Laguna Beach’s signature holiday kickoff — Santa arrives at the Peppertree Lot at 6:10 PM for the tree lighting, merchants stay open late along Forest Avenue, and the whole village comes alive for one of the most genuinely festive evenings in OC.
Hospitality Night is Laguna Beach‘s official kickoff to the holiday season — the first Friday of December, organized by the Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City. Santa Claus arrives at the Peppertree Lot (Lot 2) for the tree lighting, and from that moment the village commits to being its full holiday self for the rest of the night.
Lower Forest Avenue fills with entertainment and merchant open houses, and the downtown shops, galleries, and restaurants stay open late — it’s the rare evening when Laguna’s gallery scene is on the same beat as its retail and dining scene. Street closures in the downtown area put the village center car-free and walkable for the whole event.
For Laguna families and visitors, this is the night the village turns on the season — not because of any one attraction, but because every shop, gallery, and restaurant participates at once. Many pair Hospitality Night with a daytime visit to Sawdust Art Festival’s Winter Fantasy up Laguna Canyon Road for a full Laguna Beach holiday weekend.
The first Friday of December each year, typically 5:00 to 9:00 PM. Santa arrives at the Peppertree Lot at 6:10 PM for the tree lighting; merchant open houses run through 9:00 PM.
At the Peppertree Lot (Lot 2) in downtown Laguna Beach. Santa arrives at 6:10 PM and the tree is lit immediately after.
Downtown closures start at 3:00 PM, so the central lots are out. The bluff lots along the coast and the residential streets just outside the closure zone are the alternatives — expect to walk in.
Yes — Hospitality Night is built around merchants and galleries staying open late along Forest Avenue and the surrounding streets. Many run their own open houses with treats, discounts, and small events.
Many do. The Sawdust Winter Fantasy is up Laguna Canyon Road, runs all day on weekends through December, and pairs beautifully with a Hospitality Night evening in the village — two complementary Laguna experiences in the same weekend.
The Peppertree Lot (Lot 2) sits at the heart of downtown Laguna Beach along Forest Avenue — the village’s main pedestrian and gallery corridor. Forest threads from the bluff above the cove down toward the beach, with the city’s art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants clustered along it. Laguna Beach itself has been a recognized arts colony since the early 1900s, and the village centers its civic and seasonal events on these few walkable blocks.
Southern California’s holiday lights and festive outings are pure magic — but nothing compares to Santa Claus himself stepping through your own front door. House of Kringle brings a real-bearded, professionally trained Santa to homes and gatherings across SoCal for an intimate live visit your family will treasure for years.
