The Holidays Take Over Ocean Beach

A crooked tree by Albert C Elliott

The holidays have definitely taken over Ocean Beach, what with the arrival of Santa Thursday morning, all the way from the North Pole to visit the children of OB Elementary School.

The Christmas Tree at the foot of Newport is up – albeit a little shaky. There’s the hilarious auction, the Holiday Parade, the Craft Fairs, and the very important Food and Toy Drive.

Here’s more details of just what exactly is happening during the upcoming weeks.

Santa and OB Elementary kids down at the OB Tree. Gretchen Newsom

The OB Holiday Auction – Thursday, Dec. 1 – 5:30pm Sunshine Company

Join members of the OB Town Council and the regulars for the most hilarious night during all of OB’s holiday calendar. It’s the annual auction to benefit the Ocean Beach Town Council’s Holiday Food and Toy Drive on Thursday, December 1st. Don’t miss your chance to bid on and win fantastic prizes from local businesses and sports teams! The Silent Auction kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and the Live Auction gets underway at 6:30 at the Sunshine Company Saloon (5028 Newport Avenue).

Proceeds help the OB Town Council brighten the holidays for over 80 underprivileged families and children across our community through our annual OB Holiday Toy and Drive. If you are interested in donating an auction item, please contact the Ocean Beach Town Council at: http://obtowncouncil.org/contact/.

The OB Holiday Parade – Saturday, Dec. 3rd – 5:05pm

The biggest deal, of course, is the OB Holiday Parade – which begins at exactly 5:05 pm OB Time on Saturday, Dec. 3rd. It’s the 37th Annual OB Holiday Parade and it will feature over 100 entries celebrating Ocean Beach’s unique vibe.  This year’s theme is “The Year of the Pier with Holiday Cheer – Celebrating 50 Years!”

OB Holiday Craft Fair – Saturday, Dec. 3rd – 9 am to 2 pm

The 24th Annual OB Craft Fair is also on December 3rd, from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. At the end of Newport and the grass at Veterans’ Plaza, the fair, which is for all the weekends of the month, offers eclectic goods from the most talented vendors in San Diego.  Come down to our OB Craft Fair to shop from local craft vendors. This event helps support the OB Food and Toy Drive! All vendors interested in applying for a booth, please contact Claudia Jack at  (619) 224-4906 from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday OR contact the OBTC at info@obtowncouncil.org.

OB Farmers Market Holiday Show benefits annual Food and Toy Drive – Dec. 7th

One of Ocean Beach’s most beloved annual events, the OB Food and Toy Drive Concert on the Farmers Market, returns on Dec. 7 to the intersection of Bacon Street and Newport Avenue. Helmed by guitarist Michael Head, best known for his work with The Country Rockin’ Rebels, the free event runs from 4 to 7 p.m.

OB Holiday Food & Toy Drive – Dec. 12th – 17th

The Ocean Beach Town Council is gearing up for its Annual Food & Toy Drive! The big goal this year is to feed and provide presents for over 80 local families and seniors, and they need your help to get the job done! Join them on one or more of the following dates, at the Masonic Center, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd.

Monday, 12/12 at 5:00pm – 9:00 pm: Sorting the non-perishable food items.
Tuesday, 12/13 at 5:00pm –  9:00 pm: Filling and labeling boxes with food and toys
Wednesday, 12/14 at 5:00pm –  9:00 pm: Filling and labeling boxes with food and toys
Thursday, 12/15 at 5:00pm –  9:00 pm: Gift wrapping
Saturday, 12/17 at 8:30am – ALL HANDS ON DECK to distribute and deliver boxes!

If you are able to attend, please bring non-perishable food items or toys to donate. We also could use additional items to help with wrapping (scissors, ribbon, paper, tape, etc.).  If you aren’t able to make it that week, there are 20 locations throughout Occean Beach that are hosting Donation Boxes to drop off new, unwrapped toys, and/or non-perishable food items.

For additional details, please visit our website calendar here: http://obtowncouncil. org/events/.

More about the OB Food and Toy Drive.

Many of the events the OBTC hosts are fundraisers for the OB Food and Toy Drive, which provides assistance to over 80 local families and seniors in need during the holidays.  The OBTC partners with community groups and volunteers to package a week’s worth of groceries, care packages and new gifts and toys for those in need of help during the holidays.  Volunteers spend a week meeting to sort toys and food and get them all delivered.  If you’d like to donate to the OB Food and Toy Drive or volunteer, please contact the OB Town Council by clicking here or call us at (619) 515-4400.

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