Menorah Lighting's in Orange County

Starting this weekend, there are lots of Menorah Lighting's happening all over Orange County. Everything from Giant (as in 5-Foot tall) Flower Menorahs, to Balloon Menorahs, to even a Surfboard Menorah. Here's a complete listing of local Menorah Lighting's...

Saturday, December 12th:
* Yorba Linda: Giant Menorah Lighting, 6pm at the North County Chabad Center

Sunday, December 13th:
* Aliso Viejo: "Green" Menorah Lighting, 3pm at the Aliso Viejo Town Center (near the fountain area)
* Irvine: 8-Foot Balloon Menorah & Chanukah Celebration, 3pm at the Irvine Spectrum, on the Oasis Food Court Patio
* Laguna Beach: Surfboard Menorah Lighting, 2pm at Laguna Main Beach
* Laguna Niguel: Grand Menorah Lighting & Concert in the Park, 3:30pm at the Crown Valley Park Amphitheater
* Newport Beach: Menorah Lighting Ceremony & Hanukkah Celebration, 3pm at Fashion Island, in the Atrium Garden Court
* San Clemente: 5-Foot Flower Menorah Lighting, 4pm at the San Clemente Community Center (100 Calle Seville)

Monday, December 14th:
* Rancho Santa Margarita: Annual Community Chanukah Celebration & Public Menorah Lighting, 5:30pm at Mercado Del Lago Shopping Center (Antonia and Santa Margarita Parkway)
* Westminster: Menorah Lighting, 6pm at the Westminster Mall
Thursday, December 17th:
* Huntington Beach: Menorah Lighting Hanukkah Celebration, 6-8pm at the Bella Terra Shopping Center

Wednesday, December 16th:
* Tustin: Giant Challah Menorah Lighting, 5pm at the District Shopping Center

xoxo, K
image via Surfboard Menorah Lighting

Huntington Harbour Boat Parade & Cruise of Lights

This weekend, pour some hot chocolate in a thermos, break out the hats & scarves and head on over to Huntington Beach Harbour Boat Parade. The parade takes place Saturday, December 12th & Sunday, December 13th at 5:15pm & will feature approximately 70 decorated boats. The Huntington Harbour Boat Parade takes place near the Peters Landing Marina at PCH & 25th Street. For the parade route & approximate viewing times & locations go HERE.

But, that's not the end of the festivities. The parade of decorated boats may only last for two days, but you can continue to view all the beautiful lights & decorated homes during the Philharmonic Cruise of Lights Boat Tour. Everyday, Thursday, December 17th - Wednesday, December 23rd (5:30 -9pm), you can purchase tickets to ride aboard "narrated boat tours through the waterways of Huntington Harbour to view hundreds of brightly decorated homes, docks, decks & boats." The ticket price helps support youth and music programs. For more information go HERE.

xoxo, K
image via Huntington Beach Harbour Boat Parade

12 for Tuesday: Holiday Themed Stage Performances

Looking to get your "cultural" fill this holiday season? With half a dozen Nutcracker ballets to choose from & six more holiday themed stage performances, I'm sure you'll find something to help scratch "that" itch...

1. Ballet Etudes' The Nutcracker at the Rose Center Theater, Huntington Beach, December 12th & 13th
2. Coast City Ballet's The Nutcracker at the Huntington Beach Historic Theater, Huntington Beach December 12th & 13th
3. Festival Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker at the Barclay Theatre, Irvine, December 11th - December 24th
4. Maple Youth Ballet's The Nutcracker at the Northwood Performing Arts Theatre, Irvine, December 19th - December 22nd
5. Nouveau Chamber Ballet's The Nutcracker at the Fullerton College Campus Theatre, Fullerton, December 12th & December 13th
6. Nutcracker for Kids at the Segerstrom Concert Hall, Costa Mesa, December 12th
7. A Christmas Carol at the South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa, now - December 26th
8. A Christmas with Scrooge at the Musical Theatre Village, Irvine, now - December 27th
9. An Old Fashioned Melodrama and Ice Cream Social, Costa Mesa, December 12th & 13th
10. It's a Wonderful Life - A Live Radio Play at the Huntington Beach Playhouse, Huntington Beach, December 9th - December 13th
11. The Eight: Reindeer Monologues at the Chance Theater, Anaheim Hills, Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday until December 19th
12. Winter Wonderettes at the Laguna Playhouse, Laguna Beach, now - December 30th

xoxo, K

Dana Point Parade of Lights

Dana Point Harbor is celebrating the holidays... Friday, December 11th, Saturday December 12th, Friday, December 18th & Saturday December 19th, at 7:30pm is the Annual Boat Parade of Lights. You can view the parade, themed "Santa's Surfin' Safari," for FREE from anywhere in the harbor, or make a reservation at one of the harbor's restaurants to view the parade while keeping yourself warm & toasty. Want to be a part of the parade, but don't own a boat? Join Dana Wharf Sportfishing on one of their decorated parade boats. For more information about the holiday activities & celebrations happening at the Dana Point Harbor go HERE.

xoxo, K
image via dana point harbor

Irvine Park Railroad's Christmas Train & Giveaway

Santa Claus is coming to town... or at least to the Irvine Park Railroad. As their website suggests "Come with family and friends and take this enchanting night ride through historic Irvine Regional Park to meet Santa Claus. The train will depart from the brightly-lit Train Station and drop passengers off at Santa’s Village." While waiting for the train you & your children can enjoy story time with Mrs. Claus, cookie decorating, a bounce house or picture coloring. Once you reach Santa's Village children can share their wish list with Santa & have their pictures taken as well. You can also enjoy coffee, hot chocolate, freshly-popped popcorn & cookies at Santa's Village.

The Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Train will operate on:

November 27th, 28th, 29th, from 5-8pm

December 4th, 5th, 6th & the 11th - 18th, from 5-8pm.

December 19th & 20th, from 2-8pm

December 21st - 23rd from 5-8pm

The cost is $8 per person, children 24 months & younger are FREE. (Parking at Irvine Regional Park is $3 on weekdays, $5 on weekends, & free after 5pm). Tickets can be purchased online HERE, or in person the day of the event.

For more information & activity pricing, go HERE.

Want to visit the Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Train with your family for FREE? Then today's your lucky day. The Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Train is giving one reader 6 Christmas Train Tickets (worth $8/ ticket) & 12 activity tickets (worth $4 each). The entire "package" is worth $98! Woot! Woot!

Here's the nitty-gritty:
* You have until Midnight PST on Friday, November 27th to enter.
* Simply leave a comment on THIS post.
* Anyone can enter (so tell your friends), although anonymous comments will be ignored unless accompanied by an email address.
* Please, just one entry per person.

* The winner will be randomly picked & announced Monday.

* Really want win? You can get extra entries by telling your friends about THIS contest. For every person that enters & says YOU referred them, you get an extra entry. So spread the news, tell your friends to enter, just make sure they tell us that YOU referred them & you will get an extra entry!

xoxo, C & K, and Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Train