This is mostly for the VIP area. I'm at the age where I don't want to stand for an entire show nor do i want to push and throw elbows with fellow music fans. Bought reserved seats upstairs. Decent view of the stage. Great sound. I paid extra for premium parking. There is free parking within a couple of blocks. I think premium parking is worth it as I've heard there are predatory tow services that tow cars parked in lots of nearby CLOSED businesses. Douchey move. Enjoyed the show, food was decent "pub grub" but pretty limited menu. Nice selection of beers, cocktails and seltzers, really limited wine options. read more

Beware of towing! Paid $10 for parking and was in the wrong lot and car was towed. It would have been cheaper to Uber than pay $450 to the tow company in a crappy area of Santa Ana. The tow company demanded cash so had to go to an ATM in Santa Ana after midnight! Be very careful where you park. There is not enough parking for this venue. read more

I never have been to the Observatory before. I've been to every type of venue over several decades and the way PARKING is handled is the WORST. I'm writing this in line. I'm not in the venue yet. I prepaid $10 for parking. The attendant at the lot on sight said this lot is VIP $30 parking. He directed me where to park; following the signs. I ended snaking through a industrial/commercial building area, passing several empty parking lots. Finally found where I'm allowed to park. It's a third of a mile walk. Not a problem for me but ridiculous. Let's hope the venues sound is good. This place has been in business a long time and from reading other people's opinion on parking, management still doesn't have a clue. edit: security would not allow a sealed plastic water bottle to be brought inside. read more

I have been to many shows at the Observatory and I am quite disappointed with my last experience. I came to see Plain White Tees, New Found Glory and Yellow Card, who were playing at their festival grounds. I saw a bunch of bands play at that space many years ago, and it was a great time. I go to shows often and have never experienced something as horribly organized and planned as this. The first thing is that there was no approved parking in the nearby area. They had everyone park at Santa Ana College and take shuttles and buses to the venue. There are several businesses in the area, with large parking lots and it would have made way more sense to have people park there (even for a fee). We drove by one and there were actually security guards from the venue posted up, not allowing anyone in. I even asked a guy if there was paid parking options, because I really didn't like the idea of my car being so far away + feared the lines and getting back (post show). We couldn't find an alternative, so we did park at the college and waited in an enormous line to take a city bus. The bus was packed with concertgoers and was not comfortable, with many of us standing. The driver drove extremely erratically and I felt very car sick. He slammed on the breaks and even stopped in the middle of the road at one point. I was so happy to get off the bus and we realized the driver dropped us off at the front, which meant we had to walk nearly a mile to get into the back of the line. The line moved somewhat quickly, but it was wrapped around the nearby buildings 2xs. It was so awful, especially because that whole experience made us miss the first band, despite getting there over an hour early. I heard many other people talking about how terribly organized this was and how they came just for the first band and were pretty upset. Going through security was ok, but they made some people go through the serpentine line and others didn't, so if you were the one in the serpentine line and your friend didn't, guess what, they're waiting for you! It's just so strange, everything felt so horribly planned, despite the fact that this is what the venue does on a regular basis. I honestly don't feel a huge draw to go back to this venue for a long, long time. read more

Last night's show was SO FUN!! 1. Opener: Megan McDuffee--beautiful vocals, danceable beat, lovely personality on stage. 2. Magic Sword--we'd seen them live at the Wiltern when they opened for Avatar in 2021. Three band members: drums, electric guitar and keyboard. Superbly entertaining, with their mythology about a magic sword that the keeper wields to fend off the evils of the universe. People in the audience were waving their LED blue swords and glow sticks along with the beat--exhilarating and mesmerizing! 3. Dance with the Dead --last saw them in San Diego in 2017, tried to see them again along with magic sword and avatar in 2020 but that was cancelled because of COVID, finally got to see them live last night and it was epic! No wonder this tour is called the FACE OFF tour! Dance with the Dead and Magic Sword brought their kick$&* danceable energy and the crowd went wild! So, the concert was 5/5! The venue was 4/5-love the intimate space, appreciated that the sound was balanced and not too loud. However, the parking situation was crazy. I realize the street construction by Santa Ana wasn't the venue's fault and they DID try to notify us that there would be detours... however, to designate three levels of parking as general-general; premier-general; and premier-premium is just stupidly confusing. We had the middle tier which made us think we went through the premier entrance but no, we had to do a U- turn in an already trafficky situation to go to the general entrance. Whatever. We got there. But maybe designate the tiers more succinctly and clearly?! Anyway the FACEOFF tour rocks! And the Observatory is still cool as a concert venue and we'll likely go again! read more

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My first time here, but definitely not my last! The Observatory is a fabulous venue in Santa Ana. Parking was easy for us as we'd purchased a pass and we arrived pretty early. The entrance process was licketty split - we carried everything in our pockets. Upon entering, there's a photo spot, merch off to the right, as well as a bar and outdoor seating. To the left of the entrance is a smaller room, this time used for vendors,, but I suspect could be a multi-use space as needed. Bathrooms - clean and well stocked throughout the night - are also this way. Up along a poster covered hallway, and into the concert area you go! There's the stage in the front and a bar in the back. It's GA here folks, but there's a balcony with seats above. We chose the first tier behind the dance floor as there's a standing bar/shelf that spans the railing which is great to lean on and space to put drinks down. The location was perfect for us - up high enough to see everything going on onstage, great view of the folks dancing, and again, offered a space for our drinks and a restful lean. The sound system and lighting effects were fantastic! The lighting perfectly fit the dark, moody, goth atmosphere while the music was as clean and powerful as you'd want. No muddy, echoy, indistinct sound here. And extra wonderful? A pumping AC that kept the packed house cool and fresh as everyone danced all night. Such a great concert and really, the perfect venue for it: intimate yet spacious enough for comfort. Really great venue! read more

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I went to The Observatory to hear & to see Gimme Gimme Disco in The Constellation Room. This event was put on by events producer Burwoodland (aka Ethan Maccoby & Alex Badanes). Mark Cuban recently gave a bunch of money to Burwoodland, so I thought this event would be decent. I was wrong. Gimme Gimme Disco was a hot mess. I did not at all have a good time. A ticket to this event cost $27-$31 depending on time of purchase, & parking cost an additional $15. The price & location led me to believe Gimme Gimme would be a well organized event with a properly prepared DJ who prepared a professional level DJ set. Not so, & not at all. Random disco music played before the DJ started, & then when the DJ started, I cannot say the mixing or transitions from one song to another were much better than simply letting songs play out on Spotify or Pandora or cutting to commercial on the radio. I wanted to give the Gimme Gimme DJ (Julimuah?) the benefit of the doubt, so I stayed for awhile to listen to see if the mixing got any better. The Gimme Gimme DJ did no real mixing. Songs were blended in at random points. A song with a tempo of 100 was played immediately after a song with a tempo of 115. Songs were regularly cut mid vocal etc. The quality of DJing/music was not good enough to expect people to pay money to buy tickets. I'm incredulous that The Obseratory would book such a mediocre event/DJ/etc. Because the Observatory is a venue where professional musicians often play, there was a sound guy or engineer on the sound board. I asked him what was going on with the DJ. I mentioned she was not doing any mixing at all. He agreed, & then he added: "Yeah. DJ culture has changed so much though." I do not know whether this was an apologetic statement. It is hard not to read/construe the statement like a subpar excuse. After speaking with the sound guy, I opted to request a refund, & to leave immediately. I asked a security/door staff to connect me with a manager. The security personnel referred me to management. Here is the gist of my dialog with the manager: Self: The DJ for Gimme Gimme Disco is not mixing at all. Songs are simply being played end to end with little mixing, beatmatching, etc. The dancefloor stops between tracks. It is just really bad. Sorry. Management: I hear you. Unfortunately, the Observatory cannot refund your ticket. Gimme Gimme Disco rented The Constellation Room so it is their event; not ours. They rented the room for the night. Self: Okay. I understand. Could you please put me in touch with the people from Gimme Disco who booked The Constellation Room & planned the event? Management: They (Gimme Disco) have a website, etc. [The manager then proceeded to show me the contact us page of the Gimme Disco site]. I realize the manager might not have legitimately known who from Gimme Disco coordinated the event. However, the Observatory staff did not make much of an effort to connect me with anyone who might actually issue a refund. A contact us form on a website is usually a dead end. So the rental format of some events, such as the Gimme Disco event I briefly attended, allows The Observatory to make money without much, if any, responsibility/accountability, & getting in touch with anyone representing an event results in being forwarded to a FAQ or Contact Us page. Seems like a pretty ideal business structure for The Observatory & any themed event planners booking events. The Observatory makes money renting space; the event makes money too. Anyone who feels or was cheated out of their money is left with no one to direct their complaint to--unless a website Contact Us page counts as a person. I obviously did not risk eating any food or drinking anything at The Observatory. I feared the drinks might be as bad as the music, so I walked back to my car sober, & happy to no longer be inside such an indifferent, disappointing, unprofessional, & impersonal venue. I am legitimately stunned that an event put on by Burwoodland & all the deep pockets behind it could be so utterly lamentable. I want a full refund. An apology from The Observatory &/or The Gimme Disco people would not hurt either. People should not have to pay concert level prices for crappy DJing, & a dismal ambience. I reached out to Alex Badanes for a refund. He initially suggested that I would be issued or given a refund. I never ended up receiving a refund. Neither Alex nor anyone representing Burwoodland followed through after the first hollow mention of a refund. Fake talent, mediocre event, & false gestures are the norm for Burwoodland & its reps. read more

Observatory - BS offer of a refund that never happened. - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

This is one of those rare venues that actually hits all my check marks. Easy to get to, right off the freeway and in an industrial area so less traffic in the evening. Now the missing star on my rating is due to parking. If you want to park on the lot in front of the venue,"VIP" parking they call it, it runs about $25. If you don't choose that option then you have to park a bit away and walk to the venue. Lines to get in are decent and move quickly. Security is actually chill here and does their job well. Bathrooms are easily accessible, well stocked and clean. Plenty of bars open with an open patio area that has spacious seating for all you gross smokers, haha yuck! Main stage area is decent size , sound quality top notch for this size venue. Different levels to stand and get a good view of the show. I like that for the punk and psychobilly shows they do allow pitting / wrecking. They do have a 2nd floor with another bar but those are for paid tables if you are into that kind of thing. I have seen all types of different shows here and have never been disappointed. Ready for the next one! read more

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This venue is a smaller venue located technically in Santa Ana, but it's in an area where Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, and Fountain Valley all kind of meet. This is my favorite venue to watch musicians that I like in OC and possibly one of my favorite small venues anywhere. For me, the schedule feels like it punches above its weight. I've been to a LOT of shows here over the years, especially when I only lived down the street a while back. The folks are usually, if not always friendly and the drink prices I feel like are on par with other concert venues. I will say, though I think they have a slightly better selection in whiskey than I've seen at other places. I can't speak to the parking because there's this area I've been going to for years that requires me to walk just a couple of blocks. Most recently, I went to see a band I've loved a long time for a Halloween show - The Faint. And as expected, the show was amazing. Standing in the place, I forgot how much I loved this venue. It's been a long time since I've been to a show here. Some other I've shows I've really enjoyed here: At the Drive-In 3/22/2016: Of all places, this was their first stop on their reunion tour in 2016. One of my faves in college and in my 20's. Never got to see them live in the early 2000's before they split. So I was really excited for this show and such a perfect venue for them. Jenny Lewis 8/2015: such a fun show...Rilo Kiley had broken up by this point. Alkaline Trio 6/2015: One of my faves for a long time and so glad I got to see them at this venu. Yelle 4/2015: French musician. I really loved here album that came out around this time. Trampled by Turtles 2013 There were some other shows I've really enjoyed, but just can't think of them... read more

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First of all the venue is great Concert was great Great sound Problem allegedly the park was prepaid and sold out.so go park on the street We were told by the parking attendant Area was completely isolated but pay attention to the signs $450 dollars later Car got towed Never going again read more

First time here and and happy with $10 parking in a business park - way across the street (a bit of a walk- don't wear heels) rather than parking right outside the club for $30!!! Shocked that the OC has prices like Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. There is also something else to consider before you even use your actual tickets to enter the facility - Fast Lane, which is early entry (6pm instead of 7pm). I think it might vary by show but when I went, it was $25 for Friday & $20 for Saturday. I did love this up close experience to see my favorite punk band, X. Their first & second shows here took place on Friday, December 27 & Saturday, December 28, 2024. After getting the lay of the land on the first night, I ended up paying for Fast Lane for night two and was in the very first row, leaning on the stage. Sound & lighting were good and the view was good everywhere in the main room (the observatory). I didn't have anything to eat/drink, but there were options available. Merchandise is usually on sale at the back of the room. It's a bit of a drive for me from the San Fernando valley, but I'd come here again for a band I really wanted to see. Thanks for having X here! read more

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The staff are nice and fast with check in. The room is well decorated but it can get very stuffy. The drinks are reasonable. You can request less ice in cocktails. Do not buy parking in advance online. The GA parking is very far from the entrance. They sell parking right in front of the entrance for $30. The music and the lights are ok. They are not night clubs so we can't expect too much. The venue has 2 rooms which have different events. You can walk by and check out the other easily. Will come back for upcoming events since it is so close to home :) read more

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Nice standing room only with both level upstairs has a full view of the staff and front downstairs. Big long bar with friendly staffs, they do have snacks & beers & cocktails as well as non liquor. Went here for club90: heated rivalry night...and it was a blast with packed house. Well managed from outside security & to inside. They do have exit doer right inside so easy to exit plus 2 bathrooms (one and the same room) and one is outside. Plenty of outdoor seating area (benches) and bars throughout the venue. VIP parking right infront or their regular parking lot is across the street about 5-7mins walk. Staff are nice and friendly overall. Really enjoy this place & felt safe. read more

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Entrance is HORRIBLE. Went to see Yellowcard last night. We arrived to the shuttle at 5:30. Crazy long line there. Took about 45 minutes to get on a shuttle, another 15 to get to the venue, and when we got there we were welcomed with a line that was a little over a half mile long. 40ish minutes later we finally got to the gate after missing the first band entirely (Plain White T's) and 3 songs of the second band (NFG). When I was approaching the metal detectors, I heard security say "screw it, let them in!" And stopped checking bags or people setting off the detectors in an effort to speed up the process. The sound was great (parking lot show) but the parking situation with shuttles was atrocious. They need more than one entrance, and they need more gates. Absolutely no reason that line should have taken so long. read more

Came here for a show for the first time and was pleasantly surprised by the venue. It's located in a business park that's quite unassuming, with plenty of parking available up front (it's $30). Security and check-in was a breeze and the staff was very friendly. They offered VIP seating on the second floor for $20 which wasn't bad, especially considering there was a private bar and bathroom up there too. If you like your space and want somewhere to sit, I recommend this. The venue itself is great, I liked the arena style setup so that you can get a decent view of the stage from anywhere, and the sound was solid too ( though in the VIP area the sound was a little quieter which allowed for me to talk with friends). I think the stage production could improve a little bit as it is a bit lacking, but overall I liked this intimate venue and would happily come back for a show. read more

Observatory - Views from the floor - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Absolutely the best venue to see The Buttertones! The sound was magnificent, the VIP section clean and the restrooms..: I never thought I will ever describe a public place as divinely pleasant. Squeaky Clean. Our VIP view from the balcony was unobstructed. Until of course a group of 8 young fans got seated right in front of us in a very very empty space. It's like seating alone at the Hollywood Bowl and some group choosing the section in front of you. Luckily after 3 songs, the considerate staff noticed our not so perfect arrangement and discreetly told us to sit anywhere we wanted to make our experience more pleasant. We took the offer. And we will soon be back for another show in a few weeks. I'm so happy The Observatory exists. Only caveat, if a show happens on a rainy day, they require you to put your umbrella back to your car and walk back in the rain.... The utter definition of pointless. We were obliged for them to confiscate it. Thankfully my cute umbrella only costs cents read more

Observatory - The Observatory OC, VIP SECTION - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Love this venue, it has been one of my favorites since I was a teen. The venue itself is super intimate and is standing room only. The staff are friendly and efficient. The one downside is that parking is far and not cheap. But overall, one of my favorite venues read more

Observatory - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Really nice venue with an intimate setting for shows and artists. I was in the pit but honestly I would've loved to opt for the seating above as even up there it was a clear view! read more

Observatory - Outside - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Been coming here forever. We are lucky to have this place. Super convenient to get to. Parking is easy. For 30 bucks you can park 30 feet away from the entrance. The rest is 15... Pro Tip. Don't park in any of the surrounding businesses's lots that say "no parking". You will be towed. It happened to me. Tow trucks are just sitting around waiting for someone to park there so they can tow them. They do not need to be called. They just sit around and grab your car. They have permission from the owners. Quick lines through security.. Food is surprisingly good. The main stage is great. I am shorter so I like that the audience is tiered so everyone can see. For Agent Orange it was $60 extra to sit upstairs in a booth. Well worth it! I greatly prefer this place to the House of Blues Anaheim..... read more

Observatory - Agent Orange!!!!! - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Awesome venue. Like truly awesome. I have gone to plenty of other concert venues and this has to be the best one so far. First off the parking is easy (even though we Uber-ed) I saw how much of an ease it was for others to get in and get out. The organization was *chefs kiss* no cutters, no confusion, no tolerance for people being dummies; my kinda place. Once you pass security check, there are many people inside guiding you where to go and do so with a smile. The sound was great. Enough to make you boogie and not annoyingly loud or obnoxious. We were front row and we loved every bit of it. I can't tell you if the drinks were any good, because I am over 6 years sober (yay me), but the Diet Coke was legit. Restroom lines were never excessively long because they have multiple (one in the back, one in the front). Cool place. Loved it and hopefully I will return! read more

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The exterior of this venue has changed quite a bit in the 10+ years between visits. Back in the early 2000s it felt small, unassuming, and honestly kinda run down. But I don't mean that in a bad way. Now, the exterior has gotten a huge facelift. It's welcoming yet unassuming. But it definitely feels more like an actual concert venue. Inside, however, it doesn't feel like much has changed. And that's fine. The interior is small and intimate. The semi stacked standing room layout lets people have a great view of the stage even if you're towards the back. If you're short, you don't have to worry about not seeing a thing. Sound quality is good to. Nothing sounds blown out and you can really hear all the instruments well. Sometimes these smaller venues have really muddy mixes where you can't really call out the individual artists or instruments. There is one thing I do want to call out though. I bought my parking early online for 'premiere parking' thinking that that would get me a spot right outside. I knew the venue had a small lot so I wanted to be able to walk out of the venue and get in my car. When I showed up to the venue, I was told that I had to go basically 2 blocks away to a different lot to park then walk back to the venue. Was it far? No. But was it annoying and not what I was expecting? Absolutely. It just felt somewhat like a bate & switch going on. So, just be aware of that when trying to buy parking ahead of time. read more

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My first visit to The Observatory Festival Grounds left a lot to be desired. An hour long entry line meant missing the opening act entirely, and the restroom count was nowhere near adequate. 8,000 attendees at an alcohol-serving event requires roughly 200 porta potties, and this fell well short. The sound system was genuinely impressive, but great audio can't compensate for basic logistical failures. read more

Parking is the WORST I've experienced in my entire life. Was unfamiliar with the venue and didn't understand the parking situation until I was at the venue. Premiere lot FULL. General lot FULL. Parking attendant "Lot's full you'll have to find somewhere else" Me "Where?" Parking attendant "Don't know, you got this dude, move along" There are NO PUBLIC LOTS or street parking anywhere within 2 miles of the venue. 45 minute walk once you find it. So sad the parking experience completely overshadows the shows. read more

Who ever the event director is for the tonight's event show be fired. What 3 year planned this event and had zero signs anywhere. On top of that, parking is atrocious. Absolutely the worst management of an event i have even seen. Wow!! read more

Watched Dustin Kensrue of Thrice perform his latest album and of course, he killed it. Them country vibes were strong that night. About the venue... First timer, but it felt instantly cozy; wood leather and exposed brick seem to be the predominant materials. And although I'm sure there were lots of people on the ground floor, I opted for tix up on the balcony; I'm short and need counter space for my drinks and phone. Also, I'm at the age where sitting down at a concert is my vibe. But before heading up to the balcony, we dropped by the bar and ordered some snacks and drinks... THE FOOD. - Pizza Fries | Melted mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and marinara sauce on top of thick fries. Weird combo but it's pretty good. - Pretzel | Soft. Medium. Nothing much more to comment on. THE DRUNK DRINKS. - Jameson and Gingerale | Sweet with a whiskey kick. - Double Shot of Jameson | It was necessary. THE PARKING. We pre-paid online for parking at the venue. Worth it if you hate having to figure out parking. COMING BACK? Yes! The vibe was my vibe. read more

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This place is so beautiful. There is no parking though so I did like a 30 minute hike to the location, which I didn't mind but the parking is definitely really hard but once you're inside, it's so worth it read more

First time I was here was 2016 in the smaller room, and I wasn't disabled then. I came for a Summer Set show and I was pretty worried, considering some of the reviews here about accommodations, but I've had nothing but an easy time! Every staff member was super helpful, but the reason I'm writing this is to recognize one of the bartenders-- I missed getting his name, but he was the bald gentleman on the far right if you're facing the bar. I recognized that my sugar was getting low and went to get some water and see if there was candy or something just as an emergency boost, and he took good care of me and made sure I got some orange juice in me. It was that kind of care that makes me wanna come back here! Otherwise, ADA section was good. Not too full. I did end up using a stool since the seat on my walker is pretty low and the wall is kind of high, so be aware of that if you use a wheelchair/can't transfer out. Bathrooms were super clean! Fries weren't super salty which was a bummer but they were perfectly hot and crispy so that wins me back. Parking was super easy, I paid for premium so that I didn't have to go too far with my walker. read more

Observatory - view from ADA section - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

NO PARKING! Rude parking staff. Very little street parking, all taken. What a disappointment. Will not come back. read more

First time in a long time. A guard named Joe S used to work there he was the only reason I used to come, his professionalism and work ethic was unfathomable. But some guys named Marley and Cole who still work there now are great they need raises, but Joe S shoulda became the owner. Miss him :( read more

Poor management, poor service. And if you look at the rest of the reviews youll see they will never change but whoever gigi is needs to learn how to deescalate situations. Besides the fact that this venue is only good for the artists that perform here, the service provided during stressful times will just result in loss of your tickets, loss of your vip table and zero room for accommodation. You would think a woman and member of management would want to provide good service and listen to their paying customers but she just had a power trip. read more

My husband and I came here to see Chelsea Grin and other metal bands. I liked this venue. Easy to get in and easy to get out. The venue is small and intimate. The sound quality was decent. It seems no matter where you were standing, you would have a good view. I bought seats on the balcony floor and not only was the view perfect to see the bands play but we were safe away from the moshing, people surfing and diving haha! It was entertaining to watch though. I didn't get food but some food options are offered here. I did get a patron margarita. Expensive but that's to be expected and at least it was good and strong. I liked how there was an outdoor patio to hangout, reminded me of a patio area of a brewery. Fun night out and awesome music! What more could one ask for :) read more

Observatory - Give you an idea of our view from the balcony. Bravo to Signs of the Swarm! - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Came here for a Ziggy Alberts' concert and had a good experience. The security guard and bartender were chill. The venue is pretty small, but I like how it's staggered so it's safe for shortiesss. Even though it was a little crowded, it was SO COLD. The AC be blasting! The restroom is pretty clean too so I appreciate that! Paid for parking, but tell me why it's 2 blocks away?! But it's cool, I was able to walk off my dinner and get some mini cardio in B) ! read more

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Was there last night to see Trish Toledo Which was supposed to be a surprise for my Fiancé But unfortunately the parking Girl Killed it ‍ When I was paying for parking I told her it's a surprise for my fiancé then she continued to say ohhh He likes Trish Toledo Girl you killed it !!! We laughed it out anyways the place is nice we liked it Clean and people are friendly Will definitely go again I recommend dressing casual no High Heels girls please your gonna be standing for a long time Will definitely be back read more

Awesome venue! I have been here several times, & I have never been disappointed. There are no bad spots to watch the show, the bartenders are cool, the entire staff are friendly. read more

This is the absolute worst venue I have ever been to. There is absolutely no parking. The line to get in went all the way down the street probably half of a mile and took 40 minutes. Would not recommend shows here. We pretty my much missed the show due to how badly this place is set up. read more

Very cool space! Levels to GA were beneficial for creating many front row areas. I was behind tall people and didn't have that experience but that's just because rude people exist. Not the venues fault. A little confusing layout when you first arrive. Food is expensive but looks good. Security was very kind and friendly outside. read more

SKIP THE FESTIVAL GROUNDS SHOWS. We saw Yellowcard, New Found Glory and Plain White Ts. This is the worst experience I've had yet at a concert. The parking situation was a joke and took 45minutes. The security line was wrapped down multiple streets and we completely missed the opening band. Once inside food and drink lines were $30+ minutes. I've been coming to Observatory shows for years. Whoever ran this should be ashamed. read more

This is possibly the dumbest parking situation I've ever experienced. You have to park 8 miles away and take a shuttle. It takes 20 minutes to get there from the venue. There's literally no other option nearby because Santa Ana is an industrial hellscape. There were so many empty lots nearby, why don't they sell the spots! I'd rather go to the DMV than go to a concert here again. And similarly the food trucks have good food but took 40 minutes to get through what was the fastest line and I would've rather just had some 7-11 level food if it took half that. read more

Anyone have any issues parking at the observatory? Sold out VIP, sold out regular parking? Staff telling patrons to figure out your own parking only to have several people cars towed? Looking for you if you had your car towed at the Observatory post here. read more

Always a great place to watch a show! The bartenders are super friendly and the hosts for VIP and checking you in are as well. I always come to see TSOL play here and the venue never disappoints. Super easy parking and easy in and out. If I had to pick one thing that is a minor inconvenience ( to me ) it's that it's a cashless venue. I still like to pay cash but can't do it here. read more

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