At the corner of Dahlia Avenue and East Coast Highway, two holiday events share one intersection on Sunday, December 6. By day the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce puts its Christmas Walk vendor fair at PCH and Dahlia. A few steps away is Sherman Library & Gardens, with one of its two free parking lots on that same corner. The Walk ends at 5 p.m., and Sherman's first entry slot for its new holiday evening opens at 5 p.m.
So December 6 runs from late morning into the evening, with no gap between the free event and the ticketed one. The only real decision is the Sherman ticket, because it can't be refunded, it can't be rescheduled, and the opening night has already sold out.
The Day, Hour by Hour
| Time | Where | What's happening |
|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Roger's Gardens, 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road | The Christmas Boutique, "The Stories of the Season," open daily |
| 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | PCH sidewalks through Corona del Mar Village | 47th Annual Corona del Mar Christmas Walk, free |
| 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Sherman Library & Gardens, 2647 East Coast Highway | Regular daytime garden hours, separate ticket |
| 5 p.m. or 7 p.m. entry, until 9 p.m. | Sherman Library & Gardens | Merry & Bright Nights, ticketed |
The gap to watch is between 4 and 5 p.m. Sherman's daytime gates close an hour before the Walk ends. An evening ticket covers only the after-hours event, so walking the gardens in daylight takes a separate admission.
The Walk's 47th Year Adds a Trolley
The Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce still runs the Walk the same way: it's free, there's no set starting point, and you just stroll the PCH sidewalks through the village. The 2026 program lists:
- More than 17 local bands on stages along the route
- Santa visits and photos
- A beer and wine garden with dancing to the Pinch Me Band
- Vendor gifts at the PCH and Dahlia vendor fair
- Children's activities, merchant and restaurant promotions, and street performers
The new piece this year is a hop-on, hop-off trolley that connects the entertainment stops. The Chamber has posted the trolley route map on its event page. The bands are spread along the highway, so the trolley mostly helps families with small children and anyone who wants to catch a set at the far end of the village without walking back the whole way.
The day benefits the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots Program.
The 5 p.m. Handoff Is a Ticketed One
Sherman Library & Gardens calls Merry & Bright Nights "an all new magical evening of lights, music, dancing, food, and sparkling holiday fun." The program includes Santa, a Wishing Tree, holiday arts and crafts, a model train winding through a holiday scene, and a dance party. Sherman suggests planning on about an hour to an hour and a half. The paths work for strollers, wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
The event runs 14 nights in three blocks: December 3 to 6, December 10 to 13, and December 17 to 22. That makes December 6 the last night of the first block, and the only night that lines up with the Christmas Walk. The opening night, Thursday, December 3, is already sold out.
The terms are worth knowing before you buy:
Tickets and Sherman Library & Gardens memberships are not refundable. ... There is no ticket rescheduling. Merry & Bright Nights is a rain-or-shine outdoor event.
If you can't use a ticket, Sherman asks that you treat the purchase as a donation to the nonprofit gardens. Those rules matter more on December 6 than on other nights. A ticket for that date depends on how the afternoon on the highway goes: how tired the children are, whether the weather holds, and whether 5 p.m. arrives sooner than expected.
Which entry slot fits the day
The 5 p.m. entry starts right as the Walk closes, so you can go straight from the vendor fair to the gate on Dahlia. The 7 p.m. entry leaves two hours for dinner in the village between the two events. Sherman doesn't serve dinner itself right now. Its regular dining is closed until a new farm-to-table restaurant partner opens in fall 2027. During Merry & Bright, a taco cart sells tacos, quesadillas, water and hot chocolate, and it takes cash only. A no-host beer and wine bar is also open, and outside food isn't allowed. If you take the 5 p.m. slot after a full afternoon on the Walk, bring cash.
What the membership bundles actually cost
General admission is $45 for members, $65 for non-members, and free for ages 3 and under. Sherman also sells bundles that pair tickets with a year of membership. Here's how they compare with buying non-member tickets:
| Bundle | Price | Same tickets at non-member price | What the year of membership adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Package, 4 tickets | $335 | $260 | $75 |
| Adult Dual Package, 2 tickets | $230 | $130 | $100 |
| Senior Dual Package, 2 tickets | $205 | $130 | $75 |
Sherman says membership "typically pays for itself in about 3 visits." For a household within walking distance of Dahlia Avenue, the Family Package works out to a year of garden access for $75 more than four holiday tickets would cost.
The Shared Corner Is Also the Parking Question
Sherman has two free parking lots off Dahlia Avenue. One is at the corner of Dahlia and East Coast Highway, and the other is behind the building, also off Dahlia. Both are first come, first served, and there's also street parking. On December 6, the Walk's vendor fair is at PCH and Dahlia, the same corner that Merry & Bright guests are directed to at 5 p.m.
Sherman's entrance has moved for now. The gardens are open during grounds improvements, the entrance is on Dahlia Avenue with signs pointing the way, and some areas are closed off for the time being. If you live within walking distance of the village, leaving the car at home settles both questions at once.
Roger's Gardens Covers the Morning
The Walk doesn't start until 11 a.m., and Roger's Gardens opens at 9 a.m. Its 2026 Christmas Boutique, "The Stories of the Season," is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road. Newport Beach Living Magazine reported that the boutique opened October 2.
Roger's also has dates before December 6:
- Thursday, November 12: a ticketed evening shopping fundraiser for Susan G. Komen, $100 per guest, with light fare from Farmhouse.
- Friday, November 20: an artist signing with Gunther Ulbricht.
- Saturday, November 21: appearances by Lisa Kelechava and Joe Walden.
- November 27 through December 24: the Lil' Dickens Carolers, who perform at Roger's Gardens and at Farmhouse. December 15 and December 24 are Farmhouse only.
New on the Highway This Season
A few addresses have changed since last year's Walk. Edge & Flow Studio, a men's grooming and self-care studio at 3032 E. Coast Highway, held its grand opening and ribbon-cutting with the Chamber on September 16. At 2931 E. Coast Highway, the former Mayur Cuisine of India space is becoming White Rooster, the "Comida Californiana" restaurant from chef-owner Michael Campbell. The Orange County Register reported in September that it was slated to open in late October or early November. The menu runs from smoked tri-tip tacos and chilaquiles to blue corn waffles, seafood and a birria burger. Campbell opened the original White Rooster in Dana Point in January.
If December 6 doesn't work, Merry & Bright Nights returns December 10 to 13 and December 17 to 22, with every night after the 3rd still on sale as of late October. The Christmas Walk itself only happens once, on Sunday, December 6, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Our team works along this stretch of Coast Highway, and we keep up with its calendar as closely as we keep up with its homes. If you'd like early word on what's changing in Corona del Mar Village, from new openings on the highway to new listings nearby, Charlie Price Group will gladly keep you posted. Receive Exclusive Listings.
