| There are plenty of reasons to head to the beach | | | | view the boat parade include the Balboa Island |
| this December. Luckily, the weather in Southern | | | | beaches or boardwalks, the waterfront restaurants, |
| California is pretty nice in the winter compared to | | | | or on a boat charter.There is also a Ring of Lights |
| most parts of the country. The following Christmas | | | | contest in which waterfront homes and businesses |
| and holiday events should help get you in the spirit of | | | | pull out all the stops to compete for prizes for the |
| the season, Southern California style.San DiegoOn the | | | | best decorations.For more information on the |
| first weekend in December, Balboa Park in San Diego | | | | Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade, call |
| celebrates the holidays with an annual event called | | | | 949-729-4400.Huntington BeachIn Huntington Beach, |
| December Nights.You can sample foods from around | | | | you can enjoy the annual Cruise of Lights Boat Tour |
| the world at the International Cottage Christmas | | | | from December 14 to December 23, 2005.For |
| Festival at the House of Pacific Relations Cottages. In | | | | between $8 and $14, you can take the Huntington |
| the Spanish Village, you can watch artisans work on | | | | Harbor Philharmonic Committee's narrated boat tour |
| their craft and find one of a kind Christmas | | | | throughout the festively lit Huntington Harbor. While |
| gifts.Several museums in the park will be open with | | | | cruising along, you can view the myriad of colored |
| no admission fee from 5-9 p.m. both nights. At the | | | | lights and decorations, which bedeck the waterfront |
| Spreckels Organ Pavilion Stage, you can enjoy holiday | | | | homes, docks and boats.The tours will leave at 6, 7 |
| music, dance and theater performances.A carnival will | | | | and 8 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and 5:30, 6:30, |
| entertain the kids on the Palisades Midway. In | | | | 7:30 and 8:30 on Saturday and Sunday evenings.Call |
| addition, there will be a holiday marketplace and the | | | | 714-840-7542 for more information.OxnardUp in |
| Cabrillo Bridge Food Tasting.December Nights goes | | | | Ventura County, Channel Islands Harbor will be holding |
| from 5-10 p.m. on Friday December 2 and noon to 10 | | | | its annual Parade of Lights on Saturday, December |
| p.m. on Saturday December 3, 2005. For more | | | | 10, 2005. The colorfully lit parade of boats starts |
| information, call the Balboa Park Visitors Center at | | | | around 7 p.m. You can view the parade form the |
| 619-239-0512.Laguna BeachThe Sawdust Festival in | | | | harbor view restaurants, along Peninsula Park or at |
| Laguna Beach presents an annual winter's version | | | | Hobie Beach.If you come during the day, you can |
| called Winter Fantasy. This year, the arts and crafts | | | | also enjoy the festival at the Channel Islands Harbor. |
| festival will be held over four weekends from | | | | Next to the Marine Emporium Landing at Harbor view |
| November 19 to December 11, 2005 on Saturdays | | | | Park there will be 25 tons of snow for kids to play in. |
| and Sundays only.The fine artists and artisans come | | | | Also there will be kid's rides and games, horse drawn |
| from far and wide. Not only is it a unique place to do | | | | carriage rides, an arts & crafts boutique, carolers and |
| your Christmas shopping, but the kids will have fun | | | | water taxi boat rides.Word has it that Santa Claus |
| too. There will be children's art activities, a snow play | | | | and his reindeer will fly across the sky in full view. For |
| area and Santa.Live music and festive decorations will | | | | more information about the event, call the Channel |
| add to the holiday experience. Food and drink will also | | | | Islands Harbor Visitors Center at 805-985-4852.Santa |
| be available.Admission fees are $5 for adults and $2 | | | | BarbaraOn Sunday December 11, from 3 to 7:30, the |
| for kids age six to twelve. The Sawdust's Winter | | | | Santa Barbara waterfront will be celebrating the |
| Fantasy will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The | | | | holidays with their own annual Santa Barbara Parade |
| festival grounds are located on Laguna Canyon Road | | | | of Lights.About 30 decorated boats will be on parade |
| in Laguna Beach. For more information, call 949 | | | | around the harbor. It should be starting around 5:30. |
| 494-3030.Newport BeachThe annual Newport Harbor | | | | You can view it from Stearns' Wharf or at the |
| Christmas Boat Parade happens this year from | | | | breakwater in the harbor.There will be a Santa's |
| December 14 to 18, 2005. Boating enthusiasts go all | | | | Village with 12 tons of snow for children to frolic in. |
| out decorating their watercraft, from rowboats to | | | | Carolers will grace the crowd with musical cheer. The |
| magnificent yachts.The more than 200 boat-long | | | | festival will culminate in a fireworks display. For more |
| parade starts at Collins Island at 6:30 and sails around | | | | information, call 805-897-1962.These festive events |
| the bay on a 14 mile route, returning to the starting | | | | will help light up the holidays. Who needs snow when |
| point around 8:30 or 9 p.m. Carolers and projected | | | | you've got the Southern California beaches?Laura |
| music accompany many of the boats as they cruise | | | | Eggers Underhill is a beach lover with a website. Visit |
| along.This has been going on for 95 years and draws | | | | to plan your next beach vacation. |
| quite a crowd. Some of the places you can best | | | | |