Orange County Great Park

There are lots of ways for your family to kick off the new year in Irvine. The Irvine 9 January edition includes tips on catching the final days of light displays during Holidayz at the Park, getting financial assistance with childcare, helping animals in need, and shopping at the Farmers Market. Also, find out how teens can volunteer through the Youth Action Team, and seniors can participate in a virtual walk/run. Learn about these events and more in this month's edition of "The Irvine 9."

Not ready to stop celebrating the holidays? Come visit Holidayz at the Park through January 3, when we'll be decked out with festive lights, fun decor, a giant tree, selfie stations, and other photo ops including a larger-than-life Santa's airplane. Please note that while visiting the outdoor decorations and events, visitors must wear face coverings due to the Regional Stay-at-Home Order. Visit ocgp.org/holidayz for more information. #greatparkholidayz #holidayzatthepark

Happy Holidays from everyone here at the Orange County Great Park!

If you haven’t checked out Holidayz at the Park yet, there’s still time! Celebrate all that twinkles, sparkles, and glows until January 3. Walk through the Palm Court to see our iconic palms decked out in lights and pose for photos in front of over-sized décor. Please note that while visiting the outdoor decorations and events, visitors must wear face coverings due to the Regional Stay-at-Home Order. For hours and more information, visit ocgp.org/holidayz. #greatparkholidayz #holidayzatthepark

Missing all the fun we had during Irvine Global Village Festival? Are your kids looking for a fun way to be creative at home? We have solutions to both! Free festival-themed coloring activities are still available to download online. Grab them all for your children now at cityofirvine.org/festival. #IrvineFestival #IrvineGlobalVillageFestival

The City of Irvine is feeling festive as fall holidays approach! Celebrate the season by signing your kids up for themed activities, including the Great Park's Holiday Fairy Garden Workshop where young ones will create their own miniature garden and learn about the imaginative world of fairies. Don't forget to also gather the whole family to shop for gifts at the City's upcoming annual Holiday Faire. Sign up for fall classes and events now at yourirvine.org.

We'd like to thank everyone who brought food donations for Families Forward last Saturday at the Irvine Global Village Festival drive-in concert here at the Great Park! The City of Irvine is teaming up with them again this weekend for another Food Collection Event to help meet the continued demand for food assistance. Swing by the Great Park to support: Saturday, October 17 9 a.m.-Noon Orange County Great Park, Lot 2 ow.ly/sMlw50BU14Q. ... We hope you will consider donating! #WeAreIrvine See more

Explore the Great Park Gallery’s latest exhibition, Home from the comfort of your own four walls, and enjoy a video walkthrough of the show for free online. Our fall exhibition showcases artwork addressing abstract ideas of what home means to different people, and touches on themes of domesticity, residence, occupancy, and structure. The Great Park Gallery is also open to drop-in visitors, with attendance limited to 25% maximum capacity. Check out Home virtually, or learn more about visiting the gallery today at ocgp.org/arts.

The Irvine Global Village Festival might be over, but photos last forever. What better way to start the countdown to next year’s festival than to visit our Global Village Through the Years album online and relive your favorite performances, food, and activities from the City’s past fall events. We can’t wait to come back together stronger and more united for the 2021 Irvine Global Village Festival! Browse the photo album and more at cityofirvine.org/festival. #IrvineFestival #IrvineGlobalVillageFestival

Thank you to our Irvine Global Village Festival drive-in concert sponsors Amazon, University of California, Irvine, and UC Irvine Health for helping us celebrate music and cultural diversity with Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea's live performance last week here at the Great Park. Rocking out to live music and gathering safely with our community to wrap up the festival was a night to remember! You can still take part in this year's Irvine Global Village Festival through photo tributes, online art projects, and dining inspiration; learn more at cityofirvine.org/festival. #IrvineFestival #IrvineGlobalVillageFestival

Looking for an outlet for your kid's endless energy? Irvine offers youth sports classes in social, competitive activities such as basketball and karate, or you can try out private swim and tennis lessons for more one-on-one coaching. Our variety of fall sports programs provides ideal options for parents looking to keep their children active and on-the-go while in a safe environment. Register for activities now at yourirvine.org.

This year’s Irvine Global Village Festival might be nearing its end, but there’s plenty to do after the festival to keep the celebrations going. Visit cityofirvine.org/festival any time to download themed art activities for your kids, browse lists of multicultural restaurants in Irvine to try out, and view photos of our favorite festival memories (or share your own!). #IrvineFestival #IrvineGlobalVillageFestival

Did you know that back in 2005, the band Blues Traveler performed at the Irvine Global Village Festival? They played lots of fan favorites, including Run-Around, Hook," and But Anyway. What other festival musical performances stand out to you from the past 19 years? Share your best photos and memories with us to celebrate just how much fun Irvine Global Village Festival has been over nearly two decades. Learn more at cityofirvine.org/festival. #IrvineFestival #IrvineGlobalVillageFestival #FunFactFriday

Bring the sounds of the #IrvineGlobalVillageFestival to life in your own home by making an all-in-one instrument during a free online art class this Saturday, Oct. 10, 3:30-5 p.m. Download project instructions and sign your young artists up now at http://irvinefestival.org. #irvinefestival

We’re finishing out this year’s Irvine Global Village Festival with live music from the Mariachi Divas during the festival’s final drive-in concert at the Great Park. This event is sold out, and we’d like to thank our presenting sponsor, Amazon, for their support of this year’s festival. If you missed out on grabbing tickets to this sold-out event, you can still celebrate with us by sharing photos of your favorite festival performances online. Take part in photo tributes, online art projects, and find dining inspiration at cityofirvine.org/festival. #IrvineFestival #IrvineGlobalVillageFestival

When you think back to Irvine Global Village Festivals of the past, do you have a favorite dance or musical performance? Take a trip down memory lane to see ours in the Global Village Through the Years" album tribute. Then, share your own photos enjoying past festival entertainment or creating new memories this year. There's a chance you'll see them featured on the City’s Flickr and social media. We are excited to share our photos with you and see your favorite pictures cityofirvine.org/festival. #IrvineFestival #IrvineGlobalVillageFestival