On Tuesday, May 20th from 5pm-9pm the Fullerton Museum Center will be hosting the release of "Tearing Down the Orange Curtain: How Punk Rock Brought Orange County to the World" with authors Nate Jackson and Daniel Kohn. 

Tickets are $60 and includes a book, one beer garden drink ticket, access to the panel discussion with Nate Jackson and Daniel Kohn with special guest appearances, and admission to the gallery. Noodles from The Offspring will be joining as a special guest.

Beer Garden opens at 5:00pm
Panel Discussion opens at 6:00pm
Book Signing at 8:00pm

Seating is limited, so purchase your ticket today.


About the Book
The untold story of OC punk—the loud, rebellious force behind the ‘90s explosion of the Orange County music scene, featuring stories about legendary bands.

When it comes to punk communities across the world, the Orange County punk scene stands out as an undeniable trendsetter that helped define the sound and style of the rapidly evolving genre. From hard luck storytellers Social Distortion and multi-platinum sellers like The Offspring to cult heroes like The Adolescents and T.S.O.L., there’s much insight to gain from the story of this popular though often misunderstood music scene.   

In Tearing Down the Orange Curtain, journalists Nate Jackson and Daniel Kohn explore the trajectory of punk and ska from their humble beginnings to their peak popularity years, where their cultural impact could be felt in music around the world. Delving deep into the personal and professional lives of bands like Social Distortion, The Adolescents, The Offspring, and their ska counterparts No Doubt, Sublime, Reel Big Fish, Save Ferris, and more, this book gives readers a deeper look into the very human stories of these musicians, many of whom struggled with acceptance, addiction, and brutal teenage years in suburbia.   

Through exclusive first-hand interviews, Tearing Down the Orange Curtain brings the 20-year period of OC punk and third-wave ska (1978-2000) to life, focusing specifically on the historical and musical roots of this creative explosion. Thought-provoking, meticulously researched, and refreshingly candid, this book presents a compelling narrative of how a suburban wasteland turned into a hub for rock-n roll culture, just over 30 miles away from the bright lights of LA.  


About Nate Jackson
Nate Jackson was born in Orange County and came up in the local punk scene, playing in bands and rumbling through the mosh pit in warehouses, DIY venues, and clubs across SoCal. He is currently the Deputy Editor of entertainment at the L.A. Times. He served as Music Editor for OC Weekly and was also a staff writer for the L.A. Times. His work has also been featured in the Village Voice, LA Weekly, VICE/Noisey, Dope Magazine, and others. He currently lives in Long Beach with his wife.

About Daniel Kohn
Daniel Kohn was born in New York City and grew up in Long Island but has long been mesmerized by Orange County punk rock. He lived in Southern California for nearly two decades, covering many of the artists featured in this book. Kohn’s work has been featured in SPIN, OC Weekly, Rolling Stone, Billboard, VICE, Noisey, SF Weekly, MLB, LA Weekly, and Village Voice. He currently lives in Nashville with his wife and son.

About Noodles From The Offspring
"Noodles" Wasserman is the lead guitarist and a founding member of the punk rock band The Offspring, known for his energetic performances and signature guitar style. He earned his nickname for frequently improvising—or “noodling”—on the guitar during rehearsals. A longtime California resident, Noodles remains an active force in the band while enjoying hobbies like surfing and collecting guitars.


Book Release & Panel Event for "Tearing Down the Orange Curtain: How Punk Rock Brought Orange County to the World"

Come join us to get into your punk spirit! This Creative Co-Op, we will be making custom denim patches. If you have your own denim jacket you would like to install studs and sew on patches please bring it!
Tickets are $30 and comes with one drink ticket and all supplies (except for jacket)
We hope to see you there!

Creative Co-Op: Punk Patches and Denim Jacket Install

Calling all treasure hunters and collectors, make a trip to FMC on Saturday, May 24th. Former collection pieces will be available for sale! We need to make room in our vaults, and several items no longer align with FMCA’s current curatorial focus. Proceeds from the sale will directly support the care, preservation, and growth of the museum’s collection.

We'll be sharing photos to highlight some of the items for sale on our instagram. Please support your local museum and stop by our special one day sale.

Doors open at 9am for FMC members. 10am for all access


Museum Vault Sale

On Thursday, May 29th we will be opening Horizons Unbound: The Art of Aerial Drone Imagery from the Southern California Drone Film Festival in our James F. Ranii Gallery. There will be a special artists' talk at 7pm.
This event is free to the public and will be held in our Wilshire Room.

Horizons Unbound: The Art of Aerial Drone Imagery from the Southern California Drone Film Festival Opening

Twice a month starting in May, FMC will be hosting special Punk Guided Tours by some of your favorite OC Punkers!! Both FRANK & ALFIE AGNEW from the Adolescents will lead you through our exhibit and share their experience. Limited capacity. Get your tickets today!

Tickets are $60 and comes with a drink ticket.

Punk OC Tour with Frank & Alfie Agnew

Pride Fest welcomes people of all ages, backgrounds and identities to come together and celebrate the LGBTQ+ Community
The even is open to the public and ADMISSION IS FREE.

Performance features, vendors, FREE photo booth, food trucks, and Beer Garden.
More details to come.

Apply for our Pride Fest TSHIRT COMPETITION. 

Submissions are due on March 28th, 2025

Judging will be held by the Festival's Pride Committee
The winner will receive a shout out on the Fullerton museum's Instagram and Facebook page, a printed shirt of their design in their size, and a stipend of $250.00

Theme: "Be You: Fullerton Pride Fest – Stronger Together" celebrates the power of individuality and unity within the LGBTQ+ community. This year, we embrace the beauty of being unapologetically yourself, while standing united in love, acceptance, and strength. At Fullerton Pride Fest, we come together to honor our diverse identities, amplify our voices, and support one another in the fight for equality. Let your true colors shine and stand strong with us — because together, we are unstoppable.


https://forms.gle/29y3t8gchQq8HaW97

Be You: Fullerton Pride Fest – Stronger Together

Join us for an inspiring afternoon on Saturday, June 14, at 1:00 PM at the Fullerton Museum Center, featuring renowned photographers Linda Aronow, Alison Braun, Dina Douglass, and Marla Watson—trailblazers who captured the raw spirit of the Southern California punk scene. These groundbreaking women documented the raw, rebellious energy of Southern California’s punk rock scene starting in the 1970s and ’80s—and carved out their place in a culture often dominated by men.


The panel will be moderated by Stacy Russo, author of 'We Were Going to Change the World: Interviews with Women from the 1970s and 1980s Southern California Punk Rock Scene.'


Following the discussion, guests are invited to tour the exhibition alongside the photographers, who will share personal stories and insights behind their iconic images.


Admission to the panel is included with museum entry. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to connect with the women behind the lens of punk history.


Punk OC: Featured Women Photographers Panel Discussion

The Fullerton Museum Center takes over Day of Music at the Downtown Fullerton Plaza. Day of Music is a free festival, open to everyone in the public celebrating music.

More information about performers TBA!

Day of Music

FMC will be hosting special Punk Guided Tours by some of your favorite OC Punkers!! TONY REFLEX from the Adolescents will lead you through our exhibit and share his experience. Limited capacity. Get your tickets today!

Tickets are $60 and comes with a drink ticket.

Punk OC Tour with Tony Reflex

Paper Bag Confessions. A 90 minute one man play
Staring Doyle Smiens. Co-Directed and written by Ann Wellman 

Hosted at the Fullerton Museum Center at The Wilshire Room
Tickets: $15
1:00PM Beer Garden Opens
1:30pm Performance Begins

About the play:
Doyle’s story is important and will resonate all too closely with our LGBTQ+ friends. 

For others, it is an intimate look into a man's life who beat the odds and finally stepped out 
of the shadows to let himself 
be seen. 

Listening to Doyle’s story makes all of us grow a little more connected, whether we had similar experiences or not. 