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

Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico

Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande join forces at Chapman University's Musco Center for the Arts to immerse you in a holiday celebration steeped in the culture and tradition of Mexico MORE

Wrapped in Tradition: Where to Find Orange County’s Best Tamales This Season

Tamales in Orange County live everywhere – in neighborhood kitchens, longtime restaurants, food trucks and street festivals that draw thousands. Here’s your roadmap to the institutions, regional specialties and December tamal blowouts that define the season.

Kathryn Kanjo to Lead UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art

The experienced administrator has held appointments at other significant California museums.

Culture OC’s Joel Beers and Timothy Mangan Receive National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards

Joel Beers and Timothy Mangan, contributing writers to Culture OC, each earned 3rd place honors at the Los Angeles Press Club’s 1sth annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards ceremony, held Sunday, Dec. 7 in Los Angeles. All U.S.-based entertainment reporters and editors are eligible, as well as theater, film and television critics across all media.

Calming Chords Help Soothe Local Cats and Canines

Wild Tunes nonprofit encourages musicians to play for homeless pets at animal shelters including one in Mission Viejo.

Two New Exhibits at Irvine Fine Arts Center Span Themes of Love, Loss and Labor

Alisa Ochoa’s intimate solo exhibition ‘Splinters’ and the wide-ranging group show ‘Swing Shift’ explore loss, devotion, routine and the many visible and invisible forms of labor, through Jan. 17.

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.

Spirit of Christmas

From ballet to hip-hop, the performers of Dance 4 Joy Ministeries have something for everybody in their holiday dance concert in Tustin MORE

Once Upon A Sketch

The Fullerton Museum Center brings a new exhibit to the historic Hunt Branch Library shining a spotlight on the imagination and creativity that goes into the illustrations of children's books MORE

Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas

The Chance Theater presents a return engagement featuring the holiday adventures of the beloved and always fashionable homegrown star of books and television MORE

Poetry Broadside Activity

Join Costa Mesa's Poet Laureate Danielle Hanson in a community creative project that turns the words of a poem into beautiful wall art MORE