SAN CLEMENTE OCEAN FESTIVAL
JULY 21 AND 22
Known for its ocean sports events—including Dory boat and stand-up paddleboard races and a 1-mile swim—this 42nd annual festival also offers a kids’ beach run and surfing contest, a sand-sculpting competition, an ocean art show, and a beach concert.
San Clemente State Beach, 949-440-6141, oceanfestival.org
FOURTH OF JULY PARADE AND FIREWORKS
JULY 4
Huntington Beach’s annual Independence Day celebration includes what the city calls the largest Fourth of July parade west of the Mississippi River. Bands, floats, local dignitaries, equestrian groups, celebrities, and community groups march through downtown Huntington Beach beginning at 10 a.m., followed by entertainment on the pier until the fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Parade: On Main Street from Pacific Coast Highway to Clay Avenue.
Fireworks: Huntington Beach Pier, 714-536-5486, hb4thofjuly.org
“SCHOOL OF ROCK”
JULY 24 THROUGH AUG. 5
In this musical based on the movie by the same name, a failed guitar player takes a gig as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school and teaches his straight-A students how to be rock stars. In the process, he falls for the straight-laced headmistress.
Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org
“THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF SONG”
JULY 1
This musical revue celebrating “The Wizard of Oz” composer Harold Arlen is hosted by Arlen’s son, Sam, and singer-pianist George Bugatti. Singer Karon Blackwell and a jazz trio accompany in songs such as “Get Happy,” “Stormy Weather,” and “Over the Rainbow.”
Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, 949-480-4278, soka.edu
BRASS TRANSIT: MUSIC OF CHICAGO
JULY 4
Pacific Symphony teams with Brass Transit, a Chicago tribute band, to celebrate the Fourth of July with hits such as “You’re the Inspiration,” “If You Leave Me Now,” and “Hard to Say I’m Sorry.” The concert closes with patriotic songs and a fireworks show.
Pacific Amphitheatre at OC Fair & Event Center, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org
“MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET”
JULY 5 THROUGH 29
Inspired by a true story, this musical recounts the day Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash showed up at the Sun Records studio in Memphis at the same time. It includes some of the musicians’ most famous tunes, such as “Blue Suede Shoes,” “I Walk the Line,” and “Hound Dog.”
Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949-497-2787, lagunaplayhouse.com
“THE WINTER’S TALE” AND “A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM”
PREVIEWS BEGIN JULY 6
The New Swan Shakespeare Festival kicks off its 2018 season with two of the Bard’s plays— one a romance and the other a comedy—in the intimate outdoor theater that the UC Irvine Claire Trevor School for the Arts assembles and disassembles every summer for this event.
New Swan Theater, Gateway Commons, Inner Ring Road, Irvine, 949-824- 2787, Newswanshakespeare.com
“AFRICAN TWILIGHT: VANISHING RITUALS & CEREMONIES”
OPENS JULY 7
Photographers and filmmakers Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher have spent their careers capturing traditions in Africa. This world-premiere exhibit encompasses their work over the past 15 years and looks at ini – tiation ceremonies, courtship rituals, healing practices, and other traditions in 45 African countries.
Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714-567-3600, bowers.org
“DRAWING ON THE PAST: WORKS ON PAPER”
OPENS JULY 7
Drawings, pastels, watercolors, and etchings by California artists from the 1880s to the mid-1900s are featured in this exhibit that spotlights the work of some of the state’s most prominent watercolor painters, in – cluding Phil Dike, Emil Kosa, and Arthur E. Beaumont. A highlight: Henry Chapman Ford’s portfolio of paintings and etchings de – picting California missions.
Irvine Museum, 18881 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, 949-476-0294, irvinemuseumcollection.uci.edu
PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS
OPENS JULY 7
To celebrate its 85th anniversary and the centennial of the Laguna Art Museum, this year’s edition of the famous “living pictures” show, called “Under the Sun,” will honor the impressionists and plein-air painters—in Laguna Beach and beyond—who took their easels into nature and painted what they saw. 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949-494-1145, foapom.com
PHOTOGRAPH BY MATTHEW MURPHY
ADAM TRENT
JULY 1
The star of “The Illusionists,” a hit magic and variety show on Broadway, brings his family-friendly solo show on tour. Known for mixing illusion, comedy, and music, he has made several appearances on the “Today” show and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714- 556-2787, scfta.org
“MARTIN LUTHER ON TRIAL”
JULY 13 THROUGH 15
Adolf Hitler, Sigmund Freud, Martin Luther King Jr., and Pope Francis take the stand and the Devil assumes the role of prosecutor in this play that imagines a trial for the soul of Martin Luther, the German monk and professor who ignited the Protestant Revolution.
Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org
BRAD PAISLEY
JULY 21
The singer-songwriter and guitarist has three Grammy Awards and 14 Country Music Association Awards and has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2001. He has had 24 No. 1 country hits, including “Mud on the Tires” and “She’s Everything.” Special guests Kane Brown and Dan Tyminski join him. Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714-704-2400, hondacenter.com
VANS U.S. OPEN OF SURFING
JULY 28 THROUGH AUG. 5
One of the most prestigious surfing competitions in the world, combined with skate boarding and BMX contests at the beach, draws more than 300 world-class athletes to this event. Fans can watch the action during the day and enjoy outdoor movie screenings and concerts at night.
Huntington City Beach, vansusopenofsurfing.com
NATIONAL CHOREOGRAPHERS INITIATIVE 2018
JULY 28
For this annual event, four choreographers spend three weeks developing new ballets for 16 dancers, who present them in this performance. Many pieces created as part of this program during the past 14 years have gone on to be performed elsewhere in the U.S. and abroad.
Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org
OC FAIR OPENS
JULY 13
The annual summer event returns for four weeks with all the usual carnival games, rides, and fried-food booths. This summer’s concert series includes appearances by comedians Trevor Noah and Jim Gaffigan, plus music from Kool & The Gang, The Psychedelic Furs, and Earth, Wind & Fire. Other popular attractions include Centennial Farm and the juried displays of art, photography, cakes, and crafts made by locals.
OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-708- 1500, ocfair.com
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