Thursday, November 24, 2011

Holiday fun!

Living Nativity
Friday - Sunday, December 9-11, 7:30pm-9pm
Come follow the path through many scenes, complete with actors and animals.  Enjoy the choirs, musical groups, and refreshments provided by the churches.  This 7 church pagaent begins at St. Cornelius Catholic Church, continues to the Neighborhood church, back along Wardlow and St. Lukes, and ends at University Baptist.  Each church has additional performances in their sanctuary.  3330 Bellflower Blvd., LB http://www.lbcrc.org/ministry65.cfm

Messiah Sing-Along Concert
First time in Long Beach!
Sunday, December 11, 3:30pm-5:30pm
Belmont Heights United Methodist Church
317 Termino Ave., Long Beach
Child care available, reception following, donations accepted
http://www.belmontheightsumc.org/Ministries/Music/default.aspx

Belmont Shore Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 3, 6pm
The 29th Annual Belmont Shore Christmas Parade will have over 100 entries including local marching bands, local non-profit groups, floats representing Long Beach and surrounding areas, dignitaries and local personalities. Floats are encouraged to decorate around this year's theme:  It's a Green Christmas, Recycle, Reuse and Renew!
Second Street, Long Beach
http://www.belmontshore.org/events.php

Daisy Avenue Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 10, 2011 - 5:00 PM
Come home for the holidays! Bring your blankets, chairs and don’t forget to bundle up. You won’t want to miss one second of the magic! This year’s parade is the largest in many years, with even more entries than last year’s parade which drew 17,000 people.  This year features several marching bands and other musical groups amongst some great floats and other entries.  We’ll see you on the lane. Be sure to stop by the new Community Tent for hot chocolate and coffee to keep you warm and meet with your neighbors.
The parade runs along Daisy Avenue between Burnett Street and Pacific Coast Highway.
2200 Daisy Ave., Long Beach
http://www.longbeach.gov/district7/daisyparade.asp

Naples Holiday Boat Parade
Saturday, December 17, 6pm
View the parade from the bridges and along the canals around Naples Island.  From the 2nd Street Bridge, Appian Way Bridge and along Alamitos Bay Marina you can also see the larger vessels that don't fit in the canals.  Alamitos Bay Marina off 2nd Street and Marina Drive offers substantial free parking just over the Davies Bridge from Naples.  Mothers Beach off Ravenna and Appian Way has some metered parking as well as Beach parking at Bayshore and Ocean Boulevard.  Streets close at 5pm.
5656 2nd St., Long Beach
http://www.naplesca.com/

Uptown Village Market - A Handmade Marketplace
The Uptown Village Market is THE newest place for artists and creators of well-crafted goods to show and sell their work. 60 vendors. In conjunction with Bixby Knolls First Friday.
Friday, December 2, 5pm-10pm
Saturday, December 3, 10am-4pm
Expo Arts Center, 4321 Atlantic Ave., LB

http://www.uptownvillagemarket.com/

Old Time Christmas Festival at Rancho Los Cerritos
Sunday, December 4, 1pm-4pm
Explore our decorated 167-year-old adobe house, while discovering Mexican and American holiday traditions from the California frontier.  Join us for a festive afternoon of old-fashioned holiday crafts, storytelling, joyful music, light refreshments and more. Even Santa is scheduled to appear!  A family-themed event including a handbell choir along with a piƱata. A $3 donation is suggested.
4600 Virginia Rd., Long Beach
http://www.rancholoscerritos.org/2011%20COH%20V2%20Revised%5B1%5D.pdf

Holiday Boutique at Our Lady of Refuge Church
Saturday, December 3, 9am-5:30pm
Sunday, December 4, 8:30am-2:30pm
5195 Stearns St., Long Beach
http://events.presstelegram.com/long-beach-ca/events/show/224416924-holiday-boutique

Picture with Santa
Children can drop off their letters to Santa and have their pictures taken with St. Nick from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Marketplace Long Beach, located at Second Street and PCH.  Shoppers can also enjoy holiday caroling from local choirs and performers.
http://www.marketplacelongbeach.com/archives/4451

Tree Lighting at Good Neighbor Park
Sunday, December 4, 6 p.m.
Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske invites you to a Tree Lighting Ceremony and “Th e Smurfs” movie  Featuring a special visit from Santa.  Please bring a new, unwrapped toy or piece of sports equipment in support of the Long Beach Fire ghter’s “Spark of Love” toy drive. For more information, call (562) 570-6932.
2800 Studebaker Rd., Long Beach
http://www.longbeach.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=32787

Rancho Los Alamitos Holiday Open House Tours
Thursday & Friday, December 15 & 16, 1pm-7pm
Strolling carolers 5pm-7pm each eventing
Free admission, reservations required 562-431-3541
Come enjoy the beautifully decorated ranch house and complimentary holiday treats.
http://www.rancholosalamitos.com/events.html

Monday, December 26, 2011 - 11:30 AM - 4 PM
Veterans Park - 101 E. 28th Street
The snow is returning to Wrigley, more than twelve tons of it!  Join us for a day in the snow, fun games and activities.  http://www.longbeach.gov/district7/daisyparade.asp

Saturday, December 3, 9am-2pm
Dozens of vendors, training demonstrations, prize drawings, live music, and gourmet food trucks.  This Holiday Bone-Anza festival is to raise funds for a much needed dog park in East Long Beach and to foster the community support necessary to turn this dream into a reality.  El Dorado Dog Park will not only provide off-leash playtime for dogs and their owners, but will also be a place to encourage responsible pet ownership and to build community awareness of animal welfare issues through classes and special events.
2800 Studebaker Rd., Long Beach   http://www.eldoradodogparkfriends.org/events/
 
The Nutcracker
Saturday, December 17th at 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 18th at Noon and 4:00 p.m.
A cast of more than 200 will be accompanied by a full symphony orchestra, children's choir, a live horse, a flying sleigh and on-stage pyrotechnics. $24-$48  Long Beach Terrace Theatre, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.
http://longbeachnutcracker.com/

A Christmas Carol
Preview tickets $5!
In celebration of the Charles Dickens Bicentennial, LBSC presents a new, original stage adaptation ... featuring scenes rarely--if ever--included on stage or screen. Taken straight from the novel!
Goad Theater, 4250 Atlantic, Long Beach, CA 90807
November 30-December 18, Regular price $10-$20
http://www.lbshakespeare.org/

Knotts Merry Farm
Toys for Tots Drive, December 3-18
Knott's Merry Farm and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve will once again be teaming up to provide hundreds of toys for needy families throughout the southland.  With a purchase of a $20 gift from one of several merchandise locations in Knott's Marketplace, guests will receive FREE admission to Knott's Merry Farm.  Those wishing to bring their own new, unwrapped gift valued at $20 or more, will be given a voucher to purchase a regular Knott's Merry Farm admission for only $20.
http://www.knotts.com/public/admission/prices/deals.cfm

Banning Museum
Saturday & Sunday, December 3 & 4
We are happy to present you with the annual and festive, Victorian Christmas celebration. In addition to tours of the Museum, you will enjoy free transport on a horse-drawn trolley between the Museum and Drum Barracks Civil War Museum as well as specially planned old fashioned activities. Visit the Stage Coach Barn for crafts, enjoy complimentary cookies and hot cider and a visit from jolly St. Nick!
401 East M Street, Wilmington http://www.banningmuseum.org/events.php

EquestFest
Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive, Burbank, CA 91506
Friday, December 30, 11am-3pm  $15, children under 5 free, parking $5
One of these days we'll get to this highly recommended event.
Festive fun for the entire family! Up close and personal... Meet many of the Equestrians you will see New Year's Day in the 2012 Rose Parade! The is the best family equestrian event of the year. Don't miss it!  Watch in awe as these beautiful horses and talented riders perform drills and dances, and demonstrate trick riding and roping. It's the "wild west" brought to life! Stroll through the stables and talk to the riders. Learn about the various tack and the many different breeds. Take advantage of wonderful one-of-a-kind photo opportunities.  Enjoy ongoing performances, demonstrations and exhibits! There will also be great music as well as food and beverage concessions on site.
http://www.tournamentofroses.com/PasadenaTournamentofRoses/Events/tabid/1482/ModuleID/3601/ItemID/30/mctl/EventDetails/Default.aspx

Holiday Light Exchange
Trade up to ten working strings of old electricity guzzling incandescent holiday lights for ten new energy efficient LED strings.  Must be an Edison customer; utility bill or drivers license required.
Wednesday, November 30
7:30am-11:30am, West Annex, 3031 Torrance Blvd, Torrance
1pm-5pm, City Hall Public Works, 340 Palos Verdes Drive West, Palos Verdes Estates
http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_19372849

Holiday Mail for Heroes
Share your appreciation for the sacrifices members of the U.S. Armed Forces make to protect our freedoms by sending a card this season. The Holiday Mail for Heroes mail box is open and ready to receive your mail. Please send all mail to:
Holiday Mail For Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
http://www.redcross.org/holidaymail

Portable North Pole
Send a personal video from Santa! In just a few easy steps, you can create a personalized video from Santa Claus for your children, friends, family members or colleagues you choose, by providing a few details.
http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/home

NORAD Santa Tracker
The program began on December 24, 1955 when a Sears department store placed an advertisement in a Colorado Springs newspaper which told children that they could telephone Santa Claus and included a number for them to call. However, the telephone number printed was incorrect and calls instead came through to Colorado Springs' Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Center. Colonel Shoup, who was on duty that night, told his staff to give all children that called in a "current location" for Santa Claus. A tradition began which continued when the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) replaced CONAD in 1958.  Now families can click through to NORAD's Santa Tracker on Christmas Eve to follow his yearly trip around the world.
http://www.noradsanta.org/

And finally, ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas!
http://a.media.abcfamily.go.com/a/media/pdf/25DOC_PGuide_2011.pdf

Happy Holidays everyone!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Children's Harvest Festival!

We used to go to this every year!  Best for kids 3-8 years.  Wear your costumes!

Starry Sky, Harvest Moon
Rancho Los Alamitos
Sunday, October 30
11:30am-4:30pm
Refreshments available
Free admission and parking
Park at CSULB Lot 11 for shuttle service
(Palo Verde & Redina Sts.)

Enjoy a day of astronomical exploration, storytelling, costume parade, music
and dance as we celebrate Earth’s transitional season of Autumn; a time
when the night sky glows with celestial wonder, animals prepare for
winter and people throughout the world observe the notable occasion of harvest.


- At noon, join the Free to be Me Drum Circle and hail the spirit of the season.- Children come in costume and join the parade at 2:00 p.m.
- Hear stories of Tongva celestial lore told by Craig Torres, Tongva Educator.
- Long Beach’s own Elm Street Band celebrates the Rancho from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Craft celestial lore: Stars with Stories to Tell; Sun, Earth and Moon with Time to Tell.
- Enjoy Creatures of the Night art exhibit presented by St. Joachim School 2nd grade students.
- South Lawn Games presented by BSA Troop 126. (Race through Space: Zoo in the Sky Relay,
Shoot the Moon and Earth’s Run from the Sun)
- Out of This World Games hosted by CSULB Recreation and Leisure Studies students.
- Children and adults join Chef Debbi Dubbs as she demonstrates harvest fare.
- Throughout the gardens experience seasonal crafts and a solar system of fruits and
vegetables sponsored by Melissa’s Produce.



http://rancholosalamitos.com/events/2011_fall_fest/starry_sky.pdf