RETAIL ROUNDUP

The cows may have left the Orange County Fairgrounds, but when the swap meet returns to town Saturday, that country flavor will still be in the air.

The Orange County Market Place, which closes each summer during the weeks of the fair, is set to reopen its stalls Saturday to the bluegrass beat of Billy Hill and the Hillbillies, a regular attraction at Disneyland’s Golden Horseshoe Revue. The quartet, known as the Billys for short, has played the last two years at the first day back after the fair.

“They’re a lively group, and they have their own fan club, so they have a following,” said Jill Lloyd, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Market Place. “It’s a lot of fun.”

The band is scheduled to play from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. onstage near the Westside Grill at the fairgrounds. The swap meet runs 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday for the rest of the year.

Lloyd said the marketplace usually does its best business after the fair ends, especially as the holiday season approaches.

“It has a festival atmosphere for shopping, so we have vendors and so forth, but we’re always adding new entertainment, a kids’ play area, a lot of things going on for families,” she said. “Every weekend there’s always something different.”

Bridal event at Simon Pearce

Brides-to-be can get a free treat Sunday at South Coast Plaza as Simon Pearce, a glass and pottery store that opened at the mall three months ago, has planned its first-ever bridal registry event.

From noon to 6 p.m., women preparing to tie the knot can enjoy refreshments — including a wedding cake — and learn about the store’s registry system, in which couples can post wedding gift wish lists on a computer database. Everyone who comes in will receive a glass votive candle holder, and the store will raffle off six handblown champagne flutes.

No reservations are required for the event, located in the store on the Bear Street side of South Coast Plaza. Call (714) 825-0477 for more information.

Italy comes to South Coast Plaza

South Coast Plaza has another treat on the docket for this fall. From Oct. 4 to 29, the mall will host “Italy at South Coast Plaza,” a 25-day exposition featuring food, art, fashion and more.

The Italian Trade Commission is partnering with South Coast Plaza on the event, in which restaurants and retail stores will focus on Italian products. The mall’s Jewel Court will be transformed into an Italian piazza, while current and classic Italian films will be shown weekly across the street at the Regency South Coast Village theater.

“We’re bringing the global allure of Italy to Orange County, California,” said Debra Gunn Downing, the mall’s executive director of marketing, in a release. “South Coast Plaza will pay tribute to the great fashions, culture and history of Italy, and provide our guests a glimpse of Italy that they’ve never experienced.”

Kids can say cheese with a monkey

Anyone familiar with Paul Frank products knows the smiling face of Julius the Monkey. Saturday at This Little Piggy Wears Cotton, a children’s clothing store in Fashion Island, young customers can get their pictures taken with Julius and take them home framed for free.

The cartoon monkey will be available for photos between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the store, located at 929 Newport Center Drive. Anyone who purchases a Small Paul product — Paul Frank’s line for young children — will get a free coloring book or lunchbox based on the size of the purchase.

Call the store at (949) 718-0533.