In the Christmas spirit at the coast

CRYSTAL COVE — It was truly a Southern California Christmas on Saturday here as volunteers, employees and guests helped decorate a 14-foot Christmas tree practically on the sand at the Crystal Cove Cottages.

With sunshine and temperatures well into the 70s outside the Beachcomber restaurant, people hung round ornaments, angels and stars on the tree in anticipation of Saturday night’s 10th annual coastal tree lighting and Historic District outdoor cottage holiday decorations.

“There’s nothing like it anywhere else,” said Laura Davick, a former resident of Crystal Cove and founder of the Crystal Cove Alliance. “It’s near and dear to my heart, and it’s a great joy to be a part of it. I hope everyone comes out to see how special it is.”

Diners at the Beachcomber restaurant admired the tree and some even stopped to take group photos.

Laguna Niguel residents Eileen and Gary Miller said they were glad they were staying in the dorm-style “Longboard” cottage while Crystal Cove got dressed up for Christmas.

“I love the fact that it’s on the sand,” Eileen Miller said after having a bite to eat with her bike-riding club. “They did a great job on the tree.”

The Millers said that staying at the cottage is an “easy vacation,” and that they’ve been enjoying their stay.

“You meet so many really neat people,” Eileen Miller said. “Everybody is so happy to be here.”

Davick was happy to be decorating the tree with her comrades after a few years of having a “Charlie Brown” tree since no one lived at the cottages and they hadn’t been opened to renters yet. Before residents moved out, Davick said, there was always a tree up for the holidays, from 20- to 40-feet tall.

Saturday night’s festivities, which Davick said would include the tree lighting, a visit from Santa Claus and a couple hundred people, will start a new tradition for the Crystal Cove Cottages. They will plan on having the tree lighting every year on the first Saturday of December, wedging their celebration between a Laguna Beach holiday happening and the Corona del Mar Christmas Walk, which is today.

Davick’s Crystal Cove Alliance was set up to restore the area and has established a campaign to raise money to restore the remaining 24 cottages and an outdoor common area, and to build a marine research facility, which Davick said is the first priority.

Davick estimated it will take $20 million to restore the remaining cottages and the other areas, which will be built in phases.

To date, the alliance has raised more than $650,000 for the marine research facility, which is enough to complete it. But they’re definitely not through. About $1.25 million is still needed to restore the outdoor education commons and much more for the cottages on the northern end of the park.

The alliance is raising money by having regular galas — the September event raised more than $374,000 — and by donations.

But Davick hopes Proposition 84, which voters passed in part to help fund natural resources and parks, will provide funds for Crystal Cove.

“This is the crown jewel of the parks, at least in my opinion,” Davick said with a laugh.

The goal is to have everything nostalgically restored to what it was like from 1935 to 1955 in about three to five years.

For more information about the cottages or membership with the Crystal Cove Alliance, go to www.crystalcovealliance.org.