Holiday Happenings at California Center for the Arts, Escondido

Holiday Happenings at California Center for the Arts, Escondido

California Center for the Arts, Escondido is celebrating December holidays in a big way, kicking off this month’s celebratory days and nights with performances by Highland Way on December 2 and Bill Magee Blues Band December 3.

Save Saturday, December 6 for a festive afternoon and evening duo. The annual Holiday Tree Lighting and Winter Wonderland Festival starts at 3pm, and promises to deliver the North Pole to Escondido via real snow, delicious cookies, and hands-on gift-making activities. Visitors will find food, drink, and displays by local vendors. Be sure to get there early to experience light turning to dusk, when the Winter Wonderland Forest will magically twinkle with lights. Duck out a little early to attend a beautiful performance of holiday songs by the Center Chorale and Center Children’s Chorus at 7:30pm in the Center Theater.

The rest of the month features Pink Martini, Merle Haggard, Carols by Candlelight, Annie Jr., Christmas with Lunasa, West Coast Ballet Theater’s The Nutcracker, and, on Tuesday, December 23, Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas Show. How’s that for a month of holiday zest? (760.839.4138, www.artcenter.org)    DARLENE G. DAVIES

Lunasa:  Photo by Eric Politzer