Strolling into the season

Big crowds swarm Corona del Mar for annual Christmas Walk; new beer and wine garden is a hit.The village of Corona del Mar turned into a giant outdoor mall on Sunday, with an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 residents and visitors strolling the Coast Highway to shop, eat, drink and spend time with friends.

Almost all of the local restaurants and shops -- as well as the Newport Beach fire and police departments -- were involved in the 27th annual Corona del Mar Christmas Walk. From MacArthur Boulevard all the way to Poppy Street, merchants showed off their goods, and bands played live music at every turn.

The Christmas Walk gives local retailers a chance to boost the holiday shopping season while spreading holiday spirit Southern California-style, with a gorgeous sun beaming down on people dressed in flip-flops and Santa hats. The only noticeable difference from a summer day was the slightly cooler breeze blowing in off the Pacific.

“I love that Corona del Mar does this,” said Robin Cashion of Laguna Niguel, who used to live in the area and has been coming to the Christmas Walk for years. “It’s a good time to get together with friends.”

Caren Atkins of Newport Heights, a friend of Cashion, said she’s been coming to the street fest since before she had young children.

“We all meet and just walk around,” she said. “There’s stuff for kids and adults.”

On Vendors Lane -- the Bandera parking lot turned into an outdoor shopping mall -- children ran back and forth between the petting zoo, the bounce house, the rock-climbing wall and the bungee ride.

New this year was the addition of a beer and wine garden for the grown-ups. Linda Leonhard, executive director of the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce, said the group decided to try the garden this year because in past years the bars and restaurants became overcrowded and people were selling alcohol illegally.

Leonhard said the Christmas Walk is such a great event because the entire community gets involved -- from the Boy Scouts to senior citizen groups.

Members of the Oasis Senior Center’s Watercolor class were present, displaying their artwork for sale while promoting the center’s classes.

Costa Mesa’s Iris Timmons has been painting with watercolors since she retired seven years ago.

“Everyone is an artist, they just have to bring out their talents,” she said. “I have to go to class, otherwise I don’t paint.”

As people shopped and sampled food from some of the local eateries, bands like the Nocturnes and the Green Room jammed surf and classic rock music. Members of Scarlet Sister Circus, a local troupe that performs for parties and fairs, toured the festival on stilts.

While many of the Christmas walkers come every year, people like Gail McMahon of Ladera Ranch stumbled upon the festival while driving along the Coast Highway. She and her husband decided to stop and see what it was all about.

Newport Beach’s Susan Garbutt said she comes with her family every year.

“It’s one of our favorite things to do each year,” Garbutt said.

* LINDSAY SANDHAM is the news assistant. She can be reached at (714) 966-4625 or [email protected].

20051205ir017zknKENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)Savannah Taylor, 9, right, and Lauren Herndon, 10, of the Harbor View Elementary Choir sing carols Sunday at Christmas Walk.