The 46th annual 2018 Orange Street Fair is this Labor Day weekend, August 31st to September 2nd, 2018. The Orange Circle Street Fair includes live music, food from all over the world, a Children’s Street, arts and crafts booths, and much more. The theme of this year’s street fair is Globally Good. Each street leading out of the Old Towne Plaza features a selection of international food and drinks, including German, Irish, English, Polynesian, American, Greek, Japanese, Swiss, Italian, Lebanese, Australian and Mexican areas. The street fair allows variety of clubs and organizations to earn money through the sales from each booth.
Orange Street Fair Festivities
Entertainment
There are 9 stages of entertainment including a main stage throughout the street fair. Music ranges from original artists to cover bands to ethnic music. Basically, something for everybody plus opening ceremonies.
Main Stage Orange Street Fair Bands
Saturday, August 31, 2018: Cosmic Reaction (5 pm), Opening Ceremonies (6:15 pm – 7 pm), Mango (8 pm)
Saturday, September 1, 2018: Aroha Tahi Dance (10 am), Minor Strut (12 pm), Ani (2 pm), Wimberley Bluegrass Band (4 pm), The Fenians (6 pm), Sam Morrison (8 pm)
Sunday, September 2, 2018: Apartment 18 (12 pm), Mariachi Kids (2 pm), Johnny and Jayleen (4 pm), Brick Top Blaggers (6 pm), Blue Dice (8 pm)
All-American Stage Bands
Saturday, August 31, 2018: The O.C. British Invaders Band (6 pm), Frenzy (8 pm)
Saturday, September 1, 2018: Sweet Water Creek Band (11 am), Friendly Indians (1 pm), Coyotes Del Barrio (3 pm), Cockeyed Optimist (5 pm), Wild Adults (7 pm)
Sunday, September 2, 2018: Dinosaurs (12 pm), Rad Moon Rising(2 pm), Catfish Junction (4 pm), Apollo Bebop (6 pm), Blue Lion Project (8 pm)
Youth Street Bands
Saturday, August 31, 2018: Klove (5 pm), Slaves to Humanity (7 pm)
Saturday, September 1, 2018: Sugar Bombs (10 am), Sound 404 (12 pm), Toyama Karate Do (2 pm), Unknown Fate (4 pm), Kimberly Stewart (6 pm)
Sunday, September 2, 2018: TKK Omaha Karate Club (3 pm), Thursdays in Suburbia (5 pm), Great Plans (7 pm)
Food Booths
Festival food will feature 15 ethnicities encompassing food from around the world and all booths are managed by local non-profit organizations.
The 15 food ethnicities are from America, Asia, Australia, Denmark, England, Germany, Greece, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Polynesia and Switzerland.
Arts & Crafts Booths
Handmade arts and crafts section featuring local artists and their crafts. There are over 5o arts & craft booths and only handmade items of the highest quality are allowed with no mass produced items sold. Items for sale include art (of course), fashion accessories, jewellery, handicrafts, clothes, home decor items and much more.
Children’s Street
Children’s Street is dedicated to kids with crafts, games and snacks. There is a bouncy house, slide and many games where kids can win prizes.
There is no smoking, alcohol sales, or consumption on Children’s Street. Children’s Street is located on North Orange St. at East Chapman Ave.
Community Booths/Commercial Booths
Local non-profits showcase the causes they support and local companies promote their businesses.
Local Businesses
Most local establishments located throughout the street fair are open for business during this time. While there will be plenty of food and drink options supporting non-profits at the fair sometimes you need to these places get away from the bustle of the fair.
A few bar options include O’Hara’s Pub, The District Lounge and Paul’s Lounge.
Restaurant (and more bar) options include Watson’s Soda Fountain, Citrus City Grille, Zito’s Pizza, Bagel Me, Byblo’s Cafe, Gabbi’s, Smoqued, Wahoo’s, Haven Gastropub, The Filling Station, Rutebegorz, Starbucks, Blaze Pizza, and many more.
Shopping options include many thrift, antique and arts and crafts stores.
OISF Details
What: OC Street Fair
Where: Plaza Park (“The Circle”)
Date: Friday, August 31, 2018
Hours: 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm (alcohol sales 5 pm – 9 pm)
Date: Saturday, September 1, 2018
Hours: 10 am to 10:00 pm (alcohol sales 10 am – 9 pm)
Date: Sunday, September 2, 2018
Hours: 10 am to 10:00 pm (alcohol sales noon – 9 pm)
Cost: No entrance fee; fees vary for food, beverages, crafts and Children’s Street. There is a fee for a wrist band to drink alcohol. Wrist bands are available at all 4 entrances (N/S Chapman; E/W Glassell)
Parking
There is street parking and several public parking lots in the surrounding area for a fee charged by local non-profit organizations. Many establishments and residents also provide parking for a fee (at your own risk). The OCTA and Metrolink Station is located 2 blocks from the event.
Orange Street Fair Tips
- Bring your ID if you plan to drink.
- Bring cash for food, drinks, games and crafts.
- Wear comfortable shoes for all the walking and spilled drinks.
- During the day don’t forget the sunscreen and hats. It’s almost always hot and there isn’t a lot of shade.
- Bring water, it’s available but at street fair prices.
- Uber or Lyft there to beat the parking and for responsible drinking. The train or Metrolink, which runs a street fair promotion, are options as well.
- For the parking, the top levels of the Chapman University West Campus Parking, on Cypress St, between Maple and Palm is free, and a short walk.
- Make sure you have a designated driver.
- Check out the music lineup to see your favorite band.
- Find fun places to go in Old Towne Orange and movies, television shows and commercials filmed there.
- Go with an Elk member. The Orange Chapter is located right in the middle of the street fair. It is a great place to slip away for a quick rest, drink and even play some pool, darts or shuffle board.
- No pets allowed except service animals.
- Seating is limited and lawn chairs are NOT allowed.
Additional Tips for Parents/Families
- If you have young kids bring a stroller even for ones that are mostly done with strollers. There can be a lot of walking with little seating available.
- Get there right when it opens for the best parking and least amount of crowds.
- Drinking increases as the day goes on and into the night (read rowdier). The earlier the better for families. Early Friday night and early Saturday and Sunday during the day.
Orange Street Fair History
The Orange International Street Fair (OISF) started in 1973 when The City of Orange was looking to celebrate it’s 100th anniversary. The 1910 Orange Street Fair was the inspiration for the centennial celebration. The 1973 festival, with 50,000 attendees, was so successful that it became an annual tradition ever since. Eventually the street fair’s popularity replaced the Orange May Festival Celebration which ended in 1991. The Orange May Festival celebrated the start of the Valencia orange harvest.
Hotels Near Old Towne Orange
- ALOHotel by Ayres (Block of Orange)
- Ayres Hotel (Block of Orange)
- Best Western Orange Plaza (Chapman/Main)
- Castaway Inn by Wyndham (Chapman/Main)
- Civic Center Inn & Suites (Glassell/22)
- Days Inn by Wyndham (Main/Palmyra)
- Doubletree by Hilton (Block of Orange)
- Orange Tustin Inn (Tustin/22)
- Red Roof Inn (MainPlace Mall)
- Sky Palm Motel (Chapman/Tustin)
Find more events in the Villa Park/Orange/Anaheim Hills area.
Do you know if there is seating for the concerts or if you can bring folding chairs?
Folding chairs are not allowed and any seating would be limited to what is normally in the area e.g. benches, thus plan for no seating.
Some of these concerts at the OISF is standing only. Not allowed or wise to bring your own chair. If you’re lucky, you might find a city bench or a clear spot to sit.