by Noella Noelophile®
(Royalty-free image by Vinzenz Lorenz M. from Pixabay)
It’s still Christmastime.
Technically, Christmas lasts for twelve days–right up until January 6th, Twelfth Night.
And if you didn’t get a chance to enjoy as many of the festivities as you’d like, prior to Christmas Day, now’s your chance. There are still some special events going on!
Here are several you might like:
“Northern Lights”, California Center for the Arts, Escondido
(Royalty-free image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)
Brand-new for 2019, this free light show happens every evening at 5:00, from now right through December 30th. You’re invited to bring your walking shoes and stroll through the Center for the Arts’ campus, where you’ll see light tunnels, large wooden cutouts and festive, lighted scenes. The “Northern Lights” show continues until 10:30 each evening.
“Northern Lights” runs 5:00 – 10:30 pm, nightly through December 30, at California Center for the Arts, 340 North Escondido Boulevard, near East Pennsylvania Avenue, in Escondido. Admission is free.
Christmas in the Park, San Jose
(Graphic courtesy of Christmas in the Park.)
More than 40 animated and musical exhibits make this free community event a favorite in the Bay Area. Their website lists new features for 2019, including a “Christmas Tree Maze” and “Teddy Bear Factory”.
Christmas in the Park is an all-day special event, so be sure to allow plenty of time to explore and enjoy. And be sure you stay after dark; their Community Stage offers multiple performances nightly, starting at 6 pm, and there’s a tree lighting every night, as a special guest lights the 55-foot “Community Giving Tree” at 6 pm!
“Christmas in the Park” is open daily, from 9:00 am to midnight, from now through Sunday, January 5, rain or shine, in Cesar Chavez Park, 1 Plaza de San Antonio, in San Jose. Admission is free, but please consider donating $1 to one of their donation boxes, located throughout the park, or supporting them (they’re a nonprofit!) by buying merchandise from Santa’s Toy Shack.
L.A. Zoo Lights
Once again, L.A. Zoo Lights has made USA Today’s list of “Ten Best Zoo Lights” in the nation!
This is our Christmastime tradition in early November, as you’ll see from an earlier post. New this year are their holly garlands, which are gorgeous, as you come in, and “The World’s Largest Pop-Up Storybook”, which had us chuckling. They have several representations of the lions and tigers acting like exactly what they are: big cats.
The “Splashes of Light” light show is excellent: highly imaginative, fun and festive. You will need to walk through “The Lair” to see it (which had us confused, initially,, when we visited) but it’s worth the extra steps (and you might see a turtle, which we did!). And be sure not to miss the “Twinkle Tunnel”, which is longer and brighter than in 2018.