Celebrate the holiday season at OC Parks’ Heritage Hill Historical Park over two weekends this December with Candlelight Walk and Holiday Lights.

The 35th annual Candlelight Walk will take place over three enchanted evenings December 10-12 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Stroll through the festive grounds and enter historical buildings adorned with décor fitting for the time period. Enjoy live musical performances, holiday-themed crafts for kids, and a visit with Santa! Light refreshments will be available for cash purchase.

The family-friendly fun continues December 17-19 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with Holiday Lights. Immerse yourself in the twinkling lights as you walk along the grounds taking pictures at the various holiday-themed photo opportunities. Holiday Lights welcomes pets outdoors on leashes no longer than six feet. Please note that additional entertainment and refreshments will not be provided.

“We are very excited for the return of Candlelight Walk and Holiday Lights to Heritage Hill Historical Park this year,” said Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Orange County Board of Supervisors, Fifth District. “This is a wonderful way for families and friends to experience the magic and spirit of the holiday season as they stroll through one of our beautiful historic sites in Orange County.”

Both events are free, with free parking. Inclement weather may cancel the events.

Heritage Hill Historical Park

25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630

http://www.ocparks.com/heritagehill/ 

(949) 923-2230 

35th Annual Candlelight Walk

Date: December 10, 11 and 12

Time: 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Cost: Free

Parking: Free

Holiday Lights 

Date: December 17, 18 and 19

Time: 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Cost: Free

Parking: Free

Credit: OC Parks.

This season, Go Little Tokyo for the Holidays to shop and support one of Los Angeles’ most historic and iconic neighborhoods. Whether dining in or ordering takeout from Little Tokyo’s beloved restaurants, discovering one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your list, capturing the perfect holiday moment in a photo with Shogun Santa, or enjoying the festive scene with roaming carolers and Christmas tree in Japanese Village Plaza, there are a number of ways to show love to Little Tokyo this season.

Skip the mall and shop small at Little Tokyo’s many historic small businesses by picking up or ordering unique items not available anywhere else in LA! Celebrate this special community and make new memories in the heart of Downtown LA with the top five reasons to Go Little Tokyo for the Holidays.

1. Deck the Halls With One-of-a-Kind Gifts: Browse Little Tokyo’s annual Holiday Gift Guide for a convenient way to discover unique gifts while supporting beloved local businesses like Anzen Hardware with Sustainable Little Tokyo’s Annual Holiday Gift Sale. 
2. Delight in the Spirit of Giving: Give back to the Little Tokyo Community Council with curated gifts from the LTCC Online Pop-up Shop including limited edition pins, totes, sweatshirts and greeting cards. Make a donation in your loved one’s name, and they will receive a limited Little Tokyo print in the form of a holiday greeting card on your behalf. Cards will be mailed out the first week of December to ensure that they arrive by the holidays.
3. Make Your (Restaurant) List and Check it Twice: Use Go Little Tokyo’s online directory of restaurants to map out where you’ll be picking up holiday meals or refueling during your Little Tokyo shopping excursion. Pick up gift cards from favorite restaurants to check off gifts for all the foodies on your list. 
4. Shogun Santa is Coming to Town: Snap the perfect holiday card photo with Shogun Santa next to the Japanese Village Plaza Christmas tree during his visits on Saturday, December 18 and Sunday, December 19 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. For the health and safety of Santa and visitors, there will be a barrier around Santa, and sitting on Santa’s lap will not be permitted. Shogun Santa is brought to you by the Little Tokyo Business Association (LTBA).
5. ‘Tis the Season to be Festive: Take in the historic neighborhood’s magical atmosphere with twinkling lights and showstopping Christmas tree in Japanese Village Plaza. Enjoy the sweet sounds of roaming carolers, JTOWN JINGLES presented by Go Little Tokyo and East West Players, featuring Filosophy as they serenade the neighborhood on Saturday, December 4 and Saturday, December 11 from 2-4 p.m. Stay to experience the free, public full set performance at JANM Plaza at 5 p.m.

Shop and support Little Tokyo’s small businesses for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to your favorite Little Tokyo business. Simply submit your receipts from Little Tokyo businesses at GoLittleTokyo.com/Holidays/ to enter. Two winners will be chosen, and multiple entries are encouraged. Receipts must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on December 31.

Businesses in Little Tokyo continue to monitor and adhere to guidelines put forth by local and state agencies and the CDC. It is recommended that unvaccinated guests wear masks when not actively eating or drinking and that all guests, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask when in line or when not able to maintain a six-foot physical distance from other guests. For more information about the holidays in Little Tokyo and to view the Little Tokyo Gift Guide, visit golittletokyo.com/holidays. 

Credit: GO LITTLE TOKYO

Go Little Tokyo is a community-led effort aimed at highlighting the unique cultural programs, community events, and dining and shopping experiences found in Little Tokyo. As one of Los Angeles’ most vibrant cultural hubs, there is an abundance of destinations and landmarks in and around this historic walkable neighborhood and Go Little Tokyo will help you uncover them. Go Little Tokyo is a Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC) project developed and produced by Community Arts Resources (CARS) and made possible with support from Metro. For more information, visit http://www.golittletokyo.com/.

Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM) brings the holidays to the Third Street Promenade with the return of Winterlit, transforming the downtown district into an immersive, festive experience. Tens of thousands of colorful lights, decor and garland will deck the Third Street Promenade, 2nd and 4th Streets, illuminating convenient shopping and cozy outdoor dining experiences. Santa comes to the Promenade on Friday, November 19 at 6 p.m. for the annual lighting of the official City of Santa Monica 24-foot-tall holiday tree. 

Nightly menorah lightings will celebrate the Festival of Lights during the Hanukkah season from Sunday, November 28 through Monday, December 6. The lighting of the menorah will begin at sundown and take place on the 1400 block of Third Street Promenade (located between Santa Monica Blvd and Broadway).

For a one-stop holiday shopping destination, the Conscious Night Market will be on the Promenade, Saturday, December 4 from 4 – 9 p.m. hosted by Fit Girl LA. The pop-up artisan market features unique goods from over 40 local vendors, elevated and sustainable brands in addition to live music and free kombucha. The SoCal Etsy Guild comes to downtown for two dates: Saturday, November 20 and Saturday, December 18 from 2 – 9 p.m., featuring local Southern California-based artists, crafters and designers. Shoppers can support local businesses while finding something for everyone on their gift list. 

Steps from the Promenade, Santa Monica Place will offer an array of festive activities for the whole family to enjoy this holiday season. Santa Clause will be in town and available for photos  November 19 through December 24. Visitors and shoppers can also catch special performances by the dancing sensation, Santa Monica Beach Belles, and the 14-foot larger-than-life Snow Globe. Bring your furry friend to a special pet night and “sit” for a photo with Santa on December 15 and 16. Visit SantaMonicaPlace.com for more information.

DTSM remains committed to ensuring the health and safety of the community, visitors, and staff. Face coverings are recommended when visiting the Third Street Promenade and all guests are encouraged to practice physical distancing. For more information and a full list of events, visit DowntownSM.com or follow @DTSantaMonica on Instagram and Twitter or DowntownSantaMonica on Facebook.

Credit: Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.

Dana Point Harbor Partners (DPHP) is spreading holiday cheer by hosting the annual holiday light display, consisting of over 700,000 LED lights, set to illuminate the Harbor beginning November 17. Each night throughout the holiday season, the Harbor’s magnificent light display will illuminate the evening sky for guests of all ages to enjoy. DPHP is proud to provide the holiday lights for the community including giant whale sculptures, lighted palm trees, Christmas trees, a giant Adirondack chair, and the popular “Merry Kiss Me” arch. Locals and visitors alike can enjoy strolling carolers, holiday-themed photo ops, visits with Santa, waterfront restaurant offerings, boutique holiday shopping and more. 

The Harbor’s much anticipated annual Boat Parade of Lights will take place December 10-12 with a “Fiesta Holiday” theme. The parade will begin at 7:30 p.m. on December 10 and 11 and at 6:30 p.m. on December 12. Boaters will decorate their vessels to the theme of the parade, for a chance to win up to $10,000 in cash prizes across several award categories, courtesy of Dana Point Harbor Partners. Award categories include Best Use of Theme, People’s Choice, Supervisor’s Cup, Mayor’s Cup and more. Boaters can sign up at The Marina at Dana Point office. 

Get in the holiday spirit and enjoy Holiday carolers as they stroll through the Harbor dressed in “Ugly Sweater” attire on Thursdays, December 9, 16 and 23 from 4 – 7 p.m. 

Santa’s coming to the Harbor on December 10 and 11 and taking residence in the Clock Courtyard from 3-5 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to take a photo with Santa in front of a holiday-themed photo op, which will remain up throughout the month of December for all to enjoy. 

Visitors are invited to participate in Dana Point Harbor’s “Holidays at the Harbor” social media contest on Instagram from November 17 – December 22. Take a photo in front of one of the many light installations throughout the Harbor, tag @danapoint_harbor on Instagram and use the hashtag #HolidaysattheHarbor. At the end of the campaign, one lucky winner will be chosen at random and awarded a special Dana Point Harbor package.

Additional Holiday Happenings:

DPHP in partnership with the Chabad Jewish Center of Dana Point will host a Menorah Lighting Ceremony on the Fishing Pier at Baby Beach at 4 p.m. on November 28th. Guests can enjoy hot latkes, music, coffee, dreidels, crafts for kids and more. The 12-foot Menorah will remain at the pier for the duration of Hanukkah until December 6. 

Pet Project Foundation will host the 10th Annual Santa Paws on December 4 & 5 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Clock Courtyard. Pet photos will be offered for a small donation with all proceeds supporting the Pet Project Foundation. 

Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching will also host the annual Boat Rides with Santa on Saturday, December 4th and 5th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Take photos with Santa and his holiday helpers on this adventure at sea for a $5 donation with proceeds supporting Soroptimist of Capistrano Bay. Reservations will be required. Visit danawharf.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

WHEN

• Holiday light display will illuminate the Harbor November 17 – early January 
• 46th Annual Boat Parade of Lights to take place December 10, 11 starting at 7:30 pm and December 12 at 6 p.m. 
• “Holidays at the Harbor” social media contest will run from November 17 – December 22.
• Visit the Harbor events calendar on the website for additional holiday happenings

WHERE

Dana Point Harbor, 34555 Golden Lantern St., Dana Point, CA 92629 

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on Holidays at the Harbor visit DanaPointHarbor.com/holidays-at-the-harbor.

Credit: Dana Point Harbor and Dana Point Harbor Partners.

Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM) brings the holidays to the Third Street Promenade with the return of Winterlit, transforming the downtown district into an immersive, festive experience. Tens of thousands of colorful lights, decor and garland will deck the Third Street Promenade, 2nd and 4th Streets, illuminating convenient shopping and cozy outdoor dining experiences. Santa comes to the Promenade on Friday, November 19 at 6 p.m. for the annual lighting of the official City of Santa Monica 24-foot-tall holiday tree. 

Nightly menorah lightings will celebrate the Festival of Lights during the Hanukkah season from Sunday, November 28 through Monday, December 6. The lighting of the menorah will begin at sundown and take place on the 1400 block of Third Street Promenade (located between Santa Monica Blvd and Broadway).

For a one-stop holiday shopping destination, the Conscious Night Market will be on the Promenade, Saturday, December 4 from 4 – 9 p.m. hosted by Fit Girl LA. The pop-up artisan market features unique goods from over 40 local vendors, elevated and sustainable brands in addition to live music and free kombucha. The SoCal Etsy Guild comes to downtown for two dates: Saturday, November 20 and Saturday, December 18 from 2 – 9 p.m., featuring local Southern California-based artists, crafters and designers. Shoppers can support local businesses while finding something for everyone on their gift list. 

Steps from the Promenade, Santa Monica Place will offer an array of festive activities for the whole family to enjoy this holiday season. Santa Claus will be in town and available for photos  November 19 through December 24. Visitors and shoppers can also catch special performances by the dancing sensation, Santa Monica Beach Belles, and the 14-foot larger-than-life Snow Globe. Bring your furry friend to a special pet night and “sit” for a photo with Santa on December 15 and 16. Visit SantaMonicaPlace.com for more information.

DTSM remains committed to ensuring the health and safety of the community, visitors, and staff. Face coverings are recommended when visiting the Third Street Promenade and all guests are encouraged to practice physical distancing. For more information and a full list of events, visit DowntownSM.com or follow @DTSantaMonica on Instagram and Twitter or DowntownSantaMonica on Facebook.

Credit: Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.