CORONA DEL MAR : Gala Christmas Walk to Be Held Sunday

The 13th annual Christmas Walk will be Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Pacific Coast Highway and side streets.

Sponsored by the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce on the first Sunday of each December, the free walk goes from Acacia Street to Poppy Street.

“The Christmas Walk is our gift to the community,” said Chamber administrator Ellen Buck. “This is not something done for a profit.”

Last year about 5,000 residents and visitors, many bedecked in Christmas finery, strolled through the shops and streets of downtown. This year’s turnout is expected to be larger, Buck said.

More than 200 entertainers will perform throughout the day, including 10 multicultural dance groups, four Big Bands, a jazz quartet, Coventry Carolers, strolling musicians, mimes and a gospel choir.

Entertainment for children will include a magic show with Gum Drop the clown, a puppet show at the Corona del Mar library, an Orange County Philharmonic Music Mobil, a Be a Clown makeup table manned by Newport Theatre Arts Center volunteers, a marionette show and pictures with Santa Claus.

Merchants will host free open houses and serve champagne, wine, cookies and other refreshments.

“Stores and restaurants serve things like Chinese chicken salad, hot buttered rum and Indian food,” Buck said. “There’s a lot of food.”

At 4 p.m., drawings will be held for about 150 prizes, including a $1,000 shopping spree at Lorraine’s Boutique.

Toys for Tots barrels will be manned by Marines and spotted throughout the walk. New toys should be wrapped for distribution later to underprivileged children. The packages should have labels telling the type of toy and whether it is for a boy or a girl.

Christmas Walk headquarters will be outside the Studio Cafe at Marguerite Avenue. For more information, call (714) 673-4050.