Orange International Street Fair returns this week with new country

The Orange International Street Fair returns this week, bringing treats and celebrations from around the world to the Old Towne Orange Circle.

The 51st edition of the annual event will run from Friday, Sept. 1, to Sunday, Sept. 3, and will have 30 food vendors showcasing international food, arts and crafts and music throughout the weekend.

“It’s a spot where you can enjoy international food and international music in a platform that’s really inviting to the entire family,” Feliz said.

At the fair, visitors can enjoy anything from shawarma and cannoli to tamales and beignets. The fair is broken up into different globally-themed “streets,” including Aussie Street and Lebanese Street, that feature food and music representative of the countries.

Brazil is a new country for this year, fair president Adam Feliz said, and will feature acai bowls.

Last year’s street fair occurred during a heat wave in California, which affected turnout, and Feliz hopes that this year the fair will be able to return to pre-pandemic attendance levels, where more than 400,000 people would flood into the streets around Orange’s traffic circle throughout the weekend.

Traffic around the Orange Plaza circle will be closed, but many of the permanent brick and mortar eateries around the area stay open for the fair. While the last few years have had a theme, which included “Circle the World” or “The Golden Orange,” there won’t be a theme this year.

Pablo Esparza of Tustin enjoys a corn on the cob at the 50th anniversary of the Orange International Street Fair in Orange on Friday, September 2, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

The Orange International Street Fair draws throngs with a wide range of internationl foods. (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A volunteer tends to teriyaki beef sticks during the 45th Annual Orange International Street Fair in Old Towne Orange in 2017. (File photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Polish sausage gets a searing as it is grilled at the Isaak Walton League food booth at the 50th anniversary of the Orange International Street Fair in Orange on Friday, September 2, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Thousands of people line the streets during the 39th Annual Tustin Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off on Sunday, June 4, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

People stroll through the Orange International Street Fair in Orange on Saturday, September 1, 2018. The fair is canceled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

The band Express plays at the German Street Beer booth on Saturday, August 31, 2019, during the 2019 Orange International Street Fair in Orange. More than 400,000 people attend the event over the Labor Day weekend.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Feliz said some bands to check out on the main stage include the Fenians at 8 p.m. on Friday and the Wild Adults at the same time on Sunday. The Latin Lowdown band will return to Mexico Street after being absent the last few years.

The fair is a big fundraiser for local nonprofits, which host the food and alcohol booths. New beneficiaries for this year’s fair include El Modena High School baseball and El Modena Girls Basketball Booster Club.

Feliz said some of the nonprofits rely heavily on the fair to raise a majority of their funds.

“(The nonprofits) utilize us to raise a majority of their funds,” Feliz said. “It’s kind of near and dear to our hearts to see the event continue on and leave a legacy that continues on for another 50 years.”

Visit the Orange International Street Fair’s website, orangestreetfair.org, to learn more about what food you’ll be able to enjoy and exact times for when bands will perform.

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