Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Arts and Culture

The 6th Annual Santa Ana Plaza Navideña event and Tree Lighting Ceremony is set for Nov. 17

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City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Advisory: KICK OFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON AT THE CITY OF SANTA ANA’S 6TH ANNUAL PLAZA NAVIDEÑA EVENT AND TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

SANTA ANA – The City of Santa Ana will be hosting the 6th Annual Plaza Navideña event and Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, November 17, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Plaza Calle Cuatro on the corner of Fourth and French Street in Downtown Santa Ana.

This free event is open to the public and will include the annual tree lighting ceremony, live entertainment including mariachi and folklorico dancing, piñatas for children, and, of course, a special visit from Santa Claus! Along with the festivities, tasty treats will be available for purchase. Continue reading→

Meet the author of Love Beyond Life, Elizabeth Baralt, at the Santa Ana Library on Nov. 3

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City of Santa Ana

Community: “LOVE BEYOND LIFE” (AMAR MAS ALLA DE LA VIDA) BY ELIZABETH BARALT AT THE SANTA ANA PUBLIC LIBRARY THIS SATURDAY

SANTA ANA, CA – The Santa Ana Public Library is pleased to present Elizabeth Baralt, renowned speaker, motivator and author of the book “Love Beyond Life”, which subtitle speaks for itself: “letter to my son, who died to teach me how to live“. Her book is a personal testimony that gives readers a path of relief and hope when facing and overcoming the loss of loved ones. Far from being a sad and melancholy book, “Love Beyond Life” has been considered a hymn to life, with relevant testimonials and references that help answer vital questions about death.

Thanks to the success her book has obtained at Amazon, Elizabeth now has hundreds of readers. The impact of her book motivated Elizabeth to design an experiential workshop where she shares practical tools to overcome the emotional pain of loss and continue life with enthusiasm. She will present her book and will share her experiences on Saturday, November 3, 2018, in Meeting Room A from 1 pm to 2:30 pm at the Santa Ana public library. Continue reading→

The 2018 Santa Ana Fiestas Patrias is set for Sep. 15 and 16

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40th Annual Fiestas Patrias Festival and Parade this Weekend

The City of Santa Ana’s 40th annual Fiestas Patrias Festival will take place on Saturday, September 15 and Sunday, September 16, 2018. The festivities begin at 12:00 p.m. each day on Flower Street between Santa Ana Blvd. and Civic Center Dr. This annual tradition celebrates Santa Ana’s vibrant Mexican culture with A-list performers each night, delicious food, affordable shopping, interactive activities, and exciting carnival rides for children of all ages. The Festival will also include a beer garden open for adults only to enjoy cold, refreshing beverages as well as VIP ticket areas.  Continue reading→

Night of the Demons film to play at the Frida Cinema on August 30

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Bonus Night Presentation of NIGHT OF THE DEMONS W/ Director Announced at Horrible Imaginings

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Aug. 15, 2018 – Horrible Imaginings Film Festival will add a special bonus night to their already-packed festival lineup on Labor Day Weekend. Director Kevin Tenney will make a guest appearance at The Frida Cinema on Thursday, August 30th at 8:00 PM for a special 30th Anniversary presentation of his cult classic film NIGHT OF THE DEMONS. Entrance will be included for all Horrible Imaginings passholders.

Night of the Demons (U.S.) — Ten teenagers decide to hold a party in an abandoned funeral parlor on Halloween night. Not a good plan — as every horror fan instinctively knows. But if you insist on this venue, you really shouldn’t hold a past life séance as one of your party games. The teens awaken an evil force that keeps them from leaving and turns their party into… you guessed it… a living hell! Continue reading→

El Salvador Park is hosting free Summer Night Lights activities for youth and families through August 10

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City of Santa Ana

Community: Summer Night Lights Now Open Evenings for Youth & Families /El Programa Summer Night Lights Para Jóvenes y Familias

SANTA ANA – The City of Santa Ana in partnership with Neutral Ground welcomes community members to participate in the Summer Night Lights program. The Summer Night Lights Program is a pilot program designed to provide recreational activities for youth and families during the summer season at El Salvador Park.

The program keeps the community center’s recreational outdoor space at El Salvador Park open and programmed with activities on an extended schedule from 7:00 pm-10 pm each Thursday and Friday beginning July 12th through August 10th, 2018. Continue reading→

The MainPlace Mall is now highlighting local artists

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MAINPLACE MALL INTRODUCES “ART AT MAINPLACE” SHOWCASING LOCAL ARTISTS

Series Features Vibrant Murals Throughout the Mall and a Monthly Art Walk Event

SANTA ANA, California – MainPlace Mall, Santa Ana’s premiere shopping destination, is proud to introduce its “Art at MainPlace” series, showcasing the work of local artists throughout the mall. Guests will see colorful and imaginative art on exhibit around the property, each reflecting the unique style and individuality of the artists who designed them. “Art at MainPlace” is at the heart of the mall’s ongoing initiative to support the work of Santa Ana’s flourishing artist community.

To provide an opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy the beautiful art pieces, MainPlace will host an “Art Walk” throughout the shopping center from 2-5 pm on the second Saturday of each month, May through September. The MainPlace “Art Walk” will be a family-friendly event where guests will be able to interact with the local artists, enjoy live music, as well as participate in hands-on workshops hosted by local artists that are perfect for all ages! Continue reading→

The City of Santa Ana invites artists to free grant writing workshops on Saturday, April 14

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City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: The City of Santa Ana Invites Artists to Free Grant Writing Workshops

The City of Santa Ana’s Arts and Culture Commission in collaboration with the Fine and Performing Arts Division of Santa Ana College is proud to present “Free Grant Writing Workshops for Artists” on Saturday, April 14, 2018 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Santa Ana College.

Join us for a one-day workshop to improve your skills and learn what it takes to write a successful grant proposal from start to finish! You can attend one or both sessions. Workshops are free and open to the public. Continue reading→

City of Santa Ana allocates $70, 000 in grant opportunities to artists and art organizations

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City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: City of Santa Ana allocates $70,000 in grant opportunities to artists and art organizations – Apply by May 3, 2018

For over 200 years, Santa Ana has had a rich art and cultural presence in our region. Our city has always been a place of intersections, where cultural diversity dwells amidst historic beauty. For the funding cycle of 2018-2019, the City of Santa Ana has allocated $70,000 and invites artists and art organizations/cooperatives to dive into our local history, showcase our diverse residents, highlight our architecture, and explore our natural beauty to celebrate the local community in a variety of mediums: Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Writing, Poetry, Music, Dance, Fashion, and Culinary.

The Santa Ana Arts and Culture Commission supports projects that will enrich and invigorate the City of Santa Ana’s arts and culture landscape, improve the quality of life for its residents, and stimulate its economic development. Individual artists and ar ts & culture cooperatives and 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply. Continue reading→

Free Art & Literary Festival set for this Saturday in DTSA

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Second Annual “Boca de Oro” Orange County Art & Literary Festival in Downtown Santa Ana this Saturday, March 3rd

On Saturday, March 3rd, artists, writers and poets will meet in Downtown Santa Ana for the Second Annual “Boca de Oro” OC Art & Literary Festival, and offer an enticing mix of keynote presentations, literary readings, poetry slams, panel discussion, author workshops, book signings, music, performances, and visual art experiences. Continue reading→

The OC School of the Arts was locked down today due to a nearby fatal shooting

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An unidentified man was shot multiple times in the chest this morning, Feb. 23,  in an alley at 15th Street, which compelled officials at Orange County School of the Arts, a few blocks away, to lock down their school until 12:30 p.m., according to the O.C. Register.

The victim was shot when he was between Broadway and Durant Street and then he ran to 15th and Broadway, where he collapsed, according to the SAPD. Continue reading→

Drag Queens storytime and LGBTQ+ Youth Fair set for 2/24 at the Santa Ana Library

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City of Santa Ana

Community: Santa Ana Library and Frida Cinema will host Forest of the Enchanted Drag Queens: Storytime and LGBTQ+ Youth Fair

Celebrating diversity, the Santa Ana Public Library and Santa Ana’s premier art house theater, Frida Cinema, are proud to present Forest of the Enchanted Drag Queens: All Ages Storytime and LGBTQ+ Youth Resource Fair. This special event is funded through a Library Services and Technology grant from the California State Library, the “Youth Know Social Innovation Project”. The event is FREE and will take place on Saturday, February 24, 2018 from 12:00pm-1:30pm at the Santa Ana Public Library. Continue reading→

Author Sarah R. Garcia will talk about her new book on March 1 at the Santa Ana Library

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City of Santa Ana

Community: The Santa Ana Public Library will host Author Sarah R. Garcia to share her book, SanTana’s Fairy Tales

In honor of International Women’s Month, the Santa Ana Public Library is proud to present local author Sarah Rafael Garcia and her book SanTana’s Fairy Tales on Thursday, March 1, 2018 from 6:00pm to 7:30 pm. Garcia will share an art-talk about her childhood hometown, Santa Ana, as an inspiration for these modern-day fairy tales.

There will be musical accompaniment by artist Ruby Castellanos. After the talk and readings from the book, there will be a Q&A with the author and a book signing. Sarah Rafael Garcia is a writer, editor, community educator and traveler. Since publishing her first book Las Niñas in 2008, she founded Barrio Writers and Libromobile. Continue reading→

Lunar New Year Celebration at the MainPlace Mall this Sunday” is locked Lunar New Year Celebration at the MainPlace Mall set for this Saturday

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CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE DOG AT MAINPLACE MALL’S LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL

Community Invited to Enjoy Free Festivities & Live Entertainment on February 3!

SANTA ANA, California (January 26, 2018) – It’s the year of the dog, and MainPlace Mall is celebrating with a HUGE Lunar New Year Festival on Saturday, February 3 from noon to 3pm! A free event and fun for the whole family, the entire community is invited to join in the festivities including nonstop cultural entertainment, live performances, activities for the kids, giveaways, and tons of photo opportunities with MainPlace’s stunning Lunar New Year décor as the backdrop! Beginning at noon, the first 500 attendees will receive a $2 bill placed in a traditional red envelope, symbolizing good luck, with the first of ten live performances to commence at 12:30 pm. Visit MainPlace Mall’s website for complete Lunar New Year Festival details. Continue reading→

Free industrial arts event set for Feb. 9 at the Heritage Museum of O.C.

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City of Santa Ana

Community: Santa Ana Industrial Arts Roundtable: February 9th, 4-8pm at the Heritage Museum of Orange County

SANTA ANA – From blacksmiths to brew masters, car designers, sculptors, architects and even a Steampunk artist, Santa Ana’s industrial artists and craftsmen are gathering on the evening of February 9th, 4-8 pm for a Santa Ana Industrial Arts Roundtable at the Heritage Museum of Orange County showing that Santa Ana is still a hub where Orange County designs and builds things.

“Santa Ana industrial artists are designing the boxes shipped to you every day of the week, the design of the cars you drive, the lighting systems that you use and the technology you buy,” said event initiator Madeleine Spencer, Executive Director of Santa Ana Business Council, “It’s time to recognize the amazing craftsmen who are still designing and making things right here at home.” The Santa Ana Industrial Arts Roundtable will feature some fiery blacksmith demonstrations by the OC Blacksmith Guild, OC Brewers Guild tastings from Santa Ana craft breweries, with presentations and exhibits spanning fashion, film, photography and automotive design. Continue reading→

Santa Ana reads Frankenstein launch set for Jan. 17

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MAKARA CENTER FOR THE ARTS PRESENTS FRANKENREAD 2018:
SANTA ANA READS FRANKENSTEIN

Year-Long Reading Initiative Kicks Off on Wednesday, January 17
at the Santa Ana Senior Center in Celebration of the Book’s 200th Anniversary

Santa Ana, CA – Makara Center for the Arts, the nonprofit library and art center, is launching FrankenRead 2018: Santa Ana Reads Frankenstein, a reading initiative to coincide with the 200th Anniversary of Mary Shelley’s classic novel. The citywide celebration begins on Wednesday, January 17 at the Santa Ana Senior Center, featuring a presentation by poet Luivette Resto, refreshments, art activities, and free Frankenstein book giveaways. Continue reading→