by Noella Noelophile®
(Royalty-free image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.)
Less than forty-eight hours left in 2025! Hope it’s been a great year for you.
Normally, in this space, I’d share all the New Year’s Eve events going on in California tomorrow.
But it looks like we’re in for some treacherous weather. And I’d like to start this by applauding the city of Fullerton, for putting safety first.
They announced this morning that they’re canceling their New Year’s Eve First Night Fullerton festivities due to the incoming heavy rains and high winds.
(Royalty-free image by Nicky from Pixabay.)
Instead, let me share some of the events they host throughout the year.
City of Fullerton
(Royalty-free image by Anja from Pixabay.)
The Fullerton Certified Farmers Market happens every Wednesday, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.
Currently in the planning stages is their 2026 Spring Eggstravaganza. No listed events as of yet, but in the past, face painting, arts and crafts, games and photos with a certain large rabbit have been part of the fun.
When summer gets here, Fullerton’s July 4th Celebration features live concerts. Their 2025 edition also included contests and a car show–while 2026 (unsurprisingly) has not yet been posted, the inclusion of those seems a safe assumption. Throughout August, they offer Friday Night Live free concerts in the park.
(Royalty-free image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay.)
And, for my favorite holiday, they have a “Letters to Santa” event where Santa writes back! As well as a Holiday Home Decorating contest.
Those are just a few events that happen throughout the year, in Fullerton. And once again, a huge cheer to them, for their flexibility and caring.
Let me follow their example here by telling you about some special events at venues I’d normally promote for New Year’s Eve.
Aquarium of the Pacific
Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific hosts classes and special events year-round.
They host a series of Saturday classes, Ocean Investigators, for small future oceanographers, ages 7 to 12.
(Clownfish at Aquarium of the Pacific, May, 2019.)
These fall into the “why-didn’t-we-have-these-when-WE-were-small” category: two-hour classes with a guided gallery tour, interaction with the Aquarium’s animal-care staff and theme-related activities. These are listed on the Aquarium’s website as monthly events, January through May.
The Aquarium’s numerous special events include their twenty-fourth annual African American Festival, coming up in February. Storytelling, drum circles, dance performances and live bands will be featured.
They also feature a regular Night Dive entertainment event, with DJs, music and art, for adults ages 18 and up. Early warning: these tend to sell out–if you would like to take your Valentine out for a special evening, here is the link for information for their February 13th and March 13th Night Dives.
Chelsie Hill performs with the Rollettes, Festival of Human Abilities, January, 2020.
And, one of my all-time favorite events of theirs is happening next month!
The Aquarium’s twenty-third Festival of Human Abilities happens during the weekend of January 24th and 25th. Musicians, dancers and artists teach workshops and offer performances in this special event celebrating the talents of creatives with disabilities.
(Royalty-free image by Pexels from Pixabay.)
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
How exciting is the perspective of modern museums, that art is to be created, as well as consumed, when we visit!
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art certainly subscribes to this approach.
They have an intriguing workshop series, MAKE! with SCRAP, which is free and open to the public.
(Royalty-free image by Stefan Schwelhofer from Pixabay.)
Attendees transform ordinary materials into make-and-take art projects. The January session is “Transportation Drawings” with exhibiting artist Alejandro Cartagena, exploring the ways residents move throughout the city.
The museum also hosts free “Family Sundays”, in the Koret Education Center. Young artists get to create watercolors, children’s books are available to read and a play space with blocks is provided. The next two listed “Family Sundays” are January 11th and January 25th.
(Royalty-free image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay.)-
Meanwhile, on June 14th, the museum will host “Free Family Day”, with hands-on art activities, storytelling and a scavenger hunt.
Meanwhile, for us “taller kids”, SFMOMA, which is one of the largest museums of contemporary art in the U.S., offers artist talks, film screenings and a playful-sounding “Photobook Speed Date” event, where guests bring a favorite art book or photo book and have a limited amount of time to share why it’s a favorite and what it means to them.
AND–that’s it, for now! Have a very safe and Happy New Year, rain or no rain.