This is the last weekend to experience the 119th annual OC Super Fair at the OC Fair & Events Center in Costa Mesa. The theme of this year’s Fair, “Think. Big.”, is evident in the groundbreaking exhibit Al’s Brain, a 3-D exploration of the human encephalon making its debut this year in Orange County. Musical performances for the Fair’s last weekend include Melissa Etheridge and Three Dog Night, while the Action Sports Arena will feature bull riding on Saturday and Fiesta del Charro on Sunday. Visit OCFair.com for more information.
For a different sort of fair, take a step back in time and to the realm of imagination at the World Renaissance Faire at Irvine Lake in Silverado. A fundraiser supporting the Orange County Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and True Innocence Equine Rescue, the event features a Renaissance Faire during the day which transforms into a fantasy world at night. Games for kids of all ages include a treasure hunt, Catch the Dragon trebuchet challenge, sword fighting, dice tournament and bocce ball. Learn more at worldrenaissancefaire.com.
Jazz aficionados won’t want to miss the Long Beach Jazz Festival at Rainbow Lagoon Park. Gates open at 11am on Saturday and Sunday, with performances running from noon until 10:30pm. Tickets start at $50 for general admission at the gate, while box seats and VIP tickets are available at a premium. Visit LongBeachJazzFestival.com for all the details.
If jazz culture is your thing, you might also want to check out the Tony award-winning production Side Man, performing at the Long Beach Playhouse this weekend with a Saturday evening performance at 8pm and a Sunday matinee a 2pm. Side Man is a story told from the point of view of the son of a talented jazz musician so obsessed with his musical career that he neglects his family.
For those whose musical interests run more towards the oddities of instrumentation, jazz music characteristic instrument the saxophone is the star of the Saxophobia show at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton. The Saturday show features a variety of notable saxes including the world’s smallest saxophone, a six and a half foot tall contrabass sax, and an original Adolphe Sax from 1880. Kids and Center members attend free; nonmember pay only ten dollars.
The end of summer is quickly approaching, so don’t miss your chance to get out and enjoy some of the many exciting events that Orange County area has to offer. Be sure to check back at the OCViewOnline.com blog every Friday to find out about the weekend’s hottest happenings.