Community News

Christmas Classics

The Long Beach Shakespeare Company presents Christmas Classics with Puppets, stories and songs almost forgotten, revived with a puppet twist Nov. 26 through Dec. 12 at the Helen Borgers Theatre, 4250 ½ Atlantic in Bixby Knolls.

Join them for the fully-staged production of adaptions of Christmas Classics with Puppets. Three talented actors sing and share these classic holiday stories along with their collection of puppet friends (marionettes, hand puppets, rod puppets and shadow puppets). The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Origin of Poinsettias, The Happy Prince and Twas the Night Before Christmas. Complete with 6-holiday songs, this show will bring joy to your heart, lift your spirits and send you out of the theatre full of holiday cheer. Fun for the entire family!

Don’t miss the special celebrities: Prancer from The Santa Clause movies and a toy soldier from the Santa Clause 2 movie are both seen on stage. They will also have the snowman from the 1993 Campbell Soup commercial in the lobby.

Limited seating Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. General admission $23; students $13. Tickets only available at LBShakespeare.org.

Maker’s Market

Get started on holiday shopping during spcaLA’s Maker’s Market and adoption open house on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Shop in-person at the spcaLA PD Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center, 7700 E. Spring St., for hand-crafted gifts from local vendors and more! A percentage of sales benefit spcaLA.

Prefer to shop online? Enjoy early virtual shopping Nov. 26 to Dec. 4 at spcaLA.com/events. Enter code SPCALA at checkout and a portion of your sale will benefit homeless pets.

Visit spcaLA.com/events for vendor line-up.

Raptor Ramble

Ecologists will lead a nature walk of the Los Cerritos Wetlands on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 8 to 10 a.m. Many raptors live and hunt in the wetlands. Participants might see red-tailed hawks, cooper’s hawks and ospreys. Kingfishers, egrets, owls and hummingbirds also reside in the wetlands. Stroll along a lovely walkway among California native plants.

This walk is appropriate for ages 7 and up. Closed toes shoes are required. Park on the inland side of the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and 1st Street, just at the border of Long Beach and Seal Beach. For more information or to RSVP, contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lcwlandtrust.org. Learn more about the wetlands at www.lcwlandtrust.org.

Questing Heirs

The next zoom meeting of the QHGS will be held on Sunday, Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. Presenter Sara Cochran will speak on “From a Box in the Closet to a Treasured Family Heirloom: Organizing and Digitizing Your Family Photos.”

Contact questingheirs@gmail.com for access.

El Dorado Frontier Family Christmas 2021

The Christmas season is just around the corner and The El Dorado Frontier will be hosting their annual Christmas event. This year will be offering evening holiday train rides, Santa Claus meet & greets, live holiday music, food, Christmas decor and more!

They will be kicking off the Christmas season with a Christmas Tree Lighting event on Thursday, Dec. 2. This event is by reservation only and limited tickets will be available.

To kick-off the event, Santa Claus will arrive to The Frontier on the train, after his long journey from the North Pole. Shortly after, a magical Tree Lighting Ceremony will begin to light up the skies. The Frontier Brass Quintet will play your favorite holiday tunes, children Christmas carolers, hot cocoa, cookies and more!

They will also be offering evening holiday train rides on Friday nights (with the exception of the 24th & 31st). These rides will also be by reservation only and tickets will be limited. On these evenings we will have live music, Santa Claus meet and greet, food, hot cocoa, cookies and more!

And finally, they will be open for regular winter hours, Saturdays & Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Santa Claus meet & greet will be included, with the admission price, for these dates. Also available, live music, food, photo ops, etc.

Info: (562) 249-8330 or visit www.TheElDoradoFrontier.com.

Holiday Open House

Get into the holiday spirit at Rancho Los Alamitos on Friday, Dec. 3 through Sunday, Dec 5, 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.

In the early 1900s, the Bixby family hosted the ranch’s community of workers, families and friends for a big Christmas party. And now you’re invited! Bring your family and friends for a festive afternoon at Rancho Los Alamitos. Tour the decorated Ranch House, get creative with crafts for kids, and enjoy music and light refreshments.

The Holiday Open House at Rancho Los Alamitos is free. (Donations are welcome.) Reservations for timed arrival are required. Make reservations at RanchoLosAlamitos.org. Parking is free for RLA members, $5 for others. For more information, please call (562) 431-3541 or email Reservations@RanchoLosAlamitos.org.

Fa, La, La

Singers are wanted to join a friendly and welcoming choir, especially for Christmas programs.  All parts welcome for four-part harmony.  Easy-to-learn music.  We meet on Wednesday nights to rehearse.

Info: call Director Kay at (562) 244-5000.