CULVER CITY Tree Lighting

Culver City Celebrates Holidays With a Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, December 6 at 6 pm.

The event features an appearance by Santa Claus all the way from the North Pole. There will be hot cider, hot cocoa and festive treats to make everyone feel merry, plus performances by local choirs and appearances by the Mayor and city council members. Culver City makes this holiday celebration "green" and energy efficient, lighting a 22-foot artificial tree with LED lights. Stay afterwards for a spin on the outdoor Holiday Ice Rink. Presented by the Downtown Business Association and the City of Culver City.

 Holiday coverage sponsored by Gallery Judaica

Chanukah Family Festival
Kids get to build a Giant Balloon Menorah at the Annual Chanukah Festival on Monday, December 10, at 5:30 pm at Westfield Culver City Mall at the Level 1 KIDS COURT near JCPenney.

There will be clowns, latkes, children’s crafts, music, dreidels and more. Via Culver City Patch.

Free and a light up menorah necklace for the first 50 registrants.

Operation USA Hosting an Annual Holiday Toy Drive

Help make the holidays brighter for underprivileged children, teens and women throughout the greater Los Angeles area by dropping off new, unwrapped toys by Thursday, December 17 at 3617 Hayden Ave., Suite A.

Toys will be provided to homeless shelters, battered women’s shelters, non-profit community clinics and group homes—bringing much needed cheer this holiday season.

Operation USA is also requesting gifts for women and their newborns, as well as gifts for teenagers who are often forgotten. For older kids, basketballs, art supplies, gift certificates, a journal or warm scarf… anything that will help them feel special. Babies always need blankets and snuggy-suits.

Pop Up Ice Skating Rink

A downtown Culver City parking lot is now a 250-person ice skating rink until New Year’s Day. Operating hours are from noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; noon to 11:30 p.m. Fridays and 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on weekends.

Veterans Park Tower Lighting Ceremony
Ring in the holidays in Culver City with the Annual Lighting Ceremony in Veterans Park, on Friday, December 7, at 6:30 pm. Veterans Park is located at 4117 Overland Ave.

Twist Your Dickens
The Second City troupe, in collaboration with Center Theatre Group, takes the classic Charles Dickens’ tale of the holidays and gives it a twist. Victorian streets spring to life with scheming politicians, sunbathing Santas, shop-lifting celebrities and improvs, all performed by Second City alums and drop-in special guests - at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

RANCHO PARK

Winter Camp

The Westfield Century City mall is full of reindeers that have been decorated by local artists as part of the mall's Reindeer Project. They will be auctioned off to support arts education in local schools.

Menorah Lighting in Beverly Hills
Chabad of N. Beverly Hills will have a public Menorah Lighting Ceremony and Hanukkah Celebration Sunday, December 9 from 7 to 8:30 pm at Two Rodeo Drive (N Rodeo Dr and Via Rodeo). The event will include live music, refreshments and face painting. Via About.com's Kayte Deioma.

Chinese food on the 25th

 

LEIMERT PARK

Leimert Park Village Tree Lighting

The traditional tree lighting in Leimert Park Village has a new location.

The Holiday Tree – a giant tree decorated and lit up for the next month – won’t be in the park at the foot of Leimert Park Village. Instead the Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration takes place south of Chris’ Burgers, where Leimert Boulevard merges with Crenshaw.

The event, hosted by Councilman Bernard Parks, is from 5:30 to 8:30 pm Monday, November 26.

Great 8 Council District Tree Lighting

Another opportunity to light the tree is Thursday, December 6 from 5:30 – 8 pm at the Constituent Service Center, 8475 S. Vermont Ave.

PLEASE RSVP TO 213-485-7616

Toy Give Away

The 10th Annual Winter Wonderland Celebration Toy Give Away is from 10 am to 1 pm Saturday, December 8 at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza mall in the upper level parking lot near STAPLES (Santa Rosalia and Stocker).

SILVER LAKE

Festival of Lights

A community event at the Silverlake Independent Jewish Community Center, 1110 Bates Ave, featuring stage performances, children's games and crafts, gift boutiques, family portraits Sunday, Dec 9, from 10 am to 3 pm. Via About.com's Kayte Deioma.

ECHO PARK

Holiday Parade
This year's Echo Park Community Parade takes place on Saturday, December 8, from 11 am to 2 pm. The parade route is along Sunset Boulevard from Elysian Park Avenue to Park Avenue.
The theme is "Lights of Echo Park."

SAN PEDRO

50th Annual LA Harbor Boat Parade

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the San Pedro parade, marking the start of the Holiday Season, here in the harbor. This year's Theme for the parade is "Fifty Golden Years of Holiday Lights". Joe Buscaino, newly elected City Councilman from the 15th District, is the Grand Marshal. Powerboats, sailboats, tall ships and harbor working craft will participate.

The San Pedro Holiday Spirit Paradewill be on Sunday, December 2, starting at 1 pm will assemble at the corner of 15th Street and Pacific Avenue, go north along Pacific Avenue to 6th Street, turn east and proceed along 6th Street to the disbanding area at Liberty Plaza, 5th and Palos Verdes Streets. This intersection is also the drop-off and pick-up area for participants.

Thousands line the parade route each year to cheer on the bands, drill teams, schools and non-profit organizations, elected officials, celebrities and corporate participants as they make their way through downtown San Pedro.
Find more photos like this on San Pedro News Pilot

Lift Every Voice with the Golden State Pops Orchestra

Golden State Pops Orchestra and the GSPO Chorale present "Holiday POPS Spectacular!" with

music from Miracle on 34th Street, Polar Express, Home Alone, Elf and more on Saturday, December 15 at 8 pm, at the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro.

Maestro Steven Allen Fox will lead the orchestra in a festive performance of great holiday film music plus "O Holy Night" by John Rutter, selections from Rachmaninoff's Vespers, Sleigh Ride and other holiday favorites.

The GSPO Chorale, led by Maestra Marya Basaraba, brings together 40 exceptional voices from professional and regional choirs around Southern California. Join in during Handel's Messiah Hallelujah Chorus!

The Nutcracker Presented by San Pedro City Ballet

The Nutcracker has been a magical holiday tradition and South Bay staple for 18 years! Performances on Saturday, December 8, 2pm & 7pm and Sunday, December 9, 2pm. For tickets and information call 310.732.1861.

Muller House Christmas Boutique

San Pedro Bay Historical Society's Annual Christmas Boutique at the Muller House Museum is Dec. 9 from 1 to 4 pm at 1542 S. Beacon Street. Nativity sets, tree ornaments and house decorations on display and for sale. Boutique and collectible items make great gifts. Info: e-mail at: sanpedrohistory@gmail.com.

Jim Kimo West Hawaiian Christmas Show