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