SPOTLIGHT

Santa Claus will come to town a few weeks early on Monday when South

Coast Plaza holds its annual tree-lighting ceremony. The tree, a 90-foot

pine, stands at Town Center Park, behind Westin South Coast Plaza,

covered with more than 15,000 lights. Holiday music will fill the air as

the tree is lighted.

Santa’s Village and a Reindeer Carousel will also be featured at the

shopping center during the holidays. The Village, in Carousel Court, is a

place for children to create such holiday treasures as ornaments and

cookie plates for a fee of $5 per child. The carousel itself has been

transformed from a herd of horses to one of reindeer.

Opportunities to take photos with Santa will also be available through

Dec. 24. And from Dec. 7 to Dec. 24, the Crate & Barrel/Macy’s Home Wing

will host Santa’s Express Train, which children may ride for $1.

FYI

Where: Town Center Park, behind Westin South Coast Plaza, 686 Anton

Blvd., Costa Mesa

When: 6 p.m. Monday

Cost: Free

Contact: (714) 435-8571

Classic cars for Christmas and Hanukkah

The Automotive Road of Dreams in the Orange County Market Place will

host the second annual Holiday Classic Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show and

Pedal Car Invitational on Saturday. Free car show registration will be

given to everyone who donates an unwrapped toy worth at least $10. The

toys will be given to Project Cuddle to distribute.

FYI

Where: Automotive Road of Dreams area at the Orange County Market

Place, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

Cost: Free admission. Car show registration is $10 in advance, $15 on

the morning of event. Registration fee will be waived if new toy worth

$10 or more is donated

Contact: (949) 723-6660

PLANNING AHEAD

HOLIDAY HOME TOUR

Balboa Island’s fifth annual Holiday Home Tour, sponsored by the

Balboa Island Improvement Assn., will take people through some beautiful

bayfront homes.

Sunday, Dec. 9

BOAT PARADE

Get into the holiday spirit. A patriotic theme will be seen during the

92nd annual Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade.

Monday, Dec. 17

NUMERICALLY SPEAKING

1,252: The number of egg whites used for the Gingerbread Village

at the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach.