O.C. At Night: Here’s How to Have Fun Once the Sun Sets

Night Swim
Cool off at the Hart Park Pool for $2.50 per guest. From June 17 to Aug. 18, swimmers can enjoy the pool without the hot sun on Wednesdays from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. Orange, 714-744-2225

Sing It
Belt out your favorite tunes till the wee hours of the morning in the comfort of a private room at Plush Karaoke Lounge. Various room sizes are offered for groups up to 25 people, and rates start at $38 per hour for a small room (up to six people). Food, beer, wine, soju, and sake are also available to purchase. Irvine, 949-222-9986

Photo credit: Archel Arindaeng

Nighttime snacks
With dishes including bulgogi fries and a cheese-shell taco filled with soft-shell crab, the OC Night Market, above, makes for a foodie’s paradise. From June 14 through 16 and Aug. 23 through 25, attendees can eat their way through a variety of unique dishes, listen to live music, play games, and shop the vendors. Costa Mesa, 949-723-6660

Photo credit: Frank Cobian Jr.

Celebrate Vegan Cuisine
Anaheim’s Vegan Faire is back. On July 27 from 4 to 10 p.m., this annual festival hosted by popular vegan restaurant Healthy Junk offers vegan cuisine such as tacos, cakes, nachos, pastries, and more. Admission is free, and guests can enjoy  live entertainment, participate in workshops, and check out local artisans. Anaheim

Day-Glo Nights
Indulge with fellow 1980s enthusiasts at Anaheim’s NostalgiaCon from July 4 through 6. From meet-and-greets and panels with the decade’s icons to concerts and an expo hall, this convention will be one to remember. $89 for single day, $185 for three days. Anaheim

Fish Finders
Bundle up the kids and head out along various O.C. beaches to see the annual grunion run. You’ll need a flashlight, a beach chair, and patience to see the slippery little fish come ashore at night through August to lay their eggs in the sand. Check online to find expected run times, which rely on tide peaks and moon phases. wildlife.ca.gov

Photo credit: M. Haight

Shave and a Haircut
Can’t make it to the barber until after sunset? These shops are open until at least 9 p.m. on various nights. Check out Single Barrel Barbershop in Fullerton,  American Barbershop in Santa Ana, and The Señor Barber in San Clemente. Fullerton, 714-213-9464; Santa Ana, 714-550-7430; San Clemente, 949-361-0762

The Late Train
Seeing a concert at the FivePoint Amphitheatre? Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner offers late-night service from the Irvine Station, which is adjacent to FivePoint. The train also stops in Fullerton, Anaheim, Santa Ana, San Juan Capistrano, and San Clemente. pacificsurfliner.com

Photo credit: Riley Schatzle

Silent Yoga
As day turns to night, enjoy an oceanfront Vinyasa yoga class at Pacific City’s Yoga Social Series. Pulsing music from Sound Off’s surround-sound headphones will help you find your inner Zen. Check online for dates and times, $25. Huntington Beach, gopacificcity.com

Craft Beer in the Garden
Join the Fullerton Arboretum for Brews and Blues in the Garden on Aug. 17. Attendees can sip on craft beers from about 20 local brewers, listen to live blues music, and munch on food from five trucks. Wine tastings will be available as well. $40 general admission before July 2, $35 for members. Fullerton, 657-278-4010

DIY Craft Night
From wooden centerpiece boxes to chunky knit blankets, have fun creating your own piece of home decor at AR Workshop. All materials are included, and the helpful staff will guide you throughout the process. At the end of the night, you’ll take home something you’ll actually want to display. $40 to $100. San Juan Capistrano, 949-482-1362

Dine Out in Santa Ana
Bring all your foodie friends to Savor Santa Ana, a tasting tour of DTSA’s top eateries, including Mix Mix Kitchen + Bar, El Mercado Modern Cuisine, and 4th Street Market. The annual fall event features live music and vibrant cultural displays. Not keen on walking? Hop on the complimentary trolley. $10 for five tasting tickets. Santa Ana

Music in the Park
Enjoy the fresh air at the OC Parks Summer Concert Series. From 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, groove to live music from local acts such as Fullerton rock band Lit. Pack a picnic, grab a bite from one of the on-site food trucks, or visit the beer garden. At select O.C. parks, 714-973-6855

Photo credit: John Cizmas

Grown-Up Rolling
Holiday Skate Center in Orange hosts 18-and-over nights on Wednesdays, where you’ll see plenty of skills on display as people race around or do pairs skating from 9 to 11 p.m. If you’re 21 and over and want to sing along to R&B oldies while you make your way around the rink, head to Fountain Valley Skating Center at 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Orange, 714-997-5283; Fountain Valley, 714-847-0022

Ice, Ice (Skate) Baby
There are several ice-skating rinks throughout the county, but Great Park Ice is the largest in California at 280,000 square feet. Get out of the heat and enjoy public skating Friday and Saturday nights from 8 to 10 p.m. General admission tickets are $15, and skate rentals are $5. Irvine, 949-774-1600

Cosmic Bowling
Family owned and operated for four generations, La Habra 300 Bowl is a hometown favorite for bowling night. Come Monday through Thursday from 7:30 to 11 p.m. for unlimited bowling ($15, shoes included) or Friday and Saturday nights for cosmic bowling. Stop by 13th Frame Lounge next door for cocktails and karaoke. La Habra, 562-691-6721

You’re It
Arrow Tag OC puts an archery twist on classic dodge ball. In the evening, the lights go off and the neon glows, adding another layer of intensity, adrenaline, and excitement. Come on the weekend for walk-in games and enjoy a new challenge. Santa Ana, 714-517-1992

Late Night Happy Hours
Who says happy hour has to end at 7 p.m.? Get discounts on food and drinks at Kitsch Bar every night (except Wednesdays) from 7 to 9 p.m., Pickled Monk on Sundays from 6 to 10 p.m., and Irenia Fridays and Saturdays from 10 to 11 p.m. Costa Mesa, 714-546-8580; Fullerton, 714-793-9100; Santa Ana, 657-245-3466

Rooftop Dining
For cocktails and appetizers with a view, head to Offshore 9 at the Hilton in Huntington Beach. At the highest coastal rooftop bar in Orange County, customers can enjoy a nighttime view of the ocean with a glass of wine in hand. Huntington Beach, 714-845-8000

Laugh Out Loud
Cozy up at The Rec Room, an intimate comedy showroom attached to Glowzone. Grab flatbreads and local craft beer, or try your hand at the vintage arcade games. Locals gather at 10 p.m. Fridays for open mic night to test jokes and mingle. This month, The Sklar Brothers and Christopher Titus will perform. Huntington Beach, 714-316-0775

Mass Entertainment
No matter the night, you’ll find a crowd of people having fun at The Julianne and George Argyros Plaza. Hundreds gather for free events, including Movie Mondays in July and Friday night jazz, which starts June 7 and continues every Friday through the end of August. Don’t miss Tuesday Night Dance, where you can get down in an hour-long lesson with a few hundred friends. This month’s theme is country, and July will feature hip-hop. Costa Mesa

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