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Costa Mesa

Events and things to do in Costa Mesa, CA, offer a dynamic mix of arts, culture, and entertainment. Known as the "City of the Arts," this Orange County hub balances major cultural performances with a lively, independent spirit. The local rhythm flows from relaxed daytime gallery hopping to an energetic nightlife scene in distinct entertainment districts.

Westside Costa Mesa's repurposed industrial spaces provide an eclectic backdrop for indie music, with intimate venues like The Wayfarer offering a diverse lineup.
The South Coast Metro area is the city's cultural heart, anchored by world-class performances at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Community gatherings, from artisan markets to live music, are a regular feature at unique retail centers like The LAB Anti-Mall and The CAMP.

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Popular in Costa Mesa

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Orange County Real Estate, Interior Designer, Construction & Finance NE primary image

Orange County Real Estate, Interior Designer, Construction & Finance NE

Tomorrow • 7:00 PM

Mesa

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Horse The Band with Gigi primary image

Horse The Band with Gigi

Thursday • 8:00 PM

The Wayfarer

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Sevilla Costa Mesa | The Hottest Latin Fridays & Saturdays primary image

Sevilla Costa Mesa | The Hottest Latin Fridays & Saturdays

Friday • 10:00 PM + 41 more

Sevilla Nightclub of Costa Mesa

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Newport Shores Oktoberfest primary image

Newport Shores Oktoberfest

Saturday • 4:00 PM

Newport Shores Clubhouse

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NUDES - Solo Art Exhibition by Fine Artist Andrew Petterson primary image

NUDES - Solo Art Exhibition by Fine Artist Andrew Petterson

Sat, Oct 10 • 6:00 PM

1602 Babcock St

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Laughin' in Costa Mesa Comedy Show primary image

Laughin' in Costa Mesa Comedy Show

Fri, Oct 16 • 8:00 PM + 2 more

MoonGoat Coffee

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AFROBEATS-OC PRESENTS LIBRA AFFAIR primary image

AFROBEATS-OC PRESENTS LIBRA AFFAIR

Sat, Oct 17 • 9:00 PM

Palenque Kitchen by Mezcal, Costa Mesa

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HALLOWEEN NIGHT @ OC FAIRGROUNDS $10 W/RSVP BEFORE 10:30PM | 18+ primary image

HALLOWEEN NIGHT @ OC FAIRGROUNDS $10 W/RSVP BEFORE 10:30PM | 18+

Sat, Oct 31 • 10:00 PM

OC Fairground Costa Mesa Building

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Orange County Real Estate, Interior Designer, Construction & Finance NE primary image

Orange County Real Estate, Interior Designer, Construction & Finance NE

Tomorrow • 7:00 PM

Mesa

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Horse The Band with Gigi primary image

Horse The Band with Gigi

Thursday • 8:00 PM

The Wayfarer

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Sevilla Costa Mesa | The Hottest Latin Fridays & Saturdays primary image

Sevilla Costa Mesa | The Hottest Latin Fridays & Saturdays

Friday • 10:00 PM + 41 more

Sevilla Nightclub of Costa Mesa

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Newport Shores Oktoberfest primary image

Newport Shores Oktoberfest

Saturday • 4:00 PM

Newport Shores Clubhouse

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NUDES - Solo Art Exhibition by Fine Artist Andrew Petterson primary image

NUDES - Solo Art Exhibition by Fine Artist Andrew Petterson

Sat, Oct 10 • 6:00 PM

1602 Babcock St

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Laughin' in Costa Mesa Comedy Show primary image

Laughin' in Costa Mesa Comedy Show

Fri, Oct 16 • 8:00 PM + 2 more

MoonGoat Coffee

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AFROBEATS-OC PRESENTS LIBRA AFFAIR primary image

AFROBEATS-OC PRESENTS LIBRA AFFAIR

Sat, Oct 17 • 9:00 PM

Palenque Kitchen by Mezcal, Costa Mesa

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HALLOWEEN NIGHT @ OC FAIRGROUNDS $10 W/RSVP BEFORE 10:30PM | 18+ primary image

HALLOWEEN NIGHT @ OC FAIRGROUNDS $10 W/RSVP BEFORE 10:30PM | 18+

Sat, Oct 31 • 10:00 PM

OC Fairground Costa Mesa Building

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Online Events

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Black Girl Book Fair! Spooky Edition primary image

Black Girl Book Fair! Spooky Edition

Saturday • 12:00 AM CDT

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Ethically Shady: Navigating the Gray Areas of Interpreting primary image

Ethically Shady: Navigating the Gray Areas of Interpreting

Saturday • 10:00 AM PDT

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SVPG Product Masterclass - October 6-8, 2026 primary image

SVPG Product Masterclass - October 6-8, 2026

Tue, Oct 6 • 9:00 AM EDT

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A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry primary image

A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry

Wed, Oct 7 • 7:30 PM GMT+1

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(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett primary image

(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett

Tue, Oct 27 • 11:30 AM EDT

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No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence primary image

No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence

Thu, Nov 5 • 1:00 PM GMT

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Lean Global Connection 2026 primary image

Lean Global Connection 2026

Thu, Nov 12 • 2:00 PM UTC

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Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream primary image

Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream

Sat, Dec 19 • 8:00 PM EST

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Black Girl Book Fair! Spooky Edition primary image

Black Girl Book Fair! Spooky Edition

Saturday • 12:00 AM CDT

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Ethically Shady: Navigating the Gray Areas of Interpreting primary image

Ethically Shady: Navigating the Gray Areas of Interpreting

Saturday • 10:00 AM PDT

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SVPG Product Masterclass - October 6-8, 2026 primary image

SVPG Product Masterclass - October 6-8, 2026

Tue, Oct 6 • 9:00 AM EDT

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A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry primary image

A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry

Wed, Oct 7 • 7:30 PM GMT+1

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(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett primary image

(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett

Tue, Oct 27 • 11:30 AM EDT

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No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence primary image

No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence

Thu, Nov 5 • 1:00 PM GMT

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Lean Global Connection 2026 primary image

Lean Global Connection 2026

Thu, Nov 12 • 2:00 PM UTC

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Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream primary image

Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream

Sat, Dec 19 • 8:00 PM EST

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This Weekend

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Bella White with Georgia Harmer primary image

Bella White with Georgia Harmer

Friday • 7:00 PM

The Wayfarer

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Newport Shores Oktoberfest primary image

Newport Shores Oktoberfest

Saturday • 4:00 PM

Newport Shores Clubhouse

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Coffee with Christians: Costa Mesa (Giving Back Edition) primary image

Coffee with Christians: Costa Mesa (Giving Back Edition)

Saturday • 12:00 PM

Cafe of the Day

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Bachata Sundays@Sevilla In Oc primary image

Bachata Sundays@Sevilla In Oc

Sunday • 4:30 PM

Sevilla Nightclub of Costa Mesa

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Bella White with Georgia Harmer primary image

Bella White with Georgia Harmer

Friday • 7:00 PM

The Wayfarer

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Newport Shores Oktoberfest primary image

Newport Shores Oktoberfest

Saturday • 4:00 PM

Newport Shores Clubhouse

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Coffee with Christians: Costa Mesa (Giving Back Edition) primary image

Coffee with Christians: Costa Mesa (Giving Back Edition)

Saturday • 12:00 PM

Cafe of the Day

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Bachata Sundays@Sevilla In Oc primary image

Bachata Sundays@Sevilla In Oc

Sunday • 4:30 PM

Sevilla Nightclub of Costa Mesa

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Music events

Horse The Band with Gigi primary image

Horse The Band with Gigi

Thursday • 8:00 PM

The Wayfarer

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Taline & Friends in Concert @ St. Mary's Festival in OC! primary image

Taline & Friends in Concert @ St. Mary's Festival in OC!

Sun, Oct 11 • 1:00 PM

St Mary Armenian Church (in the Stambolian Family Assembly Hall)

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AFROBEATS-OC PRESENTS LIBRA AFFAIR primary image

AFROBEATS-OC PRESENTS LIBRA AFFAIR

Sat, Oct 17 • 9:00 PM

Palenque Kitchen by Mezcal, Costa Mesa

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Tom Ciurczak Band 'Live at Bone Daddyz Music Lounge' primary image

Tom Ciurczak Band 'Live at Bone Daddyz Music Lounge'

Sat, Oct 17 • 10:00 PM

Bone Daddyz Music Lounge

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Bowie tribute returns by popular demand to Tiki Bar primary image

Bowie tribute returns by popular demand to Tiki Bar

Fri, Oct 23 • 8:00 PM

Tiki Bar

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HALLOWEEN NIGHT @ OC FAIRGROUNDS $10 W/RSVP BEFORE 10:30PM | 18+ primary image

HALLOWEEN NIGHT @ OC FAIRGROUNDS $10 W/RSVP BEFORE 10:30PM | 18+

Sat, Oct 31 • 10:00 PM

OC Fairground Costa Mesa Building

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ENJOY THE FRIGHT - HALLOWEEN NIGHT (COSTA MESA) LIVE TRIBUTES CURE & DEMODE primary image

ENJOY THE FRIGHT - HALLOWEEN NIGHT (COSTA MESA) LIVE TRIBUTES CURE & DEMODE

Sat, Oct 31 • 9:00 PM

The Wayfarer

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Halloween Night @ OC Fairgrounds $10 w/rsvp before 10:30pm | 18+ primary image

Halloween Night @ OC Fairgrounds $10 w/rsvp before 10:30pm | 18+

Sat, Oct 31 • 10:00 PM

OC Fairground Costa Mesa Building

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Horse The Band with Gigi primary image

Horse The Band with Gigi

Thursday • 8:00 PM

The Wayfarer

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Taline & Friends in Concert @ St. Mary's Festival in OC! primary image

Taline & Friends in Concert @ St. Mary's Festival in OC!

Sun, Oct 11 • 1:00 PM

St Mary Armenian Church (in the Stambolian Family Assembly Hall)

Check ticket price on event

AFROBEATS-OC PRESENTS LIBRA AFFAIR primary image

AFROBEATS-OC PRESENTS LIBRA AFFAIR

Sat, Oct 17 • 9:00 PM

Palenque Kitchen by Mezcal, Costa Mesa

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Tom Ciurczak Band 'Live at Bone Daddyz Music Lounge' primary image

Tom Ciurczak Band 'Live at Bone Daddyz Music Lounge'

Sat, Oct 17 • 10:00 PM

Bone Daddyz Music Lounge

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Bowie tribute returns by popular demand to Tiki Bar primary image

Bowie tribute returns by popular demand to Tiki Bar

Fri, Oct 23 • 8:00 PM

Tiki Bar

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HALLOWEEN NIGHT @ OC FAIRGROUNDS $10 W/RSVP BEFORE 10:30PM | 18+ primary image

HALLOWEEN NIGHT @ OC FAIRGROUNDS $10 W/RSVP BEFORE 10:30PM | 18+

Sat, Oct 31 • 10:00 PM

OC Fairground Costa Mesa Building

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ENJOY THE FRIGHT - HALLOWEEN NIGHT (COSTA MESA) LIVE TRIBUTES CURE & DEMODE primary image

ENJOY THE FRIGHT - HALLOWEEN NIGHT (COSTA MESA) LIVE TRIBUTES CURE & DEMODE

Sat, Oct 31 • 9:00 PM

The Wayfarer

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Halloween Night @ OC Fairgrounds $10 w/rsvp before 10:30pm | 18+ primary image

Halloween Night @ OC Fairgrounds $10 w/rsvp before 10:30pm | 18+

Sat, Oct 31 • 10:00 PM

OC Fairground Costa Mesa Building

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Points of Interest near Costa Mesa

Frequently asked questions about Costa Mesa

Are there free events to attend in Costa Mesa, CA?

Yes, Costa Mesa offers several fantastic free event options. The Segerstrom Center for the Arts frequently hosts outdoor Tuesday Night Dance classes on its plaza. You can also take a self-guided Art Walk to see public art or enjoy seasonal live music at Metro Pointe.

What is the nightlife scene like in Costa Mesa?

The Triangle is a central hub for nightlife, featuring the Vegas-style Time Nightclub. For a different atmosphere, Mesa Lounge transitions from a restaurant to a lively spot with a DJ, while The Wayfarer on the Westside offers a more intimate setting for live bands.

Where can I find live music events in Costa Mesa?

The Wayfarer is a go-to venue for local and touring indie bands in an intimate setting. For an underground vibe, La Cave hosts regular live music, and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts presents larger concerts and musical performances as part of its diverse event calendar.

What are some good date night ideas in Costa Mesa?

A classic Costa Mesa date involves dinner in the South Coast Metro area followed by a show at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. For a more casual evening, explore the restaurants at The Triangle before catching a movie or heading to a bar.

How can I experience the art events and culture in Costa Mesa?

The city’s self-guided Art Walk is an excellent way to explore over 20 public art pieces and murals. The LAB Anti-Mall also serves as a cultural hub, frequently hosting art installations and creative market events that showcase local talent and independent brands.

Where are the best comedy shows in Costa Mesa?

La Cave is known for hosting stand-up comedy nights in its intimate, underground steakhouse setting. This venue provides a unique atmosphere for live entertainment, combining dinner, drinks, and comedy for a memorable night out in the city.

What are some family-friendly things to do in Costa Mesa?

The annual OC Fair, held at the OC Fair & Event Center, is a major attraction for all ages with rides and entertainment. Throughout the year, the center and local parks also host various community festivals, markets, and other family-oriented gatherings.

Which neighborhood has unique food and drink events?

Eastside Costa Mesa is a great choice, known for its walkable 17th Street lined with indie boutiques and restaurants. This area has a social, coastal vibe and its local eateries often host special dinners, tastings, and other culinary events.