Taste events are premier food, drink, and music festivals that offer attendees the opportunity to sample a variety of food and drinks from participating local businesses and vendors. Throughout the year, Orange County host a long list of Taste events in various cities that support different causes. Here are some of the annual Taste of events to look forward to.
Knott’s Boysenberry Festival
Knott’s Berry Farm
8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park
Daily March 10 – April 16, 2023
The Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival is celebrating the theme parks beloved boysenberry. Guests can choose from over 25 new and delicious boysenberry inspired food and drink items including chicken cordon bleu with a boysenberry cheese sauce, boysenberry bbq chicken pizza, boysenberry cowboy chili with mac and cheese, boysenberry rocky road brownie, boysenberry sangria, and much more. Boysenberry Festival items are available from 10AM until one hour before closing.
Laguna Beach’s Taste of the Nation
TBA 2023
The Laguna Beach Taste of the Nation is hosted by Montage Laguna Beach to benefit No Kid Hungry. Enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean from the oceanfront bluff at Montage and try unlimited sips and samplings of delicious food and drinks from some of the top restaurants and chefs from across the nation. The event includes live entertainment, auctions, a champagne toast, parting gift, and celebrity chefs like Curtis Stone.
Savor Santa Ana
Downtown Santa Ana
307 North Spurgeon Street, Santa Ana (Ticket Booth Location)
September 2023 TBA
5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Savor Santa Ana takes place as a walking event with participating restaurants throughout Downtown Santa Ana. Foodies can purchase tasting tickets to use at local restaurants as they walk around the downtown area sampling select food items, desserts, and craft beers. A map will be provided to all ticket holders identifying participating restaurants and menu items, and food pics will be posted online prior to the event to get all the foodies excited about what’s coming. There will be additional activities during the evening including live music and a free trolley to help you get to your next tasting destination. Purchase tickets online in advance or visit one of the ticket booth* locations the evening of the event.
Taste of Anaheim
Anaheim GardenWalk
400 West Disney Way, Anaheim
TBA
5:30 pm – 10:30 pm
The Taste of Anaheim is a premier food and music festival that supports the food and beverage industry in Anaheim by creating opportunities for business development. The event features tastings from local restaurants, and vendor booths from local businesses. Attendees will enjoy food, drinks, live music, and a silent auction. A portion of the proceeds from the silent auction supports the annual 4th of July Anaheim Hills celebration.
Taste of Brea
Downtown Brea at Birch and Brea
Thursday, May 25, 2023
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Taste of Brea event in Downtown Brea is presented by Nationwide Insurance. The event features a delicious mix of local food, drinks, and fun. The Brea Chamber hosts this annual family-friendly festival and attracts more than 3,000 visitors. The event showcases Brea’s vibrant business community as one of the areas prime destinations for exceptional and diverse dining, entertainment, and shopping. Participants will receive samples from the best breweries and restaurants with the purchase of a wristband. The event will include live music.
Taste of Dana
Dana Hills High School
33333 Golden Lantern Street, Dana Point
Thursday, March 30, 2023
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Taste of Dana is an annual fundraising event that supports Dana Hills High School by providing a safe Grad Nite for students free of drugs and alcohol. Attendees enjoy food from over 20 local businesses, entertainment, raffles, and a silent auction. Visit the website for more information.
Taste of Fountain Valley Restaurant Week
May 2023 TBA
The annual Taste of Fountain Valley is now hosting a restaurant week. The restaurant week event includes discounts and deals from participating local restaurants.
Taste of Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach Sports Complex
18100 Goldenwest, Huntington Beach
April 2023 TBA
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Taste of Huntington Beach event features food tastings from over 50 local restaurants. Sample beer and wine from California’s premier breweries and wineries. Attendees can bid on baskets stuffed full of prizes from local businesses in the silent auction and buy tickets for the raffle. The event features live music and an appearance by celebrity chef and owner of the Anaheim White House, Chef Bruno Serato. Proceeds from the event support the Friends of the Children’s Library. Over $550,000 has been raised for the library since 2001.
Taste of Laguna
Festival of Arts Grounds
650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach
October 5, 2023
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
The Taste of Laguna Food & Music Festival is pairing delicious food and drinks from some of the top restaurants in Laguna Beach with a lineup of live musical performances. Over 40 restaurants will participate in this annual event. The event will be held at the grounds of The Festival of Arts.
Taste of Lake Forest
Foothill Ranch Towne Centre
26612 Towne Centre Drive, Foothill Ranch
TBA
The annual Taste of Lake Forest event is being held in September during Shop & Dine Lake Forest Month. The event draws over 3,000 people from the community and showcases Lake Forest restaurants with an opportunity for tasters to vote on their favorites. Voters will choose a winner for “Favorite Taste of Lake Forest Restaurant” and “Best New Entry.” There will be a Beer & Wine Garden for tasters to enjoy and tasters will be able to choose from $1 per taste or purchase tickets for multiple tastes at participating restaurants. The event will also feature motorcycle demonstrations, live music, family activities, and raffles.
Taste of Orange
Assistance League Chapter House
124 South Orange Street in Old Town Orange
May 1, 2022 (2023 TBA)
3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The annual Taste of Orange event is hosted by The Orange Blossoms Auxiliary, an auxiliary of Assistance League of Orange. The event features food, beer, and wine tastings from restaurants, breweries, and wineries and includes a silent auction, opportunity drawings, live music, and much more. Proceeds from the event support at-risk teen girls through literacy events and inspirational programming.
Taste of Placentia
Tri City Park
2301 N. Kraemer Blvd.
August 11, 2022 (2023 TBA)
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
The Taste of Placentia includes food, drinks, a business expo, and a live concert in the park with music by The 80z All-Stars. All proceeds from the Taste of Placentia benefit the Placentia Yorba Linda Unified School District. Tickets to Taste of Placentia include unlimited tastes, beer, and wine.
Taste of San Clemente
Casino San Clemente
140 W. Avenida Pico, San Clemente, CA 92672
Friday, November 3, 2023
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
The Taste of San Clemente will include tastings of food, wine, and microbrews. Guests will enjoy live music at this cocktail-party style event with free valet parking, a commemorative beer mug or wine glass, and a silent auction. Additional details to be announced.
Taste of San Juan Capistrano
The Limo Barn at Reata Park
8632 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Thursday, February 2, 2023
6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M
The Taste of San Juan helps launch the kick-off celebration of the Fiesta de las Golondrinas. Twenty-five restaurants and caterers come together under one roof tempting you with the finest offerings they have to deliver. Admission includes tastes from all participants and live music.
Taste of Santa Ana
Main Place Mall
2800 North Main Street, Santa Ana
Saturday, October 15, 2022 (2023 TBA)
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Attendees to the Taste of Santa Ana will enjoy all you can eat food tastings from over 40 notable dining establishments around Orange County and unlimited samples of beer and wine from local craft wineries, distilleries, and breweries. Exhibitors include Flame Broiler, izzy’s cake pops, Morton’s, and more. Enjoy live entertainment by Flashpants, fun and games for kids, a photo booth, and charity raffle. Come out and find a new local favorite at the Taste of Santa Ana. The event will be located in the Main Place Mall parking lot near Broadway.
Taste of the Town – Fullerton
Fullerton Downtown Plaza
Wilshire Avenue, Between Harbor and Pomona
June 4, 2022 (2023 TBA)
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Children 12 and under are free
Food, beverages, and entertainment are included in the ticket price.
The annual Taste of the Town event in Fullerton has been a popular local event since 1979. Proceeds from the event support philanthropic programs selected by the Assistance League of Fullerton, including Foster Youth Success Initiative, Meals on Wheels, Operation New Start, and Santa’s Closet. Attendees will taste food from a variety of restaurants, enjoy live music, raffles, and a silent auction.
Taste of Villa Park
Villa Park Town Center
17767 – 17871 Santiago Blvd., Villa Park, CA
March 18, 2023
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
This event is 21+
The annual Taste of Villa Park is returning for another exciting community event at the Villa Park Shopping Center. Proceeds from the Taste of Villa Park will benefit Villa Park Little League. Come out and enjoy a performance by the Spartan Jazz Band, live music, a full bar, raffles with cash prizes, items available for auction, and unlimited samplings from local restaurants including Brew Hawg, China Panda, Raising Cane’s, Tutto Fresco, and more.
Taste of Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda Community Center
4501 Casa Loma, Yorba Linda
July 29, 2022 (2023 TBA)
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
The Taste of Yorba Linda has been going strong for 30 years. The annual event features wine tastings from wineries all over California, food tastings from Orange County restaurants, and craft beer from local breweries. Casino tables are also available. Proceeds from the raffle and auction at the Taste of Yorba Linda will provide scholarships to graduating local high school seniors. An event with great food for a great cause.
The Taste Costa Mesa
The MET Costa Mesa
535 Anton Blvd, Costa Mesa
TBA – 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
The Taste Costa Mesa event will be hosted at the MET Costa Mesa. The MET is a totally reinvented office campus that features a variety of artisan restaurants, art galleries, entertainment and services, shops, and a food truck runway. The 2-day event will include unlimited tastings of food, beer, wine, and spirits and all stage activities with dozens of local culinary artists putting their food and drinks on display every evening. The event is for ages 21 and over only.
World Taste Anaheim Packing District
Anaheim Packing District
440 South Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim
TBA – 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
The Anaheim Packing District is hosting the World Taste event, an international exploration of food from a variety of dining establishments. Featured vendors serving up gourmet tastes during the event include 18 Folds, 206 BCE, ADYA, Black Sheep, BXCR, Chippy, Crepe Coop, Fanfare, Georgia’s Soul, Healthy Junk, Han’s Homemade, Jav’s BBQ, Kettlebar, The Kroft, Mangal, Mini Monster, Orange Tei, Pali Wine Co, Popbar, Pandor Bakery, Sweetbird, Umami, and URBANA. Each wristband purchased includes 10 tastes from participating vendors. The event is open to all ages and there will be live entertainment to enjoy. Alcohol may be purchased at the event for an additional cost.
Other Foodie Festivals & Events
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
March 3 to April 25, 2023
It’s that time of year when the Happiest Place on Earth transforms in the Tastiest Place on Earth. The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival brings unique, Disney-inspired specialty food and drink to the park. Purchase a Sip and Savor Pass to enjoy the Festival Marketplace to its fullest. In addition, guests will find activities and experiences throughout the park including live entertainment, a Jr. Chef event for kids 3 to 11, craft stations, kitchen tours, demonstrations, seminars and more.
Orange County Restaurant Weeks
Don’t miss these OC restaurant weeks, where local dining establishments offer special culinary experiences.
March 5-11, 2023 – Newport Beach Restaurant Week
TBA, 2023 – Discover Anaheim Hills Restaurant Week
March 5 – 11, 2023– Orange County Restaurant Week
TBA, 2023 – Placentia Restaurant Week
TBA, 2023 – Yorba Linda Restaurant Week
September – Shop & Dine Lake Forest Month
October – Mission Viejo Restaurant Week
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Heidi Deal is the author of the Newcomers Handbook to Living In Los Angeles & Orange County, an expert at exploring all that Orange County has to offer, and a children’s book author specializing in history and human rights.