Complimentary celebrations for Orange County families

Sharing the Magic · Complimentary celebrations

Every kid deserves magic.

Once Upon an Island is opening its doors in Newport Beach for complimentary celebrations for Orange County children in foster care, kinship care and families going through a hard season. There is nothing to buy and nothing to prove. Just a day that belongs to your child.

We’re gathering interest for upcoming complimentary celebrations. Apply below, and we’ll contact your family when dates become available.

Apply for your familyRead the questions
A child sharing an immersive birthday tea party with a mermaid at Once Upon an Island

Two ways to celebrate

Choose the celebration that feels right

Year-round, there are two complimentary experiences to choose from, plus a seasonal Christmas Magic day. On the application you’ll pick the one your family would love most.

A smiling child gazing in wonder inside an underwater fantasy world at Once Upon an Island

Complimentary

Party Celebration

A shared birthday party where every child is the birthday child. Every guest is celebrated, cheered for and made to feel like the day was made just for them, because it was.

A girl and a mermaid making playful faces together across a tea party table at Once Upon an Island

Complimentary

Mermaid Tea Party

Sparkling makeovers, story time with a mermaid, and a proper tea with treats, all inside our underwater world on Balboa Island.

Santa hugging a child in his cottage at Once Upon a Christmas on Balboa Island

Seasonal · Once Upon a Christmas

Every child deserves Christmas magic

For seven years, we’ve been creating a Santa experience where he knows your children before they walk through the door. And after seven years, we know why this kind of magic is so rare: it is incredibly hard to do.

An out-of-state business once asked us what program we use to make it happen. The truth is, there isn’t a program doing this work for us. There are multiple people sitting in an office, carefully organizing the information you send us and making sure every detail reaches Santa in the exact order of the day’s appointments.

There are days and weeks of preparation behind those moments. Hours of rehearsal and memorization with our Santas, learning the little details that make your child feel known. And a team working behind the scenes every day to bring it all together.

That extraordinary effort is why Once Upon a Christmas is a luxury-priced experience. There is a why behind the price. And, more importantly, there is heart behind it.

Having to charge what it takes to run this experience does not mean we want families to be priced out of it. We love kids, and we want them to experience the magic we’ve created here, whether their parents can afford a visit or not.

That’s why we’re gathering interest for a select complimentary day dedicated just to the magic, with the possibility of more times depending on demand and availability. Families experiencing hardship, foster families, kinship caregivers, and single parents are warmly invited to apply.

Your family’s visit is simply yours to enjoy. You’re welcome to share your experience if it feels right to you. There’s no obligation, and nothing is asked for in exchange.

We won’t photograph your visit, post about your family, or use your visit or story for publicity.

A date hasn’t been set yet. This is a complimentary Christmas experience with Santa at our North Pole on Balboa Island in Newport Beach. Anything you share in your application stays private, and sharing your story is optional and has no bearing on acceptance.

Apply for Christmas Magic

Who it’s for

Made for Orange County families who could use a little magic

  • Foster families
  • Kinship caregivers raising a relative’s child
  • Low-income households
  • Families facing financial or personal hardship

For our seasonal Christmas Magic day, single parents are warmly invited to apply too.

Our goal is to welcome every family who applies, and to open more times if needed, as capacity allows. An application isn’t a confirmed reservation. We’ll reach out personally when dates are set.

A mermaid and a pirate giving two smiling children face gems and pirate makeup in the Once Upon an Island salon

With dignity, always

What we’ll never ask of your family

This is a gift, with no strings attached. Your family’s privacy matters to us.

Application

Apply for a complimentary celebration

We’re gathering interest for upcoming complimentary celebrations. Apply below, and we’ll contact your family when dates become available.

Which celebration would your family love? Required
About you
Which of these feel true for your family? Choose any that apply
The children coming along

First name or nickname only is perfect.

Child 1

A few helpful details
Share your story Completely optional

Sharing your story, or choosing not to, does not affect whether your application is accepted. Our goal is to welcome every family who applies and open more times if needed, as capacity allows. This is simply a space to share something meaningful to you. Your story stays private and won’t be used for publicity.

Applying is free and isn’t a confirmed reservation. Your information is used only to contact you about this request and is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Questions families ask

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply?

Orange County foster families, kinship caregivers, low-income households, and families facing financial or personal hardship. Single parents are also warmly invited to apply for Christmas Magic. A parent or authorized caregiver completes the application.

Is it really free?

Yes. The Party Celebration, the Mermaid Tea Party and the seasonal Christmas Magic experience are all complimentary. There is no purchase, donation or marketing subscription required.

Is there a free Santa experience for foster and low-income families?

Yes. Christmas Magic is a seasonal, complimentary Christmas experience with Santa at Once Upon a Christmas on Balboa Island. Orange County families experiencing hardship, foster families, kinship caregivers and single parents are warmly invited to apply.

When is the Christmas Magic day?

A date hasn’t been set yet. We’re gathering interest for a select complimentary day, with the possibility of more times depending on demand and availability. We’ll contact your family once it’s scheduled.

Where does it take place?

Party Celebrations and Mermaid Tea Parties take place at Once Upon an Island, 118 Agate Ave on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, California. Christmas Magic takes place at Once Upon a Christmas, 114 Agate Ave on Balboa Island.

When are the celebrations?

Dates haven’t been set yet, and there are no fixed monthly commitments. We’re gathering interest now and will contact your family when dates become available.

Does submitting guarantee a spot?

An application isn’t a confirmed reservation. Our goal is to welcome every family who applies and to open more times if needed, as capacity allows.

Do I have to share our story or prove anything?

No. The story field is completely optional and does not affect whether your application is accepted. We never ask for a hardship essay or for income or foster documents.

Will my children be photographed or featured?

No. We won’t photograph your children, post about your visit, or use your family or your story for press or publicity. What you share stays private.