Orange County historians took a look this year at a major milestone for our community: the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, which led to tens of thousands of refugees making a home here and giving birth to our Little Saigon.

The Orange County Archives Bazaar, now in its fifth year, is a deep dive into history and art hosted annually in March — the last few at the Irvine Great Park. In recent years, the event has looked at artists’ legacies, the art and the environment and the role of murals.

  • Giang Tran and her 4-year-old grandaughter, Gracelyn Ly, work on...

    Giang Tran and her 4-year-old grandaughter, Gracelyn Ly, work on a collage project during the OC Archives Bazaar at the Great Park in Irvine on Sunday, March 16, 2025. The event featured local history exhibits, presentations, and children’s activities. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Giang Tran and her 4-year-old grandaughter, Gracelyn Ly, work on a collage project during the OC Archives Bazaar at the Great Park in Irvine on Sunday, March 16, 2025. The event featured local history exhibits, presentations, and children’s activities. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Sunday’s bazaar, also held at the Great Park, explored the “idea of home through the lens of Orange County’s Vietnamese community” as Little Saigon has grown. There were conversations with artists, historical exhibits and activities for families, such as making zines and a Vietnamese storytime.

Along with the OC Archives in Action, participating in the event were the Anaheim Public Library, Cal State Fullerton’s Pollak Library and UCI Libraries. The event also tied into the Great Park Gallery’s current exhibition, “More Than You Can Chew.”