Christmas in Paradise

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Christmas In Paradise - Things to Do During the Holiday Break

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December 19, 2011 • Nikki Zanchetta, Staff Reporter  
Filed under A&E, Top Stories

Christmas stereotypically brings white winters, snowmen and snow-days. However, in San Diego we continue to have above fifty degree weather, sandcastles, and sunshine. But just because San Diegans aren’t surrounded by a Winter Wonderland, doesn’t mean we are deprived of the holiday spirit.
San Diego offers many events to kick you into gear for the holidays, from light shows to Bay Parades, San Diego covers a traditional Christmas to a Southern California Christmas. One of the most well known events unique to San Diego is the San Diego Bay Parade. It’s beginning in 1971 and over 40,000 spectators at each showing, San Diego’s boating community has no trouble capturing the attention of San Diegans with their lighted parading boats. This year’s 40th anniversary theme is Back to the Future and shows on December 11th and 18th from 5:30 to 9:00. The best places to view the parade are: Seaport Village, Embarcadero Marina and the Ferry Landing on Coronado. Be sure to catch a similar parade on December 10th along Mission Bay from 7:00-9:00, the best viewing areas for this parade are Santa Clara, Crown Point, Fiesta Island and Fanuel Street Park.

    From lights on the water to lights on land, we can’t seem to get enough Christmas lights here in San Diego, with the most lighted neighborhoods in California every December San Diego lights up the night sky with thousands of lights all around the city. You can take a stroll or a drive through these spectacular light shows. A few of these neighborhoods include Clairemont on Lana Drive and Lamar; Mission Hills on Sunset Boulevard; Ocean Beach on Newport Avenue, and many more.
For a more concentrated activity for your family head on over to Del Mar Racetrack for Del Mar’s Holiday of Lights. As the largest light show on the West Coast, this mile long drive around the racetrack is decorated with over 400 phenomenal light displays. From traditional holiday scenes to local related scenes such as Santa taking off from an aircraft carrier, volleyball players, and of course race horses; this is a definite must see event for all ages. Open all of December there is plenty of opportunity to catch the light show. It’s a one car price of five maximum occupants with unlimited laps around the track, but to make it more of an unique experience you can take a hayride tour around the track which includes marshmallow roasting and entertainment.
Yet another light extravaganza is the Garden of Lights at San Diego’s Botanic Garden. The enchantment of over 100,000 Christmas lights graces the garden almost like a fairytale. But the fun doesn’t stop at twinkling lights, every night from six to eight the air is filled with live music from Christmas carols to mariachi. You can also participate in wagon rides, marshmallow roasting, the poinsettia garden, nutcracker exhibit, Santa, food and crafts. Take part in this event from now  to December 23rd, 26th-30th from five to nine.
For a more traditional holiday experience make a trip to the Hotel Del Coronado between now and December 24th to take part in a trip back in time  to Christmas 1911. The award winning Lamb’s Players Theatre performers present the annual showing of the play An American Christmas. Enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner in the Ballroom while you relish in the show.
The Hotel Del is also notorious for its outdoor ice-skating rink that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. This California unique activity is a $25 fee for adults and $20 for children and is open now through January 1st from 2pm- 5pm and 6pm- 9pm; or catch the weekend matinee at 11am-1pm for a $5 discount. This is definitely an event you won’t forget.
Check out the holiday classic, Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park. This play has always been a main attraction for local San Diegans. This play will get you in the holiday spirit with the childish fun of Christmas that any age will enjoy and will soon become a family tradition. You can go to www.theoldglobe.org for show times and tickets.
Another classic holiday performance is The Nutcracker Ballet performed by the City Ballet Orchestra and dancers. The breath-taking performance is well-worth seeing. The ballet goes through now to December 21st on Broadway in Downtown San Diego. Go to www.cityballet.org for tickets and show times.

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