Monique McArthur has lived in Villa Park for 20 years and has written about it for years, here and on Enjoy Orange County. Her kids went to Villa Park Elementary. Her son's at Villa Park High now, and her daughter went to Orange Lutheran. Along the way she was a Little League team mom, ran the VPLL snack bar, worked with the VPHS baseball boosters, helped run the Villa Park Halloween event and was a homeroom mom at Villa Park Elementary. These days she runs through town almost every day, shops the Town Center and Ralphs, and grabs a bite at Bagel Me or The Post, so she usually knows what's opening, closing or changing before most people do.
Her husband's family has been here since 1978. He and his four siblings went to Villa Park High and Orange Lutheran, and his parents still live in town, so a lot of what she knows about Villa Park's history, and how it's changed, comes straight from them.
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Monique McArthurThe Irvine Park Christmas Train runs November 27–December 23, 2026, followed by the Train of Lights from December 26–30, 2026. Each year, Irvine Park Railroad at Irvine Regional Park in Orange transforms into a holiday destination with thousands of lights, train rides and Santa’s Village activities. Christmas Train tickets typically sell out quickly. 2026 tickets … Read more
Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Seven Orange County runs and walks happen that morning, from Yorba Regional Park in Anaheim, the closest to Villa Park, down to Dana Point Harbor. Races the weekends before and after Thanksgiving, plus other fall and holiday runs through New Year’s Day, are listed further down. Thanksgiving Day … Read more
The annual Taste of Anaheim will be at the Anaheim Gardenwalk. This event will include food and beverages from local restaurants, breweries and bakeries, live music and a silent auction. A portion of the proceeds from the Taste of Anaheim silent auction will be applied toward the Anaheim Hills Community Council’s 4th of July celebration, which … Read more
Winter Fest OC returns to the OC Fair & Event Center from November 27, 2026 through January 3, 2027, on select dates. The Orange County holiday event features snow play, ice skating, a 150-foot tubing hill, a new Holiday Light Trail, nightly tree lighting, Santa visits, live entertainment, carnival attractions, food, drinks and family activities. … Read more
The Orange Christmas Market & Tree Lighting returns to Old Towne Orange Plaza on Sunday, December 6, 2026. The Christmas Market runs during the day, followed by the evening Christmas program, candlelight choir procession and tree lighting in the heart of the Orange Circle. Find more winter holiday events in Orange County and the Villa … Read more