog-filled scare zones and live shows return for opening night. Separate admission is required, the event is not recommended for children under 13, and guests 15 or younger need a chaperone age 21 or older. 7 PM–1 AM | Knott’s Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park | Event Info

Children ages 3–4 can meet zoo animals and make a craft with a parent alongside. The program costs $5 per child, includes one parent, and requires phone registration at (714) 973-6846; park entry is $3 per vehicle. 10:15–11:15 AM | OC Zoo, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange | Event Info

Watch the documentary about a young gamer’s friendships, then stay for a Q&A with the UCI Muscle Center and CureDuchenne. Admission is free with an RSVP. 7–9 PM (doors 6:30 PM) | Rivian South Coast Theater, 162 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach | Event Info

Help remove trash from the bay’s shoreline at this free volunteer morning for ages 6 and older. Register ahead for your assigned meeting point; minors need an accompanying adult and guardian permission. 9 AM–noon | Upper Newport Bay, meeting point assigned after registration, Newport Beach | Event Info

Browse more than 35 vendors selling crafts and vintage finds, with food and a bake sale for a shopping break. Admission is free. 9 AM–4 PM | Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church, 995 North West Street, Anaheim | Event Info

Watch the skate contest and pump track races, with live music, food vendors and kids’ activities alongside the competition. Participants must register; some skate divisions are waitlisted, while the pump track includes an adult division. 11 AM–5 PM | Ralphs Skate Court, 241 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente | Event Info

Taste competing chili recipes, hear live classic rock and browse the auctions at this scholarship fundraiser. Tickets are available online and at the gate. 11 AM–5 PM | Sunset Beach Community Building, 12th Street at Pacific Coast Highway, Sunset Beach | Event Info

Shop stationery, journals and paper goods from independent vendors at the fall expo. General admission is $61.50 including the booking fee; VIP tickets are sold out. 1–6 PM | Anaheim Marriott, 700 West Convention Way, Anaheim | Event Info

A new parade leads into an afternoon of cultural performances, food and family activities at Boisseranc Park. The parade starts at Dale Street and La Palma Avenue; park access is limited from 12:30–3:30 PM. Parade 2 PM; festival 3–8 PM | Boisseranc Park, 7520 Dale Street, Buena Park | Event Info

Make a weekend visit for Polish food, live music, cultural exhibits and children’s games. Admission is free, with food and other purchases extra. Times vary | Saint John Paul II Polish Center, 3999 Rose Drive, Yorba Linda | Event Info

More than 40 dessert vendors fill the promenade for an evening devoted to sweet treats. Bring someone willing to share so you can try a few different stops. 5–9 PM | Center Street Promenade, 201 West Center Street Promenade, Anaheim | Event Info

Browse local vendors, grab food and catch the beer-stein holding contest at this free night market. There’s a kids’ play area, and the beer garden is for ages 21 and older. 5–9 PM | North Paseo at Los Osos, 25282 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo | Event Info

Meet authors and illustrators, catch readings and performances, and explore activities across four stages. Admission and parking are free. 10 AM–3 PM | Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa | Event Info

Pumpkin patch season starts September 12 at Tanaka Farms in Irvine and Irvine Park Railroad in Orange, with more OC patches opening in October. Times vary | Locations across Orange County | Event Info

Casa Romantica says San Clemente approved a partial reopening of its Ocean Terrace and surrounding gardens on September 1, restoring access to areas closed after the April 2023 landslide. The reopening is limited, and future Phase II construction could close those areas again. For this week’s planning, the cultural center is closed to regular visitors September 14–21 for Toast to the Casa. Check its visitor page before arranging a later trip.

Laguna Beach declared a local emergency on September 10 after Hurricane Marie’s swells stripped sand and damaged seawalls; NBC4 reported six yellow-tagged oceanfront homes and closures at Aliso Beach. Dana Point’s September 9 update also declared a local emergency for Beach Road, reporting nine homes red-tagged and seven yellow-tagged. OCTA says waves damaged the San Clemente rail corridor, interrupting Metrolink and Pacific Surfliner service. As of September 12, 2026, Metrolink still listed no confirmed reopening, while Pacific Surfliner scheduled a September 14 return after separate weekend maintenance; check current city closures and train alerts before traveling, because conditions may change.

OC Public Libraries is marking September 15–October 15 with Hispanic Heritage Month programs across its branches. The September 8 announcement includes bilingual storytelling, live music, food demonstrations and hands-on activities. Programs serve different age groups, and some require registration. Check the linked schedule for branch dates and participation details before heading over.

Yorba Linda’s Dożynki Polish Harvest Festival was first held in 1978, according to the Polish Center. The tradition continues this weekend with Polish food, music and cultural exhibits.

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