Newport Beach Fashion Island Tree Lighting Ceremony

November 22-December 29, 2024, 5:30-8 p.m.

Fashion Island
401 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA
Free, shopfashionisland.com

For the 2024 holiday season Fashion Island is expanding its Holiday Tree experience and seasonal festivities. Each evening beginning November 22 through December 29 a holiday celebration takes place, including the lighting of the iconic 90 foot holiday tree, with a magical choreographed light display with holiday music and snow on the half hour every evening from 5:30-8 p.m.

Nights of Coastal Lights

Returning in 2024, the theme from last year, Nights of Coastal Lights, returns with the spectacular, 90-foot tree, once known as the tallest fresh cut Christmas tree to grace Orange County. While Fashion Island once claimed fame to the tallest tree in Southern California, as well, other shopping malls rose to the challenge and now you can see:

a 96-foot white fir tree in nearby Fashion Island (Costa Mesa)...

a 100-foot white fir Christmas tree at The Grove in Los Angeles and...

a 115-foot white fir tree at Citadel Outlets in Commerce, which is billed as "World's  Tallest Live-Cut Tree"!

Fashion Island's beautifully decorated 90-foot tree comes to life with magical snowfall, music and a choreographed light display in the Neiman Marcus - Bloomingdale's Courtyard, every half hour. Nightly Scheduled Times: 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m. Join the annual Tree Lighting nightly through the holidays.

Santa's House and Santa himself will be back in-person this year. Stick around after the Tree Lighting to see Santa in his Christmas cottage. He will be waiting in his cozy shelter at Atrium Lawn to hear your wishes and to take photos.

When my parents were alive and visiting from California's Central Coast, I brought them to Fashion Island to see the Christmas Tree lit up at night. My folks had lived in Orange County and visited Fashion Island in Newport Beach hundreds of times but missed the sights as they opted for a slower pace among strawberries fields and smaller cities of Santa Barbara County. When my mother saw the splendid tree she was amazed and looked in wonderment with the eyes of a child. It was so special to see. Fashion Island may not always have the tallest tree but when you're looking up to the sky, you can't tell much difference between this tree and the one at Citadel Outlets that's approx. 25 feet taller.

On a final note, to put tree size into perspective, the Nation's Christmas Tree celebrated with a wreath-laying each year in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park in California stands 267-feet tall! Known as  General Grant Tree, it is well over 2,000- years old and may be up to 4,000-years old. Unlike the holiday fir trees cut for mall holidays, the rare Sequoia redwood tree will never be cut as it stands testament to a time before the birth of Jesus Christ.

If you love the holidays and enjoy celebrations, be sure to visit Newport Beach during other lively seasons that include Newport Beach summer concerts.

Newport Dunes Lighting of the Bay  Fire & Ice

November 29, 2024-January 5, 2025, 4-9 p.m.

ICE RINK IS NOT RETURNING FOR 2024-2025 SEASON

Newport Dunes
1131 Back Bay Drive
Newport Beach, CA
Free, newportdunes.com
Free Parking up to 30 min.; $20 up to 4 hours; $25 up to 8 hours

• Lighting of the Bay and the Fire and Lights Festival
• holiday crafts
• festive food and concessions,
• photos with Santa,
• Holiday movie on the beach
• Fire dance performance

Ring in the Holidays With the 34th Annual Lighting of the Bay Nightly at Newport Dunes. While the Bay lights up nightly, the Fire & Ice Festival with fire dancers and activities takes place Thursday-Sunday.

• At the Fire & Ice Festival opening night celebration on Friday, November 29, 2024, there are live musical performances, fire dancers, stocking and ornament decorating, a holiday photo booth and Santa taking center stage at 4 p.m.  He flips the magic switch to illuminate the bay with more than 50 floating holiday decorations and Christmas trees, marking the official start to the holiday season. Holiday Food & Drinks 4-8 p.m.
• Photo Booth  4-8 p.m.
• Train Rides  4 - 7 p.m.
• Holiday Ornament Making  4-7 p.m. (while supplies last)
• Southern California Brass Consortium Performance  4:30-5:30 p.m.
• OC Song & Dance Performance  5:30-6 p.m.
• Santa’s Arrival & Lighting of the Bay Ceremony  around 6 p.m.
• Photos with Santa  6:15-8:30 p.m.
• Holiday Movie Screening  6:30 p.m.

The Lighting of the Bay continues each evening at dusk through New Year's Day. Lighting of the Bay begins at dusk during the holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. In honor of the season, the serene, waveless bay transforms each evening into a vibrant winter wonderland featuring more than 50 lighted Christmas trees and holiday decorations.

The Newport Dunes holiday display is open nightly to the public, inviting all to get outside and join in the celebration. According to Phil Ravenna, General Manager of Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, "Our Lighting of the Bay display is a quintessential element of the holiday season in Southern California."

Get warm & cozy around a beach bonfire while roasting marshmallows for s'mores and bring your own blankets. Newport Dunes' public fire pits are available on a first-come basis and s'mores kits can be purchased from Newport Dunes' onsite market.

For campers, the Lighting of the Bay is a can't-miss event to get into the holiday spirit with friends and family. Bring an RV or stay in Newport Dunes' charming, single-family Beach Cottages for a cozy, home-away-from-home experience. For first-time campers, many local rental companies will deliver an RV to your Newport Dunes campsite, all set up and ready to enjoy.

Keeping beloved traditions alive, Newport Dunes' Christmas Tree Lot. Select from a large variety of fresh, handpicked pines delivered within 16 hours from Salem, Oregon. Fragrant wreaths, garland, Christmas ornaments, and trinkets will also be available for purchase. The Christmas Tree Lot will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

The Lighting of the Bay is free for the public to enjoy, and on-site parking is available for a fee. For more information on events and amenities at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and to book a stay, please visit NewportDunes.com or call 949-729-3863.

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort Lighting of the Bay

• Live Performances
• School Choirs.
• Train Rides
• Cookie Decorating, Holiday Crafts
• Hot Cocoa
• Full bar being offered. No outside alcohol allowed.
• Countdown to the Lighting of the Bay (around 5 p.m.)
• Santa Claus flips the giant switch to illuminate the bay (around 5:30 p.m.)
• 50+ electric Christmas trees and holiday decorations in the bay illuminate the holiday season.
• Holiday movie on the gazebo (around 6 p.m.) Bring blankets.

Taking center stage at the actual Lighting of the Bay is Santa Claus, who arrives not by sleigh but on a lighted paddleboard. He flips the switch that will turn on 50+ electric Christmas trees that will illuminate the bay. 

 Come to Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort for the kick off the holiday season with  Lighting of the Bay celebration, featuring a full schedule of holiday festivities.

Live chorale and concert performances, cookie decorating, holiday crafts and train rides. Santa Claus will take center stage at dusk as he arrives by Waverunner and flips the magic switch to illuminate the bay with more than 50 LED-lit Christmas trees and holiday decorations.

6 p.m. Movie of the Beach! Bring your blankets and beach chairs. Concert with the Tijuana Dogs The Tijuana Dogs will perform live during a ticketed concert, with full bar service, to culminate the evening with festive decorations, full bar service and additional food favorites in our main tent (concert light show included). Hot cider and cocoa are also available. Parking is limited. Tickets will be released shortly to the general public.

Fashion Island Menorah Lighting Ceremony

December 29, 2024, 3-5 p.m.

Atrium Courtyard
Free, shopfashionisland.com

Celebrate Hanukkah at Fashion Island with singing and festive traditions. This event, in partnership with Chabad Jewish Center, Newport Beach

Chanukah, Oh Chanukah, come light the Menorah
Let's have a party, we'll all dance the hora
Gather round the table, we'll have a treat
Sevivon to play and latkes to eat
And while we are playing
The candles are burning bright
One for each night, they shed a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.