• Irvine Insider
  • Posts
  • Irvine Earns Top-Three Spot in 2026 Best Cities for Families Ranking

Irvine Earns Top-Three Spot in 2026 Best Cities for Families Ranking

Issue # 0640

Author

Joshua Tjia
27 May

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🏡🌟 Irvine Earns Top-Three Spot in 2026 Best Cities for Families Ranking

⚽️🥅 Irvine’s Great Park Becomes Home Base for U.S. Soccer’s World Cup Run

🧵🪡 Irvine Public Library Adds Sewing Machines to Library of Things Collection

🚜🍔🥗 Celebrate Father’s Day With BBQ, Tractor Rides, and Farm Fun at Tanaka Farms

💃🏻 Crean Lutheran Opens Registration for Summer Dance Camps in Irvine

☀️🧴 From Sunscreen to Shade: Easy Ways to Protect Your Skin This Summer

🌱🧤 Help Restore Local Wildlands at Irvine’s Native Seed Farm This Friday

🎶🌌 Enjoy an Evening of Live Music at Portola High’s Spring Instrumental Concert, May 30

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐕🐈‍⬛ Irvine Animal Care Center Celebrates a Week of Happy Adoptions and Reunions

🏃🏾‍♀️🏃🏾‍♀️ UC Irvine Sends Two Heptathletes to NCAA Outdoor Championships

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

⚽️ Irvine Valley Soccer MVP Cristian Sanchez Commits to Concordia Irvine

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓🚙 Irvine Police Arrest Two Men After Stolen Audi Found in Jeffrey Parking Lot

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

🌟🏪🎉Irvine’s Best Kept Secrets: Is Your Business One of Them?

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What do you call a mythical veggie?

A unicorn!

We hope this joke brings some laughter to your day! 😁

Irvine Earns Top-Three Spot in 2026 Best Cities for Families Ranking

A new WalletHub report ranked Irvine as the third-best city in the U.S. to raise a family in 2026, citing its low crime rates, strong schools, and family-friendly environment. Irvine had the second-lowest violent crime rate per capita, the 15th-lowest property crime rate, and ranked highly for education with a large share of well-rated schools and a strong high school graduation rate. The study also noted Irvine’s high percentage of two-parent families and one of the nation’s lowest separation and divorce rates.

Irvine’s Great Park Becomes Home Base for U.S. Soccer’s World Cup Run

The U.S. men’s national soccer team has selected Championship Soccer Stadium at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine as its main training base for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, temporarily displacing the Orange County SC from the venue. The U.S. team’s first public practice is scheduled for June 8 ahead of its World Cup opener against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium on June 12. FIFA and U.S. Soccer have upgraded the stadium with a new grass field, expanded locker rooms, security fencing, and media facilities. While Orange County SC faces temporary inconveniences, club leaders say the long-term exposure and association with the World Cup could bring major benefits for the organization and soccer growth in Orange County.

Irvine Public Library Adds Sewing Machines to Library of Things Collection

Irvine Public Library has added sewing machines to its Library of Things collection. The library received 10 sewing machines through the Southern California Library Cooperative’s EmPOWERING Access project, and each kit includes sewing essentials like thread, needles, a seam ripper, and the Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Sewing. The kits are designed for both beginners and experienced sewists looking to build or sharpen their skills.

Celebrate Father’s Day With BBQ, Tractor Rides, and Farm Fun at Tanaka Farms

Tanaka Farms is hosting a Father’s Day Hilltop BBQ on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., giving dads a chance to take a break from the grill and enjoy a family-friendly day on the farm. The event includes a tractor ride to the hilltop, all-you-can-eat BBQ with salads, sides, desserts, and drinks, plus games, photo opportunities, and visits with barnyard animals.

Reserve your spot here

Crean Lutheran Opens Registration for Summer Dance Camps in Irvine

Crean Lutheran High School is inviting students to join its Summer Dance Camps, where dancers can move, perform, and shine in a faith-based environment. The camps focus on developing dance technique, building confidence, and encouraging creativity through movement.

Families can learn more and register here

From Sunscreen to Shade: Easy Ways to Protect Your Skin This Summer

Protecting your skin from the sun is important at every age, and experts at UCI Health encourage making sun safety part of your daily routine all year long. Dr. Melissa Shive says sunscreen and other protective habits can help lower the risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging, while also helping people stay healthier over time.

Sun Safety Tips:

  • Apply broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30+ sunscreen daily and reapply every two hours when outdoors.

  • Wear sunscreen even on cloudy days since UV rays can still reach your skin.

  • Stay in the shade between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when sunlight is strongest.

  • Wear long sleeves, wide-brimmed hats, and UPF-rated clothing for extra protection.

  • Use sunglasses that block 99%–100% of UV rays to help protect your eyes.

  • Check your skin regularly for unusual or changing moles and consult a dermatologist if needed.

Help Restore Local Wildlands at Irvine’s Native Seed Farm This Friday

Join Irvine Ranch Conservancy on Friday, May 29, from 8–11 a.m. for a fun and rewarding morning at the Native Seed Farm in Irvine. Volunteers will help with simple hands-on tasks like harvesting seeds, planting, weeding, and caring for native plants that support local habitat restoration projects. It’s a great way to give back to nature, learn more about local wildlife and plants, and connect with the community — and no experience is needed.

Enjoy an Evening of Live Music at Portola High’s Spring Instrumental Concert, May 30

Join Portola High School on Saturday, May 30, from 6:30–9 p.m. for the Spring Instrumental Concert at the outdoor Portola High School Amphitheater. Bring camping chairs and blankets, and enjoy a variety of musical performances under the evening sky.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. May 29, 7:00-8:30 PM: Pops Gala Concert, NHS Theater

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://timbmusic.org/events/

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

  1. May 29, 7:00 PM: ​Broadway Rocks Concert, WHS Performing Arts Center

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://woodbridgechoirs.weebly.com/calendar.html

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

  1. May 29-30, 7:00 PM: Voices 2026, Irvine High PAC

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.ihschoralmusic.org/calendar.html 

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

  1. May 29, 7:00 – 9:00 PM: Portola High School Pop Concert, PHS Performing Arts Center

  2. May 30, 6:30 – 9:00 PM: Portola High School Spring Instrumental Concert, Portola High School Amphitheater

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.phsmusicbooster.org/buy-ticket

Irvine Animal Care Center Celebrates a Week of Happy Adoptions and Reunions

May 18–24, the Irvine Animal Care Center celebrated 7 pet adoptions, including dogs Gigi and Kale and cats Checker, Lily, Oleander, Panda, and Thelma finding new homes. During the same week, 1 dog and 2 cats were also reunited with their owners.

Find more information about adopting a pet from the Irvine Animal Care Center here

UC Irvine Sends Two Heptathletes to NCAA Outdoor Championships

Freshman Joy Anderson and senior Jolie Robinson will represent the UC Irvine women’s track & field team in the heptathlon at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, June 10–13. Anderson won the Big West title with a school-record, while Robinson placed second with a personal-best, marking the first time two Anteaters have qualified for the NCAA Championships heptathlon in program history.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

No further upcoming home games for this month.

Irvine Valley Soccer MVP Cristian Sanchez Commits to Concordia Irvine

Cristian Sanchez, a standout sophomore midfielder and team captain at Irvine Valley College, has committed to play NCAA Division II soccer at Concordia University Irvine after helping the Lasers win the 2025 Orange Empire Conference title. Sanchez earned OEC MVP honors while leading Irvine Valley to a 13-8-1 record and a Southern California Regional playoff appearance during his two-year career.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

No further upcoming home games for this month.

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With May Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

No further upcoming varsity home games for this month.

Irvine Police Arrest Two Men After Stolen Audi Found in Jeffrey Parking Lot

Irvine Police arrested two men after a stolen Audi taken from a parking garage on Miramonte was located in the Kohl’s parking lot on Jeffrey. Detectives conducting surveillance spotted suspicious activity with help from an off-duty officer who noticed the suspects looking into parked cars. Bashir Mohamud Abdi, 29, of Anaheim, and David Williams, 33, of Midway City, were arrested on charges including burglary, conspiracy, and vehicle theft.

Irvine’s Best Kept Secrets: Is Your Business One of Them?

We know our community is brimming with businesses that have fascinating stories and big hearts. If you’re a local business owner making waves, crafting unique experiences, or simply putting a smile on our faces, we want to chat with you! “Irvine Insider” is eager to shine a light on the unsung heroes of our city. Let’s collaborate and let the community know what makes your business special.

Click the link below and fill out the Local Business Spotlight Application Form to be featured and let’s celebrate the spirit of Irvine together!

Irvine Insider is sent to a local audience of Irvine residence Monday through Friday with 50% - 60% open rate. Our newsletter is a great way to reach Irvine residents.

  • Kaiser Permanente Irvine Farmers Market

  • Saturday Farmers Market at Mariners Church Irvine

    • When: Saturday, 8 AM - 12 PM

    • Where: 5428 Bonita Canyon Dr, Irvine, CA 92603

  • Great Park Certified Farmers Market

  • Manassero Farmers

    • When: Daily, 9 AM - 4:30 PM

    • Where: 33 Irvine Valley, Irvine, CA 92604

  • Tanaka Farms

    • When: Daily, 9 AM - 5 PM

    • Where: 5380 3/4 University Dr, Irvine, CA 92612

    • More Info:Tanaka Farms

We could use your help

We’ve got big plans as we get up to speed! But we need your help!

One huge way that you can help us is to spread the word for us.

Know somebody who lives in the Irvine and surrounding areas and would benefit from being kept in the know?

Please share Irvine Insider with them! It’s simple!

1