Vivid, Vibrant Santa Ana, CA a City of Celebration

Juan Miguel Porres, a.k.a. Juay, painted this massive, colorful mural. His style is a mix of urban art, 90s graffiti in NY, cartoon, pop art, Dadaism, and alternative comic aesthetics.

The first thing you notice when you drive into Santa Ana, CA, is that vibrant murals line almost every wall. This creative, art-driven city features more than 200 murals in every shape and style, especially in the historic downtown area, which locals know as Calle Cuatro.

This area— a melting pot of cultures including Latin American, Asian, Vietnamese, and more—feels like visiting another country, though it’s located in the center of Orange County, CA. Approximately 41 percent of the population was born outside the U.S., making it a truly unique in-country destination.

Santa Ana was named the county seat in 1889 and still houses Southern California’s oldest court building, constructed in 1901. Even if you’re not familiar with the city, you might recognize the courthouse, which appeared in both Legally Blonde and American Horror Story.

Murals for Miles

One of the best ways to get to know this intriguing area is to take a self-guided public art tour, which you can follow by visiting Travel Santa Ana’s public art page. The app provides photos, locations, and bios of the mural artists. Or you can simply look around—murals are everywhere: on the front and back of buildings, in alleys, on electrical boxes, and more. The artwork, which began with the Chicano movement of the 1960s, is now central to the city’s identity and continues to evolve every day.

The Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (OCCCA) hosts exhibits, concerts, art classes and more and is free and open to the public.

Santa Ana also has a thriving art scene, with creators of all types showcased in museums, studios, and art centers throughout town. The Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (OCCCA), for example, hosts exhibits, concerts, art classes, and more, and is free and open to the public. Grand Central Art Center (GCAC) features exhibitions, installations, and performances by local, regional, national, and international artists, exploring socially relevant topics through contemporary art. Its Artists in Residence program allows artists to live in the building—from one month to five years—to complete projects without the constraints of predetermined proposals and timelines, focusing instead on research, exploration, openness, and discovery.

Santa Ana’s striking historical buildings contrast beautifully with its more modern, multicolored murals.

On the first Saturday of every month, the city holds an Artwalk from 5–10 p.m., a free, all-ages, community-based arts showcase involving more than 20 galleries, as well as live performances, outdoor vendors, and more.

In spring 2026, getting around the downtown district will become even easier when the OC Streetcar is introduced. The modern streetcar will connect the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (a major transportation hub in Orange County) to downtown and a new hub in Garden Grove along a 4.15-mile route.

Michelada, Anyone?

More adventurous wanderers may want to try another self-guided tour—this one featuring micheladas on various menus.

Perla serves a mean michelada with clamato juice, Worcestershire sauce, Maggi seasoning, orange juice, lime juice, tapatio, ground pepper and trajin.

According to Travel Santa Ana’s website, a basic michelada is a Mexican lager “dialed up” with tart lime juice and served in a chilled, salt-rimmed glass. However, Santa Ana bartenders take their michelada mixing seriously, adding sauces, chilies, fruits, spices, and more to create one-of-a-kind libations.

The drink was invented in the 1960s by a man named Michel Esper, who began ordering his beer with lime, salt, ice, and a straw at a club in Mexico. Club members started asking for “Michel’s lemonade,” which was eventually shortened to michelada.

Today, visitors to Santa Ana can get flights of micheladas at Café Cultura (clásica, tropical con cultura, aguachile, and mango) or try one brewed on-site at Cerveza Cito. Chapter One: The Modern Local, a book-themed restaurant and bar, serves its micheladas in a stein, made with S’OK Mexican lager, housemade bloody Mary mix, and a tangy tamarindo stick. Native Son offers micheladas at its Saturday and Sunday brunches, along with a wonderful view of town from its roomy rooftop bar.

If you plan to complete the entire Michelada Trail—usually about seven stops, most in the downtown district—be sure to make time for food. Chapter One has amazing goat cheese, Italian provolone, and fire-roasted red pimentón enchiladas. Perla’s Restaurant is renowned for its mole, based on a family recipe with ingredients imported directly from Mexico. It also serves a memorable michelada with clamato juice, Worcestershire sauce, Maggi seasoning, orange juice, lime juice, Tapatío, ground pepper, and Tajín.

Perla’s Restaurant is renowned for its mole based on a family recipe, with ingredients imported directly from Mexico.

For dining combined with shopping, stop into Alta Baja Market, a woman-owned specialty grocery, café, and community hub celebrating the foodways of California, Mexico, and the Southwest. Owner and Master Preserver Delilah Snell not only has her own cookbook (Beginner’s Guide to Preserving: Safely Can, Ferment, Dehydrate, Salt, Smoke and Freeze Food), but also carries one of the largest collections of Mexican wine in the U.S., as well as curated craft beers, heirloom grains, spices, chocolates, and handmade goods.

Alta Baja Market’s blue cornbread is a must-try when in Santa Ana.

Menu highlights include the “gooey yummy,” a grilled cheese with housemade spicy pimento, and New Mexican blue cornbread. Pair either with the El Carnicero Michelada, a tomato-based michelada topped with breakfast botanas, and you’re eating like a local!

A City of Celebrations

With so much to offer, it’s no wonder Santa Ana likes to show off. In addition to the Downtown Santa Ana Artwalk, visitors flock to enjoy the Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival honoring Asian and Vietnamese cultures; the Mehregan Persian Festival; Fiestas Patrias, which celebrates Latin American independence and heritage; and the Mid-Autumn Festival/Moon Festival celebrating Vietnamese culture.

Noche de Altares, held in November, is a community-based event celebrating Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). It brings community members together through art, culture, and compassion, featuring altars in honor of family members and others who have passed. The Viva La Vida Día de los Muertos Festival attracts more than 50,000 participants. The city is also known for the Blading Cup—the largest rollerblading event in North America. Founded in 2011, it attracts more than 100 athletes from roughly 20 countries to participate in contests, live performances, a trade show, and more.

To learn more about all that Santa Ana has to offer, visit www.travelsantaana.com.