Newport's October 18 Is a Relay That Starts at the Dunes
Five events fall on Sunday, October 18, in four different parts of Newport Beach. Their start times are spread across the day instead of piling into one block. The Spirit Run has left Fashion Island for Newport Dunes and is scheduled to finish by 11 a.m. That leaves Newport Center to the closing day of StyleWeekOC, which gets going in the late morning. Down the Peninsula, the volleyball championship matches don't begin until mid-afternoon. Taken in order, the day hands you from the Back Bay to East 16th Street to Fashion Island to the pier.
Here is the clock, using the times each organizer has posted:
The 42nd Newport Spirit Run has the biggest change of the day. It is moving from Fashion Island to Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina at 1131 Back Bay Drive. It is also bringing back a half marathon at the Bay, the first in more than 20 years. The half starts and finishes at the Dunes, and the race site describes routes that use Back Bay roads and paths, wetlands and nature reserve areas. The 5K and the youth and family miles are out-and-back courses. The Adult Competitive Mile turns around at Back Bay Drive and San Joaquin Hills Road.
The posted wave times run Adult Competitive Mile at 7:00, Half Marathon at 7:15, 5K Race & Walk at 7:30, Youth Competitive Mile at 8:45 and Family Mile at 9:00. The Beach Dash for ages 4 to 6 starts at 9:50, and the Toddler Trot runs from 10:00 to 10:30. The race page says the schedule could still change and will be "Finalized Oct 12th." Check newportspiritrun.org again after that date.
There is also a new beneficiary. This year the Newport Bay Conservancy has been added to a list that includes local schools, youth sports and other youth causes, along with a stated environmental focus around the Bay.
The race pages reviewed for this post don't include road-closure details. If you plan to drive near the Back Bay that morning, the City's traffic advisories page is the place the City sends people for real-time updates.
The Toddler Trot wraps up at 10:30, and the Environmental Nature Center opens its 50th Annual Fall Faire & Pumpkin Patch at 10. The ENC is at 1601 E. 16th Street, and the Faire is its largest fundraiser of the year. Entry is free, and activities cost extra. The day includes a pumpkin patch, a Craft Crawl along the trails, nature games, performances at the Fire Circle Stage and an online auction.
The food comes from Savor OC restaurants. The 2026 list names Bluewater Grill, Hi-Time Wine Cellars, KEAN Coffee, Love at First Bite, Mi Casa, Mountain Mike's Pizza, Pizza Bakery, Shirley's Bagels, SOHO TACO, Zaab Thai and Zov's, and the ENC says more will be announced. If you came from a 7:30 5K, that list covers brunch.
The ENC says parking is usually tight and suggests that people who live nearby walk or bike. The parking map linked from its site appears to be a 2023 file, so confirm current arrangements with the ENC before you count on it. The Faire runs until 3, so you can arrive late or leave early around the next two stops.
The Spirit Run's old home has a full Sunday of its own. StyleWeekOC runs October 14 through 18 at Fashion Island, and this year it partners with the Newport Beach Film Festival. On the last day, the "On the Scent" fragrance masterclass runs from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Neiman Marcus–Bloomingdale's Courtyard. Seating is limited and first-come, first-served, and the session depends on the weather. Participating stores have offers from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the Coastal Collection Pop-Up Sequel is on Macy's Lawn from noon to 4.
Levain Bakery opened its first Orange County shop at Fashion Island on Sept. 4. It's at 315 Newport Center Drive and open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., so it works whenever you get to this leg.
The film festival's evening event is back here too, but it's likely gone already. Armani and the Birth of Italian Fashion screens at 6 p.m. at The Lot, Screen 3, 999 Newport Center Drive, and the festival's ticketing page showed it as sold out. NBFF Honors and Variety's "10 Actors to Watch" are also on Sunday, at Balboa Bay Resort, and NBFF Honors is invitation-only. For most people, the festival part of the day is the daytime StyleWeekOC program. The festival itself runs through October 22.
The last stop is the Peninsula. The Fourth Annual Hoag Newport Beach 4-Man Volleyball Invitational plays its main draw finals on Sunday. The field includes the world No. 1 women's team of Kristen Cruz and Taryn Brasher, Phil Dalhausser in his final competitive season, and brothers Taylor and Trevor Crabb. Men's and women's teams compete for a combined $200,000 prize purse.
"Combine that with Newport Beach Pier, music, hospitality and thousands of people enjoying the beach, and it becomes much more than a volleyball tournament. It's a great Newport Beach weekend." Kevin Martin, co-founder of Eagle Four Partners, speaking to Stu News Newport
The semifinals are at 12:30 and 1:30, the women's gold and bronze matches at 2:30, the men's at 3:30, and awards at 4:30. The tournament rules say play begins at 8 a.m. and should end around 5:30 p.m. Games may start later than listed but never earlier, and weather can change the format. That works in your favor here. If you're still at Fashion Island at 2:15, the women's gold match won't start before 2:30, and it may start later.
Watching from the sand is free. Grandstand seats, the VIP Fun Zone and VIP Sand Suites cost extra. The organizers' FAQ says beach chairs are allowed. It notes parking near the pier and on Peninsula streets and recommends rideshare or a bike. Event materials call the venue Newport Beach Pier, Blackie's Beach at Newport Pier, and Oceanfront at 21st Street and West Balboa Boulevard. These are different names for the same stretch of sand, so use the last one for directions. Partners include Blackie's by the Sea, Stag Bar, Dory Deli and Super Panga, all a short walk from the courts. Proceeds go to the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation.
The day only works if you don't try to fit it all in. The longest gap between stops is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., where the Fall Faire's hours overlap with StyleWeekOC's whole afternoon and both volleyball semifinals. Here are three ways to split it.
Two dates could still change these plans. The Spirit Run wave times will be locked on Oct. 12, and the volleyball schedule only moves later. For road closures, check the City's live traffic advisories before you leave.
The following weekend returns to some of the same neighborhoods with smaller events. On Saturday, October 24, Boo at the Bay runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Peter & Mary Muth Interpretive Center, 2301 University Drive. That's on the Upper Newport Bay, where the half marathon runs the Sunday before. The City's free 9th Annual Halloween Spooktacular follows from 3 to 6 p.m. at Mariners Park & VJ Community Center, 1300 Irvine Ave. On Tuesday, October 27, Pendry Newport Beach at 690 Newport Center Drive holds trick-or-treating from 6 to 7 p.m. and a "Coco" dive-in movie.
In Corona del Mar, Roger's Gardens at 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road is running both seasonal boutiques. "Moonlight Masquerade" is the Halloween one. The free Christmas Boutique, "The Stories of the Season," opened Oct. 2 and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pendry's community tree lighting is set for November 27 from 5 to 8 p.m., with no reservations required.
Planning a busy day like October 18 comes down to timing, locations and knowing which dates are firm. CART Group, Inc. applies the same approach to Newport Beach real estate. If you'd like to talk through what's happening in the city this fall and how it affects your plans, Schedule a Strategy Call.
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