Holiday happenings

The holidays are always much more enjoyable when accented by activities. The Fallbrook Christmas season will begin on November 25 when the Christmas tree in the Village Square is lit. (The ceremony will take place between 1 and 6 p.m.) Many holiday events will follow. Other festive events will take place throughout Southern California. Find one, or even several, and make them a family tradition. Let the festivities begin!

Fallbrook Christmas Parade: “Home for Christmas”

On Saturday, December 2, the 25th Annual Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade will begin at 5 p.m., led by Grand Marshal Darwin East, and proceed down Main through downtown Fallbrook. As special “guests” the Budweiser/Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales will pull a large wagon down Main. The horses will be “stabled” in the downtown area for the afternoon. Come by and watch the horses being groomed and readied for the parade (exact location to be announced). Many vintage cars, floats and eight marching bands will be sure to thrill the onlookers.

Downtown festivities

Downtown Fallbrook will be lit for the holidays; and the Downtown Merchants Association will present Joyful Traditions three Sundays: December 3, 10 and 17, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Village Square on the corner of Main and Alvarado.

Christmas entertainment will be featured along with crafts for kids, wagon rides and refreshments. Many of the downtown stores will be open during this time. “Santa” will appear in the Village Square from 1 to 3 p.m.

Fallbrook High students perform

In conjunction with the Joyful Traditions events, sisters Jennifer and Brittney Doehring will be singing in the Village Square on Sunday, December 3, from noon to 2 p.m. The girls attend Fallbrook High School.

Fallbrook Historical Museum

The William Pittenger House at the Fallbrook Museum will be decorated for Christmas with “old-fashioned ornaments, strung popcorn and maybe cranberries,” said Sandy Baxter. The decorations are in keeping with the vintage of the home. Guests will be served hot wassail, coffee and cookies every Thursday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. “It’s a little something special for the holidays,” said Cecilia Njust. Find the museum at 260 Rocky Crest Road.

Fallbrook’s “Art of the Holiday”

The Fallbrook Art Center at 103 South Main will be featuring “Art of the Holiday” from December 1 to 23. The collection will feature items created by California artists and artisans. Purchase gifts from a wide selection of artwork such as jewelry, vases, wooden bowls, painted silk, leather goods and more.

Knott’s Christmas Craft Festival

Every holiday season for over twenty years, Knott’s Berry Farm has hosted a Christmas Craft Festival in the Ghost Town portion of the park. A “Christmas in the Old West” theme prevails and vendors sell handmade items with a country-craft feel to them. Luminarias line the roofs of the buildings and a cinnamon scent wafts through the streets. The festival runs November 23 through December 24 and is open every day to those who purchase park tickets; however, tickets can be purchased Monday through Friday which will allow visitors to enjoy the Craft Festival only. For further information call (714) 220-5200.

Holidays at Disneyland

The holidays are extra magical at Disneyland, where “It’s a Small World” is transformed into a lighted wonder with over 300,000 lights. The interior of the ride is also decorated in a holiday theme with twirling trees and “Merry Christmas” written in several different languages. The “Haunted Mansion” is elaborately adorned for the holidays and guests in line can sing “Scary Carols.” Disney is bringing back their Electrical Parade, which can be seen at California Adventure from Friday, December 15, through Sunday, January 7. Small World and Haunted Mansion Holiday are open now and will also run through January 7. For further information call (714) 781-7290.

“Holiday of Lights” at Del Mar Fairgrounds

The lighting display at the San Diego County Fairgrounds at Del Mar is the largest animated lighting display on the West Coast with 350 glittering and sparkling displays. The show opens at 5:30 every night from Thanksgiving to January 1, and closes at 10 p.m. every day except Friday and Saturday, when it closes at 11 p.m. For further information access the Web site http://www.sdfair.com/holidayoflights.

Wild Animal Park “Festival of Lights”

From December 8 to 23 and December 26 to 30 the San Diego Wild Animal Park in Escondido will be illuminated with more than 100,000 lights including larger-than-life animal figures, nutcrackers and teddy bears. A 52-foot-tall lighted train, six-foot-high toy soldiers and an animated horse and buggy also light up the park. For further information access the Web site http://www.sandiegozoo.org.

SeaWorld Holiday Celebration

On Saturdays from December 2 and daily from December 26 to 31 SeaWorld will be alive with its Holiday Celebration. Crowning the celebration is the Skytower “Tree of Lights,” which can be seen for miles. A special holiday Shamu show is planned, along with other holiday-themed shows.

Listening to strolling musicians and visiting live reindeer are just some of the ways you can get into the holiday spirit at SeaWorld. For further information access the Web site http://www.seaworld.com.