Holiday ‘Elf-Tastic’ party Friday for Costa Mesa teens

Spaces are open for a free teenage holiday party Friday in downtown Costa Mesa, hosted and organized by the city’s recreation department.

From 4 to 6 p.m., the “Elf-Tastic” holiday party will take place in the Downtown Recreation Center, 1860 Anaheim Ave.

It will include a screening of “Elf,” the 2003 comedy starring Will Ferrell, an ugly sweater contest, hot cocoa and pizza donated by Ciao! Deli and Pizzeria on Baker Street.

“We thought it would be kind of fun to do the ‘Elf’ movie,” said Briana Delfin, a city recreation leader and event organizer, “and Elf-Tastic is the quirky name that came with it.”

Elf-Tastic is the second of the six teen parties — double last year’s amount — being planned by the city for the 2015-16 school year. The first, in September, was a back-to-school bash pool party at the downtown aquatics center.

Delfin said the teens themselves have been involved in the holiday party planning, from the decorations to the scheduling.

Attendees, who must be in seventh to 12th grade, need to turn in a parent permission slip to one of the city’s teen centers. Walk-ins with signed permission slips are also permitted.

Transportation will be provided by city vans from Ensign and TeWinkle middle schools, as well as the Costa Mesa high and middle school campus.