by Noella Noelophile®
(Photograph courtesy of Hotel Del Coronado, and used with permission.)
As promised, here they are.
By no means are these the ONLY Christmas-tree lightings happening in California within the next few days, but let’s continue with some to keep in mind, up and down the state.
SAN DIEGO:
December 3, 2014 – Hotel Del Coronado “Holiday Festival…A Family Celebration.” 4 to 9 pm. Tree lighting, beach roast, fireworks and games are free.
Carols, Santa’s Village, free games, ice skating at a beachfront rink–can a Christmas celebration get a whole lot better?
Well–actually, it can! At 6 pm, San Diego Mayor Casey Tanaka flips the switch–turning on the hotel’s 100,000 Christmas lights.
(Photo courtesy of Hotel Del Coronado, and used with permission.)
The entertainment starts at 4, with a musical program by Coronado school children in Upper Grande Hall. The Vista Walk will be turned into Santa’s Village, with photo opportunities, and complimentary games with prize booths. Hot cocoa will be available, and a portion of the ice rink proceeds will go to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation® of San Diego.
Then, at 6, Coronado School of the Arts students will sing carols, as Mayor Tanaka turns on the lights. There will also be a special ice-skating performance on the rink at 6:15, along with a Christmastime fireworks show at 6:45.
All this, and free s’mores on the beach, too! The complimentary roast runs from 6 to 8, and skating continues till 9 that evening.
LONG BEACH:
December 3, 2014 – The Queen Mary’s 21st Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, at CHILL, 5 to 10 pm. A limited number of free admissions are available, get there early.
CHILL opens at 5, and the tree-lighting ceremony starts at 7, with a program that includes a visit from a certain North Pole-based “power couple”. U.S. Figure Skating stars Sean Rabbit and Gia Kokotakis will take to the ice for special performances, and children’s choir Cantos de las Bellos will offer a musical program. The tree lights come on at 8. Plan to bring two things: your ice skates and an unwrapped toy for the Long Beach Fire Department’s Spark of Love Toy Drive.
Now–just in case you’re unfamiliar with CHILL–it’s Long Beach’s special Christmastime attraction, based on Harbin, China’s, annual Ice Festival. Every year, artisans create incredible Christmas- and Hanukkah-themed ice sculptures in an “Ice Kingdom” that’s nine degrees above zero–and breathtaking. CHILL is currently in its third year, and past sculptures have included scenes from “The Nutcracker”, Christmas trees, unicorns and a complete Nativity scene, all carved from giant blocks of ice.
You’ll want to arrive early, both to see this year’s ice sculptures and enjoy CHILL’s regularly-scheduled entertainment–including The Toymaker’s Magic Show and performances by the Bling Divas–and because a limited number of guests may attend the tree lighting ceremony for free.
CARMEL:
December 5, 2014 – Annual City Holiday Tree Lighting and Sunset Center Holiday Party, 4:30 – 5:45 pm. Free.
Festivities actually start at 3 that afternoon, as the Sunset Center hosts its annual holiday party, with complimentary cookies, coffee and wine. They’ll also have a professional photographer on hand, to take your picture in front of the Sunset Christmas tree.
Then, at 4:30, Santa arrives, courtesy of the Monterey Fire Department, and the entertainment starts! There will be performances by the Carmel Middle School Chorus, Junipero Serra School Kids, Jacqui Hope, Kendra Calhoun and Myles Williams. Stephen Moorer will recite Clement Clark Moore’s classic “Twas the Night Before Christmas”. And (rain or shine) Carmel mayor Jason Burnett is scheduled to light the tree at approximately 5:45 pm.
After that, plan on staying for a Christmas celebration! Santa’s going to be passing out candy canes, and the Monterey Bay Area Chapter of the American Red Cross will provide refreshments. And if you’re in a Christmas shopping mood thereafter, nearby Carmel Plaza will host their annual open house, with refreshments and entertainment, starting at 7 pm.
OXNARD:
December 5, 2014 – 64th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, 5:30 pm. Free.
According to the Oxnard Downtown Management District’s website, their Christmas tree is the tallest Christmas tree in Ventura County–110 feet tall! And they invite you to come celebrate a six-decade tradition with them. Of course, Santa will be on hand, and there will be live entertainment, and complimentary refreshments at this free event.
You might like to arrive early, though. Oxnard’s 9th Annual Winter Fantasy Music and Light Show has its opening performance, that evening, at 5 pm, with more than 30,000 flashing lights, animated figures and music.
Can’t get to Oxnard that night, but planning on coming during the Christmas season? The free “Winter Fantasy” show will repeat every 15 minutes, nightly from 5 to 10 p.m. until New Year’s Day.
(Photo courtesy of Carol Larsen, and used with permission.)
FERNDALE:
December 5-7, 2014. Concerts, tree lighting, block party and open house are free.
Congratulations to the Victorian village of Ferndale, as this Christmas season is a special one for them!
Christmas, 2014, marks their eightieth year of lighting “America’s Tallest Living Christmas tree”, located at the end of Ferndale’s Main Street. The tradition was begun in 1934, with the tree only left dark during World War II.
Now, admittedly, they’re not doing a tree lighting on all three days. That actually happens at 5:30 pm, Sunday, December 7.
But, especially considering this landmark anniversary, it seemed like a shame not to tell you about the celebrations beforehand. You may want to make weekend plans.
On Friday night, December 5, Ferndale turns out for a “block party” from 7 to 9 pm. Merchants will offer free refreshments for their “Hospitality Open House” along Main Street.
Then, Saturday morning, December 6 at 10:30, Santa arrives, with his elf assistant to bring bags of goodies for the children along Main Street.
Festivities continue that evening, with a musical performance that’s a Ferndale tradition: the Ferndale Community Choir will perform its 45th annual Christmas Celebration in Song. This is an eclectic program of Christmas music from several centuries, with both sacred and secular selections, and is happening at Ferndale Community Church at 7:30 that evening.
And these special events lead up to an all-day celebration on Sunday, December 7th.
The day starts with a “Come Home for Advent” service at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church at 9 am. After the service, there will be a festive 10 am brunch.
That afternoon at 3, the Ferndale Community Choir performs an encore of their “Christmas Celebration in Song”, this time at the Assumption Church, at Berding and Washington Streets. And of course, when the performance ends, everyone will have enough time to head over to Main Street to see the tree lighting, which happens at 5:30 that evening. Free cookies, cocoa and music by community groups, including Booster Band, Chameleon Singers, 4-H, and Scout Troops will follow.
But plan on staying after that. From 5 to 8 that evening, Portuguese Hall hosts a traditional Portuguese linguica and beans dinner, and everyone’s invited to come for “food and friendliness”.
(“Mad Hatter and Teapot” photo courtesy of Mad Hatter Holiday Festival, and used with permission.)
VALLEJO:
December 6, 2014 – Mad Hatter Holiday Festival, Parade and Tree Lighting, 2 – 11pm Parades and the tree lighting are free.
This one sounds both quirky and wonderful–incorporating two parades, a tree lighting and a costume ball.
At 2:00 that afternoon, festivities start, with dancing horses, train rides, music, food and Alice in Wonderland characters in Unity Plaza, in front of the JFK Library.
Then, the Mad Hatter Parade starts down Georgia Street (from Sonoma to Santa Clara) at 4:30, ending up at the tree-lighting location. The Tree Lighting Ceremony begins at 6:00, with caroling, live performances and a fire-shooting Santa Gnome, and the celebration continues with the Lighted Boat Parade at 6:30.
(“Vicious Cycle” photo courtesy of Mad Hatter Holiday Festival, and used with permission.)
In addition to celebrating Christmas, this is a complete celebration of imagination, and doing things differently. Santa arrives on a Trojan horse, guests get to ride the Mad Hatter’s Giant Sofa, the California Maritime Cadets show up not only in their dress blues, but dancing the waltz!
And if you have your dancing shoes on, you might also like to come to the Mad Hatter Costume Ball, which starts at 7:30 and runs till 11:00 that evening!
(Photo courtesy of Maurice Turner, and used with permission.)
ANAHEIM:
December 6, 2014 – Downtown Anaheim 20th Annual Nutcracker Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Village, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 pm. Free.
Free kids’ crafts, free train rides, and free snow will all be a part of this all-day celebration, a tradition in Anaheim since 1995. But everyone will need their stamina for a day of shopping, celebrating and playing in the snow (um, that’s cold white stuff we usually never see in Southern California, for anyone who’s unfamiliar) so the day starts with a 10 am pancake breakfast with Santa, sponsored by the Anaheim Lions Club.
(Photo courtesy of Maurice Turner, and used with permission.)
The celebration continues with a family music show featuring musical performances by local schools and community groups throughout the day. All-day unique gift shopping is available, and they’ll have an International Food Fair. Be sure to bring your camera for free pictures with Santa, starting at 3 pm (one per family, and get there early; the line cuts off at 5 pm).
Also, something new has been added. This year, you can get your Christmas tree from MUZEO, Anaheim’s interactive museum and cultural center, at their “Pop-up Christmas Tree Shoppe“!
(Photo courtesy of Maurice Turner, and used with permission.)
Then, at 5:45 pm, there’s a procession down Center Street Promenade, led by the Combined Choirs of the Anaheim Union High School District, as everyone prepares for the lighting of Downtown’s living 50-foot Christmas tree. Musical performances, featuring the Anaheim Ballet and Combined Choirs of the Anaheim Union High School District will add a festive note (well, okay, a LOT of festive notes!) to the evening.
And at 7, listen for some familiar “Christmastime” sounds to fill the air, as local jazz musicians The Duck Soup Trio offer a tribute to Vince Guaraldi from MUZEO.
(Photo courtesy of Maurice Turner, and used with permission.)
Would you like to help with this special Anaheim Christmas tradition? According to their flyer, they’re looking for a few good volunteers.
APPLE VALLEY:
December 6, 2014 – Winter Wonderland and Tree Lighting, 2-6 pm. Free.
They’ll have free hot chocolate and ornaments (while supplies last), live entertainment, falling snow and free train rides, along with inflatables and crafts for the kids.
And yay–they’re especially “green” for Christmas, with a live Christmas tree! Santa is scheduled to “ho ho ho” his way up at 6 pm, to do the honors.
(Photo courtesy of the City of Orange, and used with permission.)
ORANGE:
December 7, 2014 – 20th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Candlelight Choir Procession, 3:30 to 5:15 pm. Free.
Christmas carols, family fun and a candlelight choir procession make this a merry time in the city of Orange.
(Photo courtesy of the City of Orange, and used with permission.)
Santa will be there, and so will the Orange Community Master Chorale, led by musical director Michael Short, to sing traditional carols. Nonprofit groups will be on hand selling refreshments and providing youth activities at a nominal charge.
BALBOA ISLAND:
Sunday, December 7, 2014 – Balboa Island Fire Station, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Free.
It’s amazing how much fun snow can be, when you don’t have to shovel it from your front door.
The Balboa Island Fire Station will demonstrate that fact again this Christmas season, as they truck in some of the cold white stuff for the kids to play in. Santa’s scheduled to arrive, and there will be free refreshments, Christmas caroling and the tree lighting at dusk.
And, in case you’re looking for a festive tree-lighting event later this month:
ALTADENA:
December 13, 2014 – 94th Annual Christmas Tree Lane Lighting Ceremony and Winter Arts and Crafts Festival, 2-6 pm. Free.
According to Christmas Tree Lane Association’s website, this historical California Christmas event has its roots (sorry) in a trip which Altadena founder John P. Woodbury took to Italy. Seeing a stand of deodars, Woodbury called them “the most beautiful trees he’d ever seen”, and brought seeds back with him upon his return to California.
As a result, today a group of 150 massive deodars (evergreens, to most of us) line Woodbury Drive. They’re a California landmark, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and the tradition of lighting them for Christmas goes back to 1920, when Pasadena business Frederick C. Nash first suggested lighting up a small stretch of what was then called the Avenue of the Deodars.
And now, nonprofit volunteer group CTLA (Christmas Tree Lane Association) invites you to come be a part of their historic tradition.
They’re having their “Winter Arts and Crafts Festival” that Saturday afternoon, starting at 2 pm. Local bands, choirs and solo performers (and, of course, Santa!) will be on hand–and at dusk, prepare to “ooh” and “ahhh” as the oldest large-scale outdoor Christmas display in the world comes to life with 10,000 lights that you can literally see for a mile.
Would you like to assist CTLA in their all-volunteer effort to keep this special Christmas tradition going? Here’s how you can!