Pageantry on Strings : The ‘Holiday Spectacular’ at the Bob Baker Marionette Theatre is a gift for puppet fans.

Seasonal cheer doesn’t end at the historic Bob Baker Marionette Theatre, where Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, angels, skaters, black-light trumpeters, dancing dreidels and Santa Claus are a delightful “Holiday Spectacular” treat for young and old.

As always, master puppet artist Bob Baker’s beautifully crafted stringed creations parade around the cheery, colorful theater space, perching on children’s laps, giving hugs and even hopping on shoulders, courtesy of the black-clad puppeteers who smoothly move their charges through their paces.

Christmas cards come to life, silver bells hide a graceful surprise, Santa’s elves find that their toy robots have minds of their own, Merlin the Magician is on hand and so is a special guide to all the fun--Demetrius the Star.

The theater’s decor, with its swags of holiday tinsel and ribbon, glittering chandeliers and gold-trimmed red curtains, is a perfect setting. All the puppet pageantry is complemented by quirky show music--from traditional holiday carols to Spike Jones’ wacky version of “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth”--and by lighting magic that includes an eye-popping light show.

Baker directs; Art Ruiz and Richard Shuler did the lighting design and the engaging puppeteers are Susan Gayle, Michael Brachfield, Matthew Gross, Steven Loeb, Art Ruiz, Ray Veitia and Yuliya Yemelina.

* “The Bob Baker Holiday Spectacular,” Bob Baker Marionette Theatre, 1345 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, Tuesdays-Fridays, 10:30 a.m.; Saturdays-Sundays, 2:30 p.m. through Jan. Dark today. $8 (seniors) to $10 (children and adults). (213) 250-9995.

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Pulling Strings: “Los Angeles Puppets,” an exhibition of scores of puppets created by L.A. artists from the ‘30s to the present--including several by Bob Baker--are on display in the lobby of the historic Fine Arts Building downtown.

The exhibition, on display now through Jan. 8, “shows the richness of the puppet legacy in L.A.,” said curator Alan Cook, co-founder of the Los Angeles Puppet Guild. “People are always surprised that there is so much.”

* “Los Angeles Puppets,” Fine Arts Building, lobby, 811 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, Mondays-Fridays, except holidays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ends Jan. 8. Free.

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Express Yourself: Political artist Robbie Conal kicks off the “Sunday Open Sunday” series of free family arts workshops at Barnsdall Art Park’s Junior Arts Center on Jan. 11 from 2 to 4 p.m.

In his “Art Attack” workshop, Conal will show participants how to create a social commentary art poster. Families who attend are asked to think about the issues they want to address--and to bring photographs of favorite and least favorite personalities.

* “Art Attack,” Barnsdall Art Park, Junior Arts Center, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Jan. 11, 2 to 4 p.m. Free. (213) 485-4474.

Junior Arts Center January workshops continue Jan. 18 with “Tin Art,” a session on the folk art of embossing on tin using techniques from India and Mexico, with artist Camille Sanchez at the San Fernando Gardens Community Service Center. On Jan. 25, “Aliens Among Us?” will make imaginary creatures out of clay, with artist Phyllis Green at the William Mead House.

* “Tin Art,” San Fernando Gardens Community Service Center, 10909 Lehigh Ave., Pacoima, Jan. 18, 2 to 4 p.m.; “Aliens Among Us?,” William Mead House, 1300 N. Cardinal St., Los Angeles, Jan. 25, 2 to 4 p.m. Free. (213) 485-4474.

Creative Kids: The winning entries in the fifth annual “Billboard Project,” billboard suggestions for the city created by young people ages 5 to 17 around the theme “Imagine a Great City . . . What I Love About L.A.,” will go on exhibit Jan. 8 at the Children’s Gallery at the Junior Arts Center at Barnsdall Art Park.

* “Billboard Project” exhibition, Children’s Gallery, Junior Arts Center, Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Jan. 8-Feb. 6. Free. (213) 485-4474.