Caruso's Holiday OC Happenings ~ Central County

CENTRAL COUNTY

COSTA MESA

NOW through December 24, 2011 presented by South Coast Repertory is A Christmas Carol. Nineteenth-century London comes to life when your family joins the SCR family for the holidays. Recapture the spirit of an old-fashioned Christmas with this timeless Dickens classic and all your favorite characters—Tiny Tim and the Cratchit family, the Fezziwigs, the Ghosts of Christmas past, present and yet-to-come—and, as always, Hal Landon Jr. as everyone's favorite curmudgeon, Ebenezer Scrooge. For more information you can call (714) 708-5555.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY

TOMORROWSaturday, December 3, 2011 from 4:30pm-8:30pm is the annual 2011 Tree Lighting Ceremony (Fountain Valley Recreation Center and Sports Park!). The event will feature live entertainment, pictures with Santa, games, crafts, cookie decorating, food vendors, a firework show, and much more! For more information you can call 714-839-8611.

HUNTINGTON BEACH

December 16-23, 2011 is the annual Cruise of Lights! Take a narrated cruise through the waterways of Huntington Harbour to see the holiday lighted homes and decorations in this annual event. Park in the Huntington Harbour Mall lot (corner of Algonquin and Saybrook) and get on the designated buses that travel a short distance to the boat launch area. For advanced ticket purchase you can call (714) 840-7542. Also coming December 16 - 24, 2011 is the annual Nutcracker Ballet! This traditional, delightful Christmas ballet is presented in its original, full-length version for your holiday enjoyment. The event takes place at the Golden West College Main stage Theater. For more information you can call 714-895-8150.

IRVINE

TOMORROW Saturday, December 3, 2011 is the Annual Home for the Holidays Pet Adoption Fair! This fun event will give Orange County families the opportunity to make a homeless animal part of their loving family - just in time for the holidays! This event will feature adoptable homeless animals from shelters all over California, vendors and services for attendees and their pets, a silent auction and opportunity drawing, low-cost microchips, Ask the Vet and Ask the Trainer advice, and lunch, snacks, baked goods and beverages will be available for purchase. Admission costs $1 and free parking will be available at the parking structure along Oak Canyon Road and handicapped parking will be available in the IACC’s parking lot. For more information you can call (949) 854-4646. ALSO coming up Saturday, December 10, 2011 from 11am-2pm is the LIFE Church Christmas Community Block Party!! Come by LIFE Church for an amazing FREE, fun-filled family event on December 10th from 11-2. From crafts, cookie decorating, face painting, sweet treats, bounce house and family pictures to caroling, even SNOW and meet Santa himself! We want to share this holiday season with our church family and the community! So come by, bring your friends and enjoy LIFE Church for a Christmas Community Block Party! Rain or shine! Indoor facilities available! For more information, contact Diana Duke dduke10@cox.net.  And NOW OPEN the Ice Rink at the Spectrum! Enjoy outdoor skating rink at the Irvine Spectrum. Located right next to the Giant Wheel Court, adjacent to Nordstrom and Macy's. For more information you can call 949-456-6937. LOS ALAMITOS

Nothing to report

NEWPORT BEACH

Coming up Saturday, December 10, 2011 from 10 am - 11:30 am is the Grandkids Hike. Join ‘Inside the Outdoors’ for a morning with nature designed especially for toddlers and their grandparents! Touch the trees, smell the sages, watch and listen for wildlife. Everyone will use all of their senses to explore nature. Cost: $5 per person/ $25 per family* Advance registration required. For more information you can call (714) 708-3885.

ORANGE

December 2-4, 9-11, & 15-23, is the 15^th Annual Christmas Train to Meet Santa Claus. Take an enchanting night ride through historic Irvine Regional Park to meet and have your picture taken with Santa Claus. In addition to riding the Irvine Park Railroad, activities include story time with Mrs. Claus, Christmas cookie decorating, a Santa Claus moon bounce, Christmas coloring corner, carnival games, picture stands and more. Hot food and snacks are available for purchase. The cost to ride the Christmas Train is $8.00 per person. Children younger than 24 months ride free. Prices for activities vary. For directions, costs and additional information or to purchase tickets, visit us online at www.irvineparkrailroad.com or you can call (714) 997-3968. ALSO Sunday, December 4, 2011 from 3:30 - 7 pm is the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony & Candlelight Choir Processional! Tree Lighting and Candlelight Procession includes holiday music. Local non-profit groups also provide delicious food and youth activities for a nominal charge. For more information you can call the Special Events Hotline at 714-744-7278. AND coming up Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 7pm, Golden West Pops Christmas Concert - 'Twas the Night Before'! Come snuggle up with the Golden West Pops while we musically celebrate that magical "night before...." It will be a great night of nostalgia and fun in the comfort of the beautiful auditorium at the Sisters of Saint Joseph Motherhouse in Orange, California. This is a perfect evening for the whole family. Admission: $10.00.

SANTA ANA

Next weekend, December 11, 2011 from 12-4pm is the annual Irish Holiday Festival. The holiday season sparkles with Irish culture in a day filled with music, storytelling, dance, art, hand-made Irish quilts and stockings, Irish Christmas cakes, pudding and more! Held in our lovely outdoor Key Courtyard, this festive celebration will allow you shop for the holidays from unique vendors who specialize in quality handcrafted goods. Member $10 / Non-member $15/ Festival admission is free. For more information you can call (714) 567-3679. ALSO NOW through January 1, 2012 the Discovery Science Center Presents: Science of Gingerbread. Inside the kitchen, much more is going on than pouring and mixing – it’s science at work! Discovery Science Center’s holiday festival is filled with festive activities designed to bring families together this holiday season. Don’t miss your chance to meet Santa Claus and decorate your own holiday cookies on select dates! Hands-On Holiday Fun: Hands-on kitchen science activities, Cookie decorating on select dates, Santa Claus visits on select dates, Award winning gingerbread display. For more information you can call 714-542-2823.

SEAL BEACH

TONIGHT December 2, 2011 is the Annual Holiday Parade from 7 - 10 pm. This is the 33^rd Annual Christmas Parade of Seal Beach is along Main Street. There are bands representing schools from Marina, Ocean View, Los Alamitos and more. Boy Scouts and Girls Scout Troops from all over the area will be represented. The parade begins promptly at 7:00 pm along Main Street starting at Ocean Avenue and proceeding to PCH. Do some Christmas shopping and have cocktails and/or dinner before and after the parade. For more information you can call 562-799-0179.

TUSTIN

December 9, 2011 from 6-8pm is the annual Tree Lighting! The City of Tustin Parks and Recreation Department invites you to join in the holiday fun as they celebrate their Annual Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony. The evening will include photos with Santa and performances by Community Groups! For more information you can call 714-573-3326. ALSO coming up December 9-10, 2011 is the annual Holiday Boutique! The Holiday Boutique will be open for your holiday shopping needs located at Clifton C. Miller Community Center (City Hall) - 300 Centennial Way.

VILLA PARK

Sunday, December 11, 2011 is the Great Inland Boat Parade and Holiday Celebration! This fun filled event consists of a parade of Christmas decorated land yachts (anything from a small boat pulled by a car to a horse wagon!) followed by the annual tree lighting ceremony. The parade will begins at Villa Park High School at 18042 Taft Ave., ending about 6:30 p.m. in the Villa Park Shopping Center on Santiago Boulevard, where holiday festivities will continue. For more information you can call 714-998-1500.

*As seen in the ocregister.com & orangecounty.net