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Best Of OC - Week Of November 2

610 header - 1_2495kurios_quebec-0296_MediumResolution
(Credit: Martin Girard shootstudio.ca)

Welcome to November, Orange County. As you eat up the last remnants of your Halloween candy, thoughts turn towards Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner. But before you get ahead of yourself, there is plenty to do this week to keep you in the here and now. From theme park related fun to circuses of many kinds to must-see cultural exhibits and celebrity presentations, let's explore the week in Orange County.

Monday, November 2
Military-Days-Social-Media
(Credit: Knotts)

Military Days
Knott's Berry Farm
8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park, CA 90620
(714) 220-5200
www.knotts.com

To kick off their annual celebration of the brave men and women who have served in the U.S. military, November welcomes back "Military Days" at Buena Park's Knott's Berry Farm, their 26th year for this event that celebrates Veteran's Day. Active and retired military personnel (along with one guest) can score complimentary tickets, as well as discounted tickets for friends and family, from now through December 20th. Special rates are also being offered at the Knott's Berry Farm Hotel.

Tuesday, November 3
vietnamese focus
(Credit: Vietnamese Focus Oral History Project)

"Vietnamese Focus: Generations of Stories"
Old Orange County Courthouse
3rd Floor Exhibit Gallery
211 West Santa Ana Blvd.
Santa Ana, CA 92706
www.uci.edu

With the largest community of Vietnamese outside of Vietnam, Orange County boasts a unique microcosm of Vietnamese Americans. To explore the history of many in the community, including their pre-war experiences, mid-war survival, displacement, and resettlement, visit the Old Orange County Courthouse for the interactive art and history exhibit: "Vietnamese Focus: Generations of Stories." Presented by OC Parks, the UC Irvine Vietnamese American Oral History Project (VAOHP), co-curated by Linda Trinh Vo and Tram Le, and featuring original artwork by Trinh Mai, the exhibit showcases a snapshot of the history of and contribution of Vietnamese Americans to their community.

Wednesday, November 4
Cirque du Souleil: KURIOS
(Credit: Martin Girard shootstudio.ca)

Cirque du Soleil: KURIOS
OC Fair & Event Center
88 Fair Dr.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 708-1500
www.cirquedusoleil.com

Larger-than-life imagination abounds at Kurios, a Cirque du Souleil spectacular presented at the OC Fair and Event Center this month. Following a Seeker's exploration into an unseen world that lies just below the surface of our existence, Kurios combines an impressive array of visual and artistic wonders to the delight and wonder of audience-members across America. The tour boasts stunning costumes and makeup, on over 100 cast members; more than 426 props; impressive feats of strength, skill, and endurance; and artistic majesty.

Thursday, November 5
Ina Garten
(Credit: Ina Garten

Ina Garten At The Segerstrom
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
600 Town Center Dr.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 556-2787
www.scfta.org

Ina Garten, the Emmy Award-winning host of the Barefoot Contessa television show on Food Network and The New York Times best-selling author, comes to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts for one night only. Garten will bring her natural approach to food, entertaining tips, stories, and maybe even some recipes while she delivers a charming insider's view of the hit TV show, now in its 11th season, and the pleasures of good food, cooked with love and passion, engaging the audience with an interactive Q&A. Autographs will be available.

Friday, November 6
cheri Downtown Fullerton Art Walk
(Credit: Cheri Pedemonte/ Lucero Photography)

Downtown Fullerton Art Walk
Downtown Fullerton
305 N Harbor Blvd.
Fullerton, CA 92832
www.fullertonartwalk.com

Downtown Fullerton's successful First Fridays Downtown Art Walk invites art lovers, patrons, and the community to explore the arts tonight in Fullerton. Tonight's special events include an exhibition of incarcerated artist Brandon Hein; a stunning array of abstract-impressionist oil works by Cheri Pedemonte (pictured); and the launch of award-winning journalist Gabriel San Roman's "Calendar of Revolt," a daily calendar that focuses on the emancipation of struggling workers, women, people of color, and the LGBT community, as shown through the artwork of Carla Zarate Suarez. Food trucks and live entertainment will also be featured throughout the event.

Saturday, November 7
Athlete - Action Nitro Circus Live Honda Center
(Credit: Nitro Circus/ESPN)

Nitro Circus Live
Honda Center
2695 E Katella Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92806
(714) 704-2400
www.nitrocircus.com

Nitro Circus Live, the unique blend of freestyle motocross (FMX), BMX, and X Games athletes hit the Honda Center this weekend for an action-packed, adrenaline-pumping, extreme take on the greatest show on earth. The current tour utilizes a retro 1920s style three-ring circus set that provides a fantastic backdrop for the Nitro Crew, made popular through the MTV television show of the same name, to perform their high-flying antics on bikes, trikes, a lazy boy recliner, and a new jet-powered Nitro slingshot.

Sunday, November 8
tree lighting  Fashion Island holiday
(Credit: Fashion Island)

Holiday Tree Lighting
Fashion Island
401 Newport Center Dr.
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(855) 658-8527
www.shopfashionisland.com

It's never too early to get into the spirit of Christmas and holiday season, right? Get it started off early this year as you head Fashion Islands' annual Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony this weekend (offered on both Saturday and Sunday). Mickey Mouse and his pals will again join in the fun, this year bringing a touch of dazzle to the "Disney Holiday Magic" live show with snowfall, encouraging families to head to the resort's Diamond celebration event celebrating the park's anniversary. The complimentary festivities will be held in the Neiman Marcus-Bloomingdale's Courtyard at 5:30 p.m. on both evenings. FIG & OLIVE will help guests celebrate by offering complimentary items, including the offer of a free kid's meal, to patrons throughout the event.

Katie Bodell is the Blog Editor for Trekaroo, the largest family travel website in the U.S. She is also a freelance writer, a happy wife to her best friend, and a mom to three sweet California girls. See more on: Trekaroo | CheapOair | Google+ | Twitter.
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