Get There Early: City Preps For Friday Night's Perfect Traffic Storm

Laguna Beach's annual Hospitality Night, which includes the traditional lighting of the pepper tree in front of City Hall and the arrival of Santa Claus, will have some competition this year in the form of Laguna Beach High's biggest football game in almost 50 years.

The Breakers will play Corona del Mar in the semifinals of the CIF Southern Division playoffs Friday at 7 p.m. at Laguna Beach High's Guyer Field. This is the school's first semifinals appearance since 1962, and only the third in school history. The winner will play the victor of the other semifinal between Beckman and Estancia in the division championship game on Friday, Dec. 9, at a location to be determined.

Because of the buzz surrounding Friday's game—extra bleacher seats will be added, and it's expected to sell out, so click here for a game preview and ticket info if you're thinking about going—the city has altered the schedule for Hospitality Night, which will last from 5-9 p.m. The updated plans:

• Santa’s arrival location has been changed. He (or she? You can never tell who's under that beard!) will now arrive at the main stage on Forest Avenue at Glenneyre (and not the usual City Hall locale) at 6 p.m.
• The Thurston Middle School Band performance has also been moved to Santa’s arrival area at Forest Avenue and Glenneyre.
• There will now be free trolley service from 5-10 p.m. and free public parking at the ACT V parking lot at 1900 Laguna Canyon Road. Trolleys will make stops on Forest Avenue across from City Hall and at Laguna Beach High School at the corner of Park Avenue and St. Anns. The return route from Laguna Beach High begins at the corner of Park Avenue and St. Anns, stops at the Community/Susi Q Senior Center at 380 Third Street, and ends back at the ACT V parking lot.
• Even more free parking will be available at the Forest/Laguna Canyon, Lumberyard and Community/Susi Q Senior Center parking lots.
• Street closure action: the portion of Forest Avenue in front of City Hall between Broadway and Third Street, and Third Street between Forest Avenue and Park Avenue will remain open all Friday night, but Forest Avenue will be closed to traffic between Coast Highway and Glenneyre from 3:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. Forest Avenue between Glenneyre and Third Street will be closed from 5:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. Beach Street will also be closed.

In other words, get there early. Also: Go Breakers!

Click here to watch video from last year's pepper tree lighting, as well as last year's tree lighting at the Montage.