NYE family sleepover at the Aquarium!

December 31, 2008 - January 1, 2009
5pm - 7am

Cost: $70 per guest, $60 per Aquarium member
Ages: +5 years
RSVP: (562) 951-1630

Ring in 2009 with the fishes!

You will start a new tradition when you bring your family to the Aquarium for a very memorable New Year's experience.

The Aquarium of the Pacific invites families to ring in the New Year with the fish during the New Year's Eve Family Sleepover. Guests observe the animals' nocturnal behaviors, learn more about them, and even touch some. Participants get to feed fish, watch a 3D film, and sleep in front of one of the exhibits while counting down to 2009. Refreshments include a pizza dinner, as well as snack, breakfast, and sparkling cider. Everyone takes home an Aquarium T-shirt.

See the Floats before New Year's Day

December 28-31, 2008
Schedules vary by location - see below

Admission: $7 for any two visits, children 3 and under are free. Advance tickets are available through Sharp Seating Company at (626) 795-4171

Experience the magic of the Rose Parade floats before New Year's Day! To see some of these magnificent floral floats in their final stages of preparation for the Rose Parade, visit any of our four locations. You will see a variety of fruit, seeds, bark, grasses and of course, breathtaking flowers being applied to the floats by hard working volunteers as well as experienced professionals.

Located at the Rose Bowl Stadium:

* Rosemont Pavilion
700 Seco St., Pasadena
* Brookside Pavilion (accessible to mobility-impaired viewers)
Lot I - South side of Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena

Schedule:
December 28 and 29: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
December 30: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
December 31: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Located in Pasadena:

* Rose Palace
835 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena

Schedule:
December 28, 29 and 30: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
December 31: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Located in Irwindale:

* Irwindale Pavillion
Exit from the 210 Freeway at Irwindale or travel north on Irwindale and follow event signs

Schedule:
December 28 and 29: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
December 30: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
December 31: Not open to the public .

NORAD tracks Santa

Ho ho ho!

Treecycling

After the holidays, residents are urged to participate in the "Treecycling" tradition by dropping off their trees at several parks throughout the City of Long Beach from December 26 to January 9.

In addition, residents with City refuse service can leave their trees out where trash is normally collected by 7:00 am on Saturday, January 10, and those trees will be Treecycled automatically.

All decorations and stands must be removed, and trees over 12 feet tall must be cut in half.

The following Treecycling sites are open from December 26 to January 9, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm:

CSULB Recycling Center
5800 Atherton Blvd.
east of Bellflower Blvd.

North Police Substation
4891 N. Atlantic Ave.
at Del Amo Blvd.
(enter on 46th St.)

Fire Station No. 14
5200 Eliot St.
at Colorado Ave.

City Operations Center
Environmental Services Bureau
2929 E. Willow St.

Bixby Park
1st St. at Cherry Ave.

Cesar E. Chavez Park
Golden Shore at 4th St.

Houghton Park
Myrtle Ave. at Harding St.

Hudson Park
Hill St. at Webster Ave.

Stearns Park
Corner of 23rd St. and Roycroft Ave.

Veterans Park
28th St. at Pine Ave.

Wardlow Park
Monlaco Rd. at Rutgers Ave.

For more information, visit the City of Long Beach's Environmental Services Bureau website at www.longbeach-recycles.org or call 562.570.4695.

Posada Family Festival - MOLAA

Sunday, December 21, 2008
Noon - 5pm
Museum of Latin American Art
628 Alamitos Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone 562-437-1689

Target Free Sundays
Workshops, vendors, storytelling, performances, and piñata breaking.

From Wikipedia:
Las Posadas (Spanish for "The Inns") is an eight-day celebration with origins in Mexico beginning December 16th and ending December 24th. It is a yearly tradition for many Catholic Mexicans and some other Latin Americans and symbolizes the trials which Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born.

More holiday displays

Seaside Ranchos (Sleepy Hollow), Torrance
PCH & Robert Rd. (enter at Robert Rd.)
This is an entire neighborhood covered in lights.
Either drive very slowly through the streets or park and walk. Some of the kids sell hot chocolate and mistletoe.

*AND*

Candy Cane Lane, El Segundo
Ongoing Daily 12/13/08 - 12/23/08

1200 Acacia
El Segundo CA 90245
The street is closed to cars during the event.

A popular El Segundo holiday tradition for over 50 years, Candy Cane Lane offers every Christmas decoration imaginable in one block of houses. Trains, reindeer, giant characters, music - it's all there. The street dead-ends with a sleigh that features a nightly appearance by Santa Claus sometime between 7pm and 9pm; photos are welcome.

The location is the eastern block of Acacia Avenue and is announced by a Candy Cane Lane sign.

Rent a Christmas Tree!

The Living Christmas Company
Available to most areas of Long Beach and the South Bay
Drop off is only the first two weekends of December

RENT A LIVING TREE THIS CHRISTMAS
and have a live tree delivered directly to your doorstep. It’s fun, it’s easy, and it’s great for your home and the environment. You tell us what type of tree you’d like and we will deliver it to you and pick it up after Christmas.

The Daisy Ave. Christmas Parade

Saturday, December 13, 2008 5pm
Daisy Avenue, Long Beach (between PCH and Willow)

A time-honored tradition of the Christmas Tree Lane Parade on Daisy Avenue continues, open all during the holiday season for carloads of cheery and peaceful holiday sightseeing.

The parade began in 1953 as the brainchild of Gertrude Whittle. Ms. Whittle was able to persuade the Long Beach City Council and Council of Churches to help decorate the grass median on Daisy Avenue, between Pacific Coast Highway and Willow Street, with a Christmas Village and nativity scene. Soon after, many area residents began decorating their homes and Daisy Lane as we now know it, was born! The event grew to include more displays, entertainment and a parade.

Naples Boat Parade

Naples Islands 62nd Annual Boat Parade
Theme: "The Naples Spirit--Joy of Giving"
Saturday, December 13, 2008
6pm - 8pm

Naples Canals
562-253-1626

Small Boat Parade Start Time 6:00 pm
The boats start North of the 2nd street bridge by the Long Beach Yacht Club. The boats travel counter clock wise around the islands and enter the interior. Canal by the Colonnade. At that point they travel clockwise within the canal and then exit and travel back to the Long Beach Yacht Club.

Large Boat Parade Start Time 6:30 pm
The boats travel in the main body of Alamitos Bay in a clockwise circle

There are 3 groups of carolers walking around the islands by the bridges.

Las Posadas - Bowers Museum

Sunday, December 14, 2008
5:00PM - 7:00PM

2002 North Main St.
Santa Ana
714-567-3600

A Traditional Mexican Christmas Celebration
Reenacted in villages of Mexico, this is a celebration of the story of Mary and Joseph's search for a posada (inn). Join us for music, dance, tamales, Mexican hot chocolate, and pan dulce. Co-sponsored by the Stephanie Ortiz Family and Centro Cultural de Mexico.

Winter Village - Maple Village School

Saturday, December 13, 2008
11am-3:30pm

Maple Village School
4017 E. 6th St.
Long Beach
562-331-5905

$5 admission per person includes 3 craft/food tickets
Additional tickets only $1 each
2 and under free

Come wander through the Winter Village!

- Learn how to make natural crafts including candle dipping, wind chimes, ornaments, and snowflakes
- Enjoy homemade organic treats
- Storytelling at 12:30pm and 2pm
- Visit the school shop where you can find homemade beeswax candles, CDs, craft supplies, and more

Cash at the door and ticket booth. Checks accepted at the village shop with ID.
For more information, info@maplevillageschool.org

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.

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

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.