Parades & More

Ringing in the Holidays The Volunteer Assn. of Sherman Library & Gardens of Corona del Mar presents its annual holiday open house featuring gift selections, handicrafts, cards and more. Sherman Library, Gardens and Foundation, 2645 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. Daily, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Ends Dec. 24. Free. (714) 673-2261.

Hunky Santa 2002 Shoppers can have their wishes heard and their photos taken with Hunky Santa, a fit, younger, hip version of St. Nick, at the Beverly Center, 8500 Beverly Blvd., L.A. Begins Fri. Regular schedule: Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m. until mall closing through Dec. 21. Photo packages start at $10. (310) 854-0071, Ext. 126.

Holiday Heritage: A Southern California Christmas Features 50 historic images exploring the culture, commerce and art of Christmas in Southern California between the 1870s and 1950s. Heritage Square Museum, 3800 Homer St., L.A. Sat.-Sun., noon-4 p.m. $3-$6, children younger than 6, free. (626) 796-2898.

Holiday Celebration Jazz and tap dance followed by “The Nutcracker, Act 2,” presentation of the Golden State Ballet Company. Robert B. Moore Theatre, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. Sat., 3 p.m., 7 p.m. (714) 432-5880.

Blockbuster Hollywood Christmas Spectacular Formerly the Hollywood Christmas Parade, this event will be hosted by NBC-TV celebrities Joe Rogan and Brooke Burns and will be televised Dec. 7. Marching bands, grand-scale reenactments of famous films and stunts, specials effects, floats, live music and other attractions. Blockbuster Hollywood Christmas Spectacular, Hollywood and Sunset boulevards between Highland Avenue and Vine Street, Hollywood. Sun., 4 p.m. Free. (310) 477-9500.

Holiday Gift Fair Festivities will include live music and coffee. Cobblestone Terrace, 23130 Sherman Way, West Hills. Sun., 2-5 p.m. Free admission. (818) 585-1665.

Festi-Hanukka Family event featuring magicians, dancers and other entertainers plus arts and crafts and games. Sponsored by the Council of Israeli Community. Adat Ariel School and Temple, 12020 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $8-$18. (800) 645-6968.

Mac and the Bees The Shpieler Troupe’s musical theater adventure celebrating the traditions of Hanukkah. With Cindy Paley, Stan Taffel, Andrea Massion and C. “Chutzpah” Craven. Ner Ma’ Arev, 17730 Magnolia Blvd., Encino. Ner Ma’ Arev: Sun., 6:30 p.m. Also at Sephardic Temple, 10500 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Next Thu., 6 p.m. (310) 475-7311.

Holiday Street Festival Santa will appear at the fest in downtown Ventura. The event also features carriage rides, six stages of live entertainment, a tree-lighting ceremony, children’s activities, displays and food. Ventura. Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. (805) 648-2075.

Christmas Candlelight Tours A living history experience with Victorian-era costumes and holiday traditions in the 1844 adobe home. Plus live holiday music and refreshment, all by candlelight only. Reservations required. Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site, 4600 Virginia Road, Long Beach. Dec. 6-7, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $6, children under 3 free. (562) 570-1755.

Yule Parlor Parade Tour of four homes decorated for the holidays, followed by tea at the church Fellowship Hall. Sponsored by the church’s Women’s Fellowship. Neighborhood Church, 415 Paseo del Mar, Palos Verdes Estates. Dec. 6-7, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $20-$25. (310) 378-9353.

Holiday Lamplight Tours Tour of four historic homes each with a living history presentation representing the holiday season of a different era in Los Angeles history. Following the tour, visitors are invited to enjoy refreshments. Reservations required. Heritage Square Museum, 3800 Homer St., L.A. Dec. 7-8, 8 p.m. $20. (626) 796-2898, Ext. 224.

Oxnard Hometown Holiday Parade Floats, classic cars and musical bands. Theme of “Holiday Treasures.” Begins at 10 a.m. on 9th Street, continues along A Street and concludes at Plaza Park. Dec. 7. Free. (805) 385-7545 or (800) 2-OXNARD. www.oxnardtourism.com.

Holiday Festival Features a poinsettia gallery, crafts, ornaments, seasonal music, gift items, food and Santa. Call for complete schedule. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge. Daily, Dec. 7-15, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $1-$5, children 5 and younger free. (818) 949-4200.

Merry Tuba Christmas Twenty-seventh annual event features more than 300 professional and amateur tuba, euphonium and Sousaphone players who will musically deck the halls in the bass clef. The 200 block of Brand Boulevard will be closed to traffic. Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Dec. 7, 4-7 p.m. Free. (818) 754-8250.

Farmers Market Holiday Celebration The market kicks off the holiday season with holiday bands, carolers and festive decorations. Los Angeles Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St. Daily, Dec. 7-Jan. 1, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Free. (323) 933-9211.

Indio International Tamale Festival More than 70 vendors selling every type of tamale imaginable plus live music and entertainment and an additional 200 vendors selling a variety of arts, crafts and commercial items. Old Town, Miles Avenue Park, Indio. Dec. 7-8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (760) 342-6532.

A Southern California Christmas Relive the excitement of Christmas traditions popular in California from the 1830s to the 1930s through music, historic house tours, living history characters and demonstrations plus food, Santa Claus and children’s activities. Homestead Museum, 15415 Don Julian Road, City of Industry. Dec. 8, 1-5 p.m. Free. (626) 968-8492.

Swedish Christmas Festival The 23rd annual Swedish Christmas Festival and Queen of Light Pageant-Santa Lucia will celebrate the Sami people and culture of northern Sweden. Plus Swedish art, goods, homemade breads and cookies, folk dancing, music and games. Hollywood Palladium, 6215 Sunset Blvd., L.A. Dec. 8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $1-$5. (310) 204-5182.

Castle Green Tours A rare tour of the historic 1899 landmark that is almost always closed to the public. The tour will take place in the first-floor rooms, which will be decorated for a Victorian-era Christmas. The tour will also visit the penthouse and several private, never-before-seen apartments. Plus an arts-and-crafts collection and photographs of Hollywood celebrities taken by renowned photographer Charles Hurrell in the 1920s and 1930s. 99 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Dec. 8, 1-5 p.m. $15. (626) 577-6765.

Las Posadas Holiday festival sponsored by the Hispanic Arts Council in the courtyard of the Bowers Museum. 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. Dec. 8, 5-7 p.m. Free. (714) 567-3600.

Queen Anne Cottage Open House The cottage, built in 1885, will be decorated for the holidays with warm nostalgia for the past. Arboretum of Los Angeles County, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. Dec. 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $1-$5, under 5 free. (626) 821-3222.

Pet Photos with Santa Santa will pose with your pets during a holiday photo session. The Galleria at South Bay, 1815 Hawthorne Blvd., Redondo Beach. Mon., Dec. 9 and 16, 8 p.m. until mall closing. Photo packages start at $11.95. (310) 371-7546.

The Years’ Turning A traditional Gaelic seasonal celebration with Altan, Seamus Begley and Jim Murray, the West Kerry Set. California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. Dec. 10, 8 p.m. $20-$35. (800) 988-4253.

Christmas Open House Tour the 1844 adobe decorated in the Victorian-era style, plus crafts, a pinata, Santa, live entertainment and refreshments. No reservations required. Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site, 4600 Virginia Road, Long Beach. Dec. 15, 1-4 p.m. Free. (562) 570-1755.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” Frank Capra’s classic starring James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore and Donna Reed. Silent Movie Theatre, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. Dec. 20-21, 8 p.m.; Dec. 22, 1 p.m. $7-$10. (323) 655-2520.

2003 Tournament of Roses The 114th Rose Parade, themed “Children’s Dreams, Wishes and Imagination,” takes place Jan. 1, 2003, beginning at 8 a.m. and features floral floats, equestrian units and marching bands from throughout the nation. This year’s grand marshals are television personalities Bill Cosby, Art Linkletter and Fred Rogers. Following the Rose Parade, at 2 p.m., is the 89th Rose Bowl Game. The parade starts at Ellis Street and Orange Grove Boulevard in Pasadena, goes north on Orange Grove, then east on Colorado Boulevard, then north on Sierra Madre Boulevard and ends at Villa Street. For more information, call (626) 449-ROSE, the Tournament of Roses office, (626) 449-4100.