Around Town: Lighting of the Bay set for 25th renewal at Newport Dunes
The 25th Lighting of the Bay is coming to Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort on Nov. 27 through 29.
The holiday event, called Polar Paradise in Newport Beach, will feature music and other entertainment, family activities, crafts and the traditional approval of Santa Claus and the lighting of dozens of tree-shaped decorations on Newport Bay.
Here is the schedule:
Nov. 27
• Starting at 3 p.m.: Performances by the OC Children’s Song Group and the Corona del Mar High School choir
• 5:30 p.m.: Santa’s arrival and bay lighting
Nov. 28
• Starting at 11 a.m.: Ice village snow slide, snowball toss, carved ice Santa and Science of Ice exhibit
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Holiday craft show and market at Bayside Pavilion
• Starting at 11:30 a.m.: Three performances of a puppet show
• 5 p.m.: Screening of the movie “Elf”
Nov. 29
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Santa brunch at Back Bay Bistro
Parking for event guests will be free Nov. 27 and 28 and free with Back Bay Bistro validation Nov. 29.
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Buddy Ebsen’s former home to house benefit for Balboa Island Museum
“Balboa Island Hillbillies,” a dinner to benefit the Balboa Island Museum, will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday in Newport Beach at the former home of late actor Buddy Ebsen, who played Jed Clampett on the TV series “The Beverly Hillbillies.”
The Ebsen property at 530 S. Bay Front recently sold, and the new owners offered the home as a venue for an event to benefit the museum, according to a news release.
The event will feature dinner, music by the Retros, a graffiti wall to write messages to Ebsen and photo opportunities (hillbilly attire is optional).
Admission is $50 per person. For tickets, call (310) 717-2325 or email events@BalboaIslandMuseum.org.
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Mariners Church to host Thanksgiving service, dinner
Mariners Church in Irvine will celebrate Thanksgiving with a special service and a community dinner next week.
Both are free and open to the public.
A Thanksgiving eve service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The annual Thanksgiving day dinner will be from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday at the church community center, including photo opportunities, children’s crafts, board games and football on TV.
Mariners Church is at 5001 Newport Coast Drive. To RSVP for the dinner, go to eventbrite.com/e/thanksgiving-as-it-should-be-tickets-19450782815.
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John Wayne Airport offers holiday travel tips
Traveling for Thanksgiving? John Wayne Airport has some tips if you’re planning to go by plane.
The airport expects heavier than normal passenger traffic between Friday and Nov. 30.
Here are samples of JWA’s travel advice:
• Arrive 90 minutes to two hours before scheduled departure times for domestic flights and three hours for international flights.
• If traveling with pets, have them use the animal relief areas in front of Terminals A and C.
• Pack no more than one small carry-on bag plus one personal item, as long as the carry-on bag fits airline dimensions.
• Visit Transportation Security Administration to become familiar with prohibited items and the rules for liquids in carry-ons.
• Before traveling into the United States, check with U.S. Customs & Border Protection to ensure you have appropriate travel documents.
For more information about John Wayne Airport, visit ocair.com.
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Irvine dance team to perform at halftime of Sugar Bowl
The dance team from Focus Dance Center in Irvine has been invited to perform in the halftime show of the Sugar Bowl college football game on New Year’s Day in New Orleans.
The 20 students will join other dance, cheer and drill teams from across the country in the performance.
The Focus Dance Center team, under the direction of Monie Adamson, will rehearse in New Orleans with professional choreographers. In their free time, the students will take in the sights of the Big Easy.