Annual Lighting of the Bay

Fri Nov 28, 2025 - Sun Jan 4, 2026
- see all dates
Repeating every week — Sundays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through January 4, 2026
Except December 25, 2025, January 1, 2026.
4:00pm to 9:00pm PT
Age: All ages
Price: Free; Parking $15
Location:
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort
1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach, CA, 92660
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The 35th Annual Lighting of the Bay kicks off the holiday season at Newport Dunes,  illuminating the bay each evening at dusk with more than 50 electric Christmas trees and holiday decorations.

Opening night festivities include holiday crafts, festive food and concessions, photos with Santa, a fire dance performance, and a holiday movie on the beach. Santa takes center stage at dusk as he flips the magic switch to illuminate the bay with more than fifty floating holiday decorations and Christmas trees. 

 

Opening Night is also the launch of the  Fire & Ice Festival.

The resort’s nightly bay lighting lasts through January 4, 2026, and is free to the public.

Santa's Garden is open with fresh Xmas trees onsite starting November 24.

Parking on Opening Night is $15.  On other evenings, resort rates apply. 

Photo courtesy of Newport Dunes.

** Activity dates/times are subject to change. Please click through to the activity website to verify.