At Laguna Beach's annual Pageant of the Masters, live models recreate classical and contemporary paintings, and the companion Sawdust Festival attracts top artists. The Bowers Museum focuses on the work of indigenous people from Pre-Columbian, Oceanic, Native American and Pacific Rim cultures.

The Orange County Performing Arts Center is celebrated for its striking architecture and flawless acoustics. Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory Theatre and the Fullerton Civic Light Opera also call Orange County home.