Santa Ana Fact Sheet
Known today as the “downtown of Orange County,” Santa Ana’s humble roots began as a farm town discovered by Spanish settlers in the 1700s. More than a century later, Santa Ana grew into a Southern California hub for banking, business, and transportation and in the late 1890s, home to Southern Pacific Railroad driving a major boom across the city and Orange County.
Since then, Santa Ana has become the governmental, financial, and cultural center of Orange County and its second most-populated city, boasting more than 300,000 residents. With temperatures averaging from mid-50s F to mid-80s F, the weather in Santa Ana is known for its mild, temperate weather year-round. Visitors have easy access to Santa Ana from John Wayne Airport, also located in Santa Ana. Ranked among the nation’s best airports, the airport serves more than 10 million passengers annually and reaches more than 30 nonstop destinations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Join Santaneros for the following festive year-round celebrations happening in Santa Ana!
Dancing in the Streets: Dance the night away under the stars, studded with art vendors and live music at Plaza Calle Cuatro. Plus, free dance lessons rotate every Saturday.
Downtown Santa Ana Artwalk: The streets come alive on the first Saturday of every month when nearly two dozen galleries open their doors, local artists and vendors line the sidewalks, and local musicians fill the air with good vibes.
LibroMobile Arts Cooperative: The only cooperatively run bookstore in Santa Ana, LMAC holds more than 30 events per year, which draw intersectional and multigenerational audiences from Southern California and virtually across the nation.
Galería of Imagination Workshops: Express your creative side at these fine art workshops taught by experienced artists. Guests can experiment with a range of mediums, including drawing, watercolor, and acrylic.
Museums and Theaters: Santa Ana is home to several venues rich in local and cultural history with shows and activities year-round. Check out the Yost Theater, Bowers Museum, Frida Cinema, Grand Central Art Center, Wayward Artist Theater, and Heritage Museum of Orange County (HMOC) for even more fun.
Open Stage: Every third Saturday, come and flex your creativity in public, to a community of supporting artists and audience members. Showcase your painting, drawing, singing, dancing, playing music or comedy skills at this open mic event. Come improvise, make music, and new friends.
Patio Vibrations: For the 80s music aficionado, Patio Vibrations happens at the 4th Street Market every Saturday afternoon from 4-10 p.m. Rock out to the best of the best tunes from the 80s while enjoying amazing bites and beverages.
