Travel Costa Mesa Blog
Winter Wonders in Costa Mesa: 5 Activities for a Magical Holiday Escape
‘Tis the season, and if you’re in the mood for some festive fun, look no further. Grab your beanies, charge up your phones, and get ready to experience five totally Instagrammable Costa Mesa activities that scream holiday vibes!
1. Winter Fest OC, Where the Fun Never Ends
Dive headfirst into the holiday spirit at Winter Fest OC, Southern California’s largest winter festival! Glide through their enchanting ice-skating trail, enjoy winter themed cocktails inside a cozy fireside igloo, speed down a 150 foot ice tubing slide, and experience a dazzling light show perfectly synchronized to your favorite holiday songs. It’s a must-do event with plenty of attractions for all ages and so many festive photo ops to fill your IG stories!
2. Experience Holiday Shopping at South Coast Plaza
It’s time to get your holiday shopping done and where better to do it than at South Coast Plaza? The magical holiday décor transforms this shopping destination into a winter wonderland complete with a reindeer carousel and whimsical Santa Express train inside its festive corridors. With an unparalleled selection of high-end stores and holiday essentials, it offers a luxurious and memorable shopping experience for finding the perfect gifts.
3. Snap-Worthy Moments at the Town Center Park Tree
This season is all about capturing the holiday spirit so don’t forget to take pictures at the massive Christmas tree in Town Center Park, right in front of The Westin South Coast Plaza. If you’re in the mood for a tasty meal, try Vaca, a local Spanish restaurant with a perfect view of the tree. And here’s a bonus – it’s just steps away from Segerstrom Center for Arts and South Coast Repertory if you are looking to top off your night with a live holiday performance!
4. Indulge in Sweet Delights at Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee
– photo by Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee
Satisfy your craving for a sweet treat with freshly made donuts from Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee. With accolades from Condé Nast, this eatery has become a culinary sensation, and you must try their limited-time holiday-themed options. From bourbon delights to peppermint perfection, experience the joy of the season in every bite.
5. Watch A Christmas Carol at South Coast Repertory
– photo by Jenny Graham
The holidays in Costa Mesa aren’t complete without watching a performance of “A Christmas Carol” at Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory. This long-held tradition is the absolute best way to enjoy a captivating performance of a heartwarming classic tale.
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Posted in Events, Food, Locals, Music & Art, Shopping
Celebrate Fall at these Orange County Events
A fall getaway, why not? Consider taking a trip to Costa Mesa, in the heart of Orange County, the ideal location for a few days away to relax and enjoy the changing of the seasons and all the Orange County events happening. Hotels in Costa Mesa are running great weekend deals that make it easy to find a reason for an escape.
If you want to explore the festivities that fall brings, we’ve got a great lineup of activities from festivals, to pumpkin carving, holiday decorating, train rides and more. Just a short drive from San Diego or Los Angeles, or a one-hour flight from Arizona, Nevada or Northern California into John Wayne Airport, it’s easy to get to Costa Mesa so you can maximize your weekend fun and all the events happening in Orange County.
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Holiday Gift Trends at South Coast Plaza
All of the major shopping days – Black Friday, Shop Small Saturday and Cyber Monday may have come and gone, but there is still plenty of time for holiday shopping. Don’t procrastinate and wait until Christmas Eve to scramble around, looking for last-minute gifts. If you have a fashion lover on your gift list, South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa is the place to shop for all of this season’s holiday gift trends.
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Holiday Events in Costa Mesa
The holiday season can come and go in a blur. Between friends, family, shopping and everything else that revolves around the holidays, it’s difficult to find the time to actually enjoy them.
Holiday events can be some of the best parts of the holiday season. It’s fun to gather with friends and family for festive celebrations. There are several great events in Costa Mesa between now and Christmas, many of which are free to attend. Get the most out of the season by enjoying some of these festive events in the City of the Arts.
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Posted in Events, Locals, Music & Art, Play
Black Friday and Shop Small Saturday in Costa Mesa
This weekend marks the biggest shopping days of the year. Black Friday, a day synonymous with big discounts and even bigger crowds when retailers open their doors before sunrise, is generally regarded as the official beginning of the holiday “shopping season.” More recent trends, like Shop Small Saturday and Cyber Monday, offer shoppers an early opportunity to check-off a good portion of their gift list.
“Black Friday” may sound like a daunting, negative term, but its meaning refers to a positive time for retailers. It is typically the day that stores go from the “red” to the “black” and begin to turn a profit for the year. Shop Small Saturday started in 2010, and unlike Cyber Monday and Black Friday which are both prominent with large retail chains, Shop Small Saturday focuses on unique, local businesses. Whether you’re more inclined to brave swarming crowds on Black Friday or browse local retailers on Shop Small Saturday, (or maybe both) Costa Mesa has the perfect shopping destination for you.
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