Get in the holiday spirit with these festive Orange County events, from a beachside skating rink to an enchanting boat parade of lights.
The 114th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade sails into Newport Harbor Dec. 14 to 18. PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT NEWPORT BEACH
Through 12/31
Ice Rink at Paséa Hotel & Spa
Enjoy a holiday classic as you only can in Orange County at the fourth annual Ice Rink at Paséa Hotel & Spa. Running through Dec. 31, this beloved SoCal tradition offers ice skating with an ocean view, themed nights, fire pit experiences and more. After your time on the ice, you can enjoy some well-earned hot chocolate and catch a live holiday performance. paseahotel.com/oceanfront-ice-rink
VEA Newport Beach
Step into an Insta-worthy winter wonderland at VEA Newport Beach's latest pop-up, the Holiday Hideout Speakeasy. Guests are invited to embrace the holiday season with sweet and savory treats, like parmesan arancini, triple cheese fondue, holiday truffles, and macaroons. Specialty-themed cocktails will include the "Mariah Carey High Note" featuring Tanqueray gin, Grey Goose vanilla, cranberry, blood orange puree, lime and ginger beer, and the "Santa's Little Helper" made with Braulio, Green Chartreuse and hot cocoa. The special pop-up is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 4 PM to 11 PM and timed tickets must be purchased in advance. opentable.com/r/view-at-vea-newport-beach
Through 1/1
32nd Annual Lighting of the Bay Head to Newport Dunes
Waterfront Resort & Marina for this favorite holiday attraction. Running nightly, this spectacular celebration turns the bay into a radiant winter wonderland featuring more than 50 electric Christmas trees and holiday decorations. Guests can also roast marshmallows at Newport Dunes’ public fire pits, find their Christmas tree at the Newport Dunes Tree Lot, or enjoy snacks and drinks from Moe B’s Munchies beachfront grill on Saturday and Sunday evenings. newportdunes.com
Enjoy ice skating with a view at the fourth annual Ice Rink at Paséa Hotel & Spa ICE RINK AT PASEA HOTEL & SPA PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MERITAGE COLLECTION
Through 1/1
Winter Fest OC
Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at Southern California’s largest winter festival. Held at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, this beloved celebration runs through Jan. 1 and offers a 150-foot-long ice tubing slide, live entertainment, outdoor ice skating, a holiday market and more. New for this year is the North Pole Journey, which takes you and your loved ones on an interactive trip to meet Santa Claus and save the holidays. villapark.co/winter-fest
Through 1/14
Pier Summit Ski Lodge
Celebrate the holidays in style in Huntington Beach at Kimpton Shorebreak Resort’s new ’80s ski-themed pop-up bar, Pier Summit Ski Lodge. Enjoy the neon and kitschy decor while dining in the resort’s beautiful outdoor courtyard, where every delicious meal and thematic cocktail is served by staff in retro ski outfits. Treat yourself to an evening of winter chalet elegance while still enjoying perfect SoCal weather. shorebreakhotel.com
stroll through a winter wonderland at the OC Parks Holiday Lights event OC PARKS CANDELIGHT WALK AND HOLIDAY LIGHTS COURTESY OF OC PARKS
12/9-11
47th Annual Boat Parade of Lights
Visit Dana Point Harbor for its anticipated annual Boat Parade of Lights. Flaunting a Surfin’ USA theme, this aquatic celebration is the perfect way to enjoy the holidays. Watch as boats decorated in lights sail by, and try to guess who will win coveted prizes. Th e parade will begin at 7PM on Dec. 9 and 6PM on Dec. 10 and 11. Beyond those select dates, Dana Point Harbor is decked out in vibrant lights and plenty of photo opportunities to make memories with loved ones. danapointharbor.com
sip a themed cocktail like the Snow Bunny at Pier Summit Ski Lodge.
12/9-18
OC Parks Candlelight Walk and Holiday Lights
Get in the holiday spirit at Heritage Hill Historical Park in Lake Forest with two weekends of cheerful and bright events. Dec. 9 through 11, the 36th annual Candlelight Walk will light up your night with live music, holiday craft s and even an appearance from Santa himself. Th e following weekend, from Dec. 16 to 18, take a stroll through a twinkling winter wonderland at the Holiday Lights event, which will illuminate the park. Events take place from 5 to 9 each weekend night. ocparks.com
12/9-22
Nights of 1000 Lights Holiday Celebration
Sherman Library & Gardens presents Nights of 1000 Lights for 11 nights in December (Dec. 9 to 11 and 15 to 22) to kick off the holiday season. Stroll through the gardens and experience a dazzling display of lights and live entertainment, all in an ode to this year’s theme, Hooray for Hollywood. Visit Moulin Rouge, a Parisian dance hall with cancan dancers and French cabaret singers, or whip up some s’mores after a visit with Santa in his workshop. thesherman.org
Santa will make a cameo at the OC Parks Candlelight Walk PIER SUMMIT SKI LODGE PHOTO BY GIA GARGANESE
12/14-18
114th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
One of the area’s most iconic Christmas events is back for its 114th year—featuring more overthe- top lights and decorations than ever before. Th e Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, taking place on five nights Dec. 14 to 18 at 6:30, brings the city together to watch 100 decorated yachts, boats, kayaks and canoes sail along a 14-mile route in the harbor in celebration of the holiday season. Homes along the parade route will participate in a decorating contest during the Ring of Lights, and Marina Park will host a holiday pop-up market featuring local Newport Beach makers and vendors. christmasboatparade.com
12/16-23
Cruise of Lights
Watch the Huntington Harbour glisten at the 60th annual Cruise of Lights. Enjoy a 45-minute narrated boat tour through the waterways of Huntington Harbour as you take in the beauty of thousands of lights and animated displays on dazzlingly decorated boats, docks, decks and homes—all while supporting the youth music programs of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. cruiseoflights.org
As 2023 approaches, New Year’s resolutions are top of mind. Luckily, a slew of new fitness studios and sports shops are now calling Orange County home. It’s time to muscle up!
The Bluejay Premiere Edition electric bike in Modern White PHOTO BY ASHLEY BATZ
BY ALLISON MITCHELL
Drenched OC
Following the success of her debut fitness studio in Los Angeles, founder Angela Parretta opened Drenched OC in early November on Newport Center Drive near Fashion Island. As the only studio in Orange County to combine the reformer machine with the heated temps of hot yoga, the multidiscipline space offers members toning Pilates classes paired with sweatinducing yoga sessions to help you achieve your peak physique. Go ahead, get drenched! 230 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, drenchedoc.com
The Smart Fit Method uses artificial intelligence and exercise robotics to help you achieve your fitness goals. PHOTO BY: CHRISTOPHER TODD STUDIOS
Get sculpted in a small-group setting at Coeur Pilates PHOTO BY: KLAUI VARADI
The Smart Fit Method
A lifelong fitness aficionado, Rob Darnbrough’s intense training regimen ironically led to h is lifechanging health diagnosis—an aortic aneurysm. “I was told by two cardiologists to never walk uphill again,” he recalls. With a passion for fitness, Darnbrough founded The Smart Fit Method to eliminate the grind his body endured in his early years. The science-based fitness program, which he co-founded with his son Connor, pairs exercise robotics with artificial intelligence to achieve results in just three 20-minute sessions per week. With successful locations in Hawaii and San Diego, Darnbrough is now tackling Orange County with the debut of The Smart Fit Method on Irvine Avenue in Costa Mesa, where it calls Coffee Dose and Facial Lounge neighbors. Stop by to break a s weat and meet local owners and operators Arthur Bichler and Brad Bush to hear why they’ve joined Darnbrough’s burgeoning fitness empire. 714.450.7600, 2675 Irvine Ave., Ste. E, Costa Mesa, smartfitmethod.com
Bluejay Electric Bicycles
If low-impact, easy-breezy workouts are more your speed, cruise over to Lido Marina Village to check out Bluejay Electric Bicycles. The celebrity-loved brand’s Orange County flagship is home to its elite class of e-bikes— from the all-road Bluejay Sport, known as the SUV of e-bikes, to the Bluejay Premiere Edition, a vintage-inspired cruiser equipped with top e-bike technology. Design your Bluejay bike to reflect your personal style, then add on fashionable accessories, including myriad types of woven baskets, bike bags, helmets, cup holders and more. Then, get ready to roll! 949.877.8848, 149 Riverside Ave., Ste. B, Newport Beach, bluejaybikes.com; lidomarinavillage.com
Drenched OC founder Angela Parretta PHOTO BY: WILLIAM CALLAN
Coeur Pilates
An intimate and boutique fitness experience awaits at the new Coeur Pilates, a family-owned studio in Costa Mesa where just five reformers are used in each class. The small group sessions allow instructors to give each student one-on-one attention, ensuring your form is always top of mind. Beginners will enjoy the Reformer One class, where fundamentals are the emphasis, while more experienced enthusiasts will love the challenge of Reformer Two, a full-body workout filled with moves designed to get your heart rate pumping and muscles contracting. 949.988.8737, 2675 Irvine Ave., Ste. 106, Costa Mesa, coeurpilatesoc.com
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