Around Town: Darker Waves festival returns to Huntington Beach on Saturday
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The Darker Waves Music Festival, celebrating alternative, new wave and post-punk music, returns to the sand in Huntington Beach on Saturday.
The one-day oceanfront festival at Huntington City Beach features 35-plus artists over three stages. Morrissey and The Smashing Pumpkins are the headlining acts.
For the full lineup, event information and tickets, visit the Darker Waves website. Tickets start at $259.99 for general admission.
The festival adds to Huntington Beach’s growing calendar of major live music events, with Coastal Country Jam also recently announcing its lineup for May 2027.
Celebration for Latina trailblazers O.C. Judge Frances Muñoz, Dolores Huerta
A commemoration of the life, work and legacy of a Corona del Mar resident who, in 1978, was appointed the first Latina trial court judge in the United States, takes place in Santa Ana Sunday, from 4 to 6 p.m.
The 4th annual Judge Frances Muñoz Poderosa Celebration for Latina Leadership honors its namesake, who served on the bench for 23 years before retiring in 2001 but continued to assist immigrant residents and families from a tiny office at Costa Mesa’s St. Joachim Catholic Church before passing in 2022 at 92.
This year’s event includes a production of the 40-minute live stage play, “Si Se Puede!” performed by actors from Los Angeles’ Center Theatre Group as a special tribute to immigrant rights activist Dolores Huerta, who died Oct. 28.
Camilo Romero, co-founder of the peace-building initiative Regeneración Colombia organizes the yearly tributes. In 2020, Romero participated in the creation of a mural on Costa Mesa’s Baker Street featuring “poderosas,” or powerful women, including both Muñoz and Huerta, whom he knew personally. Muñoz was in attendance for the unveiling.
“The power we’re talking about can be a gentle, elegant and thoughtful power, which is certainly Frances,” Romero said, recounting how Muñoz attended segregated schools and put herself through community college, then UCLA, then law school. “Hers is a quiet, sweet power for justice.”
Held in the offices of Latino Health Access, 450 W. 4th St., in Santa Ana, the event is free, bilingual and open to all ages. Registration is encouraged; email camilo.romero@nyu.edu.
Fairgrounds’ Heroes Hall celebrates Veterans Day, new exhibit
A celebration of all who served takes place Saturday in Costa Mesa, as the Heroes Hall museum and education center presents a Veterans Day event from noon to 3 p.m. with an aircraft flyover, live music and a peek at a new exhibit recognizing animals who served in American wars.
Opening Saturday, “Courageous Companions” honors unsung animal heroes whose loyalty, instinct and bravery have saved countless lives on the battlefield, from the cavalry horses of the Civil War to messenger pigeons used during World War I to the bomb-detection dogs of today.
Participants Saturday may enjoy free hot dogs and potato chips, provided by the Orange County Employee Assn., along with food for purchase, family-friendly activities and an inflatable obstacle course. Local organizations will connect people with information, resources and support for veterans.
Heroes Hall is located at the Orange County fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. For more, visit ocfair.com/heroes-hall.
Costa Mesa memorial bike ride for road traffic victims
The Costa Mesa Alliance for Better Streets (CMABS) invites locals to participate Sunday in a special bike ride with stops to showcase recent road safety improvements and allow riders to reflect on lives lost in collisions involving bicyclists.
Sunday’s ride begins at 2 p.m. outside Costa Mesa City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, with brief remarks and a moment of silence. Riders will travel a 6-7-mile route through the city with stops highlighting this year’s theme, “Invest in Safety, Not Speed” ahead of a 4 p.m. public reception at Fairview Community Church, 2525 Fairview Road.
The Costa Mesa ride is timed to coincide with World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, observed each third Sunday in November. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. For info and to RSVP, visit cmabs.org/events.
South Coast Plaza tree lighting ceremony
Locals looking to kickstart the holiday season need look no further than South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, which hosts its annual tree lighting ceremony Thursday evening, at 7 p.m. in Town Center Park, in front of the Westin South Coast Plaza.
The 44th annual event will feature performances by members of Pacific Symphony, Pacific Chorale, South Coast Repertory, American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Orange County School of the Arts and Arts & Learning Conservatory.
Santa Claus and special guests will join the celebration ahead of the lighting. Admission is free and open to the public. Details on the center’s holiday activities may be found at southcoastplaza.com/holiday.
‘Light up Lido’ event planned
Via Lido Plaza in Newport Beach will hold its annual tree-lighting ceremony “Light up Lido” on Wednesday, Dec. 2 from 5 to 7pm.
The evening will include a special appearance by Santa Claus as the 30-foot-tall coastal redwood pine and the entrance to Lido House are illuminated at 6:30 p.m. by Via Lido Plaza owner Fritz Duda and Newport Beach Mayor Lauren Kleiman. Newport Harbor High singers will perform carols and visitors can enjoy a showing of “White Christmas” at the Lido Theater.
Plaza officials will set up a collection box for new, unwrapped toys that can be distributed to children of active and reserve military via the Newport Beach Fire Department’s Operation Christmas efforts. Toy donations will also be accepted from Nov. 16 through Dec. 16 during normal business hours at Fritz Duda Company, in suite 250 at Via Lido Plaza.
— Daily Pilot Staff
