Embracing the World’s Cultures in Orange County
- Ashley Ryan
- 14 hours ago
- 6 min read
These local festivals highlight the beloved traditions of different cultures from across the globe, providing a chance to learn about new people and places without ever leaving home.
As political views become more and more divisive in the United States, there is no time like the present to embrace the many cultures that make up our country. Our land was designed as a melting pot that welcomes those of all backgrounds, religions and nationalities, providing us with the chance to learn from one another and gain understanding about how those who are different from us live and celebrate. One of the best ways to do so is by attending local festivals that allow us to learn about customs and traditions from around the world without ever hopping aboard a plane.
From art, music and dancing to specialty foods and ceremonial rituals, these events offer a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage that exists in our own backyard. By attending these vibrant celebrations with open minds, we not only broaden our understanding of the world, but also strengthen the bonds that form within our own communities.
Check out these cultural festivals happening in Orange County over the next few months.
Black History Parade & Unity Festival
When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 7
Where: Center Street Promenade, 205 Center St., Anaheim
Cost: Free entrance
Contact: oc-hc.org
For 100 years now, February has been a crucial time for African Americans to celebrate their achievements and honor those who came before them. But in 1976, the weeklong celebration turned into a full month after President Gerald R. Ford issued a message officially recognizing Black History Month and encouraged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans.”
This event in particular will mark its 46th year in 2026, with an annual parade and festival recognizing Black history, culture and community in Orange County. Organized by the Orange County Heritage Council, the 10 a.m. parade features appearances by school groups, marching bands, dancers, small businesses and leaders from the local community, including Debora Wondercheck (founder and CEO of Arts & Learning Conservatory) and Gregory C. Scott (president and CEO of Community Action Partnership of Orange County), who will both serve as parade marshals.
After the parade ends and the unity festival kicks off with full force, visitors can enjoy food and retail vendors, live entertainment, access to community resources and special cultural experiences. A youth art contest also takes place during the event, open to children from kindergarten through seniors in high school, with the theme this year highlighting “The Black Legacy.” Prizes for the winners will be awarded during the festival.
UVSA Tet Festival
When: Feb. 13-15
Where: Golden West College, 15744 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach
Cost: $12.14; free entrance for children 2 years and younger
Contact: tetfestival.org
More than 30,000 people gather in Orange County each year to celebrate Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, a holiday that shares its roots with the same lunar calendar used in Chinese culture.
Just like with Chinese New Year, the 2026 UVSA Tet Festival will celebrate the Year of the Horse, an animal deemed important for its freedom, speed and perseverance, as well as welcome the arrival of springtime. Vietnamese culture and heritage will be on full display during the event, one of the largest of its kind in the nation. Visitors can put on a traditional Vietnamese ceremonial outfit to gain free entrance (on Saturday, Feb. 14 from noon-1 p.m. only) as the festival makes its return to Golden West College for the first time since 2013.
Each year, the event begins with a cultural procession honoring the country’s founder. A replica cultural village, modeled after those in Vietnam, showcases models of classic architecture along with unique exhibits while visitors can also view the raising of a bamboo scroll featuring a message with luck for the New Year and a spring wedding complete with tea offerings and lion dances. Elsewhere, the event typically features contests where guests can show off their skills in modern dance, pho eating, the childhood game Bau Cua Ca Cọp and more. Miss Vietnam Southern California will also be crowned.
O.C. Lantern Festival
When: March 7
Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Cost: Free entrance (but tickets are required)
Contact: pacificsymphony.org/lantern-festival
Like the UVSA Tet Festival, this Lantern Festival fete celebrates the beauty and renewal of springtime. For more than 2,000 years, this end of the Lunar New Year takes place during the first full moon of the new calendar, using picturesque lanterns as symbols for releasing last year’s burdens and welcoming the New Year with ease and luck.
Visitors are invited to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts for a day of family fun, with all ages invited to stay and play. Pacific Symphony and the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center put on the joint affair, with the lobby of the concert hall transforming into a community celebration in March. Activities include riddles, dining on ethnic food and embracing colorful photo opportunities while the concert hall is open for musical performances, dragon dances or Chinese folk dance lessons. Visitors can also create and light their own lanterns in an effort to become their best selves. An art exhibit will also showcase paintings, drawings, photography and sculptures with a theme of Illuminating the Future during the festival.
Old World Irish Fest
When: March 8-17
Where: Old World, 7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach
Cost: $20-30 on March 13; free entrance on all other days
Although Old World in Huntington Beach has traditionally been a German restaurant and beer garden since its inception in the 1970s, it now embraces other European and American cultures throughout the year as well. Ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, visitors can experience the very best of Ireland’s musical storytelling, thrilling dance, hearty cuisine and warm hospitality at this hidden gem. A menu of Irish favorites, from stew, corned beef and cabbage, and bangers and mash to a dessert pretzel coated in bright green-hued chocolate, provides tastes of the Emerald Isle while fresh signature cocktails join a slew of green beers for ice-cold sips. This may be the main appeal of the event, with Irish cuisine placed front and center, but expect to also find an array of live bands and celebrations of culture during this unrestrained party.
Springtime in Paris
When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 28
Where: Norman P. Murray Community & Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo
Cost: Free entrance
Contact: mvactivities.com
Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world, but also a beloved favorite for almost all who have traveled there. A taste of France comes to Orange County during this spring boutique, which offers locals a chance to shop or experience the finest of Parisian culture. Channel the high-end fashion houses of Europe as you peruse goods in Mission Viejo, ranging from handcrafted treasures and home and garden décor to jewelry, artwork, clothing and even beauty products from more than 70 different vendors.
Aside from shopping, visitors can enjoy cultural food items, including sandwiches on French rolls from Wendi's Donuts & Deli in San Juan Capistrano and glasses of French wine served on the terrace, as well as live entertainment also following the theme of the day. Raffle tickets can also be purchased so that one lucky attendee can take home a deluxe gift basket filled with goods.
Festival of Nations
When: 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 25
Where: Downtown La Palma
Cost: Free entrance
A mixture of cultures is highlighted at this annual fair and parade in La Palma, where the heritage and diversity of Southern California is placed in the spotlight. The event begins with a 10:30 a.m. hometown parade, traversing Walker Street from Houston Street to La Palma Avenue for an hour before the festival kicks off at 11:30 a.m. at Central Park.
Food trucks and live entertainment encompass cultures ranging from Mexican, Korean and Filipino to Hawaiian, providing O.C. residents with the chance to embrace several different ethnicities on the same day. On top of experiences relating to culture and society, visitors can enjoy rides like a fiberglass swing, a pirate ship for little ones and a scrambler as well as carnival games with actual prizes and a petting zoo.
