Suzie Harrison Reindeer trotting down Forest Avenue...

Suzie Harrison

Reindeer trotting down Forest Avenue guiding Santa to his house

followed by a parade of locals young and old is just one of the many

scenes to be expected at tonight’s Hospitality Night -- Laguna

Beach’s biggest annual community event, an event that has become a

tradition for more than 25 years.

It’s a time for friends, family and neighbors to enjoy the holiday

festivities in Downtown Laguna. There’s lights, cameras, Santa and

all the action one could ever wish for in a holiday event ... even

greyhounds with antlers posing as reindeer.

Forest Avenue serves as the setting, with the street being blocked

off for pedestrian use only. Trees are donning their holiday best

with more than 1,916,000 lights as their garb.

Laguna Presbyterian Church at 415 Forest Ave. is where the

festivities begin at 5 p.m. with a bell choir and community

sing-along, craft bazaar and open house. La Playa Preschool will have

its tamale booth.

Thurston Middle School Band will begin the entertainment in front

of City Hall performing at 5:30 p.m. while everyone waits in

anticipation for Santa’s arrival. Santa will be traveling via fire

truck. After he greets the crowd, at 6 p.m., the annual lighting of

the pepper tree will be done by the mayor.

“The greyhounds are back, everything’s the same except we have an

addition of the California Choreographers Dance Festival dancing on

Forest Avenue,” Anne Morris Executive Director of the Laguna Beach

Chamber of Commerce said. “There’s also a little more activity on

Ocean Avenue.”

The annual community event is hosted by the chamber and the city.

“I think it will be great,” Morris said. “Everybody is ready for a

little holiday cheer.”

After the ceremony at City Hall, St. Catherine’s Children’s Choir

will sing carols while accompanying Santa to his house on Forest

Avenue in front of Laguna Gander. There, Santa will listen to

children’s wishes and children can have their picture taken with him.

Santa will be at his house daily until Christmas for visits

“It’s a glorious event,” former Mayor Wayne Baglin said. “No other

event brings out the children as this does with Christmas spirit,

smiles and screams of laughter.”

The California Choreographers Dance Festival will perform on

Forest Avenue a little past Santa’s house at around 6:15 p.m.

Natalie Mursky is the choreographer and her husband Aaron is

composing the music.

“It’s site specific,” said Suzie Chauvel, president of the dance

group. “Never-seen-before choreographed work will be premiered. It’s

quite a big deal.”

Chauvel explained that the Dance Festival was commissioned to do

four live-site specific performances and this performance is one of

them.

She said the piece is hard to describe.

“It’s a piece that involves music, dance and crowds,” Chauvel

said. “It’s a highly conceptual piece with individual trampolines.

They’ll mingle with the crowd. It’s really going to be neat.”

On Forest Avenue in front of the Candy Baron at 6:45 p.m., the

Laguna Beach High School Band will perform. At 7 p.m., the San

Clemente Scots bag pipers will march and play throughout Downtown.

Retailers, restaurants and bars will have their doors open to the

public, with a lot of the stores staying open until 9:30 p.m. so

Lagunans can get their holiday shopping done.

“It’s an important community event,” Morris said. “Let’s enjoy

camaraderie and celebrate -- what a better time to shop.”

Also hot on the list for the evening are strolling carolers, free

popcorn from the Exchange Club and Miss Linda and her puppets

entertaining the children in line to see Santa.

“Since Christmas is for the children, Santa will be available to

talk to kids daily through the Christmas season,” said Pat Barry of

the city recreation department.

He also wanted people to remember that parts of Forest Avenue will

start closing at 3:30 p.m. and will remain closed through the

festivities, Third Street around the hill area will also be closed

until about 7 p.m.

For Laguna resident Cynthia Jenkins, it has become an night not to

be missed.

“It’s become an annual event to enjoy with family and friends.

This year will be extra special because we’ll be sharing it with our

4-month-old son, Jackson.”

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321 or suzie.harrison@latimes.com.