Date/Time
Date(s) - 11/27/2026
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Location
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina
1131 Back Bay Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Join us for the opening night celebration for Lighting of the Bay and the Fire and Lights Festival on Friday, November 27! We will have holiday crafts, festive food and concessions, photos with Santa, a holiday movie on the beach, and other fun activities for the whole family! Around 6 pm, Santa will flip the switch to turn on the 36th Annual Lighting of the Bay. The serene, waveless bay will transform into a vibrant winter wonderland featuring more than fifty holiday light displays floating on the bay. Free entry. Parking will be a flat $15 on opening night.

While you are here, pay a visit to Santa’s Garden, a Holiday Tree Lot that offers a hand-picked selection of farm-fresh trees from Oregon. Varieties include Noble, Nordmann, Natural, and Douglas. The lot receives weekly deliveries of fresh trees. Wreaths and garlands, too.

Potential Schedule of Events:

Holiday Ornament Making | 4 – 7 p.m. (while supplies last)

Inflatable Slides & Toboggan Tunnel | 4 – 9 p.m.

Holiday Food & Drinks | 4 – 8 p.m.

Inflatable Slide & Toboggan Tunnel | 4 – 9 p.m.

Fire Pits & S’mores | 4 – 9 p.m.

SoCal Brass | 4 – 4:30 p.m.

Caribbean-style Holiday Music by Upstream | 4:30 p.m. – 5:25 p.m.

Train Rides | 5 – 8 p.m.

Photo Booth | 5 – 8 p.m.

Fire Dance Performance | 5:45 p.m.

Santa’s Arrival & Lighting of the Bay Ceremony | around 6 p.m.

Photos with Santa | 6:15–8:30 p.m.

Holiday Movie Screening | 6:15 p.m.

*Activities are subject to change*

The Lighting of the Bay is free for the public to enjoy throughout the season. The Fire & Lights Festival is free entry and open to the public, Thursday – Sunday evenings through January 3, 2027 (parking, concessions & inflatables are an additional cost).