Holidays & Nights: How local bars and restaurants are transforming into Winter Wonderlands

Greetings, Santa’s Little Helpers!

Welcome to another week of the Holidays & Nights newsletter! Our elves have been working around the clock to compile the most comprehensive list of holiday happenings this season (and you’ll see more of that below).

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I recently got into the spirit of things by putting up a light display on my apartment balcony that Clark Griswold himself would be proud of. I’m not finished yet, but when I am, I’ll share some photos here.

A group of friends and I also checked out Grinchmas and Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood the day after Thanksgiving. It was an unusually cold afternoon and they ran out of hot cocoa (the non-alcoholic and spiked versions, too). But there was plenty of hot Butterbeer, which, in my humble opinion, is superior to hot chocolate. I’ll share more about Universal’s holiday happenings in the newsletter next week along with a roundup of offerings from all of the Southern California theme parks.

We hit up Winter Fest OC at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, too. It is a fun event with a bunch of activities, but it’s definitely designed more for little kids and families. As an adult, I think snowball throwing and tubing down a giant ramp are the clear favorites here, and both of those are included in the price of general admission.

If you’re a grown-up just trying to get in the holiday mood, reserve a VIP Fireside Igloo. You get your own private area with a special menu, craft cocktails and you can make s’mores, plus you do get a pretty sweet view of the grounds. It’s $120 for up to 10 people, but doesn’t include event admission (starting at $30.99 for adults and $25.99 for children). Get more information on the event and tickets at winterfestoc.com.

But wait, there’s more!

 Really get in the holiday spirit at these local bars 

I enjoy a festive cocktail and over-the-top décor and that’s exactly what the Miracle and Sippin’ Santa pop-up experiences provide. There are several Southern California restaurants and bars participating this year, including The Ordinaire in Long Beach.

These places are done up right and filled with cheer. The cocktails, which include everything from the Christmaspolitan and Snowball Old-Fashioned to the Jingle Balls Nog and the Christmas Cricket, come in adorable barware. The newest cocktails, Marshmallows & Unicorns and The Krampus, come in really fun Krampus and unicorn-shaped Tiki-style mugs. You can also buy the mugs to take home.

Here’s a list of Miracle and Sippin’ Santa pop-ups in our area.

Reporter Richard Guzman, who enjoys a strong whiskey cocktail, jumped in and helped put together a list of other holiday-themed bars including Krampus and Frosty the Snowman-themed spots in Southern California.

 8 events to celebrate Hanukkah in Southern California 

The Festival of Lights is almost upon us as it begins at sundown on Thursday, Dec. 7 through Friday, Dec. 15.

From nightly menorah lightings and more traditional gatherings to theatrical productions and ice skating, Richard Guzman has compiled a list of local Hanukkah events.

 Where to see ‘The Nutcracker’ in Southern California 

Looking for a spot to take in “The Nutcracker” with family and friends this holiday season?

There are no shortage of productions happening throughout Southern California. From Broadway-caliber spectaculars to local theater productions and stage presentations with a modern twist, here are the places to catch the holiday classic this year.

Holiday events in Inland Empire

From parades and tree lightings to Santa visits and immersive experiences, there are plenty of holiday-themed events happening in the Inland Empire. Get the full list, organized by city here.

Holiday events in Orange County

The boat parades, elaborate light shows and snow tubing, ice skating and more is in full effect in Orange County this holiday season. Here are all of the happenings broken down by city.

I’ll be back next week with more holiday fun!

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Holidays & Nights: Family-friendly events to celebrate the season