It’s an event we always look forward to, a place we see all of our friends and family, a place that makes us all smile. No, it’s not Disney on Parade; it’s the annual Orange International Street Fair and its celebrating 50 years!
Old Towne Orange will transform itself this Labor Day weekend to celebrate the diversity that is Orange County with music, food, and culture from coast-to-coast and around the world.
An OC Music News motto is “to know where we’re headed, we need to know where we’ve been.” So let’s take a look at OISF. The Fair began in 1973 and has remained an annual event that draws people from all four corners of the planet. Per the Fair’s website, “The street fair takes place throughout Old Town Orange around Plaza Park and Orange Circle on the following streets: Chapman, Olive, Glassell, Olive, and Orange.”
This year a host of non-profits will be manning their respective booths – 42 of them – and the food you can sample comes from everywhere! Aside good old fashioned burgers, hot dogs and fries, you can sample food form Asia, Australia, Denmark, France, England, Germany, Ginza, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Polynesia, and Switzerland.
Since Orange County has been a mecca for fantastic music for decades, what would a fair be without some amazing music? This year has a ton of bands ready to entertain us.
POWER SERGE LIVE | PHOTO by Green-Eyed Blonde Photography
Friday night catch Power Surge, a band guaranteed to make you smile. Saturday check out the sights and sounds of The Fenians. On Sunday it is Harliss Sweetwater. There are other bands, so check the Fair’s website for details.
Another important topic for events in Orange County: parking! Street parking is available and several public parking lots will offer parking for a fee charged by local non-profits. Other local establishments and residents may provide parking for a fee (at your own risk). Chapman University has parking for a fee and may be lower than the public lots. Due to limited parking, prepare for the possibility that you may have to walk some distance to get to the event. OCTA and Metrolink Station are located two blocks from the event.
There will be some street closures in effect Friday through Monday:
Chapman Avenue is completely closed from Lemon St. to Grand Street.
Glassell Street is completely closed from Almond Avenue to Maple Avenue.
Permit parking restrictions in the Old Towne area will be suspended during the event from Friday through Sunday.
It is going to be a beautiful weekend, so get out and spend a well-deserved holiday weekend at the Orange International Street Fair.
