- What's Happening
- Getting There From Portola Springs or Great Park
- Who It's For
- A Small Note on Logistics
- Why This Kind of Event Matters When You're House-Hunting Here
- Frequently Asked Questions
Ektaa Diwali Fest returns to Great Park Live on October 24, 2026, from 1 to 9 PM, with a lamp-lighting ceremony and drone show capping off an evening of Indian music, cultural performances, food, and shopping — and if you live in Portola Springs or Great Park, it's a five-minute drive from your front door.
I end up fielding a version of this question every time there's a big event on the Great Park calendar: "Is it worth going, and what do we actually need to know?" For families who just moved here, these community events are often the thing that makes a new neighborhood start to feel like home — so here's the practical rundown.
What's Happening
Ektaa Diwali Fest is presented by the Ektaa Center in partnership with the City of Irvine, and it's built as a community-wide Diwali celebration rather than a ticketed concert with a Diwali theme bolted on. The published lineup includes Indian music, cultural performances, henna, shopping, and food vendors throughout the day, building toward a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony at 7 PM followed by a drone show to close the night.
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 1–9 PM
Where: Great Park Live, 300 Corsair, Irvine, CA 92618
Tickets: Available through Tixr, with a donation option that benefits the Ektaa Center — check Tixr directly for current pricing before you go, since festival ticket tiers can shift closer to the date.
Getting There From Portola Springs or Great Park
If you're in Great Park or Portola Springs, Great Park Live is about as close as a venue gets — most residents can walk or bike it if the weather cooperates, which is worth considering given this is an all-day event with a crowd. If you're driving, Great Park Live sells parking online through Tixr's parking portal up until 11:59 PM the night before the event, or you can pay on-site the day of. Given this is a nine-hour event capped by a headline moment at 7 PM, I'd plan to arrive earlier than you think you need to — the lamp-lighting ceremony and drone show are going to be the draw for a lot of people at once.
Who It's For
This reads as a genuinely family-oriented event — cultural performances, food, and shopping across an eight-hour window give you room to show up for an hour or stay the whole day. If your kids haven't experienced a Diwali celebration before, or if your family celebrates and you want a local, community version of it rather than driving into LA, this is a low-stakes way to make it a yearly tradition. It's also simply one more entry in the growing list of reasons Great Park Live has become a real cultural anchor for this part of Irvine, alongside the concerts and festivals that pass through during the rest of the year.
A Small Note on Logistics
The event's own materials don't specify an age minimum, and the festival format (food, shopping, performances spread across the day) reads as appropriate for all ages, but as always with a large outdoor event, check Great Park Live's current FAQ and venue policy pages before you go if you have specific questions about strollers, outside food, or re-entry.
Why This Kind of Event Matters When You're House-Hunting Here
When people ask me what it's actually like to live in Portola Springs or Great Park, I always end up describing stuff like this — not the floor plan, the calendar. A neighborhood where a major cultural festival is a short walk away, rather than a reason to book a hotel in LA, is a different kind of "amenity" than a pool or a clubhouse, and it's one that's hard to put a number on until you've lived near it for a season or two. If you're weighing a move into either village and want to talk through what day-to-day life actually looks like here, that's a conversation I enjoy having — browse what's currently available or reach out directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Ektaa Diwali Fest 2026?
Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 1 to 9 PM at Great Park Live in Irvine.
Where is Great Park Live located?
300 Corsair, Irvine, CA 92618 — within easy reach of both Portola Springs and Great Park.
Do I need to buy tickets in advance?
Tickets are sold through Tixr with a donation option benefiting the Ektaa Center. Buying ahead is recommended, since pricing and availability can change closer to the event.
Is there parking at Great Park Live?
Yes — paid parking can be purchased online via Tixr through 11:59 PM the night before the event, or on-site the day of.
What's the highlight of the event?
A traditional lamp-lighting ceremony at 7 PM, followed by a drone show, after a day of Indian music, cultural performances, food, and shopping.
Thinking About a Move to Great Park or Portola Springs?
Events like this are a big part of why I tell buyers to think about a neighborhood's calendar, not just its square footage. If you want to talk through either village — or just want someone local to answer honest questions about what it's really like to live here — reach out any time.
