Costa Mesa Snoopy House opens with snow and good cheer

Dec. 16, 2015 12 AM PT

Costa Mesa welcomed the public to opening day of its annual Snoopy House display on City Hall’s lawn Saturday.

It is the 48th year of the free event that will run nightly from 5:30 to 9 p.m. through Dec. 23 at 77 Fair Drive.

Ten tons of snow were shipped in for opening day. Another 10 tons will be brought in on Dec. 19 — barring disruptive weather conditions.

The evening included a visit from Santa, a presentation with city officials and fundraising booths operated by youth nonprofit groups

Snoopy House started in 1966 at the Eastside Costa Mesa home of Jim and Linda Jordan. It was brought to City Hall in 2011.

The displays attract an estimated 80,000 visitors each year.

Alicia Lopez

Alicia Lopez left Times Community News in 2015 after serving as city editor for the Coastline Pilot and Daily Pilot. She covered Southern California since 1993: Costa Mesa as a columnist and freelancer; the Inland Empire, Tustin, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach as a page designer; and Orange, Hemet, San Jacinto and Tustin as a reporter and photographer. She cut her teeth at the Daily Californian at UC Berkeley, where she earned her bachelor’s degree.