|
Santa Arrives at Orange County Market Place
Santa
Visits Saturdays & Sundays Nov. 28 - Dec.
20, 2009 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Costa
Mesa, Calif.-Santa Claus arrives in a red 1929 Ford
Roadster at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 28 to kick off
the holiday shopping season and begin his annual stint at
the Orange County Market Place. During the same weekends of
the toy and clothing drive, Santa will be posing for photos
and listening to wishes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bring a new toy or new clothing
(unwrapped) for free admission, and a free 4X6" photo
with Santa on day of your visit.
“Twinkie the Elf”, aka Mimi Becker of La Habra who made her
debut at the Market Place last year returns for four
weekends to help Santa and do what she enjoys most: putting
smiles on people’s faces. Becker, who works full time at
Target in Fullerton the rest of the year, takes advantage of
her 4’ stature by elfing during the holiday season, which
started about 18 years ago. Celebrity Christmas party gigs
have included Jim Carrey and Pamela Anderson parties. She
has appeared in the movies El Matador (2003) and Tip Toes in
2002 and on television on CSI: Criminal Scene Investigation
and Man vs. Beast in 2003. A few years back, Becker played
Theodore in an Alvin and the Chipmunks stage show at
Universal Studios.
Other entertainment will be offered during the holiday
season including the Mitchell Marionettes Puppet Shows,
which will be featured the weekends of November 28 and
December 20. All shows are free and will be held at 11 a.m.,
12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. near the Santa photo operation.
The Orange County Market Place, in its 40th year, is open
every Saturday and Sunday, except during the annual Orange
County Fair in July and early August. Nearly 1,000 merchants
offer a variety of products and services.
Hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $2 and kids 12 and
under are free. Free parking is also available. Preferred
parking is $5. For more information on the Market Place and
its events, ocmarketplace.com or call (949) 723-6616.
Location: Orange County
Market Place,88 Fair Drive - Orange County
Fairgrounds, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Toy &
Clothing Drive at Market Place -- Bring
Unwrapped Toy or Clothing
The Orange County Market
Place, the weekend swap meet at the O. C.
Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, has
teamed up with the Community Action
Partnership of Orange County (CAPOC) to help
bring new toys and clothing to those in need
this holiday season. Those bringing a
donation of a new and unwrapped toy or
clothing item any Saturday or Sunday from
November 28 through December 20 will receive
free admission ($2 value) to the swap meet.
In addition, coupons will be handed out for
a free 4” x 6” photo with Santa valid the
same dates. ($10 value).
“We feel strongly about the
spirit of giving all year. During the
holidays when we have promotions for
freebies and special entertainment aimed at
our shoppers, we also want to help those who
might not be able to shop, “said Jeffrey
Teller, president of the O. C. Market Place.
“The toy and clothing drive is a great way
for us to do that and are honored to be one
of the partners with the Community Action
Partnership of Orange County.”
For more information or to coordinate a
food, clothing or toy drive, please call
Hope for the Holiday Coordinator, Marleen
Morrill at (714) 897-6670 ext 3404 or
mmorrill@capoc.org or visit the website
www.capoc.org.
According to CAPOC, a nonprofit organization
which has been helping to eliminate and
prevent the causes and effects of poverty
for more than 44 years, the holidays bring
an increased financial burden for those who
are already struggling. The cost of living
in Orange County is 58% above national
average, and over 10% of Orange County’s
families are living in poverty.
Though donations will be accepted for
children ages newborn to 18, the greatest
need is gifts for ages 11 to 16 years. Many
families request clothing items such as
undergarments, jacket and shoes.
Earlier this year the Orange County Market
Place coordinated a food drive with CAPOC
for the Orange County Food Bank during a
spring and fall concert series. More than 2
½ tons of food was collected at 16 concerts
events which offered free admission for the
donation. "We are so grateful for the
partnership with the O.C. Marketplace. We
could not feed the hungry in Orange County
without great partners like the Market
Place," said Kristin Kvesic, Donated Food
Program Manager.
Other
Orange County Market Place Events:
Costa Mesa Market Place Halloween Hearse Car
Show and Parade
Pigs, Popcorn & Polkas--An OC Super Fair
Review
Costa
Mesa Pet Fair Annual Event at Orange County
Market Place
|
