Each week, Arts Orange County and Culture OC deliver you this look at the stories and events happening in our arts and cultural community.

LCAD Industry Open House

The Laguna College of Art + Design is expanding this much-admired annual event where you can meet and connect with the upcoming generation of imaginative creators right at the nerve center of their work and study MORE

John Alexander Returns to the Podium with the Pacific Chorale

After insisting his 2017 retirement performance would be his last, the longtime music director comes back for a concert filled with works that hold profound personal meaning.

A Restaurant in Newport Beach Celebrates 100 Years of History, Hospitality and Community

From its origins as the iconic Arches in 1926 to its modern incarnation as A Restaurant, the landmark location has remained a gathering place for generations.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Performs a Hum-drum Mozart and a Delightful ‘Mozartiana’

REVIEW: An uneven evening sees LACO falter in Mozart but recover with a lively “Mozartiana” and a thoughtful new work by Christopher Cerrone.

Seven Standout Students Named 2026 Artists of the Year

In it's 13th season, Orange County's Artist of the Year program has finally whittled down the 888 students nominated this year to the top seven arts students in the county for 2026.

Originally developed by as a program for the Orange County Register's Varsity Arts coverage with the help of over 50 teachers, this program has continued to grow and this year's winners were announced during a celebration at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall on May 13.

The 2026 Artists of the Year are:

Each week, we recommend a variety of events and experiences from the listings at SparkOC.com, our free website for Orange County's arts and cultural community.

The 66th Annual Strawberry Festival

One of Orange County's oldest family traditions, celebrate the holiday weekend with rides and sweets galore at Village Green Park in Garden Grove MORE

Tuesday Night Dance: K-Pop

Take a free step into the world-conquering musical trend with this all-ages workshop out on the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at Costa Mesa's Segerstrom Center for the Arts MORE

Star Wars Craft & Sip

The Orange County Public Library in Stanton invites families to cool off with some "Galactic Green" lemonade while learning how to craft paper bag puppets of the beloved Star Wars character Grogu MORE

Home, I’m Darling

Cabrillo Playhouse stages Laura Wade's satirical comedy about a woman's desire to live the fantasy of the perfect 1950's housewife and the chaos it creates in her modern life MORE