Holiday season ushered in tonight

Laguna Beach will welcome the holiday season tonight during Hospitality Night in downtown Laguna Beach.

Santa will arrive at City Hall on Forest Avenue at 6 p.m. after making his rounds in Laguna Beach via the Coast Highway. He’ll help the mayor light the City Hall pepper tree and then head down to his hut to greet children and hear their wishes.

Shops on Forest Avenue will be open until 9 p.m. as merry-makers fill the street, which will be blocked to traffic for the evening. Restaurants and night life will be in full swing.

The evening with be filled with festivities, from community singers to strolling bagpipers.

At 5 p.m., the Laguna Presbyterian Church will host a bell choir and community sing-a-long, along with the La Playa Preschool tamale booth, a craft bazaar and open house, all at the church, 415 Forest Ave.

Also at 5 p.m., the Laguna Beach Community Concert Band will perform at Forest Avenue Plaza (Peppertree Lane) until 6 p.m.

At 5:30 p.m., the Thurston Middle School band will play at City Hall, 505 Forest Ave.

After the pepper tree lighting at 6 p.m., Santa’s reindeer, Sparky and McGruff, will make sure Santa gets to his house in time to meet children, while Lagunatics and Miss Linda’s choir sing carols, and the Fairy Lady and Miss Linda and her hand puppets entertain children waiting to take a picture with Santa.

At 6:09 p.m., Laguna Tunes will sing at Forest Avenue and Beach Street.

At 6:12 p.m., the Main State on Forest Avenue and Glenneyre Street will host an evening of music and celebration, including Anneliese’s Choir; Steamroller; and the Laguna Beach High School band. Throughout the night, the San Clemente Scots Bagpipers will march and play along Forest, Ocean Avenue and Coast Highway.

Katherine Story at 266 Ocean Ave. promises a gift for everyone who sits on Santa’s lap from 6 to 9 p.m.

At 9:15 p.m. “It’s a Wonderful Life” will be shown at South Coast Cinemas.

For more information, call at (949) 494-1018.