Special events
TET FESTIVAL: Recognized as the world’s largest Tet Festival outside of Vietnam. Helping preserve culture, the festival boasts more than 100,000 visitors and dozens of booths over three days. Visitors are immersed with a vibrant array of traditional food, entertainment, festive games and customs celebrating the new year. Jan. 27-29 at OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. tetfestival.org
LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION – YEAR OF THE ROOSTER: Gong Hey Fat Choy! That means “Happy Chinese New Year.” Immerse your child in a cultural experience to celebrate Chinese New Year and learn about Chinese traditions. There will be a Chinese New Year parade to close out the day. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 28 at Pretend City Children’s Museum, 29 Hubble, Irvine. Admission is free-$12.50. pretendcity.org
CELEBRATE GROUNDHOG DAY: Celebrate with Punxsutawney Phil and learn about Groundhog Day. Find out if we will have a long winter or an early spring and why we celebrate this holiday dating back to 1887. Make your own groundhog named Phil to help you predict the weather and seasons. Be prepared for Phil’s forecast by working with your child on identifying what items correspond to which season. 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at Pretend City Children’s Museum, 29 Hubble, Irvine. Admission is free-$12.50. pretendcity.org
‘FLORA & ULYSSES’: Holy Bagumba! Ten-year-old Flora loves comic books, so it’s no surprise to her when a squirrel named Ulysses gets sucked up in the vacuum cleaner and pops out as a superhero who can fly –and write poetry. Doubting adults have lots to learn from Flora, Ulysses and their new friend, William, in this charming story. Recommended for grades 2-6. Feb. 3-19 at South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. scr.org
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO 14th ANNUAL CAR SHOW: The classic, new and exotic will headline this fundraiser, which promises a fabulous display of some 400 antique and classic cars and trucks. The return of the popular New-Car Row will show the latest models from local dealers. This is a pet-friendly event. Also, shop the vendor booths and enjoy delicious food. 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 4 (rain date is Feb. 11) at San Juan Capistrano Community Center and Sports Park, 25925 Camino Del Avion. Admission is free-$5. sjcrotary.org
BLACK HISTORY PARADE AND CULTURAL FAIRE: Members of the community regardless of race, color, ethnicity or culture are invited to enjoy a parade with noted community members, elected officials, community groups, school and church groups, singing and dancing groups and city service vehicles. After the parade, a Black Cultural Faire will offer a bit of black history in the youth village, business connections and information, health information and screenings, activities for youths, food for sale and entertainment. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 4 in Downtown Anaheim. oc-hc.org
CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY: Featuring several related activities, including the Good to Go Game to pin the arrow on the heart as you watch your child turn into Cupid. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 14 at Pretend City Children’s Museum, 29 Hubble, Irvine. Admission is free-$12.50. pretendcity.org
‘DANCING WITH THE STARS’: ‘LIVE! – WE CAME TO DANCE’: The latest “DWTS” tour is an action-packed, 90-minute show brimming with exciting and romantic performances from the hit ABC show. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tickets start at $49. scfta.org
‘THE LITTLE PRINCE’: A pilot crashes in the Sahara Desert and while frantically trying to repair his wrecked plane he is interrupted by the apparition of a little boy who asks him to draw a sheep. As absurd as it seems, a thousand miles from all inhabited regions and in danger of death, he takes out a scrap of paper and a pen. And so begins their adventure. 1 p.m. Feb. 18; 1 and 3:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Samueli Theater, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tickets start at $20. scfta.org
LOS ALAMITOS RACE ON THE BASE: Features junior reverse triathlons, a Glow in the Dark Fun Run, a 10K Run, a Health & Fitness Expo, live music, a 5K Run to Remember and more. 1:30-8 p.m. Feb. 24 and 5:30 a.m.-noon Feb. 25 at Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base, 11200 Lexington Drive. raceonthebase.com
Exhibits
‘TIME OF GIANTS: ICE AGE ANIMALS’: Giant sloths, woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats. These gigantic creatures seem to be the stuff of legend, but they were just doing what they could to survive. Take a trip back in time over 10,000 years to the Age of Mammals and explore in this interactive exhibit. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. Sundays through March 5 at the Children’s Museum at La Habra, 301 S. Euclid St. Admission is free-$8. lhcm.org
‘VERY ERIC CARLE’: Play-and-learn exhibit featuring activities inspired by five of Eric Carle’s classic books: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” “The Very Quiet Cricket,” “The Very Lonely Firefly,” “The Very Clumsy Click Beetle” and “The Very Busy Spider.” In this exhibit, you can become the Very Hungry Caterpillar as you follow his path, weave a web with the Very Busy Spider, find your light with the Very Lonely Firefly and enjoy other activities. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 28-May 14 at Discovery Cube Orange County, 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana. Admission is free-$17.95. discoverycube.org
‘WAR WOUNDS’: Grand Central Art Center artist-in-residence Trinh Mai presents a project wall installation that focuses on humanity’s collective need to heal. Through the installation, Mai explores physical and emotional wounds, the healing process and the scars some wounds leave behind. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through May 14 at the Grand Central Art Center, 125 N. Broadway, Santa Ana. Free.
grandcentralartcenter.com
Sports
Anaheim Ducks: The Ducks have home games on Feb. 17 (Florida Panthers at 7 p.m.), Feb. 19 (Los Angeles Kings at 6 p.m.) and Feb. 22 (Boston Bruins at 7:30 p.m.).
Out-of-town enjoyment
The Pan African Film Festival:
It is the festival’s goal to present and showcase a broad spectrum of creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images and help destroy negative stereotypes. Feb. 9-20 at 6820 La Tijera Blvd. No. 200, Los Angeles. paff.org
Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival:
Features a variety of events, including concerts, shows, exhibits and rides. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Feb. 17-26 at Riverside County Fairgrounds, 82-503 Highway 111, Indio. Admission is free-$10. datefest.org
Harlem Globetrotters:
A star-studded roster will have fans on the edges of their seats to witness the ball-handling wizardry, basketball artistry and one-of-a-kind entertainment that thrills fans of all ages. 12:30 and 5:45 p.m. Feb. 19 at Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. Tickets are $25-$275. staplescenter.com
Theme park news
Disneyland
Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure runs through Feb. 5, making a great opportunity for folks to experience a celebration of music, food and entertainment inspired by Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese cultures. Also, don’t miss the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade to Disneyland through June. The Season of the Force is back inside Tomorrowland, where guests will be able to experience new additions for “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” disneyland.disney.go.com
Knott’s Berry Farm
Show your AAA card and save 30 percent on regular admission and save 20 percent on regular admission at Knott’s Soak City Waterpark. Military discounts on regular admission are available every day with military ID card. Buy tickets in advance online to save even more. knotts.com
Kid’s pet parade
Children ages 5-12 can show off their favorite animals in several contests. All pets must be leashed, haltered or caged, and an adult must accompany children. Noon-2 p.m. Feb. 18 (rain date is Feb. 25) at Los Rios Park, 31747 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano. Registration begins at 11 a.m. $5 entry fee. Application and information: swallowsparade.com
Irvine Park Railroad’s 21- year anniversary
Celebrate with carnival rides, bounce houses, train rides, face painting and more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 25-26 at 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange. Admission is free. Activity tickets are $2 (1996 prices. irvineparkrailroad.com
