Pick your celebration

Around this time of year, it can almost seem like there’s a Christmas tree lighting ceremony every day. But as this weekend’s two ceremonies show, no two are the same.

First up is the Lighting of the Bay at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina tonight. In perfect seasonal fashion, Santa will start the holiday season for the resort by flipping the switch and watching more than 50 Christmas trees lining the Back Bay shimmer against the water.

Organizers invite the public out for the event, which starts promptly at 5 p.m. Leading up to the finale of lights, refreshments will be available along with live music performances and Christmas caroling. The event is only one of many set to come to the harbor in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Homes and boats will soon be lit during other ceremonies in a couple of weeks.

But for those looking for a throwback celebration to a different time, away from the harbor, the lights and energy the area has in abundance around this time, a different group urges you to visit Crystal Cove.

If Newport Harbor is showing the latest and greatest in Christmas decorations and celebrations through trees and boats, the 12th annual Crystal Cove Historic District Coastal Tree Lighting Ceremony aims for the feeling of a Thomas Kinkade painting — soft, subtle and warm.

“It’s different. It’s real mellow, it just has a real good feeling to it,” said Mike Fenderson, who’s been visiting Crystal Cove for decades and makes it a point to see the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. “You’re away from the hustle and bustle, the kids seem real relaxed down there. It’s one of the most unique and different and nice Christmas activities anywhere.”

Starting at noon Saturday, Crystal Cove will be transformed into a 1930s- to 1950s-era Christmas village.

At noon, a holiday gift bazaar featuring hand-made items from local artists will be for sale, with proceeds going to a local nonprofit trying to restore the cove’s cottages.

From 4 to 6 p.m., Christmas carolers will be entertaining visitors and Santa will be handing out candy canes to children.

At sunset, with the Pacific Ocean and Santa Catalina Island in the background, organizers will turn on the modest, but charming Christmas tree, donned with giant star ornaments from years past.

“The music, the subtleness, the quaintness and you really have something,” Fenderson said. “It has an old-fashioned, small town kind of feeling. And it’s hard to get that feeling around here.”

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.