June Events at the Dunes
The all-around family playground that is the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina is not only the place to go for Movies on the Beach (through Labor Day), peddle boats, paddle boarding, swimming and more, it’s also the site of two of the community’s hottest summertime events. Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning on going to Summer Fest and the Newport Beach Party.
Summer Fest
You’ll find music, games, shopping and more at the OC Weekly Summer Fest, set for June 20 from noon-5 p.m. at the Dunes. As a special celebration of the magazine’s Summer Guide and OC’s music and beach culture, this annual festival will entertain attendees with live music performances by the reggae, punk, pop and ska bands Through the Roots (headliner), True Press, The Originalites, Solution and Undecided Future, and also offer water sports; a vendor village with games and shopping; beach activities; food trucks including Quesadivas, Classic Tacos, Sol Agave, The Buffalo Truck, Scooter’s Italian Ice and Samurai Burrito; and cocktail samples from Milagro Tequila, Sailor Jerry Rum, Reyka Vodka and more. General admission tickets are $15 per person in advance and $25 at the door (free for children 10 and younger with the purchase of an adult ticket). For an extra treat, consider upgrading your ticket to gain access to the beachside Cutlass VIP Cabana ($30 in advance and $40 at the door), featuring exclusive music performances by Micah Brown, DJ Dax, The Outriders and Snakebit Drifters, a beer garden serving free samples and more. In addition, 200 attendees also will get the chance to sample food from the four contestants of the Taco Throwdown Challenge — Dos Chinos, Slapfish, Taco Asylum and Wild Taco — with their Hungry VIP tickets ($40 in advance and $50 at the door). A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Ben Carlson Foundation, honoring the Newport Beach lifeguard who lost his life while saving a swimmer during last year’s Fourth of July weekend. More information at www.ocweekly.com/summerfest/2015
Newport Beach Party
From June 26-28, the Dunes will be the site of the inaugural Newport “Beach Party” — A Celebration of Community. It all kicks off Friday night at 6 p.m. with the Invitational Wine Competition & Tasting, featuring more than 100 award-winning vintages from the area’s top wineries, gourmet food samples from popular area restaurants, and entertainment by L.A.-based trumpet player and jazz singer Ilya Serov. Tickets are $95 per person and include a commemorative wine glass and unlimited pours. A limited number of VIP tickets also are available for $195 and include early admission, exclusive seating and parking, and additional premium tasting opportunities. The festivities continue on Saturday at noon with the BBQ Competition (sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society), with 30 professional barbecue teams from across the country competing for $7,500 in cash prizes; Orange County Beer Competition and Tasting featuring local brewers; and local bands competing on dueling stages in the OC Band Competition presented by KX93.5. Then, Sunday at noon, expect a tasting of international fare from local restaurants and food trucks; Special Olympics Torch Run and Lighting Ceremony; and Host Town Awards, with celebrity co-chairs Terry Donahue and John Robinson hosting a UCLA and USC Fundraising Challenge for Special Olympics, as well as more craft beer and wine tasting, and plenty of local music. But that’s not all! There also will be a Family Fun Village with bounce houses, a train, arts and crafts, adventure gear demonstrations and live entertainment. Proceeds from the event will benefit community charities including Rotary International, Doc in a Box, Orangewood PALS, AYUDA International and Host Town Newport Beach Special Olympics LA2015. More information at www.NewportBeachParty.com
