Check out our Register photographers’ favorite images from May 2026

Lexie Shehab, center, reacts after learning she is the 2026 Artist of the Year for the Pacific Chorale Award for Vocal Music during the Orange County Artist of the Year ceremony at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

One-year-old Jack Kelley checks out the annual Field of Honor with his parents, Emily and Scott Kelley, in Newport Beach on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The seemingly endless display of flags, honoring those who served, will be on display through Memorial Day. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

La Habra outfielder Georgia Rickenbacker celebrates as she rounds third base after hitting a home run in the bottom of the fourth inning during a CIF-SS Division 1 playoff quarterfinal against Orange Lutheran in La Habra on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Ducks Jackson LaCombe (2) reacts after the Vegas Golden Knights scored during the second period of game 3 of the NHL Western Conference second-round playoff series on Friday, May 8, 2026, at the Honda Center in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Rumi Fite, 5, waves an American semiquincentennial flag during a ceremony unveiling the new HB America 250 commemorative banner and red, white and blue lights on the Pier in Huntington Beach, CA, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Baptism volunteers Cody Novini, left, and Pastor Ben Houston from Ocean’s Church in Irvine, help Jeff Capler of Laguna Hills emerging from the ocean water just off the shore at Pirate’s Cove Beach in Corona del Mar during a mass baptism event, hosted by Baptize California, on Saturday, May 2, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Chapman University graduates celebrate after moving their tassels and becoming official members of the class of 2026 following the school’s annual Commencement Ceremony in Orange on Friday, May 22, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Miles Evans serves the ball, while playing with teammate Chase Budinger, during the quarterfinal round of the AVP’s Huntington Beach Open on Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Huntington Beach mayor Casey McKeon pulls down a tarp to reveal the new HB America 250 commemorative banner on the Pier in Huntington Beach, CA, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A pressurized tank filled with methyl methacrylate is sprayed with water at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, CA, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Ahmed Tijan dives in the sand to dig the ball, while playing with teammate Cherif Younousse, while the pair from Qatar compete in the quarterfinal round of the AVP’s Huntington Beach Open on Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Artist Jack Stricker puts the finishing touches on a mural paying homage to Duke Kahanamoku on the northern wall of Ace Hardware along Pacific Coast Highway in the Corona del Mar neighborhood of Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. The Hawaiian is the modern-day godfather of surfing, but also a rescuer who saved several boaters when a vessel capsized off Newport Beach, and an Olympic gold medal swimmer who would train in Orange County pools. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Elizabeth Pichardo hangs out in her car outside the Freedom Hall shelter at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley on Sunday, May 24, 2026. The family spent almost $600 on a hotel the past three nights and have decided to sleep in their car tonight. A pressurized tank filled with methyl methacrylate started leaking at GKN Aerospace started leaking on Thursday in Garden Grove causing large scale evacuations in Stanton and parts of Garden Grove, Cypress and Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Eight-year-old Jordan Mosley recently received an “ambient experience” MRI scan at Rady Children’s Health Orange County. The new technology allows children to pick from different themes and colors while undergoing the procedure that requires them to remain still for 20 minutes up to two hours. He looks through the tubular machine as saturated colored light backdrops him on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Over 1,000 kids form a giant artwork in the sand at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach, CA, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The artwork, part of Orange County Coastkeeper’s Kids Ocean Day, followed a beach clean-up where students from 14 OC schools picked up 150 pounds of trash. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Oscar Maye keeps his daughters, Lucia, 2, left and Violetta, 4, entertained at the Savannah High School shelter in Anaheim on Saturday, May 23, 2026. They were displaced from their home and spent the night there. Maye said the family, including his wife, and bulldog, Ladybird, had a comfortable stay but will be spending the next night at a relative’s house. The potential of a chemical explosion from a malfunctioning tank at an aerospace plant in Garden Grove caused the evacuation of 40,000 people.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Aquinas coach Loren McCoy leads the way into the pool as players and coaches celebrate their CIF championship win during the CIF-SS Division 4 championship meet at Mt. SAC Aquatic Center in Walnut on Thursday, May 7, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Federico Martinez has a heart-breaking ending to the OC Marathon on Sunday, May 3, 2026, as he falls to his knees and cries in memory of his mother, Maria Luisa, who died November 18. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Members of Christ Breaks Chains church pray outside Savanna High School in Anaheim on Saturday, May 23, 2026 where dozens of people spent the night after being evacuated from their homes. The potential of a chemical explosion from a malfunctioning tank at an aerospace plant in Garden Grove caused the evcuation of surrounding communities while officials figure out their next move. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Friends pay tribute to a 13-year-old boy who crashed his e-motorcycle on a median at Magnolia Street near Larson Avenue in Garden Grove Thursday evening. On Saturday, May 9, 2026, they lit candles, placed flowers and some popped wheelies and performed stunts at the accident site. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG

The Goodyear Blimp Wingfoot Three takes off from the beach south of the pier in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, May 15, 2026. The airship landed on the sand to deliver Pacific Airshow CEO Kevin Elliot, and his son Jett, to a press event to mark the 10th anniversary of the event. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Leonidas Long, 18, of Cypress zips home in his cap and gown after taking part in a graduation event at his former elementary School on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Long missed his last day of high school at Pacifica in Garden Grove because of the mandatory evacuation. He and his family also had to leave home. But he is now back in time for his ceremony on Wednesday. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A bird flutters near a window inside Driftwood Kitchen in Laguna Beach on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, after the bird entered the restaurant’s dining room through an open door. Restaurant staff quickly opened the windows and helped it escape. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Ton Tran gives a high five to one of his two sons as they carry bags into their home after days of being evacuated from their neighborhood in Cypress due to a hazmat incident in nearby Garden Grove on Monday evening, May 25, 2026. The Trans were able to stay with family in Huntington Beach as they, and tens of thousands of residents in several nearby cities, awaited the chance to return home. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Riley Rather of Whittier cheers as the clock winds down in the third period as they Ducks win 5-2 in Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Arnold Rivero, top left, and Mike Conrad, bottom left, take on Marina Walker, top right, and Delaney Trost in a game of pickleball on new courts at Laguna Niguel Regional Park in Laguna Niguel, CA, on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. OC Parks converted one tennis court in to four pickleball courts, brining the total 12 pickleball courts. Two tennis courts remain at the park. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Camila Amaya, 4, plays with a bag of candy as she sits in her family‘s tent outside Freedom Hall shelter at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Her family spent the last three days in their car outside the shelter, the tents are new. A pressurized tank filled with methyl methacrylate started leaking at GKN Aerospace started leaking on Thursday in Garden Grove causing large scale evacuations in Stanton and parts of Garden Grove, Cypress and Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Goodyear Blimp Wingfoot Three takes off from the beach south of the pier in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, May 15, 2026. The airship landed on the sand to deliver Pacific Airshow CEO Kevin Elliot, and his son Jett, to a press event to mark the 10th anniversary of the event. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Foothill players celebrate a home run by infielder Jaxon Foshay as he returns to the dugout during a CIF-SS Division 2 second round playoff game against Servite in Santa Ana on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Angels infield prospect Denzer Guzman got a brief taste of the major leagues last September, but he hopes to enjoy a longer stay this time around after being promoted from Triple-A on Monday. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)