The Holidays are Upon Us…

'Tis the season and there are many things to do and see around the LA area…

Here are a few of my favorite things to share with family and friends. There are many other events that may be your favorites, please feel free to add them...

Click on the title or subtitle of any event for more information.

Downtown on Ice at Pershing Square
Nov. 18, 2010 through Jan. 17, 2011

Celebrate the holiday with fun under the sun and stars. Visit Pershing Square's outdoor skating rink at 532 South Olive, open everyday November 18, 2010 through January 17, 2011. The tradition continues with LA’s largest outdoor rink with the lowest admission price of just $6. As a favorite holiday destination, the facility boasts a medley of FREE events including a holiday concert series, a Winter Holiday Fiesta, championship skating exhibitions, and more.

A Rock and Roll Christmas - Holiday Boat Parade at Marina Del Rey
Dec. 11, 2010

A great viewing location - Burton Chace Park at 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey


Holiday Charity Festival in Koreatown
Dec 11, 2010 & Dec. 12, 2010

The charity organization is KAVC, the Korean-American Volunteer Corps, a group that has been helping minority communities through various programs since 2001.

Come enjoy great food, do your holiday shopping, listen and watch talent on-stage, play games, learn crafts, and hobnob with the locals and visitors from all over!

Koreatown is the most diverse neighborhood in the country! Residents are 55% Latino, 15% Korean, 10% Black, 10% White, and 10% Other Asian and Misc.

Venice Holiday Boat Parade
Dec. 12, 2010

Be sure to walk the canals! The residents light up the night celebrating the holidays.

LA Phil Presents Holiday Sing-Along
Dec. 18, 2010

Lift your voices and sing along to all your favorite Christmas and holiday songs. Bring the whole family to celebrate a cherished holiday tradition. Free lyric sheets provided for all.

Kids Christmas Spectacular
Dec. 18, 2010

Kids Christmas Spectacular features carnival games, a petting zoo, giant inflatable slides, jumpers, crafts, balloon animals, face painting, snacks, live music, rock wall climbing and TOY GIVEAWAY! All of this is FREE of charge to the children and families who attend.

Altadena’s Christmas Tree Lane
Dec. 11, 2010 thru Jan. 2, 2011 Jan. 6 and 7 2011

Every Christmas season for more than 80 years, the majestic deodars on the "Mile of Christmas Trees" are strung with 10,000 lights. Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena is the oldest large-scale Christmas lighting spectacle in the United States. Christmas Tree Lane is located in Altadena, CA on Santa Rosa Avenue between Woodbury Avenue and Altadena Drive. Lights are on Dusk to 10pm on Weekdays & Dusk to midnight on Holidays and Weekends.

The Balian Mansion
Dec 11, 2010 thru Dec. 25, 2010 

The Balian Mansion has been lighted since 1955 and is arguably the pioneer of home holiday lighting. The Balian Mansion is located at the 5-point junction of Mendocino Street, Mendocino Lane, Allen Avenue, and East Glenview Terrace.

This stop off can be combined with Christmas tree lane by turning right on Altadena to Allen. Turn right on Allen and then left on Mendocino. You can’t miss the Balian House. For many, many years the Balian family has decorated their mansion and the three and one half acres that surround it. Park and join the throngs enjoying the sights. There are over 10,000 colored lights, many scenes like Santa Claus with his reindeers, elves, a nativity scene, and many others. Many of the scenes have movement. Live groups sing Christmas carols.

Upper Hastings Ranch - Pasadena, CA
Dec. 11, 2010 thru Jan. 2, 2011

Upper Hastings Ranch has become one of the most popular areas for neighborhood outdoor Christmas displays. Beginning in 1957 each block in the neighborhood began to decorate their homes with some type of theme icon placed in the parkway, e.g., snowmen, Christmas trees, Santas and reindeer, Peanuts cartoon characters, etc. Tour by car (with headlights off) thru miles of lighting and other entertaining Christmas displays.

Located in northeast Pasadena in California, Upper Hastings Ranch is bordered by the city of Sierra Madre to the east, the Eaton Canyon Golf Course to the west, and Sierra Madre Blvd to the south.

LA Live Holiday Ice 
Nov 29, 2010 thru  Jan. 1, 2011

The outdoor ice rink at L.A. Live at Nokia Plaza provides a modern, edgier setting for this traditional pastime. Huge screens surround the complex flashing a constant barrage of commercials. A high-tech, sculptural metal tree changes color to the music, and icicle lights hanging on nearby trees complete this eye and ear popping scene. The rink is roomy enough (70 feet by 50 feet) for intermediate style ice skating.
Nov 29th - Dec 17th: Mon - Friday 5pm - 11pm  Sat - Sun: Noon to 11pm

Beginning Monday Dec 20th: Noon - 11 pm   Closing Midnight: January 1, 2011

51st Annual LA County Holiday Celebration
Dec. 24, 2010

An annual tradition, the Emmy-nominated music and dance extravaganza is L.A.'s biggest holiday show - and it's FREE, so bring the whole family! Or, enjoy it from the comfort of your home on KCET-TV, KCET.org or KPFK 90.7 FM, while you finish decorating the tree or steaming tamales!  "Childhood Holiday Memories” is the theme for this year’s Holiday Celebration, broadcast live from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on KCET-TV. 24 groups and nearly 800 performers will present music and dance of the season from the many neighborhoods and cultures of Los Angeles.

Tournament of Roses Parade
Dec. 28, 2010 thru Jan. 2, 2011 

The Tournament of Roses Parade is "America's New Year Celebration", a festival of flower-covered floats, marching bands, equestrians and a college football game on New Year's Day (but moved to Monday if New Year's Day falls on a Sunday), produced by the non-profit Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association.

The annual parade was first held January 1, 1890 in Pasadena, California.

Typically 48 to 72 hours prior to parade day one can view several of the floats being decorated with flowery mantles, in the various 'float barns' that dot the Arroyo Seco / Rose Bowl area in West Pasadena, not far from the start of the parade. It is a rule of the parade that all surfaces of the float framework be covered in natural material (such as flowers, plants, seaweeds, seeds, bark, vegetables, or nuts, for example); furthermore, no artificial flowers or plant material are allowed, nor can the materials be artificially colored. Last-minute volunteering opportunities are often available.

Float Decorating
December 28, 2010
Experience the magic of the floats before they make their debut in the 2011 Rose Parade.

Lawry’s Beef Bowl: A 55-Year “Road to the Rose Bowl” Tradition
December 28, 2010
The Lawry’s Beef Bowl is college football’s most enduring pre-bowl game tradition

Bandfest - Also Available via Webcast!
December 29 & 30, 2010

Bandfest will feature the prizewinning bands of the 2011 Rose Parade performing the field shows that made them famous.

Equestfest
December 29, 2010
Up close and personal... Meet many of the Equestrians you will see New Year's Day in the 2011 Rose Parade!

Rose Bowl Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
December 30, 2010
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses will honor the 2010 Rose Bowl Hall of Fame class during a mid-day luncheon.

Rose Bowl Game
December 31, 2010
The Kickoff Luncheon is a dynamic mid-day pep rally featuring an introduction of participating teams in the 97th Rose Bowl Game

Rose Bowl Game Public Tailgate
January 1, 2011
Open to the public, the Rose Bowl Tailgate provides a variety of food and beverages available for purchase outside the stadium

Alumni Tailgate Parties
January 1, 2011
The alumni associations of the two participating institutions have designated areas for their “official” alumni tailgate parties

The 122nd Rose Parade
January 1, 2011
The 122nd Rose Parade themed Building Dreams, Friendships & Memories will take place on Saturday, January 1, 2011 at 8:00 a.m.

The 97th Rose Bowl Game
January 1, 2011
On January 1, 2011, at 1:30 p.m. (PST), "The Granddaddy of Them All" the 97th Rose Bowl Game

Post Parade: A Showcase of Floats!
January 1, 2011
Post Parade: A Showcase of Floats is a unique opportunity for the viewing public to step up close with the floats


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