Singing in the season

There will be something for everybody this holiday season, from free concerts to visits with Santa. Following is a list of events during December.

For an alternative holiday shopping guide, see Page A1.

Here comes Santa Claus

Tonight marks the official kickoff of the holiday season in Laguna, with the 50th annual Hospitality Night, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.

The Thurston Middle School band will start the evening with a performance at 5 p.m. in front of City Hall, 505 Forest Ave.

Santa will ride throughout town in a motorcade from 5 to 6 p.m.; he will ride in a fire truck, a trolley will carry the city council, and a Mini Cooper to be raffled will bring up the rear.

He will arrive at City Hall at 6 p.m. to light the historic pepper tree, and will then parade down Forest Ave. to his home at the corner of Forest Ave. and Glenneyre St., where children will be able to pay him a visit.

A detailed description of his route and associated street closures may be found on Page A7.

We wish you

The Laguna Wish Faeries, Jessica deStefano and Victoria Hazlett will be granting wishes and sprinkling faerie dust throughout Hospitality Night.

The Showpros Group will generate multimedia projections of the night’s activities on a huge screen over Forest Avenue.

A variety of musical groups, from community bands to strolling carolers to bagpipers, will wind their way through downtown; businesses will stay open until 9:30 p.m.

The Laguna Beach Girl Scouts will be collecting coats, jackets and gloves tonight for their “One Warm Coat” drive at a booth on the patio of Laguna Presbyterian Church from 5 to 7:30 p.m. for donation to local charity groups.

Also within the church’s campus, the Women of La Playa will sell homemade tamales and Mexican hot chocolate; choirs will perform in the church’s sanctuary.

Jingle Bell rock

“Merry Tunes” will be performed by the Lagunatunes Community Chorus, which became a part of Gallimaufry Performing Arts earlier this year.

The free annual concert will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Artists Theatre, 625 Park Ave.

Christin Cornell and Roxanna Ward will direct the chorus through a variety of classical and contemporary holiday songs, including “Ave Maria” and the Charlie Brown Christmas theme.

For more information, call (949) 497-6843.

Laguna Community Concert Band will hold its own holiday concert at 3 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Artists Theatre; the free show will last about an hour and a half.

For more information, call (949) 497-2658.

Winter wonderland

The Sawdust Art Festival’s Winter Fantasy will be open for two more weekends, with 175 artists and real snow to play in.

Hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; admission is $5.75 for adults, $4.75 for seniors 65 and up, $3 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for kids 5 and under. A season pass is $9.

For more information, call (949) 494-3030 or visit www.sawdustartfestival.org.

O Christmas tree

Studio Art Gallery, 1200 S. Coast Highway, will hold its own tree-lighting ceremony with live music at 7 p.m. during First Thursdays Art Walk, Dec. 7.

Crystal Cove State Park will hold its own tree-lighting ceremony at 4 p.m. Saturday on the sand next to the Beachcomber Café; hot chocolate and cocktails will be available.

Visitors are asked to turn inland from Coast Highway at the Los Trancos stoplight and park there.

For more information, call (949) 640-5220 or visit www.crystalcovealliance.org.

Rock of ages

From 8 to 11 a.m. on Dec. 16, Laguna Greenbelt volunteers Annie Stoeckman and Penny Lewis will guide visitors on a “Decked Out with Holiday Berries” hike through Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

Call (949) 923-2235 or visit www.lagunagreenbelt.org for more information.

Visitors will take a Winter Solstice Walk in Crystal Cove State Park at 4 p.m. Dec. 22, the shortest day of the year. For reservations and more information, call (949) 645-8489.

Silver Bells

Laguna Beach Seniors will hold its annual Christmas luncheon and membership meeting on Dec. 11 at Tivoli Terrace, on the grounds of the Festival of Arts. The luncheon is open to the community, and will feature entertainment and an opportunity drawing. The organization’s 2007 officers and directors will also be announced.

Tickets are $30, and may be purchased at their offices at Legion Hall; guests are asked to RSVP no later than Dec. 5. For more information, call (949) 497-2441.