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

"Twelfth Night" by William Shakespeare

The New Swan Shakespeare Festival in their unique portable Elizabethan stage at UCI presents their summer season featuring both "Measure for Measure" and this most beloved of Shakespeare's romantic farces MORE

Despite the Noise, the Chef's Counter Inside Maizano is Worth It

Anne Marie Panoringan checks out the new chef's counter at Mercado González’s upscale restaurant.

Anne Marie Panoringan and Anne Valdespino Win a 1st Place California Journalism Award

Culture OC writers Anne Marie Panoringan and Anne Valdespino were announced as the 1st place winners in the Food Writing/Reporting category at the 2023 California Journalism Awards this past Saturday, July 13.

What's Happening at the OC Fair This Year?

There are few forms of entertainment where you can find pig racing, a comedy hypnotist, Dr. Pepper Pickle Soda and Alice Cooper all in the same place.

Except, of course, at the OC Fair, running July 19 through Aug. 18 for a 23-day run, with the theme, “Always a Good Time.”

OC Fair Communications Director Terry Moore said the inspiration behind this year’s theme is “nostalgia, cherishing good memories and creating new ones.”

Indeed, there are both returning favorites and new additions to this year’s OC Fair.

South Coast Repertory is Heartbroken That It's Losing the Mission

Its successful partnership with Mission San Juan Capistrano for summer productions unexpectedly ends. Is there another place for SCR’s summer outdoor season?

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.

Southland Band at Casa Romantica

A concert under the stars in San Clemente featuring beloved rock, blues, and funk songs of the 1980's MORE

Ballet Makes A Splash

Anaheim Ballet presents a free, outdoor performance at Anaheim's Pearson Park Amphitheatre featuring students from their summer intensive program performing excerpts from "Ondine" as well as the original piece "Beach Blanket Ballet" MORE

Sensory Friendly Screening of Finding Nemo

The Frida Cinema, with the support of Segerstrom Center for the Arts, presents a low-cost screening of the Pixar animated classic with lowered sound levels and auditorium lights up, along with other accommodations for children who don't want to be overstimulated MORE

A Trip Around the World

Thursday night features a free reception with artists in attendance for this exhibit at the Yorba Linda Cultural Arts Center featuring art inspired by landmarks from all over the globe MORE