Avalon’s calendar is filled with events from art festivals to concerts on the beach. Enjoy museum exhibits and many sporting events. Here’s a look at what’s happening.
Please note all events are subject to change.
- December 2018
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12/1 25th Annual "Shop Catalina" Night
A one-night shopping extravaganza with holiday discounts, musical entertainment and prize drawings from 5pm-9pm. Shop Catalina Night kicks off with a holiday tree lighting ceremony on Wrigley Stage at 5pm. Have your picture taken with Santa when you bring two canned goods to the food drive at El Galleon from 6pm-8:30pm. More Info: 310.510.152012/2 Catalina Christmas Tree Decorating Contest
The Catalina Island Foundation and Overlook Hall have teamed up to sponsor this event for community groups and non-profit organizations in Avalon. Live Noble Fir trees will be provided to all entrants. Sign Up Forms must be submitted by November 23rd. More Info: 310.427.2450, OverlookHall.com12/7 First Friday at the Museum (First Friday of each month)
6pm-8pm. First Fridays encourage residents and visitors to explore the museum’s galleries and digital theater, enjoy refreshments and snacks in the outdoor plazas and shop in the Museum Store. Events may include music and dance performances, lectures, gallery talks, or films. Catalina Island Museum12/8 Aero Club Social Fly-In (2nd Saturday of the month, weather permitting)
Fly-in or take the Wildlands Express from the Avalon Plaza to the Airport in the Sky. From 10am to 2pm. Visit with pilots from around the region and view amazing airplanes. Catalina Island Conservancy.12/8 Windward Beach Cleanup (2nd Saturday each month)
Volunteer in the great outdoors while combing the sand for debris to help keep our windward beaches pristine. Clean-up locations (Shark Harbor, Little Harbor, Ben Weston and Cottonwood) rotate throughout the year. Catalina Island Conservancy.12/8 Holiday Movie & Performance
Join us for special performance and a screening of A Christmas Story in the Avalon Casino Theatre. Set in the 1940s, the film follows nine-year-old Ralphie Parker who desperately wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Much to his dismay, his pleas are rejected by his mother, his teacher and even a department store Santa Claus, all giving him the same warning: “You’ll shoot your eye out.” As Christmas Day approaches, Ralphie does his best to keep his hopes up. Viewing this classic film on the big screen is sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit! More Info: 310.510.2414, Catalina Island Museum12/31 46th Annual New Year’s Eve Celebration, Casino Ballroom
Dance in the New Year at this black-tie optional event in the world famous Casino Ballroom. Includes gourmet buffet dinner, dancing, champagne split to toast the New Year and party favors. More Info: 310.510.152012/31 Ring in the New Year at El Galleon’s Annual Mardi Gras Karaoke Party
Outrageous fun New Year’s Eve at El Galleon’s Mardi Gras Karaoke Party from 9:30 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. Admission to the party is $20 per person, general seating, includes party favors, hats, Mardi Gras beads, glass of champagne, balloon drop at midnight and all the fun of Karaoke with over 20,000 songs to choose from in their song library. Dinner 5pm to 9pm. Regular menu and special Deluxe NYE dinner menu available. Reservations/tickets call Israel at El Galleon 310-510-1188. For more info visit CatalinaHotspots.com - January 2019
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1/1 Polar Bear Swim and Plunge
The City of Avalon and the Catalina Swim Club invite you to ring in the New Year with a Polar Bear Swim and a Polar Bear Plunge. This family-friendly event is held at Casino Dive Park Starting at 7:30am. City of Avalon1/4 First Friday at the Museum (First Friday of each month)
6pm-8pm. First Fridays encourage residents and visitors to explore the museum’s galleries and digital theater, enjoy refreshments and snacks in the outdoor plazas and shop in the Museum Store. Events may include music and dance performances, lectures, gallery talks, or films. Catalina Island Museum1/12 Avalon 50K/50M Benefit Run
The 37th annual 50 mile run crosses Catalina Island from Avalon to Two Harbors and back! Run where the buffalo roam through the island’s interior and see both sides of the island. There will also be a 50K (31 mile) run! More Info1/12 Windward Beach Cleanup (2nd Saturday each month)
Volunteer in the great outdoors while combing the sand for debris to help keep our windward beaches pristine. Clean-up locations (Shark Harbor, Little Harbor, Ben Weston and Cottonwood) rotate throughout the year. Catalina Island Conservancy. - February 2019
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2/1 First Friday at the Museum (First Friday of each month)
6pm-8pm. First Fridays encourage residents and visitors to explore the museum’s galleries and digital theater, enjoy refreshments and snacks in the outdoor plazas and shop in the Museum Store. Events may include music and dance performances, lectures, gallery talks, or films. Catalina Island Museum2/9 Windward Beach Cleanup (2nd Saturday each month)
Volunteer in the great outdoors while combing the sand for debris to help keep our windward beaches pristine. Clean-up locations (Shark Harbor, Little Harbor, Ben Weston and Cottonwood) rotate throughout the year. Catalina Island Conservancy.2/16 REI Trans-Catalina Trail Expedition
Come join REI in partnership with Catalina Island for a fully supported Trans-Catalina Trail Expedition where you will hike through the rugged island interior while camping next to pristine beaches. In 4 days, you will traverse the Island starting at the trailhead in Avalon and finishing at Two Harbors.2/23 38th Annual Avalon Underwater Cleanup
USC’s Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber and Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies – Catalina Conservancy Divers are proud to host this annual event. This is the only time scuba diving is allowed in Avalon Bay, with 500+ expected volunteer divers collecting trash and debris. Awards ceremony follows on Wrigley Stage with prizes & giveaways. Proceeds benefit the USC Hyperbaric Chamber and the Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies Scientific Diving Program. More Info2/24 An Evening with Oscar
Celebrate the 91st Academy Awards at An Evening with Oscar. Get your glam on and strut your stuff down the Red Carpet as the paparazzi snap photos of you before entering the world-famous Catalina Casino. An Evening with Oscar is held in the incomparable Catalina Casino Ballroom, bringing the glamour of Hollywood to Catalina Island's most iconic building. This spectacular event includes a fabulous dinner, Oscar balloting and the Academy Awards telecast in the historic Catalina Casino Ballroom. There will also be live and silent auctions, exclusive photo opportunities and much more!
