Hint, ‘hospitality’ is in the title

It’s not just about Santa.

Sure, Hospitality Night in Laguna Beach entertains the children, but there’s more to it.

There’s saving the front row at Brussels Bistro for your crew, like you do before the park concerts with blankets and lawn chairs. The Belgians are good like that.

There are business parties downtown, some by invitation only, where the free food is usually good.

Along the way, you bump into everyone. People you saw yesterday at Ralphs, people you haven’t seen since last year’s party.

You also get to accidently step on dogs – our biggest pet peeve. Unless it’s a Golden Retriever, which treats crowds as one big extended family, maybe leave Fido home. No one cares if you dressed up your dog like a perverted Elf.

Hospitality Night is a way to acknowledge that Laguna has survived another year. Despite the challenges – the incessant tourists, construction, economic malaise, bickering and burnout – there is undeniable goodness:

• Crystal blue water that deserves to be called a new shade, “Laguna blue,” (when there’s not a sewage spill).
• Coves that are still secluded.
• Trails that serve everyone, relentlessly.
• People who give unselfishly.
• Characters who maintain their authenticity.
• Dreamers who believe that Laguna can continue to be Laguna.

Hospitality Night rewards these joys and more.

It’s a well-deserved few hours of peace. And regardless of your religion, we can all use peace.

For a detailed schedule, visit the city’s site: https://www.lagunabeachcity.net/government/departments/parks-recreation/special-events-programs/hospitality-night