Annual Boat Parade of Light
December 6, 7, 13 & 14, 2019
Festivities begin 4:30 pm
Parade begins 7:30 pm

Boaters from all around Orange County decorate their boats and vie for awards. You can view the parade free from anywhere in the Harbor, or make reservations at one of our restaurants to view it from a cozy and warm spot. Come on down and enjoy the sights and sounds of the season.

Enjoy this holiday extravaganza throughout the harbor each night of the Boat Parade that features carolers, superheroes, games, crafts, and FREE photos with Santa, and culminates with the Boat Parade.

LOCATION:
Dana Point Harbor
34555 Golden Lantern

** Dana Wharf Sportfishing offers boat rides so you too can experience the fun of actually riding on a boat and joining in the parade. Don't miss the opportunity to become a part of this one-of-a-kind holiday experience. Reservations can be made at www.danawharf.com

Call and make your reservations at (949) 496-5794.

For more information or a boat or sponsor entry form call THE Harbor Info line at (949) 923-2255

Annual Nights of 1000 Lights
Thursday through Sunday
December 6-8, 12-15, 19-22, 2019
6-9 pm

The 6th Annual Nights of 1000 Lights will be twelve nights of holiday cheer! Guests will enjoy a 'Blue Christmas' with Elvis, take a stroll in the glistening light tunnel and boogie through the disco inFERNo...enter a world of sugary sweets in the gingerbread house, enjoy hot chocolate and 'smores around the bonfire...get warm and fuzzy with a Scandinavian juletre, and follow the trolls and gnomes to visit Santa in his workshop!

All guests will enjoy complimentary coffee, hot chocolate, and a make your own 'smores station. There will also holiday photo booth and fun arts and crafts activities. Additionally, there will be a no-host wine and beer bar, food available for purchase and holiday shopping in the Garden Shop.

$15 Friends / $25 Non-Member / Children 3 and under are free

LOCATION:
Sherman Library & Gardens
2647 East Coast Highway
Corona del Mar, CA 92625

Nutcracker Treelighting & Holiday Village
December 7, 2019

FREE event featuring holiday craft activities, a real snow play area, a children’s train ride, free photos with Santa and holiday musical performances by local schools and community groups throughout the day. Purchase unique gifts from the Holiday Shopping Village and enjoy a wide variety of culinary treasures from the International Food Fair.

LOCATION:
Downtown Anaheim at Center St Promenade & Lemon St

INFORMATION:
714-956-3586

Candy Caneland & Craft Faire
Saturday, December 7, 2019

A community holiday carnival that includes food and game booths sponsored by local non-profit groups, entertainment, games, petting zoo, a craft area for kids, pictures with Santa Claus, and their famous snow slides!

LOCATION:
Ehlers Community Recreation Center
8150 Knott Ave.
(Please use the free shuttle to and from the Peak Park Pool at 7225 El Dorado Dr. Look for the shuttles marked Ehlers Express)

INFORMATION:
(714) 236-3860

Winter Festival & Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 7, 2019
12pm - 5:30pm

FREE holiday family event sponsored by the City of Dana Point. This annual event features Santa, entertainment, an artisan craft fair, carnival games, rides, crafts for kids, cookie decorating and more! The Tree Lighting takes place at 5:15 pm with free hot chocolate and cookies.

LOCATION:
La Plaza Park
Pacific Coast Highway, North of Golden Lantern

INFORMATION:
(949) 248-3530

Winter Market
Saturday, December 7, 2019
12-4 pm

Come enjoy the entertainment, take free pictures with Santa (from 12-4), grab a bite to eat, do some holiday shopping and visit the beer and wine garden. For the kids there will be face painting and a bounce house. "Spark of Love" toy drive with Fullerton Firefighters will also be there for those who wish to donate. Free event.

Parking may be found in any of the free downtown lots or in the parking structures at Wilshire (enter from Harbor); Lemon Street and Chapman Avenue;and in the Transportation Center on Pomona and Santa Fe Avenue.

LOCATION:
Downtown Fullerton

Crystal Cove Tree Lighting & Holiday Bazaar
December 7, 2019
10 am - 5:30 pm

Tree lighting ceremony with a seasonal bazaar featuring handcrafted items by local residents and artists. The excitement builds when Santa arrives at 4 p.m. for family photos, followed by the tree lighting ceremony at dusk (approximately 5 p.m.), a holiday tradition that draws locals and visitors alike.

LOCATION:
Park in the Los Trancos lot (PCH inland at stoplight Los Trancos then walk across the street or take the shuttle.) Parking: $5/hr (max. $15).

Annual Home for the Holidays Pet Adoption Fair
Sunday, December 8, 2019
10 am - 2 pm.

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!

The annual event features dozens of pet-related vendors, gourmet food trucks, a silent auction, low-cost microchipping, and an opportunity drawing. Each animal available for adoption is spayed or neutered, microchipped, and evaluated by a veterinarian. Cats and dogs are vaccinated appropriate to age. Suggested donation for the event is $2 per person or $5 per family. Parking is free.

LOCATION:
Irvine Animal Care Center
6443 Oak Canyon Road
Irvine, CA 92618

INFORMATION:
949-724-7740

Holiday Trains at the Nixon Library - Yorba Linda
November 25 through January 5, 2020

This fan-favorite, annual Christmas celebration will feature large displays of whistling miniature model trains and the annual Pat Nixon White House Gingerbread House.

Beginning Monday, November 25, 2019, guests to the Nixon Library will enjoy the popular special exhibit Apollo 11: One Giant Leap for Mankind and tour a whistling wonderland of TRAINS, featuring a dozen bustling tracks, 500 square feet of hand-crafted model scenery, and five expertly-designed layouts including the all-new Rocket Railroad space-themed layout, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

LOCATION:
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
18001 Yorba Linda Blvd.
Yorba Linda, CA 92886

INFORMATION:
714-993-5075

Chance Theater presents: Anne of Green Gables
November 29 - December 29, 2019

Generations of readers have adored the best-selling novel Anne of Green Gables, and now the musical adaptation of the beloved book hits the stage at Chance Theater. The Cuthberts expect to adopt a boy, but receive, instead, a red-haired, wide-eyed orphan girl. Though clever young Anne Shirley has a penchant for getting into trouble, she works her way into the hearts of her adoptive parents as well as the residents of rural Prince Edward Island. It’s a heartwarming story for the whole family.

Recommendation: Wonderful for the entire family, ages 4 and up.

LOCATION:
Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center
5522 E. La Palma Ave.
Anaheim, CA

TICKETS / INFORMATION:
Tickets and Information at www.ChanceTheater.com/Anne

20% off tickets. Limited availability. Use code "CARROTS20"

Whale Watching - Dana Point & Newport Beach

Gray Whales migrate annually along the west coast of North America. They can be seen from the Orange County coast from December through April.

Summer and fall bring the giant blue whales. They can be seen from May through October

Humpback whales, finback whales, & minke whales are viewed year round. Giant marine protected park provides pristine habitat for whales and dolphin and means a simple 2-2.5 hour cruise is all that needed to see whales and dolphin from Dana Point and Newport Beach

LOCATIONS:
You can book cruises at the following locations:

Orange County Mining Co.
Orange
9:30 am - 3 pm

Sunday Brunch in Orange County is a wonderful way to enjoy your weekend. At our View Restaurant, Sunday Brunch is always accompanied by champagne, rustic favorites, spectacular views and unique atmosphere. Our elaborate brunch menu includes-but is certainly not limited to-traditional breakfast foods and lunch favorites like barbeque, prime rib, teriyaki chicken and fresh fish selections. You can also choose to view sporting events in the bar or enjoy your Sunday Brunch on the Terrace. With enough variety to satisfy every appetite from the kids to the adults, this is one Sunday Brunch you'll keep coming back to!

LOCATION:
1000 Crawford Canyon Rd.
City of Orange

INFORMATION:
714-997-7411 (Discount $5/each adult seated before 10 am. Additional Sunday Brunch Coupons on Website)