"Go Global!" Irvine Things to Do Tip by marinarena

The annual Irvine Global Village Festival, taking place in early fall, is a must-do event for those curious to explore diverse world cultures. Best thing about this event: it is FREE!

Attendees can discover world culture with their eyes (looking at the vibrant color on booths, decorative items and various ethnic costume from the major world continents adorned by presenters and performers); with their ears (listening to live indigenous music, especially decidedly folk, Asian and Latin cultures) and with their palettes (sampling a wide range of ethnic cuisine, particularly Mexican, Indian, Thai, Chinese, and of course good ol' American are savored and favored).

Scenes pictured are from the festivities in 2011, at the Bill Barber Park. A well received moment I was excited to see was a main performer stage featuring traditional Chinese lady dancers and tantalizing bellydancers from a local troop.

For future Global Village festivals, I would vouch for a change of route, perhaps to the 1,347-acre master planned recreational area, OC Great Park. Since 2001, the Festival has dramatically grown, beginning from a mere thousand attendees. In 2011, more than 16,000 people crowded into the 42 acre Barber park, which has convenient parking only for a small fraction of that population.

It is recommended to take the free I-Shuttle bus, public transportation (OCTA bus for $1.50 one way), go by bike or by foot. If like most attendees, (i.e. with a car0, have patience with the parking situation, which is tiring. Try to arrive a hour or two if you want to park with ease.

Address: 4 Civic Center Plaza Stadium
Directions: near Barranca Parkway and Harvard.
Website: http://www.cityofirvine.org/globalvillage