Visions of sugarplums and other holiday events

We are fortunate to live in an area where there is an abundance of holiday events from which to choose. From our wonderful Fallbrook Christmas Parade to theme park events, your holiday season can be as busy or as quiet as you wish.

FALLBOOK EVENTS

26th Annual

Fallbrook Christmas Parade

“Hometown Memories”

Main Avenue

Saturday, December 1

5 p.m.

The parade will feature more than 100 floats, bands, and group entries. The United States Marine Corps Marching Band will be the lead musical unit and the Budweiser Clydesdales will make an appearance.

Dode Martin, a resident of Fallbrook since 1926, will be Grand Marshal.

For information call the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce at (760) 728-5845.

Baroque Christmas Concert

Bob Burton Center

2400 South Stage Coach Lane

Friday, December 7

8 p.m.

The Aulos Ensemble of New York will be joined by soprano Julianne Baird for a chamber music concert.

Performed on “original instruments,” the concert will feature traditional carols and classical music.

For further information call (760) 451-8644 or access http://www.fallbrookmusicsociety.org.

“Scrooge”

Mission Theatre

200 North Main

Performances through Dec. 16

A delightful musical featuring local talent.

Call the CAST box office at (760) 731-2278 for specific time and dates.

Art of the Holiday

Art Center at Fallbrook

103 South Main

December 2-23

Browse an abundance of offerings created by regional artists and artisans and choose from a wide selection of jewelry, glassware, vases, wood ware, leather goods, painted silk scarves and more.

For further information call (760) 728-1414.

Opera Gala

Valley Oaks Fundraiser

Bob Burton Center

2400 South Stage Coach Lane

Saturday, December 29

7:30 p.m.

A gala concert and silent auction will benefit fire victims whose homes were in Valley Oaks Mobile Home Community.

Fallbrook’s Sasha La Russo and additional San Diego Opera Chorus members will be performing, accompanied by pianist John Danke.

For ticket information call (760) 731-2278.

EVENTS OUTSIDE FALLBROOK

Oceanside Harbor

Parade of Lights

Oceanside Harbor

Saturday, December 8

7 p.m.

Oceanside Yacht Club members and other local boat owners host a lighted boat parade visible from just about anywhere in the harbor.

The elaborate displays include music and animation. The boats circle the harbor, sometimes more than once.

For further information call (760) 722-5751.

“Dickens of a Christmas”

Old Town Temecula

Dickens characters and a variety of holiday musicians will entertain every weekend through December 17.

For further information access http://www.temeculacalifornia.com.

Dr. Seuss’

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas”

Old Globe Theatre

Balboa Park, San Diego

Through Dec. 30

For further information call (619) 234-5623 or access http://www.theoldglobe.org.

Handel’s “Messiah”

California Center for the Arts

340 N. Escondido Blvd.

Escondido

Sunday, December 16

4 p.m.

Under the direction of Jung-Ho Pak, the San Diego Chamber Orchestra gives an inspiring performance of Handel’s “Messiah.”

For further information call (800) 988-4253 or access http://www.artcenter.org.

“The Nutcracker”

California Ballet Company

Center for the Performing Arts

15498 Espola Road

Poway

Sat. & Sun. Dec. 1 & 2

For further information call the box office at (858) 560-6741.

“The Nutcracker”

California Ballet Company

(with the San Diego Symphony)

San Diego Civic Theatre

1100 Third Avenue

San Diego

December 15-23

Call for specific dates and times. For further information, call the box office at (858) 560-6741.

“Nuncrackers”

‘The Nunsense Christmas Musical’

Broadway Theater

340 East Broadway

Vista

Began November 23

“Nuncrackers” features nuns from Mount St. Helens convent who are producing their first television special. The sisters have built a TV studio in the convent’s basement with money that Sister Amnesia won.

For further information call (760) 806-7905.

THEME PARK AND

FAIR EVENTS

Knott’s Christmas

Craft Village

Knott’s Berry Farm

Buena Park

Knott’s 1880s Ghost Town will become the Knott’s Christmas Crafts Village, with more than 100 artisans in an Old West/Victorian holiday wonderland with strolling carolers, musical groups and magical decorations.

Weekdays through December 24 guests may purchase Crafts Village only tickets.

On Saturday and Sunday, the Crafts Village is only accessible with full park admission.

Village guests can enjoy the ice show, “Snoopy’s Cool Christmas” for a nominal fee.

For further information access http://www.knotts.com.

Disneyland

Anaheim

Disneyland will be transformed into a winter wonderland with:

• Main Street’s 60-foot Christmas tree

• “It’s a Small World” holiday with 300,000 lights

• “Believe in Holiday Magic” fireworks display

• Electrical Parade at California Adventure

• Haunted Mansion Holiday

For further information access http://www.disneyland.com.

San Diego Wild Animal Park

Festival of Lights

Escondido

December 7-23 and 26-30

Larger-than-life electrical displays and craft tables. (Displays are new this year-- the former were destroyed in the recent fire.)

For further information, call (760) 796-5621.

SeaWorld Holiday

Mission Bay, San Diego

SeaWorld’s Holiday Celebration is presented weekends December 1-2 and 8-9 and daily December 15-31.

SeaWorld shines with holiday glow, including a 30-foot Christmas tree and the Skytower Tree of Lights, which is illuminated each night at about 6 p.m.

See “Shamu’s Holiday Night Show” and Clyde and Seamore’s “Night Before Christmas.”

Additionally, carolers and instrumentalists perform holiday favorites.

For further information access http://www.seaworld.com.

Del Mar Holiday of Lights

Del Mar Fairgrounds

Nightly through January 1

The Holiday of Lights is a display around the Del Mar Racetrack. Tour in your own vehicle to see more than 400 colorful lighted and animated holiday scenes. Circle as many times as you would like.

For further information access http://www.sdfair.com.