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Hello Back Bay Brocollinis, happy Friday!
Listen, when we said we wanted Locals’ Summer, thats not what we meant. After weeks of 90° heat, locals are now ready for False Fall. We know the heat will return late October, but really its getting ridiculous. At least the big waves pummeling our beaches are inspiring a return to the classics from local spongers.
To our new readers—welcome! The Back Bay Buzz delivers just the right amount of news and events for locals in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa. No crime, no politics, no spam—just the good stuff. We scan newspapers, blogs, social media, business journals, and Google alerts so you don’t have to.
In today’s Buzz:
Book Fest Returns to Fairgrounds
9/11 Remembrance
Concerts on the Green
Book and Sticker Swap at the Lab
— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz
Children’s Book Fest Returns to the Fairgrounds
Celebrate the joy of reading at the annual Orange County Children’s Book Festival, returning on Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Orange Coast College (2701 Fairview Rd, Costa Mesa, CA). Organized by Orange Coast College and the Orange Coast College Foundation to champion youth literacy and community connection, this beloved community tradition features author meet-and-greets, book signings, live stage shows, read-alouds, and family activities like free campus train rides. Admission and parking are both completely free—making it a perfect, fun-filled weekend outing for book lovers of all ages
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“There’s no crying on the Duffy”
9/11 Remembrance Ceremony - Veterans Memorial Park, NB
Friday September 11th
4-7pm
InfoHave Breakfast at Tiffany’s - South Coast Plaza
InfoLido Legacy Live Benefit: The Righteous Brothers - The Lido Theater
Friday, September 11th
6:00pm-9:30pm
Friends of OASIS Cars and Coffee - OASIS Senior Citizen Center
Saturday, September 12th
8:00am-10:30am
Maker Faire OC - OC Fair & Event Center
Saturday, September 12th
10:00am-5:00pm
Candlelight Concert: Tribute to Metallica - The Lido Theater
Sunday, September 13th
5:30pm-6:30pm
Concerts on the Green: Flashback Heart Attack - Newport Beach - Civic Center
Sunday, September 13th
6:00pm-7:30pm
Book and Sticker Swap - The Lab
Sunday September 13th
2pm-5pm
Info
Worth the drive:
The Coast Vintage Market - Laguna Hills Mall
Sunday September 13th
8am-3pm
Info
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Newport District 1 Town Hall Meeting - Marina Park
Monday September 14th
6pm
InfoSand Sports Super Show - OC Fair & Event Center
Friday, September 18th
4:00pm-10:00pm
Annual Estuary Coastal Cleanup Day - Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center
Saturday, September 19th
9:00am-12:00pm
Late Edition Flea Market - The Lab
Saturday September 19th
10am-4pm
InfoStudio Ghibli: Princess Mononoke Special Screening - The Lido Theater
Sunday, September 27th
4:00pm-6:15pm
64th Annual Sandcastle Contest - Corona Del Mar State Beach Park
Sunday, September 27th
8:00am-12:00pm
🍷 Environmental Nature Center Wine Walk - Environmental Nature Center
Sunday, September 27th
4:00pm-7:00pm
Carnival Del Mar - CDM 3rd Thursdays Market
Thursday October 15th
5-8pm
InfoPup Pop-Up - The Lab
Saturday October 24th
Info
will it ever stop…?
🌊 Water temp = 71º
Suit Rec: Spring suit 3/2
THIS WEEKEND:
Puppet Theater at Costa Mesa Mesa Verde Library
Friday, 11 September
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
infoSongs & Stories at Newport Beach Central Library - Newport Beach Public Library
Friday, September 11
10:30am-11am
InfoLittle Seedlings Storytime at Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona Del Mar - 2647 East Coast Highway
Friday, September 11
10am-10:30am
InfoWild Tales in Newport Beach (Register!) - 2301 University Dr
Friday, September 11
10am-11am
InfoPottery Barn Kids Storytime - 3333 Bear St Ste 345
Friday, September 11
11am-11:30am
InfoFamily Storytime at Corona Del Mar Library in Newport Beach - Corona Del Mar Branch Library
Saturday, September 12
10:30am-11:30am
InfoFamily Storytime at Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library - 1855 Park Avenue
Saturday, September 12
10:30am-11am
InfoMini Canvas Art at Costa Mesa Mesa Verde Library - 2969 Mesa Verde Drive
Saturday, September 12
10am-11am
InfoFamily Game Lab at Newport Beach Central Library - Newport Beach Public Library
Saturday, September 12
1pm-3pm
InfoTouch Tank Open Hours at OCC Aquarium ($5) - Lewis Center
Saturday, September 12
2pm-3pm
InfoTailgate Games, Root Beer Floats, and Train Rides at Mariners Church Irvine - 5001 Newport Coast Dr
Saturday, September 12
5:30pm-7pm
InfoFree Movie with Purchase of a Concession Item at Lido Theater Newport Beach - 3459 Via Lido
Saturday, September 12
7am-2pm
InfoDrone Show and Community Celebration at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa - Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Sunday, September 13
2pm-8pm
Discover the Back Bay in Newport Beach
Sunday, 13 September
9:30 am - 11:30 am
InfoTiles and Tea: Hong Kong Style Mahjong at Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library - 1855 Park Avenue
Sunday, September 13
9:30am-11:30am
Plan Ahead
Teen Tuesdays! Rubber Stamp Carving at Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library - 1855 Park Avenue
Tuesday, September 15
4:30pm-6pm
Storytime by the Beach at Marina Park Community Center in Newport Beach - 1600 W Balboa Blvd
Wednesday, September 16
10:30am-11am
Seaside Kids Concert with Magic Steps Music at Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach - 3434 Via Lido
Thursday, September 17
10:30am-11:15am
Critter Investigation: Big-Hearted Bats in Newport Beach (Register!) - 2301 University Dr
Wednesday, September 16
10am-11am
Sand Sport Super Show in Costa Mesa ($0-$20) - OC Fair & Event Center
Friday, September 18
4pm-10pm
Newport Beach Movie in the Park: Hoppers - Bayview Park
Friday, September 18th
6:00pm-8:00pm
64th Annual Sandcastle Contest - Corona Del Mar State Beach Park
Sunday, September 27th
8:00am-12:00pm
Bluey’s Big Play - Segerstrom Center for the Arts
November 4th-5th
Info
Farmers Markets 🥬🥕:
Newport Pier Farmer’s Market
Costa Mesa - SOCO (Saturdays 9-2)
Corona Del Mar - PCH & Marguerite (Saturdays 9-1)
Newport Beach - Newport Pier (Sundays 9-1)
Newport Harbor - Dover Dr & 16th St (Saturdays 9am-1pm)
Mesa Verde - 1525 Mesa Verde Dr E, Costa Mesa (Sundays 10-2pm)
OC Fairgrounds Farmers Market - OC Fairgrounds, (Thursdays 9am-1pm)
🌴 Costa Mesa
Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor fell off the embankment at Balboa Pier.
PS: Feel free to let me know any feedback or inside scoops you have for the newsletter. Just reply to this email, I read every one. Thanks!
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