Memorial Day is a federal holiday dedicated to remembering the men and women who died during their service in the United States Armed Forces. The holiday was formerly known as Decoration Day and started after the Civil War to commemorate Union and Confederate soldiers.
While Memorial Day’s origins are somber, the long weekend has also come to represent something joyous – the unofficial beginning of summer. Many people use the three-day weekend to enjoy the warm weather at the beach, barbecues in the park or watching fireworks. While all three of those activities are well worth it during the holiday weekend, there are some great events this Memorial Day Weekend in Costa Mesa that doesn’t require charcoal.
The Costa Mesa Historical Society, along with Harbor Lawn Mt. Olive Memorial Park, hosts the 60thAnnual Memorial Day Services on Monday, May 26 from 11 am until 2 pm. The service will include men and women who served in the armed forces and will honor the memory of those who died during their time in the service.
Experience the culture of Scotland at the OC Fair & Event Center on May 24-25 during the annual Scottish Fest celebration. This annual festival of Celtic entertainment and food features traditional Highland dancing, Scottish piping and drumming, whisky tasting and several Scottish athletic events like the Caber Toss and Hammer Throw. With a jovial atmosphere, activities for kids and entertainment for all ages, the Scots Fest is sure to be a great time. Take a stroll down the Clan Mile and see if you can trace your family heritage back to one of the many Scottish Clans. Camping rates for RVs are also available.
The Broadway sensation, The Book of Mormon continues its run at Segerstrom Center for the Arts with performances until Sunday, May 25. This sidesplitting comedy has been hailed as one of the funniest musicals of all time. While many of the descriptions for the show may sound like hyperbole, it will certainly have you laughing from the opening monologue to the closing curtain.
The Theatre for Young Audiences season at South Coast Repertory concludes with performances of The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. If you are in Costa Mesa, and have young children, this performance is the perfect way to introduce youngsters to live theater. In this comical performance, familiar fairy tales take their stories to places they’ve never been before! The play has been adapted from the book of the same name. Performances begin tonight, with shows until June 8, 2014. Visit the South Coast Repertory website for tickets and more information.
The opening reception of Cat Cult at As Issued at the LAB in Costa Mesa will be on Saturday, May 24 from 7-10pm. The reception is free and open to the public with refreshments. The exhibit will be up at As Issued until June 24th. Cat Cult explores the fascination various societies have had with cats – From ancient Egyptian worship to the current cat obsession on the internet. Learn more about Cat Cult by visiting the As Issued website.
Spending the afternoon in the park with friends and family is always a great way to spend Memorial Day. If your idea of an ideal holiday is relaxing and grilling in the park, TeWinkle, Estancia, Mesa Verde and Vista Park all have BBQs. This list shows other Costa Mesa parks that have grills set up for public use.
