Immersed in Fun

In this final summer of the hectic 20th century, Orange County offers a number of fun ways to get out with fairs, festivals and special events.

On June 4, Olympic skaters Elvis Stojko and Oksana Baiul will appear with Champions on Ice at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim. And the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival, May 28-31, features as its grand marshal none other than comedian Pauly Shore. Of course, there are the usual local favorites from the La Habra Corn Festival and the Lions Club Fish Fry to Laguna Beach’s Pageant of the Masters.

So if you’re looking to add some spice to the last long, hot days before the millennium, the following list can help you to choose. In short, Orange County offers a world of entertainment in summer 1999.

Saturday: International Speedway Racing, Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. Continues every Saturday, through Oct. 2, except May 29, July 3 and Sept. 4. (949) 492-9933.

May 28-31: 41st Annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival, Village Green, 12862 Euclid St., Garden Grove. Family festival featuring rides, entertainment and food. (714) 638-0981.

June 4: Champions on Ice, Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, 2695 Katella Ave. (714) 740-2000.

June 4-6: Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club Fish Fry, practice field at Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. Blues singer Chris Whynaught headlines on Friday. (714) 593-7200.

June 4-Sept. 24: Summer Jazz Series at the Hyatt Newporter, 1107 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach. Every Friday with Sunday shows July 4 and Aug. 1. (949) 729-1234.

June 10: Art Walk Orange, Schroeder Studio Gallery, 112 E. Maple St., Orange. Art festival featuring seminars and exhibits. Also July 8, Aug. 12 and Sept. 9. (714) 633-0653.

June 25-27: Taste of Orange County, Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro. 11th annual food and music festival. (949) 753-1551.

June 26: Music Under the Stars Concert Series, Mission San Juan Capistrano, 31522 Camino Capistrano. Also July 17 and 31, Aug. 14 and 28, Sept. 5, 11 and 25. (949) 248-2048.

June 27: Capistrano Valley Riviera Pops Series, Mission San Juan Capistrano. Also July 18, Aug. 29 and Sept. 26. (949) 240-8584.

June 27-July 10: Summer SongFest, UCI Concert Hall, West Peltason Drive and Mesa Road, Irvine. (949) 824-1974.

July 1-Aug. 29: Art-A-Fair, 777 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. (949) 494-4514.

July 1-Aug. 29: Sawdust Festival, 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. (949) 494-3030.

July 4-Aug. 29: Festival of the Arts and Pageant of the Masters, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. (949) 464-4282.

July 4: 95th Annual Independence Day Parade, starts at City Hall, 2000 Main St., Huntington Beach. (714) 536-5496.

July 4: This Ain’t No Picnic, Oak Canyon Ranch, 5305 Santiago Canyon Road, Irvine. Music festival featuring Sonic Youth and Sunny Day Real Estate. (714) 740-2000.

July 4: Pacific Symphony Summer Concert Series, Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, 8800 Irvine Center Drive. Also July 24, Aug. 7 and 28, Sept. 18. (714) 755-5799.

July 6: AIDS Walk Orange County, Mesa Field, UCI, Campus and University drives. 10K walk to fund AIDS research. (949) 955-1400.

July 9-25: 107th Annual Orange County Fair, Orange County Fairgrounds. (714) 708-3247.

July 23-26: Harvest Crusade, Edison International Field of Anaheim, 2000 E. Gene Autry Way, Anaheim. Christian rock concert featuring Crystal Lewis and others. (909) 687-6902.

July 24-25: Surf City Festival, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach. Event featuring a car show, a juried art show and music by Jan & Dean and others. (714) 536-8888.

July 25: Nickelodeon’s All That Music & More Festival, Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre. Kids music festival featuring 98 Degrees, Monica, B*Witched and others. (714) 740-2000.

Aug. 6-8: La Habra Corn Festival, El Centro Park, Cypress Street between La Habra and Whittier boulevards. Carnival featuring rides, games, fresh corn. (562) 697-1704.

Sept. 3-5: Orange International Street Fair, Old Towne Plaza, Chapman Avenue and Glassell Street. (714) 532-6260.