Get in the Spirit

It’s tradition: About this time every year, Southlanders trim trees, drink eggnog, cook up tamales and shop, shop, shop. Many holiday events and activities have become tradition as well, depicting everything from Christmases past to the ethnic diversity of Southern California to secular celebrations such as lighted boat parades.

Here’s a rundown of some of the family-oriented events taking place during the next two weeks.

For diversity, you can’t beat the 40th annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration. The free six-hour Christmas Eve show originated in 1960 under the nurturing wing of county Supervisor Kenneth Hahn. A tradition since 1964 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, community choirs, orchestras, dance and theater troupes from all over the area perform in what Hahn, who died in 1997, considered a holiday gift to the community.

The tradition lives on, with highlights for 1999 including the Nativity story told in Mexican folkloric style by the AguaLuna Dance Co.; a 50-foot dragon made up of 80 members of the Chinese American Dancing Group; the Los Angeles Gospel Messengers; and, for the grand finale, Vox Femina and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles.

Other programming highlights include reggae-Hanukkah music by Alan Eder and Friends (African drumming combined with traditional songs in Hebrew); two selections from “The Nutcracker,” one performed by the Moscow Classical Ballet, the other by teenagers from Long Beach Theatre; and gospel music from the Grammy-nominated Los Angeles Gospel Messengers and SADAA. More than 20 choruses--child, youth and adult choirs from the Korean, Jewish, Welsh, Latino, Filipino, African American and Chinese communities--will perform in the celebration, which will be broadcast live on KCET-TV. Rebroadcasts are scheduled in two-hour segments over the holiday weekend.

Festivities run 3 to 9 p.m. Dec. 24 in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Admission and parking are free. No reservations are necessary. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. For information: (213) 972-3099, or check the Los Angeles County Arts Commission’s Web site: https://www.lacountyarts.org.

Las Posadas is a religious, fun family holiday tradition, which began nearly 70 years ago, when Olvera Street was established. The event takes place over nine nights, beginning Dec. 16. A candlelight procession reenacts Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, seeking shelter before the birth of Jesus. Each night they are turned away, until Christmas Eve. Festivities begin each night at 6, followed by the procession at 7:15 p.m. A children’s raffle begins at 8 p.m.; there’s also a pin~ata for the kids. Aztec dancers and mariachis will provide entertainment. 6-9 p.m. El Pueblo de Los Angeles, Olvera Street, downtown Los Angeles. Free. (213) 625-5045.

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Children and adults can board the Enchanted Railroad during the 40th annual Descanso Gardens Holiday Festival. The historic county garden is the former residential showplace of newspaper publisher Manchester Boddy. An art show inside the Boddy house will feature holiday paintings by local artists, and tram rides to the Boddy house are free during the festival, which runs through Sunday. The gardens are lush with decorated trees, holiday ornaments, music and special displays. Bring the kids to a pinata party on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Other festivities include a craft marketplace, homemade baked goods and visits with Santa. Specially decorated trees include the Rose Tree, adorned by Friends of the Rosarium; an Environmental Tree by the Descanso Gardens Special Education group; and a tree decorated by Girl Scouts. A buffet lunch is also available. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge. Admission: $5; seniors and students, $3; ages 5 to 12, $1. (818) 952-4401.

The city of Long Beach will open the doors to its oldest residence, the John Temple home built in 1844, for a Rancho Christmas Open House on Sunday. See Christmas customs of 1870 put into practice in a California home. Highlights include craft demonstrations, refreshments, music, storytelling and self-guided tours of the museum. Kids can visit with Santa Claus and construct holiday crafts; pinata-breakings are scheduled for 1:30 and 3 p.m. Rancho Los Cerritos, 4600 Virginia Road, Long Beach. 1-4 p.m. Free. Information: (562) 570-1755.

Studio City’s comparatively young tradition, the fifth annual Holiday Open House and Parade, gets underway Saturday. Horse-drawn carriages and hay rides will commence behind the banks on Ventura Boulevard, where kids can ride the Candy Cane Train, moon bounce and visit the petting zoo. Meanwhile, the Magical Christmas Truck will lead the parade of school floats, Santa Claus and the LAPD Mounted Patrol down Ventura. Following the parade, many shops will serve free refreshments. Hours: 5-10 p.m. Ventura Boulevard, between Laurel Canyon and Whitsett. Admission free; hay rides $5; children $3, lap child free. (818) 655-5916.

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Actress Connie Stevens is holding court as grand marshal of the 37th annual Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade on Saturday at 6 p.m. Festivities, which are part of the two-week Tournament of Lights, also include fireworks, strolling carolers, children’s dance and choir performances and virtual photos with Santa, at Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

At the harbor, the historical tall ships will be open for dockside tours from 10 a.m.-noon. Battle reenactments aboard the tall ships will make waves in the harbor from 1-4 p.m. Then, board the tall ships for a Parade of Lights harbor cruise (adults, $20; children $10), from 6-8 p.m.

The Leslie Paula Latin Soul Band & Nicholas King will perform in the Village Concert, from 4:30-9:30 p.m. The boat parade and fireworks show begins at 6 p.m. in the marina harbor. Free. (310) 822-9455.

On Sunday, the Homestead Museum’s 18th annual Southern California Christmas will depict the way holidays were celebrated from the 1840s to 1920s. Highlights include tours of the historic La Casa Nueva, the Spanish-style home built by the Temple family in the 1920s. At the Workman House next door, an exhibit interprets an 1870s Christmas, and docents will discuss the ways in which Christmas was celebrated in the 1840s and 1870s. Entertainment includes the Bungalow Boys performing 1920s holiday tunes, the Fleet Street brass band and carolers. Kids can make pin~atas and other craft projects or check out the petting zoo. For adults, there is a vintage auto display and merchant booths, as well as house tours. 1-5 p.m. Admission and refreshments are free. 15415 E. Don Julian Road, City of Industry. (626) 968-8492.

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Hans Raffert, the former White House executive chef, will unveil his White House Gingerbread House, a 30-year holiday tradition at the White House, at 11 a.m. Friday at the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace. On Saturday, Raffert will demonstrate the art of Christmas cookie making, at the Children’s Christmas Cookie Festival, 10:30 a.m.-noon. The kids can take home their creations. Events both days are included in library admission.

On Sunday, the Anaheim Mormon Chorale will perform at 2 p.m., followed by the Yorba Linda Middle School at 3:30 p.m. The free family concerts continue throughout December. 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda. $5.95; seniors, $3.95; ages 8-11, $2; 7 and younger, free. (714) 993-5075.

Encounter the reindeer as they take a breather from pulling sleighs at Reindeer Romp. Reindeer will be on view at the Los Angeles Zoo through Jan. 2. Kids can participate in reindeer crafts and animal feedings on the weekends. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily (closed Dec. 25). 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles. Children 2-12, $3.25; ages 13 and up, $8.25; seniors, $5.25; under 2, free. (323) 666-4650.

Christmas With the Critters at Santa Ana Zoo features storytelling, animal encounters and holiday crafts from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday. The Mater Dei High School Choral Bell and Choir will provide holiday music. Visitors can board the Zoofari Express, for 40 years a fixture at Santa’s Village in San Bernardino Mountains. The train is making its first holiday runs at the zoo. Rides $1. Zoo admission: adults, $4; seniors and ages 3-12, $2. 1801 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana. (714) 953-8555, or https://www.santaanazoo.org.

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Beginning what it hopes will become tradition, Legoland, Southern California’s newest theme park in Carlsbad, presents its first Holiday Block Party. Beginning Friday, two shows will play several times a day: the “Let It Snow” show in Lego Showplace and “Light the Night,” a pyrotechnic show, in Miniland. Strolling carolers, holiday music and decorations will adorn the park through Jan. 2. Gates open 10 a.m. daily. Adult admission is $25 with a coupon from local newspapers, $32 without; seniors and ages 3-16, $25. Located at the Cannon Road offramp on Interstate 5. (760) 918-LEGO.

Another new happening is Expo 2000, which celebrates the Hanukkah season through Sunday at the Bernard Milken Jewish Community Campus, 22622 Vanowen St., West Hills. An 8,000-square-foot exhibit hall will be filled with games for kids, a craft room, video room, dreidel house and Hanukkah exhibits. Admission: $5. Tickets and information: (877) 4EXPO-LA.

Bundle up on Sunday for the Winter Wonderland at Roxbury Park in Beverly Hills. Two sessions (10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-4 p.m.) should give kids between the ages of 2 and 10 ample time to chill out in 100 tons of snow. Saucers and toboggans will be supplied for the four sled runs, or kids can try their hand at playing winter carnival games (25 cents per game). Live entertainment and stage performances geared to children are planned. No personal sleds allowed. Roxbury Park, 471 S. Roxbury Drive, Beverly Hills. Food and hot beverages available. Admission: $6 (includes two game tickets and a saucer or toboggan); 3 and younger, free. (310) 550-4796.

William Daniels (“Boy Meets World”) will emcee the Los Angeles Master Chorale’s Family Holiday Concert on Dec. 18 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. There will be a performance by the Colburn Children’s Choir, an audience sing-along and a reading by Daniels from “ ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” A holiday tea follows in the Grand Hall, featuring refreshments and entertainment by costumed characters. Concert: $10-$30; concert and tea: $35-$50. 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Tickets: (213) 365-3500.