Photo Courtesy of Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort

Newport Dunes unveils Fire & Ice Festival featuring Waterfront Ice Rink
and Lighting of the Bay on November 24

November 3, 2023

Source: Stu News Newport https://stunewsnewport.com/index.php/2-uncategorised/15902-newport-dunes-unveils-fire-ice-festival-110323

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort has announced their Inaugural Fire & Ice Festival, featuring one of Orange County’s largest waterfront ice rinks, spanning 4,000 square feet. The festival kicks off a season of holiday fun at Newport Dunes with an opening night celebration on November 24, alongside the 33rd Annual Lighting of the Bay, and runs daily through January 1, 2024.

“This year, we celebrate the return of our beloved Lighting of the Bay with a magical holiday experience like never before,” said Phil Ravenna, general manager of Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort. “We are excited to bring a waterfront ice rink to Newport Beach. Skaters can enjoy the lights of the bay as well as our Fire & Ice Festival. We welcome the community to usher in the holidays with loved ones and create new holiday memories in our idyllic bayfront setting in the heart of Newport Beach.”

During the Fire & Ice Festival’s opening night celebration on Friday, Nov. 24, enjoy live musical performances, fire dancers, stocking and ornament decorating, a holiday photo booth and more. Santa will take center stage at 4 p.m. during the 33rd Annual Lighting of the Bay ceremony as he flips the magic switch to illuminate the bay with more than 50 floating holiday decorations and Christmas trees, marking the official start to the holiday season. Sip hot cocoa and cider while watching an outdoor screening of a holiday movie to wrap up the evening. The ice rink opens at 12 p.m. Festive food and beverages will be available for purchase, with food trucks and a full bar opening at 2 p.m. The Lighting of the Bay continues each evening at dusk through New Year’s Day.

The Fire & Ice Festival, continuing daily through January 1, promises to be an extraordinary addition to the Lighting of the Bay tradition. Enjoy dazzling fire dancers on Friday and Saturday evenings. Cozy up in the Igloo Cocktail Bar, serving both hot toddies and cool drinks, while taking in the festive atmosphere Wednesday through Sunday. Along the shore, fire pits will be ablaze, offering a magical setting for roasting s’mores with convenient kits available. Explore the Holiday Inflatable Garden, perfect for capturing the festive moment with loved ones, and enjoy outdoor screenings of holiday movies on the beach.

The waterfront ice rink, one of the largest in Orange County at an impressive 82 ft. x 50 ft., will be open daily from November 24 through January 1, offering a picturesque outdoor skating experience. Skaters will enjoy stunning water and marina views, and during the evening as the bay is illuminated, the rink transforms into a winter wonderland with a backdrop of twinkling lights. Don’t miss themed skate nights on the ice rink, adding even more excitement to this holiday celebration. The ice rink is suitable for ages three and above, and skating aids will be available for $10 to ensure a seamless experience for all skill levels. Skating prices are $25 during peak hours and $20 during off-peak hours, per person, for a delightful 90-minute session which includes a skate rental. Advance booking online is now available at www.newportdunes.com.

Stop by the Newport Dunes Tree Lot, open daily November 24 through December 21 from 10 a.m.-9 p.m., to pick fresh hand-picked pines from Salem, Ore., while taking in the festive holiday scene.

Sip on seasonal beverages and watch the glowing lights in the Newport Dunes lagoon. On Saturday and Sundays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., cocktails and food will be available from Moe B’s Munchies beachfront grill for family picnics.

RV campers return year after year to soak up the enchanting floating lights on the bay just steps from their RV campsite. Bring an RV or stay in Newport Dunes’ charming, single-family Beach Cottages for a cozy, home-away-from-home experience. For those who do not own an RV, Newport Dunes works with RV rental companies that will deliver a luxury RV to your campsite, all set up and ready to enjoy. For holiday parties and private events, the Back Bay Bistro at Newport Dunes offers the perfect waterfront backdrop for a festive event, just steps from the Lighting of the Bay display. For more information on the Back Bay Bistro and to book a private event, click here, or call 949.729.3800.

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort is located at 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach. The Lighting of the Bay is free for the public to enjoy; skating and s’mores kits are additional. On-site parking is available at the following rates: 0 to 30 minutes: Free; 30 minutes to 2 hours: $10; 2 to 5 hours: $15; 5 to 8 hours: $20 and 8 to 24 hours: $25.

Source: Stu News Newport https://stunewsnewport.com/index.php/2-uncategorised/15902-newport-dunes-unveils-fire-ice-festival-110323

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THE LOG: Newport Beach approves contract to campaign for federal dredging funds

Newport Harbor Aerial

The Newport Beach City Council approved an agreement with a firm for federal advocacy services related to harbor dredging efforts and programs, Feb. 27. Carpi & Clay was retained to represent Newport Beach at the federal level in hopes the firm would help bring the city’s issues to the forefront when it comes to harbor dredging.

“The city has been actively working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers … and to a limited extent, federal elected representatives, to present and educate them on our dredging needs in Newport Harbor, as well as to get our project on the Corps’ upcoming project funding list,” city staff told council members in a report. “Keeping our project in focus and on the recommended funding list of both the Corps and the many elected representatives that need to review and approve it is, and continues to be, a significant challenge particularly because we do not have a presence in Washington, D.C.”

An Army Corps study in 2017 revealed there is about 650,000 cubic yards of sediment remaining in federal waters and must be dredged to “maintain adequate navigation.”

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“Just Duffy” – Catching up with Newport Beach Mayor Marshall Duffield

Mayor Marshall "Duffy" Duffield

By Devon Warren

Inventor of the electric Duffy boat addresses his plans to improve the Newport Beach Harbor as city’s new mayor.

NEWPORT BEACH — In the efforts to track down Marshall “Duffy” Duffield, the new mayor of Newport Beach, it seemed quite ominous his reply to an email correspondence about scheduling an interview stated, “I’m around,” with his phone number attached.

The Duffy name is certainly “around” in many corners of Newport Beach Harbor, as it’s literally everywhere you turn – in the form of a “Duffy” electric boat.

As a long-time Newport Beach resident (more than 50 years) and the inventor of the electric boat bearing his name, many of us would consider Duffield the quintessential image of the dreamy Southern California yachting life.

A car insurance agent once told me we pay such catastrophic prices because “it’s a privilege to live” in Southern California. In a lot of ways, Duffield has taken such privilege and created an empire from it – him, and most other residents of California’s coast, live in a Technicolor world of scenic beauty that others across the country may never see in their lifetimes.

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