A Kid-Friendly Guide to Long Beach's Holiday Season

In Long Beach, where holiday parades not only come marching down the street, but cruising down the canals, the real challenge is not finding what to do during the holiday season, but how to fit all the fun stuff in! Here’s a brief rundown of some festive activities you can do with the kids.

With many kid-friendly events including holiday parades and even underwater Santa sightings, Long Beach is the perfect Southern California family-friendly getaway this holiday season. Here are 7 of the best things to do with kids this holiday season in Long Beach.

Belmont Shore Christmas Parade

ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING, TERRACE THEATER PLAZA

Long Beach will officially kick off the holiday season on December 5, by lighting more than a half-million lights on a 67-foot-tall Christmas tree, the largest artificial Christmas tree in Los Angeles County. As usual, the event, now in its eighth year, will be accompanied by lots of singing, dancing, performances and a plaza dressed up for the holidays with even more lights and plenty of Instagrammable points of interest, including giant Christmas ornaments that you can stand inside!

SOCIAL MEDIA CONTESTS

AQUARIUM HOLIDAYS, AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC

Nobody celebrates the holidays like the Aquarium of the Pacific, which celebrates in multiple and unique ways. There’s the daily Penguin Parades, the gingerbread house displays, the snowfall in the Great Hall and the festive holiday decor. The Marine Life Theater will host a Kwanzaa storytelling event on Dec. 3 and 4, at 1:25 and 2:10 p.m, as well as a Hanukkah storytelling event at 11:10 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. There will be visits by Santa Diver on December 3 and 4, as ‘ol Kris Kringle turns in his usual red velvet suit for a red scuba outfit (the better to plunge into the tanks and deliver ocean gifts to the Aquarium animals, sea lions, fish, etc.). It’s one of the most sought-after photo ops every holiday season, and you’ll be able to get a shot with Santa December 3 through 18.

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE/WINTER FAMILY FESTIVAL, RANCHO LOS ALAMITOS

WINTER IN WILLMORE, DRAKE PARK

Yes, this is the one with the snow. Quite a lot of snow actually. Enough snow to construct small hills for sledding which kids do with expressions that can only be described as glee. Yes, as it has for more than 10 years now, Drake Park (951 Maine Ave.) will once again be transformed into a winter wonderland, not only with snow but music, hot cocoa, gingerbread houses, activities like face painting and, of course, the opportunity to meet and discuss holiday plans with Santa Claus himself. Winter in Willmore takes place December 10 from 12-4 p.m. and has happened since 2010 because members of the Willmore City Heritage Assn. have teamed with local residents to let it snow, let it now, let it snow!

Winter in Willmore Facebook page

AFTER HOURS HOLIDAY TOURS, RANCHO LOS CERRITOS

About the Author
Steve Lowery