Hospitality Night coming Dec. 1 to Laguna Beach
There will be a new twist to Laguna Beach’s annual tradition of ushering in the holiday season.
The epicenter of Hospitality Night on Dec. 1 will be the Peppertree parking lot at 322 Ocean Ave., between Ocean and Forest avenues, instead of near City Hall as in prior years.
Laguna Beach staff members said the lot is a better gathering place and they can keep Third Street open to cars.
But the move was also spurred because the 135-year-old pepper tree in front of City Hall that stood 36 feet tall was reduced to 12 feet in some places earlier this year.
Arborists said the tree, which the city strung with lights during previous Hospitality Night events, was structurally unstable and in danger of falling.
A community sing-a-long in the Peppertree lot at 6 p.m. will herald Santa’s arrival at 6:10 p.m. to light the tree.
In addition to the tree lighting, children can participate in craft projects or write letters to U.S. military personnel stationed overseas. Elementary and Thurston Middle school bands will perform.
Festivities will run from 5 to 10 p.m.
Street closures in the downtown area will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 1. Portions of Forest Avenue, Ocean Avenue, Beach Street, and the Peppertree lot will be closed to vehicular traffic before and during the event.
For more information, visit lagunabeachcity.net.
Twitter: @AldertonBryce
