JUNE 11
Wonderful World of Color
Five years in the making, and surpassing all previous water productions, World of Color opens at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim. The attraction brings Disney animation to life using hundreds of powerful fountains that form the world’s largest projected water screen, LED-produced colors and a kaleidoscope of audio and visual effects including lasers, fire, fog and surround-sound. Technical wizardry combines with animated film sequences for an emotional experience as jaw-dropping effects sweep across the lagoon and into the night sky.

JUNE 16
STING The Grammy Award-winning musician performs favorites from his solo career and his top hits with the Police at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. He’s backed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

JUNE 25–27
BARRETT-JACKSON AUTO AUCTION Car enthusiasts bid on 400 collectibles at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. The agenda at the prestigious event includes interactive demonstrations and a gala.

JULY 7–AUG. 31
PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS “Eat, Drink and Be Merry” is the theme at the famed annual living-pictures show, which re-creates works of art using very still models. Presented with narration and a live orchestra, the tableaux capture the exhilaration of a good time using works from 17th-century Europe to the Jazz Age.

JULY 13
MLB ALL-STAR GAME Major League Baseball fan faves team up and face off when the Halos, a.k.a. the Angels, host the 81st annual All-Star Game at Angel Stadium, and three days of festivities beforehand. Last year, a record 23 million votes determined the lineup.

JULY 16–AUG. 15
O.C. FAIR The 120th anniversary edition features a carnival, daily concerts and livestock competitions at the fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. A special exhibit showcases a decade-by-decade look at the event, one of Orange County’s beloved traditions.

JULY 17
CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE Aerial flyers, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers and strongmen, including world-record holders and gold medalists, join the Pacific Symphony Orchestra and conductor Maxim Eshkenazy at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.

JULY 31–AUG. 8
HURLEY U.S. OPEN OF SURFING The world’s best surfers compete at this historic annual event at Huntington Beach Pier, which usually draws more than 500,000 spectators. The
adjacent 12-acre festival features live music, fashion and youth culture activities.

AUG. 3–15
IN THE HEIGHTS The Tony Award–winning musical, at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, is about a vibrant community in Manhattan’s Washington Heights, and what it means to call a place home.