CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS 2009

                                          

Yeah, we are in the midst of the Great Recession, but it is important to remember
the holidays.  So as a part of our annual commitment to Californians, here is this
year's list of just some of the great holiday events across the Golden State.

                                                                                                                            ENJOY!

Light Shows Extraordinaire

Holiday of Lights: The Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego are transformed into
the largest animated, drive-through light show on the West Coast. More than
400 twinkling displays are organized into themes, including Candy Cane Lane,
Toyland and Elves at Play. New for 2009, viewers can opt for a hayride to
travel the 1.5-mile route. Details: Nov. 25-Jan. 3, www.sdfair.com/holidayoflights,
858-755-1161. $14/car up to five people, $19 for six or more.

DWP Holiday Light Festival: The 14th annual Los Angeles Department of Water and
Power light show extravaganza illuminates a one-mile segment of Crystal Springs
Drive. One 200-foot-wide exhibit commemorates the department's century of service
to Los Angeles. The light show goes "green" Dec. 4-17 with vehicle-free, pedestrian
-only access. Details: Dec. 4-30, www.dwplightfestival.com, 213-367-1255. Free.

Christmas Tree Lane: The beauty of Oxnard's historic home district comes to life
with houses outlined in twinkling, colored lights and grounds covered in large,
creative displays. Cars coast slowly and pedestrians amble past red lights in the
shape of draped wreaths and white life-size reindeer. Details: Dec. 13-26,
www.visitoxnard.com, 800-269-6273. Free.  

Fresno’s 87th annual Christmas Tree Lane.  A two mile lone stretch of Van Ness
Blvd. is lit up. See http://www.oldfig.org/about/christmastreelane.html  for more
information.

America’s Largest Living Christmas Tree:  See the tree in Ferndale

Parades

14th Annual Lighted Tractor Parade in Calistoga: Experience the ultimate small-town
holiday cheer when decorated vintage and modern tractors, antique trucks, human-
powered vehicles and construction equipment roll down Main Street in Calistoga.
Downtown merchants along the parade route will host open houses offering hot cider
and cookies. Details: Dec. 5, www.calistogachamber.com/chamberevents, 707-942-6333.
Free.

45th Annual Woodland Holiday Parade: One of Northern California's largest holiday
parades, more than 175 entries march, perform and entertain in "Making Spirits Bright"
on Main Street in Woodland. Following bands, dance and majorette groups, equestrians,
local floats and more is Santa Claus in an antique fire engine. Details: Dec. 12,
www.woodlandchamber.org, 530-662-7327. Free.

Holiday Bowl, San Diego:
The Holiday Bowl Parade will take place on Dec. 30th along the San Diego waterfront. 
See the largest big balloon parade on the west coast. See www.HolidayBowl.com for
details

Waterside for the Holidays

Capitola's Surfin' Santa on Capitola Beach: Santa and his reindeer trade their
sleigh for surfboards. Once on the beach, Santa pulls out the ubiquitous beach
chair to visit with children and families, dispensing candy canes and holiday
wishes. Details: Nov. 28, www.santacruz.org, 831-475-6522. Free.

38th Annual Parade of Lights: "Christmas at the Zoo" is the theme for San Diego's
boat parade along the downtown waterfront. More than 100 vessels put on their best
holiday attire to wow crowds from Shelter Island to the Ferry Landing Marketplace.
A fireworks extravaganza kicks off the event. Details: Dec. 13, 20,
www.sdparadeoflights.org, 619-224-2240. Free.

101st Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade: Newport Beach Harbor will blaze with
lights to the theme of "The Joys of Christmas Toys." Some decorated yachts, boats,
kayaks and canoes will sport animated Christmas scenes accompanied by costumed
carolers and music. Along the harbor's 14 miles, they will pass the Ring of Lights,
beautifully decorated homes and businesses that serve as a backdrop. Details:
Dec. 16-20, www.christmasboatparade.com, 949-729-4400. Free. 

                                                    

Holiday Music & Performing Arts

Home for the Holidays:  Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra: December 12.
Concerts at 2pm and 8 pm.  Mondavi Center on the campus of UC Davis.  Tickets $30
and $40 Information:  (916) 536-9065

Celebrations and Fairs

Yule Fest Celebration: The Danish-style village of Solvang dresses up with lights
and seasonal adornments in November and December for its annual Winterfest
Celebration. More than 150 boutiques and specialty shops host open houses. Street
musicians and singers give voice to this year's theme of the "Village of Music,"
and Solvang Park's Gazebo echoes with Christmas carolers. Mark your calendars for
the tree-lighting ceremony and arrival of St. Nick on Dec. 4, the Julefest Parade
on Dec. 5, the Nativity Pageant on Dec. 12 and the Winter Solstice Party on
Dec. 18. Details: Nov. 20-Jan. 8, www.solvangusa.com, 800-468-6765. Free.

Gingerbread Village at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego: Vote for your
favorite gingerbread house in the hotel's Grand Lobby. Each house is created
by local students working with Hyatt chefs. Included is a 6-foot-tall replica
of the Hyatt Hotel. Supporting this year's theme of "Kids Giving to Kids,"
visitors are asked to bring an unwrapped gift for Toys for Tots. Details:
Nov. 30-Dec. 27, www.manchestergrand.hyatt.com, 619-232-1234. Free.

Gold Country Christmas Fun: The 35th Annual Sonora Christmas Craft and Music
Festival brings together more than 200 craft artists, performers (including
the Christmas Jug Band, Grinn & Barrett and Sourdough Slim), costumed elves,
carolers, an igloo-ensconced Santa Claus and more. Details: Nov. 27-29,
www.fireonthemountain.com/craft.html, 209-533-3473. $7 general, $5 seniors,
free ages 12 and younger.

Columbia State Historic Park: Lamplight Tours is an evening walking play, where
groups are guided by lamplight from scene to scene by costumed docents. Miner's
Christmas recreates life in the 1850s with costumed docents telling Christmas
stories, chestnuts roasting over open fires and candy canes being made. Details:
Lamplight Tours -- Dec. 4-5, www.columbiagazette.com/lamplight.html, 209-533-4117.
$15-$20. Miner's Christmas -- Dec. 12,-13, 19-20, www.columbiagazette.com/miners.html,
209-588-9128. Free.  

Deck the Halls

Old-Fashioned Christmas at Rancho Guajome Adobe: Step back to the days of a 1800s
Spanish-American holiday at Vista's Rancho Guajome Adobe. Stroll through 28 rooms,
where pine cones, pepper tree branches, dried fruits and flowers are transformed
into wreaths, garlands and centerpieces. Try your hand at candle dipping and making
cornhusk dolls and caramel-candy apples. Enjoy performances by skilled equestrians,
the ballet folklorico dance troupe and more. Details: Nov. 25-26,
www.historyandculture.com/guajome, 760-724-4082. Free.

Christmas at the Inns, Pacific Beach: Relish the splendor of the Victorian era in
Pacific Grove, as nine bed-and-breakfast inns and former grand mansions, as well
as the Phoebe Hearst Social Hall at Asilomar Conference Center, shine with festive
decorations. The tour includes light refreshments and entertainment. Details:
Dec. 1-2, www.pacificgrove.com, 831-373-3304. $20 for both days. 

Candle Light Tours- Mendocino: The bed and breakfast inns all along the rugged
coast of Mendocino County in Northern California are celebrating the 21st
anniversary of their candlelight tours for the holidays. Between December 9-11
(Wednesday through Friday), there are special activities and refreshments for
visitors. This year, proceeds will benefit programs for Mendocino Coast youth
through Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Mendocino County and MUSE (the Mendocino
Unified School Enrichment) fund. For more information, call 707-964-1228

Holiday Feasting

Vintners' Holidays and the Bracebridge Dinner: The magnificence of Yosemite
National Park in winter sets the scene for two holiday food and wine pageants
hosted by the Ahwahnee Hotel. Vintners' Holidays lets participants personally
interact with vintners, attend wine seminars and taste the latest wines. At a
gala five-course dinner, they will dine with wine makers, owners and growers.
Details: Nov. 29-Dec. 3. $199 for dinner-only tickets. For the four-hour pageant
of food, song and mirth that is the Bracebridge Dinner, Ahwahnee is transformed
into the Great Hall of a 17th century English manor. More than 100 players work
the room with carols, Renaissance rituals and entertainment while guests enjoy
a seven-course banquet. Details: Select dates from Dec. 13 to 25. From $963 for
lodging and dinner for two. www.YosemitePark.com/events, 801-559-4884.

The Twelve Days of Christmas: Twelve is the magic number in the Napa Valley.
For 12 nights in December, Meadowood in St. Helena teams 12 top chefs with 12
of Napa Valley's preeminent vintners to create holiday feasts. Proceeds benefit
Share Our Strength, a national child hunger prevention organization. Details:
Dec. 4-19, www.meadowood.com, 707-968-3153. From $950 per couple for one-night's
lodging and dinner for two.

Healdsburg Wine Country Christmas: Stretch a holiday dining experience to four
courses at four restaurants over a three-hour period in Healdsburg's Strolling
Dine Around. Eighteen eateries near historic Healdsburg Plaza offer guests their
choice of appetizer, first course, main course and dessert in an elegant
progressive dinner. Details: Dec. 9-10, 16-17, www.healdsburg.com, 707-479-7488,
$85 per person.

Dickens Dinner: Madrona Manor in Healdsburg is sumptuously decked out in holiday
finery, with staff in 19th-century period dress, for the Dickens Dinners. Enjoy
an elegant, candlelit three-course menu of traditional fare, while the Twelfth
Night carolers sing through the dining rooms. Details: Dec. 11-24,
www.madronamanor.com, 707-433-4231, $85-$1,155 per person.  

For the Youngsters

Disneyland: The Magic Kingdom adds festive glitter with special attractions that
include a 60-foot-tall Christmas tree featuring 62,000 LED lights and ornaments;
Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle sporting 50,000 lights; and Main Street rocking
with the Christmas Fantasy Parade, Believe in Holiday Magic Fireworks Spectacular
and nightly snowfall. It's a Small World hums for the holiday season and the
Haunted Mansion takes on Tim Burton's "The Nightmare before Christmas." Details:
Nov. 10-Jan. 3, www.disneyland.com, 714-781-4565. $72 general and $62 ages 3-9
for one-day, one-park ticket.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: Vallejo's amusement park creates themed wonderlands
such as Candy Cane Lane, Reindeer Village and Prancer's Play Area with life-size
toys and lots of entertainment. Highlights include an 80-foot white fir tree,
nightly holiday parade and Blitzen's Wonderland Mountain, doubled in size from
last year, where children can play in snow. Details: Weekends Nov. 27-Dec. 13,
daily Dec. 19-Jan. 3, www.sixflags.com, 707-643-6722. $29.99 online ticket
special for all ages.

Legoland Holiday Block Party: The entire theme park morphs into Holly Jolly
Holidays with a 30-foot decorated tree and a 7-foot Santa and reindeer, all
made of Legos and festive entertainment, carolers, elves, strolling musicians
and nightly fireworks. Kids can search for miniature Santas and reindeers
throughout Miniland USA and watch "Let It Snow" with dancing and songs.
Details: Dec. 19-31, www.legoland.com, 760-918-5346. $65 general, $55 ages 3-12
and 60 and older.

More Holiday Cheer

Finally as a side note, if this is not enough, go to the following for even
more information on Christmas activities across the state -
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/california/california-christmas-trees.html