Dust off your Santa hat or dog’s reindeer antlers and get ready for one of Newport’s most loved community events of the holiday season: The 34th Annual Corona del Mar Christmas Walk.
I’ve been attending this event since I moved to CdM in 1981. Back then, things were a bit looser in terms of the day’s “official” festivities. Other than walking from store to store and visiting with friends and family along the way, the day typically culminated in a rousing after-party in the parking lot of the Quiet Woman.
Nowadays, thanks to involvement by chamber members, the leadership of Corona del Mar Chamber President Linda Leonard, her board of directors, and committee members, the event has become a signature event for the village featuring all kinds of live entertainment, food and fun, all in support of local businesses. Proceeds from the event will go to supporting the chamber and Toys for Tots.
The event is Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than $15,000 in prizes will be raffled off, and the Newport Beach Fire Department will fire up its famous Fireman’s Grill BBQ, serving hot dogs and all the fixings.
This year there will be a dozen bands scattered throughout town, and the Banderas parking lot will be transformed into a play area for young and old alike. A bouncy house and petting zoo for kids and a beer and wine garden for the adults are just a few of the attractions planned in the vendor faire area. Of course, the event wouldn’t be complete without a visit from and photos with Santa Claus.
I like to support community events not only writing about them in my Indy column but also actively participating, so this year my online magazine www.OCSocialScene.com (OCSS) will have a booth at the vendor faire. We’ve partnered with Laura Scudder’s brand potato chips and their dip brand Blue Bird Trading Company to sell chips and sample dips, with all the proceeds going to the chamber and Toys for Tots. The chips and dip will be a great complement to the beer garden and Fireman’s BBQ, plus we’ll have other giveaways and balloons for the kids so be sure to stop by and say hello! And yes, I will be wearing my Santa hat!
For more information on the walk, log on to www.CdMChamber.com.
Another event OCSS is pleased to be an official media sponsor for is the 3rd Annual Newport Beach 1st Battalion, 1st Marines Foundation Beach Challenge, which will take place on Jan. 19, starting at 8 a.m. at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort.
If you haven’t participated in or been an observer of this event, you’ve missed out on one of Newport’s newest annual traditions, which raises funds for the 1/1 Marines. If you read my column on a regular basis, you know that Newport Beach officially adopted the 1/1 Marines in 2003.
The Beach Challenge involves a Marine level obstacle course that includes a low crawl in combat gear, litter or dummy drag, back crawl, ammo can carry, sandbag carry, cone zig-zag, grenade toss, beach run or walk, and a tire flip. Oh, and did I mention that there are 1/1 Marines along the route cheering you on?
Start training now and log on to www.oneonemarines.com for more information or to register as an individual or team.
Lynn can be reached at Lynn@OCSocialScene.com or visit her website at www.OCSocialScene.com.
