OC slides into holiday mode this weekend. Darker Waves brings Morrissey and the Smashing Pumpkins to Huntington Beach on Saturday, Old World Village opens its Christmas market on Sunday with a lantern parade that evening, and the OC Fair & Event Center has a vintage hunt and a cat show back to back. Oktoberfest wrapped last weekend; our Nov 6–8 guide has the recap.
Plans change, so check the organizer's link before you head out. Ticket prices and times can shift, and we've left out anything we couldn't confirm with an official source.
Lead Picks
- Darker Waves: Saturday in Huntington Beach, with Morrissey, the Smashing Pumpkins, Simple Minds and Bad Religion.
- Saint Martin Lantern Parade: A free, glowing Sunday-evening parade at Old World Village, on the same day its Christmas market opens.
- The Great Junk Hunt and CM Catstravaganza: Vintage shopping Friday and Saturday, then a cat show Saturday and Sunday in Costa Mesa.
- Holidays at the Disneyland Resort: The holiday season opens Friday in Anaheim.
Huntington Beach
Darker Waves (our pick)
- When: Sat Nov 14
- Where: Huntington Beach
- Cost: Check site for tickets
- Info: darkerwavesfest.com | livenation.com
A one-day beach festival. Live Nation's event page lists Morrissey, The Smashing Pumpkins, Simple Minds, Bad Religion, Adam Ant, The Psychedelic Furs and Soft Cell. Check the festival site for gate times, the map and getting there.
Saint Martin Lantern Parade (our pick)
- When: Sun Nov 15, 5–7 PM; check-in 4:30 PM
- Where: Old World Village, 7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach
- Cost: Free; reserve a free ticket for each participating child (adults don't need one); $5 suggested donation per family
- Info: germanschoolcampus.com | events.oldworldhb.com
German School Campus brings the German Laternenumzug tradition to Old World's cobbled walkways, with lantern songs and a St. Martin play. Bring your own lantern (the organizer recommends electric lights); none will be sold at the event. Dress warm.
Old World Christmas Fest Opening Day
- When: Sun Nov 15: Wiener Dog Races 10 AM–2 PM; holiday music with Curtis Hoffmann 11 AM–4 PM; Santa meet and greet and Christmas Village Train 3–5 PM; Country Christmas with Kylie Trout 4–6 PM
- Where: Old World Village, 7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach
- Cost: Christmas Fest is free; the Wiener Dog Races are listed at free to $18
- Info: events.oldworldhb.com | Christmas Market OC
Old World's European-style Christmas market opens Sunday and then runs daily on its calendar. All ages; anyone under 21 must be with a parent.
Surf City Artisan Fair
- When: Fri Nov 13–Sun Nov 15, weather permitting
- Where: Downtown Huntington Beach
- Cost: Check site for details
- Info: hbdowntown.com
Local and regional makers set up downtown for the weekend, run by HB Downtown.
Dune Restoration Volunteer Morning
- When: Sat Nov 14, 9 AM–noon
- Where: Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy, 21900 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach
- Cost: Volunteer sign-up on the conservancy's page
- Info: hbwetlands.org
Help the HB Wetlands Conservancy and OC Habitats pull invasive plants and clear debris so native dune species, including the California least tern and western snowy plover, have room to thrive.
Costa Mesa: OC Fair & Event Center
The Great Junk Hunt
- When: Fri Nov 13, 4–9 PM; Sat Nov 14, 9 AM–4 PM
- Where: OC Fair & Event Center (Anaheim Building, Los Alamitos Building, OC Promenade and The Hangar), Costa Mesa
- Cost: Fri First Pick (4 PM entry) $21, Early Bird (6 PM) $16, and Friday tickets are good both days; Sat Early Bird (9 AM) $13, general admission (10 AM–4 PM) $11; kids 12 and under free; parking $15
- Info: ocfair.com
Four buildings of vintage finds, home decor and more. Friday's early tickets also get you back in on Saturday.
CM Catstravaganza
- When: Sat Nov 14 and Sun Nov 15, 10 AM–4 PM
- Where: OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa Building
- Cost: Weekend passes $35 adults, $30 seniors, $15 kids 6–11; single day $26, $24 and $11; kids 5 and under free; parking $15
- Info: ocfair.com
An interactive cat show with live judging, rescue groups and vendors.
Newport Beach and Laguna Beach
DSB: The World's Greatest Journey Tribute Band
- When: Fri Nov 13, doors 7 PM, show 8 PM
- Where: The Lido Theater, 3459 Via Lido, Newport Beach
- Cost: Check site for tickets (Etix is the theater's only authorized seller)
- Info: thelidotheater.com
A night of Journey hits in the restored 1939 Lido Theater.
Veterans Day BBQ
- When: Sat Nov 14, 1:30–3:30 PM
- Where: Balboa Island Park, 107 Agate Ave., Newport Beach
- Cost: Adults $15; kids $10
- Info: nbmuseum.org
A neighborhood barbecue on Balboa Island from the Balboa Island Museum.
Creative Pages: Kelly Yang
- When: Sat Nov 14, 3–4:30 PM
- Where: Witte Lecture Hall, 998 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach
- Cost: Registration required
- Info: newportbeachlibrary.org
The bestselling author of Front Desk talks about her newest graphic novel, with an audience Q&A. For ages 8–11 and their families; kids must come with an adult.
Laguna Live!: Afro Peruvian Jazz Orchestra
- When: Sat Nov 14, 7 PM
- Where: Artists Theater, 625 Park Ave., Laguna Beach
- Cost: $25 (plus $2.50 fee); VIP $100 (plus $5 fee); students 18 and under $10 (plus $1.50 fee); kids 12 and under free
- Info: performingartslive.com
A Latin Grammy-winning 20-piece orchestra blending Afro-Peruvian rhythms with jazz. Proceeds support Laguna Live!'s music education programs.
Crescent Bay Beach Cleanup
- When: Sat Nov 14, 10–11 AM
- Where: Crescent Bay, Laguna Beach
- Cost: Free
- Info: lagunabeachchamber.org
The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce and Laguna Ocean Foundation host a morning cleanup. Bring the signed waiver, plus gloves and a trash grabber if you have them.
Around OC
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort Begin
- When: Opens Fri Nov 13 and runs through Jan 6, 2027
- Where: Disneyland Resort, Anaheim
- Cost: Check site for tickets
- Info: disneyland.disney.go.com | Festival of Holidays
The resort's holiday season starts Friday, including Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure, with A Christmas Fantasy Parade among the season's highlights.
For You Fest
- When: Sat Nov 14 and Sun Nov 15
- Where: Great Park, Irvine
- Cost: Check site for tickets
- Info: foryoufest.frontgatetickets.com
A two-day festival with 30-plus performances across a Comedy & Podcast Stage, a Beauty & Fashion Stage and a Music Stage.
HMOC x RedBoy Productions Free Community Powwow
- When: Sat Nov 14, 10 AM–6 PM
- Where: Heritage Museum of Orange County, 3101 W. Harvard St., Santa Ana
- Cost: Free
- Info: heritagemuseumoc.org
The third annual community powwow celebrating Native American Heritage Month. Family- and pet-friendly.
More Weekend Guides
- This Weekend in SoCal: all six counties
- Los Angeles County: weekend events, Nov 13–15, 2026
- San Diego County: weekend events, Nov 13–15, 2026
- Santa Barbara County: weekend events, Nov 13–15, 2026
- San Luis Obispo County: weekend events, Nov 13–15, 2026
- Ventura County: weekend events, Nov 13–15, 2026
- Last weekend in OC: Nov 6–8, 2026
Have an OC event we should know about? Send it our way, and enjoy the weekend.
