2010 SOUTH BAY HOLIDAY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

The holiday season is upon us. The South Bay doesn’t have a white winter or roasting chestnuts or open fires outside of Dockweiler Beach, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of options keep you entertained and filled with holiday cheer. Here is what you have to look forward to in the coming months.

Snowfest

December 4, 2010
Pier Avenue, Hermosa Beach

A portion of lower Pier Avenue will be transformed into a hill of snow in early December for the city's first annual Snowfest. Pier plaza will be home to the Christmas tree-lighting, and family-friendly snowboard movies will also be showing. There will also be music from carolers and local high school bands up and down Pier Avenue before Santa Claus arrives on a fire truck. Snowfest will start with a snowboard demo at 3 p.m., followed by free lessons and sledding until the event closes at 9 p.m. Hermosa Beach's downtown will be painted into a winter wonderland and everyone should be a part of this magic.

Del Mar Holiday of Lights

Alert: Outside the Bubble
From November 25,2010 through Sunday January 2, 2011
Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-10:00PM
Friday and Saturday, 5:30-10:30PM

Celebrate the holiday season on city of HB trip to Del Mar! The fun begins with dinner at the elegant Five Crowns Restaurant in Corona Del Mar.After dinner you'll head to the Del Mar racetrack and fairgrounds for their annual "Holiday of Lights" display. This drive-through holiday light show is the largest of it's kind on the West Coast with more than 300 spectacular animated light displays. $67/$62 resident discount. Enjoy the Holiday Hayride, holiday music and the firepits for roasting marshmallows.

More info on their website!

Victorian Christmas Celebration

Alert: Outside the Bubble
December 1, 8, & 15, 2010 - 6:00pm - 9:00 pm
December 12 & 19, 2010 from 1:30pm - 6pm

 

Holiday celebrants fill the downtown Nevada City streets, sampling the outdoor fare of friendly hawkers and vendors and food and goods offered by downtown restaurants and specialty shops. Victorian singers, bagpipers, a living nativity scene and visits with Santa Claus are among the attractions. Taste chestnuts roasted on an open fire and enjoy strolling minstrels, brass bands, hay wagon rides and much more. Nevada City's Victorian Christmas 2009 is featured Wednesday nights, Dec. 2, 9 and 16 from 6-9 p.m., and on two Sunday afternoons, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20, from 1:30-6 p.m. There is no admission charge.

During the event, Nevada City’s landmark historic district is closed to motorized traffic and transformed back in time. Christmas melodies and costumed characters remind visitors of another time and place.

Check out their site for more info!

Santa on the Redondo Beach Pier

December 11, 2010
4:30pm – 7pm

Come out as Santa welcomes families to the Redondo Beach Pier. This event is FREE to the public. Take your photo with Santa and get a candy cane or other sweet treat. Christmas carolers will be singing holiday tunes. Bring an unwrapped toy to donate to Cheer for Children, a charity benefiting terminally ill children. For more information, visit www.RedondoPier.com.

Sand Snowman Contest & Photos with Surfing Santa

December 11, 2010
9am-12pm

North of Pier at Shoreline. The weatherman says it's nothing but sand! Sand! Sand! Sand! Bring your family and friends, shovels, scarves and mittens because in Hermosa Beach we make SAND SNOWMEN! This unique holiday tradition is open to all ages and abilities. Come early and mark your spot for the best Sand Snowman! Don't forget to bring the kids for a special picture with surfing Santa! Event check-in begins at 8:45 am and sculpting begins at 9:00 am. For more information, contact the Community Resources Department at 310.318-0280.

Annual King Harbor Christmas Parade

December 11, 2010
5:30 pm

Nothing says California Christmas events like a boat parade. Combining the love of California beaches and waterways with the spirit of celebration, dedicated yachtsmen spend thousands of dollars on intricate lighting systems to deck out their boats and yachts for the annual King Harbor Christmas Parade. The seaworthy vessels within the channel follow a route that sweeps past vantage points where the public can watch the spectacular display of colors, designs and themes, often tied to the Southern California lifestyle.

This year the nautical parade will feature Emmy Award-winning Grand Marshall Rick Hearst of General Hospital daytime "soap" television series. He'll stand aboard the lead boat and wave to the crowd throughout the parade route, providing opportunities for the public to get a glimpse of this Hollywood celebrity. An annual tradition for over 15 years, the holiday boat parade held each year in mid-December usually runs 90 minutes at dusk (around 5:30 p.m.) Best viewing areas for this event are the restaurants and breakwall areas in the Redondo Beach harbor. Yacht and boat owners can sign up to participate (fee charged) at khyc.com. The event is sponsored by the King Harbor Yacht Club.

Manhattan Beach Holiday Fireworks Festival

December 12, 2010
Manhattan Beach Pier

The Manhattan Beach Holiday Fireworks Festival is held at the Pier every year in December. This year's Fireworks Festival will take place on December 12, 2010 and will include the following events:

• 4:00 PM - Skechers Snow Park opens
• 4:00 PM - Michael Stars Bounce Park opens
• 4:00 PM - Chamber's Santa arrives and greets kids
• 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM - Local Bands lead holiday sing-a-long
• 7:00 PM - Fireworks Show choreographed to seasonal music

Bring blankets, beach chairs and coolers to pick a spot for the spectacular show.

The Holiday Fireworks are expected to go forward, rain or shine, on Sunday.

The Nutcracker – Presented by Los Angeles Ballet

December 24, 2010, 2 pm
Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center

Welcome to the world of The Nutcracker. This is the production that is the heart of Redondo Beach's year-end holiday season. Whether it is a family tradition or a once-in-a-lifetime visit, your experience of this glittering classic ballet will stay with you forever and warm your spirit. From the moment the lights dim, you will be transported to a magical place filled with adorable children, marching toy soldiers, a glowing giant Christmas tree that seemingly grows forever, mischievous mice, crystalline waltzing snowflakes, the Land of Sweets and some of the most glorious dancing on earth.

There you go…fireworks, surfing santa, ice skating on the beach, a holiday pub crawl and everything in between. Grab a jacket or at least a hoodie and join your fellow locals for these unique winter season events.

Happy Holidays to everyone from SBE!