Costa Mesa: Museums, Art and Events

Costa Mesa brings together several specific reasons to visit: local history, public art, exhibitions, performing arts and the summer OC Fair. If you’re looking for a hotel in Costa Mesa, these themes can help you decide what to focus on during your stay. The attractions and offerings have different highlights—from historical artifacts and sculptures to a ride on a narrow-gauge railroad.

Local History and the Diego Sepulveda Adobe

The Costa Mesa Historical Society Museum and headquarters presents artifacts from 5,000 years of Costa Mesa history. The permanent exhibition “Costa Mesa Timeline” offers a chronological overview, featuring artifacts from early Indigenous, Mission and Rancho periods, from 2500 BC to the 1870s, as well as the history of the Diego Sepulveda Adobe. The exhibition brings together different eras and the development of a specific historic building.

The Diego Sepulveda Adobe is located in Estancia Park, overlooking the Santa Ana River channel. It encompasses nearly 200 years of Costa Mesa history. The present-day adobe is a restoration of the original building, which was built at this site in 1820.

When visiting the Costa Mesa Historical Society, it’s especially helpful to keep its hours in mind: the museum and library are open to the public Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Other times are available by appointment. If you’re planning a visit outside these hours, check availability in advance.

Art, Exhibitions and Remembrance

California Scenario, also known as Noguchi Garden, is a 1.6-acre sculpture garden by Isamu Noguchi. The Costa Mesa Art Walk complements this named destination with a self-guided tour of public art installations in parks, plazas and other locations around the city. The public art inventory may change, so the Art Walk offers a citywide look at installations in different places rather than focusing on just one work.

The Orange County Museum of Art presents innovative exhibitions and programs with free admission. Its specific exhibitions and programs change over time. Heroes Hall offers another way to engage with history and remembrance: it is a year-round tribute to Orange County veterans and others who have served the nation. Its offerings include changing and permanent exhibitions, as well as special educational programs. Heroes Hall is located in a preserved two-story barracks building at the former SAAAB.

Performing Arts, Miniature Railroad and Events

The Segerstrom Center for the Arts is the home venue of the American Ballet Theatre’s Gillespie School of Dance, Pacific Symphony and the Philharmonic Society. In addition to these resident organizations, there’s a free behind-the-scenes tour during the day that also takes visitors onto the stage. Since tour arrangements may change, it’s a good idea to check the latest tour information before your visit.

The Mackerel Flats and Goathill Junction Railroad offers a different way to spend time in Fairview Park. The Orange County Model Engineers operate a 7.5-inch-gauge narrow-gauge railroad there. A ride on the miniature trains covers a route nearly a mile long.

Costa Mesa is home to the summer OC Fair. Dates and programming change each year, so check the dates for the relevant event year before making plans. As a clearly dated look back, the 2025 OC Fair ran from July 18 to August 17 and drew 1,162,872 visitors.

The Costa Mesa Beer Trail is also part of the local character, offering craft beers brewed in the city for tasting. Participating locations may change. For general geographic orientation, Highways 55, 405 and 73 run through or near the city. Together, the museums, art venues, performances and events highlight the different themes you can consider when planning a stay in Costa Mesa.

Explore more destinations: Seal Beach, Mission Viejo, Brea, Los Alamitos, San Juan Capistrano, La Habra, Aliso Viejo, Surfside.

For the broader travel overview: Orange.