Published November 8, 2026
NEWPORT BEACH | GO DO STUFF | NOVEMBER 8, 2026
Newport’s holiday season has two calendars this year. One has tree lightings and Santa. The other has king tides. Plan around both and you’ll have a great December. Ignore the second one and you might have a wet Thanksgiving.
The fun calendar
- Mid-November: Crystal Cove’s Holiday House opens in the turquoise cottage, Cottage #46.
- Nov. 20: Fashion Island’s Dazzling Displays light up and run nightly into late December.
- Nov. 27: The 36th Lighting of the Bay at Newport Dunes, plus the tree lighting at Pendry.
- Nov. 29: Tree lighting at Balboa Bay Resort.
The other calendar
- Nov. 23–27: Thanksgiving week king tides. The city says water could top October’s 8.4-foot record by a foot or more.
- Dec. 22–26: Christmas week, the year’s last round. The Inertia reports predicted highs between 6.6 and 7.2 feet, with the potential to reach nine feet on Christmas Eve.
How to have both
- Check the tide before you park. Peninsula and island streets that look fine at 4 p.m. can be a pond by morning.
- Sandbags are free. Prefilled at the City Corporation Yard, 592 Superior Ave., while they last. Empties at fire stations and Lifeguard Headquarters.
- Get Newport Notified alerts so the city can tell you before your shoes do.
- Hosting Thanksgiving on the peninsula? Move the golf cart and the e-bikes up the driveway before the guests show up.
The lights go up. The water comes up. Newport’s going to do both this year, so you might as well enjoy the first one with dry socks.
Sources
- City of Newport Beach: King tides Nov. 23–27, Dec. 22–26
- The Inertia: Newport Beach braces for king tides
- Newport Dunes events
- Visit Newport Beach: Dazzling Displays
- Visit Newport Beach: Tree Lighting at Balboa Bay Resort
- Crystal Cove Conservancy: Holiday House
Help us out, Newport.
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