Free in the OC: Irvine Park Railroad’s 8th Annual Pumpkin Patch

Irvine Park Railroad’s eighth annual Pumpkin Patch is fun for the entire family! Children and adults are invited to the Pumpkin Patch which is open daily at 10 a.m., beginning Sept. 21 through Oct. 31. Irvine Park Railroad is located inside of Irvine Regional Park in the foothills of Orange.
It’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and until 6 p.m. weekends.
The Pumpkin Patch is located in Locomotive Loop and Miner's Meadow just behind the train station. Thousands of pumpkins, in all shapes and sizes, fill Locomotive Loop. All visitors are sure to find the perfect pumpkin!
This year’s Pumpkin Patch activities include:  Train rides, hay rides, panning for gold, a child-friendly haunted house, a hay maze, a moon bounce, carnival games, cookie decorating, John Deere tractor racers, face painting, picture stands and great food.

Admission into the Pumpkin Patch is free. Prices for all other activities vary; please visit their WEBSITE for additional information and costs

Orange County Featured City: Fountain Valley

The City of Fountain Valley is located in the heart of Orange County minutes from Points of Interest like Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, the beach, and world class shopping.  The City is geographically located just north of Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, and Newport Beach, and just south of Santa Ana and Anaheim.  Transportation to and from Fountain Valley is easy due to its proximity to freeways, John Wayne Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.

Since its incorporation in 1957 and throughout its rich history, the City of Fountain Valley has been known as "A Nice Place to Live."  Residents of the City have adopted this motto thanks to the well maintained streets and parkways, 20 parks, wide range of recreation programs for all ages, great weather throughout the year and overall quality of life.  Business also consider Fountain Valley to be a "Nice Place to do Business" as well.

Free in the OC : Bowers Museum

The Bowers Museum is located in Santa Ana, California, USA in Orange County. The museum offers exhibitions, lectures, art classes, travel programs, children's art and music education programs, and other community events. The museum's philosophy is to help people learn about other cultures through their arts, and offer a greater understanding of themselves and an appreciation of the world.

Their current exhibits include GODS & GIFTS: VATICAN ETHNOLOGICAL COLLECTION, JEWELS OF THE CONNOISSEUR, SPIRITS AND HEADHUNTERS: ART OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS, and more. Take advantage of their current offer of free entrance during the first Sunday of every month and stop by this coming Sunday!

BOWERS MUSEUM

OC Nightlife : Sutra OC

Since the summer of 2003, Sutra nightclub has remained the premiere entertainment venue in Orange County attracting upscale party goers and celebrities from all over Southern California and beyond. Sutra continues to redefine nightlife with a dedication to presenting the world's top DJs and entertainment, an energetic and modern ambience, decadent service, state of the art audio & visual elements and always looking at new ways to refresh the look and feel.

Sutra has gained the deserved reputation for bringing some of the best talent and entertainment including artists such as Ludacris, Nelly, Paul Oakenfold, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Mickey Avalon, LMFAO, Far East Movement, Dirty South, Lil Jon, and much more.

A few notable upcoming performers are DJ Chuckie(Oct 6), Benny Benassi(Oct 24), Mat Zo (Nov 10), and more.

Check them out HERE!

Famous Face from Orange County: Stephen Hillenburg

Are ya ready kids?? 

Aye aye Captain!

I can't hear you!

AYE AYE CAPTAIN!

Ooooooooooooo who lives in a pineapple under the sea?

Although Stephen Hillenburg is by no means a household name, he is the creator of Spongebob, who sure is. If you grew up, had a child, or had even the slightest idea of pop culture during the early 2000's, you should know who Spongebob is. 

He attended Savanna High School in Anaheim, California, Hillenburg and after graduating, enrolled in Humboldt State University and graduated in 1984 with a degree in natural-resource planning and interpretation, with an emphasis in marine resources. For three years after his graduation he taught marine biology at the Orange County Ocean Institute in Dana Point. 

Stephen had always enjoyed drawing and painting and decided to pursue a career in animation. He attended the California Institute of Art and in 1991, he earned a Master of Fine Arts in experimental animation. All these experience came together and helped him create Spongebob Squarepants.