Around Town: Newport Dunes to host annual Lighting of the Bay
The Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina will host its 29th annual Lighting of the Bay celebration on Saturday from 3 to 9:30 p.m.
The free event includes live music, cookie decorating, train rides, a screening of “Elf” and a visit from Santa Claus. The lighting countdown begins at 5 p.m.
The resort is at 1131 Back Bay Drive in Newport Beach. For more information, visit newportdunes.com/event/29th-annual-lighting-of-the-bay or call (949) 729-3863.
Christmas tree lot sprouting at O.C. fairgrounds
A Christmas tree lot will take root at the OC Fair & Event Center from Friday through Dec. 18.
Daily hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Fair & Event Center is at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa.
For more information, visit seasonaladventures.com.
SeaLegs will host series of seasonal seaside celebrations
Starting Friday, SeaLegs at the Beach in Huntington Beach will host a series of family-friendly, beach-themed holiday events through Dec. 22.
Offerings on tap include carnival rides, live music, a Christmas tree lot and food.
Admission is free, but fees may be charged for some activities.
For more information and a complete list of events, visit sealegsgreetings.com.
SeaLegs is at 17851 Pacific Coast Hwy.
Carolers to serenade at Roger’s Gardens for holiday season
The Lil’ Dickens Carolers will entertain visitors to Roger’s Gardens — 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road in Corona del Mar — on select nights through Dec. 22.
For more information and a complete performance schedule, visit rogersgardens.com.
Learn flower design at Centennial Farm
Centennial Farm in Costa Mesa will host a floral design workshop Saturday.
The $40 class will teach the basics of Ikebana floral arrangement and design from 10 a.m. to noon.
Guests are asked to bring their own scissors and/or snippers.
Registration is available at ocfair.com/gardenclasses.
Centennial Farm is in the OC Fair & Event Center at 88 Fair Drive.
Holiday design event comes to Costa Mesa
Holidays by Design — an annual event featuring festive activities and shopping — will return to South Coast Collection and the OC Mix this weekend and continue on Saturdays through Dec. 21.
Mrs. Claus, live music and photos will be part of the festivities at the commercial center at 3313 Hyland Ave. in Costa Mesa.
Santa to appear at Pelican Hill resort
The Resort at Pelican Hill will ho-ho-host Santa Claus on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 23.
Festivities start at 3 p.m. Santa will pose for photos and tell stories. Admission is free for locals and guests at the resort, 22701 Pelican Hill Road South in Newport Coast.
For more information, visit pelicanhill.com/family-fun.
Humorist to appear at H.B. Barnes & Noble
Adrian Maher, a television producer and former Los Angeles Times reporter, will discuss his new comedic memoir, “Uninvited: Confessions of a Hollywood Party Crasher,” on Sunday at Barnes & Noble in Huntington Beach.
The presentation begins at 4 p.m. in the bookstore, 7881 Edinger Ave.
Historical Costa Mesa bell tower to be lighted during community event
First United Methodist Church of Costa Mesa will light its historical bell tower during a community event Sunday.
The moment happens at 7:15 p.m., though the festivities start at 5 p.m. The church is at 420 W. 19th St.
Viewing will be available from across the street at Triangle Square, 1870 Harbor Blvd. The rooftop of the commercial center also will host other activities, including cookie decorating, a holiday art project, Christmas carol sing-alongs and photos with Santa Claus.
The event is free. For more information or to get tickets, visit ShineBrightCM.com.
Balboa Bay Resort gets in the holiday spirit
The Balboa Bay Resort’s annual tree-lighting ceremony will be Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m.
The free event will include live music and treats. The resort also will collect unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots.
The resort is at 1221 W. Coast Hwy. in Newport Beach. For more information, call (949) 645-5000.
H.B. museum hosts annual open house
History buffs can check out the Newland House Museum in Huntington Beach during an open house Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m.
Admission is free.
The historic 1898 property at 19820 Beach Blvd. will be decorated for Christmas. There also will be a re-creation of Huntington Beach’s Japanese-American history, as well as demonstrations of Japanese and Japanese American culture.
For more information about the museum, visit hbnews.us/nwhouse.html.
Musical variety show will take the stage at OCC
The Orange Coast College music department will hold its first variety show Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the on-campus Robert B. Moore Theatre.
The show will include numbers from across the musical spectrum, including carols, jazz and selections from “The Nutcracker.”
Admission is $10 and tickets can be purchased at occtickets.com. OCC is at 2701 Fairview Road in Costa Mesa.
‘Peter Pan’ production coming to Laguna Playhouse
A production of “Peter Pan and Tinker Bell: A Pirate’s Christmas” will take flight at the Laguna Playhouse from Dec. 4 to 29.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit lagunaplayhouse.com. The playhouse is at 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.
New skincare clinic to open in Westcliff
SkinSpirit, a skincare clinic founded in 2003, will open a Newport Beach location at 2135 Westcliff Drive on Dec. 5.
For more information, call (949) 688-5880.
Be Laguna’s guest during annual Hospitality Night
The city of Laguna Beach and the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce will team up for their annual Hospitality Night on Dec. 6 from 5 to 10 p.m. in the Peppertree parking lot between Ocean and Forest avenues.
Festivities will include live music, cookie decorating, arts and crafts and an appearance from Santa Claus. A tree lighting is scheduled for 6:10 p.m.
Portions of downtown will be closed to vehicle traffic leading up to and during the event. For more information, visit lagunabeachcity.net/hospitalitynight.
‘Nights of 1,000 Lights’ returns to Sherman Library
Sherman Library & Gardens will be aglow next month with the return of “Nights of 1,000 Lights.”
The sixth annual event, which runs Dec. 6 to 22 at 2647 E. Coast Hwy. in Corona del Mar, will include festive light tunnels and disco music.
Tickets are $15 for library members and $25 for non-members. Children younger than 3 can attend for free.
For more information, visit thesherman.org/nights-of-1000-lights or call (949) 673-2261.
Fashion Island to spread cheer on the big screen
Fashion Island will screen a series of festive holiday movies throughout December.
Showings at the Newport Beach shopping center will include “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Dec. 6, “Elf” on Dec. 13 and “Home Alone” on Dec. 20.
Tickets are $10 and include popcorn. They are available at eventbrite.com by searching “Friday Night Flix.”
Each screening starts at 7:30 p.m. Check-in begins at 6 p.m. Fashion Island is at 401 Newport Center Drive.
Newport Beach collects toys for military families
The city of Newport Beach is collecting new, unwrapped toys and sports equipment, new or used DVDs and gift cards at several locations to donate to military personnel and their families. Donations will be accepted through noon Dec. 23.
Drop-off locations are: Newport Beach City Hall, 100 Civic Center Drive; Oasis Senior Center, 801 Narcissus Ave.; Newport Coast Community Center, 6401 San Joaquin Hills Road; Marina Park Community & Sailing Center, 1600 W. Balboa Blvd.; Police Department headquarters, 870 Santa Barbara Drive; Balboa Peninsula Fire Station No. 1, 110 E. Balboa Blvd.; Lido Fire Station No. 2, 475 32nd St.; Fashion Island Fire Station No. 3, 868 Santa Barbara Drive; Balboa Island Fire Station No. 4, 124 Marine Ave.; Corona del Mar Fire Station No. 5, 410 Marigold Ave.; Mariners Fire Station No. 6, 1348 Irvine Ave.; Santa Ana Heights Fire Station No. 7, 20401 Acacia St.; Newport Coast Fire Station No. 8, 6502 Ridge Park Road; Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave.; Balboa Library, 100 E. Balboa Blvd.; Crean Mariners Library, 1300 Irvine Ave.; and Corona del Mar Library, 410 Marigold Ave.
For more information, call the city clerk’s office at (949) 644-3005.
Lazy Dog benefit to help Habitat for Humanity
The Costa Mesa-based Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar chain is inviting guests to build gingerbread houses through Dec. 31 as part of a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity International.
Kits can be purchased for $5.95 at Lazy Dog restaurants.
O.C. Community Foundation celebrates 30 years of giving
The Newport Beach-based Orange County Community Foundation celebrated its 30th anniversary Nov. 20 at the Hotel Irvine.
More than 750 people attended the event for the nonprofit, which has awarded $630 million in grants since its formation in 1989.
The foundation is looking to reach a goal of $1 billion in 2024.
OCTA honors AAA, Pacific Life
The Orange County Transportation Authority recently honored local companies for their participation in the agency’s ride-share and van-pool programs, according to a news release.
Recipients included the Costa Mesa-based Automobile Club of Southern California and Newport Beach-based Pacific Life Insurance Co.
UCI researchers named to scientific society
Nine UC Irvine researchers have been named fellows of the American Assn. for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest general scientific society, according to a news release.
They will receive their official recognition in February during the association’s annual meeting in Seattle. Throughout its history, UCI has had 176 fellows recognized by the association, including the newest group.
UCI’s recipients are Tallie Z. Baram, the Danette Shepard chair in neurological sciences; Michael Franz, chancellor’s professor of computer science; Julia M. Gelfand, a distinguished research librarian for applied sciences and engineering; John S. Lowengrub, a chancellor’s professor of mathematics and biomedical engineering; David Neumark, distinguished professor of economics; Eric Rignot, the Donald Bren professor and chancellor’s professor of Earth system science; Zuzanna Siwy, professor of physics, astronomy, chemistry and biomedical engineering; David Van Vranken, professor of chemistry; and Marcelo A. Wood, professor and chair of neurobiology and behavior.
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