holiday Happenings
Saturday, Dec. 2
Winter Festival and Tree Lighting 12-5 p.m. Get in the holiday spirit with a day of activities for the whole family. There will be a craft fair, face painting, cookie decorating, a petting zoo, a visit to Lego Santa’s Village Workshop and be rounded out with a tree lighting ceremony. Most activities are free. 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point. www.danapoint.org.
Holiday Boutique at San Clemente Art Gallery
4-9 p.m. Art Association artists will be stopping by the San Clemente Art Gallery to showcase their latest pieces. Admission is free. 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente. 949.542.2924. www.paintsanclemente.com.
Tree Lighting Celebration
4:15-5:45 p.m. Celebrate the holidays at the annual Tree Lighting Celebration at the Historic Town Center Park. Enjoy live music, shopping and refreshments. Festivities continue at Mission SJC, Los Rios Historic District and Zoomars Petting Zoo. 31852 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.5911. Visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org for a schedule.
Santa’s Village by the Sea 5 p.m. Stop by the San Clemente Community Center on Avenida Del Mar to bring in the holiday season. Holiday activities begin at 5 p.m. at Casa Romantica, and then move to the Community Center for the annual snow hill and tree lighting. San Clemente Community Center. 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente. 949.361.8264. www.san-clemente.org.
Christmas at the Mission 5:30-8 p.m. Held in conjunction with San Juan
Capistrano’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and community-wide holiday celebration, Mission San Juan Capistrano offers a snow play area for kids, Santa’s Workshop with cookie decorating and holiday card making, photos with Father Christmas, food vendors, holiday shopping and live music. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children ages 4-11. Cans of food are welcome for the Serra Pantry Food Drive. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.234.1300. www.missionsjc.com.
Christmas at the Casa: Holiday Open House 5:30-7 p.m. The Casa’s annual holiday open house will feature live music, kids crafts, refreshments and more. Casa Romantica. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente. 949.498.2139. www.casaromantica.org.
Merry Movie Night
5 p.m. Get excited for the Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade of Lights with a holiday film at Baby Beach the weekend before. The festivities begin at 3:30 p.m., but the movie starts at 5 p.m. 34445 Ensenada Pl, Dana Point. www.danapointharbor.com.
Sunday, Dec. 3
Yappy Howl-iday Celebration 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Bring your pup to this festive edition of the monthly Ritz-Carlton hosted event. Canned food donations are encouraged and any treats or dog toys will be donated to an animal rescue organization. 1 Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point. 949.240.2000. www.ritzcarlton.com.
Elves on Trails 5K and Half Marathon 7 a.m. Stay on track with your fitness
goals through the holiday season with this breathtaking run through Caspers Wilderness Park. Come dressed in your elf outfit or other holiday attire to make it an experience. 33401 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano. www. rockitracingoc.com.
Boat Rides with Santa 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Join Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching for a day on the water with Santa Claus. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. 949.496.5794. www. danawharf.com or www. danapointharbor.com.
Monday, Dec. 4
Capistrano Beach Tree
Lighting 4-6 p.m. Stop by Pines Park for the Capistrano Beach Tree Lighting event for holiday music, cookies, a dog holiday costume parade and photo opportunities with Santa. 34941 Camino Capistrano, Dana Point. 949.248.3536. www.danapoint.org.
Garden of Lights 5-9 p.m. The San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas is transformed into a winter wonderland with sparkling lights illuminating the flora of the 37-acre garden oasis. There will be nightly entertainment as well as food, beverages and familyfriendly activities such as horse-drawn wagon rides, marshmallow roasting. Visit www.sdbgarden. org for participating days for the holiday festivities. Admission is $14 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for children ages 3-12. Free admission for active duty military personnel Sundays through Thursdays. 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas.
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holiday Happenings
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Tuesday, Dec. 5
Holiday Gift Faire and Party 6-9 p.m. Skip the mall and shop small with Pure.Love.Yoga. Local artisans and crafters will be onsite at the studio with items for purchase. Live music and wine will be available for guests to mingle, jingle and shop. 415 E. Avenida Pico, San Clemente. 949.492.5048. www.pureloveyogasc.com.
Holiday Dinner Cooking Class 6:30-9 p.m. Join Antoine’s Café for a lesson in holiday cuisine preparation as students learn how to prepare kabocha squash and fennel soup with smoked paprika and candied pecans; herbed beef tenderloin with cranberryport wine sauce; chocolate and brandy soufflé tarts and more. The class costs $60 per person. Reserve online at www.antoinescafe.com/ cooking-class-san-clemente or call 949.492.1763. 218 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente.
Holiday Sip and Shop at Barnoa 4-9 p.m. Stop by Barnoa Wine Company for holiday gift shopping and wine tasting. 831 Via Suerte, Ste. 106, San Clemente. www.barnoawinebar. com. 949.388.4378.
Thursday, Dec. 7
Dana Point Symphony Holiday Concert 7:30 p.m. Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Choir and Dana Hills High School Orchestra will join the Symphony to perform holiday favorites from the Nutcracker and Rossini: Messe di Gloria. General admission is $20; seniors, students and military tickets are $15. Concerts are held at St. Edward the
Confessor Catholic Church, 33926 Calle La Primavera, Dana Point. 949.542.6282. www.danapointsymphony. com.
Friday, Dec. 8
43rd Annual Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade
4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Arrive early for a premier spot to watch the 43rd Annual Boat Parade to celebrate the season. This year’s event will include familyfriendly activities throughout the Harbor. Trolley service will be available for all four days of the parade starting at 3:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. 24650 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. www.danapoint.org.
Saturday, Dec. 9
Holiday Ice Skating
4-8 p.m. The city of San Juan Capistrano invites you for a weekend on ice at the Riding Park for their first annual Holiday Ice Skating. Skate rentals are $5 per person and all proceeds benefit the underserved youth of San Juan Capistrano. 30753 La Pata Avenue, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.5911. www. sanjuancapistrano.org.
Saturday, Dec. 16
Cookies with Mrs. Claus at Zoomars 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Join Zoomars Petting Zoo to decorate Christmas cookies with Mrs. Claus. Seats are limited so calling in advance is recommended. Entry is $15 per person. 31791 Los Rios St, San Juan Capistrano. 949.831.6550. www.zoomars.com.
Hanukkah Party
7-9 p.m. The Monarch Beach Resort will be hosting a Hanukkah party
with “Lighten-Up” comedy show starring comedian Brian Kiley. RSVP for the comedy show is required. Tickets are $36 and can be purchased at www.chabadoflaguna.com. 1 Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point. 949.499.0770. www. monarchbeachresort.com.
Sunday, Dec. 17
Gingerbread Academy 10 a.m.-noon; 1-3 p.m. Feeling crafty? Join the Monarch Beach Resort pastry team in decorating gingerbread houses like one of the pros. The price for the event is $109 per family and includes one house, the fixings, access to the holiday treat bar and a glass of sparkling wine. 1 Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point. 949.234.3423. www.monarchbeachresort. com.
Menorah Lighting at the Outlets 4-5 p.m. The Outlets at San Clemente will be hosting a free, family-friendly event to celebrate Chanukah with the Chabad Jewish Center of San Clemente. Activities will include balloons, hot latkes, doughnuts and gelt. 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, Ste 190, San Clemente. 949-535-2323. www.outletsatsanclemente.com.
Breakfast with Santa at H.H. Cotton’s 10 a.m.noon. Scarf down breakfast with Santa at the Avenida Del Mar restaurant. Photo opportunities will be available. Donate an unwrapped toy too to benefit children at Mission Hospital. Email erin@hhcottons.com for more information. RSVP for breakfast today. 201 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.429.3321. www.hhcottons.com.
