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Ladera Ranch welcomed the winter holiday season with fun, festive activities and a fresh twist to the annual event, Winter Fest.   

The afternoon event drew 1,500 attendees at Town Green  on Saturday, December 2, and featured winter-themed activities by recreation programmers and community partners. This included photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, inflatables, crafts, and more. 

Ladera Ranch Community Services (LARCS) provided free hot chocolate and popcorn, one of the most popular booths and was appreciated by residents. Other popular attractions were the train ride around Town Green, photos with Santa, and a winter wonderland inflatable maze. Children lined up to make s'mores, hosted by the Adventure Guides, and candy cane reindeer crafts, which the Girl Scouts led.  

The Ladera Ranch Little League partnered with the Ace of Hearts Letters of Love Project to invite residents to write over 200 letters to be distributed to local senior centers and care facilities leading up to Christmas. 

Evolution Swim Academy led the winter beaded bracelets craft, Skyhawks provided interactive sports games, the Ladera Ranch Teen Leadership Council held a coloring activity booth, and Raising Canes provided sweet tea and lemonade. 

Joanne Kopeny, LARCS Event Manager, said that the new attractions included the winter-themed crafts, the winter wonderland maze and slide, the Frozen-themed bounce house, a penguin light battle, and a snowmen blowing snow photo vignette.

Sam, a Ladera Ranch resident, said that her children loved the large snowball fight and were elated that they were given the sponge-like snowballs to take home. 

Residents dropped off unwrapped toys at the LARCS booth, where they were being collected to deliver to Camp Pendleton for the families of the 1ST Light Armored Reconnaissance Marine Battalion.

The St. John’s Episcopal School Choir performed and led attendees in a holiday sing-a-long. Finally, at 5:00 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus counted down to the tree lighting that concluded the event with a loud and spirited cheer that resounded throughout Town Green, letting neighbors know that the holiday season had started.