December 2009 Events

Tuesday, December 29, 2009  Calif. Events for the Holidays

December 29, 2009

Tuesday

ALTADENA - Christmas Tree Lane. Event runs nightly through Jan. 6, 2010

BIG BEAR LAKE - Nutcracker Ballet. Maple Youth Ballet presents The Nutcracker - A Magical Journey Where Dreams Come True! Time: 2 & 7 p.m. Cost: Adult tickets are $28 and Child/Senior $22. Location: Ballet Big Bear Performing Arts Center 39707 Big Bear Blvd Big Bear, CA 92315. Call:  Big Bear Performing Arts Center box office: (909) 866-4970 or citybigbearlake.com

BRENTWOOD - Brentwood Holiday On Ice. Twinkling outdoor light-filled rink under a big tent. Located next to the Streets of Brentwood shops, public ice skating goes to Jan. 10. Cost: $10, $5 skate rental. Hours: Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun - 12:30 to 10 p.m. approx.; Mon, Tues, Thurs - 2 to 9 p.m. Location: Call: (925) 513-1702. brentwoodholidayonice.com

DEL MAR - Holiday of Lights Drive Thru. Time: Daily at 5:30 p.m. Ends at 10 p.m. Sun-Thurs; 11 p.m. Friday & Saturday. Cost: $14 car of 1 to 6 people. Location: 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA. Tickets: (858) 792-4252. Weather closure: (858) 793-5555. sdfair.com

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: varies. Cost: $20-50. Call: 714-54-GLORY (714-544-5679) or 877-544-5679. crystalcathedral.org

HUNTINGTON BEACH - Holiday Gondola Rides. Offered from 11 a.m. to Midnight. Location: Peter's Landing, Huntington Harbour, Huntington Beach, CA.

LONG BEACH - Crystal Ice Skating Outdoor Rink. New in 2009 for the holidays, daily skating at The Pike is held in the grass area. Ice skate session receives parking validation.  Time: Mon-Friday 11am to 11pm; Sat. & Sunday 10am to 12am. Cost:? Location: Shoreline Drive & Queensway Bay, Long Beach, CA. thepikeatlongbeach.com

LOS ANGELES - Downtown on Ice at Pershing Square. Biggest rink and cheapest price, according to the city of Los Angeles Parks & Rec department, which invites you to come skate amidst the skyscrapers. Time: Monday -Thursday 12 Noon to 10 p.m.; Friday thru Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Cost: $6/ 1 hour rink time, $2 skate rental. Location: Pershing Square, Los Angeles, CA. laparks.org

LOS ANGELES - Holiday Lights Festival in Griffith Park. The 14th Annual Holiday Light Festival event seen by car is lit by energy-saving LED light bulbs this year. Drive-thru goes through Dec.30.  Time: 5 to 10 p.m. Location: 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, CA. Call: (213) 367-1255.  dwplightfestival.com

OAKLAND - Oakland ZooLights. Oakland ZooLights is an annual event in which the public comes after dark and can walk along a path to see lighted displays with animal and zoo themes. Time: Friday - Sunday: 5:30pm – 9:30pm; Monday – Thursday: 5:30pm – 9:00pm. Cost: $7.50 Adult; $5.50 child. Location:  9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland, CA.Call: (510) 632-9525. oaklandzoo.org

OXNARD -  Christmas Tree Lane. Take a magical drive through Henry T. Oxnard Historical District, which includes homes decked out and all aglow for visitors to enjoy. Time: 6 to 10 p.m. Location: "F" and "G" Streets Between Fifth and Palm, Oxnard, CA.

REDONDO BEACH - Seaside Ice Rink is open for outdoor beach ice skating next to the sunshine and sand. seasideice.com

SACRAMENTO - Midtown Ice Skating Rink. Seasonal outdoor ice rink offers vacation fun for everyone. Time: 10am-10pm 7 days/week. Cost: $8; $5 age 12 and under. $2 skate rental. Location:  20th & K Streets, Sacramento, CA. Call: (916) 442-1500. ExploreMidtown.org

SAN FRANCISCO - Union Square Ice Skating Rink. Open daily through Jan. 18, be surrounded by your favorite stores and hotels in Union Square's outdoor holiday ice event. Opens daily at 10 a.m. Cost: $9.50 adult, $4.50 child, skate rental $4. unionsquareshop.com

SAN JOSE - Downtown Ice. Visit the Circle of the Palms for seasonal, festive ice skating downtown. Time: 11 a.m. to Midnight 12 a.m.  $15 adult, $13 age 12 and younger-- includes ice time and rental skates (skate sizes range from toddler 8 to men's 13). Skate all you want first-come, first-serve...no in and out privileges. Circle of Palms, 120 S. Market St. between San Jose Museum of Art and Fairmont Hotel, San Jose, California. Call: (408) 279-1775 ext. 45 or sjdowntown.com

SANTA ANA -  The Science of Gingerbread. Kids' imaginations can run free as they explore gingerbread, and learn that there's science in every bite! The annual gingerbread exhibit is one of many exhibits such as Mexico: Festival of Toys, Head to Toe, and The True Story of Bats. Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $9.95 - 12.95 approx. Get Tickets. Location: Discovery Science Center, 2500 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92705. discoverycube.org

SANTA MONICA - ICE at Santa Monica. Less than two blocks from the Third Street Promenade, the rink is open daily. Times: 10am-10pm weekdays, 10am-midnight on Fridays and Saturdays through Jan. 31, 2010. Cost: $10 and includes rental skates. Location: Third Street Promenade at Arizona and 5th Street, Santa Monica, CA. downtownsm.com

SANTA MONICA - Nativity Scenes. A tradition since 1953, the Santa Monica Nativity Scenes include 14 life-size Nativity Scenes displaying events surrounding the birth of Christ on display along Ocean Avenue between Arizona Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard to January 2, 2010.

WALNUT CREEK - Downtown Walnut Creek on Ice. Ice skating rink outdoor. Fun for all ages.  Time: Open daily at 11 a.m. Cost: Mon-Thurs $11-15. Location: 1365 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, Ca. Call: ( 925) 935-7669. iceskatewalnutcreek.com 

Dec. 28 - Dec. 30