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Orange County Great Park, Irvine, California
October 8-18, 2015

Things To Do

Experience the excitement of the Solar Decathlon! Check out the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Visitors Guide 2015 or explore these activities offered at Solar Decathlon 2015.

Tours

Take a tour of a U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon competition house or of the Solar Decathlon village. Tours are offered only during our public exhibit hours, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily:

  • Thursday, Oct. 8–Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015
  • Thursday, Oct. 15–Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015.

Two tour options are available:

  • Solar Decathlon Village Tours

    Docents are available on a first-come, first-served basis to provide 20–30 minute walking tours of the Solar Decathlon village. These tours depart every 15 minutes from the Welcome Tent in the Solar Decathlon village. 

  • Solar Decathlon House Tours

    See inside the Solar Decathlon houses and meet the team members who built them on a house tour. Each Solar Decathlon team provides tours of its competition house during public exhibit hours.

Solar Decathlon Events

Celebrate the Solar Decathlon with these competition events:

  • Opening Ceremony

    Join us as we kick off the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015! The Opening Ceremony takes place 9:30–11 a.m. on Oct. 8 in Hangar 244.

  • Contest Winner Announcements

    The first-, second-, and third-place winners of these contests will be announced at 10 a.m. in Hangar 244:

    • Oct. 15 – Affordability Contest and Market Appeal Contest
    • Oct. 16 – Architecture Contest and Communications Contest
  • Competition Awards Ceremony

    Join the celebration as we announce the overall winners of Solar Decathlon 2015! The final awards ceremony will take place Oct. 17 at 9:45 a.m. in Hangar 244.

City of Irvine Children's Activities Area

The City of Irvine will host a Children's Activities Area from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 10–11 and Oct. 17–18 in the Orange County Great Park's Palm Court and Farm + Food Lab. Families are invited for free interactive games, crafts, an inflatable obstacle course, face painting, and balloon artists.

Orange County Great Park Attractions

While visiting Solar Decathlon 2015, don't miss these attractions within the Orange County Great Park:

  • Great Park Art Gallery

    Starting Oct. 9, "Bold and Independent: UC Irvine's 50th Anniversary Exhibition" celebrates the university's 50th anniversary.
    Special event hours: 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Thursdays–Sundays

  • Great Park Carousel

    Featuring hand-painted artwork inspired by vintage orange crate labels and Orange County scenes, the Great Park Carousel is a favorite for kids of all ages. Carrying up to 36 passengers, the carousel is wheelchair-accessible.
    Special event hours: 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Thursdays–Sundays

  • Visitors Center

    The Visitors Center Pavilion offers restroom facilities as well as a lending library of footballs, soccer balls, Bocce ball sets, Frisbees, and jump ropes.
    Special event hours: 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Thursdays–Sundays

  • Farm + Food Lab

    The Farm + Food Lab is a hands-on gardening experience, featuring themed planters with fruits, flowers, vegetables and herbs. Themed gardens include the Pizza and Spaghetti Garden, an Ethnic Garden, the Fruit Salad Garden, and a Sensory Garden.
    Special event hours: 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Mondays–Wednesdays, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Thursdays–Sundays

  • Farmers Market

    Shop for fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables, breads, flowers and plants, and other items from local artisans.
    Regular operating hours: 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Sundays

  • Walkable Historical Timeline

    The timeline spans 2,604 ft and includes 162 historical milestones, beginning at 13,000 BC when humans reach the Americas and concluding with the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall.
    Special event hours: 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Thursdays–Sundays

  • Kids Rock Playground

    Kids Rock is focused on educating young guests about conservation ecology and the water cycle (condensation, precipitation, accumulation, evaporation).
    Special event hours: 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Thursdays–Sundays