Christmas Crafts Village - Knotts Berry Farm

November 27 - December 24

8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park, CA
714.220.5200

Knott's turns its historic Ghost Town into an enchanted 1880s Victorian shopping village brimming with strolling carolers, community choirs, brass bands, and dozens of artisans and craftsfolk selling their one-of-a-kind wares. Kids can visit and take photos with Santa Claus, too.

Cost: Mon-Fri: Adults $10; Children (3-11) $5, (under 3) free; park admission required Sat-Sun

The Cinnamon Bear

From around the web:

The Cinnamon Bear is an old time radio program. The series was specifically designed to be listened to six days a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was first broadcast between Friday, November 26 and Saturday December 25, 1937.

The story focused on Judy and Jimmy Barton who go to the enchanted world of Maybeland to recover their missing Silver Star that belongs on their Christmas tree. Helping on the search is the Cinnamon Bear, a stuffed bear with shoe-button eyes and a green scarf. They meet other memorable characters during their quest, including the Crazy Quilt Dragon (who repeatedly tries to take the star for himself) , the Wintergreen Witch, Fe Fo the Giant and Santa Claus.

Free SD Zoo ticket with $75 gift card at Irvine Spectrum

November 28 - December 31

71 Fortune Drive
Irvine, CA 92618

Purchase Irvine Spectrum Center gift cards totaling $75 or more at the Guest Services Kiosks between November 28 and December 31, 2008 and receive a FREE Adult Best Value Ticket to the San Diego Zoo. *For every $75 spent on Irvine Company Retail Properties gift cards, one (1) free ticket will be supplied. Offer good while ticket supplies last. Offer only available at the Irvine Spectrum Center Guest Services Kiosks and The Market Place Management Office on gift card purchases with a cumulative value of $75 or higher. San Diego Zoo tickets expire 2/28/09. Limit 4 tickets per person per transaction.

Holiday Open House at Rancho Los Alamitos

1920s HOLIDAY HOSPITALITY OPEN HOUSE

December 10 thru December 14, 2008
Admission is free
Parking reservations are required

6400 Bixby Hill Road
Long Beach, CA 90815
(Enter through residential security gate at the intersection of Anaheim & Palo Verde)
(562) 431-3541

You are invited to experience holiday hospitality and family life at the Bixby ranch as it was in the 1920s featuring a cast of characters from the era.

Wednesday, December 10, 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 11, 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Friday, December 12, 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 13, 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
(visits with Santa 1:00-4:00)
Sunday, December 14, 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
(visits with Santa 1:00-4:00)

Performances by Excelsus Music Collaborators and
Pacific Bells Hand Bell Ensemble, light refreshments and
shopping opportunities will help make your visit sparkle.

For more information, please contact Hayley Allen at (562) 431-3541 ext 101

The Glory of Christmas

November 28 - January 4
2008 Prices: $35, $40, $45
Discount night - all seats: $20.00


12141 Lewis St.
Garden Grove, CA 92840
714-54-GLORY (714-544-5679) or 1-877-544-5679

The performance runs one and one-half hours. Please dress warmly. Parking is complimentary on the cathedral grounds.

The Crystal Cathedral's Glory of Christmas is an old-fashioned Christmas pageant, but this production is anything but old-fashioned. Glory of Christmas angels fly through the air. Live adult camels, horses and other livestock appear on stage.

Disney Outlet in Rancho PV

There is a permanent Disney Outlet Store in Fullerton, but now AMS Character Warehouse has opened a temporary outlet in Rancho Palos Verdes!

AMS Character Warehouse
The Terraces Shopping Center
28901 South Western Ave. #137
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90257

DISNEY items are discounted up to 85% off the original retail.
Items include adult and children's clothing, toys, plush characters, collectibles, and much more.

The Rancho Palos Verdes event closes January 4th.

2nd Annual Tree Lighting

Good Neighbor Park
2800 Studebaker Rd.

Sunday, December 7, 2008
5pm: Tree Lighting followed by the movie "Prancer"

The first 400 guests can enjoy free popcorn and cookies.
Get in the spirit by donating an unwrapped toy to the Long Beach Firefighters and Long Beach Police Officers Toy Drive.

Special showing of the movie "Prancer" featured on a 29-foot inflatable screen. Please bring lawn chairs, and blankets.
There will also be a special appearance by Santa Claus and carols performed by the High Tide Quartet.

Ice Skating on the Beach!

You can't get any more "holidays in SoCal" than that. :-)

Located at:
Seaside Lagoon
200 Portofino Way,
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Parking at:
181 N. Harbor Drive

Seaside Ice will be open for general skating and private parties: November 18, 2008 through January 11, 2009.

Public skating sessions during the following hours:
Monday - Thursday: 11:00am - 9:30pm
Friday: 11:00am - 10:00pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10:00am - 10:00pm

Skating admission is $14 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under (including skate rental) and can be purchased at the Seaside Lagoon after November 18.

Group rates - 10% discount available for parties of 20 or more that book and pay in advance. E-mail azumi@seasideice.com or call 310-318-6300 for reservations.

Flat rate parking validation ($4.50) included with skating admission.

Food Drive

November 19 - December 31, 2008
Donation sites and list of suggestions.

All of the food donated during this food drive will benefit Long Beach residents. Long Beach-based Food Finders will collect from the 28 locations and then re-distribute the donated food to more than 100 organizations in Long Beach.

"Our phones have been ringing off the hook," said Arlene Mercer, Food Finders executive director. "Some people who are calling have lost their jobs, but many are still working in low paying jobs and can't afford to feed their families. People simply can’t keep up with the high cost of food, housing, healthcare and gas. Our organizations have seen a 45% increase of people requesting help compared to last year."

About Food Finders
Food Finders, Inc. is a multi-regional food bank that serves as a conduit between the donors, service agencies and people in need. The non-profit provides food to feed the impoverished and hungry people, and referral services in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. For more information, visit http://www.foodfinders.org.

The Nutcracker

Long Beach Ballet

The Terrace Theatre
Long Beach Performing Arts Center
4 Performances Only

Saturday, December 20 2pm
Saturday, December 20 8pm
Sunday, December 21 2pm
Sunday, December 21 8pm

Tickets 562-426-4622
Tickets also available through Ticketmaster
$42-$20

Holiday Cards To Our Troops

Send a card to a member of the armed services through the Red Cross.

Holiday Mail For Heroes
Please include the following:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Guidelines:
• All cards must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, December 10, 2008. Cards sent after this date will be returned to sender.
• Participants are encouraged to limit the number of cards they submit to 25 from any one person or 50 from any one class or group. If you are mailing a larger quantity, please bundle the cards and place them in large mailing envelopes. Each card does not need its own envelope or postage.
• Please ensure that all cards are signed.
• Please use generic salutations such as "Dear Service Member." Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.
• Please send cards as opposed to long letters which delay a quick review process.
• Please do not include email or home addresses on the cards, as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
• Please do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.

For further information and to send phone cards, gift cards, and CARE packages:
http://www.redcross.org/email/saf/

Petite Montessori Preschool

Petite Montessori of Long Beach
An in-home preschool in Lakewood Village
562-425-8205

Children 2.9 years+
Hours: M-F 7am-5:30pm
Tuition: $750 full-time -- music, yoga, and meals are included
Part-time spaces are limited

Petite Montessori is dedicated to providing a preschool program in a relaxed, warm and loving home atmosphere that allows children age 2.9 years and up to develop at their own pace. It is our belief that it is important to encourage children to adopt a hands on approach in exploring their world using their senses. This is why our program, which is based on the Montessori philosophy, encourages the growth of intellectual, social and physical skills by offering a variety of developmentally appropriate materials and enrichment activities. We are committed to integrity, honesty and communication with parents and feel that those qualities are of utmost importance in any childcare setting.

DWP Holiday Light Festival

Griffith Park
November 24 - December 30
5-10 p.m.
Free
The DWP's annual Light Festival starts off with a bicycle-only preview night, Monday Nov 24, followed by a "vehicle-free" period Nov. 25-Dec. 7.
Starting December 8, everyone can enjoy the holiday lights spectacular. Parking is
available at the L.A. Zoo.

Felt Club

Craft fair featuring 150 booths displaying a variety of handmade goods.

Sunday, November 16, 2008
11am-7pm
Cost: Adults $5 (suggested donation); Children (under 14) free
Shrine Auditorium
700 W. 32nd St.
Los Angeles

That's right-our Holiday 2008 event is here at last! Hosted by three-time Martha Stewart guest, LA's beloved histotainer Charles Phoenix, this family-friendly event features nearly twice as many crafters as last year-over 125!-a full snack bar offering salads, sandwiches, pastries, coffee( plus beer, wine & MARGARITAS!) great music from DJs Lance Rock (Yo Gabba Gabba), Dirty Robot and Mr. Cocoon. We'll also be treated to a few ditties from Mother Gem herself, Leslie Hall (who will also be vending!). You can even wrap up your new finds in the DIY Recycled Giftwrap booth, hosted by ReForm School. It's all going down at our brand new location: the Shrine Auditorium Expo Center in downtown LA. The first 250 visitors get a swag bag full of outstanding treats from our sponsors & vendors, plus we'll be giving away awesome door prizes all day long.

Low priced movies

Four Star Cinema
12111 Valley View Street
(between Chapman & Lampson)
Garden Grove, CA 92845
Phone: (714) 934-6377

First run films on a budget
4 screens with one family film


$4 before noon
$5 12pm-6pm
Tuesdays $3 all day

Wings Over Long Beach

Wings Over Long Beach is an aerospace exhibition and job fair in conjunction with Air Force Week and the 85th anniversary of Long Beach airport.

Aviation and space technology will be on public display. Tours of aircraft, interaction with pilots, space professionals, flight schools, airlines, and more will be available. There is also a kids zone.

Saturday, November 15 and Sunday, November 16, 2008
9am-4pm
General Admission: $5
Children under 5: free
Parking: free