Theme

The 2012 Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade will celebrate the beach. The 104th annual event's theme "Surf, Sand and Santa" was submitted by local Adam Gafke and was chosen out of more than 100 submissions. Gafke won two VIP spots on the official Santa Boat, which leads the parade. Newport Harbor residents decorate their homes, yachts, kayaks and boats with Christmas lights based on the theme every year for the five-night event hosted by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.

The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce announced last week the start of its annual contest to choose a theme for the Christmas Boat Parade. Participants can submit holiday-related themes for the 104th annual event by email to entries@christmasboatparade.com by noon April 15. The contest winner will win a ride for two on the official Santa boat during one night of the five-night parade, which takes place this year from Dec. 19 to 23....

Organizers of this year’s Orange County Fair had barely put the cows out to pasture before plans were underway for the next fair. Discounted presale tickets for the annual event, themed “Say Cheese,” are on sale through July 10. The fair runs from July 11 through Aug. 3. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for children 6 to 12. Children 5 and younger get in free. For information, or to purchase tickets, call (714) 740-2000 or go to www.ocfair.

It's been around longer than the Rockefeller Center's tree lighting and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Among Newport Beach's signature events, this is one of those people plan their vacations around. The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade lights up the harbor for the 102 n d consecutive year Wednesday, concluding on Dec. 19 with a fireworks show at 9 p.m. This year's theme, "Lights, Camera…Christmas in Newport Beach," celebrates the city and parade's cinematic history.

June Casagrande This year's Christmas Boat Parade is guaranteed to be totally beachin'. The chamber of commerce has announced the theme for this year's boat parade is "A Holiday Beach Celebration." The idea is to decorate the 100-plus boats likely to be in the parade in classic California Christmas style. "Our thinking here is for the boat owners to be able to get creative with a particular theme," said Richard Luehrs, president and chief executive of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.

COSTA MESA — Although the Orange County Fairgrounds' future seems uncertain, one thing is for sure: "The Beat Goes On." That's the theme of this year's Orange County Fair, which runs July 16 to Aug. 15. And the message is meant to reassure fairgoers that no matter what happens, the annual event will continue. "This is the theme of reassurance, and I think it's what people need right now for a number of reasons," said Steve Beazley, fairgrounds chief executive. "Not just the uncertainty of the fair, but the uncertainty of the economy, the uncertainty of society.

June Casagrande Last year, the theme of the annual Christmas Boat Parade was "Let Freedom Ring" -- a more than apropos salute to America. But this year, while trying to come up with a new theme, organizers realized that patriotism is as important as ever. Their solution? This year's theme: "Celebrating America With Lights." "It holds on to last year's patriotic theme but also includes the more traditional Christmas boat parade, known for its lights," said Doug Stuckey, spokesman for the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Balboa Island residents: Get ready to rock. The annual Balboa Island Parade, organized by the Balboa Island Improvement Assn., returns for the 19th year June 3. This year features a throwback 1950s theme of "Rock Around the Island. " "This year, we wanted to keep it a little more island friendly, more localized, to get more families involved," parade Chairman Jack Callahan said. "We're also trying to get each of the island streets to have a float to create a fun competition between them.

Longtime Newport Beach resident Gary McEachen has a knack for naming, and for the second time, the city has recognized his talent. Last week, McEachen's entry was chosen from more than 100 submissions as the winner of the 99th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade theme contest — " 'Twas the Lights Before Christmas" — and in 2004, he named Back Bay View Park. "Newport Beach is such a privileged place to live and that's why I'd like to contribute as much as possible to it," said McEachen, who remembers coming to the parade as a 10-year-old, while vacationing here.

Lolita Harper NEWPORT HARBOR -- A checklist for a winning entry in the Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade may read something like this: Ingenuity. Check. Manpower. Check. Lots and lots of twinkling lights. Check. Dancing wife in Santa Claus suit. Check. At least that is what it took for Greg and Mary Ross -- and boat Miss Frannie -- to win first place in the humor and originality category last year. "She danced the entire parade route every night, for seven nights, to rock 'n' roll Christmas [music]

The 2012 Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade will celebrate the beach. The 104th annual event's theme "Surf, Sand and Santa" was submitted by local Adam Gafke and was chosen out of more than 100 submissions. Gafke won two VIP spots on the official Santa Boat, which leads the parade. Newport Harbor residents decorate their homes, yachts, kayaks and boats with Christmas lights based on the theme every year for the five-night event hosted by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.

The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce announced last week the start of its annual contest to choose a theme for the Christmas Boat Parade. Participants can submit holiday-related themes for the 104th annual event by email to entries@christmasboatparade.com by noon April 15. The contest winner will win a ride for two on the official Santa boat during one night of the five-night parade, which takes place this year from Dec. 19 to 23....

Balboa Island residents: Get ready to rock. The annual Balboa Island Parade, organized by the Balboa Island Improvement Assn., returns for the 19th year June 3. This year features a throwback 1950s theme of "Rock Around the Island. " "This year, we wanted to keep it a little more island friendly, more localized, to get more families involved," parade Chairman Jack Callahan said. "We're also trying to get each of the island streets to have a float to create a fun competition between them.

Superwoman, Spider-Man and Captain America are not your typical characters in a dance number, but that's exactly what Corona del Mar High School's Orchesis dance team is presenting at its upcoming show, "Tales of the Incredible Super Orch: Dancing in a Comic World. " The dancers gave a preview of their comic book themed show Thursday evening at Fashion Island's Atrium Courts in an effort to garner community interest and raise money. They've been hard at work since August - practicing nearly everyday and even reading comic books and working to understand character orgins - to bring the Hulk, Superwoman, Captain America, Catwoman and more to the stage during a 20-piece performance featuring everything from jazz and lyrical numbers to ballet, tap and modern dances.

COSTA MESA - At the Costa Mesa Taxpayers Assn. meeting meant to inform the public about a proposed city charter, audience members also got an earful of anti-union rhetoric. Nearly 100 audience members gathered at the Neighborhood Community Center on Thursday to learn about the charter, essentially a city constitution that would, if approved by voters, allow the city to make more of its own laws rather than rely on a state-provided template. "The elected officials are the ones who created the problem," Councilman Steve Mensinger said in describing the city's rising pension costs.

NEWPORT BEACH - In a season where neighbors compete for the biggest and brightest holiday displays, the message for youngsters Tuesday night was that a little bit of light can go a long way. Hundreds of participants gathered in Fashion Island's Atrium Garden Court for the 4:30 p.m. Chanukah Community Party, hosted by the Chabad Jewish Center of Newport Beach, and the lighting of the 6-foot "Surf 'n' Sand" menorah with former Dodger Shawn Green....

COSTA MESA — Snoopy's new digs may be bigger than that one-story doghouse. As Costa Mesa couple Jim and Linda Jordan battle Wells Fargo in court over the deed to their home on Santa Ana Avenue, city officials have assured them that if the battle is lost, their cherished Christmas tradition doesn't have to be. "[City CEO] Tom Hatch offered me a home [for my decorations] there as long as we want, and I think that's outstanding," Jim Jordan said Wednesday, tired but happy after his family's annual Christmas setup premiered the night before on City Hall's front lawn.

COSTA MESA — For some 44 years, the Jordan family has crafted an elaborate Charlie Brown-themed Christmas display outside of their Costa Mesa home. The doctor was in, with a Lucy cutout offering counseling. Charlie Brown and Sally clutched a wrapped gift. Linus (with blanket) stood beneath the Christmas tree. And much of the "Peanuts" gang ice-skated around a faux pond. "I grew up around the corner from there; it's been there every year," said Lisa Dugan, who helps with the setup every year.

COSTA MESA - It might not be a Charlie Brown Christmas for Eastside residents this year. After defaulting on the mortgage for the famed "Snoopy House," homeowner Jim Jordan was forced to clear out of the property Tuesday, leaving Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the whole Peanuts gang behind to possibly be repossessed by Wells Fargo. Describing the annual Christmas display at 2269 Santa Ana Ave., near Albert Place, as elaborate would be an understatement. For the last 44 years, Jordan or his parents have set up and added to the set, with a 20-by-20-foot stage for Santa Claus and an animated manger scene measuring 17 by 14 feet, along with snippets from famous Charlie Brown scenes, among other sights.

Seeking to scare up some spooky sparkles and spectacular spangles? Now in its 33rd year, the seasonal Sugar Plum Festival bring local artisans direct to the public on select weekends at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. Their annual Halloween show will be Oct. 6 to 8 at the fairgrounds, and will feature 155 bakers and crafters, including 20 new-to-Sugar Plum vendors. "This all started in our home, and it is hard to believe it has grown so popular over the years," event co-founder Camilla Richter said.