A mile of Christmas cheer

Ted Shaffrey

CORONA DEL MAR -- A one-mile strip of East Coast Highway will be

transformed into a celebration of all things Christmas tomorrow from 11

a.m. to 4 p.m., between Avocado and Poppy avenues.

“Come and party with us!” said a cheerful Ali Ataya of the Health

Emporium, one of the more than 150 businesses taking part in the 21st

annual “Christmas Walk Festival,” sponsored by the Corona del Mar Chamber

of Commerce.

Highlights will include wandering carolers and musicians, free photos

with Santa Claus, a petting zoo and plenty of clowns to entertain.

More than 100 prizes, worth between $25 and $2,680, will be raffled off,

along with random giveaways -- from food to vitamins to balloons.

“This is a big deal for us,” said Luvena Hayton of the chamber, which

started the walking festival 21 years ago. “A lot of stores have said

that without this one-day boom in the local economy, they wouldn’t be

able to stay in business.”

Hayton explained that the festival started in 1978 when she and another

business owner in the area were putting up poinsettias and white lights

to cover up poster paint on the windows. The streetscape looked so nice,

she said, that she was inspired to ask all of the businesses to put their

wares on the sidewalk and offer fun attractions for customers and

neighbors on the first Sunday of December.

“It’s grown tremendously since then,” she said. “But it’s still a village

atmosphere. Everyone knows each other.”