Costa Mesa, Calif.–During four weekends of the holiday shopping season, which kicks off Sat., Nov. 27 at the Orange County Market Place in Costa Mesa, the swap meet will offer free admission in exchange for a canned or dried food item to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, the county’s leading hunger relief organization.
Food drives held during the Market Place’s spring and fall concert series netted nearly 4,500 pounds of donated canned and dried food items. The dates for the holiday food drive at the Market Place are Nov. 27, 28, Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19. Regular operating hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be in place during the holidays. The swap meet will be closed Christmas Day, Sat. Dec. 25 and New Year’s Day, Sat. Jan. 1, 2011.
General admission is $2 for ages 13 years and over, though free with the canned food donation through Dec. 19. Children 12 and under are always free. Ample free parking is available. Preferred parking is $5.
The Market Place features nearly 1,000 vendors in an outdoor setting with a wide variety of products and services, gourmet foods-to-go, baked goods, cell phone accessories, luxury used cars and much more. Free face painting and balloons will be offered daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Family and friends can also gather to take their holiday photos in a seasonal backdrop in the kid’s play area.
Orange County Market Place is held every Saturday and Sunday, except during the annual Orange County Fair, at the O.C. Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. Address is 88 Fair Drive. ocmarketplace.com
For information on Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County visit www.feedoc.org or call949-653-0700