Celebration of Life Events in Orange County: Special Places to Visit

In recent years, Celebration of Life events have become just as popular as funerals. For one thing, they are typically more joyous, and you can put more care and planning into them, since funerals are often planned quickly. If you’re looking for Celebration of Life venues in Orange County, look no further than this list of spots for every type of activity involved in celebrating the life of a loved one.

What is a Celebration of Life Event?

You may wonder, “What is a Celebration of Life event?” A Celebration of Life is a healthy and uplifting approach to acknowledge the passing of a loved one. Traditional funerals tend to have a somber and mournful tone, while a Celebration of Life tends to reflect the personality of the deceased and may even include hobbies or charities that the loved one was passionate about.

Places to Take Family and Friends When They Arrive in Town

Bear Coast Coffee—a local favorite, has two locations, including one at Dana Point, but the one in San Clemente is perfect for when family is in town since the San Clemente Pier is right across the street. This provides a perfect opportunity to get a cup and then take a walk and catch up. The San Clemente Pier could also make a wonderful place to hold a Celebration of Life service as it’s right on the beach and is known for it’s beautiful sunsets. Plus, there’s plenty of parking!.

Bear Coast Coffee
618 ½ Avenida Victoria
San Clemente, CA 92673

San Clemente Pier
Avenida Victoria
San Clemente, CA 92672

The pier in San Clemente, Orange County, California

Naturally, friends and family from out of town for a memorial service might be in need of  something more substantial than coffee. If that’s the case, consider taking them to Lazy Dog Restaurants. With a kid-friendly menu, brunch, and happy hour options, this local spot is perfect for families and kids. Lazy Dog Restaurants are scattered across Orange County, with locations in Irvine, Huntington Beach, Westminster, and Orange.

Lazy Dog Restaurants

Orange
1623 West Katella Avenue
Orange, CA 92867

Huntington Beach / Westminster
16310 Beach Blvd
Westminster, CA 92683

Irvine
13290 Jamboree Rd
Irvine, CA 92602

Quiet Places to Reflect in Orange County

Want to go somewhere that truly represents California artistically, while also providing a peaceful spot for contemplation? Then Noguchi Garden fits the bill. Located in Costa Mesa, it’s situated on 1.6 acres and is a sculpture garden whose design symbolizes characteristics of the Golden State. The garden is free and open to the public, and although it is a great spot collect one’s thoughts, it also has potential for a unique place to celebrate the life of a loved.

California Scenario (Noguchi Garden)
611 Anton Blvd.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Venues for Your Celebration of Life

Some venues might not be familiar with the concept of Celebrations of Life yet, since it’s still a relatively new trend in the end-of-life industry. The Villa, located in Orange, has experience hosting memorial receptions and even offers accommodations like projectors and video screens for the big event. Contact The Villa ahead of time to reserve your Celebration of Life event.

The Villa
510 E. Katella Avenue
Orange, CA 92867

Gathering Places for Post-Celebration of Life Get-Togethers

You can’t beat California’s weather and outdoor locales, so why not spend the post-Celebration of Life event outside with family and friends? Crystal Cove State Park is a great spot for this; pack a picnic and spend the day together after the big event. There are wildflower fields, trails, and more to explore!

Crystal Cove State Park
8471 North Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Bench along an outlook with a view at sunset of Crystal Cove Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach line in Southern California

Places to Unwind After Everyone Has Left

After the event is over and everyone is home (or on their way home), sometimes there’s a bit of a letdown afterwards. It’s important that you take time for self-care and to mourn your loved one on your own. Book an appointment at a spa or do some transcendental meditation and carve out some time to reflect.

Garden Wellness Spa
900 East Katella Avenue, Suite G
Orange, CA 92867

Transcendental Meditation
1224 Katella Avenue #205
Orange, CA 92867

Making Memories

It’s helpful to have a list of possible places and spaces to every eventuality during a Celebration of Life weekend. This includes a place to gather, a place to eat, a place to reflect, and a place to recover once you get through the celebration itself. It’s important to remember that the Celebration of Life event isn’t all about the activities and experience for guests; it’s about so much more than that. With family and friends traveling into town for the celebration, it’s about spending time together and celebrating the person you miss.

About Opal Cremation

At Opal Cremation of Orange County, we know the passing of a loved one can be an emotionally overwhelming experience. That’s why we make it our goal to help family and friends of the departed navigate through the process of loss and what comes next. We offer an all-inclusive package for cremation services that can be customized according to the needs of each family and loved one. Plus, arrangements for cremation can be made entirely over the phone; our dedicated care team is more than happy to guide you through every step of the process, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That way you can have more time to grieve with family and friends, and we can take care of the rest.

Looking for more information? Check out our support center where you’ll find a list of cremation FAQs as well as other helpful resources.

Not in Orange County? We also assist families in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas.