Santa, snow, sculptures, more Saturday at Newport Dunes’ Lighting of the Bay

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina will celebrate the holiday season with “A Polar Paradise” on Saturday, featuring the annual Lighting of the Bay.

For more than 20 years, the Newport Beach RV park, marina and beach has hosted the Lighting of the Bay, during which Santa Claus lights 50 Christmas trees on Newport Bay to kick off the holiday season. Saturday’s festivities also will include 30 tons of snow for sledding, ice sculptures including a giant Santa on a throne, live performances, food, a Christmas tree lot and more than 1 million lights.

Here’s the schedule:

• 1 to 8 p.m.: tours of the Ice Sculpture Wonderland, Polar Express train rides, sledding and photos with Santa.

• 4 p.m.: music by Orange County Song & Dance Company and a “choir off” between Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor high schools.

• 6 p.m.: Santa rides in on a paddleboard to flip the switch for Lighting of the Bay, followed by a screening on the beach of the movie “The Polar Express.”

Free s’mores, popcorn and hot chocolate will be provided, and an area for adults will offer cocktails and other spirits.

Admission is free; parking is $10 per vehicle.

Newport Dunes is at 1131 Back Bay Drive. For more information, call (800) 729-DUNE (3863) or visit https://www.newportdunes.com.

--Rob Vardon