Experience autumn and Halloween fun in Newport Beach

Fall is in the air and with it comes many festive annual events

for the Newport-Mesa area. Not only do families have the chance to

bid on elaborate playhouses for charity at Fashion Island’s Project

Playhouse, but there are also plenty of opportunities to celebrate

autumn and enjoy Halloween fun at other Newport Beach retail centers

owned by The Irvine Company.

PLAYHOUSES ON DISPLAY

If you haven’t strolled through the dozen whimsical playhouses on

display at Fashion Island for the 11th annual Project Playhouse, it’s

time to pack up the kids and visit these mini-mansions. Project

Playhouse, one of the area’s most popular fund-raisers, brings

one-of-a-kind playhouses to Fashion Island where the public can view

the elaborately designed playhouses and have the chance to win one of

their own, as well as bid on them for charity. Last year, more than

$468,000 was raised to help temporarily homeless individuals and

families rebuild their lives.

On Saturday the playhouses will be sold to the highest bidder at

the HomeAid Orange County Project Playhouse Auction Party at Fashion

Island. Many of these unique playhouses would cost between $50,000

and $100,000 or more to build. The builders, designers, suppliers and

trades generously donate their time, labor and materials every year.

WIN A HOME

The public also has a chance to win a Victorian charmer built by

Shea Homes and designed by Bassenian/ Lagoni Architects, by

purchasing opportunity drawing tickets for $2 each at the Fashion

Island Concierge or by calling HomeAid Orange County. The drawing

will be held at the Auction Party at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at Fashion

Island. The winner does not need to be present. For tickets to the

Auction Party, call HomeAid at (949) 553-9510.

HomeAid was founded by the leadership of the Orange County Chapter

of the Building Industry Assn. of Southern California in 1989. The

organization provides housing for the temporarily homeless, including

women in crisis pregnancy; victims of domestic violence, the mentally

challenged, homeless youths; adults living with HIV/AIDS; and those

who find themselves homeless as a result of job loss or catastrophic

illness.

HALLOWEEN FUN

Other opportunities to celebrate the autumn harvest include a

Halloween Carnival, a pumpkin giveaway, a window painting contest and

trick-or-treating at local shopping centers.

The annual Great Pumpkin Giveaway will take place from 3 to 5 p.m.

on Oct. 25 at Corona del Mar Plaza at the corner of MacArthur

Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway. There will be free pumpkins for

visitors, games, prizes, kids crafts and goodie bags. Radio Disney

will also be on hand to add to the fun.

DOGGY DRESS-UP

Three Dog Bakery at Corona del Mar Plaza will host its fourth

annual Doggy Costume Party from noon to 3 p.m. on Oct. 26 with the

costume contest at 2 p.m. Costumed dogs will receive a free piece of

cake and can have their picture taken as a memento for their owners.

Three Dog Bakery founders Dan Dye and Mark Beckloff will also be on

hand to greet visitors and sign books.

CARNIVAL FOR THE FAMILY

Also on Oct. 26, Newport Coast Shopping Center will have fun for

the whole family as Newport Coast Cares hosts a Halloween Carnival

from 4 to 8 p.m. There will be carnival games, a haunted house,

costume contest, entertainment and more. Tickets are $15 each or $50

for a family pass, which may be purchased at Pavilions or Toy Boat at

Newport Coast Shopping Center. For more information on the Carnival,

call (949) 476-1144, Ext. 358.

Newport Coast Cares is a volunteer organization that supports

children’s causes. All proceeds from the Halloween Carnival will

benefit the Corazon de Vida Foundation, a group raising money to feed

orphans in Baja, California.

WINDOW PAINTING

On Oct. 27, Newport Beach Recreation & Senior Services will

co-host a Halloween window painting contest for all ages at the

Newport North Shopping Center at MacArthur and Bison, and Westcliff

Plaza at Irvine Avenue and 17th Street in Newport Beach. Westcliff

Plaza will also offer trick-or-treating and kids crafts for your

family’s enjoyment. The window painting contest will be held from 10

a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 27 with judging at 4 p.m. Local retailers make

their windows available for contestants to create works of art, and

painting supplies are provided.

Registration forms are available through Newport Beach Recreation

& Senior Services at Newport Beach City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd.

Children, adults and families residing, working or attending school

in the city of Newport Beach are eligible for entry. Information:

(949) 644-3151.

SAFE TRICK-OR-TREATING

In addition, Fashion Island will host its annual trick-or-treating

from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Halloween. Kids will be able to enjoy face

painting, a balloon artist and a magician. Information: (949)

721-2000.

-- Article provided by

the Irvine Co.