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.
CARLSBAD -
Holiday Block Party at Legoland Carlsbad. The 9th annual
Holiday Block Party includes twinkling lights, jolly music and a
30-foot Lego Christmas tree, plus nightly fireworks at closing
time. There's also a life-sized Santa and reindeer built
entirely from LEGO, and special holiday-themed entertainment.
Location: 1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad, CA.
Tickets
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
CERRITOS - Dave Koz
Smooth Jazz Christmas. Location: Cerritos Performing Arts
Center, 12799 Center Court, Cerritos, CA. Time: 8 p.m. nightly.
Cost: $30 - 62. cerritoscenter.com. Call: (800) 300-4345.
CORONADO -
Skating by The
Sea. Three-hour skating sessions will be offered daily from
2 to 5 pm and 6 to 9 pm. Matinee skating sessions will be held
from 11 am to 1 pm.
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
HUNTINGTON BEACH -
Sunset Gondola Boat Tour and Tickets. Visit the
lighted homes of Huntington Harbour in your personal gondola
ride. Skip the lines, avoid the bus ride to the boat dock, and
hop aboard the beautiful authentic gondolas of your hosts Tyson
or Tim and see the Huntington Harbour decorated homes for the
Cruise of Lights event. Hourly tours or book several hours, if
you like. Hours: Nightly with last booking at 11 p.m.
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 Irina
Dvorovenko and Maxim Beloserkovsky. Time: 2 & 7:30 p.m. Ticket:
$38/adult. Call: (949) 854-4646. Location: Irvine Barclay
Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA. thebarclay.org
LA JOLLA - Nutcracker
- San Diego Ballet at Mandeville La Jolla. Times: 12/20, 21, 22
at 7:30pm; 12/22 at 2:30pm; 12/23 at 1:00pm & 5:00pm. $18
student- $36 adult; $34 senior & military. Call: (619) 294-7311
sandiegoballet.org
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.
OAKLAND - Nutcracker
Ballet. Oakland Ballet performances at 2 and 8 p.m. 35th
Anniversary dance performance. Michael Morgan conducting
members of the Oakland East Bay Symphony. Doors open 60 minutes
before show time. Ticket range: $15 - $50. Location: Paramount
Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland, CA paramounttheatre.com.
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.
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 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 -
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
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 & 7:30pm
Location: San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden,
San Jose, CA. Tickets:(408) 288-2800, balletsanjose.org.
SANTA ANA - Science of Gingerbread. Mix things up this
holiday season with Discovery Science Center ’s Science of
Gingerbread exhibition to Jan. 6, 2008. “A Matter of
Taste” stage shows, kitchen science activities and weekend
decorating demonstrations include the gingerbread competition
for cash prizes. Location: Discovery Science Center, 2500 N.
Main St. , Santa Ana , CA. (714) 542-2823 discoverycube.org
SEAL BEACH -
Red Car Museum is open. Noon to 3 p.m. Visit the past with a
look at this historic rail car that used to drive between Los
Angeles and Seal Beach daily. Transformed into a museum with
videos, pictures and a great collection of memorabilia, it is
well worth a stop and look. Open 2nd & 4th Saturdays, the museum provides
the most comprehensive look into the history of Seal Beach.
Donations are accepted.
Location: Electric Avenue near Main St., next to Mary Wilson
Library. Call: (562) 683-1874.
SUNSET BEACH -
NO
Parade. In the annual tradition of being across the street from
Huntington Harbour's Christmas Boat Parade and Cruise of Lights,
Sunset Beach celebrates NO Boat Parade with a march down Pacific
Street. Enjoy seeing the Firetruck and entries that include
cars, people, pets and things with lights on them. Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Starts on Pacific around Best Western Harbour
Inn and Suites location.
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.
