Thanksgiving week in OC hits different.
Thursday is for family. Friday the malls open early and the whole county heads out with a list. Saturday is beach walks, brunch and finishing what you started.
If you're planning on Black Friday shopping in Orange County this year, here's how we'd map out the week, plus where to sit down and refuel between stops. We've got shops inside or right next to three of the big shopping spots, and three more close to the coast.
The Dates That Matter This Year
The holiday season in OC kicks off a full week before Thanksgiving this year. Here's what's on the calendar:
Thursday, Nov 19: South Coast Plaza Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa's Arrival, 7 PM at Town Center Park
Friday, Nov 20: Fashion Island Tree Lighting Ceremony, 5 PM to 6 PM
Nov 20 to Dec 27: Nights of Coastal Lights at Fashion Island, nightly from 5:30 PM to 8 PM
Thursday, Nov 26: Thanksgiving
Friday, Nov 27: Black Friday, with Fashion Island open 8 AM to 8 PM, and our gift card match at Sessions
Saturday, Nov 28: Small Business Saturday
All six Sessions shops are open on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday with our regular hours. Mall and store hours can shift around the holiday, so check the center's site before you go.
Our Black Friday Gift Card Match
One more reason to stop in on Nov 27.
On Black Friday, buy a Sessions gift card for somebody on your list and we'll match it. It's one day only at all six shops, and it comes with an entrée purchase and a gift card minimum, so ask at the counter for the details.
Shop for them, eat for you, and walk out with a little extra for the next visit.
Black Friday at Fashion Island
Fashion Island is open from 8 AM to 8 PM on Black Friday, Nov 27. It's all open air, so you get the ocean breeze and the sunshine while you shop, which is about as coastal as Black Friday gets.
Our Fashion Island shop sits at 101 Newport Center Dr., right by Macy's. Big windows, plenty of seating, and a menu of sandwiches, salads and bowls that'll actually hold you over until the drive home.
Our move: get your must-have stores done first thing, then sit down for an early lunch before the afternoon crowd shows up.
South Coast Plaza Tree Lighting and Black Friday
South Coast Plaza starts the season on Thursday, Nov 19 with its Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa's Arrival at 7 PM in Town Center Park, next to The Westin South Coast Plaza. Admission is free, and the lineup includes performers from Pacific Symphony, South Coast Repertory and Orange County School of the Arts.
Our South Coast Plaza shop is at 3333 Bristol St., Suite 6000, between Macy's and the Macy's Men's Store. It's an easy dinner stop before the tree lighting, and a solid halfway point on a long Black Friday at South Coast Plaza.
If you're hunting for more ideas around the center, we put together a guide to the best sandwich shops near South Coast Plaza.
Fashion Island Tree Lighting and Nights of Coastal Lights
The next night, Friday, Nov 20, Fashion Island lights up its 90 foot live Christmas tree from 5 PM to 6 PM, with snowfall and holiday music.
After that, the tree lights up every night through Dec 27 from 5:30 PM to 8 PM as part of Nights of Coastal Lights. That makes it one of the easiest holiday outings in Newport Beach for families. You don't have to make the opening night to see the show.
Grab dinner with us, walk over, and catch the lights.
The Shops at Mission Viejo
South County people, we haven't forgotten you. Our shop at The Shops at Mission Viejo is right there for anybody who'd rather skip the drive up the 405.
Same idea as the bigger centers. Knock out the list, then sit down for a real meal before you head home.
Skip the Mall: Balboa, Huntington Beach and Woodbridge
Not everybody wants a parking garage on Black Friday. We get it.
Balboa Peninsula: Walk the boardwalk, then come in for lunch at 2823 Newport Blvd.
Downtown Huntington Beach: Main Street shops and the pier are right there. We're at 414 Pacific Coast Hwy.
Woodbridge Village in Irvine: A quieter spot for locals at 4736 Barranca Pkwy.
Small Business Saturday on Nov 28 is a great excuse to hit these neighborhoods and shop local. Every shop on our list is a small business doing its thing, and we're right there with them.
Hours for all six shops live on our locations page.
Après Church Brunch on Thanksgiving Weekend
Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, our Après Church brunch runs at all six shops from 10 AM to 2 PM.
It's the perfect reset after a long Friday. Sleep in a little, get the family together, and ease into the weekend before the leftovers run out.
A House Full of Family? Let Us Handle Breakfast
Thanksgiving weekend usually means a full house. Cousins on the couch, in-laws in the spare room, and everybody hungry at the same time.
That's where our catering comes in. A few picks from our catering menu that make sense for the long weekend:
Breakfast burrito platter: 10 burritos cut in half, with eggs, mozzarella, avocado, crispy potato and minted salsa verde
Breakfast sandwich platter: mix and match favorites like the O.G. and the McSession
Fresh squeezed orange juice and a coffee station: because nobody wants to babysit the coffee maker
Suns Out, Buns Out: sandwiches with shaka spuds and a mixed greens salad, for the day after when nobody wants turkey again
Delivery orders need 24 hours notice, and same day pickup may be available. Shoot an email to catering@sessionswcd.com or call our catering office at (949) 346-1888.
Planning further out for December? Our holiday catering guide walks through the whole thing.
How We'd Plan Black Friday in OC
If it were up to us, the day would go like this:
Start early at Fashion Island when it opens at 8 AM.
Knock out the big stores before the late morning rush.
Sit down for lunch at Sessions and actually take a break.
Spend the afternoon on the stuff you don't need, but kind of want.
Stick around for the tree after 5:30 PM.
Shopping goes better when nobody's running on empty.
Thanks for supporting a small business this holiday season. It means the world to our whole crew. See you out there.
Matt Meddock
Founder, Sessions West Coast Deli
FAQ
What time does Fashion Island open on Black Friday 2026?
Fashion Island is open from 8 AM to 8 PM on Black Friday, Nov 27, 2026. Individual store and restaurant hours can vary, so check before you go.
When is the South Coast Plaza tree lighting in 2026?
The South Coast Plaza Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa's Arrival is Thursday, Nov 19 at 7 PM in Town Center Park, next to The Westin South Coast Plaza. Admission is free.
When is the Fashion Island tree lighting?
The Fashion Island Tree Lighting Ceremony is Friday, Nov 20 from 5 PM to 6 PM. The tree then lights up nightly from 5:30 PM to 8 PM through Dec 27.
Where can I eat near South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island on Black Friday?
Sessions West Coast Deli has shops at both. At South Coast Plaza we're between Macy's and the Macy's Men's Store, and at Fashion Island we're at 101 Newport Center Dr. by Macy's.
Can I order catering for Thanksgiving weekend in Orange County?
Reach our catering team at catering@sessionswcd.com or (949) 346-1888 during business hours. Delivery orders need 24 hours notice, and same day pickup may be available. Order early, since holiday weekends fill up fast.