Irvine Ranked No. 5 Healthiest City in America

Issue # 0602

Author

Joshua Tjia
02 Apr

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🎹🎠🌱 10 Exciting Things Happening in Irvine This April

🚙♻️ Free Used Oil Filter Exchange Set for April 11 in Irvine

✋🏼📅 Join the Volunteer Team This Weekend to Support 2/11 Marines & Sailors

🌸🥐 Spring Sweet Deal: Buy One, Get One Free 85C Rolls All April at 85°C Bakery Cafe

📚🚌 University High Advances to National Academic Decathlon, First in OC in 35 Years

🏙️🩺 Irvine Ranked No. 5 Healthiest City in America

♻️🌱 Free Compost Giveaway Coming to Irvine on April 18

🎶🎻 IUSD’s 42nd Donald Bren Honors Concert Showcases Top Student Musicians, Apr. 7

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐈🥣 How to Choose the Best Food for Your Growing Kitten

🏃🏽‍♂️ Track & Field: Logan Lyght Named UCI Anteater of the Week After Record Run

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

Why did the deer get braces?

He had buck teeth.

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

10 Exciting Things Happening in Irvine This April

April is packed with family fun, live music, comedy, outdoor adventures, and sports across Irvine. From jazz concerts and kid-friendly events to soccer matches, festivals, and live shows, there’s something happening all month long for every age and interest.

April happenings:

Free Used Oil Filter Exchange Set for April 11 in Irvine

A free and simple way to recycle while keeping up with car maintenance is coming to Irvine. The City of Irvine will host a Used Oil Filter Exchange on Saturday, April 11, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at O’Reilly Auto Center. Residents can bring in a used, fully drained oil filter and exchange it for a new one free.

Join the Volunteer Team This Weekend to Support 2/11 Marines & Sailors

Irvine 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee, Inc. is seeking last-minute volunteers for the Wicked Wine Run this weekend, with each volunteer shift earning a $50 donation that directly supports 2/11 Marines and sailors. Volunteer opportunities are available Friday, April 3, from 3–8 p.m. at Roadrunner Sports in The Market Place and Saturday, April 4, from 12:30–6:30 p.m. at Oak Canyon Park for the race.

Spring Sweet Deal: Buy One, Get One Free 85C Rolls All April at 85°C Bakery Cafe

85°C Bakery Cafe is celebrating the start of spring with a special April app-exclusive offer for members: buy one 85C Roll and get a second one free, available on the 2-piece and 6-piece options. The buttery pastry is filled with a rich cream cheese blend, and the reward can be redeemed once per member from April 1–30.

University High Advances to National Academic Decathlon, First in OC in 35 Years

University High School made history as the first Orange County school in 35 years to advance to the National Academic Decathlon, following an outstanding performance at the 2026 California Academic Decathlon. Both University and Woodbridge High Schools ranked among the state’s top teams, with University advancing to nationals.

Irvine Ranked No. 5 Healthiest City in America

Irvine has been ranked the 5th healthiest city in America by Niche and continues to stand out as one of the nation’s happiest communities, with 88% of adults reporting good health, high physical activity rates, and one of the country’s highest life expectancies.

  • The city is expanding its focus on wellness through new healthcare hubs including City of Hope, UC Irvine Health, Hoag, and Kaiser Permanente, along with a new municipal gym, the planned Health & Wellness Department, and community support programs like I-CARE, which handled over 4,300 calls in its first year.

  • Irvine also supports residents through mental health services, food assistance programs, healthy meal workshops, and local farmers markets, reinforcing its reputation as a city that prioritizes health, wellness, and quality of life.

Free Compost Giveaway Coming to Irvine on April 18

Give your garden a boost with free compost at OC Waste & Recycling’s Compost Giveaway on April 18 in Irvine, San Juan Capistrano, and Brea. Compost helps enrich your soil, while mulch keeps moisture in and weeds out. If you’re visiting Irvine or San Juan Capistrano, be sure to bring your own shovel and containers. You can also pick up compost and mulch year-round through OC Landfills.

IUSD’s 42nd Donald Bren Honors Concert Showcases Top Student Musicians, Apr. 7

The 42nd Annual Donald Bren Honors Concert takes place Tuesday, April 7, at 7:00 p.m. at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Presented by the Irvine Unified School District, the concert features vocal and instrumental music students in grades 5–12 performing pieces that showcase their talent and growth. Proceeds from the event directly support Arts IUSD and help sustain Irvine’s music programs for years to come.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. April 7, 7:00 - 9:00 PM: IUSD Honor Orchestra Concert

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

  1. April 7: 42nd Annual Donald Bren Honors Concert, Segerstrom Concert Hall

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.whs-music.org/

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

  1. April 7, 7:00 PM: IUSD Honors Concert, Segerstrom Concert Hall

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

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

  1. March 27 - April 2: Hawaii Choir Tour

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

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

No further upcoming events for this month

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

How to Choose the Best Food for Your Growing Kitten

Bringing home a new kitten comes with a lot of choices, and food is one of the most important ones. To help your little one grow strong and healthy, choose a kitten food that is specially made to support their early development.

  • Check the label first: Look for an AAFCO statement that says the food is complete and balanced for growing kittens or all life stages.

  • Pick food made for kittens: Kitten food has extra calories, protein, calcium, DHA, and important vitamins to support healthy growth, strong bones, and brain development.

  • Wet or dry both work: By 6–8 weeks old, most kittens can enjoy either wet food or dry food.

  • Keep them on kitten food for about a year: Most kittens stay on kitten food until they are around 12 months old before moving to adult cat food.

  • Switch foods slowly: If changing foods, do it over 7 days by slowly mixing in the new food each day to avoid upsetting their stomach.

  • Skip home-cooked diets unless guided by a vet nutritionist: Kittens need very specific nutrients, so it’s best to follow a planned balanced diet.

Track & Field: Logan Lyght Named UCI Anteater of the Week After Record Run

UC Irvine junior Logan Lyght was named Anteater of the Week after helping the men’s 4x100 relay team break the school record with a historic 39.84 finish—the first sub-40 second time in program history and a mark that now ranks 21st nationally this season. Lyght also won the 110m hurdles with a meet-record 13.99.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Baseball

  • Thu, Apr 2 - UC Davis, 6:00 PM

  • Fri, Apr 3 - UC Davis, 6:00 PM

  • Sat, Apr 4 - UC Davis, 1:00 PM

Men’s Volleyball

  • Fri, Apr 3 - Hawai'i, 6:00 PM

  • Sat, Apr 4 - Hawai'i, 6:00 PM

Women’s Tennis

  • Sat, Apr 4 - CSUN, 12:00 PM

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Men's Volleyball

  • Fri, April 3 – vs Golden West, 6:00 PM

Baseball

  • Fri, April 3 – Fullerton, 1:00 PM

  • Tue, April 7 – Golden West, 2:00 PM

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With April Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

April 2026

Monday, April 6

  • Lacrosse, Girls - 4:00 PM vs Sage Hill

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

April 2 Electrification 101 Workshop 6 – 7:30 PM

April 9 Free Grocery Food Box 9 AM - 12 PM

April 9 Jeremy Denk, piano 8 PM

April 11 Used Oil Filter Exchange 8 AM - 2 PM

April 11 Jazz in the Palm Court 1 - 3 PM

April 16 - April 21 Puccini's Turandot 8 PM

April 25 Silent Disco 6 - 9 PM

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