Newport Beach's holiday season kicks off Monday, Nov. 16, with 50 days of tree lightings, markets and community events running through Jan. 4, 2027.

Visit Newport Beach, the city's tourism group, is staging its fourth annual "50 Days of Festive Fun" campaign. The lineup also doubles as the finale for the group's yearlong "120 Years of Welcome" celebration, marking Newport Beach's 120th anniversary since its 1906 incorporation, according to the Newport Beach Indy.

Gary Sherwin, president and CEO of Visit Newport Beach, said in a press statement that the campaign "… brings more ways than ever to celebrate the season by the sea."

The schedule is packed.

Tree lightings

The season opens with a tree lighting at VEA Newport Beach on Thursday, Nov. 19. Pendry Newport Beach follows on Friday, Nov. 27, and Balboa Bay Resort lights up on Sunday, Nov. 29.

Lighting of the Bay

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina hosts the 36th Annual Lighting of the Bay and Fire & Lights Festival on Nov. 27. The event features fire pits, s'mores, fire dancing, photos with Santa, an igloo bar and more than 50 floating holiday light displays on the bay.

Holiday markets and gardens

Balboa Bay Resort's Mistletoe Market is set for Sunday, Nov. 22. Crystal Cove's Annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Bazaar follows on Saturday, Dec. 5. Merry & Bright Nights at Sherman Library & Gardens runs on select evenings Dec. 3–22: Dec. 3–6, Dec. 10–13 and Dec. 17–22.

Community traditions

Santa arrives at Lido Marina Village on Dec. 5. The 47th Annual Corona del Mar Christmas Walk takes over the village on Sunday, Dec. 6. The Balboa Island Holiday Home Walking Tour showcases the island's most festive homes on Sunday, Dec. 13.

The boat parade

The 118th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade lights up the harbor Dec. 16 through 20. Decorated yachts, boats, kayaks and canoes begin their nightly route at about 6:30 p.m., according to the parade's website.

Coming up

The full event calendar is available on Visit Newport Beach's website. First up: the VEA Newport Beach tree lighting on Nov. 19, then the Mistletoe Market on Nov. 22 and the Lighting of the Bay on Nov. 27.