| There are plenty of reasons to head to
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| | places you can best view the boat parade
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| the beach this December. Luckily, the
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| | include the Balboa Island beaches or
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| weather in Southern California is pretty
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| | boardwalks, the waterfront restaurants,
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| nice in the winter compared to most parts
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| | or on a boat charter.There is also a Ring
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| of the country. The following Christmas
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| | of Lights contest in which waterfront
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| and holiday events should help get you in
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| | homes and businesses pull out all the
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| the spirit of the season, Southern
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| | stops to compete for prizes for the best
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| California style.San DiegoOn the first
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| | decorations.For more information on the
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| weekend in December, Balboa Park in San
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| | Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade,
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| Diego celebrates the holidays with an
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| | call 949-729-4400.Huntington BeachIn
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| annual event called December Nights.You
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| | Huntington Beach, you can enjoy the
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| can sample foods from around the world at
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| | annual Cruise of Lights Boat Tour from
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| the International Cottage Christmas
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| | December 14 to December 23, 2005.For
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| Festival at the House of Pacific
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| | between $8 and $14, you can take the
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| Relations Cottages. In the Spanish
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| | Huntington Harbor Philharmonic
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| Village, you can watch artisans work on
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| | Committee's narrated boat tour throughout
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| their craft and find one of a kind
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| | the festively lit Huntington Harbor.
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| Christmas gifts.Several museums in the
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| | While cruising along, you can view the
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| park will be open with no admission fee
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| | myriad of colored lights and decorations,
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| from 5-9 p.m. both nights. At the
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| | which bedeck the waterfront homes, docks
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| Spreckels Organ Pavilion Stage, you can
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| | and boats.The tours will leave at 6, 7
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| enjoy holiday music, dance and theater
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| | and 8 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and
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| performances.A carnival will entertain
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| | 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 on Saturday and
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| the kids on the Palisades Midway. In
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| | Sunday evenings.Call 714-840-7542 for
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| addition, there will be a holiday
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| | more information.OxnardUp in Ventura
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| marketplace and the Cabrillo Bridge Food
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| | County, Channel Islands Harbor will be
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| Tasting.December Nights goes from 5-10
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| | holding its annual Parade of Lights on
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| p.m. on Friday December 2 and noon to 10
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| | Saturday, December 10, 2005. The
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| p.m. on Saturday December 3, 2005. For
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| | colorfully lit parade of boats starts
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| more information, call the Balboa Park
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| | around 7 p.m. You can view the parade
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| Visitors Center at 619-239-0512.Laguna
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| | form the harbor view restaurants, along
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| BeachThe Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach
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| | Peninsula Park or at Hobie Beach.If you
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| presents an annual winter's version
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| | come during the day, you can also enjoy
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| called Winter Fantasy. This year, the
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| | the festival at the Channel Islands
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| arts and crafts festival will be held
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| | Harbor. Next to the Marine Emporium
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| over four weekends from November 19 to
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| | Landing at Harbor view Park there will be
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| December 11, 2005 on Saturdays and
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| | 25 tons of snow for kids to play in.
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| Sundays only.The fine artists and
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| | Also there will be kid's rides and games,
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| artisans come from far and wide. Not
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| | horse drawn carriage rides, an arts &
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| only is it a unique place to do your
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| | crafts boutique, carolers and water taxi
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| Christmas shopping, but the kids will
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| | boat rides.Word has it that Santa Claus
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| have fun too. There will be children's
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| | and his reindeer will fly across the sky
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| art activities, a snow play area and
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| | in full view. For more information about
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| Santa.Live music and festive decorations
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| | the event, call the Channel Islands
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| will add to the holiday experience. Food
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| | Harbor Visitors Center at
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| and drink will also be
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| | 805-985-4852.Santa BarbaraOn Sunday
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| available.Admission fees are $5 for
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| | December 11, from 3 to 7:30, the Santa
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| adults and $2 for kids age six to twelve.
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| | Barbara waterfront will be celebrating
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| The Sawdust's Winter Fantasy will be
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| | the holidays with their own annual Santa
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| open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival
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| | Barbara Parade of Lights.About 30
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| grounds are located on Laguna Canyon Road
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| | decorated boats will be on parade around
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| in Laguna Beach. For more information,
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| | the harbor. It should be starting around
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| call 949 494-3030.Newport BeachThe annual
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| | 5:30. You can view it from Stearns'
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| Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade
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| | Wharf or at the breakwater in the
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| happens this year from December 14 to 18,
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| | harbor.There will be a Santa's Village
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| 2005. Boating enthusiasts go all out
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| | with 12 tons of snow for children to
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| decorating their watercraft, from
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| | frolic in. Carolers will grace the crowd
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| rowboats to magnificent yachts.The more
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| | with musical cheer. The festival will
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| than 200 boat-long parade starts at
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| | culminate in a fireworks display. For
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| Collins Island at 6:30 and sails around
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| | more information, call 805-897-1962.These
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| the bay on a 14 mile route, returning to
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| | festive events will help light up the
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| the starting point around 8:30 or 9 p.m.
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| | holidays. Who needs snow when you've got
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| Carolers and projected music accompany
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| | the Southern California beaches?Laura
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| many of the boats as they cruise
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| | Eggers Underhill is a beach lover with a
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| along.This has been going on for 95 years
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| | website. Visit to plan your next beach
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| and draws quite a crowd. Some of the
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| | vacation.
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