Community Relations

When the City Council reconvenes after the holidays, Brian Goodell will serve as Mayor and Trish Kelley as Mayor Pro Tem for 2020. The Council Members were selected for the one-year posts during the City Council’s annual reorganization on Tuesday. 

During the meeting, the 2019 State of the City video with Mayor Greg Raths premiered.

The City continues to join forces with nonprofit organizations to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate in the area.  Over the past few years, City staff has partnered with Food Finders to rescue food leftover from City and private party banquets rather than tossing untouched, perfectly edible food in the trash.  Food Finders connects donated perishable food to hundreds of nonprofit pantries and shelters throughout Southern California to help reduce hunger and food waste, simultaneously.

Get into the spirit of the holiday season by entering your beautifully decorated home in the annual Home Lighting Contest hosted by the Mission Viejo Activities Committee.

Prizes are awarded to the top five homes that win in categories like “How Did They Do That?”; “Tell Me A Story”; and “Holiday Traditions.”  Along with forever bragging rights, winners will receive a sign of recognition for their front yard and special gift.

If you want to help brighten the holidays for the families of our adopted Marines, drop off unwrapped toys at the following City facilities by December 24.

Save the date for an enchanting production of Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” by Children’s Out of the Box Theater Arts Group at 6:30 pm on Saturday, December 14.

The production follows the iconic tale of holiday excitement everyone felt for Christmas – except the miser Mr. Scrooge.  Join the fun with children performing with the Out of the Box production company.

Santa is making his rounds in Mission Viejo on Sunday, December 1. Before heading to the Civic Center, Santa will arrive at the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink station via the Holiday Express Train. You can climb aboard and get whisked away for a joy-filled journey to Oceanside and back.

Tickets are $20 and advance registration is required. Tickets are available only at metrolinktrains.com/holidaytrain.

Mission Viejo is made up of caring people who give back and care for those in need. In big ways and small, the compassion of our residents is evident. City staff was reminded of this fact when the Mission Viejo Homeschool Group – winners of our recent Spookiest Scarecrow contest – decided to donate their prize money to a family in need. 

Santa Claus is coming to town on Sunday, December 1. Grab your kids, friends and neighbors and head to the Mission Viejo Civic Center Plaza for this time-honored celebration that begins at 3 pm.

The fun includes entertainment, live reindeer and game and activity booths where children can make crafts and have a blast. Santa will arrive atop a fire engine around 6 pm and help usher in the holidays by turning on the spectacular lights in Mission Viejo.  

For more information, visit www.mvactivities.com.

Get a head start on your holiday shopping at the annual Gifts & Goodies Holiday Boutique Saturday, November 23 at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center.

Hosted by the Mission Viejo Activities Committee, this daylong holiday shopping extravaganza is from 8 am to 5 pm at 24932 Veterans Way.

With a longtime reputation as one of the best boutiques in South Orange Country, the boutique boasts 86 talented artisans displaying handcrafted items perfect for holiday decorating, gifts and ornaments. 

Make the holidays brighter for some families of our City’s adopted Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division through the annual Adopt-A-Marine program.