What To Do This Weekend: December 22-24

One Colorado at Christmas time (Photo – W.K.)

As the holiday season gets increasingly chaotic, unwind with a few of these events.

By Katlyn Ong

*Due to rain, some events may be cancelled. Check with the venue before heading out.

Click on highlighted event titles for more information:

Friday, December 22, 2023

Hula Dance (File Photo- City of San Gabriel)

• 10:00 am – 11:00 am: Sierra Madre: Senior Hawaiian & Polynesian Dance Class
  Join instructor Barbara Dempsey as she leads you in the art of Hula (@ Memorial Park, Sierra Madre).
• 1:00 pm: Movie Matinees at Pasadena Senior Center
  Enjoy a showing of Candy Cane Lane, starring Eddie Murphy and Tracie Ellis Ross (@ Pasadena Senior Center, Pasadena).
• 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Altadena Neighborhood Farmers Market
  Find freshly prepared foods and hand crafted goods from over 30 vendors while delighting in live music and a community garden open house (@ Altadena Farmers Market in Loma Alta Park, Altadena).
• 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Don Benito Hot Chocolate and Bake Sale
  This fundraiser supports Don Benito’s 5th grade class of 2024 activities (@ Don Benito Fundamental School, Pasadena).
• 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Monrovia Friday Night Street Fair
  Enjoy the charm of Old Town Monrovia (@ Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia).
• A message from the City of San Gabriel: “We’re keeping a close eye on weather and are going to do our best to get Santa out to SG residents, but if it gets really wet and bad (which National Weather Service is telling us heavy downpour and thunderstorm for 5:00-8:00 pm) we might have to cancel and have Santa indoors. We will make the call around 5:00 pm tonight and the following nights, and post an update on SGFD’s social media.”
  5:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Santa Claus Travels Through San Gabriel
  Santa will be escorted by San Gabriel firefighters and policemen aboard the antique 1957 Mack fire engine (@ Northwest San Gabriel – north of the railroad tracks to Longden Avenue and from Del Mar Avenue, west to Alhambra Road).
• 5:30 pm – 11:45 pm: Altadena Christmas Tree Lane
  This season’s lights will stay on from 5:30 pm to midnight until January 7, 2024 (@ Christmas Tree Lane, Altadena).
• CANCELLED Wed. & Thu. due to rain
  5:30 pm – 10:00 pm: Lightscape 2023 at the Los Angeles County Arboretum
  The reimagined Lightscape merges nature and art in the mesmerizing Fire Garden, awesome Arch of Light, eye-catching Feast of Light, exotic Dancing Palms, and other spectacular installations (@ Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia).
• 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: DBSA San Gabriel Valley Support Alliance
  San Gabriel Valley Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (@ DBSA San Gabriel Valley, Pasadena).

Saturday, December 23, 2023

Santa in San Gabriel. Dec. 6, 2022 (Photo – City of San Gabriel)

• 8:30 am – 12:30 pm: Pasadena Farmers’ Market – Saturday
  Shop for fresh, nutritious, locally-grown fruits and vegetables (@ Victory Park, Pasadena).
• 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm: SPARC Gallery Holiday Art Show and Sale
  The South Pasadena Arts Council (SPARC) presents its annual Holiday Art Show, offering a wide array of works by noted professional artists for sale. Gallery hours vary (@ SPARC Gallery, South Pasadena).
• 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Don Benito Hot Chocolate and Bake Sale
  This fundraiser supports Don Benito’s 5th grade class of 2024 activities (@ Don Benito Fundamental School, Pasadena).
• Check the SGFD social media for any last minute cancellations due to weather
  5:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Santa Claus Travels Through San Gabriel
  Santa will be escorted by San Gabriel firefighters and policemen aboard the antique 1957 Mack fire engine (@ Northeast San Gabriel – north of the railroad tracks to Longden Avenue and from Del Mar Avenue, east to Muscatel Avenue).
• 5:30 pm – 11:45 pm: Altadena Christmas Tree Lane
  This season’s lights will stay on from 5:30 pm to midnight until January 7, 2024 (@ Christmas Tree Lane, Altadena).

Sunday, December 24, 2023

First United Methodist Church in Pasadena (Photo – fumcpasadena.org).

• 8:30 am – 1:15 pm: Alhambra Certified Farmers Market
  Find a wide assortment of affordably priced fruits, vegetables, honey, herbs, bread, and more (2nd St. between Main and Commonwealth, Alhambra).
• 10:00 am – 5:00 pm: Kidspace Winter Frolic
  Families will enjoy a flurry of hands-on wintertime activities and all-new special performances at one of Southern California’s favorite family holiday celebrations (@ Kidspace Children’s Museum, Pasadena).
• 5:30 pm – 11:45 pm: Altadena Christmas Tree Lane
  This season’s lights will stay on from 5:30 pm to midnight until January 7, 2024 (@ Christmas Tree Lane, Altadena).
• 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm: Enchanted Forest of Light
  Experience Descanso Gardens’ iconic winter light show (@ Descanso Gardens, La Cañada Flintridge).
• 10:00 pm – 11:00 pm: Christmas Eve Service
  First United Methodist Church will have a special worship service (with a twist) for children and families. The Christmas Eve Family Service will be at 5:00 pm and the Christmas Eve Service at 10:00 pm (@ First United Methodist Church, Pasadena).