Wet Christmas Walk

Luis Pena

Rain couldn’t keep 5,000 people away from the 25th annual Corona del

Mar Christmas Walk.

The event had strolling carolers, face painters, clowns, high

school bands, a bungee jump and other activities.

The event is to introduce the merchants to the citizens of the

community and vice versa, said Linda Leonhard, executive director of

the Corona Del Mar Chamber of Commerce.

“It generates holiday spirit and holiday festivities for the

community of Corona del Mar,” Leonhard said. “It opens the doors for

the merchants to bring in people into their shops and to kick off the

Christmas season.”

The walk helps to bring the community together by having various

groups, such as the Girl Scouts and firefighters, come and work

together, Leonhard said.

The Newport Beach firefighters brought some Christmas spirit by

cooking and selling hot dogs. Firefighter Jeff Remmele said that the

Chamber of Commerce asked the fire department to participate in the

event because it’s giving back to the community for its support of

the department and to promote the holiday spirit.

“Its something my wife and I never miss, and this is all about

community,” Councilman Steve Bromberg said. “Even though it’s a

business walk, it’s all about community and having a lot of fun.”

Corona del Mar is a very proactive community because the residents

embrace the business district and the business district embraces

them, Bromberg said.

Diana Brown of Corona del Mar said that she and her family come to

the event every year and that she liked the food and the music

entertainment that was provided.

The rain didn’t dampen the spirits of many of those who came to

enjoy the festivities.

“The weather, even though it’s raining, it makes you feel more in

the holiday spirit, too,” Brown said.

Gavin Tucker of Corona del Mar had a wonderful time with his

family because of the Christmas atmosphere -- people walking their

dogs, Christmas carolers and children running around. Even with the

rain, he said, it still felt like the holidays to him.

Jennifer Young of Corona del Mar said that she doesn’t miss the

Christmas Walk because there is something to do for everyone and

because it brings out the holiday spirit.

The walk is a great opportunity for the community and the

businesses in it to get together and to celebrate the Christmas

spirit, said Chip Stassel, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce

An event like the walk is what helps to make Corona del Mar a

great area because it’s an example of living and working in a city

that you won’t see in many other cities, Stassel said.

Kai Beaudoux, owner of Kona Kai Quality Drinking Water, came to

the event not only to promote the best customer service that his

company has to offer but because he enjoys the walk as a resident of

Corona del Mar.

As the few scattered drops here and there slowly turned into rain,

many called it a day, but volunteers such as Whitney Caskey, a junior

at Corona del Mar High School, stayed on.

Caskey, who was only wearing a shirt and pants, said she

volunteered because she gets to learn about the history of the area

and to meet new people.

“I’m devoted,” she said. “I said that I’d help work out at the

chamber, and I’m helping because you just can’t go halfway up the

mountain and then decide to turn around and go home. You’ve got to go

all the way up.”

* LUIS PENA is the news assistant and may be reached at (949)

574-4298 or by e-mail at [email protected].