{"id":11114,"date":"2019-12-11T18:55:06","date_gmt":"2019-12-12T02:55:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/hi-lo\/?p=30000005304"},"modified":"2019-12-12T11:27:30","modified_gmt":"2019-12-12T19:27:30","slug":"the-7-things-to-do-this-weekend-in-long-beach-including-santas-on-a-bus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/the-7-things-to-do-this-weekend-in-long-beach-including-santas-on-a-bus","title":{"rendered":"The 7: Things to do this weekend in Long Beach including… Santas on a bus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether it\u2019s voluntary or not, we know you’ve got the holidays on the brain.<\/p>\n

Walk into any store and you\u2019ll walk out humming \u201cSanta Baby\u201d whether you like it or not. Every other palm tree you come across is strangled in lights and people at the office will demand your opinion on how the office Christmas tree should be themed.<\/p>\n

All around you, everyone is talking about how excited (or stressed) they are for Christmas. You can\u2019t get away from it; we can\u2019t get away from it, so why fight it?<\/p>\n

This week we\u2019ve got heaps of Christmas events, activities and spectacles for you to surrender to\u2014Filipino food, festive boats, sweet pups, parades, snow, lights… it’s nuts.<\/p>\n

Alright, off you go!<\/p>\n

1. NAPLES BOAT PARADE (Saturday)<\/h3>\n

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Just as with the light displays on the homes above the canals, what raises the Naples holiday flotilla above similar fleets in Huntington Harbor and Newport Beach, is the intimacy and coziness the others can\u2019t really touch, but you can.<\/p>\n

This is in part owing to the fact that when the light-festooned ships pass by you feel as though you can reach right out and touch whatever it is those on board are drinking. The parade gets starts at 6 p.m. and can also be seen from numerous other vantage points including the beach along Bay Shore and the Peninsula. (Steve Lowery<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Another great thing<\/strong>: Two days before the boat parade, Runner’s High will host a three-mile run through Naples to enjoy the Christmas lights while also enjoying hot chocolate, Santa hats and jingle bells. You’ll need to RSVP for this, do it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Giving us a moment’s pause:<\/strong> Cocoa cramps.<\/p>\n

For more information about the Naples Boat Parade, click here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

2. REASONS TO LOVE LONG BEACH X THE BIG RED BUS 2ND ANNUAL SANTA CRAWL (Sunday)<\/h3>\n
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Courtesy Facebook\/Reasons to Love Long Beach.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If there\u2019s nothing you\u2019d rather do than imbibe in a Santa suit on a double decker bus, then this is the event for you. Christmas costumes (and $32) are required to hop on the Big RED Bus, which will stop at three different bars for the second annual Reasons to Love Long Beach Santa Crawl, where there will be drink specials and free appetizers. (Asia Morris<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Another great thing: WATERFRONT TOUR OF LIGHTS (Thursday, Friday, Sunday)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Courtesy Facebook\/Big RED Bus.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you’re looking for a bus ride that’s a bit more family friendly, check out these holiday lights tours, also on the Big RED bus, or “double-decker sleigh,” where riders will get a view of the floating trees of Alamitos Bay and some of the best-lit homes along the waterfront. Expect live Christmas music, hot chocolate, cookies and photo opportunities with Santa.<\/p>\n

Giving us a moment’s pause: <\/strong>So. Many. Santas.<\/p>\n

Join the Reasons to Love Long Beach Santa Crawl on Sunday, Dec. 15 at the old Tilted Kilt at 6575 E. Pacific Coast Highway at 1 p.m. for pick up. For tickets, visit reasonstolovelongbeach.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Waterfront Tour of Lights take place almost every evening through Dec. 24, except Saturdays. Click here<\/a> for details and reservations. Pick up is at Glory Days at 620 Pacific Coast Highway in Seal Beach.<\/em><\/p>\n

3. IT\u2019S A DRAG TO GIVE (Friday)<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Courtesy Facebook\/It’s a Drag to Give.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sure, there are drag queens that have perfected the art, that have found their strut, that have made it their duty to awe and push the boundaries of entertainment, and what could possibly be more entertaining? Those who haven\u2019t perfected the art, but are going to dress in drag anyway to raise funds for local nonprofits, that\u2019s who.<\/p>\n

Take first-time drag performer and Long Beach Creamery dynamo Dina Amadril, for example. The chemist behind many a drool-worthy flavor combination, Amadril will be seen on stage as Cara Mel at the fifth annual It\u2019s a Drag to Give, hosted by Hamburger Mary\u2019s Jewels and local drag queen and community activist Mia Farrow.<\/p>\n

The event, a full-on fundraising gala, will include cocktails, silent auction, performances and raffles all in support of four local nonprofits: Beacon for Him, The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach, Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition and WomenShelter of Long Beach. (AM<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Another great thing: HOLIDAY ROLLER DISCO & TOY DRIVE (Saturday)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Skates hit the pavement at a Thursday evening skate at the Bayshore Rink in Long Beach Thursday, October 17, 2019. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On Saturday, Dec. 14, there’s a six-hour window where you can lace up those roller skates and boogie down with music selected by a host of local DJs, including Hawkeye, Life Coach, Anguelova and Jus Dyrti.<\/p>\n

This time, Bayshore Rink Party is bringing the fun to an indoor venue in Signal Hill, protecting skaters from the chilling bay breeze most fair-weather lovers at the outdoor location would avoid, complete with a roller skate and non-roller skate dance floor (so if you’re just looking to dance on your stable feet you can do that, too).<\/p>\n

If you bring a toy donation you can get in free, otherwise it’s $15 at the door. All toys will be given to Long Beach Pride’s Annual Toy Giveaway<\/a> on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Giving us a moment’s pause: <\/strong>At It’s a Drag to Give, there may or may not be a first-time drag king performing under the handle “Reddy Uranus.”<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a Drag to Give takes place at the Long Beach Convention Center; 300 E. Ocean Blvd. from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets for $15 (sales end Thursday, Dec. 12) visit the Eventbrite <\/i>here<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n

Holiday Roller Disco takes place at 1005 E. Burnett St. in Signal Hill from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Buy tickets online for $10 here<\/a>, at the door for $15, or bring an unwrapped toy worth $10 and get in for free.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

4. THE NUTCRACKER (Saturday, Dec. 14-22)<\/h3>\n
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Long Beach Ballet performs “The Nutcracker” for the 36th year. Company dancers perform a section of the ballet at the Performing Arts Center’s lighting ceremony. Photo by Stephen Carr \/ Long Beach Post<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A cryptic, patch-eyed uncle, human-sized mice soldiers and the elegant Sugar Plum Fairy. You know it, you love it; now go and see it.<\/p>\n

For this 37th incarnation, the Long Beach Ballet brings Tchaikovsky\u2019s masterpiece to the Long Beach Terrace Theater again in one of the most dazzling, high-quality performances of the season. This year, the show boasts guest artists Sarah Richard Orza as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Seth Orza as the Nutcracker Prince, both principal dancers with the Pacific Northwest Ballet. There will be a flying sleigh, a real live horse, on-stage pyrotechnics and a full symphony orchestra geared with a cast of over 200 dancers to bring the gorgeous, timeless tale to existence. (Cheantay Jensen)<\/em><\/p>\n

Another great thing: THE “MUTT-CRACKER” ADOPTION EVENT (Sunday)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Photo by Ben Majors. Courtesy Long Beach Ballet\/Weekly Runt.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This year the Long Beach Ballet has teamed up with local dog rescue Sparky and the Gang<\/a> and pet advocate and blogger of the Weekly Runt<\/a>, Katy Cable, to bring you the “Mutt-Cracker<\/a>.” Before you get excited, no, there won’t be any dogs in the annual performance, but<\/em> there will be dogs outside the Terrace Theater at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center for you to pet, swoon and “awww<\/em>” over this Sunday, Dec. 15 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Many of the dogs you see in the photograph above will be at the event, just waiting to find a new loving home. Sparky and the Gang will be there accepting applications and donations, ready to answer any questions you may have about adoption. Can’t make it this Sunday? Another “Mutt-cracker” adoption event will take place again on Saturday, Dec. 21.<\/p>\n

Giving us a moment’s paws: <\/strong><\/p>\n