* Send AROUND TOWN items to the...

* Send AROUND TOWN items to the Daily Pilot, 1375 Sunflower Ave.,

Costa Mesa, CA 92626; by e-mail to jeff.benson@latimes.com; by fax to

(714) 966-4679; or by calling (714) 966-4617. Include the time, date

and location of the event, as well as a contact phone number.

TODAY

Children will be able to play in the snow at the 11th annual

Lighting of the Bay Ceremony. The event will end with Santa Claus

flipping the switch for several electric Christmas trees. The 6 p.m.

ceremony will be at the Newport Dunes Resort, 1131 Back Bay Drive,

Newport Beach. Information: (949) 729-DUNE.

“An Old Fashioned Christmas Melodrama and Ice Cream Social” will

be a family event with music, vaudeville acts, a sing-along and a

holiday melodrama. The 7 p.m. show will be performed by the Orange

Coast College Repertory Theatre Company at the Drama Lab Theatre,

Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. Tickets will

cost $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Information: (714) 432-5880.

“Stage Door,” a comedy about 16 young actresses living in 1940s

New York City, will be performed by Estancia High School students.

The 7:30 p.m. show will be at Barbara Van Holt Theatre, Estancia High

School, 2323 Placentia Ave., Costa Mesa. Tickets will cost $8 in

advance and $10 at the door. Information: (949) 515-6537.

The Single Gourmet will host a dinner for single professionals.

The 7 p.m. event will be at Turner New Zealand, 650 Anton Blvd.,

Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 854-6552.

A Christmas luncheon will be hosted by the Newport Harbor

Republican Women. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. at The Pacific

Club, 4110 MacArthur Blvd. Admission will cost $25. Information:

(949) 644-0539.

A poinsettia sale will held by the Orange Coast College Ornamental

Horticulture Department. The 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. sale will be at the

Horticulture Garden, Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road.

Information: (714) 432-5748.

The 15th annual Gem Faire will be held from noon to 7 p.m. at the

Orange County Fair and Exposition Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.

(503) 252-8300.