Orange County Children's Book Festival
Free family literacy festival at Orange Coast College, Sept. 20, with authors, illustrators, stage programming, activities, and books.
What It Is
The Orange County Children's Book Festival is a free family literacy festival held on the Orange Coast College campus in Costa Mesa. The 2026 edition runs Sunday, September 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with authors, illustrators, book signings, read-alouds, stage programming, exhibitors, entertainment, activities, and food trucks.
Why Go
It's one of the strongest free family events on the September calendar and a natural fit for Costa Mesa, education, and parent-focused content. Recent featured-guest lists have included Rachel Ignotofsky, Melissa Villaseñor, and Jesus Trejo, alongside KidTime StoryTime and other read-aloud programming. For the 2026 confirmed guest slate, defer to the festival site.
What To Know Before You Go
Date and time: Sunday, September 20, 2026, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Location: Orange Coast College Main Quad, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. Admission and parking: Free. Format: Outdoor campus festival with author meet-and-greets, book sales, main-stage programming, read-alouds and interviews, train rides, family activities, food trucks, and OCC Planetarium programming.
The Honest Take
High-value family listing because it's free, practical, and educational without feeling like homework. For context on scale, the festival's 2024 recap noted 112 exhibitor booths, four food trucks, four stages, and over 5,000 attendees; treat those as 2024 stats, not a 2026 guarantee. Bring hats and water; the outdoor quad gets warm by midday.