Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina will launch its 36th annual Lighting of the Bay and Fire & Lights Festival on Nov. 27, with more than 50 floating holiday displays illuminating Newport Beach’s Back Bay through Jan. 3, 2027.
The seasonal event combines nightly holiday lighting with a festival featuring fire performances, visits with Santa, seasonal food and family activities Thursdays through Sundays.
Lighting of the Bay will operate nightly at dusk, including evenings when festival activities are not scheduled.
The opening-night celebration will begin Friday, Nov. 27, with Santa scheduled to switch on the displays at approximately 6 p.m.
Activities will include a fire dancer performance, a holiday movie, festive food and concessions, and visits with Santa. Admission is free, with a flat $15 parking fee for the opening night.
“Lighting of the Bay is a holiday tradition that brings our community together year after year,” said Phil Ravenna, general manager of Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina.
The Fire & Lights Festival will operate from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays, except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. Festival admission, fire dancing performances and visits with Santa are complimentary, while parking, food, beverages and inflatable attractions carry additional charges.
Wildfire Arts Collective will perform fire dancing Fridays and Saturdays at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Families can visit Santa on Saturdays through Christmas from 5 to 8 p.m.
Other activities include waterfront fire pits, s’mores available for purchase, an igloo bar serving hot chocolate and apple cider, and seasonal inflatables.
Children’s attractions include the Gingerbread Slide, Toboggan Tunnel and Giant Snowzilla. Additional fees apply, and participants must wear socks.
Visitors can also purchase Oregon-grown Christmas trees, fresh wreaths and garlands at Santa’s Garden, which operates throughout the week with varying closing times.
Newport Dunes is offering overnight accommodations through its RV sites and cottages for guests who want to extend their visits.
Travelers without recreational vehicles can arrange for an RV rental company to deliver and set up a vehicle at the resort. The property also offers waterfront venues for corporate holiday parties, family celebrations and private seasonal events.
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina is located at 1131 Back Bay Drive in Newport Beach, California.
Featured image by Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina
