Before Southern California became known for its movie making and theme parks, it was citrus country. At its peak, Southern California was home to tens of thousands of acres of orange groves, drawing workers, growers and families from a variety of backgrounds to help build the region's booming agricultural economy. While most of those groves have since disappeared, the area's rich cultural heritage remains on full display at the Orange International Street Fair.
Start your journey through California's orange-growing legacy in Riverside at the California Citrus State Historic Park. Stop by the visitor center for an overview of the industry and its importance to the state's early economy. Then take a guided tour of the historic orange groves.
Next, head to the historic Old Towne district of Orange over Labor Day Weekend for a free community festival that has been drawing crowds since 1973 with four days of international food, live mucic from around the world, craft vendors and family-friendly entertainment. Practically a food festival, all types of food vendors gather here with previous years including German bratwurst, Greek gyros, Irish fare, Mexican favorites and dozens of other global flavors.
Part history, part cultural celebration and part neighborhood block party, the Orange International Street Fair honors the diverse people and traditions that helped shape the region.
Go to parks.ca.gov/?page_id=649 for the California Citrus State Historic Park. For the Orange International Street Fair, visit optevents.org. Plan your trip at visitcalifornia.com.