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ALTADENA -
Christmas Tree Lane (actually Santa Rosa Avenue, between
Woodbury Avenue and Altadena Drive) in Altadena is one of the
oldest Christmas lighting spectacles in Southern California. It
became a tradition in 1920 when a local named Nash decided to
brighten up the holiday with some lights on the quickly growing
Deodars that the Woodbury Family, founders of Altadena, planted
in 1885. Nearly 135 Deodar Cedar trees are decorated by the
Christmas Tree Lane Association in what's known as “Mile of
Christmas Trees” (containing 10,000 lights.) The oldest
large-scale outdoor Christmas display in the world is a
designated California Historical Landmark No. 990 and listed in
the National Register of Historic Places.
AUBURN - Country
Christmas. The 21st annual Old Town Country Christmas
turns back the clock to days gone by with Christmas in the
foothills. Lighted by Coleman Lanterns, streets are lined with
crafters and food vendors, a bonfire to keep you warm,
entertainment, pony rides and hayrides and strolling carolers
are always a favorite. Over 50 shops and restaurants are open,
admission is free and a free shuttle is provided from the
fairgrounds. Time: Between 5pm to 9pm, Old Town Auburn, CA.
For information: 530/888-1585
CARMICHAEL
- Holiday House
Display - More than just lights, many say this event
rivals the Bellagio water show in Las Vegas. Over 2 million
computer-controlled actions or "states" per song create one of
the best light and music shows you'll find. Visitors are invited
to bring canned good donations. Time: Sunday - Thursday 6pm-9pm;
Friday-Saturday 6pm-10pm. Location: 6425 Meadowhill Court,
Carmichael, CA 95608. Directions: Go North on Fair Oaks Blvd
from Arden Way. Turn Right on Landis Ave, Turn Right on Deodar
Street, Turn Left onto Meadowhill Court. Cost: Free! Through
Dec. 31, 2007. lightupxmas.com
CORONADO -
Skating by The
Sea. Three-hour skating sessions will be offered daily from
2 to 5 pm and 6 to 9 pm. A special matinee skating sessions from
11 am to 1 pm will occur on weekends and holidays.
3-hour session: $20/adults; $15/ages 10 years and
under; 2-hour matinee
session $15/adult; $10/ages 10 years and
under. Skate rental is
$5 per person. Location: 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado, CA.
Call: 800 Hotel Del or (619) 435-6611
GARDEN GROVE -
The Glory of
Christmas Musical. A blend of Christmas carols, pageantry,
live animals, flying angels, and special effects unfold in the
nativity story. Location: Crystal Cathedral, 12141 Lewis St.,
Garden Grove, CA. Time: 4:30, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. Cost: $20-55. Call:
714-54-GLORY (714-544-5679) or 877-544-5679. crystalcathedral.org
LAGUNA BEACH -
The Nutcracker. Laguna Ballet’s 22nd Annual Performance of
The Nutcracker. The lead role of Clara will be played by Meghan
McDonough and Sophia Romagnano. Tickets: $24 General; $22
students /seniors/Angels; $20 Children 12 & under. Time: 2 and 7
p.m. Location: Fine Arts Ticket Office, Saddleback College ,
28000 Marguerite Pkwy, Mission Viejo , CA. In Person:: Tickets
are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, located in the
central quad of the Fine Arts Complex at Saddleback College ,
28000 Marguerite Pkwy. , Mission Viejo. Hours are noon until 4
p.m. weekdays. Call: (949) 582-4656.
LAKE ARROWHEAD -
Christmas at WildHaven Ranch, a rehab center for injured
mountain and forest animals. Enjoy music, lights, and food of
the time. Free admission for all. Call (909)337-7389.
wildhaven.org.
HUNTINGTON BEACH -
Cruise of Lights Holiday Lighted Boat Tour. Join the festivities
and help bring music into the lives of children on the
Huntington Harbour annual Cruise of Lights holiday tour. As you
arrive, you climb aboard a bus that takes participants to the
loading dock at Huntington Harbour. Guest pick up tickets
and meet their bus at Huntington Harbour Mall on Algonquin
Street. Tour times: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm.
$15/adult; $9/child. Order: HHPC-Cruise of LightsŪ Tickets,
16889 Algonquin Street,
Huntington Beach, CA 92649.
Fax your order anytime to: 714/840-7573. or online at www.cruiseoflights.org
IRVINE -
Nutcracker Ballet
with Festival Ballet Theatre. Guest performers include Gillian
Murphy and Gennadi Saveliev. Time: 2 & 7:30 p.m. Ticket:
$38/adult. Call: (949) 854-4646. Location: Irvine Barclay
Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA. thebarclay.org
LONG BEACH - Nutcracker Ballet.
Coast City Ballet Nutcracker is a uniquely-choreographed full length
version of the Nutcracker Ballet. Location: Millikan HS Auditorium, 2800
Snowden, Long Beach, CA tickets@coastcityballet.com. Time: 1:30 & 7:30 pm
MARINA - Christmas Celebration at the Marina Village
Shopping Center on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 15th and 16th from
11am to 2pm at 215 Reservation Road on Sat. in the Center's
Plaza and Sun. at the Marina Farmers Market. Come visit Santa
Claus, make stockings, win prizes and play in bouncy house.
Saturday, Marina Fire Department gives children tours on the big
fire truck. Sunday, 12pm to 12:30pm , Marina Vista Mariner
Choraliers sing Christmas carols. Free for all. Call 384-6961.
Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Location: 215 Reservation Road (Center's
Plaza), Marina, CA.
NAPLES - Naples Boat Parade - Time: 6 p.m. at the 2nd Street Bridge; Large Boat start time:
6:30 p.m. near Alamitos Bay Yacht Club. Parking
Alternatives: Naples Bayside Academy (5537 The Toledo) offers
parking for a donation of $10, no advanced reservations. Gates
open at 3:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit student programs. Other
Places to park include Mothers' Beach, marine lots east of
Davis Bridge, Marine Stadium, and 54th & Bayshore. Unauthorized
Boats: Entry to the canals by unauthorized boats during the
parade will be restricted. Patrol boats may deny access.
NEWPORT BEACH -Newport
Landing Christmas Boat Parade Cruise. Newport Landing has 5
ships that offer 2 cruises nightly during the parade. The first
cruise departs at 5:45 pm and the second cruise departs at 8:00
pm. Each cruise is in the parade. Reservations are required and
can be made by phone or email. 99th Annual Newport Beach
Christmas Boat Parade is the premier Christmas event not only
for Orange County and Los Angeles but Southern California. With
almost 100 years of history the Newport Harbor Christmas Boat
Parade is a tradition for generations. Time of cruises: 1st
departs at 5:45 pm returns at 7:45 pm 2nd departs at 8:00pm
returns at 10:00 pm. Address: 309 Palm Street Suite A (Next to
car ferry), Newport Beach, CA 92661. Cost: $30 Adult; $25 Junior
(12 years and younger). Reservations required, call: (949)
675-0551. Web: www.christmasparadeboats.com
NEWPORT BEACH -
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. Boat owners in Newport
Harbor “deck the hulls” of their seagoing vessels for the annual
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. Ranked one of the Top Ten
holiday happenings in the nation by the New York Times, the
parade features approximately 100 elaborately decorated boats
and draws more than one million spectators each year. Prizes are
awarded in a variety of categories and are highly coveted –
motivating boat owners to spend as much as $50,000 on
decorations! ChristmasBoatParade.com
OAKLAND -
Christmas Revels.
The California Revels celebrate Winter Solstice with a play in
the tradition of 19th century English countryside with
music, dance and drama. Includes performance by Geoff Hoyle
(Lion King). Tickets: $15 -$50 approx. Time: 1 and 5 PM.
Location: Scottish Rite Theater, 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland,
Ca. calrevels.org
OXNARD - Christmas
Tree Lane, “F” and “G” Streets houses in the Henry T. Oxnard
Historical District are brightly decorated for the holidays.
Visitors are welcome to take a leisurely drive or stroll down
Christmas Tree Lane. Hours run from 6 to 10 p.m. Call
1-800-269-6273. Time: 6 to 10 p.m.
POWAY - Candyland-Poway
at Community Park from 4-9pm. Candyland gameboard comes to life
with King Candy and Lord Licorice. Santa will be there to take
photos with and there is a big slide as well. Candyland Holiday
Festival is held each December. Kids can meet Santa, play in
tons of fresh snow and a fun jump, visit magical areas such as
Lollipop Park and Tootsie Roll Forest, and make holiday crafts
in Santa's Workshop. Roving carolers, face painting and balloon
character creators make this a truly special holiday
celebrations for kids. Sponsored by City of Poway Community
Services Department. Location: 13094 Civic Center Drive, Poway,
CA. Call: 858-668-4570. poway.com
REDONDO BEACH -
Kings Harbor
Christmas Boat Parade. 14th annual Redondo Beach boat parade
plies the channel of the South Bay harbor with a guest Grand
Marshall, Rick Hearst of General Hospital. Location: Redondo
Beach harbor. Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Free to watch. Best viewing
is along breakwall, on pier, or from harbor restaurants.
khyc.com
RIVERSIDE - Dickens
Festival Meet and Greet. Christmas Tea with Mr. Dickens - Enjoy taking tea
with Mr. Dickens and we're sure he can be persuaded to read a bit from his
famous "A Christmas Carol". Location: Barnes & Noble, Galleria at Tyler in
Riverside. Time: 1 to 3 p.m. dickensfest.com
SACRAMENTO -
The
Nutcracker performed by Sacramento Ballet, the annual event
is better than ever. Time: 2 & 7 p.m. Location: Sacramento
Community Theater, Community Center Theater, 1301 L Street,
Sacramento, CA. Cost: $20 - 60 approx. Call the Community Center
Theater Box Office at (916) 264.5181. sacballet.org.
SAN DIEGO - Las
Posadas. If you can only attend one holiday activity this year,
this is the one to attend. Free 4-day Festival of Music & Family
Traditions with hundreds of luminarias to light your way to the
finest shopping, dining & free entertainment of the holiday
season. Celebrate the 57th Annual Las Posadas and 1st Annual
Fiesta Navidad throughout historic Old Town San Diego. Designed
for the whole family, there will be choirs, bell ringers,
mariachis & musicians, museums, tours and revel in the true
spirit of the season with the breaking of pinatas and visits
from Santa Claus. Opening night begins with one of the
oldest Las Posadas in the United States. Time: 6 - 9 p.m.
Location: Old Town San Diego, 2476 San Diego Avenue
San Diego, CA. Call: 619-297-9327. oldtownsandiegoguide.com
SAN FRANCISCO -
Nutcracker with San Francisco Ballet. Location: War Memorial
Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA. Cost: varies,
up to $120 (approx.) sfballet.org
SAN JOSE - The
Nutcracker.
Ballet San Jose Silicon
Valley Nutcracker
features a spectacular stage presentation of the beloved holiday
ballet. Under the direction of famed choreographer, Dennis Nahat,
this production is a must-see. Time:
1:30pm. Location: San
Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden, San
Jose, CA. Tickets:(408) 288-2800, balletsanjose.org.
SAN JOSE -
Downtown Ice skating
rink is open through 1/13/08 in the stately-palm court and features over
8,000 square feet of ice in an arena and circular outer rink. Time: 5 p.m.
to 10 p.m. weeknights; Noon to Midnight on weekends; Special holiday hours,
subject to change...call to confirm. Cost: $12-$14. Skate all you want
first-come, first-serve. No in and out privileges. Admission includes ice time and rental
skates with skate sizes ranging from toddler 8 to men's 13. Location: Circle of Palms, 170 S. Market St.,
San Jose, California. Call: (408) 279-1775 ext. 45. sjdowntown.com
SANTA ROSA -
Living
Nativity. Santa Rosa Adventist Church
Drive-Through Live Nativity at Santa Rosa
Adventist Church,
840 Sonoma Ave,
Santa Rosa, CA 95404-4715 . Phone:
(707) 578-8883. santarosasda.org. Time: 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
UNIVERSAL CITY -
Universal Studios Hollywood CityWalk Christmas includes
Santa visits and fun holiday atmosphere with local street
performers all day, high-energy bands and choirs performing
nightly. Take your picture with Santa by the CityWalk Christmas
tree located in Cinema Plaza. Where: Universal Studios
Hollywood, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City , CA
91608.Time: 12:00pm – 8 pm. universalstudioshollywood.com
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
- The Bracebridge Dinner. Yosemite National Park’s Bracebridge
Dinner is an American tradition in the magnificent Yosemite
Valley. This spectacular Christmas pageant takes place in The
Ahwahnee’s grand Dining Room, which is transformed into the
majestic Hall of American author Washington Irving’s legendary
“Squire Bracebridge”. Each December since 1927, the world-famous
Hotel takes on the air of 18th century England. The Dining Room
of The Ahwahnee, its tables aglow with candlelight, includes a
profusion of gourmet food and the ringing sound of voices.
Cathedral windows look out onto the beauty of Yosemite Valley. Time: 6 pm. Cost: $375 dinner reservation. For reservations, Yosemite National Park,
California. Call: 559-253-5604 or visit YosemitePark.com.
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