This weekend is the official kick-off to the holiday season in Orange County. There are 4 tree lighting events, a surfing Santa competition, art shows, and more!

• Enter to win 2 tickets to Winter Fantasy at Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach—> bit.ly/2AL8KRp
• The Fashion Island Tree Lighting ceremony is 11/17 Friday and 11/18 Saturday night from 6-6:30pm in Newport Beach. Live music, Santa, snowfall & more! FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2fmnImo
• The Downtown Anaheim Art Crawl Experience (A.C.E.) Saturday 11/18 from 6-10pm on Center Street Promenade. Shopping, live music, food trucks & more! FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2kOhwHo
• The Surfing Santa Competition is Saturday 11/18 and Sunday 11/19 at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. Surfing starts at 8am. FREE to attend. http://ocevent.co/1MHZPPD
• The Sawdust Winter Fantasy arts & crafts show starts Saturday 11/18 and runs every weekend through 12/17 in Laguna Beach. Tickets required. http://bit.ly/2fKwv2g
• The Outlets at San Clemente Tree Lighting is Saturday 11/18 from 4-6:30pm. Santa, photo booth, Christmas carolers & more. FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2fml14m
• The Ritz Carlton Tree Lighting and Holiday Open House is Sunday 11/19 from 4-6pm  in Dana Point. Live music, Santa & more. FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2go4UIz
• Huntington Beach Miracle on Main St. is Sunday 11/19 from 2-7pm. Shopping, music, tree lighting & more! FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2fmnprX

Here’s some of the fun happening this weekend ,12/16-12/18:

• Winter Fest kicks-off at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa Friday 12/16 and runs through 1/1. Nightly fireworks, ice tubing, a snow play area, a light display with over two million twinkling lights, & more! Admission is required but OC residents can save on “City Days”…find out when your city can visit for 50% off: http://bit.ly/2hnwbcX
• The 42nd Annual Dana Point Boat Parade is Friday and Saturday night at 7:30pm. Family friendly activities start at 5:30pm. FREE to attend. http://ocevent.co/1mdJSdH
• The Newport Beach Boat Parade is Friday, Saturday and Sunday night at 6:30pm. The best viewing spots around the bay are Balboa Funzone/Boardwalk, Peninsula Point Beach, the walkways on both sides of the Balboa Island Ferry crossing, and Lido Park. FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2gHhAVR
• Watch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on Sunday 12/18 at Mission Viejo City Hall. Movie starts at 2pm. FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2hMu5UX
• The Muckenthaler Cultural Center’s Annual Holiday Festival is Sunday 12/18 from 12pm-4pm in Fullerton. Live entertainment, arts & crafts fair, food, Santa & more! FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2gPOVmp
• The 54th Annual Huntington Harbour “Cruise of Lights” is 12/16-12/19 and 12/22-12/23. Take a boat cruise through the HB waterways and see thousands of lights on boats, decks, homes & more. Tickets required. Funds raised from ticket sales support youth programs in OC. http://ocevent.co/1O7g0FT
• It’s the final weekend for the Sawdust Winter Fantasy arts & crafts show in Laguna Beach. Tickets required. http://bit.ly/2fKwv2g

There are some great things to do this weekend, 12/9-12/11, in Orange County. Which one will you pick? 

• The Laguna Niguel Holiday Parade is Saturday 12/10 at 10am on Crown Valley Parkway between Nueva Vista and Crown Valley Park. Marching bands, floats, military members, Santa & more. FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2hctbhL
• The 42nd Annual Dana Point Boat Parade is Friday and Saturday night at 7:30pm. Family friendly activities start at 5:30pm. FREE to attend. http://ocevent.co/1mdJSdH 
• The 54th Annual Huntington Harbor Boat Parade is Saturday and Sunday night. Parade starts at 5:15pm. FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2gqBrM3
• Christmas at the OC Zoo is Saturday 12/10 from 10am-3pm in Orange. Watch as the zoo animals receive treat-filled gifts, Santa, story time & more. Admission is $2 and parking is $5 per vehicle. http://bit.ly/2hlJD1J
• Don the Beachcomber’s Holiday Tiki Market is Saturday 12/10 from 10am-3pm in Huntington Beach. Shop from over 50 Tiki vendors, enjoy live music & more. Admission is $10 but you get a $10 food/drink voucher. http://bit.ly/2gquJWg
• The 31st Annual Heritage Hill Candlelight Walk is Saturday and Sunday night from 5:30-8:30pm in Lake Forest. Enjoy live music, carolers, visits with Santa & more. Admission is $5. http://bit.ly/2dnzmPt
• The Gem Faire is at the OC Fairgrounds all weekend 12/9-12/11 in Costa Mesa. Shop for gemstones, crystals, jewelry & more. Admission and parking required. Visit the website for a 2 for 1 coupon:  http://bit.ly/2br8EkT
• The OC Brew HO HO Holiday Ale Festival is Saturday 12/10 from 12pm to 4pm at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim. Tickets required. http://bit.ly/2ggS9ud
• The Anaheim Night Market is Saturday 12/10 from 6pm-10pm in the Packing District. Shopping, live music, FREE movie in the park “Elf” & more. FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2gqANhP
• The Sawdust Winter Fantasy arts & crafts show continues this weekend and runs every weekend through 12/18 in Laguna Beach. Tickets required. http://bit.ly/2fKwv2g

• Dana Point Winter Festival and Tree Lighting is Saturday 12/3 from 12-7pm at La Plaza Park. Santa, craft fair, live entertainment, holiday movie & more. FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2gIrpa1
• Downtown Fullerton Winter Market and Tree Lighting is Saturday 12/3 at 12pm. Shopping, food, face painting, free pictures with Santa (12pm-4pm) & more. FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2fH09cx
• The 35th annual and final Heritage Hill Victorian Christmas is Saturday 12/3 from 11am-3pm in Lake Forest. Live entertainment, candle dipping, card making, shopping, food & more. Admission is $5. http://bit.ly/2gNkFnN
• Christmas at the Mission is Saturday 12/3 from 5:30pm-8pm in San Juan Capistrano. Snow, carolers, cookie decorating, tree lighting & more. Admission is $6. http://bit.ly/2gIlXEa
• Corona Del Mar Christmas Walk is Sunday 12/4 from 11am-4pm. Live entertainment, shopping, Santa & more. http://bit.ly/2gnqI5y
• The 22nd Annual Nutcracker Christmas Tree Lighting & Holiday Shopping Village is Saturday 12/3 from 10am-7pm in Downtown Anaheim. Snow, kids activities, Santa, tree lighting & more. FREE to attend. http://ocevent.co/1IvaJMj 
• Balboa Village Christmas at the Beach is Saturday 12/3 from 2pm-6pm. Children’s activities, elementary school choir, tree lighting & more. FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2fK2bIY
• The 20th Annual Crystal Cove Tree Lighting & Holiday Beach Bazaar is Saturday 12/3 from 10am-5:30pm. Carolers, hot cocoa, Santa, arts & crafts & more. FREE to attend but there is a fee to park. http://bit.ly/2fGZveZ
• The Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach is having their  Artisans Marketplace Saturday 12/3 from 11am-4pm. Shop eco-friendly, sustainable, arts and crafts. Admission is $2. http://bit.ly/2gZh4Ht
• Take a 20 minute harbor cruise with Santa on Saturday & Sunday from 10am-2pm at Dana Wharf in Dana Point. FREE but a donation is suggested. http://bit.ly/2gqrizs
• Buena Park Candy Caneland and Craft Faire is Saturday 12/3 from 10am-4pm at the Ehlers Event Center. Snow, Santa, games, shopping, food & more. FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2fPMStm
• San Clemente Santa’s Village By The Sea is Saturday 12/3 from 5pm-10pm. Activities are in 3 locations. Santa, sledding, cookie decorating, live entertainment, outdoor movie & more! FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2gDv06p
• The Laguna Niguel Tree Lighting is Saturday 12/3 from 5pm-7pm at City Hall. FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2fWlu07
• The Fountain Valley Tree Lighting is Saturday 12/3 at the Recreation Center and Sports Park. Santa, live entertainment, games & more. FREE to attend. http://ocevent.co/1G7q6qG
• The 22nd Annual Old Town Orange Tree Lighting Ceremony and Candlelight Choir Procession is Sunday 12/4 at 3:30pm in the Old Towne Plaza. FREE to attend. http://ocevent.co/1OLWpyf
• The Irvine Animal Care Center’s 10th Annual Home for the Holidays Pet Adoption Fair is Sunday 12/4 from 10am-3pm. Over 600 animals will be available for adoption. Donation of $2 for admission. http://ocevent.co/1IKjZXv

• The Sawdust Winter Fantasy arts & crafts show continues this weekend and runs every weekend through 12/18 in Laguna Beach. Tickets required. http://bit.ly/2fKwv2g

This weekend is the official kick-off to the holiday season in Orange County. Check out what’s happening 11/18-11/20:

• The Fashion Island Tree Lighting ceremony is Friday and Saturday night from 6-6:30pm in Newport Beach. Live music, Santa, snowfall & more! FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2fmnImo
• The Surfing Santa Competition is Saturday 11/19 at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. Surfing starts at 8am. FREE to attend. http://ocevent.co/1MHZPPD
• The Sawdust Winter Fantasy arts & crafts show starts Saturday 11/19 and runs every weekend through 12/18 in Laguna Beach. Tickets required. http://bit.ly/2fKwv2g
• Santa is skydiving into Huntington Beach to kick off the holidays at Pacific City on Saturday 11/19. Santa will be landing on the beach in front of Pacific City around noon. Viewing is FREE. http://bit.ly/2fmjw6a
• The Outlets at San Clemente Tree Lighting is Saturday 11/19 from 4-6:30pm. Santa, photo booth, Christmas carolers & more. FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2fml14m
• Watch the movie Pollyanna on Sunday 11/20 at city hall in Mission Viejo. Movie starts at 2pm. FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2fKwZWm
• The Ritz Carlton Tree Lighting is Sunday 11/20 at 4pm in Dana Point. Live music, Santa & more. FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2go4UIz
• Huntington Beach Miracle on Main St. is Sunday 11/20 from 2-7pm. Shopping, music, tree lighting & more! FREE to attend. http://bit.ly/2fmnprX