Rancho Park and Los Angeles celebrates Hanukkah and Christmas

[Eddie North-Hager]

There are a lot of events to make you feel warm during the holidays in Rancho Park and Los Angeles. If you know of one that didn't make the list, please add it!

 

Santa for pets and the family

The Westside Pavillion is welcoming all vistors, even four-legged ones, to take photos with Santa. Note that pets are only invited on Monday, November 26 but everyone else has through December 14.

Hanukkah at the Skirball Cultural Center

Hanukkah at the Skirball

The Hanukkah festival at the Skirball – A Celebration of Freedom – will include Americana music and dance, hands-on arts and crafts and tasty Hanukkah treats Sunday, December 2, 11 am to 4 pm included with museum admission. Families of all backgrounds are welcome.The Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd, costs $10 General; $7 Seniors 65+ and Full-Time Students; $5 children 2-12, Free for Children under 2 (No coupons or discount admissions) Free parking in the North Lot structure. Via About.com's Kayte Deioma.

 

 

 

Holiday coverage sponsored by Gallery Judaica

 

Winter Camp

For working parents unsure how to fill the three week LA Unified holiday, both the Palms  and Cheviot Hills Recreation Centers are offering a winter camp Dec. 17 to Jan 4. Check for availablilty. 

Reindeer art at Westfield Century City

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

If your idea of a Christmas tradition is Chinese food and a movie, head over to Lop Li for dinner the Landmark theaters for a show on Pico in Rancho Park.

 

CULVER CITY

Tree Lighting

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

Presented by the Downtown Business Association and the City of Culver City, the event will feature 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.

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, and now it's here. 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
Come ring in the holidays in Culver City by participating in 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.

SILVER LAKE

Festival of Lights

A community event at tbe 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.

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 has been named Grand Marshal. Vessels of all shapes and sizes will participate, including powerboats, sailboats, tall ships and harbor working craft.

For more information on the Boat Parade go to the LA Harbor Holiday Afloat Website

The parade, starts in the East Basin near Banning's Landing Community Center in Wilmington and takes approximately 90 minutes to cover the entire parade route up the Port's Main Channel. Spectators may view the procession from several points along the Port's Main Channel, including the Banning's Landing Community Center, 100 E. Water Street, Wilmington marinas, the SS Lane Victory, the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, 600 Sampson Way, San Pedro; Ports O' Call Village, 1100 Nagoya Way, San Pedro; the Cruise Ship Promenade at Harbor Boulevard and Swinford Street in San Pedro; 22nd Street Landing, 141 W. 22nd Street, San Pedro; and Cabrillo Marina, 200 Whaler's Walk, San Pedro.

 

Holiday Spirit Parade

The San Pedro Holiday Spirit Paradewill be on Sunday, December 2, starting at 1:00 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 and 40 voice choir 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 magical holiday tradition that has been a 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: [e-mail].

 Jim Kimo West Hawaiian Christmas Show

Slack key guitarist Jim "Kimo" West presents a very special Christmas show after his recent nomination at the Hawaii Music Awards of  Na Hoku Hanohano (the Hawaiian “Grammy”) nominee. Kimo is also known as long-time guitarist for the world’s most successful musical satirist, “Weird Al” Yankovic and is a two-time winner of the LA Treasures Award for his contributions toward the perpetuation of ki ho’alu. Kimo takes the stage at Alva's Showroom, 1417 W 8th Street, on December 15 from 8pm to 10pm. Kimo will be performing selections from "Kimo's Hawaiian Slack Key Christmas." Very special guests include hula dancer Amanda Taketa. The enchanting sound of “ki ho’alu” as it is known in Hawaii is heard throughout the recent Oscar-winning movie " The Descendants”. Youtube video

Suggested Donation $20 USC UNIVERSITY PARK Cultural Continuum Esperanza and Mercado La Paloma are 2012-2013 recipients of ArtPlace award and will celebrate holidays from around the world on December 9th! ArtPlace is a collaboration of 11 of the nation's top foundations, eight federal agencies including the National Endowment for the Arts, and six of the nation's largest banks to accelerate creative placemaking across the U.S. Expo Center Winter Festival LAFD Gala ECHO PARK Holiday Parade This year's Echo Park Community Parade takes place on Saturday, December 8, 2012 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. The parade route is along Sunset Boulevard from Elysian Park Avenue to Park Avenue. The theme is "Lights of Echo Park."