Sweet Orange

Movie on the Lawn–free admission, $8 parking-located at the Preview Park

“The Dark Knight“–October 10, 2009–8:00 PM

Balloon Rides–free admission-located at the Preview Park

“The Great Park Balloon is the Orange County Great Park’s first major attraction. With the ability to hold up to 25 to 30 visitors and soar up to 500 feet above the surrounding landscape, passengers can watch the Great Park’s development unfold as construction activity increases.”

The free flights are available year round, weather and wind permitting. Call ahead (866) 829-3829 (toll-free), or send an email to info@greatparkballoon.org.

Great Park Pumpkin Harvest (and Food Drive)–free admission, $8 parking–located at the Preview Park

October 24, 2009–1 PM to 5 PM

“Enjoy an afternoon of fall activities, including pumpkin picking* and decorating, games, kids crafts and activities, a costume parade, Halloween treats, a petting zoo, and more!”

*One pumpkin per child, while supplies last.

Fall Gardening Workshops—free admission and parking–located at the Great Park Farm and Food Lab

“In 2009, the Park opened its Farm and Food Lab, the beginning of a larger agricultural program planned for the Great Park. The Garden Workshop Series is part of a pilot program designed to introduce community members to the Farm and Food Lab, where they can learn about sustainable home gardening practices for a healthy lifestyle.”

• The Busy Gardener–October 10, 2009–10:00 AM to Noon–October 10, 2009-10:00 AM to Noon
• Spice Up Your Life - Grow Your Own Herbs–November 14, 2009–10:00 AM to Noon
• Holiday Crafts from the Garden–November 21, 2009–10:00 AM to Noon

Over 100 tons of fruits and vegetables grown at the Orange County Great Park Community Farm and neighboring farms have been donated to the Orange County Food Bank. If you have a garden, you might do the same. You can make sure nothing from your garden is wasted by donating any extra fruits and vegetables to a food bank, such as the Second Harvest Food Bank, which is located at the Great Park, or the Orange County Food Bank.

Natural History Lecture series–free admission and parking–located at Second Harvest

“The Orange County Great Park presents the Natural History Lecture series, a series of evening events offering new insights into our natural and dynamic Southern Californian environment.”

• Native California Bees Looking for New Real Estate–October 8, 2009–7 PM
• 21st Century Megafires in Southern California: Adapting to Fires in Paradise–October 22, 2009–7:00 PM

Also, tickets for Cirque du Soleil’s January 2009 performances at the Great Park are currently on sale.

PHOTOS AND QUOTES COURTESY THE ORANGE COUTNY GREAT PARK WEBSITE

On July 17 at 6:30 pm, the  Great Park Conservancy is presenting the fourth annual Jewel of Orange County fundraiser, which will include a hosted reception with cocktails, wines and hors d’oeuvres followed by a mesquite grilled dinner. Both will be held in Hangar 244, which is a former El Toro Marine base hangar that has been converted for use during Great Park events.. After dinner, the event moves outside for a concert and dancing. In addition, a silent jewelery auction will be part of the event.

The Great Park Conservancy is a non-profit organization with the goal of supporting the development of the Orange County Great Park as a world-class metropolitan park. Some Great Park project that the Conservancy is currently supporting are the Conservancy Nature Education Garden, Aviation and Heritage Museum, wildlife corridor, Great Park Farm and Food Lab, Great Park Citrus Orchard.

Tickets for this fund raising event are $250 each. Sponsorships and underwriting options are also available.

If the Conservancy event is not in your budget, here are some upcoming free Great Park events that should do the trick for you:

July 11–Growing the Park, Great Park anniversary events. Here is the description from the city of Irvine’s website:

To celebrate the fourth anniversary of the Orange County Great Park, bring your friends and family to Growing the Park, a sprawling festival divided into three activity areas — each representing a different aspect of the park’s past, present and future. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, activities will include a wingwalker show, petting zoo, live music, kite flying, vintage aircraft, food, hands-on activities, and appearances by the LA Galaxy Street Team and the Anaheim Ducks Street Team.

August-September 2009–the second annual free summer concert and dance series. The schedule for these events is now available. The events are free, but parking is $8. For more on these events, see my previous post “At the Orange County Great Park: Cirque du Soleil, Free Summer Concerts and Dances, Free Balloon Rides.”

Ongoing–day and evening rides in the Great Park balloon. Rides on this tethered balloon are dependent on wind and weather conditions, so call the Visitor Center at (866) 829-3829 (toll-free), or check the Great Park website before you go.

In addition, to these free summer events, ticket for the Cirque du Soleil’s January 2010 performances at the Great Park are now on sale.

GRAPHICS COURTESY THE GREAT PARK CONSERVANCY AND THE ORANGE COUNTY GREAT PARK

Related post: At the Orange County Great Park: Cirque du Soleil, Free Summer Concert Series, Free Balloon Rides