Mooning Of The Amtrak Date, Details History & Mug’s Away Saloon Party

The Annual Party Continues At Mug’s Away Saloon And Why The Mooning Of The Amtrak Is So Famous?

Part Orange County tradition, part roadside spectacle and part giant party, the Mooning of the Amtrak has attracted train-watchers, pranksters and curious spectators for decades. Here’s the history behind one of California’s strangest annual events.

This article was updated in 2026 after the 47th Mooning of the Amtrak

By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Events Blogger

Beers and rears returned to the Mug’s Away Saloon in Laguna Niguel for the 2026 as the Mooning of the Amtrak – Southern California’s unique bar-inspired event – as people say hi to the passing train passengers with a different kind of greeting.

People line up against the fence next to the tracks, drop their shorts and turn their behinds to the train, thus mooning the Amtrak and the people on board it.

It began in 1979 and 2026 was its 47th year. It was started by two guys who were drinking beers in the Mug’s Away bar. For some reason, they thought it would be a good idea to go out and moon the passing train and a tradition was born. It is held the second Saturday of July, which made it it July 11 in 2026 and makes it July 10 in 2027– and that is the day that remains to this day.

In the subsequent years more and more people joined in and eventually several hundred people took part in it, some even arriving and spending the night in motorhomes. This past year was the first time I had finally mooned the Amtrak myself – hey, why let others have all the fun!?

An attempt by the Orange County sheriff – he even brought in helicopters and unnecessarily spent tons of taxpayer’s money – to shut it down in 2008 caused it to drop in popularity but as proof that you can’t keep a good event down (unlike the pants on the participants) it is still happening today.

 

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The Mug’s Away serves as the host bar and even posts the Amtrak schedule on the wall. When the train approaches, people rush out of the bar and drop their shorts. The actual name of the train is the Pacific Surfliner and the conductor actually slows down as he approaches the area. A few people see it from all angles – they get on the train and then moon it from in front of the Mug’s Away.

It’s a cool and crazy scene, with sponsor tents taking up space in the parking lot. It goes on all day and even into the nigh, until the last train has passed by this location. It is important to note that this is not a family-friendly event!

Of course when you’re in the bar it’s not the “moons” you are looking at but the boobs on the bodacious bartenders.

Mooning of the Amtrak Q&A

Where is the Mooning of the Amtrak?

It is outside of the Mug’s Away Saloon in Laguna Niguel, CA, which is in south Orange County about 10 miles north of San Clements

Is there a cost to go to it?

Nope, it’s free.

How does it work?

You arrive at the scene and jump right into it. The parking lot has several food and merchandise vendors and you walk among the crowd, go inside the adjacent Mug’s Away Saloon to get a beer ($8 for a regular, $11 for a tallboy and $9 for a draft) or cocktail ($12-14; Jell-O shots are $3 – this is pricing as of 2026) and hang out in the bar or outside. When a train approaches you go across the street and prepare to moon it.

Can you take your drinks outside the bar?

Yes, and you can also take your drink inside the bar. You can have a drink in the parking lot but do NOT take one across the street when mooning a train. There is a police presence and you might get a ticket if you are caught with a drink ouside of the parking lot. The police just keep an eye on things, by the way, and do not at all interfere with the event.

How long does it last and what are it’s peak hours?

The event starts with the first train early in the morning and lasts until the final train passes by after 11 p.m. The “best times” to be there are between 1-6 p.m, with a peak between 2-5.

How do you know when the trains are coming by the area?

You can look at the schedule on the Amtrak website or app and there is aos  sign by one of the vendor booths. Volunteers also walk thorugh the parking lot blowing air horns to signal the arrival of a train. Both Amtrak and Metrolink go past the event

How do you “moon” the Amtrak?

You walk up to a fence and as a train approaches,  you turn around so your rear end faces the train and you pull down your shorts to expose your behind. How far you pull down your pants is up to you but most people only show a little bit of skin.

Is this an adults-only event?

Yes

Links
• Mooning Of The Amtrak First-Person Review
• Mooning Of Amtrak Website
• Mug’s Away Saloon Facebook Page
• Mooning Of The Amtrak Instagram

Kevin Wilkerson is the founder of PubClub.com, an award-winning journalist and nightlife expert who has covered destinations, events and entertainment for more than two decades. While working as a newspaper reporter, he received an Associated Press award for investigative journalism.