February? Don’t you mean Fun-ruary? Ok, ok, that is an awful pun and I am incredibly sorry for subjecting to that. But the point here is, this month is jam-packed with important and exciting things to celebrate like Black History Month, Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day, and more! So many events, so little time (literally. Why is February so short?? Even with it being a leap year, this month still clocks in at just about 4 weeks). If you need ideas for fun family-friendly things to do together, here’s a lovingly curated list of the best Orange County Events February 2024 has to offer:
Orange County Events February 2024
41st Annual OC Black History Parade And Unity Festival – Anaheim
February 3
From their website: “Members of the community regardless of race, color, ethnicity or culture are invited to the event to enjoy a well attended parade which includes noted community members, elected officials, community groups, school and church units, singing and dancing units, city service vehicles, and community members who have participated in the history of Orange County and surrounding areas…. After the Parade, flow into the Unity Festival for a day filled with live music and good food, stroll through the information booths, buy from local small businesses and check out the Youth Village and Health Village.”
Free.
The Great Train Show At The OC Fair – Costa Mesa
February 3+4
From their website: “Great Train Shows is the nation’s only coast-to-coast train show company. Their train shows are designed for the general public, modelers, hobbyists, families and the just plain curious. Each show features hundreds of tables of trains and accessories for sale, huge operating exhibits, activities for kids and more.”
$13 – Saturday admission (Saturday ticket good for both days). $12 – Sunday admission. Free for children 11 and younger. Parking is $12. Save $1 when you purchase tickets online through their website. Cash only at the door.
Lunar New Year Festival At The Bowers Museum – Santa Ana
February 4
From their website: “Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with a lively Lunar New Year Festival! Enjoy free art activities, face painting, and exhilarating dance and music performances. Join us in welcoming a year of strength, confidence, and luck!”
Free festival in the Key Courtyard. General admission to the rest of the Bowers Museum is only free on Festival Sundays for Members and Santa Ana residents.
OC Tet Festival- Costa Mesa
February 9-11
From their event page: “As spring approaches, families and loved ones come together under and embrace the warmth of each other’s presence. UVSA Tết Festival wishes you and your family and loved ones a peaceful and prosperous year full of warmth and wellness. The Year of the Dragon marks the 10th annual year anniversary that UVSA Tết Festival has been hosted at OC Fair & Event Center. This year, UVSA Tết Festival proudly presents our theme, Long Vân Hội Ngộ, which depicts the story and idea of the dragon and the clouds meeting. Their meeting symbolizes luck, prosperity, and our biggest hopes and dreams coming to life. UVSA Tết Festival hopes that not only will families come together and celebrate the holiday together, but much like how the fish meets the water and the dragon meets the clouds, we will also meet one another in this space.”
Tickets are $8 for ages 3 and older. Free for visitors wearing traditional outfits (no religious outfits), military, and scout uniforms (no costumes) only on Saturday February 10th from 12-1pm. Also free for children 2 and under.
iHeart SOCO & The OC Mix – Costa Mesa
February 10
From their website: “This family-friendly event promises a delightful blend of activities. Dive into the vibrant Southern California spirit with a day of live, local music in the SOCO Courtyard. Engage your creative side at Waldorf School of Orange County’s iHeart Greeting Cards station, where crafts and coloring take center stage. Connect with nature at the iHeart Butterflies Pollinator Planting station, and stay tuned for a third exciting activity to be announced! Savor the flavors of Southern California with Greenleaf SOCO’s delectable samples and explore the diverse offerings of local businesses at SOCO + The OC Mix. Every purchase contributes to Waldorf’s 8th-grade class trip, adding a heartwarming touch to your shopping experience. To add to the excitement, check in at the event for a chance to win fantastic giveaways!”
Free.
Lunar New Year At Pretend City – Irvine
February 10
From their website: “Join us in celebrating the beginning of spring into the new year. At 11AM join us for a Kishin Daiko Drummers performance that embodies the translation of Kishin which is energy, spirit, and heart. At 2:30PM Ane Thanh Lion Dance will be performing traditional lion dancing with acrobatics and a live instrumental troupe to bring good luck into the new year.” If you do just one of the fun Orange County Events February 2024 has to offer, this would be a good choice!
Included with museum admission. $19.95 adults and children over 12 months. Military and their families $16.95. Seniors are $17.95.
Valentine’s Paint & Sip Tea Party At La Habra Children’s Museum – La Habra
February 10
From their website: “Let’s make it a paint date! Join us with your special someone for our annual Valentine’s Paint and Sip party. Includes museum admission, juice or tea, cookies, and supplies to create a canvas painting.”
For ages 3 and up. Tickets are $25 per guest or $10 per member including their children.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live Show – Anaheim
February 10
From their website: “Daniel and all of his friends invite you for a brand-new adventure in Neighborhood of Make-Believe where Daniel learns just what it takes to be King. The beloved characters come alive on stage to captivate you with new songs to sing along to, magical moments, and SURPRISE guests along the way! It’s an event filled with tigertastic fun, teaching the valuable lessons of kindness, helping others, and being a friend. Don’t miss Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE: King for a Day!… a royally great time!”
Tickets start at $33.25.
Valentine’s Cookie Crawl at Bella Terra – Huntington Beach
February 12
From their website: “Join us for Bella Terra’s 2nd Annual Cookie Crawl! We’re celebrating Valentine’s Day at Kids Club on the green! Collect cookies from store to store, create a fun Valentine’s Day card, top your hot cocoa with fun sprinkles at the XOXO Hot Cocoa Bar, and dance the morning away with live music.”
Free. RSVP required. Pavilion Event Plaza is located off Edinger across the street from Old Navy by the large fountain.
Aquarium of the Pacific’s African-American Festival – Long Beach
February 24
This event is a neat two-for-one where you and your family can both learn about the undersea world and celebrate Black History Month in one fun-filled outing! From their website: “The Aquarium of the Pacific will host its twenty-second annual African American Festival. The event features music, dance, storytelling, historical displays, and the Aquarium’s Heritage Award ceremony.”
Free with the cost of a general admission ticket. Children 3-11 are $29.95. Adults are $44.95. Seniors 62+ are $41.95. Check local magazines for coupons!
Irvine Park Railroad’s 28th Anniversary – Orange
February 24-25
To celebrate their 28th anniversary, the Irvine Park Railroad is rolling back their train ride ticket prices to the original 1996 cost – $2 per person! Ice cream, soda, and hot dogs will also be $2 each and can be purchased separately. For each transaction, each guest will also receive 1 raffle ticket that can be entered into a drawing for future Irvine Park Railroad event tickets.
Park entrance free that weekend is $3 per vehicle. This event can get SUPER crowded so be sure to get there early or prepare for long lines and cranky kiddos!
Laguna Dance Festival – Laguna Beach
February 25
Last year we were lucky enough to have a free local event where you could experience an afternoon of African rhythms, songs, and stories of celebration in honor of – and as a way to celebrate and learn more about – Black History Month. This year, why not continue that tradition by attending a performance of the Syncopated Ladies and the Los Angeles Ballet at the Laguna Playhouse! From their website: “…the All-Female tap production propels beautiful, classy, and diverse women onto a re-invigorated stage, weaving their inspiring stories with intricate footwork, feminine prowess, and life-renewing energy. Dancing to today’s cutting-edge music, from pop to hip-hop, salsa, and even a couple tear-jerking ballads, Syncopated Ladies puts on an electrifying, stirring, and energizing nonstop action-filled section act in our matinee performance.”
Tickets are $60 for general seating, and $30 for students with valid ID.
