kidsguide holiday guide 2014

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Holiday Guide350+ FunThingsTo Do

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MORE ON KIDSGUIDEMAGAZINE.COM WINTER 2014

KIDSGUIDE

PLUS:Ice Skating Indoor Playgrounds

HolidayPerformances

Winter Camps

Snow Days

2 kidsguide holiday guide 2014 lots more fun at kidsguidemagazine.com

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ORDER TICKETS TODAY! 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

(714) 556-2787 SCFTA.org TTY (714) 556-2746 Group Services (714) 755-0236

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using kidsguide’s holiday guide...The 2014 Holiday Guide is filled with tons of winter-

break fun! Here’s how it works:

1) When looking for something to do on a particular day, first check the individual dates for what’s happening—pages 12-44. 2) Then look

at the “Monthlong Events” found on pages 4-10 for more sug-gestions. 3) Don’t miss the advertisers! They offer activities and services all month long. Be sure to tell them, “I saw you in Kids-guide.” 4) Sign up on our website for The Buzzz & The Daily. These newsletters bring events directly to your inbox. 5) Finally, pick up a free copy of the 2014/15 fall/winter issue of Kidsguide available

at libraries and kid-friendly retailers. It has thousands of additional ideas!

Important: Be sure to confirm dates and times before going to any activity—things can change. Plan ahead—some activities require reservations.

PUBLISHER • Liz Davis EDITORS • Pam Chotiswatdi, Audrey Eftychiou

AD SALES • Tiffany Salter CONTACT: 562.799.0140

[email protected]

Monthlong Events................................................................4-10Daily Events.......................................................................12-44Tubing & Sledding...................................................................18Snow Days..............................................................................20Nutcracker Performances......................................................22

Indoor Playgrounds.................................................................32Spotlight on Kid-Friendly Businesses .............................34-35Ice Skating..............................................................................42Winter Camps....................................................................44-47Holiday Performances.......................................................46-47

Legal stuff: “Kidsguide® Copyright 2014 Liz Davis. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be used for a derivative work, reproduced or copied—mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying—distributed, or displayed without prior written permission of the publisher. The materials herein are provided on an “as is” basis and the publisher of this magazine, KIDSGUIDE, Inc., expressly disclaims all warranties, including without limitation the warranties of currentness, correctness, completeness, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non infringement of intellectual property, and freedom from errors. KIDSGUIDE, Inc. assumes no liability or responsibility for any loss or injury arising out of errors, omissions, uses, or participation as a result of publication of all magazine editions to the fullest extent permitted by law. KIDSGUIDE, Inc. is not in any way recommending or endorsing any program, business, activity, or advertiser listed within this magazine. Names, addresses, fees, descriptions, and services listed in KIDSGUIDE are subject to change. We sincerely request that any errors be brought to the publisher’s attention so that they may be corrected in future editions.”

kidsguidemagazine.com • Be sure to sign up on our website for The Buzzz & The Daily for more fun stuff to do!

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kidsguide holiday guide 2014 3lots more fun at kidsguidemagazine.com

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ORDER TICKETS TODAY! 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

(714) 556-2787 SCFTA.org TTY (714) 556-2746 Group Services (714) 755-0236

MEDIA PARTNERS

The Associated Press


Anaheim’s Farmers Park MarketSundays: Certified farmers market on a two-acre park featuring a grassy knoll, redwood boardwalk, community gardens and olive grove. The park connects two historic landmarks, the Anaheim Packing House and Packard Building. Shop from certified growers, artisan foods and handmade crafts. Music most Sundays. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Free admission. 400 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim. www.downtownanaheim.com

• Big Air Trampoline Park - Toddler TimeTwo mornings a week: Toddlers take over at Big Air!Pint-sized guest are welcomed for several hours to jump and play on all attractions at their own speed and comfort level. Recommended ages are six and younger. Without the older kids around, the toddlers feel right at home on all the attractions. Check the website at www.bigairusa.com and select the loca-tion closest to you for Toddler Time hours and pric-ing. Laguna Hills, (949) 305-9788; Redlands, (909) 335-7275; and, opening soon, Buena Park, (844) 550-JUMP. www.bigairusa.com. See ad on page 2.

Candy Making Demonstration in OntarioNovember 28-29 and December 6, 10-12, 15-19 and 22-23: Every year in December Logan’s Candies host candy-making demonstrations to the public and by group appointment. They even share the candies that they make right in front of you. See schedule of times on their website. Demonstrations are limited to available space. Please arrive 15-20 minutes prior to demonstrations to ensure avail-ability. 125 W. “B” St., Ontario. (909) 984-5410. www.loganscandies.com/candydemos.php

Children’s Museum at La Habra301 S. Euclid St., La Habra. (562) 383-4236.www.lhcm.org

Sundays: Critter Encounters. Visitors experience critter encounters with the museum’s own resident critter friends! Meet Lucy the Chilean Rose Haired Tarantula, Gracie the Gopher Snake, Fred and Ethel the Walking Sticks, and Frank the Madagascar Hiss-ing Cockroach! Following your encounter will be a critter-inspired craft to “make-n-take” home. Please note a different critter friend will be featured each week. Sessions at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Included in paid admission.

Wednesdays: Little Picassos. Join the museum every Wednesday for a paint date in the Family Art Center for lots of creative play for the right side of the brain! There are easels, washable paints, brushes and paint smocks ready for little artists to use. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Included in paid admission.

Friday: Fitness Fridays in La Habra. It’s fun to move. Meet outside the front entrance for a 30-minute fam-ily workout on Friday mornings. Elite Fitness profes-sional staff will lead families through fun exercise

routines you can do at home too. 10:30-11 a.m. Free (museum admission not included).

• CHILL at the Queen Mary in Long BeachThrough January 11: Southern California’s favorite fro-zen family event is back and now, one ticket gets you unlimited access! So bring your gloves and parkas and head down to the Queen Mary for some chilly winter fun at Southern California’s only frozen winter holiday event. See “The Ice Kingdom,” hand carved from more than two million pounds of ice, and walk through mag-nificent ice sculptures and slides. Zip down CHILL’s ice tubing run and take a spin on the outdoor ice skating rink. And with one ticket unlimited access, you can go as many times as you wish. Plus, enjoy same-day visit to the majestic Queen Mary. Open daily excluding De-cember 1, 8, and January 5, 6 and 7. Online tickets: adults, $34.99-39.99; kids (4-11), $24.99-29.99. 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach. (877) 342-0738. www.queenmary.com/chill. See ad for free kids’ ad-mission on page 7.

Christmas Train at Irvine Regional ParkNovember 28-30, December 5-7 and 12-23: The Christmas train leaves the brightly-lit station house and takes your family on an enchanting ride to the decked-out Santa’s Village to meet Santa, plus pic-ture opportunities with Santa, stories with Mrs. Claus, cookie decorating and bounce house. Visit their web-site for train times. Admission, online purchase only: general, $12; infants (under 24 months), free. Irvine Park Railroad. 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange. (714) 997-3968. www.irvineparkrailroad.com

Crafted at the Port of Los AngelesFriday - Sunday: Visit a large-scale permanent craft marketplace in classic World War II-era waterside warehouses. Browse hundreds of individual craft-art-ists, designers and artisanal food makers. Each artist presents their unique handcrafted goods in a vibrant patchwork of market stalls. Plus, daily demonstra-tions, live music, special events and food trucks. Visit their website for details of upcoming workshops. Fri-day - Sunday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission and park-ing, free. 112 East 22nd St., San Pedro. (310) 732-1270. www.craftedportla.com

Date Night by Frogg’s Bounce HouseFridays: Every Friday night is Date Night with Frogg’s Bounce House. Drop the kids off and enjoy a night out! 5-8 p.m. $10 per hour for first child, $8 per hour for additional children within same family; includes pizza dinner. 16121 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley. (714) 418-0442. www.froggsbouncehouse.com

December at Pretend CityDecember 1-31: Theme: “City Express - Sending Holi-

day Wishes,” plus check their online calendar for daily activities and special holiday celebrations through-out the month. Pretend City Children’s Museum, 29 Hubble, Irvine. (949) 428-3900. www.pretendcity.org

Discovery Cube Orange County2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana. (714) 542-2823.www.discoverycube.org

November 28 - January 4: Science of Gingerbread. Inside the kitchen, much more is going on than pouring and mixing––it’s science at work! Discov-ery Cube Orange County’s Science of Gingerbread exhibition features hands-on kitchen science activi-ties, decorating demonstrations and award-winning gingerbread houses on display. Daily.

Through January 4: Thomas and Friends: Explore the Rails. Hop on board and discover the engineer within! Travel to the Island of Sodor where imagina-tions charge full steam ahead in Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails, a hands-on STEM exhibit based on the adventures of everyone’s favorite blue engine, Thomas, his engine friends and the Island of Sodor. Help Thomas and his friends solve a variety of chal-lenges, from simple sorting and shape identification to more complex engineering obstacles. Daily.

Disney on Ice: Let’s CelebrateDecember 11 - January 4: It’s one colossal party on ice, with all your favorite Disney friends! Join Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald and Goofy as they celebrate a Very Merry Unbirthday Party with Alice and the Mad Hatter; a Royal Valentines Day Ball with your favorite Disney Princesses, including Cinderella, Ariel, Belle and Tiana; a Hawaiian luau with Lilo & Stitch; a whole new world with Jasmine and Aladdin; a winter wonderland with Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear; a Halloween haunt with the Disney villains and more in a magical medley of holidays, celebra-tions and festivities from around the globe. Staples Center in Los Angeles, December 10-14; Honda Center in Anaheim, December 16-21; Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, December 25-28; and Long Beach Arena, December 31 - January 4. $15-75. (800) 745-3000. www.disney.go.com/disneyonice

Drop in and Draw Saturdays in Costa MesaSaturdays: Chuck Jones Center for Creativity is a great place for kids to express themselves creatively. Good for children of all ages (must be accompanied by an adult). Saturdays, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Free, but a nominal donation is suggested to help cover the costs of materials. 3321 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa. (949) 660-7793. www.chuckjonescenter.org

El Capitan Theater in Hollywood6838 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. www.elcapitantheatre.disney.com

Through December 21: Big Hero 6, an action-packed comedy-adventure about the special bond

monthlong events


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that develops between Baymax, a plus-sized in-flatable robot, and prodigy Hiro Hamada. Inspired by the Marvel comics of the same name, and featuring breathtaking action. Daily show times. Adults, $18; kids (3-11), $15. Before every movie, experience a laser light show and Baymax live on stage, plus an animated short, “Feast.” Optional breakfast before 10 a.m. movie with Baymax meet-and-greet at 8:30 a.m.: adults, $46; kids (3-11), $43; VIP, $56.

December 25 - January 19: Into the Woods is a mod-ern twist on several beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt mu-sical follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel, all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch, who has put a curse on them. Daily show times. Adults, $14-16; kids (3-11), $13; VIP, $26.

Enchanted Country Christmas Tree Lot in BreaNovember 28 - December 24: Enjoy the country farm-like atmosphere with lots of fun family enter-tainment. They offer delivery, flocking, fireproofing and have trees as tall as 15 feet. Visit their website for posts of special events such as Santa pictures. Daily, 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Entrance and parking are free. 480 N. State College Blvd., Brea. (714) 990-9627. www.enchantedpumpkins.com

ExplorOcean600 E. Bay Ave., Newport Beach. (949) 675-8915. www.explorocean.org

Wednesday and Saturday: Feeding Frenzy. Did you know a pink sea star eats live mussels and a sea hare sea slug enjoys algae? Come down and feed the sea creatures. You may be surprised by not only what they eat, but how they eat. 2-5 p.m. Included with admission.

Saturday: Science Saturdays. Quick and engaging activities bring parents and children together as they make predictions, ask questions, problem-solve and think like scientists. Each month introduces a new theme based on the Ocean Literacy Principles. Sat-urdays, noon - 3 p.m. Included with admission.

Festival of Lights at The Mission Inn HotelNovember 28 - January 6: Your family will be swept away by more than 3.6 million+ brilliant lights transforming Riverside’s historic hotel into magic. In addition to the external light display, throughout the season The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa features a decorated Christmas tree, appear-ances by Santa Claus and Dickensian Carolers singing cheerful holiday tunes, authentic horse-drawn carriages, live reindeer, and hundreds of characters dressed in 17th Century costumes to entertain crowds and evoke the spirit of the sea-son. Daily, 5:30-11 p.m. Note: Day trip visitors can also extend their Festival of Lights tour by dining, shopping or taking in High Tea. Plus, you can stay the night; check out the Festival of Lights room packages. 3649 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside. (951) 784-0300. www.missioninn.com

• Fillmore and Western(805) 524-2546. www.fwry.com. See ad on this page.

November 29-30, December 6-7 and 13-14: Christmas Tree Train. Take a train ride enroute to a private Christmas tree farm. Families can begin their own Christmas tradition by taking the train to find that perfect tree and cut it down to haul back on the train. Crews net the tree and stack it on the flatcar for the ride back to Fillmore. Saturday and Sunday, departures at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Adults, $25; youth (4-12), $15; kids (2-3), $10.

November 29, December 5-7, 12-14, 17-23 and 26: The North Pole Express Train is an evening family train ride. Kids are encouraged to wear their PJ’s and can bring their favorite teddy bear or blanket on the journey; elves lead songs and tell stories on the way to the North Pole as kids enjoy a cookie and chocolate milk. Train departs at 6 and 7:30 p.m.; additional 4:30 p.m. depar-tures on December 19-23. Adults, $19; kids (2-12), $29.

Free Admission Days at Local MuseumsOngoing: Free admission is offered on varying days at the following museums. For contact information and mu-seum details, visit www.tinyurl.com/KidsguideMuseums. Daily: California African American Museum, Flight Path Learning Center and Museum, Getty Center and Villa, Hammer Museum, The Paley Center for Media and Wells Fargo History Museum.

Sundays: Museum of Latin American Art; and fourth Fridays, 5-8 p.m.

First Tuesday: Natural History Museum of Los An-geles County and Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits.

Second Tuesday: Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Autry National Center.

Thursdays: Skirball Cultural Center.

First Thursday: Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens with reserved tickets.

Third Thursday: Japanese American National Mu-seum, plus every Thursday night, 5-8 p.m.

Thursday nights: Long Beach Museum of Art, 3-8 p.m., Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), 5-8 p.m.

First Friday: Norton Simon Museum.

Fridays: Long Beach Museum of Art.

Free Archery Instruction at El Dorado ParkSaturdays: Get pointers to improve skills, and con-sistent shooting technique. Equipment provided. Saturday classes include advanced, 9 a.m. and beginner 10:30 a.m. Safety class required. Groups of five or more, call for reservations. Vehicle entry fees, Monday - Friday, $5; weekends, $7; and hol-idays, $8. 7500 E. Spring St., Long Beach. (657) 222-0269. www.eldoradoarchers.com

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Free Historical Walking Tour at Santa Monica PierSaturday and Sunday: Join an hour-long tour that features fascinating stories about how the pier has changed over 100 years, the apartments over the Merry Go-Round, hidden nooks and crannies, the original Muscle Beach, and celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin. Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. and noon. Free. Meet at the Pier Shop in the historical carousel building. 200 Santa Monica Pier, Ste. 200, Santa Monica. (310) 458-4939. www.santamonicapier.org

Free Kids’ Fishing Clinic in Dana PointSundays: Dana Wharf Sportfishing offers a dock-side experience for young fisherman. Kids learn fishing techniques, new hook-tying secrets and win raffle prizes, also they are invited to try out their new techniques on the half-day trip depart-ing immediately after the clinic. No reservations are needed. Sundays, noon - 12:30 p.m.; kids fish free, 12:45-5:15 p.m., with adult ticket. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. (949) 496-5794, Ext. 7. www.danawharf.com/kidsclub.html

Free Shark Lagoon Nights at the Aquarium of the PacificFridays through December 26: The public is in-vited to get up close with the ocean’s ultimate predators at the Aquarium of the Pacific for free during Shark Lagoon Nights. Guests will have the opportunity to touch more than 150 sharks and see large sharks such as the sand tiger. Shark Lagoon brings guests closer to these predators than they ever imagined was possible. Guests can touch and learn about sharks, shop, purchase drinks and snacks, and enjoy live music. Fridays, 6-9 p.m. No event on November 28. Free. 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. (562) 590-3100. www.aquariumofpacific.org.

• Golf N’ Stuff’s North Pole Fun PackDecember 1-31: With Golf ‘N’ Stuff’s “North Pole Fun Pack,” kids can enjoy two full hours unlim-ited use of: go-karts, bumper boats, bumper cars, Disk ‘O Thrill ride and kiddie train. Plus, enjoy one round of miniature golf, a cool cookie and a 12 oz. soda. All for just $16 per person (prices subject to change without notice). Park opens daily at 10 a.m.; they’re even open on Christmas Day at 2 p.m. Start a new family tradition with a round of mini golf on Christmas. 10555 E. Firestone Blvd., Norwalk. (562) 868-9956. www.golfnstuff.com. See ad on page 31.

Great Park Balloon in IrvineThursday - Sunday: The Great Park’s tethered, 118-foot-high, helium-filled balloon allows pas-sengers to soar 400 feet in the air for a birds-eye view. Balloon rides: Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. and 7-10 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. Adults $10; kids ages 12-18 without a paid accompany-ing adult, $5; kids ages 18 and younger with an adult, free. Dogs are also welcomed to ride. Check in at the visitors’ center. Orange County Great Park, Irvine. www.ocgp.org/visit/info

• Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty in Los AngelesThrough April: The Japanese American National Museum and Sanrio present Hello! Exploring the Su-percute World of Hello Kitty. The exhibition examines the colorful history of Hello Kitty and her influence on popular culture. Hello! includes an extensive product survey, with rare and unique items from the Sanrio archives, alongside a selection of innovative con-temporary artworks inspired by Hello Kitty and her world. Daily, closed Monday and holidays. This exhi-bition requires a special ticket in addition to general museum admission: adults, $20; kids (6-17), $10. Museum admission: adults, $9; kids (6-17), $5. Free for JANM members. 100 North Central Ave., Los An-geles. www.janm.org. See ad on page 48.

Holiday Skate Center175 N. Wayfield Drive, Orange. (714) 997-5515.www.holidayskate.com

Saturdays: Kids can skate to kid’s music, and play games. Recommended for kids 10 years and under, with a parent. Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Admis-sion, $6; skate rental, $3.

Saturdays and Sundays: Family Nights. A family up to five can skate, including skate rental, for this special deal! Saturdays, 7-9:30 p.m., $7 each; and Sundays, 6:30-8:30 p.m., $5.50 each.

Kayak Tours in the Upper Newport BaySaturday and Sunday: The Newport Bay Conservancy offers a two-hour guided kayak tour of the Back Bay. They are great for both novices and experienced pad-dlers alike. Begin with a quick lesson on how to paddle and then paddle into the Ecological Reserve. Make sev-eral stops where you’ll discuss various aspects of the ecology and wildlife. Each tour is unique with startling differences in the birds and other wildlife seen depend-ing on the season and the state of the tide. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. $25 per person (8+); reservations are required. Bring sun protection and prepare to get wet. Newport Aquatics Center, 1 White Cliffs Drive, Newport Beach. (949) 923-2269. www.newportbay.org

Macy’s Letter to SantaThrough December 23: Kids can create and decorate a letter to Santa, print it out and drop it off at a Santa Mailbox at a Macy’s department store. For every let-ter received, Macy’s will donate $1 to Make-a-Wish. Daily. Free. www.social.macys.com

Mission San Juan CapistranoSaturday and Sunday: Try your luck at finding the gold in the custom-designed mission trough. They’ll supply the pan and the gold. Or roll up your sleeves and make your own adobe brick, with materials supplied. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. $3 per activity; plus admission. (949) 234-1322. www.missionsjc.com

Movie Deals and Baby-Friendly TheaterDaily: Movies at discounted prices. Charter Centre Cinemas, 7822 Warner Ave., Hun-tington Beach, (714) 596-3456, $3 daily, $2 extra for 3-D movies; 6 p.m. Movie special includes two admissions, two popcorns and two sodas. Norwalk 8, 13917 Pioneer Blvd., (562) 804-5615, $2-3 daily; $2 extra for 3-D movies. www.regencymovies.com

Starplex Cinemas, 15296 Rosecrans Ave., La Mirada, (714) 739-1010 and 4626 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, (949) 733-0980, $2-4 daily. www.starplexcinemas.com

Four Stars Cinemas (showing new movies), 12111 Valley View St., Garden Grove, (714) 934-6377, dis-count Tuesdays and Thursdays, before 6 p.m., $4; $2 extra for 3-D movies. www.4starcinemas.com

Pictures Show, 2800 Main St., Santa Ana Mall, (714) 836-7469, $2 daily; discount Tuesday, $1, $2 extra for 3D. www.pictureshowent.com

Ultra Star, 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, (714) 399-0300, baby-friendly movie environment, Thursdays, 7 p.m. 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, (714) 399-0300, Ext. 0305. www.ultrastarmovies.com

Old Fire Station ToursFree. (323) 464-2727. www.lafdmuseum.org

Saturdays: Old Station 36 includes LAFD apparatus, ar-tifacts from the San Pedro area and some of the most famous fires in this part of the city, and much more. A small store offers up a variety of goodies, ranging from authentic LAFD merchandise to memorial bracelets. Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 638 Beacon St., San Pedro.

Saturdays: Old Fire Station 27 is a completely restored facility. Three apparatus bays are filled with equipment, some dating back to the early 1900s. Plus, artifacts and equipment are on display, dating from the 1880s through the present day. There are existing and under-development exhibits upstairs as well. Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 1355 N. Caheunga Blvd., Hollywood.

Operation Santa Paws 2014December 1-19: An annual collection of pet toys, shelter supplies and treats that are delivered to shel-ter and rescue homeless animals. Visit their website for program details and drop-off locations. (562) 439-3316. www.hautedogs.org/santapaws.html

Pan for Gold at the AutrySaturday and Sunday: Eureka! Discover the myths and realities of the California Gold Rush, and try your hand at panning for gold at an outdoor re-creation of a miner’s panning station. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Free with admission. Autry National Center in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. (323) 667-2000. www.theautry.org

Pompeii The Exhibition at the California Science Center in LAThrough January 4: In the year 79 A.D., Pompeii vanished beneath thick layers of volcanic ash left by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. But what nature destroyed, it also preserved. Pompeii: The Exhibition features over 150 precious artifacts on loan from the Naples National Archaeological Museum in Italy, which offer a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle and tragic end of this ancient Roman society forgotten for centuries until its rediscovery over 250 years ago. Through excavated artifacts, multimedia experi-ences, and hands-on science exhibits, guests learn the science of archaeology, volcanology, and Roman engineering while exploring the ancient civilization of Pompeii. Daily. Timed tickets: Adults, $19.95; youth/students with ID (13-17), $16.75; kids (4-12), $12.75. 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles. (323) 724-3623. www.californiasciencecenter.org


Pretend City Children’s Museum 29 Hubble, Irvine. (949) 428-3900. www.pretendcity.org

December 1-31: December’s Theme: “City Express – Sending Holiday Wishes,” visit their online calendar for daily activities and special holiday celebrations through-out the month.

December 1-19: CHOC Toy Drive. Help spread holiday cheer to patients at CHOC Children’s Hospital. They are collecting new, unwrapped toys all month long. Daily, visit their website for schedule. Bring a child’s toy valued at $5 or greater to receive one free ad-mission the day of your visit with a purchase of one additional admission.

Santa at Roger’s Garden’s in Corona Del MarNovember 28 - December 21: Bring kids to Rog-er’s Gardens and take professional photo with Santa Claus. Santa will be in the original Disney-land bandstand gazebo. Daily, noon - 6 p.m. 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona Del Mar. (949) 640-5800. www.rogersgardens.com

Technology Saturdays at Sam Ash Music StoresSaturday: Join a free class every Saturday morning. Classes include Pro Tools 101 for setting up and creating tracks, plus editing and mixing; EDM Class for creating, recording and mixing electronic dance music; and Digital DJ Class for those interested in DJing. Times vary. Res-ervations required. Visit website for details and store lo-cations. www.samashmusic.com/technology-saturdays

The Plot to Overthrow Christmas at the Long Beach Shakespeare Co.November 28 - December 14: Bring in the holiday season with this radio story classic. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 p.m. $10-20. 4250 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach. (562) 997-1494. www.lbshakespeare.org

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition and Bodies: The ExhibitionDaily: Bodies explores the systems of the human body: skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, di-gestive, urinary, reproductive, endocrine and circu-latory. Titanic The Artifact Exhibition features over 250 authentic artifacts that have been recovered from the wreck site of the Titanic, plus recreations of famous rooms as well as actors dressed in period clothing portraying notable passengers and crew members. 7711 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. (657) 529-7224. www.premierexhibitions.com

Tom’s FarmsSaturdays and Sundays: Families stroll the craft fair, take in a train or carousel ride and listen to music. Kids drive a kid-sized tractor, operate a construction scoop, pan for gold, ride a pony, visit the petting zoo and see a magic show. Sweets shop and three restaurants also on the farm. Weekends: gates open at 7 a.m.; amuse-ment area, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 23900 Temescal Canyon Road, Corona. (971) 277-4422. www.tomsfarms.com

Tour a Tallship in Dana PointSundays: Tour the Tallship Pilgrim, an authentic replica of the two-masted brig that Richard Henry Dana Jr. sailed into Dana Point Harbor in 1834. Staff members, dressed in period costume, lead

ongoing tours and a variety of hands-on activi-ties. 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Free with admission. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive. (949) 496-2274. www.ocean-institute.org

Trolley Tour of Lights in Long BeachDecember 1-28: The tour includes the famous floating Christmas trees of Alamitos Bay and beau-tiful Naples Island. Each tour includes hot cocoa and a sugar cookie, a souvenir Santa hat and candy cane, holiday music and light narration. 90-minute tour, departing at 4:30, 7:20 and 8:40 p.m.: adults, $50; kids, $30; lap-sitting babies (2 and under), free. 30-minute tour, departing at 5:15, 6, 6:45, 7:30, 8:15, and 9 p.m.: adults, $30; kids, $20; lap-sitting babies (2 and under), free. 5200 E. 2nd St. (in front of Chase Bank), Long Beach. (562) 888-2870. www.longbeachtrolley.com

• Tykes on Trails with theChildren’s Nature InstituteTuesdays and Wednesdays: Geared for 2-4 year olds, their walks instill a sense of discovery, wonder and excitement in young ones! Meet the Children’s Nature Institute at local SoCal parks each week for a one-hour morning nature walk and activity for a chance to bond in a natural setting. The Tykes on Trails curriculum covers a wide range of environ-mental and educational themes; as well as helping families with important behavioral and social mile-stones. In addition to stimulating curiosity about the natural world and fostering feelings of empathy for living things, CNI’s hands-on and highly interactive curriculum helps children develop fundamental building blocks for gaining knowledge about science, math, reading and problem-solving. Tuesday, Westside locations or Wednesday, Central locations; call for times. $20 per session or $70 per four-week series. (213) 746-2966. www.childrensnatureinstitute.org/tykes-trails. See ad on page 25.

Winter Fantasy at theSawdust Art Festival in Laguna BeachThrough December 21: A winter-themed arts and crafts faire offering a variety of activities for kids including Santa visits, art activities, strolling carolers, magicians, puppet shows and children’s playhouse, plus lights, decorations and real snow! Weekends, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Adults, $7; kids (6-12), $4; kids (under 5), free; season pass, $9. 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. (949) 494-3030. www.sawdustartfestival.org

Theme Parks and ZooDisneyland, California Adventureand Downtown Disney (714) 781-4565At California Adventure, watch World of Color-Winter Dreams show and Disney Viva Navidad Street Party (through January 6). At Disneyland, enjoy Haunted Mansion Holiday with a Jack Skellington makeover, It’s a Small World Holiday decor, Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle and join the Jingle Jangle Jamboree with Reindeer Games and Holiday Show, plus a 60-foot Christmas tree, Christmas Fantasy Parade, sea-sonal fireworks and holiday decor. Downtown Disney Winter Village offers a mini Alpine Village and Olaf’s Frozen Ice Rink. 1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim. www.disneyland.com/holidays

Knott’s Berry Farm (714) 220-5200November 22 - January 4: The perfect place to make holiday memories and traditions invites guests to celebrate with a brand new ice show, live entertainment, a crafts fair, festive food at Santa’s Christmas Cabin, lavish holiday decora-tions, and more. Through January 4: Knotts ex-tends free park admission to veterans or current serving military personnel and one guest with proper I.D. presented at turnstile. Plus, purchase up to six additional tickets for just $24 each until November 21; and up to six additional tickets for only $29 each, November 22 - January 4. Daily. www.knotts.com

Los Angeles Zoo November 28 - January 4: Reindeer Romp and LA Zoo Lights. On the weekends, the Zoo creates a holiday won-derland with holiday crafts and photos with Santa. With LA Zoo Lights, families can stroll through areas of the Zoo transformed into a fantastical wonderland populated by glowing light animals. Daily, visitors can view real rein-deer, visit with Santa (on select dates), and enjoy holiday treats and goodies, all under the stars. Daily. Included with admission. 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles. (323) 644-4200. www.lazoo.org/reindeerromp

Legoland (760) 918-5346Holiday Block Party Celebration with nightly fire-works, plus a New Year’s Eve Cele-bricktion. One Legoland Drive, Carlsbad. www.legoland.com

Santa Ana Zoo (714) 836-4000December 1- 31: Join Winter Zoobilation, with magi-cal decorations, faerie lights and falling snow. Guests will be treated to beautiful, original hand-crafted decorations, perfect for pictures, that depict Santa’s Workshop, Sweet Shop and Post Office. The Zoofari Express Train ride and Conservation Carrousel will also be lit up in holiday regale and the Treetop Toys Zoo Gift Shop will be filled with great stocking stuffers and gifts. Daily. Free with admission. 1801 Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana. www.santaanazoo.org

Sea World (800) 257-4268On select dates, through January 4: Enjoy Sea-World’s Christmas Celebration, Shamu’s Christ-mas, Clyde and Seamore Save Christmas, The Pets Rule Christmas, Elmo’s Christmas Wish and SnowWorld. 500 SeaWorld Drive, San Diego. www.seaworldsandiego.com

Universal Studios and Universal CityWalk . December 6 - January 3: Enjoy a helping of Wholiday cheer with photos with the Grinch and his dog, Max. Join the Backlot Whobilation as the Whos sing and dance through Whoville, stand beneath the towering 60-foot Grinchmas tree and soak in the festive park decorations. Call for specific dates and times. Included in the price of park admission. www.universalstudioshollywood.com. Next door at Universal CityWalk, through December 25, take photos with Santa in his Snow Zone, shop for holiday gifts, watch for snowfall on the hour daily from 6-9 p.m., take in free eve-ning concerts every weekend, and check out the spectacular Christmas tree with 200,000 choreo-graphed, pulsing LEDs that rock to the music and lights of 5 Towers. Visit their website for sched-ules. Free. www.citywalkhollywood.com

kidsguide holiday guide 2014 11lots more fun at kidsguidemagazine.com ©2014 Vans, Inc.

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Apple Season in Oak GlenThrough November 30: Working apple orchards in Oak Glen, a mountain town halfway between River-side and Palm Springs, open their doors to the pub-lic. Some farms offer U-pick apples. Many farms also produce fresh apple cider, pies and other farm-fresh goods and some farms even let you visit with their animals. Daily. Oak Glen Apple Growers Association. Visit the website for a daily crop report, map, shops, restaurants, tours, and seasonal events and activities from each farm. www.oakglen.net

Huntington Beach Turkey TrotNovember 27: Kids 12 and under can run a 1K race along the sand in Huntington Beach. Families and strollers are welcome at the back of the pack in the 5K and 10K, too. Thursday, multiple start times. $35-40. 21599 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach. www.active.com

O’Side Turkey Trot in OceansideNovember 27: Join the O’Side Turkey Trot that bene-fits Oceanside schools. There is a 5-mile, 5K, combo run and a kids’ fun run. Thursday, 8 a.m. $22-45. www.osideturkeytrot.com

Thanksgiving Lunch at the Aquarium of the PacificNovember 27: Come gobble, gobble with the sea otters and the entire Aquarium family. You and your family can meet over 11,000 animals from the world’s largest ocean, and savor a traditional Thanksgiving buffet in the Aquarium’s Cafe Scuba. Thursday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Adults (12+), $36; kids (3-11), $20; member adults, $26; member kids, $17. 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. (562) 590-3100. www.aquariumofpacific.org

Thanksgiving Turkey Trot and Chicken Chucking in Long BeachNovember 27: The Kids’ Half-Mile Wingding Fun Run will begin at Belmont Pier in Belmont Shore. Plus, adults’ 5K/10K. Before and after the Turkey Trot, participants will take turns using their body (no ma-chines) to hurl a rubber chicken across the beach. Thursday, Kids’ Wingding, 9:10 a.m. 5K/10K, 7-10 a.m. start times. Kids’ Wingding, $20-40. Adult fun run, $30-40. Chicken chucking is free. (562) 439-3316. www.turkeytrot.us

Tofurkey Trot in PasadenaNovember 27: The Tofurky Company invites you to join in Tofurky Trot! Tofurky Trots are designed to sup-port both the health and vitality of communities and raise money for local groups supporting plant-based diets. The race is 5K (3.1 miles) and is a run, trot, or walk open to all levels of physical fitness. It’s a great day to enjoy the company of fellow plant eat-ers and highlight the benefits of plant-based diets on this largely carnivorous holiday. Thursday, registra-tion, 7:30-8:30 a.m.; 9 a.m. start time. Rose Bowl

Stadium. 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. (626) 577-3100. www.eventbrite.com

Turkey Trot 5K, 10K and Kids’ Gobble Wobble 1 Mile in Dana PointNovember 27: Tour the beautiful beaches, majestic cliffs and coves of Dana Point. Feel the pounding surf and cool ocean breezes as you sail through the Dana Point Marina and Doheny State Park. Plan to arrive at least 30 to 60 minutes before your start time to locate parking. Thursday, start times vary. Register online. $15-55. www.turkeytrot.com

Widdle Wobble Turkey Trot in LANovember 27: Head to Downtown LA Thanksgiv-ing morning to run through the streets. The event includes a Widdle Wobble for kids 2-12, discount 5K and 10K registration for runners ages 5-17, a costume contest, trucker hats and finishers medals, pies for sale and a post-event festival at City Hall. Thursday, 7 a.m. - noon. $10-65. Grand Park LA. www.turkeytrot.la

Annual Buy Nothing Day Hike in the Cleveland National ForestNovember 28: Join Back to Natives for the 11th an-nual day-after Thanksgiving hike in the Cleveland National Forest in celebration of Buy Nothing Day. Participants celebrate Green Friday instead of Black Friday by spending time with friends and family on a hike through the chaparral, past granite outcrops covered in colorful lichen. Participants are encour-aged to bring plenty of water, energy food, and a hat for the short 2.2 mile hike in the Cleveland National Forest, where the trail meanders through narrow sections and rocky slopes. Registration is required; as well as a Forest Adventure Pass available at sport-ing good stores or ranger stations. Friday, 9 a.m. - noon. Directions are sent to those who register, about a week before the hike. The hike is free, but dona-tions are appreciated. There will be plenty of time to go shopping tomorrow, on Small Business Saturday. www.backtonatives.org

All Day Skate at Fountain Valley Skating CenterNovember 28: Skate that turkey off and boycott Black Friday with games, prizes and fun! Friday, noon - 6 p.m. Call for special prices. 9105 Rec-reation Circle, Fountain Valley. (714) 847-0022. www.fountainvalleyskatingcenter.com

All Shook Up in Buena ParkNovember 28, 29 and 30: Based on Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” and inspired by the songs of Elvis Presley, the musical takes the audience back to 1955 in a square little town. In rides a guitar-playing roust-about who changes everything. With classics such as “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Don’t Be

Cruel.” Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Adults, $10; kids (12 and under), $8. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Buena Park Community Center, online or at the box office one hour before each performance. (714) 562-3860. www.buenapark.com

Apple Butter Festival in Oak GlenNovember 28-30: Head to the hills for apple butter and applesauce making, historical displays, frontier adventures, live mountain music, cider tasting, horse-drawn wagon rides and kids’ activities. Friday - Sun-day, check web for schedule. Free. www.oakglen.net

Black Friday Slot Car Racing in Buena ParkNovember 28: Join an after-Thanksgiving slot-car race. Bring your own slot car or rent one. Friday, track opens at 10 a.m., racing begins at noon. Call for race fees. Buena Park Raceway. 6161 Lincoln Ave., Buena Park. (714) 827-9979. www.bpraceway.com

Holiday TV ShowsNovember 28: Enjoy classic holiday TV shows with the family. Today, “Frosty the Snowman” on CBS. Thurs-day, 9 p.m. Check your local listings for time changes.

• I Love Lucy Live On Stage in CerritosNovember 28-29: I Love Lucy Live on Stage is a one-of-a-kind theatrical experience filled with the sidesplitting antics of America’s favorite foursome: Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel! It’s 1952 and you are a member of the Desilu Playhouse studio audience, experiencing firsthand the filming of two hilarious I Love Lucy episodes. The show also features The Ricky Ricardo Orchestra, a charming host who takes you behind the scenes, and the Crystaltone Singers performing 50’s-style harmonies. The two episodes in the show are “The Benefit” and “Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined.” Recommended for ages 12+. Friday, 8 p.m. and Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m. $50-70. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive. (562) 467-8819. www.cerritoscenter.com. See ad on page 9.

Kids Only Club in TemeculaNovember 28: Kids (5-10) discover science through play, while parents shop the afternoon away. Plus, the gift shop will be open for kids to do some shopping of their own. Friday, noon - 4 p.m. $25 per person; lunch and snack included. Pennypickle’s Workshop, 42081 Main St., Temecula. (951) 308-6376. www.pennypickles.org

Orange Friday at Irvine Regional Park in OrangeNovember 28: OC Parks invites families to the first “Orange Friday” at Irvine Regional Park. Orange Friday is a family-friendly event with something for everyone! There will be three options available: 1) A Santa Cruise for the mountain bikers. 2) A Snowman Stroll for the hikers. (There will also be a ranger-led interpretive hike beginning at 3 p.m.) 3) A Rudolph Ride for the equestrians. Costumes are encouraged

daily events


based on your category. Come dressed to impress, as prizes will be awarded to the best dressed in each category. There will be plenty of giveaways. No one will go home empty handed! Friday, 2-5 p.m. Free; parking, $3. 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange. (714) 973-6835. www.ocparks.com/parks/irvine/events

• Parents’ Night Out with Lil’ Chef School in IrvineNovember 28: Parents drop kids off for a night of cooking. Kids join Lil’ Chef for a “Pizza Night,” where they’ll make their own dough from scratch and personal pizza, including three different toppings. Kids will also make Pumpkin Spice Cookies with cream cheese frosting from scratch. Friday, 6:30-9 p.m. $45 per child with $20 for additional sibling. 30-minute early-drop off is $10 per child. Call or visit their website to register. 15435 Jeffery Road, #132, Irvine. (949) 679-8390. www.lilchefschool.com. See ad on page 43.

• Thankskating Skatepark Tour with SkatedogsNovember 28: Work off that pumpkin pie and join Skatedogs for a skate park tour! Kids (6+) will visit three local skateparks and then grab a bite at Sub-way and discuss tips and tricks. Kids should bring water, a snack, skateboard or scooter, helmet, knee and elbow pads. Boards and safety gear are avail-able to borrow upon request. Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. $100 (cash or check at drop-off), includes prizes, lessons and lunch. Meet and pick-up at El Dorado Skatepark in Long Beach. RSVP required; seats are limited. Email: [email protected]. 2800 Studebaker Road, Long Beach. (714) 313-8787. www.skatedogs.com. See ad on page 43.

Family Day at March Field Air MuseumNovember 29: Families explore the history of flight and air crafts with crafts. Different theme every month. Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. $5-10. 22550 Van Buren, Riverside. (951) 902-5949. www.marchfield.org

Holiday Family Workshops at Open House CreativeNovember 29: Join a two-hour family workshop with creativity, a little holiday cheer, and some amazing projects that might just find their way into your stocking this year. Today, Printmaking. Design your own wrapping paper and holiday cards. Satur-day, 10 a.m. - noon. $45 per child; adults are free. 1602 Babcock St., Costa Mesa. (949) 438-5674. www.openhouse-creative.com

Holiday TV ShowsNovember 29: Enjoy classic holiday TV shows with the family. Today, “The Flight Before Christ-mas” on CBS at 8 p.m.; and “The Story of Santa Claus” on CBS at 9 p.m. Check your local listings for time changes.

Ice Princess Character Breakfast in LakewoodNovember 29: Kids (3-12) join the Ice Princess and Snowman for a meet and greet with photos, plus dance to their favorite songs, make crafts, watch a movie, a live performance and enjoy breakfast. Saturday, breakfast, movie and crafts at 9:30 a.m.; princess and snowman arrive, performance and pho-tos at 11 a.m. Adults, $20; kids, $10. Reservation required. 4212 Clubhouse Drive, Lakewood. (562) 421-0550. www.eventbrite.com

Indoor Autism Soccer Clinic in Long BeachNovember 29: A weekly indoor autism soccer clin-ic (siblings included) where kids learn the basics of passing, dribbling, ball control, shooting, de-fending and goalkeeping. Saturday, 11 a.m. RSVP at www.tinyurl.com/AutismLongBeach.

Lakeshore Learning’s Free Saturday WorkshopsNovember 29: Kids (3+) make a cool catch pen-guin. Saturday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. No reservations necessary. Carson, (310) 537-4778; Fountain Val-ley, (714) 963-8255; and Laguna Hills, (949) 462-9353. www.lakeshorelearning.com

Lighting of the Newport Beach Back BayNovember 29: The annual Lighting of the Bay at the Newport Dunes where families will enjoy 30 tons of snow, a carved ice Santa scene for a photo op, science of ice exhibit, train rides (1-5 p.m.), movie screening of The Polar Express (6-8 p.m.), caroling, musical entertainment and hot chocolate (for a nomi-nal price). Friday, 1-8 p.m. Free, (fee for food/drinks). 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach. (949) 729-3863. www.newportdunes.com

Parents’ Night Out at PDANovember 29: Kids (3-13) enjoy a night of jumping on the trampoline and hanging on the bars, while parents enjoy a few hours of free time on a Saturday night. Activities include open equipment with coach-es at each station, plus “The Pit.” Saturday, 6:30-10:30 p.m. If registered by 2 p.m., $15 per child, $10 siblings, and $40 for the family rate; at the door, $20 per child, $15 siblings, and $50 for the family

Gripper’s Holiday Hits

www.gripnripjuniortennis.com • 949.644-0050, Ext. 210 • 949.335.5460

For Beginners to Intermediate Players (ages 5 and up)

Not Ready for Matchplay

Saturday - Wednesday • 1-4 pm12/20 - 12/24 •12/27 - 12/31

Structured DailyCurriculum Includes:Warmup

Stroke Development

Live-Ball Drills

Introduction to Competitive Play

(Rally Ball)Games

ContestsPrizes

Price Per WeekMember - $225

Non-Member - $250Daily Drop-In Rate - $60


rate. Includes pizza and drink. Also offered December 13. 15064 Shoemaker Ave., Santa Fe Springs. (562) 229-1927. www.pdausa.net

Rise of the Giants Movie Screening at Tanaka FarmsNovember 29: Join a special viewing of “Rise of the Giants,” a film featuring the world’s largest pumpkins and the people that grow them with special guest speakers, raffles and refreshments. Saturday, 4:30-6 p.m. Adults, $5; kids (16 and under), free. Space is limited; reservations required. 5380-3/4 University Drive, Irvine. (949) 653-2100. www.tanakafarms.com

Santa at the OC MarketplaceNovember 29: Bring your camera for free photo op-portunities with Santa. Saturday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. OC Fair and Events Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. (949) 723-6660. www.ocmarketplace.com

Shop N Drop Mad Science SaturdaysNovember 29: Parents enjoy holiday shopping sans kiddos, while kids (5-12) have fun with hands-on experiments. All kids must be potty trained. Themes: November 29, Slime Time; and December 20, Radical Reactions. Saturday, 9 a.m. - noon. $30, plus $5 ma-terial fee. Murdy Community Center Hall A, Huntington Beach. (714) 960-8884. www.huntingtonbeachca.gov

Tree Lighting in Seal BeachNovember 29: Watch the annual tree lighting with fun holiday activities. Friday, 4-7 p.m. Eisenhower Park. Ocean and Main, Seal Beach. (562) 799-0179. www.sealbeachchamber.org

Community Day at Back Bay ScienceNovember 30: Hands-on science fun for families. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Free. 600 Shellmaker Island, Newport Beach. www.backbaysciencecenter.org/community-day

Family Hike at Crystal Cove State ParkNovember 30: Join a park naturalist on a three-mile family nature walk at Crystal Cove State Park to learn about the plants and animals living in the park. Sunday, 9 a.m. $15 day-use parking fee. Meet at the Berns Amphitheater. (949) 494-3539. www.crystalcovestatepark.com

Hollywood Christmas Parade in Los AngelesNovember 30: The Hollywood Christmas Parade celebrates with Santa, marching bands, ce-lebrities and more. Stevie Wonder performs in this year’s parade. The U-shaped parade route will travel east to Vine, south on Vine to Sunset Boulevard and west on Sunset, back to Orange. Sunday, 6 p.m. Starts at Hollywood and Orange. Grandstand tickets are available on Ticketmaster, $25-85. www.thehollywoodchristmasparade.com

Messiah Sing-Along at Nixon LibraryNovember 30: Tune up your voices for the annual Handel’s Messiah sing-along, conducted by Glenn P. Wanke and presented by the Yorba Linda Arts Alli-ance. Sunday, seatings at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Free. 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda. (714) 993-5075. www.nixonfoundation.org

Patchwork Indie Art and Craft Festival in Santa AnaNovember 30: Fun family shopping with over 100 ven-

dors displaying their handmade goods; plus enjoy kids arts and crafts, food and music. Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Free admission and parking. 125 N. Broadway, Santa Ana. www.patchworkshow.com

Stories in the Afternoon at theNorton Simon Museum in PasadenaNovember 30: Families with kids ages 4-8 enjoy an afternoon of stories in the museum. Sunday, 2-3 p.m. Free. 411 Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 449-6840. www.nortonsimon.org

Tree Lighting and Sand Sculpture Dedication at St. RegisNovember 30: Guests and locals are invited to visit The St. Regis Monarch Beach for this year’s Tree Lighting and Sand Sculpture Dedication. Featuring NBA Hall of Famer, Magic Johnson, festive treats, visits with Santa Claus, holiday carolers and hot cocoa and cider. Sunday, 3:30-7 p.m. Photos with Santa begin at 3:30 p.m. and the Sand Sculpture Dedication and Tree Lighting Ceremony at 4:30 p.m. One Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point. (800) 722-1543. www.stregismb.com/calendar

BARK Therapy Dogs Read in StantonDecember 1: Kids increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. 4:30 p.m. Free. Stanton Library, 7850 Katella Ave., Stanton. (562) 235-8835. www.barkdogs.org

Grand Park Lights Up the HolidaysDecember 1: Grand Park will be magically lit for the holidays, with a 35-foot tree as the centerpiece. The event includes performances by the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Concert Choir along with Brass Pacifica, plus free hot beverages from Starbucks to warm up the crowd. Monday, 5-8 p.m. Downtown Los Angeles. www.grandparkla.org

Grinch Day at Barnes & NobleDecember 1: Celebrate Grinch Day with a special story time featuring the holiday Dr. Seuss classic, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” plus holiday activities. Monday, 4 p.m. Free. Barnes & Noble at Fashion Island, Newport Beach; 3rd Street Prome-nade, Santa Monica; Bella Terra, Huntington Beach; Marina Pacifica Mall, Long Beach; Del Amo Fash-ion Center, Torrance; Metro Pointe, Costa Mesa; Orange Town & Country, Orange; The Grove, Los Angeles. www.barnesandnoble.com

Holiday TV ShowsDecember 1: Enjoy classic holiday TV shows with the family. Today, “Santa Claus is Comin to Town” on ABC Family at 5 p.m.; “Christmas Vacation” on ABC Family at 6 p.m.; “CMA Country Christmas” on ABC at 8 p.m.; and “Elf” on ABC. Check your local listings for time changes.

Paws to Read! at Taft Library in OrangeDecember 1: Kids read aloud to a certified therapy dog. Mondays, 3:30-4 p.m. 740 E. Taft Ave. (714) 288-2430. www.cityoforange.org/library

Sunday Studio at MOCADecember 1: Sunday Studio invites families for ex-

hibit-centered activities designed by local artist. Sun-day, 1-4 p.m. Included with admission. (213) 621-1745. www.edu.moca.org/programs/sunday-studio

Tree Lighting Ceremony and Community Sing in WestminsterDecember 1: Visit with Santa during and after the ceremony. Monday, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Westminster Civic Center. 8200 Westminster Blvd., Westminster. (714) 895-2860. www.westminster-ca.gov

Tree Lighting in La HabraDecember 1: Join the city’s tree lighting with a per-formance by Whittier Christian School Choir. Monday, 6-6:30 p.m. City Hall Steps, 201 E. La Habra Blvd., La Habra. www.lahabracity.com

BARK Therapy Dogs in BellflowerDecember 2: Kids increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. 6 p.m. Free. Brakenseik Library, 9945 Flower St., Bellflower. (562) 235-8835. www.barkdogs.org

Christmas Fantasia 2014 in Newport BeachDecember 2 and 5: Classic carols and contem-porary holiday favorites performed by Vanguard’s 200-member choir and orchestra. Experience the amazing sounds of Christmas. Tuesday, 8 p.m. at Segerstrom Center for the Arts; and Friday, 8 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Ticket prices vary, visit website for prices. (714) 619-6410. www.vanguard.edu/fantasia

Free Family Night at Kidspace in PasadenaDecember 2: Explore the art and history of the puppet, make shadow puppets, learn the sci-ence behind puppetry, and create a bag pup-pet. Plus, enjoy a performance by the Bob Baker Marionettes at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, 4-8 p.m. Free. 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 449-9144. www.kidspacemuseum.org

Here Comes Santa in OrangeDecember 2: Kids (all ages) meet the big guy himself and tell him their wishes. Parents may bring cameras to take a picture of their child with Santa. Tuesday, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. 407 E. Chapman Ave., Orange. (714) 288-2400. www.cityoforange.org/depts/library

Holiday TV ShowsDecember 2: Enjoy classic holiday TV shows with the family. Today, “Elf” on ABC Family at 6 p.m.; “Toy Story That Time Forgot” on ABC at 8 p.m.; “The San-ta Clause” on ABC Family at 8 p.m.; and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on ABC at 8:30 p.m. Check your local listings for time changes.

• Kids’ Happy Hour at Dream Come True Party RoomDecember 2, 3, 9, 10, 17 and 18: Time to unwind from a long day. Stop by for happy hour and play dress-up from the Castle Wardrobe, face painting, snacks and crafts. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3-4 p.m. $8. 3962 Studebaker Road, Ste. 204, Long Beach. (562) 270-1400. www.dreamcometruepartyroom.com. See ad on page 41.

Mini Canvas Ornaments Workshop at Color My World Art StudioDecember 2, 9 and 13: Book your spot to make


memorable 4x4 canvas ornaments. Tuesday, De-cember 2 and 9, 4-6 p.m.; and Saturday, December 13, 1-5 p.m. $15-20, cash only. Call to make your reservation. 11960 Artesia Blvd., #101, Artesia. (562) 879-5972. www.colormyworld.me

Monthly Mini Model Build at LEGO StoresDecember 2: Kids (6-14) can visit their local LEGO store on the first Tuesday of every month and learn how to build a cool mini model, and take it home for free! Call for times. Quantities are limited to approxi-mately 250 per store and offer is good while supplies last only. One free per child. Downtown Disney, 1585 South Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, (714) 991-6512. South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, (714) 668-9017. www.stores.lego.com

Special Day for Kids with Special Needs at Sky High Sports in Costa MesaDecember 2: The first Tuesday of every month (excluding holidays), kids with special needs can jump for only $5 (one caretaker per child may participate for free). Sky High Sports will be open to the public during these hours, but music will be turned off for the comfort of guests. Tuesday, 3-6 p.m. $5. 2970 Airway Ave., Costa Mesa. (714) 437-5867. www.ocy.jumpskyhigh.com

Tree Lighting in Garden GroveDecember 2: Enjoy festive entertainment, refreshments and a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with a Christ-mas tree lighting. Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. Village Green Park. (714) 741-5200. www.ci.garden-grove.ca.us

• 20th Annual Queen Mary Tree LightingDecember 3: Enjoy live entertainment, a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, refreshments and the annual lighting of the Queen Mary Christmas tree at this festive event at the Holiday Village at CHILL. Wednesday. 8 p.m. (877) 342-0738. www.queenmary.com. See ad on page 7.

Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Signal HillDecember 3: The public is invited to attend the an-nual Tree Lighting Ceremony which will officially ring in the start of the holidays. Enjoy festive treats and holiday music. Inclement weather will cancel the event. Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Discovery Well Park, 2200 Temple Ave., Signal Hill. (562) 989-7330. www.cityofsignalhill.org

Holiday TV ShowsDecember 3: Enjoy classic holiday TV shows with the family. Today, “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” on NBC at 8 p.m. Check your local listings for time changes.

Junior League of Long BeachMembership MixerDecember 3: Interested in becoming a member? Ju-nior League of Long Beach (JLLB) will host an Open Mixer for women interested in learning more about the JLLB, and how the organization and its members impact the greater Long Beach community. Call or visit their website for details and locations. Wednes-day, 6:30-8 p.m. (562) 989-6400. www.jllb.org

Menorah Lighting at Westminster MallDecember 3: Join the lighting of the menorah. Wednes-day, 6-7 p.m. Free. In the lower level by Target. 1025 Westminster Mall. (714) 898-2558. www.simon.com

Our Earth: Dinosaurs and the Ice Age in Long BeachDecember 3: Bring your kids in for an hour of story time and educational play about dinosaurs. Wednes-day, 9-10 a.m. $15. American Health & Wellness, 5580 E. 2nd St., Ste. 101, Long Beach. (562) 439-3425. www.ahwinstitute.com/calendar

• Storytelling and Tea Time at Dream Come True Party RoomDecember 3, 10 and 17: During Storytelling, kids can listen to their favorite stories and some new favorites, too. Noon - 1 p.m. $5, per child; includes refresh-ments. No reservation required. At Tea Time, kids participate in dress-up play from the Castle Ward-robe, and enjoy mini muffins, tea or juice in fancy teacups, etiquette and storytelling. 4-5 p.m. $12, per child; reservations required. Wednesdays. 3962 Studebaker Road, Ste. 204, Long Beach. (562) 270-1400. www.dreamcometruepartyroom.com. See ad on page 41.

Holiday TV ShowsDecember 4: Enjoy classic holiday TV shows with the family. Today, “The Year Without a Santa Claus” on ABC Family at 6 p.m.; “The Polar Express” on ABC Family at 7 p.m. Check your local listings for time changes.

LA Opera Youth Auditions in LADecember 4 and 7: Be a part of LA Opera’s Commu-nity Opera production of Noah’s Flood (Noye’s Fludde). The team is looking for youth performers (11-17) to sing principal roles. Thursday, 4-8 p.m. and Sunday, noon - 5 p.m. Auditions are limited and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Performances are set for March 6-7 at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave. (213) 972-3157. www.laopera.org/community-opera

• Orion’s First Launch Celebration at Columbia Memorial Space CenterDecember 4: Join the space center to witness Amer-ica’s next leap in space exploration. The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle will be launched on its first test flight! Festivities include NASA speaker, Richard Stem-ber and ALF guest speaker, Jim Busby, Orion giveaways (limited supplies), raffle prizes and activities throughout the day. Thursday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. General admission: $5 per person. 12400 Columbia Way, Downey. (562) 231-1200. www.columbiaspacescience.org. See ad on page 21.

Tree Lighting Ceremony in ArtesiaDecember 4: Join a tree lighting ceremony with a youth choir and dance groups. Thursday, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Artesia Park. 18750 Clarkdale Ave., Artesia. (562) 860-3361. www.cityofartesia.us

1,000 Toy Giveaway and Photo Ops in AnaheimDecember 5: The Anaheim Marketplace will be giving out free toys to the first 1,000 kids. Friday, 3-5 p.m. 1440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim. (714) 999-0888. www.anaheimindoormarketplace.com

• An Irish Christmas at Cerritos Performing Arts CenterDecember 5: In an enchanting presentation of Ireland’s

culture, history and holiday customs, An Irish Christmas mingles ancient traditions with the modern artistry of the country’s finest performers. It’s a family-friendly evening of merriment, filled with seasonal songs, Celtic music, lively storytelling and spirited dancing. Friday, 8 p.m. $35-65. 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. (562) 467-8819. www.cerritoscenter.com. See ad on page 9.

Breakfast with Santa in Newport BeachDecember 5: A fun breakfast with Santa, crafts and photo ops. Friday, 9:30-11 a.m. $15 per person; kids (2 and under), free. Preregistration required. Newport Coast Community Center, 6401 San Joaquin Hills Road. (949) 270-8100. www.newportbeach.gov/recreation

Christmas Tree Lighting in TustinDecember 5: Kick-off the holiday season at this free event with holiday carols, stage entertainment and the traditional tree lighting. Friday, 6 p.m. Tustin Li-brary Courtyard, 345 E. Main St., Tustin. (714) 573-3326. www.tustinca.org

First Fridays in Bixby Knolls in Long BeachDecember 5: Enjoy fun activities, crafts and food. Friday, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Atlantic Ave. from Bixby Road to San Antonio Drive. www.firstfridayslongbeach.com

• Gingerbread House Workshop in IrvineDecember 5: Kids make a one-of-a-kind masterpiece to bring home to display during Christmas time, ac-companied by hot chocolate, popcorn and Christmas music to sway in the holiday spirit. They provide the house and candy decorations, and kids get to make the frosting. Also offered December 13 at 9-11 a.m. Friday, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Call or visit their website for fees and to register. 15435 Jeffrey Road, #132, Ir-vine. (949) 679-8390. www.lilchefschool.com. See ad on page 43.

Harvest Festival Original Art and Craft Show in PomonaDecember 5-7: Boasting an array of more than 24,000 unique handmade items at affordable pric-es, it’s the shoppertunity that only comes around once a year. The show features more than 200 ex-hibitors, live entertainment, strolling performers, a kids zone with interactive activities and spe-cialty foods. Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Adults, $9; kids (13-17), $4; kids under 12, free. Fairplex in Pomona. 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Po-mona. (909) 623-3111. www.harvestfestival.com

Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony in BellflowerDecember 5: Join in the festivities as the City of Bellflow-er lights their holiday tree. Friday, 6:30 p.m. Friendship Square. (562) 804-1424, Ext. 2267. www.bellflower.org

Holiday Tree Lighting in LakewoodDecember 5: Join a Tree Lighting with carolers, a visit from Santa, photo ops, hot cocoa, cider and holiday treats. Plus, enter a raffle. Friday, 6:30-8 p.m. Space is limited for the premier night; reserve your free tickets as soon as possible by phone or web. A “Thank a Soldier” collection box will also be featured near the tree, where you can send a note of good tidings and appreciation to troops overseas by writing a letter or filling out a Lake-wood holiday postcard (provided at the event). 5000 Clark Ave., Lakewood. (562) 866-9771. Ext. 2160. www.lakewoodcity.org/treetickets


Holiday TV Shows ScheduleDecember 5: Enjoy classic holiday TV shows with the family. Today, “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” on ABC Family at 6 p.m.; “Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on ABC Family at 8 p.m.; and “A Very Grammy Christmas” on CBS at 9 p.m. Check your local listings for time changes.

An Old-Fashioned Christmas Melodrama and Ice Cream Social at OCCDecember 5-7 and 12-14: Orange Coast College’s Repertory Theatre Company stages “An Old-Fash-ioned Christmas Melodrama and Ice Cream Social.” Boo the villain and cheer the hero in the annual holiday melodrama and sing-along. A special visitor is also ex-pected. The program includes music, vaudeville acts, a holiday sing-along and more. Everyone in attendance will be treated to a free ice cream treat. Plus a visit by Santa; parents are encouraged to bring their cameras. Fun for the whole family! Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 2:30 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Adults, $7-9; kids, $5-7. Orange Coast College Drama Lab Theatre, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. (714) 432-5880. www.orangecoastcollege.edu

Parade of Lights in Dana Point HarborDecember 5-6 and 12-13: The annual boat parade of light sails into the harbor. This year’s theme is “FantaSea Holiday.” Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Free to spectate by the water’s edge. (949) 496-5794. www.danapointharbor.com

Polar Express Story Time at Barnes & NobleDecember 5: Put on your PJs and join the annual Polar Express Story Time. Hear “The Polar Ex-press” story and enjoy holiday activities and treats! Friday, 7 p.m. Fashion Island, Newport Beach; Metro Pointe, Costa Mesa; The Grove, Los Ange-les; Marina Pacifica Mall, Long Beach; 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica; Bella Terra, Huntington Beach; Orange Town & Country, Orange; and Del Amo Fashion Center, Torrance. Also December 12 in Tustin. Free. www.barnesandnoble.com

Seal Beach Christmas and Holiday ParadeDecember 5: Parade along Main Street includes a visit from Santa. Friday, 7 p.m. (562) 799-0179. www.sealbeachca.gov

Theater in the Round and Tree Lighting in Mission ViejoDecember 5: Ring in the holiday cheer with a tree lighting and more than 75 dancers and singers. Plus, a visit from Santa. Theater in the Round is presented by South Coast Freestyle Dance Training Center along with St. Kilian Choir. Sunday, 6-8 p.m. Free to attend. 27741 Crown Valley Parkway, Mis-sion Viejo. www.gokaleidoscope.com

Tree Lighting and Santa’s Arrival in Ladera RanchDecember 5: Join the lighting of the tree and photos with Santa, holiday performances, cookie decorating, crafts, hot chocolate, chocolate fondue and winter-themed photo opportunities. Friday, 5-8:30 p.m. Towne Green, 28801 Sienna Parkway, Ladera Ranch. www.laderaranch-realestate.com

Tree Lighting at The Rink in Downtown BurbankDecember 5: Join the Mayor of Burbank for a com-

• North Pole Tubing Park at Mountain HighDecember - Mid-March: For the best snow tubing head to the North Pole Tubing Park at Moun-tain High’s North Resort! The North Pole Tubing Park is the largest sliding facility in Southern California with up to ten lanes, two moving carpets and custom tubes. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Full day, $35; two hours, $20; kids (36-42” tall with paying adult), $15; and season pass, $99. Tubes are included in the ticket price. Kids under 36” tall are not permitted for safety reasons. Located at the North Resort, check their website for directions. (888) 754-7878. www.mthigh.com. See ad on page 19.

Alpine Slide and Snow Play in Big Bear Through March: Enjoy tubing and snow play, plus take a chairlift ride to the top of the Alpine Slide where riders navigate their own individually controlled sleds, each with teflon runners and ball bearing wheels, down their choice of two quarter-mile-long cement tracks filled with high-banked turns and long straightaways. Go-Karts and mini-golf also offered. Daily, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Christmas Day, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.). Tubing: $25 per person, ages 7 and up, includes inner tube and unlimited rides down eight runs; kids (2-6) are free with a paying adult. Alpine Slide: $6, single ride; $25, five-ride book. Kids (2-6 and under 48”) may ride for free with an adult (18 and older). 800 Wildrose Lane, Big Bear Lake. (909) 866-4626. www.alpineslidebigbear.com

Big Bear Snow Play Through March: Head to the hills! It’s prime tubing time at Big Bear Snow Play. Daily, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Christmas Day, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.). Tubing: $30 per person (7+), includes inner tube and unlimited rides down eight runs. Kids (2-6) are free with a paying adult. 42825 Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear Lake. (909) 585-0075. www.bigbearsnowplay.com/tubing.html

Mt. Baldy Tubing Park Thanksgiving weekend - end of snow season: Ride to the top of Sugar Pine Chair Lift for a zip downhill at the Mt. Baldy Tubing Park. The $40 online tubing package includes a lift ticket, inner tube and two hours’ worth of rides; daily, 9-11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. or 2-4 p.m. Or purchase individual sessions ranging from $5-20 (depending on time and age of child). Kids must be at least 36” tall. Check weather conditions first at (909) 982-0800 and get there a half-hour early for your ski-lift ride. Open weekends until they get enough snow. www.mtbaldyskilifts.com

Snow Drift Tubing ParkThrough March: They offer tubing fun on snow tubes that are specially designed with belly straps. Beginner, intermediate and advanced slopes available. Visit their website or call for snow updates, times and prices. Highway 18, four miles past Running Springs. (909) 867-2640. www.snowdrift.net

Snow Valley Snow Play Through March: Enjoy a scenic chairliift ride followed by a downhill sled ride. Snow accessories are available for pur-chase in the Sport Shop. Plus, watch your friends/family take part in the snow play adventure while enjoying some food or a drink on a sun deck. Visit their website or call for snow updates, times and prices. (909) 867-2751. www.snow-valley.com

Tubing &Sledding


munity tree lighting. Friday, 6:30 p.m. Free to attend. Burbank City Hall. www.dtnbur.com

1st Saturday Stewards in Long BeachDecember 6: Volunteers are welcome to help in clean-ing the stream, clearing the trails, pulling weeds or painting benches. 10 a.m. - noon. Call in advance. Wear sturdy shoes and a hat, and bring water. El Dora-do Nature Center, 7550 E. Spring St. (562) 570-1745. www.longbeach.gov

A Christmas Story Screening at LA’s Historic Palace TheatreDecember 6: Ralphie has to convince his parents, his teacher and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun really is the perfect gift for the 1940s. Watch the classic Christmas tale on the big screen in the 103-year-old Palace Theatre. Wear your ugliest Christmas sweater, and come early for Santa visits and holiday treats. Saturday, doors open at 3 p.m., movie at 4:30 p.m. Adults, $20; kids (12 and under), $16. 630 S. Broad-way, Los Angeles. www.streetfoodcinema.com

A Civil War Christmas at the Drum Barracks Civil War MuseumDecember 6-7: Join the 15th annual holiday celebra-tion. The Banning Museum and the Drum Barracks Museum sponsor free horse-drawn carriage rides between the two sites, which are each decorated for true holiday delight. Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Free admission to both museums and the car-riage rides. 1052 Banning Blvd., Wilmington. (310) 548-7509. www.drumbarracks.org

Bank of America Patrons Receive Free Admission to MuseumsDecember 6-7: Bank of America is helping its customers become “cultured” through their program “Museums on Us,” giving bank cardholders free admission to cultural venues in Southern California. Photo ID and a valid Bank of America/Merrill Lynch credit or debit card must be presented. One free general admission limited to card-holder at participating institutions. Not to be combined with other offers. Museums include: Laguna Art Mu-seum, The Living Desert, Discovery Science Cube (ex-cludes Sundays), LACMA, Autry National Center, Skirball Cultural Center, Hammer Museum and the Museum of Latin American Art. Check museums for hours of opera-tion. www.museums.bankofamerica.com

BARK Therapy Dogs in Artesia & Los AlamitosDecember 6: Kids increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. 11 a.m. Free. Artesia Library, 18722 Clark-dale Ave., Artesia, (562) 235-8835; and Rossmoor Library, 12700 Montecito Road, Los Alamitos. (562) 235-8835. www.barkdogs.org

Belmont Shore’s Annual Christmas ParadeDecember 6: The Belmont Shore Christmas Parade takes place on E. 2nd St. from Livingston Ave. to Bay-shore Ave. and returns to Livingston Ave. Thousands line the street to watch the 100+ entries and more than a dozen marching bands. This year’s theme is “Home for the Holidays.” Saturday, 6-9 p.m. Free to spectate. 2nd St., Long Beach. (562) 434-3066. www.belmontshore.org

Breakfast and Brunch with Santa in Lake ForestDecember 6: Join Santa for a home-style cooked

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breakfast and brunch with pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, juice and milk. There will be holiday melodies, cookie decorating, and story time with Santa. Be sure to invite your friends and family as Mrs. Claus and Santa’s elves will be on hand to join the fun! Saturday, 8:30-10:30 a.m. $6 per person; kids (2 and under) are free; preregistration required, no tickets at the door. Lake Forest Community Cen-ter, 25550 Commercentre Drive, Lake Forest. (949) 461-3450. www.lakeforestca.gov

Breakfast with Santa in La HabraDecember 6-7: Start a family tradition at the Chil-dren’s Museum at La Habra by having breakfast with Santa Claus. He’ll even stick around to take a photo or two before he heads back to the North Pole! Sat-urday and Sunday, 8:30, 9:45 and 11 a.m. Adults, $12; kids, $10. Reservations required; tickets in-clude breakfast, holiday craft, photo with Santa Claus and admission into the museum. 301 S. Euclid St., La Habra. (562) 383-4236. www.lhcm.org

Breakfast with Santa in WestminsterDecember 6: Gather the family to have breakfast with Santa. Saturday, 9-10:30 a.m. $8. Space is limited and early registration is recommended. Westminster Community Services and Recreation. 8200 Westmin-ster Blvd. (714) 895-2860. www.westminster-ca.gov

Candy Cane Capers In Huntington BeachDecember 6: Kids (5-12) will sing carols and join in the holiday spirit, including holiday crafts, games, snack time, movie and a visit from Santa. A great time for par-ents and caregivers to do holiday shopping sans kids. Saturday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. $10 per person, plus $10 material fee. Attendance is limited; register early. Murdy Community Center. 7000 Norma Drive, Huntington Beach. (714) 960-8884. www.huntingtonbeachca.gov

Candy Caneland and Craft Faire in Buena ParkDecember 6: An annual holiday carnival with games and Santa, plus holiday craft and food booths. Satur-day, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 8150 Knott Ave., Buena Park.(714) 562-3860. www.buenapark.com

Chili Holiday Event in La MiradaDecember 6: Spend time with family and friends enjoying live entertainment by holiday carolers and students from local schools, plus kids’ arts and crafts, games and photos with Santa. Bring non-perishable food and toys to help make gift baskets for local children and families. Saturday, 5-8 p.m. 13806 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. (562) 902-3191. www.splashlamirada.com

Christmas at Mission San Juan CapistranoDecember 6: Held in conjunction with the City of San Juan Capistrano’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and community-wide holiday celebration. Families enjoy a fun, festive and memorable evening with mu-sical performances, “Santa’s Workshop” with cookie and ornament decorating for kids, food vendors and the beautiful historic Mission festively lit up for this special event. Saturday, 5:30-8 p.m., crafts available until 7:30 p.m. Adults, $5; kids (4-11), $3. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. (949) 234-1300. www.missionsjc.com

Christmas Tree Lighting in Laguna NiguelDecember 6: Munch on cookies, sip on hot chocolate,

snow daysANAHEIM November 28: Join Anaheim Town Square for Santa’s ar-rival with a parade. Plus, play in real snow, and enjoy crafts, Santa, face painting, balloon artist, train rides, gift card drawings and holiday shop-ping. Friday, noon - 3 p.m. Free admission. 2180 E. Lin-coln Ave. (714) 956-3411. www.anaheimtownsquare.com

December 6: Get into the Christmas spirit and play in the snow! The Anaheim Marketplace will have over 25 tons of snow for families to play in. Plus, enjoy live entertainment, free hot choco-late, crafts and giveaways. Saturday, noon - 4 p.m. 1440 S. Anaheim Blvd. (714) 999-0888. www.tinyurl.com/AnaheimSnow

COSTA MESADecember 14: Join a day of snow play with a huge snow area, cookie decorating, hay wagon rides, bounce house, Santa visits and photo op and entertainment. Plus, a food and toy drive. Please bring an unwrapped toy and a non-perishable food item to donate. Hosted by Torelli Realty, all proceeds go to local schools. Saturday, 9 a.m. - noon. Free admission. Balearic Community Center, 1975 Balearic Drive. www.torellirealty.com

GARDEN GROVE December 6: Bring the family to join the fun! The event features a snow play area complete with a snow hill for sledding (bring mittens, jacket and boots). Santa will be ready for pictures and to listen to all requests, 4-7:30 p.m. Plus, inflatables, carnival rides, train rides, music and fun. Saturday, 4-8 p.m. $10 per person, tickets available only by pre-sale, through December 5 at City Hall. Atlantis Play Cen-ter, 13630 Atlantis Way, Garden Grove. (714) 741-5200. www.tinyurl.com/GGSnow

FULLERTONJanuary 31: An avalanche of freshly fallen snow will turn Brea Dam Park into a winter playground. The event features three 75-foot sled runs, as well as a special toddler sled run for kids 5 and under. There will also be a kids play area, a Blast Zone, a family campfire, and crafts and games for a nomi-nal fee. Saturday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. $12-18; pre-registration required. Remember to register early, online or at City Hall, as Snow Day sells out every year. 1700 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton. (714) 738-6575. www.cityoffullerton.com

LONG BEACHDecember 20: Enjoy Win-ter in Willmore with holiday lights, treats, crafts, pictures with Santa for the kids, mu-sic and snow! In the spirit of the season, please bring a can of food to donate to Food Finders. Saturday, 1-6 p.m. Drake Park, 951 Maine Ave., Long Beach. (818) 266-7110. www.willmorecity.org

• CHILL at the Queen Mary: November 21 - January 11.

Southern California’s favorite frozen family event is back. See “Ice Skating” for details. See ad with free kid’s admission on page 7.

LOS ALAMITOS December 6: Take part in a community event at the St. Isadore Historical Plaza, featuring a snow play area, activities, Santa’s Village, a tree lighting ceremony, refreshments and en-tertainment. Saturday, 4-8 p.m. Free admis-sion. 10961 Reagan St., Los Alamitos. (562) 430-1073. www.cityoflosalamitos.org

PASADENADecember 26-30: Play in real snow, make snow angels and snowmen, and perfect your snowball-making skills. Check out live perfor-mances each day and discover the science of snow. Friday - Tuesday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Includ-ed with museum admission. Kidspace, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 449-9144. www.kidspacemuseum.org

STUDIO CITYDecember 14: Winter Family Festival. Kids can slide, build and play in more than 70 tons of snow. This free 4th annual event also features live music by local schools and community groups, photos with Santa, face painting, craft-making, restaurant food sampling and food trucks. Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Free admission, park-ing and shuttles. Families who bring canned/packaged food; new, unwrapped toys; new and used children’s books; pet toys/pet supply gift cards; or new/used clothing and blankets for donation will be entered to win four one-day ad-mission tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood. 12621 Rye St., Studio City. (818) 769-4415. www.studiocityresidents.org


kids can bounce in a bounce house, as well as make crafts and more! New this year, Sub Zero Ice Cream will do a demonstration and hand out tasty treats. En-joy the songs of the season from Saddleback Valley Chorale and Laguna Niguel’s own up and coming star, Sidney Bowen. Don’t miss the annual count down to the lighting of the tree and spend a little time with the most treasured celebrity of the season, Santa! Bring your own camera for pictures. Saturday, 5-7 p.m. Free admission. Parking is available at the library, on Hillhurst at the former County Courthouse off Pacific Island Drive (free shuttle from this location). Laguna Niguel City Hall, 30111 Crown Valley Pkwy. (949) 362-4351. www.cityoflagunaniguel.org

Cookies with Santa in Signal HillDecember 6: Kids visit Santa and enjoy cookies. Sat-urday, 1-2:30 and 3:30-5:30 p.m. $5 per person, preregistration required. 1780 E. Hill St., Signal Hill. (562) 989-7330. www.cityofsignalhill.org

Elf on the Shelf Story Time in IrvineDecember 6: Head to Barnes & Noble for The Elf on the Shelf: A Holiday Tradition Story Time and elf adoption event. This holiday season begin a new family tradition—this interactive holiday hide-and-seek with Santa’s elf is perfect for children and families of all ages. Saturday, 2 p.m. Free. Barnes & Noble, 728 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine. (949) 585-0223. www.store-locator.barnesandnoble.com

Elf at LA’s Historic Palace TheatreDecember 6: After inadvertently wreaking havoc on the elf community due to his ungainly size, a man (Will

Ferrell) raised as an elf at the North Pole is sent to the U.S. in search of his true identity. Watch the classic Christmas tale on the big screen in the 103-year-old Palace Theatre. Wear your ugliest Christmas sweater, and come early for Santa visits and holiday treats. Sat-urday, doors open at 6:30 p.m., movie at 8:30 p.m. Adults, $20; kids (12 and under), $16. 630 S. Broad-way, Los Angeles. www.streetfoodcinema.com

Family Fossil Day in Buena ParkDecember 6: Families (6+) explore Ralph B. Clark Regional Park’s rich fossil history and visit the ma-rine fossil site for hands-on fossil excavation; bring a picnic lunch and stay to enjoy the park afterward. Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.; meet at the am-phitheater. Parking, $5. 8800 Rosecrans Ave., Buena Park. (714) 973-3170. www.ocparks.com

Festival of Trees in Yorba LindaDecember 6-7: Walk through a forest of decorated trees, meet Santa and take a photo op, create a craft in Santa’s Workshop and shop for holiday goods. Find good eats on food trucks like The Grilled Cheese Truck, Bacon Mania and Stuff It Burgers. Saturday and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Free to attend. 16850 Bastenchury Road, Yorba Linda. (714) 986-2380. www.oescal.org

Fishing with Santa at Whittier NarrowsDecember 6: Annual derbies provide an opportunity for kids (2-15) to enjoy fishing while competing for prizes and trophies. Saturday, 8 a.m. - noon; regis-tration begins at 8 a.m. Free. Whittier Narrows, 823 Lexington-Gallatin Road, South El Monte. (916) 322-8911. www.wildlife.ca.gov

Free Bolsa Chica Wetlands ToursDecember 6: Guides will point out the common plants, animals and birds and discuss history, endangered species, ecology and restoration. Warm clothing, closed-toed shoes and binoculars are recommended. 9-10:30 a.m.; tours depart every 15 minutes. South lot of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach. www.amigosdebolsachica.org

Full Moon Hike at Black Star CanyonDecember 6: Enjoy a full moon hike at Black Star Can-yon on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Families travel along a flat trail that crosses a dried creek as they listen for owls flying overhead and coyotes howling in the distance. The hike covers about three miles round trip at an easy pace as they discuss the night sky and darkened canyon. Wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes, and bring water and a flashlight for the hike. Sat-urday, 6-8 p.m. Free. RSVP required. Black Star Canyon Wilderness Park. www.letsgooutside.org

• Gingerbread House Workshops with Art To Grow On Children’s Art CenterDecember 6-7 and 13-14: Bring the entire family and learn how to frost, design and decorate your very own gingerbread house! Includes all holiday can-dies, lollipops, gum-drops, candy canes, snow icing and more. Saturday - Sunday, 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. $60. Reser-vations required at [email protected]. 200 N. PCH (at Vincent St.), Redondo Beach. (310) 625-6028. www.art2growon.com. See ad on page 41.

Goodyear Blimp Open HouseDecember 6-7: Santa and his helpers will conduct

Tuesday-Saturday10am-5pmAdmission Fee: $5 (3 years & younger are FREE)

Spend The Holiday Break with Us—in Space! Columbia Memorial Space Center

12400 Columbia Way, Downey, CA 90242(562) 231-1200 www.columbiaspacescience.org [email protected]

OPEN TO THE PUBLICPlease visit our website to learn about our upcoming events, how to book your next birthday party, meeting, field trip, and/or group visit, and much more. Our center also hosts the only Challenger Learning Center in the greater Los Angeles area—real life excitement of working in Mission Control and in Spacecraft during simulated missions “Return to the Moon,” “Voyage to Mars,” or “Rendezvous with a Comet.” @ColumbiaSpace


tours of Goodyear’s Airship Operations, with visits to the famous Spirit of America blimp. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for the USMC’s Toys for Tots drive, and enter to win a flight for five aboard the blimp! Saturday - Sunday, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. 19200 S. Main St., Gardena. www.facebook.com/goodyearblimp

Here Comes Santa at theOrange Library El Modena BranchDecember 6: Kids (all ages) meet the big guy himself and tell him their wishes. Parents may bring cameras to take a picture of their child with Santa. Saturday, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. 380 S. Hewes Ave., Orange. (714) 288-2450. www.cityoforange.org/library

Historic Yorba Cemetery Tours at George Key Ranch in PlacentiaDecember 6: Take a guided historic tour of Orange County’s first cemetery that dates back to 1834. First Saturdays, 11 a.m. - noon. Free; call to con-firm. 625 W. Bastanchury Road, Placentia. (714) 973-3191. www.ocparks.com/yorbacemetery

Holiday Family Workshops at Open House CreativeDecember 6: Join a two-hour family workshop with creativity, a little holiday cheer, and some amazing proj-ects that might just find their way into your stocking this year. Today, Winter Terrariums: Snowy plant-scapes and green ornaments. Saturday, 10 a.m. - noon. $45 per child; adults are free. 1602 Babcock St., Costa Mesa. (949) 438-5674. www.openhouse-creative.com

Holiday Lamplight Celebration in Los AngelesDecember 6-7: Experience the 20th Annual Holiday Lamplight Celebration with tours beginning at 4 p.m. Witness as the past becomes the present among the beautiful glow of Victorian homes at Heritage Square’s annual holiday event. Saturday - Sunday, 4-9 p.m. Adults, $30, kids (6-12), $15; not suitable for kids under 6. Reservations required. Heritage Square Museum. 3800 Homer St., Los Angeles. (323) 225-2700. www.heritagesquare.org

Holiday Light Parade at the USS IowaDecember 6: Join a special Holiday Light Parade. Enjoy live music, a kids’ zone, visits with Santa and complimentary cocoa, coffee and cookies. Plus, pur-chase treats from a variety of food trucks. Saturday, 6-9 p.m. Adults, $20; kids (6-11), $10. 250 S. Har-bor Blvd., Los Angeles. www.pacificbattleship.com

Holiday Tours at the Homestead MuseumDecember 6-7 and 13-14: Learn how the celebration of Christmas changed from the 1840s through the 1920s through tours of the museum’s decorated historic houses. Along the way, meet a character or two from days gone by. Sweet treats will be served in the Gallery following each tour. Saturday and Sunday, tours depart every 30 minutes from 1-5 p.m. Adults, $6; kids, $4. Space on each tour is limited; reservations are highly recommended. 15415 E. Don Julian Road, City of In-dustry. (626) 968-8492. www.homesteadmuseum.org

Holiday Treats for the Aquarium’s AnimalsDecember 6-7: In celebration of the holiday sea-son, diver Santa will deliver an ocean of gifts to the Aquarium of the Pacific’s sea otters, seals, sea lions, birds, fish, and other animals. Families can enjoy holi-day music, crafts, special presentations, unique photo

nutcrackerBob BakerMarionette TheaterThrough December 28: Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Call for Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. shows. Tick-ets available for purchase online, $20 per person. 1345 W. First St., Los An-geles. (213) 250-9995. www.tinyurl.com/PuppetFun

Calif. Dance AcademyDecember 6-7 and 13-14: Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 p.m. Adults, $25; kids (3-12), $18. Madrid Theatre, 21622 Sherman Way, Canoga Park. (818) 347-9938. www.californiadanceacademy.com

City Ballet of Los Angeles Presents The Nutcracker Swings December 19-20: Set in 1942 during WWII in Han-cock Park and the iconic Coconut Grove nightclub. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. $20-60. The Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 743 South Lucerne Blvd., Los Ange-les. (323) 292-1932. www.cityballetofla.org

Long Beach BalletDecember 13-14 and 20-21: Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. $31-98. Group dis-counts are available. Long Beach Terrace Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. (877) 852-3177. www.longbeachnutcracker.com

Los Angeles Ballet December 6-28: December 6-7, Alex Theater, Glendale; December 13-14, Dolby Theater, Hol-lywood; December 20-21, Royce Hall, UCLA; and December 27-28, Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. ww.losangelesballet.org

Moscow Ballet at the WilternDecember 21: Moscow Ballet’s Russian Nutcrack-er returns to Los Angeles, Sunday, 3 and 7 p.m. $39.50-139.50. Wiltern Theater, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. www.nutcracker.com

Red Chair ProductionsDecember 12 and 14: Friday, 8 p.m.; and Sun-day, 1 and 5 p.m. $20-30. The Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. (818) 640-4645. www.redchairproductions.org

Anaheim BalletDecember 21: Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. $20-40. City National Grove of Anaheim, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim. www.anaheimballet.org

Ballet EtudesDecember 6-7 and 13-14: Saturday, 2 (De-cember 13 only) and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 p.m. Call for ticket pric-es. Huntington Beach High School, 1905 Main St., Huntington Beach. (714) 902-9423. www.balletetudes.com

Irvine Barclay TheaterDecember 12-24: Visit their website for show

times. Adults, $45; kids, $40. 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. (949) 854-4646. www.thebarclay.org

Laguna Dance TheatreDecember 18-21: Thursday and Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 and 6 p.m. $22-26. Saddleback College - McKinney Theater, 28000 Marguerite Pkwy., Mission Viejo. (949) 582-4656. www.lagunadancetheatre.com

Maple Youth BalletDecember 20-23: On stage Children’s Workshop for kids (4-10) after the Sunday, December 21, 3 p.m. show only. Northwood Performing Arts The-ater, 4415 Portola Pkwy., Irvine. (888) 718-4253. www.mapleconservatory.com

Pacific SymphonyDecember 13: Just for kids ages 5-11. Sat-urday, 10 and 11:30 a.m. Musical Playground before each show, 9 and 10 a.m. $30-55. 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 755-5799. www.pacificsymphony.org

Strong StudiosDecember 22: Sunday, noon and 4 p.m. $15, general admission ($20 at the door); $25 for front row; $10 for seniors and groups of 10 or more. Servite High School, 1952 W. La Palma Ave., Anaheim. (714) 404-0002. www.strongdancestudios.com

The Nouveau Chamber BalletDecember 13-14: Saturday, 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 p.m. Visit their website for tickets. Fullerton College Campus Theatre, 321 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton. (714) 526-3862. www.nouveauchamberballet.com

The Temecula TheaterNovember 28-30: Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 and 4 p.m. Orchestra, $22; par-terre, $20; and balcony, $20. 42051 Main St. , Tem-ecula. (866) 653-8696. www temeculatheater.org

The original story was written by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816. Alexandre Dumas rewrote the story to appeal to children in 1847. By 1892, choreographer Marius Petipa asked Tchaikovsky to write music for the ballet. In various interpretations, the story is of a young girl who receives a nutcracker as a

Christmas present. The Nutcracker comes to life and they journey to the Land of Sweets.


opportunities, shopping and more. The Seal and Sea Lion Habitat will be decked out for the “sea-son” with frozen “fishmas” treats. Guests can watch the sea otters savor candy cane-shaped ice treats, gourmet lobster tails, and their very own snowman. Throughout the day, staff will give special gift delicacies to other marine animals as well. Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Adults (12+), $28.95; seniors (62+), $25.95; kids (3-11), $14.95; and free for children under age 3 and Aquarium members. 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. (562) 590-3100. www.aquariumofpacific.org

Holiday with the Critters at Santa Ana ZooDecember 6: International Holiday with the Critters will be filled with enchanting animals, festive music and more. Guests will be able to join in the celebra-tion with live entertainment, games, stories of winter delights, special children’s crafts and a chance to see the zoo animal friends put on their winter coats. Saturday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Included with admission. Santa Ana Zoo, 1801 Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana. www.santaanazoo.org

Home Depot Kids’ ClinicsDecember 6: Free craft workshops for kids (5-12, with adult); projects range from toolboxes to frames. 9 a.m. - noon. All Home Depot locations. (800) 466-3337. www.workshops.homedepot.com

Kids Fairy Garden Class in OrangeDecember 6 and 20: Bring your kids and their friends to the Dragonfly Hollow to create an enchanting min-iature garden with the help of fairies. Kids walk away with a cute potted fairy garden filled with plants and

fairy garden accessories. Saturday, 9-10 a.m. $25, preregistration required. The Dragonfly Shops and Gardens, 260 N. Glassell St., Orange. (714) 289-4689. www.dragonflyshopsandgardens.com

Lakeshore Learning’s Free Saturday WorkshopsDecember 6: Kids (3+) make a Chilly Snowman. Saturday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Free. No reservations necessary. Carson, (310) 537-4778; Fountain Val-ley, (714) 963-8255; and Laguna Hills, (949) 462-9353. www.lakeshorelearning.com

Living History Flying Days at thePlanes of Fame Air Museum in ChinoDecember 6: Join the museum for their monthly Liv-ing History Flying Days. Each day begins with a seminar with panelists who are experts in the topic of the day and special exhibits. Whenever possible, the museum also includes a flight demonstration. Today, Japanese Aircraft of WWII, featuring Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero. Sat-urday, speaker at 10 a.m.; museum open until 5 p.m. Adults, $11; kids (5-11), $4. 7000 Merrill Ave., #17, Chino. (909) 597-3722. www.planesoffame.org

• Merry-Achi Christmas at Cerritos Performing Arts CenterDecember 6: Merry-Achi Christmas returns with a col-orful and traditional Mexican holiday celebration full of seasonal songs, dance and festive merriment. Head-lining the exciting extravaganza is the nation’s premier Sol de Mexico de Jos Hernandez Mariachi, which is joined by Americas first all-female Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles and the captivating Grandeza Mexicana Ballet Folklorico company. Saturday, 7 p.m. $35-86.

12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. (562) 467-8819. www.cerritoscenter.com. See ad on page 9.

Monthly Wildlife Walk at San Joaquin Wildlife SanctuaryDecember 6: Bring the family for an interpretive walk around the butterfly garden and ponds to witness interactions between plants, animals and insects. Saturday, 9 a.m. Free. Audubon House, visit the website for directions. (949) 261-7963. www.seaandsageaudubon.org

Native Garden and Beach Cleanup in San PedroDecember 6: Join Cabrillo Marine Aquarium edu-cators and volunteers in maintaining the Cabrillo Native Garden and learn more about its plant and animal inhabitants. Also join other volunteers in a beach cleanup clearing the shore of marine de-bris. Saturday, 8-10 a.m. Free; wear closed-toed shoes, bring sunscreen, a hat and water. 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro. (310) 548-7562. www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org

Nutcracker Holiday Village and Tree Lighting in AnaheimDecember 6: Ring in the holidays with a tree light-ing celebration, snow play, shopping and more! Enjoy holiday music from the Anaheim Ballet and Anaheim Union High School Choir, free pictures with Santa from 3-5:45 p.m., free train rides, free crafts for kids, shopping, food and fun. Plus, free snow play, so bring your mittens, boots and camera. Saturday, Village at 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; and lighting at 6 p.m. Free. Downtown Anaheim,

Admissions Open House EventsSaturday, February 7, 2015Valley Christian Middle School - 12:00 pm check-inValley Christian High School - 2:00 pm check-in

Saturday, February 21, 10:00am check inValley Christian Elementary School - 10:00 am check-in

vcschools.orgFor more information, or for a personal tour call 562.860.0556

Get to Know Us!

Valley Christian Schools has been providing uncompromising excellence in education with Christ at the center for 80 years. Learn about our academic, athletic and fine arts programs, all with outstanding outcomes.

For more information, or for a personal tour, call 562.860.0556

Admissions Open House EventsSaturday, February 7, 2015Valley Christian Middle School - 12:00 pm check-inValley Christian High School - 2:00 pm check-in

Saturday, February 21, 10:00am check inValley Christian Elementary School - 10:00 am check-in

vcschools.orgFor more information, or for a personal tour call 562.860.0556

Get to Know Us!



Admissions Open House EventsSaturday, February 7, 2015Valley Christian Middle School - 12:00 pmValley Christian High School - 2:00 pm

Saturday, February 21, 2015Valley Christian Elementary School - 10:00 am


Center St. Promenade and Lemon St. (714) 956-3586. www.downtownanaheim.com/tree-lighting

Parade of Lights in Dana Point HarborDecember 6: The annual Boat Parade of Light sails into the harbor. This year’s theme is “FantaSea Holi-day.” Also offered on December 12-13. Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Free to spectate by the water’s edge. (949) 496-5794. www.danapointharbor.com

Peralta Adobe Tour in AnaheimDecember 6: Visit the Peralta Adobe, Santa Ana Canyon’s oldest surviving adobe structure, on the first Saturday of each month. Built in 1871 by Ra-mon Peralta, the adobe has served over the years as both residence and roadside cafe. Join the docents as they discuss the history of the Santa Ana Canyon from its exploration by the Portola Expedition in 1769, the Spanish and Mexican rancho eras, our agricultural past, and to the extension of the modern 91 Freeway. Saturday, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Free. Note: The Peralta Adobe is surrounded on three sides by the Tarbell of-fice at the corner Fairmont and Santa Ana Canyon. 6398 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road, Anaheim. (714) 973-3190. www.ocparks.com/historic/ramon

Piecemakers Christmas Village December 6: For more than 25 years, this holiday community event has drawn families to a quaint village atmosphere offering artisans who sell their hand-crafted treasures, live music, “make-and-take” wreath decorating for all ages, continuous craft dem-onstrations, and great food. Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Free admission and parking. 1720 Adams Ave., Cos-ta Mesa. (714) 641-3112. www.piecemakers.com

Redwood Grove Hike in Carbon Canyon Regional ParkDecember 6: Join OC Parks’ trained staff on an easy 1.1-mile hike to the park’s Coastal Redwood grove. Participants use their five senses to engage with nature as they stroll to the redwoods and learn about native plants along the way. Saturday, 8:30-10 a.m. Free; parking, $5. Bring water, sunscreen, hat and hiking shoes. Reservations preferred; call or email: [email protected]. Meet at the Nature Center, 4442 Carbon Canyon Road, Brea. (714) 973-3160. www.ocparks.com/carboncanyon

Santa’s Breakfast at Parker’s Lighthouse in Long BeachDecember 6: Parker’s Lighthouse in collaboration with Memorial Medical Center Foundation hosts this event to support the children who are in need at the hospital. Santa in his big red suit and shiny white beard will arrive at Parker’s Lighthouse via Spirit Cruises Yacht at 9 a.m. The Long Beach community can help support the patients by at-tending Santa’s Breakfast as all the proceeds ben-efit Miller Children’s Hospital, specifically the Child Life Department. Saturday, 8-11 a.m. Adults, $11; kids (12 and under), $9. Breakfast includes eggs, bacon, potatoes, muffins, coffee and juice. Plus, the Aquarium of the Pacific will be offering a free children’s pass with a purchase of an adult pass. 435 Shoreline Village Drive. (562) 432-6500. www.parkerslighthouse.com

Scrooged at the Electric Dusk Drive-InDecember 6: Load into the car for Family Night at the

Electric Dusk Drive-In, high on a rooftop in Downtown LA. Enjoy “Scrooged,” nominated for an Oscar, this 1988 comedy is a modernization of Charles Dick-ens’, “A Christmas Carol.” Bill Murray is a selfish, cynical TV executive haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve. Rated PG-13. Saturday, 8:30-11 p.m. $9-50. 240 W. 4th St., Los Angeles. www.electricduskdrivein.com

Shellmaker Island Discovery TourDecember 6: Families (6+) join a naturalist to learn about Shellmaker Island’s rich history, the future of the Back Bay Science Center, and discover unusual and endangered plants, birds and marine life. Bring binoculars if you have them. Saturday, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Free. Reservations are required. Please call for more information and to RSVP. Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, Newport Beach. (949) 640-9956. www.letsgooutside.org

Tamale Festival in IndioDecember 6-7: Try all kinds of tasty tamales to start the holiday season. Plus, hop on a carnival ride, play some games, climb the rock wall, bounce in an inflat-able house, visit animals in the petting zoo, watch a parade, dance, listen to traditional music and enter the tamale-eating contest. Ranked the top 10 “All-Ameri-can Food Festivals” in the nation by the Food Channel! Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Free admis-sion. Downtown Indio. Corner of Miles and Oasis. (760) 832-8620, Ext. 46. www.tamalefestival.net

Toyota Symphonies for Youth at the Music CenterDecember 6 and 13: Jazz and the Orchestra ex-plores the connections and collaborations between orchestral music and America’s national music, Jazz. This dynamic concert will feature John Beasley’s MONKestra, a modern jazz big band featuring the top jazz and studio recording players in Los Angeles, playing alongside musicians from Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA). Recommended for kids ages 5-11. Saturday, 10 a.m. art workshops; 11 a.m. performance. $27.50-31.50. 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 972-7211. www.laphil.com

Tree Lighting Festivities in Fountain ValleyDecember 6: Join in all of the festivities! There will be pictures with Santa, games, crafts and much more! Food will be available for purchase to support local youth organizations. Saturday, 4:30-8 p.m. 16400 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley. (714) 839-8611. www.fountainvalley.org

Tree Trimming Party and Marionette Show December 6: Create your own beautiful hand-crafted ornaments for the library tree or to take home, and stay for a special marionette show by the popular Franklin Haynes. Saturday, 10 a.m. $4 per person. 7111 Talbert, Huntington Beach. (714) 375-5107. www.hbpl.org

Victorian Christmas at Heritage HillDecember 6: Enjoy the annual event with festive holiday entertainment, kids’ crafts, historical exhibits, handicraft vendors, tours through decorated historic buildings staffed by docents, and visits with Santa Claus. Saturday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Adults, $4; kids

(3-12), $3. 25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest. (949) 923-2232. www.ocgov.com

Visit a Live Nativity in Ladera RanchDecember 6: Witness the mystery of the very first Christmas at this walk-thru live nativity. Saturday, 5 p.m. 28801 Sienna Parkway, Ladera Ranch. www.laderaranch-realestate.com

Weekend Tidepool at Cabrillo Marine AquariumDecember 6-7: CMA’s educators conduct tours of the Point Fermin tidepools. Attend an informa-tive slide show in the John M. Olguin Auditorium, then come along on the naturalist-led ramble on the rocks to see animals in their natural habitat. Outdoor clothing and sneakers advised. Young chil-dren must be accompanied by adults. Saturday, December 6, 2-3:30 p.m.; and Sunday, December 7, 2:30-4 p.m.; and en español 2-3:30 p.m. Free. 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro. (310) 548-7562. www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org

Wild Fire Gymnastics Parents’ Night Out in TustinDecember 6: Parents needing a night out can drop the kids (4+) off for an evening of gymnastics, games, pizza and a movie under the safety supervi-sion of the staff. 6:30-10:30 p.m. $28 per child; $12 for additional sibings. RSVP before 6 p.m. on the prior Thursday; after this date limited spaces are available and a $5 late fee will be applied per each child. A waiver must be completed for non-mem-bers. 14761 Bentley Circle, Tustin. (714) 832-1315. www.wildfiregymnastics.com/parent_night_out

Winter Market in FullertonDecember 6: Enjoy live holiday entertainment, free pic-tures with Santa, holiday shopping at vendor and food booths, face painting and a bounce house. Saturday, noon - 4 p.m. Free admission. Fullerton Downtown Plaza. (714) 738-6545. www.cityoffullerton.com

American Girl Brunch with Santa at American Girl in LADecember 7, 14 and 21: Girls (3+) meet The Grove’s Santa and pose for a photo. Then families enjoy a deli-cious brunch together in the Cafe. Includes one 5x7 photo per girl. Sunday, 9 a.m. $22 per person; res-ervations required. The Grove in LA. (877) 247-5223. www.americangirl.com

Caring Santa at the Westminster MallDecember 7: Children with special needs and their fami-lies are invited to a special photo session with Caring Santa in an environment set up to support the sensory, physical and other development needs of kids with all disabilities. Santa will be waiting in his workshop on the lower level in the Macy’s Court. Families are asked to use the main mall entrance in between Target and Macy’s. Sunday, 8:30-10:30 a.m. 1025 Westminster Mall, West-minster. (714) 898-2558. www.simon.com

Corona Del Mar Christmas WalkDecember 7: The Corona Del Mar Chamber of Com-merce presents the community’s most popular event of the year. This is an absolute “can’t miss” special event filled with holiday festivities for family, friends, residents and visitors looking for a spectacular way to ring in the holiday season. Each year “The Walk” brings together thousands of fun-loving people into the Village of Corona Del Mar for live entertainment,


food, prizes and games in true holiday spirit. Sunday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. 2855 E. Coast Highway, Corona Del Mar. (949) 673-4050. www.cdmchamber.com

Family Festival Salute to the 40s at Bowers MuseumDecember 7: Join the Bowers to celebrate the 1940s. Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Free admission. 1802 N. Main St., Santa Ana. (714) 567-3600. www.bowers.org

Hanukah Story Time in Costa MesaDecember 7: Join a special story time where the fea-tured title will be Honeyky Hanukah by Woody Guth-rie—about a young boy and his dog gathering up fam-ily and friends to celebrate the holiday. Sunday, 1 p.m. Free. Barnes & Noble, 901 B. South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 444-0226. www.barnesandnoble.com

Holiday Matinee of Home Alone in Los AngelesDecember 7: Join the LA Conservancy in the fa-mous Orpheum Theatre for a holiday movie. In their mad rush to pack their bags and catch their flight to Paris for the holidays, Kevin’s family forgot one small detail: Kevin. Initially happy to have the house all to himself, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) quickly re-alizes that he is not, in fact, home alone. Sunday, 2 p.m. Doors open at 1:15 p.m. $5-15. Orpheum Theatre, 842 South Broadway, Los Angeles. (213) 623-2489. www.laconservancy.org/node/1827

Holiday Parade and Pier Lighting in Huntington BeachDecember 7: Light up the Huntington Pier and light up snowflakes on Main Street with a children’s holiday parade featuring Mr. and Mrs. Claus, perfor-mances, and hot chocolate and cookies. Sunday, 2-7 p.m.; parade, 4:30 p.m.; formal pier and Main St. lighting, 6 p.m. Huntington Beach Pier Plaza. (714) 960-9276. www.cspinc.org

Holiday TV ShowsDecember 7: Enjoy classic holiday TV shows with the family. Today, “I Love Lucy Christmas Special” on CBS at 8 p.m. Check your local listings for time changes.

Joyful Jingles Concert in IrvineDecember 7: Capture the spirit of the season at the City of Irvine’s Joyful Jingles free holiday concert. A community tradition, the concert features a selection of uplifting seasonal and holiday music performed by local choral groups. Sunday, ticket distribution starts at 2 p.m. and concert at 3 p.m. Admission is free; parking is $10. Guests are welcome to bring a new, unwrapped toy for children up to 12 years of age as part of the city’s toy drive to benefit the families of the Irvine’s adopted Marine Battalion. Irvine Barclay The-ater, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. (949) 724-6606. www.thebarclay.org

Jr. Stewards at Bolsa Chica WetlandsDecember 7: The Jr. Stewards program with the Bolsa Chica Land Trust meets the first Sunday and third Sat-urday of every month to assist with habitat restoration. This program teaches kids (5-16) the details of habitat restoration and the local ecology, and nurtures leadership skills and lasting friendships. Saturday, 9 a.m. - noon. Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve North lot (Warner and PCH, across from the Huntington Beach Fire Station). Kids under 14 need a parent or guardian. Dress for a

TYKES ON TRAILSNature Discovery Walks

Ages 2-4

THE CHILDREN’S NATURE

INSTITUTE

ChildrensNatureInstitute.org • email [email protected] • 213.746.2966

• Meet at local parks each week for a one-hour morning nature walk & activity.• Bond with your little one in a natural setting! • Session starts in mid-January & ends in early-February.SIGN UP TODAY


mess with long pants, closed-toed shoes and plenty of sunscreen. Tools, water and snacks are provided. Free to attend. Huntington Beach. www.amigosdebolsachica.org

Kidseum Celebrates 20 Yearswith a Grand Re-OpeningDecember 7: Celebrate Kidseum’s 20th anniversary with a whole new look and programming for the 21st century Kidseum will be high-tech and interactive with a focus on its new mission, igniting imagination through exploration, stressing the excitement of art and archeology. A few of the many new areas to explore include the Green Screen Time Machine, where children and their families can travel to the world’s most historic sites on a Wells Fargo Stagecoach and a richly equipped Archaeology Lab will invite the visitor to explore the world of archaeology using the tools of an archaeologist in a royal Egyptian tomb. Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Free. 1802 N. Main St., Santa Ana. (714) 480-1520. www.bowers.org

Kwanzza Holiday Celebration in Los AngelesDecember 7: Gather for a special celebration in the spirit of giving and community. Music, spoken word and seasonal reverie. Sunday, museum opens at 11 a.m.; event begins at 1 p.m. Free. California African American Museum. 600 State Drive, Los Angeles. (213) 744-7432. www.caamuseum.org

Live Nativity and International Celebrationat Old WorldDecember 7: Each year Old World Village plays host to the International Celebration of Christmas, a celebration that brings together a diverse group of churches, singers and dancers for a celebration that highlights the true meaning of the holiday sea-son. Plus, a Nativity play, dancing and carol singers. All proceeds and donations from the event benefit charities. Sunday, 4:30 p.m. Call for admission de-tails. 7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach. (714) 895-8020. www.oldworld.ws/nativity.html

Meet the Grinch in CerritosDecember 7: Bring the family (and family dog too) for a fun photo op with the Grinch. Refreshments provided. Sunday, noon - 3 p.m. Bring donations for Project Shepherd: unwrapped toys, clothes, beauty products, non-perishable food items and/or mon-etary donations. The Starlet Hair Lounge and Skin Care, 10741 South St., Cerritos. (562) 920-8969. www.starlethairlounge.com

Musique Sur La Mer Honors Chamber Orchestra in Seal BeachDecember 7 and 14: Listen to Musique Sur La Mer Honors Chamber Orchestra perform A Mannheim Steamroller Christmas to take a break from holiday shopping. Sunday, 11 a.m. Free. Performance lo-cated near Peet’s Coffee & Tea, 12501 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach. www.shopsatrossmoor.com

Old Time Christmas Festival at Rancho Los CerritosDecember 7: Learn about 19th century holiday customs as families tour the historic adobe deco-rated for Christmas. Kids create decorations for the home, swing at a pinata and have their picture taken with Santa. There will be live holiday music and light refreshments for all. Sunday, 1-4 p.m. $3 donation. 4600 Virginia Road, Long Beach. (562) 206-2040. www.rancholoscerritos.org

Palos Verdes Symphonic Band – Holiday ConcertDecember 7: Celebrate the season with the Palos Verdes Symphonic Band. This early evening of holi-day classics will be sure to get you in the holiday mood! Sunday, 5-7 p.m. Adults, $9; kids (12 and un-der), free. 26300 Crenshaw, Palos Verdes Peninsula. (310) 544-1948. www.southcoastbotanicgarden.org

Riley Wilderness Park Loop in Coto De CazaDecember 7: Families with kids (5+) are welcome to join the Sierra Club’s Little Hikers with a moderately paced three-mile hike with 200-foot gain. Hike through the val-leys and ridges of this wilderness park in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. Sunday, 9 a.m. Meet at the parking lot in the Park at the East end of Oso Parkway. Bring water, munchies and sturdy shoes. Free; parking, $3. Rain/recent rain cancels. 30952 Oso Parkway, Coto De Caza. www.littlehikers.org

Santa and the Polar Express in LomitaDecember 7: Enjoy a special reading of The Polar Ex-press at the Lomita Railroad Museum. Bring the en-tire family—there will be lots of activities for the kids! Sunday, 1-4 p.m. $10 per family. 2137 W. 250th St., Lomita. www.lomita-rr.org

Santa Visits Lil Devils in Long BeachDecember 7: Bring family, friends, kids and pets for a visit and picture with Santa. Sunday, noon. $5 per sitting, download and print as many copies as you would like. 2218 4th St., Long Beach. (562) 439-0555. www.facebook.com/lildevilsboutique

Stories in the Afternoon at theNorton Simon Museum in PasadenaDecember 7: Families with kids ages 4-8 enjoy an afternoon of stories in the museum. Sunday, 2-3 p.m. Free. 411 Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 449-6840. www.nortonsimon.org

Target Free First Sunday Festival of Lights in La HabraDecember 7: Celebrate international festivals of lights including Diwali, Hanukkah and Las Posadas. Make beautiful crafts reflecting these cultural traditions. Ac-tivities include storytelling and music. Sunday, 1-2:45 p.m. and 3:15-5 p.m. Free. A total of 500 people are admitted on Target Free Sundays at Children’s Museum at La Habra. Hand stamps for both sessions are distrib-uted at 1 p.m. and are on a first-come, first-served ba-sis. There is no museum admittance once all 500 slots are filled. (This does not apply to members.) 301 S. Euclid St., La Habra. (562) 383-4236. www.lhcm.org

The Odyssey in La MiradaDecember 7: The Odyssey, Heroic Tales From Greek Mythology is the exciting theatrical telling of a clas-sic tale. Greek Hero, Odysseus tells of his ten-year journey home from the Trojan War. His encounters with Poseidon, Athena, Zeus, the Cyclops, the Si-rens and many other adventures are presented in the classic and fun Boxtales style. The Odyssey fea-tures virtuosic storytelling, circus arts, enchanting masks, and live music. Sunday, 1 and 3:30 p.m. $10-15. La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. (714) 994-6310. www.lamiradatheatre.com/odyssey.htm

Tree Lighting and Candlelight ChoirDecember 7: Gather in Plaza Square for an evening of holiday cheer, live music and family fun. The Or-ange Master Chorale presents music of the season as a live orchestra and singers fill the night air with song. Youth activities and yummy treats for a nomi-nal charge. Sunday, December 7, starting at 3:30 p.m. Old Towne Orange Plaza. (714) 744-7278. www.cityoforange.org

Tuba Christmas in LADecember 7: Hear traditional Christmas songs played by seasoned tuba players of all ages at this annual event. Sunday, 7 p.m. Free. Forest Lawn, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Hollywood Hills. www.tubachristmas.com

Victorian Christmas at theBembridge House in Long BeachDecember 7: Rediscover the magic of an olde-tyme Christmas. Experience a family-friendly celebration focused on the holiday traditions in the lovingly deco-rated historic house. There will be refreshments and crafts for children in the Carriage House, a garden boutique and Christmas caroling by the South Coast Chorale singers. Don’t forget to bring your camera to take lots of holiday photos, too! Sunday, noon - 4 p.m. $10; kids (10 and under), free. RSVP required. 953 Park Circle, Long Beach. www.lbheritage.org

Holiday Family Bilingual Story TimeDecember 8: Join a bilingual (Spanish/English) holiday story time for families. Monday, 4-5 p.m. Orange Library and History Center, 407 E. Chapman Ave., Orange. (714) 288-2400. www.cityoforange.org/depts/library/

Holiday TV ShowsDecember 8: Enjoy classic holiday TV shows with the family. Today, “Elf” on ABC Family at 8 p.m. Check your local listings for time changes.

Partners in Chime at the Fullerton LibraryDecember 8: Celebrate the holidays with the “Part-ners in Chime,” a 20-member orchestra of hand-held chime ringers. Monday, 5-9 p.m. Free. 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton. (714) 738-6338. www.fullertonlibrary.org

Tree Lighting Ceremony in DowneyDecember 8: Join a tree lighting ceremony with en-tertainment, a snow play area, arts and crafts, and photos with Santa. Monday, 6-8:30 p.m.; lighting at 6:30 p.m. Downey Civic Center. 11111 Brookshire Ave. (562) 904-1895. www.downeyca.org

A Celtic Holiday at theChance Theater in AnaheimDecember 9-23: Struggling to find some much-need-ed cheer as she travels to California for Christmas, a young woman stumbles upon an ancient Celtic tale that brings spirit and a new outlook to her journey home. Rediscover rich Celtic musical traditions with this lively and unique hybrid of concert and musical theater in which the members of the band are the sto-rytellers. With a wonderful blend of ethereal melodies, rousing pub songs, familiar spiritual tunes, and con-temporary medleys, this new holiday tradition weaves story and song into an event like no other. Show times vary, visit their website for times and to purchase tick-ets. $40. www.chancetheater.com


Community Visit Day at Westerly SchoolDecember 9: The community visit is an opportu-nity for visitors to tour the Westerly campus and experience classrooms during the school day. The visit also includes a brief presentation on West-erly’s history, curriculum and culture. The visit starts in the Westerly Library. When you arrive, you can enter through the office and will be di-rected where to go. 10:15 a.m. Reservations are recommended and can be scheduled online by clicking the desired date or by calling the Admis-sion Office. 2950 E. 29th St., Long Beach. (562) 981-3151. www.westerlyschool.org

Here Comes Santa at theOrange Library Taft BranchDecember 9: Kids (all ages) meet the big guy himself and tell him their wishes. Parents may bring cameras to take a picture of their child with Santa. Tuesday, 4-6 p.m. Free. 740 E. Taft Ave., Orange. (714) 288-2430. www.cityoforange.org/library

Holiday Family Night at Fullerton LibraryDecember 9: Join the library staff for an evening of stories, songs, crafts of the season and a surprise or two in the Osborne Auditorium. Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. Free. 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton. (714) 738-6338. www.fullertonlibrary.org

Holiday TV ShowsDecember 9: Enjoy classic holiday TV shows with the family. Today, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Rein-deer” on CBS at 8 p.m. Check your local listings for time changes.

Mini Canvas Ornaments Workshop at Color My World Art StudioDecember 9 and 13: Book your spot to make memora-ble canvas ornaments. Tuesday, 4-6 p.m.; and Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Call to make your reservation. $15-20, cash only. 11960 Artesia Blvd., #101, Artesia. (562) 879-5972. www.colormyworld.me

Story TIme with Santa at Fountain Valley LibraryDecember 9: Join Santa around the fireplace for a story. Tuesday, 7 p.m. Free. 17635 Los Alamos St., Fountain Valley. (714) 962-1324. www.ocpl.org/libloc/fv

VolunTEEN Training in TorranceDecember 9: The VolunTEEN Certificate Program is a training session designed for new and seasoned youth volunteers (12-18) who want to make the most out of their volunteering experience. Teens learn active lis-tening skills, how to become a successful volunteer and which opportunities best suit them. They obtain resources for completing their required service hours, prepare for their future volunteer opportunities and re-ceive a certificate to present to organizations. Tuesday, 5-6:30 p.m. $10. The Volunteer Center, 1230 Cravens Ave. (310) 212-5009. www.volcenter.org

After-School Adventures in Newport BeachDecember 10: Learn about California Ecosystems and what’s in your backyard! Learn what makes each ecosystem so unique and even visit some of the amazing ecosystems at the center. Find out through hands-on activities and games how animals and en-vironments need each other, what people do to af-

fect the environment and what you can do to affect it in a good way. Parents remain with children at all times. Wednesday, 3:30-5 p.m. $10 per participant; preregistration required. 1601 E. 16th St., Newport Beach. (949) 645-8489. www.encenter.org

BARK Therapy Dogs Read in Long BeachDecember 10: Kids increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. 3:30 p.m. Free. Long Beach Library, 1836 E. 3rd St., Long Beach. (562) 235-8835. www.barkdogs.org

Paws to Read at Orange LibraryDecember 10: Kids (5-8) read to a certified therapy dog. Wednesdays, 3:30-4 p.m. 380 S. Hewes St., Orange. (714) 288-2450. www.cityoforange.org/depts/library

Tamale Festival and Las Posadas in PlacentiaDecember 10: Join the annual Tamale Festival, Las Posadas and the Winter Holiday Celebration. Fea-turing a procession re-enacting the travels of Mary and Joseph, live entertainment featuring the famous Mariachi Divas, caroling and fresh and delicious ta-males for individual and quantity purchase. Kids will have an opportunity to visit with Santa Claus, receive a gift and pose for individual pictures. Wednesday, 4-9 p.m. Free to attend. Old Town Placentia in the 100-200 blocks of Santa Fe St. www.placentia.org

Urinetown The Musical in Dana PointDecember 10-13: Join South Orange County School of the Arts for their student showcase. Urinetown is a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love and revolution in time when water is worth its weight in gold. The


story is told by a not too bright Lockstock and sassy, quick-witted girl named Little Sally. In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year draught, has led to a government enforced ban on private toilets. Wednesday - Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Adults, $15; kids, $12. Dana Hills High School, 33333 St. of the Golden Lantern. (949) 240-1994. www.socsarts.org

Cypress Community Holiday SingDecember 11: Cypress Recreation sponsors this community event featuring school performances, train rides, cookie decorating, visits with Santa and refreshments. Thursday, 6 p.m. Free. Civic Center Green. (714) 229-6780. www.cypressrec.com

Holiday TV ShowsDecember 11: Enjoy classic holiday TV shows with the family. Today, “Scrooged” on ABC Family at 9 p.m. Check your local listings for time changes.

Hope for the Holidays Opera Concert in DuarteDecember 11: Join LA Opera for a delightful holiday con-cert featuring holiday songs and American Songbook fa-vorites. Thursday, noon - 1 p.m. Free. City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Road. www.laopera.org/Community

Make a Gingerbread House in LADecember 11: Girls (8+) design and decorate their own gingerbread house. This festive activity includes everything to make a one-of-a-kind holiday center-piece with frosting, and lots of candy decorations. Thursday, 5 p.m. $38 per person; registration re-quired. Amercan Girl at the Grand, Los Angeles. (877) 247-5223. www.americangirl.com

Make Your Own Dinosaur Fossil in Long BeachDecember 11: Kids join a dinosaur-themed creative arts studio to make their very own fossil. The stu-dio is designed to nurture children’s creativity and fine motor development. They provide a wide range of inspiring materials and featured activities. Studio staff encourages creative thinking, provides gentle guidance and offers support as needed. Thursday, 10:30-11:30 a.m. $15. American Health and Well-ness, 5580 E. 2nd St., Ste. 101, Long Beach. (562) 439-3425. www.ahwinstitute.com/calendar

A Rancho Christmas Illuminating the Past at Rancho Los CerritosDecember 12-13: Step back into Victorian-era Cali-fornia to celebrate the Christmas season at Rancho Los Cerritos. The adobe home will showcase extrava-gant decorations and the museum’s collections, with exhibits on Christmas trees, Santa Claus, gift giving, holiday meals, entertainment, charity and fashion. Groups will embark every half hour, starting at 6:30 p.m. Following their visit throughout the adobe home, guests will enjoy festive holiday music, light refresh-ments, and shopping for unique gifts in the museum shop. Friday and Saturday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $15 per person, and are sold on a first-come, first-served, basis. Tickets are non-refundable, but transferable. To order tickets, call (562) 206-2040 to make res-ervations over the phone. 4600 Virginia Road, Long Beach. (562) 206-2040. www.rancholoscerritos.org

Amahl and the Night Visitors in Seal BeachDecember 12: Bring family and friends for a special performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors. Friday,

7 p.m. Adults, $10; students, $5; kids (12 and under), free. McGaugh Elementary. 1698 Bolsa Ave., Seal Beach. (562) 429-3992. www.sealbeacharts.org

An Old-Fashioned Christmas Melodrama and Ice Cream Social at OCCDecember 12-14: Orange Coast College’s Reper-tory Theatre Company stages “An Old-Fashioned Christmas Melodrama and Ice Cream Social.” Boo the villain and cheer the hero in the annual holiday melodrama and sing-along. A special visitor is also expected. The program includes music, vaudeville acts, a holiday sing-along and more. Everyone in at-tendance will be treated to a free ice cream treat. Plus, a visit by Santa; parents are encouraged to bring their cameras. Fun for the whole family! Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 2:30 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Adults, $7-9; kids, $5-7. Orange Coast College Drama Lab Theatre, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. (714) 432-5880. www.orangecoastcollege.edu

Christmas Countdown at Pretend CityDecember 12-24: It’s time to begin the 12 days of Christmas Countdown! The days that lead up to Christ-mas are an exciting and magical time for young children. The wait for Christmas day can seem almost endless. These daily activities will help to channel your young child’s anticipation into simple activities that celebrate the holiday. Visit their website for a daily schedule. 29 Hubble, Irvine. (949) 428-3900. www.pretendcity.org

• Dinner with Santa: A Holiday Train for the FamilyDecember 12 and 19: Be on board for a sliced turkey or ham dinner with chicken fingers specially for the youngsters for a festive holiday evening to meet and greet Santa, who will be ready to hear your wish list and pose for pictures. Friday, departs at 5:30 p.m. and returns at 7:30 p.m. Fillmore & Western Railway Co. Adults, $47; kids (2-12), $26. Fillmore. (805) 524-2546. www.fwry-blog.com. See ad on page 6.

Elf on the Shelf Story Times at Barnes & NobleDecember 12: Head to Barnes & Noble for The Elf on the Shelf Story Time event. This interactive holiday hide-and-seek with Santa’s elf is perfect for children and families of all ages. Friday, 7 p.m. Free. Barnes & Noble: Bella Terra in Huntington Beach, (714) 897-8781; Long Beach - Marina Pa-cifica, (562) 431-2253; Orange, (714) 558-0028; and Fashion Island in Newport Beach, (949) 718-0109. www.barnesandnoble.com

Family Art Night at the Norton Simon MuseumDecember 12: Family Art Night presents “A Room of Your Own.” While landscapes often get more at-tention, the Museum is also home to some beautiful paintings of indoor scenes, from 17th-century Dutch works by Nicolaes Maes to 19th-century French paintings by Douard Vuillard. Inspired by these exam-ples, design an ideal room of your own. Friday, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free with admission. 411 Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 449-6840. www.nortonsimon.org

Holiday Ukulele Strum-Along in Long BeachDecember 12: Dave’s Island Instruments presents Mitch Chang, an internationally renowned instructor, performer and producer, in a “Strum-Along” perfor-

mance. A Strum-Along or Kanikapila, is a Hawaiian-style music jam session, where people of all skill levels get together to play ukulele (or other instruments), lis-ten to a great performer, and maybe learn something new. It is a fun laid-back way of meeting new friends in the local ukulele community. Friday, 6:30-8 p.m. Bring your instruments and a music stand or just yourselves to enjoy listening to a fun musical set. $5 per person; free parking. 4115 Los Coyotes Diagonal, Lakewood. (562) 706-1719. www.davesislandinstruments.com

Holly Jolly Light Tour in Mission ViejoDecember 12-13: Enjoy a VIP reception and tour the Home Lighting Contest displays aboard deluxe transportation. Friday and Saturday, 6-7:30 and 8-9:30 p.m. $10 per person. (949) 470-3062. www.cityofmissionviejo.org

Kids’ Night Out In CypressDecember 12: Kids (5-12) enjoy a fun night of holiday/winter activities, games and play. Friday, 6-10 p.m. $15, preregistration required. Cypress Parks and Rec-reation. (714) 229-6780. www.cypressrec.com

Kids’ Night Out in Buena ParkDecember 12: Kids (4-10) join the recreation staff for a whole lot-a-fun! Each themed event is packed with crafts, games, movies and more. Participants are en-couraged to dress up in matching clothing or costumes by theme. Tonight’s theme is Happy Holidays! Dinner and snacks are provided. Friday, 5:30-9:30 p.m. $10 per child. Ehlers Community Center, 8150 Knott Ave., Buena Park. (714) 562-3860. www.buenapark.com

Parade of Lights in Dana Point HarborDecember 12-13: The annual boat parade of light sails into the harbor. This year’s theme is “Fanta-Sea Holiday.” Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Free to spectate by the water’s edge. (949) 496-5794. www.danapointharbor.com

Ronald McDonald House OC Toy DriveDecember 12-13: Help bring cheer to kids undergoing medical treatments by dropping off new, unwrapped toys or gifts at the Orange County Ronald McDonald House (visit their website for suggestions.) Stay for holiday refreshments. Friday, noon - 8 p.m.; and Sat-urday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 383 S. Batavia St., Orange. (714) 639-3600. www.ronaldhouseoc.org

Victorian Christmas at the Fullerton ArboretumDecember 12-13: The Victorian Society gets you in the Christmas spirit with a Victorian melodrama and a Victorian Fair. Fun for the whole family. Friday and Saturday, 6-9 p.m. Adults, $25; kids, $15. Reser-vations required. 1900 Associated Road, Fullerton. (657) 278-3407. www.fullertonarboretum.org

Winter Beanie Workshop with Fashion CampDecember 12: Kids (7+) learn to sew on the sewing machine and make a super cute winter beanie. All materials included. Friday, 3:30-5 p.m. $22. Loca-tions at The District in Tustin, (714) 259-0946 and at The Shops in Mission VIejo, (949) 364-1856. www.fashioncampoc.com

• Asian American Santa at JANMDecember 13: Don’t miss your chance to take a spe-cial holiday photo with Asian American Santa, a Japa-nese American National Museum tradition! Saturday,


noon - 3 p.m. Free with admission. 100 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles. www.janm.org. See ad on page 48.

Babyccino Tot Shabbat in Yorba LindaDecember 13: Looking for a Tot Shabbat? Join the fun every second and fourth Saturday of the month, 12-12:45 p.m., and celebrate with songs, crafts and Shabbat Kiddush. Ages 0-5 years old. Held at Chabad Beth Meir HaCohen, preschool room. RSVP by the day before the class to Naomi at [email protected], or call. 19045 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda. (714) 225-2903. www.ocjewish.com

BARK Therapy Dogs Read in Garden Grove and LakewoodDecember 13: Kids increase their reading skills by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. 11 a.m. Free. Garden Grove Library - West Branch, 11962 Bailey St., Garden Grove; and Lakewood Library, 4990 Clark Ave., Lakewood. (562) 235-8835. www.barkdogs.org

Boot Camp for New Dads In Newport BeachDecember 13: Boot Camp for New Dads is a unique workshop where Rookie Dads (first-time dads-to-be) learn from veteran dads (new dads and their 2-8-month-old babies) what it’s really like to become a father. A trained Boot Camp coach facilitates the discus-sions. Saturday, call for times. $35; preregistration re-quired. 1 Hoag Drive, Building 44, Newport Beach. (949) 754-9067. www.dadsadventure.com/OCbootcamp

Breakfast with Santa at Rancho Los AlamitosDecember 13: Enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast holiday activities, games and crafts. Visit the animals

in the corral and share your holiday wishes with Santa. Designed for families with children 12 years of age and younger. Saturday, 9 a.m. - noon. Call for ticket prices. Tickets include parking, breakfast, entertain-ment and participation in all activities and crafts. Res-ervations are required. 6400 E. Bixby Hill Road, Long Beach. (562) 431-3541. www.rancholosalamitos.org

Breakfast with Santa in Huntington BeachDecember 13: Put on your best holiday gear and bring the family to enjoy festivities including a pan-cake breakfast, holiday music, arts and crafts, and a picture with Santa. Saturday, 8:30-10:30 a.m.; and 9:30-11:30 a.m. $6 per person; registration required, space is limited. Murdy Community Center. (714) 960-8884. www.huntingtonbeachca.gov

Breakfast With Santa In Seal BeachDecember 13: Enjoy a holiday breakfast with Santa with bounce houses and photo opportunity. Satur-day, 8-10:30 a.m. Free; first-come, first-served. 151 Marina Drive. (562) 431-2527, Ext. 1344. www.sealbeachca.gov

Candlelight Walks at Heritage HillDecember 13-14: Celebrate the season with two enchanting evenings with luminary lit paths, park aglow with holiday lighting, strolls through restored historic buildings adorned in holiday decor, carolers, live entertainment, storytellers, visits with Santa, and refreshments available for a nominal fee. Saturday - Sunday, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Adults, $4; kids (3-12), $3. 25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest. (949) 923-2232. www.ocparks.com/heritagehill

Christmas Parade in WhittierDecember 13: Bands, floats and community groups march up Greenleaf Avenue in Historic Uptown Whit-tier during the annual Christmas Parade. Saturday, 10 a.m. - noon. Free. Whittier Blvd. and Greenleaf Ave. www.whittieruptown.org

Christmas Tree Lane Lighting in AltadenaDecember 13: Officials will flip the switch on a mile of deodar cedar Christmas trees strung with 10,000 lights at the oldest, large-scale Christmas lighting spectacle in the country. The festival includes holiday treats, en-tertainment, community booths and photos with Santa. Saturday, festival 2 p.m., lighting ceremony 6 p.m. Walk the lane and see the lights from dusk to midnight through January 1. Santa Rosa Ave. between Woodbury Ave. and Altadena Drive. www.christmastreelane.net

• Colors of Christmas in CerritosDecember 13: The popular annual tradition returns with Grammy winner Peabo Bryson leading an all-star lineup that includes Taylor Dane, Jennifer Hol-liday and Ruben Studdard in a program full of holi-day cheer and seasonal favorites. Saturday, 8 p.m. $55-100. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. (562) 467-8819. www.cerritoscenter.com. See ad on page 9.

Dickens Day Celebration in CarsonDecember 13-14: The highlight of your visit will be Mr. Charles Dickens himself entertaining guests in the museum’s Heritage Theater retelling “A Christ-mas Carol” and becoming Scrooge, while randomly using his audience as cast members. There will be a

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Winter Events: • December 21: Figure Skating Show

• December 22 - January 3: Extended Skate Sessions with Festive Decorations & Music

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festive lunch of an English Banger, gingerbread and punch included with your ticket. Be sure to come dressed in your finest Victorian dress because it would be a humbug otherwise! Saturday and Sun-day, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. $20, advance tickets are highly recommended and group discount is available. The International Printing Museum, 315 Torrance Blvd., Carson. (310) 515-7166. www.printmuseum.org

Family Science Discovery DaysDecember 13: Fun for the whole family with crafts, pre-sentations by a third grade teacher, plus fossils brought out from the collection that aren’t usually on display. Saturday, 1-4 p.m. Admission: $3 per person (5+); and kids (4 and under), free. 1175 W. Baseline Road, Clare-mont. (909) 624-2798. www.alfmuseum.org

Festival of Carols at Walt Disney Concert HallDecember 13: Ring in Christmas at Walt Disney Con-cert Hall with a concert of favorite carols sung by one of the greatest choirs in the world. Sprinkled with new arrangements and traditional songs of the season, this festive concert is an LA tradition guaranteed to put your family in the mood to decorate the tree. Saturday, 2 p.m. Visit their website for ticket prices. 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 972-7282. www.laphil.com

FIGat7th Kids Club in Los AngelesDecember 13: Kids Club Art Workshops are free and suitable for all children ages 3 and older. Today: Clay Ornaments - Use clay cutters to shape an ornament. Decorate with sparkles to create a keepsake or gift. Saturday, 2-4 p.m. Children must be accompanied by adult. Attendees can park their car for $5 on the week-end to stay and play throughout the day. Taste Level, Los Angeles. www.figat7th.com/events

Free Art Activities in Long BeachDecember 13: A free opportunity for community members of all ages to engage in art making activi-ties, art exhibitions, open artist studios and special events as part of the East Village’s Second Saturday Art Walk. 6-10 p.m. Free. 354 E. 3rd St., Long Beach(562) 491-0278. www.artexchangelb.org

• Gingerbread House Workshops with Art To Grow On Children’s Art CenterDecember 13-14: Bring the entire family and learn how to frost, design, and decorate your very own gin-gerbread house! Includes all holiday candies, lollipops, gum-drops, candy canes, snow icing and more. Sat-urday - Sunday, 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. $60. Reservations required at [email protected]. 200 N. PCH (at Vincent St.), Redondo Beach. (310) 625-6028. www.art2growon.com. See ad on page 41.

• Gingerbread House Workshop in IrvineDecember 13: Kids make a one-of-a-kind masterpiece to display at their house during Christmas, accompa-nied by hot chocolate, popcorn and Christmas music to sway in the holiday spirit. They provide the house and candies for decorating, while kids get to make the frosting. Friday, 5:30-7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 9-11 a.m. Call or visit their website for fees and to register. 15435 Jeffrey Road, #132, Irvine. (949) 679-8390. www.lilchefschool.com. See ad on page 43.

• Gliding through the Holiday Cinemas at The Rinks – Lakewood ICEDecember 13: Come to The Rinks - Lakewood ICE

for their 5th Annual Holiday Show, “Gliding Thru the Holiday Cinemas.” Tickets go on sale December 1 at www.showtix4u.com and will also be available for pur-chase at the door. Saturday, 2 and 6 p.m. 3975 Pixie Ave., Lakewood. (562) 429-1805, Ext. 228. See ad on page 15.

Holiday Candlelight Concert with the Pasadena SymphonyDecember 13: Greet the holiday season in the All Saints Church with a concert. Soprano Susan Egan joins an array of choruses in this festive concert of traditional and diverse holiday melodies performed by candlelight. There’s something for everyone with Silent Night, Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger to Lux Aeterna, the Hallelujah Chorus to Hanukahs Ldor Vador to Ella Fitzgerald’s version of Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Saturday, 4 and 7 p.m. $20-150. All Saints Church, 132 N Euclid Ave., Pasadena. (626) 793-7172. www.pasadenasymphony-pops.org

Holiday Family Workshops at Open House CreativeDecember 13 and 20: Join a two-hour family workshop with creativity, a little holiday cheer, and some amazing projects that might just find their way into your stocking this year. Today: 3D Design: ornaments, old-fashioned toys and more. Saturday, 10 a.m. - noon. $45 per child; adults are free. 1602 Babcock St., Costa Mesa. (949) 438-5674. www.openhouse-creative.com

Holiday in Hawaii in Palos Verdes PeninsulaDecember 13: An evening of Hawaiian culture and celebration of the Hawaiian Islands during the holi-days. Performances by Kaulana Ka Hale Kula ‘O Na Pua ‘O Ka ‘Aina Kumu Hula Randy Chang. Enjoy Mele “song,” Hula “dance,” live music, Keiki “children” per-formances and the Holiday Bazaar. Saturday, perfor-mance, 6-7:30 p.m. $10 presale tickets; $15 at the door. 26300 Crenshaw, Palos Verdes Peninsula. (310) 628-1547. www.southcoastbotanicgarden.org

Holiday Tours at the Homestead MuseumDecember 13-14: Learn how the celebration of Christ-mas changed from the 1840s through the 1920s through tours of the museum’s decorated historic houses. Along the way, meet a character or two from days gone by. Sweet treats will be served in the Gallery following each tour. Saturday and Sunday, tours depart every 30 minutes from 1-5 p.m. Adults, $6; kids, $4. Space on each tour is limited; reservations are highly recommended. 15415 E. Don Julian Road, City of In-dustry. (626) 968-8492. www.homesteadmuseum.org

Holiday TV ShowsDecember 13: Enjoy classic holiday TV shows with the family. Today, “A Wonderful Life” on NBC at 8 p.m.; “Frosty Returns” on CBS at 9:30 p.m.; and “Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town” ABC Family at 10 p.m. Check your local listings for time changes.

LA International Children’s Film FestivalDecember 13-14: The 10th annual festival will present more than 100 full-length and short-animated, live-action and documentary films from around the world, for toddlers to teens. Filmmakers and actors will be present for question and answer sessions after each

screening. Saturday - Sunday, films start at 10:30 a.m. Free. Visit their website for film schedule. Los Angeles County Museum of Art. www.lachildrensfilm.org

La Petite Musique Children’s Orchestrain Seal BeachDecember 13: La Petite Musique Children’s Orches-tra performs “A Very Happy Holiday Concert.” Sun-day, 10 a.m. Free. Performance located near Peet’s Coffee & Tea, 12501 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach. www.shopsatrossmoor.com

Lakeshore Learning’s Free Saturday WorkshopsDecember 13: Kids (3+) can create a Welcome Winter Wreath. Saturday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Free. No reserva-tions necessary. Carson, (310) 537-4778; Fountain Valley, (714) 963-8255; and Laguna Hills, (949) 462-9353. www.lakeshorelearning.com

Lowe’s Build and Grow ClinicsDecember 13: Free Build and Grow kids’ clinics offered monthly with a range of projects. Parent participation required. Free. Visit their website for clinic locations, upcoming projects and online sign-up. Saturday, 10 a.m. (800) 44-LOWES. www.lowesbuildandgrow.com

Mariachis at Mission San Juan CapistranoDecember 13: Enjoy live mariachi music in the his-toric Mission from the talented performers of Cap-istrano Community Mariachi Program. Saturday, 10-11:15 a.m. Included with mission admission. (949) 234-1300. www.missionsjc.com

Mini Canvas Ornaments Workshop at Color My World Art StudioDecember 13: Book your spot to make memorable can-vas ornaments. Saturday, 1-5 p.m. $15-20, cash only. Call to make a reservation. 11960 Artesia Blvd., #101, Artesia. (562) 879-5972. www.colormyworld.me

Mini Holiday Wreaths in San MarinoDecember 13: Kids (7-12) can deck the halls for the holidays! Learn how to make your own festive mini wreath with greenery and flowers in a workshop taught by Flower Duet. Saturday, 1-2:30 p.m. $25-35. Preregistration required. Huntington Library, Art Col-lections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. (800) 838-3006. www.huntington.org

• Mommy and Me Cooking Workshop in IrvineDecember 13: Join Lil’ Chef School for a fun, inter-active workshop. Today: Cinnamon Sugar Buns made from homemade biscuits from scratch drizzled with butter and powdered with cinnamon sugar to taste like a cinnamon roll. Saturday, 9-10 a.m. Call or visit their website for fees and to register. Lil’ Chef School. 15435 Jeffrey Road, #132, Irvine. (949) 679-8390. www.lilchefschool.com. See ad on page 43.

Naples Boat Parade in Long BeachDecember 13: Twinkling Christmas lights decorate the small boats that cruise the canals and the large boats that sail the bay for this annual holiday tradition. Hundreds of homes and boats are festively decorated throughout the season, inspired by an annual deco-rating competition. Saturday, 6 p.m. Free to spectate. Long Beach. (562) 598-9401. www.naplesca.com

Parade of 1,000 Lights in Long BeachDecember 13: Watch dozens of yachts decked


out with holiday lights cruise along the coast. The theme this year is “Light Up the Night.” With the best viewing points at Shoreline Village, the parade will wind from Shoreline Marina to Rainbow Har-bor, past Pine Avenue Pier and alongside the Queen Mary. Saturday, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Long Beach. www.shorelineyachtclub.com/node/2061

Parents’ Night Out at PDADecember 13: Kids (3-13) enjoy a night of jumping on the trampoline and hanging on the bars, while parents enjoy a few hours of free time on a Satur-day night. Activities include open equipment with coaches at each station, plus “The Pit.” Saturday, 6:30-10:30 p.m. If registered by 2 p.m., $15 per child, $10 siblings, and $40 for the family rate; at the door, $20 per child, $15 siblings, and $50 for the family rate. Includes pizza and drink. 15064 Shoemaker Ave., Santa Fe Springs. (562) 229-1927. www.pdausa.net

Santa at Simms Park in BellflowerDecember 13: Don’t miss Santa’s visit to Simms Park with crafts and games. Saturday, 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.; Santa visits, 10:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Simms Park. (562) 804-1424, Ext. 2268. www.bellflower.org

Santa Run 5/10K and Kids’ Fun Run in IrvineDecember 13: Participants are encouraged to run with Santa hats and holiday costumes and everyone gets a commemorative Christmas ornament. Medals are given to the top three finishers by age group, plus priz-es for the best running Santa, best non-Santa holiday costume and best kids holiday costume. Sunday, races

start at 8 a.m., kids ½ mile fun run, 10 a.m. Visit their website for entry fees and to register. Hicks Canyon Elementary School. www.renegaderaceseries.com

Santa Visits The Rink in Downtown BurbankDecember 13: Santa Claus will be making an appear-ance at the rink. Saturday, noon - 1:30 p.m. General admission, $10; skate rentals, $3; and Bobby the Seal (skating aid) rentals, $6. Season passes are available for $159. Third St. and Orange Grove. www.dtnbur.com

Southern California Children’s Chorus Holiday ConcertDecember 13: Enjoy the Southern California Chil-dren’s Chorus as they perform their Christmas con-cert. Saturday, 4 p.m. Please call for ticket purchase. Calvary Church Santa Ana, 1010 N. Tustin, Santa Ana. (949) 631-1521. www.sccchorus.org

STEAM for Teens at the Orange LibraryDecember 13: An exciting speaker series just for teens. Teens will meet and interact with experts in ro-botics, biotechnology, TV/video production, and other leaders from the local STEAM (Science, Technol-ogy, Engineering, Arts and Math) community. Today: Robotics Engineering - Meet mechanical engineer Bradley Hanstad, expert in combat robotics. He will demonstrate the process of building a robot. He has helped high schools, colleges, technical schools, and youth groups build and fight robots. Free refresh-ments will be served. Plus, enter a drawing to win prizes (including a tablet). Saturdays, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Free. 407 E. Chapman Ave., Orange. (714) 288-2400. www.cityoforange.org/depts/library

Stocking Workshops with Fashion CampDecember 13: Create and design your very own Stocking at Fashion Camp! All ages welcome. All materials included. No sewing required. This is a drop in workshop, expect the project to take an hour or so. Saturday, December 13, 1-5 p.m. Also offered Saturday, December 20, noon - 4 p.m.; and Sunday, December 21, noon - 4 p.m. $19. Locations at The District in Tustin, (714) 259-0946; and at The Shops in Mission Viejo, (949) 364-1856. www.fashioncampoc.com

Sugar Plum Fairy Gardens in San MarinoDecember 13: Kids (7-12) can explore the gardens in search of fairies and sprites with instructor Laure Mo-ede, then plant their own miniature gardens to create some holiday magic at home. Saturday, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. $25-30, fee includes one accompanying adult. Preregistration required. Huntington Library, Art Collec-tions and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. (800) 838-3006. www.huntington.org

Surfing Santa and Live Concert at the Redondo Beach PierDecember 13: Surfing Santa makes his annual ap-pearance along with a holiday concert and Surfing Santa photo ops. Saturday, 3-5 p.m. Free admis-sion and parking. The event benefits Love in the Mirror, a youth-led charity and their annual toy drive for homeless and disadvantaged youth. At-tendees are invited to bring a new unwrapped toy valued at $5 or more in exchange for a chance to win prizes. 100 Fisherman’s Wharf, Redondo Beach. www.redondopier.com


• Target Free Family Saturday Holiday Cheer at the JANMDecember 13: Join the museum’s winter-themed fun at its Holiday Cheer Target Day. Activities include taking a picture with an Asian American Santa Claus, folding origami and more! Generously sponsored by Target. For more information, please visit www.janm.org/target. Sunday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Free, excluding spe-cially ticketed exhibitions. American Japanese National Museum, 100 North Central Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 625-0414. www.janm.org. See ad on page 48.

The Princess Bride at LA’s Historic Palace TheatreDecember 13: Watch the classic fairy tale, with swordplay, giants, an evil prince and a beautiful prin-cess, on the big screen in the 103-year-old Palace Theatre. Wear your ugliest Christmas sweater, and come early for Santa visits and holiday treats. Satur-day, doors open at 6 p.m., movie at 8 p.m. Adults, $20; kids (12 and under), $16. 630 S. Broadway, Los Angeles. www.streetfoodcinema.com

• Toy’s Favorite Time Holiday Show at The Rinks – Anaheim ICEDecember 13: The Rinks – Anaheim ICE proudly presents their annual holiday show, “Toy’s Favorite Time.” Saturday, 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at the program office. The Rinks - Anaheim ICE, 300 W. Lincoln Ave, Anaheim. (714)-535-7465, Ext. 0. See ad on page 15.

Toyota Symphonies for Youth at the Music CenterDecember 13: Jazz and the Orchestra explores the connections and collaborations between orchestral music and America’s national music, Jazz. This dy-namic concert will feature John Beasley’s MONKes-tra, a modern jazz big band featuring the top jazz and studio recording players in Los Angeles, playing alongside musicians from Youth Orchestra Los Ange-les (YOLA). Recommended for kids ages 5-11. Sat-urday, 10 a.m. art workshops; 11 a.m. performance. $27.50-31.50. 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 972-7211. www.laphil.com

• Vans Skatepark Holiday Skate ClinicsDecember 13 and 20: Vans Skatepark in Orange, a 40,000-square-foot facility, offers two differ-ent Holiday Clinics on Saturday, December 13 and 20. Instruction is offered for beginner to advanced street skateboarders, ages 6-16. Pizza lunch is in-cluded. Clinic hours: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. $40 for mem-bers; $50 for non-members. Space is limited, so sign up today. 20 City Blvd., West, Orange. (714) 769-3800. www.vans.com. See ad on page 11.

Winter Fantasy byImpact Dance Center in Long BeachDecember 13: Join the annual Winter Fantasy per-formances featuring Impact Dance Center’s begin-ning level classes and special guests in a festive and casual atmosphere. Also featured is the ballet department’s annual Nutcracker production, “King-dom of the Sweets.” Saturday, 11 a.m., 1, 4 and 7 p.m. $12-18. Millikan High School. (562) 594-5818. www.impactdancecenter.com/winter-fantasy

Winter Wonder Weekend at the Roundhouse AquariumDecember 13-14: Bring family and friends for a fun

Indoor PlayIndoor playgrounds offering play equipment with unique features. Parties,

family sessions, scout/group programs, open play, camps and parents’ night out may be offered. Visit websites for discounts and special days.

• BIG AIR TRAMPOLINE PARK 23251 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna Hills 92653(949) 305-9788www.bigairoc.comOver 17,000 square feet of jumping space at South Orange County’s best indoor trampoline park. Unique features include Climbing Wall, Bat-tle Beam, Lil’ Air (for jumpers age 6 and younger), Open Main Court, Dodgeball Courts, Foam Pit, Slam Dunk Basketball and The Bullpen. Great lo-cation for groups, corporate team building, birth-day and team parties. Seasonal park promotions and specials listed on their website. Reservations for groups of 15+ are required and made online or by calling Event Sales. Big Air locations include Laguna Hills, Redlands, and the newest location opening in Buena Park in late 2014. See ad on page 2.

MORE INDOOR PLAYGROUNDSAdventurePlex - 1701 Marine Ave., Manhat-tan Beach. (310) 546-7708. www.adventureplex.org

BounceU - Huntington Beach, 5445 Oceanus Drive, #115, Huntington Beach, (714) 892-4842, www.bounceu.com/huntingtonbeach. Orange, 428-A W. Katella, Orange, (714) 744-JUMP, www.bounceu.com/orange-ca

Frogg’s Bounce House - 16121 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley. (714) 418-0442. www.froggsbouncehouse.com Fun City Bounce - 14545 Valley View Ave., Ste. F, Santa Fe Springs. (562) 926-7864. www.funcityparty.com

Jump ‘N’ Jammin - 27741 Crown Valley Park-way, Mission Viejo. (949) 582-5890. www.jumpnjammin.com

Jumping Fun Kids - 7501 Commonwealth Ave., Buena Park. (714) 787-4994. www.jumpingfunkids.net

Kid Concepts U.S.A. - 22844 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance. (310) 465-0075.www.kidconceptsusa.com

My Giggle Place - 160 E. Imperial Hwy., Fuller-ton. (714) 525-7529. www.mygiggleplace.com

Oodles - 17420 Carmenita Road, Cerritos. (562) 888-1496. www.oodlescerritos.com

Playland Cafe - 880 Roosevelt, Irvine. (949) 829-2789. www.playlandcafe.com

Pump it Up - Anaheim Hills, (714) 693-9663; Huntington Beach, (714) 847-9663; Irvine, (949) 261-7867; and Lake Forest, (949) 951-9663. www.pumpitupparty.com

Scooter’s Jungle - 921 Via Rodeo, Placentia, (714) 223-5730; 25 Journey, Aliso Viejo, (949) 349-9090; and 606 Hawaii St., El Segundo, (888) 516-1983. www.scootersjungle.com

Trampoline Parks - Jump on trampoline floors and walls. Sky High Sports, 2970 Airway Ave., Costa Mesa, (714) 437-5867, www.jumpskyhigh.com. Sky Zone, 1301 N. Kellogg Drive, Anaheim, (714) 441-8999, www.anaheim.skyzonesports.com. Also see Big Air Trampoline Park listed in this section.

Twinkle Twinkle Kids Cafe - 2065 Palos Verdes Drive North, Lomita. (310) 530-4535. www.kidscafetwinkle.com

We Play Loud Kids’ Indoor Playground - 24350 Swartz Drive, Lake Forest. (949) 328-9616. www.weplayloud.com


weekend of ocean-themed crafts, games, prizes and temporary tattoos. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - sun-set. Free; donations are welcome. Manhattan Beach Pier. (310) 379-8117. www.roundhouseaquarium.org

A Rancho Christmas at The AutryDecember 14: Celebrate the holidays as the ranche-ros did in nineteenth-century California! Dance the fandango, participate in a rancho-themed scavenger hunt, and dress up as a vaquero in a holiday photo booth. Experience the daily jobs on the ranch through hands-on rancho trade stations and join guest art-ists to create your own Rancho Christmas keepsake. Visit Crossroads West Cafe for special holiday treats. Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Included with museum admission. 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles. (323) 667-2000. www.theautry.org

American Girl Brunch with Santa at American Girl in LADecember 14 and 21: Girls (3+) meet The Groves Santa and pose for a photo. Then families enjoy a delicious brunch together in the Cafe. Includes one 5x7 photo per girl. Sunday, 9 a.m. $22 per person; reservations required. The Grove, Los Angeles. (877) 247-5223. www.americangirl.com

Antique Aircraft Display Days in FullertonDecember 14: Visitors are invited to view the dis-play of classic aircraft at the Fullerton Municipal Airport. Second Sundays, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Free. 4011 W. Commonwealth, Fullerton. (714) 738-6323. www.cityoffullerton.com.

Family Day in El SegundoDecember 14: Meet up with friends and bring your family for a day of fun! Explore the exhibit, “Experience 13: HOME,” take part in a family-friendly tour with an ESMoA Educator, snap your way through the #home-photohunt, and create your own artwork inspired by the exhibit. Art making materials for all ages and ability levels. Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Free. 208 Main St., El Segundo. (424) 277-1020. www.esmoa.org

Free Art Workshop in Newport BeachDecember 14: Admission is free on the second Sunday of every month for a day full of hands-on art projects, live entertainment and gallery tours. Call for monthly themes. Second Sundays, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Orange County Museum of Art, 850 San Clemente Drive, New-port Beach. (949) 759-1122. www.ocma.nets

Free Christmas Concert in Long BeachDecember 14: Join Justin Rudd for a community con-cert featuring a 26-piece brass and percussion band. Sunday, 5 p.m. Free; please bring non-perishable foods for the Long Beach AIDS Food Store food bank and/or pet treats/toys/blankets/beds for Operation Santa Paws for shelter animals. For $5, stay to join the Long Beach Cookie Contest following the concert. 5200 E. 2nd St., Long Beach. www.justinrudd.com/cat.html

Free Concert at Nixon LibraryDecember 14: Tap your toes along with the Kid Sing-ers, conducted by Paul McNeff. Sunday, 12:30 p.m. Free. 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda. (714) 993-5075. www.nixonfoundation.org

Free Shared Science Workshop in Long BeachDecember 14: Leonardo Da Vinci was an artist, an

• Case Management• Crisis Intervention • Intensive Mental Health Treatment• Individual, Group & Family Therapy

• Field Capable Clinical Services• Full Service Partnership• School-Based Services• Psychological Testing & Psychiatric Medication

English/Spanish • Medi-Cal Accepted

562/485-3085

www.tgclb.org

Mental Health Services for Children and Families


Spotlight on ...• Art To Grow On Children’s Art CenterRedondo Beach(310) 625-6028www.art2growon.comFrom Van Gogh to Matisse and Leonardo Da Vinci to Degas and Frank Lloyd Wright, students learn technique, composition, design, problem solving and resourcefulness with each and every lesson with Art to Grow On programs. They help increase self-esteem and self-confidence, allow children to invent, create, innovate and discover. Critical thinking, prob-lem solving, independent learning and strengthened imagination are essential life skills that Art to Grow On helps their students develop. Their mobile Art Enrichment Programs are developed for preschools, private and public elementary schools, city park and recreational services, corporate day care facilities and more. They also sell their product online, My Awesome ArtBox, featuring their Great Master Artist lessons to schools, individuals, homeschool families and more. Please visit their website or call directly for more information. See ad on page 41.

• Dream Come True Party Room3962 Studebaker Road, Ste. 204, Long Beach(562) 270-1400www.DreamComeTruePartyRoom.comStep into a picture-perfect party at the Dream Come True Party Room. This is not your typical party place—it’s a whimsical setting that both adults and children will love! They also offer storytelling ses-sions, play dates, Kids’ Happy Hour, weekly tea time, family music programs and special events. Choose from more than a dozen unique and magical themes for your party, including Tower Princess, Woodland, Mermaids, Pretty in Pink, Pirates, Bollywood/Arabian Nights, Ice Princess and many more. Parties include use of the party room, magical decorations and props, tableware, dress-up outfits and face painting, plus crafts, storytelling, games and music. Food is provided. Add-ons can include colorful invitations, balloon art, glitter hair-dos, a crowning ceremony, party favors or fairytale character appearances. See ad on page 41.

• The Guidance Center (562) 485-3085www.tgclb.orgIn Long Beach since 1946, the agency provides English/Spanish mental health assessment and treatment, including individual, group and family counseling and psychotherapy, medication and psy-

chological testing for children, teens and their fami-lies for a wide range of behavioral, social, emotional, family and school problems. Clinic locations in Long Beach, San Pedro, Compton and school-based ser-vices in Avalon. See ad on page 33.

• Grip N’ Rip Junior TennisNewport Beach Tennis Club2601 Eastbluff Drive, Newport Beach(949) 644-0050, Ext. 210www.gripnripjuniortennis.comTheir mission is simple...to get kids excited about playing and competing in tennis. Their philosophy is simple...to give kids the confidence and skill set to be able to compete on any level. Grip N’ Rip Junior Tennis programs provide the tools that will enable kids to “rally.” With the use of softer balls, reduced-size courts, and experienced coaches, children of all levels can learn the joy of tennis and increase their abilities. See ad on page 13.

• Keen Ramps(562) 715-8643www.keenramps.comKeen Ramps manufactures premium, quality skateboarding and action sports ramps. They’re committed to offering affordable obstacles ideal for all ages and skill levels. They also provide ramp rental services for birthday parties, events and production purposes. Whether you want a small kicker ramp for your little one to launch off of or you’re looking to deck out your entire back-yard with a custom mini half pipe, nobody will get you rolling better than Keen Ramps. Email: [email protected]. See ad on page 25.

• Kelly Summer Vocal StudioLong Beach(562) 833-6444www.kellysummermusic.comVoice lessons for kids and adults who want to improve their singing ability are offered by Kelly Summer Vocal Studio. Kelly Summer is a career singer and voice teacher with a Master’s Degree in vocal performance from USC and over 20 years experience in the music business. Her specializa-tion is in contemporary jazz, rock and hip hop/R&B. Students learn vocal technique, repertoire, audition/performance skills and musicianship all in a private studio setting. Kelly Summer also spe-cializes in music therapy for children with devel-opmental disabilities. Music therapy is the clinical

and evidenced-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a thera-peutic environment. Music therapy can help your child to reach educational/IEP goals, improve communication, improve gross/fine motor skills, express feelings, and improve emotional and af-fective development. See ad on page 39.

• Kick It Up8129 E. Wardlow Road, Long Beach(562) 430-1812www.kickitup.comCome dance, sing, act and perform at Kick It Up, a noncompetitive, friendly dance, fitness, theatre and party studio for all ages. Classes are offered for all ages and ability levels; no one is turned away. Intro to Dance, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Hula, musical theatre, acting, voice and song are some of the many dance and theatre classes offered. They are also home to the Emerging Artists Musical Theatre Academy. As a parent, they offer many fitness and dance classes at the same time your children or teens are in class. All participants have the opportunity to perform in a family-oriented and affordable dance recital or musical in June and December. In addition, Kick It Up also offers Performing Teams, Brownie/Girl Scout events, camps and birthday parties throughout the year, and musical theatre pro-ductions year round. See ad on page 33.

• Lil’ Chef School15435 Jeffrey Road, #132, Irvine(949) 679-8390www.lilchefschool.comWeekly classes with a different menu each week. Jr. Chefs (5-12) meet for 90 minutes of hands-on cooking, full of learning and fun. Chil-dren learn cuisines of the world and enhance their experience with fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices while gaining confidence and experi-ence in the kitchen that will last them a lifetime! Master Chefs (11+, or with instructor approval) have mastered the basics of cooking, kitchen etiquette and safety. They are ready to take their culinary skills to the next level. Lil’ Chef School’s program for teens allows for more indepen-dence in the kitchen with planning and orga-nizing tasks and operating kitchen equipment/tools. They are encouraged to practice a creative approach while interpreting recipes. They also offer parties and camps. See ad on page 43.

kid-friendly businesses


• Sandra Barba, Piano Instruction(562) 627-0421www.privatepiano.netPiano lessons for all ages is offered by instruc-tor Sandra M. Barba. Sandra has over 40 years of experience teaching piano in various methods. She holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano and Education, is California credentialed, and is a member of the National Guild of Piano Teach-ers as well as the Music Teachers Association of California. Serving Long Beach and surrounding communities. See ad on page 41.

• Skatedogs(714) 313-8787www.skatedogs.comAfter-school and weekend classes in skateboarding, one of the world’s fastest growing sports. Offered in conjunction with the recreation departments of Arca-dia, Beverly Hills, Brea, Cerritos, Cypress, Glendora, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Lakewood, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Manhattan Beach, Newport Beach, Redondo Beach, Seal Beach and Tustin. They offer classes for all ability levels. Kids (6-13) make new friends, advance their skateboarding skills, and most importantly, have fun—all in Skatedogs’ private skatepark. Skatedogs also offers birthday parties; they come to your home with portable ramps and rails to create a custom skatepark for a one-of-a-kind party with an experienced instructor. Private les-sons are also offered, as well as camps during school breaks. See ad on page 43.

• SpeedZone Los Angeles 17871 Castleton St., City of Industry(626) 913-9663 www.speedzone.comWhether your outing is for business, team building, or just for fun, SpeedZone® specializes in events for groups of 10 to 2,500 guests! They offer a complete range of services to meet your every need. For the younger set, Speedzone offers Lil Thunder go-karts for kids 42-54” tall; miniature golf; an arcade with 100+ games; and mini bowling. Their other three go-kart tracks require a height of 4’ 8” or 5’ to ride. You can buy Unlimited Play Passes, or host a birthday party or fundraiser. Season passes, discount club, coupons, Scout-patch program and more! See ad on page 37.

• The Tutoring Center 4215 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach(562) 653-4380www.tutoringcenter.comAre you happy with your child’s grades? Call The Tutoring Center today to schedule your Free Di-agnostic Assessment. The Tutoring Center uses a unique system known as The Rotational Approach to Learning. Your child will receive intense one-to-one instruction in reading, math (all levels) or writing to rapidly increase academic skills while also improving concentration, focus and attention span. See ad on page 39.

• United States Youth Volleyball League(888) 988-7985www.USYVL.orgUSYVL provides an eight-week instructional youth volleyball league for boys and girls, ages 7-15. This is a great opportunity for children to learn and play volleyball in a fun and positive environment. Every site has a volleyball instructor (clinician) who guides the volunteer coaches and the players in a structured teaching method to ensure participants are developing proper volleyball skills. USYVL of-fers many locations in Orange County, including: Aliso Viejo, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Anaheim, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Mis-sion Viejo and San Clemente. See ad on page 17.

• Wagonwheel Ranch Horseback Rides4057 Via Opata, Palos Verdeswww.pvhorses.net(310) 567-3582Offers one- and two-hour Western trail riding, party packages and year-round camps. There are many sights to see along the Palos Verdes Peninsula with their guided horseback rides, including hillside views, meadows of wildflowers and wildlife. They help riders with tacking the horse; hoof care and the proper way to bridle the horse is also demonstrated with hands-on experience. Their horses are gentle and suited for the beginner to experienced riders, no matter the age, and special needs individuals as well. They are community-minded and donate to local fundraisers. Open 365 days a year—even Christmas Day! So, saddle up and enjoy a scenic trail ride! For more information, call anytime. Gift certificates available. See ad on page 19.

• Valley Christian SchoolsBellflower, Cerritos and Long Beach(562) 860-0556www.vcschools.orgValley Christian Schools offers outstanding educa-tional outcomes through a well-rounded approach to learning. Preschoolers benefit from research-based developmental education. Kindergarten - 12th grade, on three separate campuses, have a wide variety of opportunities experiencing training in music, art, sports and technology. 97% of Valley Christian High School students go on to universities and col-leges. 30% of the Class of 2014 was accepted at the nation’s Top 100 Colleges and Universities. Five cam-puses include two preschools (one with infant care), el-ementary, middle school (grades 7 and 8) and high school, and are located near the Los Angeles and Orange County border. Bus service is offered to Gardena, La Mi-rada, Downey, Naples and Westminster. The school-wide average student-to-fac-ulty ratio is 14-to-1 and the student body and faculty are ethnically diverse. See ad on page 23.

• Vans Skatepark20 City Blvd. West, Orange(714) 769-3800www.vans.comVans Skatepark is a 40,000-square-foot facil-ity featuring a full skate and BMX course for all skill levels, ages six and older. The location also houses a full Vans retail store and skate pro shop. Birthday party packages, private lessons and Holiday Skate Clinics (see “Winter Camps”) are available. Vans Skatepark is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. (9 p.m. on Sun-days). Please go to www.vans.com/skateparks for more information. See ad on page 11.

• YaYa’s Performance Academy(562) 355-2004www.yayasacademy.comYaYa’s Performance Academy is a youth- and family-based program that provides the commu-nity with the opportunity to actively participate in and explore the art of musical theatre in a safe, positive and nurturing environment. They strive to keep the performing arts alive at the local level by producing high-quality productions and by train-ing participants in singing, acting and dancing. They welcome participants of all backgrounds, abilities and levels of experience, and believe theatre is a way to bond families and unite our diverse community through this collaborative art form. All who enroll and complete the training are guaranteed a role in the show. Upcoming per-formance includes Honk! The musical tale of the Ugly Duckling. Auditions and rehearsals for their spring show (title TBD) will begin February 21. Visit their website for the spring show announce-ment. Rehearsals are held at Lakewood Village Community Church. The 12-week program culminates with performances at CSULB’s Link Theater. $225. Enroll online. See ad on page 27.


engineer and an inventor. Kids explore one of his con-traptions, a Walking Machine. They’ll learn his mecha-nisms and the inspiration. Kids will be led through a LEGO building activity to recreate one of Leonardo’s inventions. Sunday, 2-4 p.m. Free; first-come, first-served to the first 20 kids. CALB at Shoreline Village, upstairs in the gallery above Shenanigans (stairs only to the upstairs gallery). www.sharedsciencefun.org

Hanukkah Family Festival at SkirballDecember 14: This year’s Hanukkah Family Festival highlights two major themes of the holiday light and freedom (luz y libertad) through the lens of Latin American culture. Enjoy live performances, storytell-ing, art making, and a host of other family-friendly activities. Visit their website for performance line up. Families of all backgrounds welcome. Sunday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Adults, $10; kids (under 12), free. Los Angeles. (310) 440-4500. www.skirball.org

Holiday Ice Show in ParamountDecember 14: Paramount Iceland presents a holiday show that features more than 40 local and interna-tional skaters of all ages and levels. Sunday, 5-7 p.m. Call for ticket prices. 8041 Jackson St., Paramount. (562) 633-1171. www.paramounticeland.com

Magical Chanukah Happening at the Alpert JCCDecember 14: Join the JCC for a Magical Chanukah with a colossus slide, bounce houses, “Toy Story” playground, obstacle course, sticky wall, face paint-ing, cookie decorating and crafts. Sunday, 5:30-7 p.m. $10 per child for magic show and unlimited at-tractions. 3801 East Willow St., Long Beach. (562) 426-7601. www.alpertjcc.org

Menorah Lighting in Ladera RanchDecember 14: Join a Menorah lighting with crafts for children, music, singing and refreshments. Sunday, 3:30 p.m. Free to attend. Town Green, 28801 Sienna Park-way, Ladera Ranch. www.laderaranch-realestate.com

Musique Sur La Mer Honors Chamber Orchestra in Seal BeachDecember 14: Listen to Musique Sur La Mer Honors Chamber Orchestra present “A Mannheim Steamroll-er Christmas” to take a break from holiday shopping. Sunday, 11 a.m. Free. Performance located near Peet’s Coffee & Tea, 12501 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach. www.shopsatrossmoor.com

Pet Pictures with Santa at Westminster MallDecember 14: Bring your furry, four-legged or feath-ered friends to take a special photo with Santa Claus. Westminster Mall will be hosting two Pet Nights, where the mall will stay open for an extra hour to ensure a stress-free experience for pet(s). Sunday, 6-7 p.m. 1025 Westminster Mall, Westminster. (714) 898-2558. www.simon.com

Posada Navideña at the Anaheim MarketplaceDecember 14: Watch Christmas carolers as they sing throughout the Marketplace ending at the Nativity set with a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph. Live festive music, plus a Piñata breaking to end festivities. Saturday, noon - 4 p.m. 1440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim. (714) 999-0888. www.anaheimindoormarketplace.com

Santa Hustle at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena ParkDecember 14: Santa Claus is comin’ and is running to

your town! Join the Santa Hustle Buena Park 5K and Half Marathon. See Buena Park unlike never before as thousands of Santas race along the streets and throughout Knott’s Berry Farm. So, if you like dressing like Santa Claus, enjoy dancing to some holiday music, devouring candy, and joining in on an epic after party, then grab your favorite friends and family, get in the holi-day spirit, and make your way to the Santa Hustle. The 2014 official Santa Hustle Buena Park charity is Giving Children Hope. Sunday, half marathon starts at 7 a.m.; the 5K starts at 7:10 a.m. 5K, $45; and half marathon, $95. Every participant will receive a Santa hat, beard, and a newly designed Santa Hustle sweatshirt to wear while running. 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. (847) 829-4536. www.santahustle.com/buena-park

Sounds of Christmas with theAll-American Boys ChorusDecember 14: Bring family and friends and sing along with superbly trained young men presenting favorite carols. Sit in hushed awe as one crystalline voice sings of the Holy Night and thrill to the maj-esty of angelic voices trumpeting the news of the First Noel. Candlelight procession, handbells and the esteemed alumni chorus. Sunday, 4 p.m. $27-42. SOKA Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo. (714) 708-1670, Ext. 16. www.taabc.org

Winter Festival at OCMADecember 14: Enjoy live music performances by students from the Newport-Mesa Unified School Dis-trict, plus hands-on art projects, kids’ films and gal-lery tours for all ages. Food truck on site. Sunday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Free. 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach. (949) 759-1122. www.ocma.net

Auditions for “A Year with Frog and Toad”December 15: Try out for auditions with Broadway on Tour Children’s Theatre. Based on Arnold Lobel’s well-loved books, the two best friends celebrate their uniqueness in a story of friendship and adventure in a full two-hour musical. All parts are open for males and females ages 10-20. Monday, 6 p.m. Ebell The-ater, 625 French St., Santa Ana (714) 542-6939. www.broadwayontour.org

Frosty the Snowman Workshop in CypressDecember 16: Kids (3-5) join in the fun and create gifts for the holidays: puzzle wreaths, reindeer keepsakes, ornaments that sparkle, and a tasty graham cracker house. Tuesday, 3:30-5 p.m. $17; plus a $6 material fee is payable to the instructor. Preregistration required. Ehlers Community Center, 8150 Knott Ave., Cypress. (714) 229-6780. www.online.activecommunities.com

Hanukkah Story Time at Barnes & NobleDecember 16: Join a Hanukkah Story Time fea-turing Honeyky Hanukkah by Woody Guthrie. A fun-filled story celebrating Hanukkah with ac-companying CD. Tuesday, 11 a.m. Free. Marina Pacifica Mall, 6326 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Long Beach. www.store-locator.barnesandnoble.com

Holiday TV ShowsDecember 16: Enjoy classic holiday TV shows with the family. Today, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on ABC at 8 p.m.; “Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas” on

NBC at 8 p.m.; “Home Alone” ABC Family at 8:30 p.m.; and “Americas Funniest Home Videos Christ-mas Spectacular” on ABC at 9 p.m. Check your local listings for time changes.

Hooray for Hanukkah at Pretend CityDecember 16-24: Celebrate Hanukkah at Pretend City! These rich and diverse circle times will teach your child about the Hanukkah miracle and tradition-al symbols. Games, finger-play rhymes, art projects, and activities are part of the fun. Monday - Thursday, 11-11:30 a.m. Free with admission. 29 Hubble, Ir-vine. (949) 428-3900. www.pretendcity.org

Las Posadas Fiesta at Pretend CityDecember 16: This day invites families to celebrate the first day of this nine-day Mexican Christmas celebration. Through special activities and events, your children will have a better understanding of the history of this celebration in which so many par-take. Kids make Posada Piñata Ornaments, Posada Placemats, and a Luminaria Path crafts in the Art Studio. This celebration takes place during the Christmas Countdown, so refer to the Countdown’s daily activities on their website for additional fun. Monday, all day. Included with admission. Pretend City Children’s Museum, 29 Hubble, Irvine. (949) 428-3900. www.pretendcity.org

Los Posadas on Olvera Street in Los AngelesDecember 16-24: This nine-night presentation of the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem is por-trayed with singing, ballet folklorico entertainment, a candlelight procession on Olvera Street and a chil-dren’s piñata breaking each evening. Daily, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free to attend. Olvera St., Los Angeles. www.olvera-street.com

Menorah Lighting in Newport BeachDecember 16: Celebrate Hanukkah with singing and festive traditions at the Menorah Lighting Ceremony. Tuesday, 6 p.m. Fashion Island in Newport Beach. (949) 721-9800. www.shopfashionisland.com/Events

Sensory Sensitive Holidays at Pretend CityDecember 16: Holidays often mean a change in schedules, a houseful of people, loud holiday songs, hustle and bustle, and sights and smells that can be overwhelming to some children. Take a break today as Pretend City creates a sensory-sensitive environ-ment in their city. You can expect: dimmed lights and minimal sounds, and a sensitive Santa photo oppor-tunity (photos will end promptly at 5 p.m.). Don’t miss this autism-friendly museum environment designed for children who benefit from a less stimulating envi-ronment. Tuesday, 1-5 p.m. Included with admission. Pretend City Children’s Museum, 29 Hubble, Irvine. (949) 428-3900. www.pretendcity.org

Dinosaur Themed Story Time and Craft in Long BeachDecember 17: Join a story and craft time about di-nosaurs! Children will have the opportunity to dance, sing, play and explore concepts of dinosaurs and the Ice Age. Story and craft time is a great opportunity for children to develop their imagination, listening skills, vocabulary and social skills. Wednesday, 4-5 p.m. $15. American Health and Wellness Institute, 5580 E. 2nd St., Ste. 101, Long Beach. (562) 439-3425. www.ahwinstitute.com/calendar


Hanukkah Story Time at Barnes & NobleDecember 17: Join a Hanukkah Story Time featur-ing Honeyky Hanukkah by Woody Guthrie. A fun story celebrating Hanukkah with accompanying CD. Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. at Bella Terra, Huntington Beach; and 7 p.m. Orange Town & Country, Orange. Free. www.store-locator.barnesandnoble.com

• Holiday Toy Drive at The Rinks - Anaheim ICEDecember 17: Donate new, unwrapped, toys, books, and games and skate for free and be entered to win Anaheim Ducks raffle items. Plus, enjoy holiday activi-ties and crafts and meet Wild Wing, Power Players and Street Team. Wednesday, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. The Rinks - Anaheim ICE, 300 W. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim. (714) 535-RINK. www.the-rinks.com. See ad on page 15.

Huntington Harbor Cruise of LightsDecember 17-23: A narrated cruise through the waterways of Huntington Harbour to see the holiday lighted homes and holiday decorations. Days and times vary. Adults, $17; kids (2-12), $10. Huntington Beach. (714) 840-7542. www.cruiseoflights.org

Mythbusters Behind the Myth Tour at LA LiveDecember 17: Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage are back at it again with the return of MythBusters: Behind the Myths. Their new show promises to be an outra-geous evening of entertainment featuring brand new onstage experiments, behind-the-scenes stories, and some of your all-time favorites. A new immersive video experience will keep you bolted to your seat. Wednes-day, 8 p.m. $36.50-79.50. 777 Chick Hearn Court, Los Angeles. www.nokiatheatrelalive.com

Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade and Holiday CruisesDecember 17-21: Holiday cruises are offered nightly the nights of the boat parade. Monday - Sun-day, 5:30, 7:15 and 8:30 p.m. departure times. Call for prices and to register. (949) 673-1434. www.christmasparadeboats.com

Teen Anime Nights at the Orange LibraryDecember 17: Teens watch Japanese animation and enter a drawing to win DVDs and manga. Come dressed up as your favorite anime character, if you wish. Wednes-days, 6-8 p.m. Free. 407 E. Chapman Ave., Orange. (714) 288-2400. www.cityoforange.org/depts/library

Viewing of the Newport Beach Boat Parade at Newport Sea BaseDecember 17-21: Join the Sea Base on their lawn for a view of the 106th annual Newport Beach Boat Parade. Chairs provided, bring blankets. Wednes-day - Sunday, 6:30-9:30 p.m.; parade starts passing in front of the sea base around 8 p.m. $10 advance ticket; $20 night of event. Snacks and refreshments for purchase. Note: there is no parking at the base; passenger drop off only. 1931 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach. (949) 642-5031. www.newportseabase.webconnex.com

All That Holiday Glitter Workshop in CypressDecember 18: Kids (6-12) create projects that spar-kle, including homemade gifts to give for the holi-days. Kids will use their creativity to make evergreen wreaths, clay pot bells, ornaments that glitter, and a delicious treat too. Thursday, 4-6 p.m. $17, plus a $6

material fee is payable to the instructor. Preregistra-tion required. 8150 Knott Ave., Cypress. (714) 229-6780. www.online.activecommunities.com

Free Tween Book and Movie Club in OrangeDecember 18 and 20: Tweens (8-12) watch the Harry Potter movies, check out the matching books, then return to the library to discuss and compare the books and movies. Free snacks will be provided at the book discussion. This month: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Book dis-cussion on Thursday, December 18, 3:30-4:30 p.m.; and movie discussion on Saturday, Decem-ber 20, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Steve Ambriz Story Time Room, 407 E. Chapman Ave., Orange. (714) 288-2418. www.cityoforange.org/library

Free Car Seat Safety Class Through AAA of Southern CaliforniaDecember 18: Child car seats can reduce deaths by up to 70 percent, but nine out of 10 aren’t in-stalled correctly. Make sure yours is at this free class sponsored by the Auto Club. Learn about safety-seat laws, how to choose the right one, how to install and how to secure your child. Thursday, 7-8:30 p.m. Free; registration required by phone. Hoag Memorial Hospital, Newport Beach. (714) 885-2312. www.calif.aaa.com

Holiday Movie & Games at the Fullerton LibraryDecember 18: Gather to watch a holiday movie and play family games. Thursday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton. (714) 738-6338. www.fullertonlibrary.org$20 OFF

1 Week of Camp!Cannot be applied to the last two

weeks of camp, single day or 1/2 days.

SpeedZone Los Angeles17871 Castleton St., City of Industry

(626) 913-9663 • www.speedzone.com


Holiday Open House and Tour at Rancho Los AlamitosDecember 18-19: Enjoy the yuletide sparkle of the ranch house, the magnificently trimmed tree, mantles and hearths festooned with greens, holi-day treats and strolling carolers. Thursday and Friday, 4-7 p.m. Free; reservations required. 6400 E. Bixby Hill Road, Long Beach. (562) 431-3541. www.rancholosalamitos.com/events.html

Community Holiday Program in ArtesiaDecember 19: The program begins with the tradi-tional Posadas procession. Enjoy food, entertainment and visits with Santa following the procession. Friday, 5-9 p.m. AJ Paddleford Park, 11870 169th St., Arte-sia. (562) 860-3361. www.cityofartesia.us

• Cookie Bake Off at Lil’ Chef in IrvineDecember 19: Celebrate the holiday season, make cookies from scratch and take them home for fam-ily and friends to enjoy. Drink hot cocoa, listen to music and decorate cookies. Friday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Call or visit their website for fees and to reg-ister. 15435 Jeffrey Road, #132, Irvine. (949) 679-8390. www.lilchefschool.com. See ad on page 43.

• Dinner with Santa: A Holiday Train for the FamilyDecember 19: Be on board for a sliced turkey or ham dinner with chicken fingers specially for the young-sters for a festive holiday evening to meet and greet Santa who will be ready to hear your wish list and pose for pictures. Friday, departs at 5:30 p.m. and returns at 7:30 p.m. Adults, $47; kids (2-12), $26. Fillmore & Western Railway Co., Fillmore. (805) 524-2546. www.fwry-blog.com. See ad on page 6.

Holiday Classics Pajama Story Timeat Barnes & NobleDecember 19: Put on your PJs and join a special Holiday Story Time, featuring holiday classics such as “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and “The Night Before Christmas.” Friday, 7 p.m. 3rd Street Prom-enade, Santa Monica; Fashion Island, Newport Beach; Bella Terra, Huntington Beach; Marina Pacifica Mall, Long Beach; Del Amo Fashion Center, Torrance; Metro Pointe, Costa Mesa; and Orange Town & Country, Or-ange. Free. www.store-locator.barnesandnoble.com

Homeschool Days at Pretend CityDecember 19: Pretend City offers homeschool students a special day on the third Friday of every month. A field trip to Pretend City offers students a learning experience through hands-on educational play. These activities sur-round your students with challenging problems and ab-sorbing questions. Friday, visit their website for sched-ule. 29 Hubble. (949) 428-3900. www.pretendcity.org

Homeschool Holiday at the Aquarium of the PacificDecember 19: The Aquarium of the Pacific is opening their doors to homeschool families, networks, students, parents and teachers. With winter-themed activities, kids learn about the amazing ocean and how animals cope with cold water, enjoy special activities where stu-dents of all ages can investigate, experiment and dis-cover. Not able to attend Homeschool Holiday? Consider visiting on any other day and receive the same group rate. As a homeschool group, all you need is a minimum of 10 people for group admission, or 20 for a class-room or theater program. Advance booking with the

Aquarium’s Guest Support Center at (562) 951-1630 is required. Friday, 9 a.m. - noon. $6 per participant. (562) 590-3100. www.aquariumofpacific.org

Kids’ Night Out at Los Alamitos Youth CenterDecember 19: Kids (5-14) enjoy a scavenger hunt, kara-oke, dance, arts and crafts, games, sports, contests and more. Friday, 6-10:30 p.m. $15 per child; $10 additional siblings. Preregistration required. 10909 Oak St., Los Alamitos. (562) 493-4043. www.theyouthcenter.org

Wild Fire Gymnastics Parents’ Night Out in TustinDecember 19: Parents needing a night out can drop the kids (4+) off for an evening of gymnastics, games, pizza and a movie under the safety supervi-sion of the staff. Friday, 6:30-10:30 p.m. $28 per child; $12 for any additional siblings. RSVP before 6 p.m. on the prior Thursday; after this date limited spaces are available and a $5 late fee will be applied per each child. A waiver must be completed for non-members. 14761 Bentley Circle, Tustin. (714) 832-1315. www.wildfiregymnastics.com

30-Minute Beach Cleanup in Long BeachDecember 20: Free parking, bags, gloves, door prizes and refreshments provided. Bring hat, sunscreen and comfy shoes. 10-10:30 a.m. End of Granada Avenue in Belmont Shore. www.justinrudd.com/beachcleanup.html

• All Ages Astronomy Club in DowneyDecember 20: The Columbia Memorial Space Center welcomes aspiring astronomers of all ages to join the monthly Astronomy Club meetings. Meetings include a fascinating program about the night sky and a chance for members and guests to get together and talk about all things astronomy, plus information on how to pick the proper telescope, how to use a telescope, how to build a telescope, and how to identify different celestial objects. 7-9 p.m. $2 fee required for all non-members. (562) 231-1200. www.columbiaspacescience.org. See ad on page 21.

BARK Therapy Dogs Read in Dana Point and Signal HillDecember 20: Kids increase their reading skills by read-ing aloud to certified therapy dogs. Free. 4:30 p.m. at Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point; and 11:30 a.m. at Signal Hill Library, 1770 East Hill St., Signal Hill. (562) 235-8835. www.barkdogs.org

Beach Cleanup in Seal BeachDecember 20: Rain or shine monthly beach clean-up. Please bring a reusable water bottle, sunscreen and closed-toed shoes; there is free parking, bags, gloves, community service certificates and hand sanitizer. 9 a.m. - noon. 1st Street beach lot at the corner of Ocean and 1st. (562) 884-6764. www.saveourbeach.org

Breakfast with Santa at theResort at Pelican Hill in Newport CoastDecember 20: Children and their families enjoy sea-sonal music and a traditional breakfast buffet, featur-ing favorites such as scrambled eggs, chicken apple sausages and French toast. A to-go candy buffet and Santa photo souvenir are included. Parent supervi-sion is required throughout Santa visits and break-fast. Saturday, 10 a.m. - noon. $60 per adult or child;

price excludes tax and service charge. 22701 S. Pelican Hill Road, Newport Coast. (888) 507-6427. www.pelicanhill.com

Charlie Brown Christmas at CSULBDecember 20: Get the entire family into the holiday spirit by enjoying classic Vince Guaraldi Christmas tunes performed by contemporary jazz pianist David Benoit. Saturday, 8 p.m. $35-45. 6200 Atherton St.(562) 985-7000. www.carpenterarts.org

Family Day at the Norton Simon MuseumDecember 20: Family Day presents “Feather in Your Cap.” All sorts of hats appear throughout the mu-seum, from the beautiful flower-topped hat in Ma-net’s “The Railway” to the simple straw hat in Van Gogh’s “Portrait of a Peasant” (Patience Escalier). Using these works as inspiration, make your own fabulous headwear. Saturday, 1-3 p.m. Free with admission. 411 Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 449-6840. www.nortonsimon.org

Free Train Rides at Fairview ParkDecember 20-21: Free model train rides are offered by Orange County Model Engineers. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. (949) 54-TRAIN. 2400 Placentia Ave., Costa Mesa. (949) 548-7246. www.ocmetrains.org

Holiday Family Workshops at Open House CreativeDecember 20: Join a two-hour family workshop with creativity, a little holiday cheer, and some amazing proj-ects that might just find their way into your stocking this year. Saturday, 10 a.m. - noon. Today: Printmaking. Design your own wrapping paper and holiday cards. $45 per child; adults are free. 1602 Babcock St., Costa Mesa. (949) 438-5674. www.openhouse-creative.com

Holiday Sing-Along with the LA PhilDecember 20: It’s the jolliest holiday sing-along in town! Accompanied by the hall’s huge organ, a choir and a jazz combo, you’ll sing songs of the season like “The 12 Days of Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and many others. Great for children of all ages! Saturday, 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. $37-91.50. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles. (323) 850-2000. www.laphil.com

Holiday TV ShowsDecember 20: Enjoy classic holiday TV shows with the family. Today, “I Want a Dog for Christmas, Char-lie Brown” on ABC at 8 p.m.; and “CMA Country Christmas” on ABC at 9 p.m. Check your local list-ings for time changes.

Jr. Stewards at Bolsa Chica WetlandsDecember 20: The Jr. Stewards program with the Bolsa Chica Land Trust meets the first Sunday and third Saturday of every month to assist with habitat restoration. This program teaches kids (5-16) the details of habitat restoration and the local ecology, and nurtures leadership skills and lasting friendships. Saturday, 9 a.m. - noon. Bolsa Chica Ecological Re-serve north lot (Warner and PCH, across from the Huntington Beach Fire Station). Kids under 14 need a parent or guardian. Dress for a mess with long pants, closed-toed shoes and plenty of sunscreen. Tools, water and snacks are provided. Free to attend. Hun-tington Beach. www.amigosdebolsachica.org


Kids Fairy Garden Class in OrangeDecember 20: Bring your child and their friends to The Dragonfly Hollow to create an enchanting minia-ture garden with the help of fairies. Kids walk away with a cute potted fairy garden filled with plants and fairy garden accessories. Saturday, 9-10 a.m. $25, preregistration required. The Dragonfly Shops and Gardens, 260 N. Glassell St., Orange. (714) 289-4689. www.localendar.com/public/dragonflyshops

Lakeshore Learning’s Free Saturday WorkshopsDecember 20: Kids (3+) can make a festive card holder. Saturday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. No reservations necessary. Carson, (310) 537-4778; Fountain Val-ley, (714) 963-8255; and Laguna Hills, (949) 462-9353. www.lakeshorelearning.com

Las Posadas at the Bowers in Santa AnaDecember 20: A traditional Mexican Christmas celebra-tion re-enacting Mary and Joseph’s journey as they seek shelter in Bethlehem. The performance features tradi-tional music, dance and food, including hot chocolate and pan dulce (sweet bread). Entertainment provided. Mexican dress is encouraged. Saturday, 5-7 p.m. Free; museum and gallery store will be closed. 2002 North Main St., Santa Ana. (714) 567-3600. www.bowers.org

Skating Santas and Elves Night at The Rink in Downtown BurbankDecember 20: The outdoor ice skating rink will be filled with Santas and Elves during Skating Santas Night, an event where everyone is welcome to arrive in costume. Saturday, 8-11 p.m. General admission, $10; skate rentals; $3; and Bobby the Seal (skating aid) rentals, $6. Season passes are available for $159. Third St. and Orange Grove, Burbank. www.dtnbur.com

• Santa Shopper Train with Fillmore & Western RailwayDecember 20-21: During the last weekend before Christmas, pull up closer to the Loose Caboose Gar-den Center and Gift Emporium for all those looking for great last minute Christmas gifts. If, however, you are still in need of that perfect tree, it’s just a short walk to the Tree Farm where those can be purchased and brought back on the train. Saturday and Sunday, noon. Adults, $25; youth (4-12), $12; kids (2-3), $10. Santa Clara and Central Ave., Fillmore. (805) 524-2546. www.fwry-blog.com. See ad on page 6.

Shop-N-Drop Mad Science SaturdayDecember 20: Parents enjoy holiday shopping sans kid-

dos, while kids (5-12) have fun with hands-on experi-ments. All kids must be potty trained. Theme: Radical Reactions. Saturday, 9 a.m. - noon. $30, plus $5 ma-terial fee. Murdy Community Center, Hall A, Huntington Beach. (714) 960-8884. www.huntingtonbeachca.gov

Stocking Workshops with Fashion CampDecember 20 and 21: Create and design your very own stocking at Fashion Camp. All ages welcome. All materials included. No sewing required. This is a drop-in workshop, expect the project to take an hour or so. Saturday and Sunday, noon - 4 p.m. $19. Locations at The District in Tustin, (714) 259-0946; and at The Shops in Mission Viejo, (949) 364-1856. www.fashioncampoc.com

• Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party in Long BeachDecember 20: Join Dream Come True Party Room for a proper sit down tea party filled with winter wonder. This is a family event for adults and chil-dren. They will serve high quality loose leaf tea, dainty tea sandwiches, scones, fancy desserts and more. All held in a winter-wonderland-fairy set-ting. Complete with dress-up costumes, sparkle make-up, storytelling and a craft. Saturday, 10:30 a.m. - noon. $28 per person; RSVP through their website as seats are limited. 3962 Studebaker Road, Ste. 204, Long Beach. (562) 270-1400. www.DreamComeTruePartyRoom.com. See ad on page 41.

Tuba Christmas in AnaheimDecember 20: Hear traditional Christmas songs played by seasoned tuba players of all ages for this

annual event. Saturday, 1 p.m. Free. Downtown Dis-ney. Anaheim. www.tubachristmas.com

• Vans Skatepark Holiday Skate ClinicsDecember 20: Vans Skatepark in Orange, a 40,000-square-foot facility, offers a Holiday Clinic on Saturday. Instruction is offered for beginner to advanced street skateboarders, ages 6-16. Pizza lunch is included. Clinic hours: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. $40 for members; $50 for non-members. Space is limited, so sign up today. 20 City Blvd., West, Orange. (714) 769-3800. www.vans.com. See ad on page 11.

Weekend Tidepool at Cabrillo Marine AquariumDecember 20-21: CMA’s educators conduct tours of the Point Fermin tidepools. Attend an informative slide show in the John M. Olguin Auditorium, then come along on the naturalist-led ramble on the rocks to see animals in their natural habitat. Outdoor clothing and sneakers advised. Young children must be accompa-nied by adults. Saturday, December 20, 1-2:30 p.m.; and Sunday, December 21, 1:30-3 p.m. Free. 720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro. (310) 548-7562. www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org

American Girl Brunch with Santa at American Girl in LADecember 21: Girls (3+) meet The Grove’s Santa and pose for a photo. Then families enjoy a deli-cious brunch together in the Cafe. Includes one 5x7 photo per girl. Sunday, 9 a.m. $22 per person; res-ervations required. The Grove, Los Angeles. (877) 247-5223. www.americangirl.com

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Voice lessons for people who want to SING!• Rock, Jazz, Blues, Contemporary• Learn technique, stage presence, audition skills• Sky Mountain Charter School Vendor (voice only)

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Family Art Workshop in Long BeachDecember 21: In these free drop-in workshops families work together to create artwork inspired by museum exhibitions. Sunday, 1-3 p.m. Free. Long Beach Museum of Art, 2300 E. Ocean Blvd. (562) 439-2119, Ext. 228. www.lbma.org

Family Christmas Concert at Nixon LibraryDecember 21: Bring the whole clan and enjoy holi-day favorites with the Green-Orozco Families. Sun-day, 2 p.m. Free. 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda. (714) 993-5075. www.nixonfoundation.org

• Figure Skating Show at East West Ice PalaceDecember 21: The show features skaters from their Basic Skills Learn-to-Skate program in choreo-graphed group numbers, as well as solo performanc-es by EWIP singles and pair skaters who are regional, sectional, and national level competitors. Sunday, 6:30-9 p.m. Contact for adult admission price; kids 5 and under, free. 11446 Artesia Blvd., Artesia. (562) 809-6200. www.eastwesticepalace.com. See ad on page 29.

Hanukkah Celebration at Farmers Market LADecember 21: Celebrate Hanukkah with the lighting of a giant menorah, music, arts and crafts. Sunday, 2:30-5 p.m. Free. 3rd St. and Fairfax Ave., Los An-geles. www.farmersmarketla.com/events

Holiday Festival at the MuckenthalerDecember 21: The festival features various holiday activities, including home and gallery tours, perfor-mances, and an arts and crafts fair. Plus, free art workshops for kids, a children’s play area, and a special appearance by Santa Claus. Sunday, noon - 4 p.m. Free. 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton. (714) 738-6595. www.themuck.org

Menorah Lighting in Belmont ShoreDecember 21: Join a celebration and lighting of the Menorah. Live music, ice pops, candy gelt and dreidels included. Sunday, 4 p.m. In front of Citibank, 5254 E. 2nd St., Long Beach. (562) 621-9828. www.shulbytheshore.org

Winter Solstice Celebration at Pretend City Children’s MuseumDecember 21: The beginning of winter is marked by the solstice, the shortest day of the year. The day’s activities explain what happens during win-ter solstice and how it’s observed by various cul-tures throughout history. This celebration takes place during their Christmas Countdown, so refer to their daily activities schedule for additional fun. Sunday, visit their website for schedule. Included with admission. 29 Hubble, Irvine. (949) 428-3900. www.pretendcity.org

• Extended Skate Session at East West Ice PalaceDecember 22 - January 3: For winter break, East West Ice Palace extends their public-session hours and celebrates the holidays with festive decorations and music. Come and join the fun! Public session times vary by day, call or visit their website for de-tails and schedules. 11446 Artesia Blvd., Artesia. (562) 809-6200. www.eastwesticepalace.com. See ad on page 29.

Winter Break Crafts atMission San Juan CapistranoDecember 22 - January 2: Kids (6-12) enjoy special winter-break activities at the Mission, including lasso/jump ropes, miniature adobe brick houses, cornhusk dolls/action figures, mini coiled clay pots and arrow-head necklaces. Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. $3 per child in addition to admission. No crafts December 24 or 25. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capist-rano. (949) 234-1315. www.missionsjc.com

• Winter Workshops at theColumbia Memorial Space CenterDecember 22-23 and 29-30: Kids (grades 3-5 and 6-8) join the center for workshops that are out of this world! December 22: Robotics; December 23: Rocketry; December 29: Flight; and December 30: Earth Science. Monday and Tuesday, grades 3-5, 10 a.m. - noon; and grades 6-8, 1-3 p.m. $18-22. 12400 Columbia Way, Downey. (562) 231-1200. www.columbiaspacescience.org. See ad on page 21.

Fiesta Navidad Mariachi Los Camperos in Costa MesaDecember 23: Grammy award-winning Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano returns with the annual holiday favorite, Fiesta Navidad. It’s a festive evening of tradi-tional mariachi music along with beloved holiday carols in a lively and moving performance that celebrates the music of the Americas and brings the pageantry and excitement of Mexican holiday traditions to life. This joy-ful concert also features the Latin Christmas tradition of La Posada, the reenactment of Joseph and Mary’s pil-grimage to Bethlehem. It’s the ultimate holiday gift from a world-renowned band. Tuesday, 8 p.m. $29-89. 600 Towne Center Drive. (714) 556-2787. www.scfta.org

Winter Walk at Cabrillo Marine AquariumDecember 23: Join CMA educators and volunteers as they share the winter wonders of the natural habitats, taking advantage of the winter low tides. Discover more about the natural and human history of Cabrillo Beach. Winter at the beach can be fun! Tuesday, 3-4:30 p.m. 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro. (310) 548-7562. www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org

55th Annual Free LA County Holiday CelebrationDecember 24: Join music ensembles, choirs and dance companies from the many neighborhoods and cultures of the region to celebrate the sea-son during this free, three-hour holiday show that is perfect for the whole family. And, for the first time, the program will be broadcast on PBS So-CaL. Wednesday, 3-6 p.m. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. Free; no reservations or tickets to the show; first-come, first-seated. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 972-3099. www.holidaycelebration.org

Holiday TV ShowsDecember 24: Enjoy classic holiday TV shows with the family. Today, “It’s A Wonderful Life” on NBC at 8 p.m.; and “24-Hour Marathon Begins: A Christmas Story” on TBS at 8 p.m. Check your local listings for time changes.

• Begin a Christmas Tradition with a Trail Ride at Wagonwheel RanchDecember 25: On Christmas day, enjoy the many sights to see along the Palos Verdes Peninsula with their guided horseback rides, including hillside views, and meadows of wildflowers and wildlife. Thursday, call for times and pricing. Gift certificates available. 4057 Via Opata, Palos Verdes. www.pvhorses.net. (310) 567-3582. See ad on page 19.

Into the Woods Opens at the El Capitan Theater in HollywoodDecember 25: A modern twist on several beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel, all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch, who has put a curse on them. Thursday, 10 a.m., 1:05, 4:10 and 8 p.m. Adults, $14-16; kids (3-11), $13; VIP, $26; and group rates (20+), $12. 6838 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. www.elcapitantheatre.disney.com

• Start a Holiday Tradition with a Round of Golf at Golf N’ StuffDecember 25: Bring family and friends for Christmas fun at Golf N’ Stuff. They offer challenging miniature golf, exciting rides including go-karts, bumper boats, bumper cars, Disk ‘O Thrill ride and kiddie train. Plus, be sure to utilize their “North Pole Fun Pack,” offered throughout December (see ad on page 31). Thursday, opens at 2 p.m. 10555 E. Firestone Blvd., Norwalk. (562) 868-9956. www.golfnstuff.com

Holiday TV ShowsDecember 25: Enjoy classic holiday TV shows. Today, “Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration” on ABC at 10 a.m. Check your local listings for time changes.

4th Fridays in Long BeachDecember 26: Bring family and friends for 4th Fri-days at 5. A community event with fun for the whole family. Dine, shop and experience what the Parkview Village Shops have to offer. Free entertainment, mu-sic, food and fun for all ages. Friday, 5-8 p.m. The tri-angle of Carson St., Bellflower Blvd. and Viking Way. www.facebook.com/4thFridaysat5

Festival of Kwanzaa at Pretend City Children’s MuseumDecember 26-30: Kwanzaa is here, and there are so many fun things to do! Each day children can light another candle on the Kinara and join in various ac-tivities to celebrate the Kwanzaa principle of the day, including working at the family stand, making gifts for family and friends, playing African games, and even having a “feast!” Thursday - Monday, visit their website for daily schedule. Included with admission. Pretend City Children’s Museum. 29 Hubble, Irvine. (949) 428-3900. www.pretendcity.org

• Parents’ Night Out with Lil’ Chef School in IrvineDecember 26: Parents can drop their kids off for a night of cooking. Kids join Lil’ Chef for a “Pizza Night,” where they’ll make their own dough from scratch and personal pizza, including three different toppings. Kids will also make Infamous Wilton’s Sugar Christmas Cutout Cook-


ies and indulge in warm fresh homemade cookies to top off their culinary night. Friday, 6:30-9 p.m. $45 per child with $20 for additional sibling. 30-minutes early drop off is $10 per child. Call or visit their website to regis-ter. 15435 Jeffrey Road, #132, Irvine. (949) 679-8390. www.lilchefschool.com. See ad on page 43.

Babyccino Tot Shabbat in Yorba LindaDecember 27: Looking for a Tot Shabbat? Join the fun every second and fourth Saturday of the month, 12-12:45 p.m., and celebrate with songs, crafts and Shabbat Kiddush. Ages 0-5 years old. Held at Chabad Beth Meir HaCohen, preschool room. RSVP by the day before the class to Naomi at [email protected], or call. 19045 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda. (714) 225-2903. www.ocjewish.com

BARK Therapy Dogs Read in Huntington Beach and Long BeachDecember 27: Kids increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. 11 a.m. Free. Huntington Beach Central Library, 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach; and Long Beach Library - Los Altos Branch, 5614 E Britton Drive, Long Beach. (562) 235-8835. www.barkdogs.org

Family Art Studio and Last Weekend of the Month Fun at the SkirballDecember 27-28: These fun-filled Saturdays and Sun-days feature special last-weekend-only performances and activities that change every month. Family Art Stu-dio projects, facilitated by trained artists, tend to incor-porate a variety of recycled and re-purposed materials and focus on exploring the ways creativity and caring for the planet can converge through art. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (last entry at 4:30 p.m.). In-cluded with museum admission. No reservations nec-essary. 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 440-4500. www.skirball.org

Family Day at March Field Air MuseumDecember 27: Families explore the history of flight and aircrafts with crafts. Different theme every month. Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. $5-10. 22550 Van Buren, Riverside. (951) 902-5949. www.marchfield.org

FiGat7th Kids Club in Los AngelesDecember 27: Kids Club Art Workshops are free and suitable for all children ages 3 and older. Today: New Year Drum - The sound of drumming during New Year’s celebrations symbolizes saying goodbye to misfortune and ringing in renewed hope for the future. Saturday, 2-4 p.m. Children must be accom-panied by an adult. Attendees can park their car for $5 to stay and play throughout the day. Taste Level, Los Angeles. www.figat7th.com/events

Lakeshore Learning’s Free Saturday WorkshopsDecember 27: Kids (3+) create a celebration noise-maker. Saturday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. No reservations nec-essary. Carson, (310) 537-4778; and Fountain Valley, (714) 963-8255. www.lakeshorelearning.com

Lowe’s Build and Grow ClinicsDecember 27: Free Build and Grow kids’ clinics offered monthly with a range of projects. Parent participation required. Free. Visit their website for clinic locations, upcoming projects and online sign-up. Saturday, 10 a.m. (800) 44-LOWES. www.lowesbuildandgrow.com

Art To Grow On Children’s Art Center200 N. PCH, Redondo Beach

Saturday, 12/6 or 12/13 • Sunday, 12/7 or 12/14 • 11am or 2pm

310-625-6028www.art2growon.com

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Ice SkatingOUTDOOR SKATING

• CHILL at the Queen MaryThrough January 11: SoCal’s favorite frozen fam-ily event is back and now, one ticket gets you un-limited access! So, bring your gloves and parkas and head down to the Queen Mary for some chilly winter fun at our area’s only frozen winter holiday event. See “The Ice Kingdom,” hand carved from more than two million pounds of ice, and walk through magnificent ice sculptures and slides. Zip down CHILL’s ice tubing run and take a spin on the outdoor ice skating rink. And with one ticket unlimited-access, you can go as many times as you wish. Plus, enjoy same-day visit to the majes-tic Queen Mary. Open daily excluding December 1, December 8, and January 5, 6 and 7. Online tick-ets: adults, $34.99-39.99; kids (4-11), $24.99-29.99. 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach. (877) 342-0738. www.queenmary.com/chill. See ad for free kids admission on page 7.

Downtown BurbankNovember 28 - January 19: The rink is steps away from hundreds of shops and restaurants decked out for the holiday season. Special nights include Ugly Sweater Mondays, ‘80’s Night Wednesdays and Thursday Night Fever. Daily, visit their web-site for a schedule. General admission, $10; skate rentals; $3; and Bobby the Seal skating aid rent-als, $6. Season passes are available for $159. Third St. and Orange Grove. www.dtnbur.com

Downtown Disney Olaf’s Ice Skating and Winter FunThrough January 6: Lace up your skates and take to the ice on Olaf’s Frozen Ice Rink. It’s the perfect place to get into the holiday spirit as you glide along to holiday tunes. An entire Downtown Disney Winter Village will spring up around ESPN Zone and AMC Theatres adding extra cheer. Visit quaint holiday cottages, browse for gifts in the shopping chalets and admire a 30-foot Christmas tree, the center-piece of Olaf’s Frozen Ice Rink, inspired by the lov-able snowman in the latest Walt Disney Picture’s animated feature, Frozen. Monday - Thursday, 3-10:30 p.m.; and Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 3-11:30 p.m. Adults, $17; kids (3-9), $15; annual passholders and Disney resort hotel guests: adults, $15; kids (3-9), $13. All prices include tax, skate rental and helmets. www.disneyland.com/holidays

Irvine Spectrum Outdoor Ice RinkThrough February 16: The festive outdoor Holiday Ice Rink returns to Giant Wheel Court. Daily, visit their website for skate times. Skate sessions are one hour long. Don’t miss the Disney Magical Holiday Lights

in Edwards Courtyard to enjoy a light display set to music, beginning at 5:30 p.m., and running every hour until close. Adults and kids with skate rental, $18.50; without skate rental, $15; toddlers, $14 (skates are included, 8-12T). Helmets are optional but recommended and provided free of charge. Season passes, $159 (includes skate rental). Ice scooter rental, $5 (subject to availability and man-agement’s discretion). Note: Open skate available Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. - 6:15 p.m., excluding extended sessions and holidays. 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine. (949) 748-8280. www.skatespectrum.com

LA Kings’ Holiday Ice Outdoor SkatingNovember 30 - December 31: The annual LA Kings’ Holiday Ice brings outdoor ice skating to Nokia Plaza LA LIVE in Downtown LA. No-vember 30 - December 11: Monday - Friday, 5-8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 3-11:30 p.m. December 12-31: Daily, 3-11:30 p.m. Admis-sion, $15, includes skate rental; kids (7 and un-der), $10. Supper and Skate Combo available, adults, $35; kids, $25. 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. (866) 548-3452. www.lalive.com

Pershing Square Outdoor Ice SkatingThrough January 19: Ice rink is open daily in-cluding holidays. Hour-long sessions: visit their website for hours. $9 per person; skate rental, $3. 532 South Olive St., Los Angeles. (213) 847-4970. www.pershingsquareicerink.com

Santa Monica Outdoor Ice SkatingThrough January 19: Slice through the ice in a fes-tive atmosphere filled with holiday cheer and balmy ocean breezes. The rink is periodically cleared for short periods to groom the ice. If raining, the rink will remain open in light rain or drizzle conditions, closing only for heavy downpours. Monday - Thurs-day, 2-10 p.m.; Friday, 2 p.m. - midnight; Saturday, 11 a.m. - midnight; and Sunday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. $15, includes skate rental. 1324 5th St., Santa Monica. www.downtownsm.com/ice

Woodland Hills’ Outdoor Ice Skating Through January 19: Woodland Hills’ Ice features over 7,000 square feet of 100% real ice. The facil-ity is open seven days a week for public skating, learn-to-skate classes, birthday parties and more. Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Friday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Visit their website for holiday hours and daily schedules. All-day pass, $20; adults (11+), $15; kids (10 and under), $13; kids under 3 are free with paid adult. Westfield Promenade, 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills. (818) 854-4151. www.woodlandhillsice.com

INDOOR SKATING

• East West Ice Palace(562) 809-620011446 Artesia Blvd., Artesiawww.eastwesticepalace.comIce rink offers public skating, skating classes for kids (3+) and adults, freestyle sessions, in-house hockey, hockey classes, youth travel hockey league, adult hockey league, stick time and broomball. Competitive synchronized skating teams and classes also avail-able. A collection of Michelle Kwan memorabilia is available in the gallery. Fitness center is open to the public and offers group exercise classes. Birthday party packages also offered. Check their website for ice schedule and events. Visit their new rink in On-tario, www.ontariocenterice.com. See ad on page 29.

• The RinksAnaheim ICE (714) 535-RINKHuntington Beach Inline (714) 901-2629Irvine Inline (949) 559-9949Lakewood ICE (562) 429-1805Westminster ICE (714) 248-9611Yorba Linda ICE (714) 692-8776www.The-Rinks.comGuests of all ages enjoy skating at The Rinks. With several daily public skating sessions, skate rentals and full-service snack bars, they offer the coolest fun for you and your friends! Plus, The Rinks offer a variety of learn-to-skate and hockey programs for all ages and skill levels. For skating session times, prices and class information, visit them online or call. Locations: 300 W. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim; 5555 McFadden Ave., Huntington Beach; 3150 Barranca Parkway, Irvine; 3975 Pixie Ave., Lake-wood; 13071 Springdale, Westminster; and 23641 La Palma Ave., Yorba Linda. See ad on page 15.

More Indoor Ice SkatingKHS Ice Arena (714) 422-12361000 E. Cerritos Ave., Anaheim. www.khsice.com

Lake Forest Ice Palace (949) 305-965825821 Atlantic Ocean Drive, Lake Forest.www.lficepalace.com

Paramount Iceland (562) 633-11718041 Jackson St. www.paramounticeland.com


Rose Parade Float Viewing in PasadenaDecember 27-31: Experience the magic of the floats before they make their debut. Get a backstage glimpse of the floats in their final stages of preparation at any of the three locations. You will see a variety of fruit, seeds, bark, grasses and of course, flowers being applied to the floats by experienced professionals as well as hard working volunteers. Saturday, Rosemont Pavilion, Brook-side Pavilion and Rose Palace, noon - 5 p.m.; Sunday and Monday, Rosemont, Brookside and Rose Pavilions, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Tuesday, Rosemont, Brookside and Rose Pavilions, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; and Wednesday, Rose Palace, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. $10. Rosemont Pavilion, 700 Seco St.; Brookside Pavilion, Lot 1, south side of Rose Bowl Stadium; and Rose Palace, 835 South Raymond Ave. www.tournamentofroses.com

• Saturday Science at Columbia Memorial Space Center in DowneyDecember 27: Head to Columbia Memorial Space Center for presentations and discussions on the latest news in science. Today, Calendars and Time. Saturday, noon - 4 p.m. Included with admission. 12400 Columbia Way, Downey. (562) 231-1200. www.columbiaspacescience.org. See ad on page 21.

Star Party at Griffith ObservatoryDecember 27: Look through a large variety of pro-fessional and home-built telescopes to view the sun, planets, the moon and deep sky objects, like double-stars, star clusters and nebulae. The obser-vatory’s Zeiss 12-inch refractor and computer con-trolled 11-inch lawn telescopes are set up through-out the event. Saturday, 2-9:45 p.m. Free. 2800 E. Observatory Road, Los Angeles. (213) 473-0800. www.griffithobservatory.org

Music of the Magi at Nixon LibraryDecember 28: Ring in the New Year with Music of the Magi during this free family concert. Sunday, 2 p.m. Free. 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda. (714) 993-5075. www.nixonfoundation.org

Stories in the Afternoon at the Norton Simon Museum in PasadenaDecember 28: Families with kids ages 4-8 enjoy an afternoon of stories in the museum. Sunday, 2-3 p.m. Free. 411 Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 449-6840. www.nortonsimon.org

Equestfest with the Tournament of RosesDecember 29: Meet many of the Equestrians you will see New Year’s Day in the 2014 Rose Parade! Watch the horses and riders perform drills and dances, and demonstrate trick riding and roping. Stroll through the stables and talk to the riders. Learn about the various tack and the many different breeds. Take advantage of wonderful one-of-a-kind photo opportunities. There will also be great music as well as food and beverage concessions on site. Monday, 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., show begins at noon. $15-35; parking, $5. Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles. (626) 795-4171. www.tournamentofroses.com

• Winter Workshops at Columbia Memorial Space CenterDecember 29-30: Kids (grades 3-5 and 6-8) join the center for science workshops that are out of

this world! December 29: Flight; and December 30: Earth Science. Monday and Tuesday, grades 3-5, 10 a.m. - noon; and grades 6-8, 1-3 p.m. 12400 Columbia Way, Downey. (562) 231-1200. www.columbiaspacescience.org. See ad on page 21.

Noon Year’s Eve atDiscovery Cube Orange CountyDecember 30-31: Ring in 2015 like a Hollywood superhero! Dress as your favorite superhero and celebrate the New Year with a balloon drop and ginger-ale toasts at noon and 2 p.m., photo ops in front of a green-screen, a sound-effects studio, dance party and take-home hats and horns. Includ-ed with general admission. Tuesday and Wednes-day. 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana. (714) 542-2823. www.discoverycube.org/noon-years-eve

$1.31 Scoops at Baskin RobbinsDecember 31: Celebrate Baskin Robbin 31 Fla-vors ice cream with a $1.31 a scoop (reg. $2.69). Visit their website for participating locations. www.baskinrobbins.com

Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve in Long BeachDecember 31: Downtown Long Beach comes alive with a flurry of family-friendly activities, including live bands, face painting, balloon artists, a track-less train and a 9 p.m. fireworks show over the lighthouse peninsula. Wednesday, 5 p.m. Free. www.downtownlongbeach.org

First Night 2014 in FullertonDecember 31: Enjoy kids’ activities, live entertainment, food vendors and a fireworks show at midnight. Tues-day, 7 p.m. - midnight. Admission is free; rides and activities, $2-7. Downtown Fullerton. (714) 738-6545. www.ci.fullerton.ca.us

Kids’ New Year’s Eve at LegolandDecember 31: Like the famous ball dropping in Times Square, Kids’ New Year’s Eve features live music, entertainers and a countdown of its own with a huge Lego brick that drops 22-feet into 2015 followed by a spectacular fireworks dis-play. Includes performances by some of the top children’s entertainment groups in the nation. Wednesday, begins at 2 p.m. Adults, $83; kids (3-12), $73. Parking, $15. One Legoland Drive, Carlsbad. (760) 918-5346. www.legoland.com

New Year’s Eve at Grand Park LADecember 31: Ring in the New Year in a unique civic gathering. The festival includes music, dancing, an in-teractive countdown, featuring 3-D digital video mapping on two sides of City Hall. Tuesday, 8 p.m. - midnight. Free. Downtown Los Angeles. www.grandparkla.org

New Year’s Eve Party at Pretend City Children’s MuseumDecember 31: With sparkling streamers and fes-tive party hats, this is one celebration that kids won’t want to miss! Enjoy stories, art projects, a rock ‘n’ roll dance party and a New Year’s Eve countdown at noon. Wednesday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Free with admission. Pretend City Children’s Museum. 29 Hubble, Irvine. (949) 428-3900. www.pretendcity.org

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Petsguide • FAX: 562.799-0142 • PHONE: 562-799-0140 10313 Los Alamitos Blvd. • Los Alamitos, CA 90720

Mobile Skatepark Skateboarding Programs

For All Ability Levels Birthday Parties

Summer/Spring Camps School Demos

After-School Programs Group/Private Lessons

714.313.8787 Skatedogs.com

949-679-8390www.lilchefschool.com

15435 Jeffrey Road, #132, Irvine

Parties • Scouts At-School Classes • Field Trips

Make-N-Take Dinners

Winter Camps December & January

From Winter Desserts toHoliday Dishes & More!


New Year’s Noon Party in La HabraDecember 31: Children celebrate New Year’s Noon with a hat and shaker craft, ginger ale toast, a balloon drop and dancing at noon! Wednesday, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Included with museum admission. Reservations required. Children’s Museum at La Habra, 301 S. Eu-clid St., La Habra. (562) 383-4236. www.lhcm.org

Noon Year’s Eve at KidspaceDecember 31: Ring in the “Noon Year” at Kidspace with live music, streamers, sparkling cider and a bal-loon drop. Celebrate the end of 2014 and beginning of 2015! Arrive early to make party hats and noisemak-ers, dance to the music of Clint Perry and the Boohoo Crew performing at 11:30 a.m., and countdown to the noon year at noon. Wednesday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Please note: the museum will close early at 3 p.m. In-cluded with admission. 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 449-9144. www.kidspacemuseum.org

Polar Bear Plunge in La MiradaJanuary 1: Be among the first in 2015 to plunge down the waterslides of Buccaneer Bay into the chilly pool. Adventurers receive a photo taken of their plunge down the waterslides, plus admission to recreational swimming in the heated 25-yard pool. Hot chocolate, coffee and mochas will also be available for purchase. Thursday, noon - 4 p.m. Splash! La Mirada. 13806 La Mirada Blvd. (562) 902-3191. www.splashlamirada.com

Tournament of Roses ParadeJanuary 1: View the 126th Rose Parade on TV or join the crowd in Pasadena. Thursday, 8-11 a.m. www.tournamentofroses.com

Viewing of Rose Parade Floats in PasadenaJanuary 1-3: A Showcase of Floats is a unique opportu-nity for the viewing public to see the beauty of the floral floats. Please allow two hours for this breath-taking dis-play and don’t forget your camera. Thursday, 1-5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. $10. End of parade route on Sierra Madre Blvd. Park-N-Ride available. (626) 795-4171. www.tournamentofroses.com

• U.S. Figure Skating Association’s National Skating Month Celebration in ArtesiaJanuary 2: Join East West Ice Palace to celebrate National Skating Month! Find discounts for all new skating school registrants, all public skating admis-sion and gym memberships, plus pro-shop and snack bar specials. They will have raffles, give-aways and more. Free ice skating lessons, on select Friday, 6-6:30 p.m. Discounts on select services will be offered throughout January and February in honor of the sport’s celebration; call for details. 11446 Artesia Blvd., Artesia. (562) 809-6200. www.eastwesticepalace.com. See ad on page 29.

• Oshogatsu Family Festival in LAJanuary 4: Celebrate the Year of the Sheep with fun cultural activities and performances, special foods, and fun crafts. Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Free, ex-cluding specially ticketed exhibitions. Japanese American National Museum, 100 North Central Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 625-0414. www.janm.org. See ad on page 48.

Acting Out(562) 901-0111www.actingoutcamp.comSave your “drama” for camp! This weeklong, school-break camp celebrates creativity through drama skills workshops, ensemble building and a whole lot of fun. Activities include improv, scene study, stage combat, costumes, props, movement, voice over, monologue and dance. Check website for dates. Email: [email protected].

Alpert JCC in Long Beach3801 E. Willow St., Long Beach(562) 426-7601, Ext. 1205www.alpertjcc.orgWhen school’s out, the JCC is the place to be. Kinder-garten - 8th graders can spend winter break at camp! Program includes exciting daily themes, swimming, sports, arts and crafts and more. Covers LBUSD school vacation days, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., each day; extended hours available. See website for more information and pricing.

Aquarium of the Pacific Winter Camp Adventures100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach(562) 590-1630www.aquariumofpacific.orgAquarium of the Pacific offers two winter camps: Sea Squirt Camp, where kids (ages 5-6) discover the un-derwater world of sea creatures, December 22-24; and Winter Day Camp (ages 7-9), a marine life explora-tion through behind-the-scenes tours, interaction with Aquarium husbandry staff members, games, crafts and hands-on time with various sea animals—all docu-mented in a keepsake camp journal, December 29-31.

Arts & Learning Conservatory Winter-Break Workshop1518 Brookhollow Drive, Ste 15, Santa Ana(714) 728-7100www.artsandlearning.orgJoin a two-day artist workshop, designed to expand a child’s abilities while they discover new talents and have fun! Classes include acting techniques, vocal training, dance instruction and crafts. Students should bring a sack lunch with water/beverage as well as a snack.

Boys and Girls ClubsDay camps (5-18) are offered at most branches during vacation breaks and school holidays. Visit www.tinyurl.com/KidsguideYouthGroups for contact information.

Boys & Girls Club of Huntington ValleyWinter-Break Day CampKingston Branch16582 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley (714) 531-2582Huntington Beach Branch2309 Delaware St., Huntington Beach (714) 374-2600www.bgchv.comFull-day, winter-break programs (grades K-8):

December 22 - January 2, Monday - Friday, 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Full-Time: $75 per week; part-time: $30 per day. Membership fee: $15 per school year and lunches are available for $5 per day. Optional daily field trips: Nickel, Nickel: December 22, 12:30-4:30 p.m., $11. Knott’s Berry Farm: December 23, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., $33. Movies: December 26, 1-6 p.m., $13. Frogg’s Bounce House: December 29, noon - 4:30 p.m., $12. Boomers!-Irvine: December 30, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., $28. LaserQuest: December 31, 12:30-5:30 p.m., $16. Fountain Valley Skate Center: January 2, noon - 3:30 p.m., $10.

City Recreation Departments Many cities offer camps during winter break. Activi-ties may include, crafts, games and excursions. Most offer full and half-day options and extended care. www.tinyurl.com/KidsguideRecreationDepts

Costa Mesa Recreation Services(714) 754-5300, (714) 754-5083www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.usWinter Camp (grades K-6): one-week sessions, Decem-ber 22 - January 2. Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., $136-141 per week; extended hours, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m., $165-170 per week.

Elevation Studios Winter-Break Intensive1900 E. 27th St., #101, Signal Hill(562) 424-2711www.elevationstudios.comTwo-day intensive dance program during winter break, December 27-28. Intermediate to advance levels for ages 10 and up.

Fashion Camp Winter-Break CampsThe District in Tustin (714) 259-0946The Shops in Mission Viejo (949) 364-1856www.fashioncampoc.comSpend your winter break creating, designing and sewing. Two-hour Mini Camps (7-12): December 22, 23 and 26, 9-11 a.m. or 1-3 p.m., $35. Six-hour Sewing Camps (8-13): December 22, 23 and 26, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., $99.

• Grip N’ Rip Junior TennisNewport Beach Tennis Club2601 Eastbluff Drive, Newport Beach(949) 644-0050, Ext. 210www.gripnripjuniortennis.comGripper’s Holiday Hits Junior Tennis Camp aims to get kids (5-14) excited about playing tennis. They help build the confidence and skills of play-ers, whether they are first-timers or intermediate players. With the use of softer balls, reduced-size courts, and their coaches, children of all levels can learn the joy of tennis and increase their abili-ties. The fun includes games, contests and prizes! Camps run Saturday - Wednesday, December 20-24 or 27-31, 1-4 p.m. Sign-up for both sessions, one session or by the day! See ad on page 13.

winter camps


Gryphon Fencing & Fitness Studio971 Via Rodeo, Placentia(714) 519-1343www.GryphonFencing.comGo from Zero to Zorro! Vacation-break camps will teach your child the sport of fencing. In the popular “Go Medieval” camp, kids learn archery, fencing and build a working catapult. Camps offer the chance to have fun, meet new friends, learn new skills and build confidence. Email: [email protected].

Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium600 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica(310) 393-6149, Ext. 106.www.healthebay.orgWinter camp (grades K-4): Kids take a dive off into the Pacific Ocean, learn through the diversity of the animals in each habitat and about the fastest, largest and most interesting creatures. Plus, they’ll explore how trash from the streets gets into these habitats and how it affects the ocean and ocean animals. Grades K-1, Monday, January 5; and grades 2-4, Friday, January 9; 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. $60-65.

International Water Polo Club(949) 428-7576www.internationalwaterppoloclub.comwww.interwpc.comIn their school-break camps, serving all communi-ties, their focus is on helping kids (3-14) become used to the water in a non-competitive environment. In their youth program, kids strengthen swimming skills and are taught the basic fundamentals of water polo in a fun, safe setting.

Irvine Community Services1 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine(949) 724-6610www.Irvinequickreg.orgWinter camps (6-12) include art, chess and iCamp. Teen camp includes leadership and debate.

Lake Forest Community Services25550 Commercentre Drive, Lake Forest(949) 461-3450www.lakeforestca.govHoliday Hoopla Rockin’ Winter Camp (7-11) and Win-ter Teen Camp (12+), December 22-24 and 29-31.

LangoKids Irvine9070 Irvine Center Drive, Ste. 135, Irvine(714) 864-4680www.langokidsirvine.comCamp Lango is a Spanish immersion camp offered during winter break designed to give children (5-10) a unique experience. Kids get to spend time having fun, acquiring a second or third language, and taking pre-tend trips along with a passport to different destinations in Latin America or Europe. They will learn about their language, traditions, recreation and cuisine. Each week at Camp Lango is a new destination that ends with a celebration for parents, family and friends. Extended care in the morning and afternoon is available for free.

• Lil’ Chef School15435 Jeffrey Road, #132, Irvine(949) 679-8390www.lilchefschool.comLil’ Chef School offers hands-on cooking fun and

culinary adventures in their school-break camps. Two three-day Christmas camps will be offered where your lil’ chef will learn how to cook every-thing from winter desserts to traditional holiday dishes. Visit their website for menus, and early bird- and multiple-week discounts. Offered Decem-ber and January, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. $59-179. See ad on page 43.

Los Alamitos Recreation(562) 430-1073www.cityoflosalamitos.orgRockin’ Reindeer Day Camp (5-15) - Games, arts and crafts, outdoor activities and movies. December 22-24, 26, 29-31 and January 2. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., $25; 7 a.m. - 6 p.m., $40 per day.

My Gym Children’s Fitness Center Long Beach3287 Industry Drive, Signal Hill(562) 986-0066www.mygym.com/longbeachChildren of all ages can enjoy a day of camp with hands-on arts and crafts, music, dance, games, and overall emphasis on learning solid skills and funda-mentals in sports and gymnastics. Themed days and activities add to the fun and atmosphere of the pro-gram. Call for dates.

Pacific Conservatory, Music & Arts Education151 Kalmus, G-1, Costa Mesa(714) 545-1217www.pacificconservatory.comYour child (ages 3-12) will experience music, art and the-ater each fun-filled day at DiscoveryARTS Camps avail-

OC BASEBALL CAMP

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Tim O’Donoghue’s Orange County Baseball Camp

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Arrive by 9:40am for check-in$30 when paid by Jan. 15$35 if paid Jan. 16 or later

League-Age PlayersAges 7-12 • 1-4:30pm

Arrive by 12:40pm for check-in$45 when paid by Jan. 15$50 if paid Jan. 16 or later

Camp Held at Foothill High School

19251 Dodge Ave, North TustinCheck in on the Foothill Blvd.

side of the school.


able during winter vacation. These popular camps intro-duce children to the joys of artistic expression. Younger campers enjoy singing, dancing, related art projects and Fairytale Theatre with provided costumes. Older campers participate in music theater productions and art classes. Parent performances are held each Friday.

Rainbow Chefs Winter Camps260 N. Glassell St., Orangewww.rainbowchefs.comCooking camp for kids (5+) includes foods from tradi-tional winter fare to holiday appetizers, main dishes and desserts such as hot chocolate, warm flaky treats and body-warming soups. Young chefs learn to put together holiday menus and follow recipes from around the world, while exploring cooking, baking, table setting and food decorating techniques. December 22-26 and 29-31, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. $260 per session, includes all materials and food. Held at the Dragonfly Shops and Gardens.

Shared Science(562) 522-0595www.sharedsciencefun.orgKids (grades K-9) engineer fun through inventive and

playful constructor and robotics camps. “Crazy Con-structors” combines LEGO Ed with simple machines and physical science concepts that captivate K-5 brains by investigating the way things work. “Radical Robotics” campers (grades 4-9) explore robot pro-gramming, animation, mission design and putting fun mathematics to work. Greater Long Beach locations.

Southern California Tennis Academy2800 Studebaker Road, Long Beach(562) 704-2241www.sctennisacademy.comWeekly Holiday Camps (5-16) are offered during win-ter vacation. Instruction is provided by USPTA-certified teaching professionals with college playing experience. All kids are taught competitive technical and mental skills while training in a fun and challenging environment.

• Tim O’Donoghue’s Orange County Baseball CampFoothill High School19251 Dodge Ave., North Tustin(714) 832-5961www.ocbaseballcamp.com

Tim O’Donoghue’s Orange County Baseball Camp presents the 2015 Spring Training One-Day Winter Camp on Saturday, January 24. Ages 4-7, 10 a.m. - noon, $30 if paid by January 15; $35 if paid on or after January 16. Ages 7-12, 1-4:30 p.m., $45 if paid by January 15 and $50 if paid on or after January 16. Foothill High School. See ad on page 45.

Tom Hicks Baseball Camps, LLCP.O. Box 15963, Long Beach (562) 425-2446www.tomhicksbaseballcamps.comTHBC prides itself on being the area’s best fundamental baseball camp. Camps, offered during Christmas vaca-tions, focus on individual instruction and improvement. Camps are available in Long Beach and the South Bay.

• Vans Skatepark Holiday Skate Clinics20 City Blvd. West, Orange 92868(714) 769-3800www.vans.comVans Skatepark in Orange, a 40,000-square-foot fa-cility, offers two different Holiday Clinics on Saturday, December 13 and 20. Instruction is offered for be-

• Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts Sundays, 3-4 p.m. Adults, $20; kids (15 and younger), $15. 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. (562) 467-8819. www.cerritoscenter.com. See ad on page 9.

February 1: The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon. Buckle up for a wild ride with a creative little boy named Harold. Armed with his limitless imagina-tion and trusty purple crayon, he jets to Mars (think shooting stars and spaceships!), joins a circus, and meets a king. The production brings to life the popular children’s book with life-size puppets, masks, magic and music. The show, recommended for ages 5 and older, lasts approximately an hour.

March 29: Rumplestiltskin. In this classic rendition, The Grimm Brothers’ ageless fable Rumplestiltskin spins to life on stage. The fairy tale, about a lovely girl named Daisy and a mischievous little man who is able to turn straw into gold, explores themes of greed, vanity and friendship. The show is a fun crowd-pleaser, sure to delight children (5+) with catchy songs and audience participation.

• Long Beach Playhouse Presents A Christmas Carol December 12-21: For nearly 170 years, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future have reminded us that even the most miserly can find redemption in kindness and generosity toward others. This year the Long Beach Playhouse brings Dickens’ story to life in its Mainstage Theater, De-cember 12 through 21. Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m.; and Sundays, 2 p.m. Tickets, $14-24. (562) 494-1014. www.lbplayhouse.org. See ad on page 6.

• Segerstrom Center for the Arts PresentsHow the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787. www.scfta.org. See ad on page 3.

December 10-14: Audiences will find their hearts grow-ing a few sizes along with the Grinch’s when they ex-perience the magic of the beloved tale on stage, which features the hit songs “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas (written by Albert Hague and Dr. Seuss), from the original animated television spe-cial. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is two sizes too small, decides to steal Christmas away from the lovable Whos. Wednes-day, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, 1 and 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m., 2 and 6:30 p.m. $29-99.

• The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 746-4000. www.TheWallis.org. See ad on page 5.

December 2-13: Into the Woods is a modern twist on the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. Recommended for mature elementary school students and up, who are ready for a darker view of the nature of fables and legends.

January 9-11, 16-18: The Queen of Colors. Color takes on a giant rainbow of meaning in this smart and sweet tale for young children (recommended for ages 4-7). Based on the German children’s book, “The Queen of Colors” uses ingenious puppetry to weave a simple story about kindness and originality. The feisty little puppet queen ventures into her kingdom to experience the per-sonalities of each color of the rainbow, and we soon learn that while fun comes in all colors, too much of a good thing can turn into a mucky, yucky mess. The Queen of

Colors is a whimsical story about choosing not to color within the lines, and unleashing creativity. Lovelace Stu-dio Theater. Fridays, 6 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, noon and 2:30 p.m. $25-35.

February 25 - March 1: Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience - A Parody by Dan and Jeff. Playing to sold-out houses all over the world, all seven Harry Potter books (and a real life game of Quidditch) are condensed into seventy hilarious minutes. Perfect for ages six to Dumbledore (who is very old indeed). Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m.; Friday, 5 and 8 p.m.; Saturday, noon, 4 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, noon, 3 and 7 p.m. $20-79.

March 13-15, 20-22: Lifeboat is the extraordinary true tale of courage and friendship between Bess Walder and Beth Cummings, who as young teens in 1940 set sail on a ship from Liverpool to Canada to escape the relentless bombing in war-torn Britain. Four days into the journey, their ship was torpedoed and sank. Bess and Beth spent nineteen terrifying hours in the water on an upturned lifeboat through a pounding storm, living to tell their story of sur-vival and friendship. Recommended for ages 10+. Lovelace Studio Theater. Fridays, 6 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, noon and 2:30 p.m. $25-35.

• Yaya’s Performance Academy PresentsHonk! A Musical Theater Tale of the Ugly DucklingJanuary 9-11 and 16-18: Since it first hatched, HONK! has winged its way around the world with its heart-warming celebration of being different, that delights au-diences of all ages. Ugly looks quite a bit different from his darling duckling brothers and sisters, and the other animals on the farm are quick to notice and point this out. Feeling rather foul about himself, the little fowl finds himself on an adventure of self-discovery, and along the

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ginner to advanced street skateboarders, ages 6-16. Pizza lunch is included. Clinic hours: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. $40 for members; $50 for non-members. Space is limited––so sign up today. See ad on page 11.

• Wagonwheel Ranch Horseback Rides4057 Via Opata, Palos Verdes(310) 567-3582 www.pvhorses.netCamps, offered daily, are four hours long, and in-clude two hours of Western trail ride time. It’s the perfect place for your child to experience country values and horsemanship, where real riding expe-rience is emphasized—there’s no baby sitting at this camp! Campers will enjoy the many sights to see along the Palos Verdes Peninsula with their guided horseback rides, including hillside views, meadows of wildflowers and wildlife. Riders learn to tack the horse; hoof care and the proper way to bridle the horse is also demonstrated with hands-on experience. Their horses are gentle and suited for the beginner to experienced riders. Class sizes are kept small so that your child receives qual-ity guidance. Recommended for ages 8 and up.

Camp can be scheduled by the day or week, 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. or 1:30-4:30 p.m. For more infor-mation, call anytime. See ad on page 19.

• Winter Adventure Camp at Big Air Trampoline Park, Redlands1101 California St., Redlands 92374(909) 335-7275www.splashkingdom.netSpend your winter break jumping, making friends, having fun and much more! Big Air Trampoline Park, located at Splash Kingdom, offers three sessions of Winter Adventure Camp: December 22-26 (closed 12/24 and 12/25), December 29 - January 2 (closed on New Year’s Day) and January 8-12, 2015. Campers use trampolines, complete crafts, play games, watch movies and team build. Register by December 1 and save 10%. See ad on page 2.

Winter Art Camps at LACMALos Angeles County Museum of Art5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 857-6000

www.lacma.orgFour-day workshops (6-8, 9-11): Monday - Wednes-day and Friday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. $325-350.

• Winter Hockey at The Rinks – Irvine Inline3150 Barranca Pkwy., Irvine(949) 559-9949www.irvineinline.comKids join The Rinks - Irvine Inline on December 22-23 and December 29-30 to improve their hockey skills at Winter Hockey Camps. The two-day camps are only $99 and includes a lunch, dry-land training, and on-rink training from The Rinks coaching staff. See ad on page 15.

YMCAwww.ymcaoc.org/camp, www.lbymca.orgwww.campoakes.orgIndividual branches offer day camp (5-15) dur-ing traditional and year-round school vacations. Financial assistance is available. Call individual branches for camp dates, fees and details. Visit www.tinyurl.com/KidsguideYouthGroups for con-tact information.

way meets a whole flock of unique characters. Ugly, in this touching musical with plenty of heart, finds out be-ing different is not a bad thing to be. Visit their website for performance times and ticket prices. CSULB’s Link Theater, 2892 N. Bellflower Blvd. #302, Long Beach. (562) 355-2004. www.yayasacademy.com. See ad on page 41.

A Christmas with Scrooge in IrvineDecember 5-28: A production of the Christmas classic. Thursday, 7 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 p.m. $14-16 (add $3 for opening and closing gala nights). 36-C Mauchly, Irvine. (949) 753-1996. www.musicaltheatrevillage.net

A Christmas Carol Radio Show in Long BeachDecember 19-21: The 1939 radio edition of the holiday classic. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 p.m. $10-20. Long Beach Shakespeare Co., 4250 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach. (562) 997-1494. www.lbshakespeare.org

A Christmas Carol in PasadenaDecember 5-23: A production of the Christmas clas-sic. Days and times vary. $54-58. A Noise Within, 3352 Foothill Blvd. (626) 356-3100. www.anoisewithin.org

A Gallery Family Christmas in AnaheimThrough December 21: Gather the family for an evening of storytelling and laughter. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 7 p.m. $20. The Gallery Theater, 3152 E. La Palma Ave., Ste. G. (714) 630-9870. www.thegallerytheatre.com

Christmas in Neverland in Santa AnaDecember 13-14 and 20-21: Take a trip back to Neverland in this holiday adaptation of Peter Pan. Cel-ebrate the season with all of your favorite characters

in a fun-filled musical for all ages. One hour musi-cal with optional Cocoa Party at 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 2 p.m. (Sunday, December 21 at 4:30 p.m., no cocoa party). $10 pre-pay, show only; $15 Cocoa Party and show. All ticket prices are an additional $2 at the door. Ebell Theater, 626 French St., Santa Ana. (714) 542-6939. www.broadwayontour.org

How the Grinch Stole Christmas in San DiegoThrough December 27: Visit The Old Globe for Dr. Se-uss’ holiday tale. Days and times vary; 11 a.m. matinee performances are open to all ages (kids under age 3 will not be admitted except during 11 a.m. performances). Note: Special sensory-friendly performance, Saturday, December 13, 10:30 a.m. www.theoldglobe.org

Miss Pauletta’s Holiday Hoedown in Long BeachDecember 20-21: Miss Pauletta and her friends celebrate winter holidays around the globe including Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Saturday and Sunday, visit their website for times and ticket prices. 3960 N. Studebaker Road, Unit 106, Long Beach. 5628847077. www.GO-FAME.org

Polar Express in FullertonDecember 6-7: Art of Dance and Ballet Academy’s pro-duction of Polar Express. Saturday, 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m. $15 per person; group discounts, $10 per per-son. Plummer Auditorium, 201 E. Chapman Ave., Ful-lerton. (714) 630-3323. www.adbacademy.com

Sleeping Beauty in PasadenaDecember 10 - January 4: A family-friendly holiday ver-sion of the well-known tale of “Sleeping Beauty.” Before every performance, guests enjoy a “Winter Wonderland” event with holiday carolers, crafts, activities, games and photo opportunities. Show days and times vary. $34-

125. Golden Tickets are available as an add-on to any child’s ticket for an additional $50 each (limit of 10 Gold-en Tickets available per performance). A Golden Ticket provides the ticketholder (children only) with a special onstage sing-along experience during the production, a gift bag with special surprises, a “Sleeping Beauty” col-lectible poster, and one free photo with Santa. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. (626) 356-7529. www.pasadenaplayhouse.org

The Magic of Christmas in La MiradaDecember 12-14 and 19-21: In this special holiday production, The Young Americans take you on a ride to a magical place—Christmas in the northern mountains, snow and a small town. Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 and 7 p.m. $16-53. La Mirada Theater for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. (714) 994-9801. www.lamiradatheatre.com

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