Forward house lights up for the holidays On Dec. 17, Santa Claus will appear at the Forward House, 108 Ivy St. He will be in his sleigh from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will give candy canes to any child who would like one. The Forward House is known for being lit up with more Christmas lights than any other home in San Diego. The lights are on for public viewing from 5 to 10 p.m. each night of December. The Forward House is named for John Forward Sr., former mayor of San Diego who had the home built for him in 1904. — Debbie Hatch
Concert to showcase talent for a good cause The Feeding the Soul Foundation will hold a benefit concert and CD-release party at the Neurosciences Institute in La Jolla to support the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) on Dec. 18. The concert will feature performances by 10 of the 13 artists who donated songs to the foundation’s CD, titled “Feeding the Soul Vol. 1: Family Dinner.” Artists who performed on the CD include Bushwalla, Dawn Mitschele, Raining Jane and MC Flow. CDs purchased at the event also include a cook booklet insert. Lewy body dementia, a fast-advancing neurological disorder, is related to Parkinson’s disease. According to the LBDA, the disease is not rare, though it often goes undiagnosed. Vallie Gilley, executive director of the Feeding the Soul Foundation, feels particularly close to the foundation’s cause. Gilley’s mother was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia just over a year ago, and Gilley hopes to aid research efforts with the proceeds from the benefit concert. “There is little to no information about this disease and we are grateful to provide the Lewy Body Dementia Association with financial support so they can help more patients and their families cope,” Gilley said. Since March 2010, the Feeding the Soul Foundation has supported local, national and global causes by promoting benefit concerts and has raised more than $15,000 for various organizations. Tickets to the event are $50 and can be purchased at the foundation’s website, http://feedingthesoulcd.event brite.com/. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m. — Kendra Hartmann
Mission Bay lights up with holiday spirit The annual Mission Bay Parade of Lights begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18 and will make its way from the Quivira Basin area to Fiesta Island, ending at SeaWorld. A fireworks display will take place over the bay at 9 p.m. following the parade of more than 100 colorfully-decorated vessels. Viewing points include Riviera Shores, Crown Point, Santa Clara Point, the east side of Vacation Island and the west side of Fiesta Island. SeaWorld is a major sponsor for the event. “We are proud members of the Mission Bay community and happy to support this parade in our backyard,” said SeaWorld spokesman Booker T. Crenshaw Jr. “We know this is an important holiday event for our neighbors,” he said. The exact route is available at www.missionbayparadeoflights.org. — Debbie Hatch
Club anticipates hundreds of paddlers on Mission Bay MISSION BAY — The San Diego Canoe and Kayak Team will host its fifth annual Tecolote 5000 Race on Saturday, Dec. 18., beginning at 8 a.m. The group anticipates hundreds of paddlers of all ages to fill Mission Bay. Among them will be former Olympians Chris Barlow, Chris Swan and Carrie Johnson. Categories for competitions will include paddlers in kayaks, canoes, surf-skis, outriggers and stand-up paddleboards. All of the participants will donate toys for needy San Diego area children, which will be distributed by the San Diego Fire Fighters Mobile Santa Program. For more information, visit www.sdckt.net — Debbie Hatch
SeaWorld offers special holiday shows SeaWorld’s holiday show lineup begins daily on Dec. 18. Shows like “Shamu’s Christmas,” “The Polar Express 4-D Experience” and “Clyde and Seamore’s Night Before Christmas.” The park will also have an ice-skating rink for park attendees. Santa Claus will be on hand inside his cottage to hear the wish lists of children who can also visit with holiday characters and decorate Christmas cookies in SeaWorld’s Christmas wonderland area. The special shows and attractions will run through Dec. 31. For park hours and pricing, visit www.seaworldsandiego.com. — Debbie Hatch
Jungle Bells returns BALBOA PARK — The San Diego Zoo will host Jungle Bells through Jan. 2. The zoo will remain open until 8 p.m. — except on Dec. 24, when it will close at 5 p.m. Includes elves, light shows, magic shows and a nightly tree lighting. Jungle Bells is free with paid admission to the zoo. www.sandiegozoo.org. Parade of Lights sails for the 39th year DOWNTOWN — The Port of San Diego will present the second showing of the 39th annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights on Dec. 19, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The parade will kick off with a fireworks display at 5:30 p.m. The parade of lights began as a small event held in the bay near Shelter Island. A crew of sailors wanted to provide an enjoyable holiday event for San Diegans, organizers said. The somewhat salty sailors were members of what they called the D.I.L.L.I.G.A.S. Society. Over the years, it has grown and now traverses the bay from Shelter Island to the Coronado Ferry Landing. The theme this year is “The Sounds of Christmas.” Parade entrants will be judged by both their décor and the holiday sounds emitting from their vessels. Entrants compete for a variety of titles. The top honor is the “Best of Parade” and the prize is a Holland American Cruise for two. Organizers recommend using San Diego public transit when traveling to the event. Parking will be available at metered spaces along Harbor Drive and on Shelter Island, which is free on Sundays. There are also several area paid lots like those at Seaport Village. For more information, visit www.sdparadeoflights.org, call (619) 224-2240 or e-mail [email protected]. • Approximate times for viewing the parade:
• Shelter Island: 5:30 p.m. • Harbor Island: 6 p.m. • The Embarcadero: 6:30 p.m. • Seaport Village: 7 p.m. • Ferry Landing on Coronado: 7:30 p.m. —Debbie Hatch
Friday, Dec. 17
Ocean Beach/ Point Loma • Ocean Beach Town Council begins assembling and sorting items for its Holiday Food and Toy Drive, 5 to 8 p.m., participants are asked to donate a food item or new toy and bring paper, tape and scissors, for more information, call (619) 515-4400 or (619) 846-6269, or visit www.oceanbeachsandiego.com Downtown • Forward House hosts Santa, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., 108 Ivy St., Santa Claus will appear at the Forward House in his sleigh and will be giving out candy canes to children, its famed decorative light display on for public viewing from 5 to 10 p.m. each night in December, free La Jolla • The Riford Center’s Dinner/Dance; 5 p.m. dinner, 7 p.m. dance; 6811 La Jolla Blvd., dinner and dance with menu created by chef Cinzia Mezzetti of Mamma Mia Restaurant, (858) 459-0831, dinner and dance: $20 members, $25 non-members, dance only: $10 members, $15 non-members • Annual Holiday Flute Choir Concert, 7 p.m., The Neurosciences Institute, 10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive, (858) 626-2000, free • Mark Fisher at Beaumont’s Eatery, 9 p.m., 5662 La Jolla Blvd., live music, (858) 459-0474 Saturday, Dec. 18
Ocean Beach/ Point Loma • Delivery of the Ocean Beach Town Council’s Holiday Food and Toy Drive, 9 a.m. For more information, call (619) 515-4400, or visit www.oceanbeachsandiego.com • Point Loma High School’s Environmental Club and Cesar Chavez Club host a fundraiser, 2 to 5 p.m., featuring live music, Hodad’s burgers, homemade baked cookies, hot chocolate and raffle prizes at Tower 2 in Ocean Beach, for more information, call (619) 223-3121, ext. 4350 La Jolla • La Jolla Renaissance Singers holiday concert, 1 p.m., Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave., concert of carols, cantatas and chants to celebrate Christmas and the new year, (858) 552-1657, free • Gonzology at Beaumont’s Eatery, 9 p.m., 5662 La Jolla Blvd., live music, (858) 459-0474 Downtown • The San Diego Rescue Mission will feed more than 1,500 homeless at its congregate Christmas meal, 2 to 5 p.m., 120 Elm St. For more information visit www.sdrescue.org Pacific Beach/ Mission Beach • Breakfast with Santa, 8 to 11 a.m., Pacific Beach Recreation Center, 1405 Diamond St., pancakes, fruit, drinks, crafts and photo with Santa Claus. Adults $5, children $2. Call for reservations, (858) 581-9927 • “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” 7 p.m., the Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church, 1675 Garnet Ave. For more information, call (858) 273-9312, freewill offering • Mission Bay Parade of Lights, 7 to 9 p.m., decorated boats depart from Mission Bay Yacht Club at 7 p.m., followed by a fireworks show at 9 p.m. For more information or viewing locations, visit www.missionbayparadeoflights.org • The San Diego Old Aztec Rugby Football Club Fundraiser, 9 to 11 p.m., Hennessey’s Tavern, 4650 Mission Blvd., raffle, Irish music by the band “Skelpin.” For more information, visit www.oarugbysandiego.com, $5 cover includes 2 raffle tickets Sunday, Dec. 19
Ocean Beach/ Point Loma • All Souls’ Music on the Point monthly music series featuring organist Geoffrey Graham, 4 p.m., All Souls’ Episcopal Church, 1475 Catalina Blvd., reception follows. For more information, call (619) 223-6394, donations of $5 are requested • Ocean Beach Town Council hosts its Holiday Homes Decorating Contest, the “best-dressed homes” will be judged. For more information, call (619) 316-3403 La Jolla • Explore local tide pools with Birch Aquarium naturalists at Scripps, 1 p.m., Dike Rock, (directions to meeting place provided at time of RSVP), 858-534-7336, http://aquarium.ucsd.edu, $12 • San Diego Dance Theater’s Young Choreographers Prize, 5 p.m., The Neurosciences Institute, 10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive, dance performance featuring emerging choreographers, (619) 225-1803, $20 • Christmas concert, 4 p.m., La Jolla United Methodist Church, 6063 La Jolla Blvd., classic and traditional carols followed by refreshments, (858) 454-7108, www.lajollaunitedmethodist.org, free • “Magnificat,” performed by Chancel Choir of Torrey Pines Christian Church, 5 p.m., Torrey Pines Christian Church, 8320 N. La Jolla Village Drive, (858) 453-3550, free • Concert Series Christmas Concert with the King’s Brass, 4 p.m., La Jolla Presbyterian Church, 7715 Draper Ave., (858) 454-0713, www.ljpres.org, free Pacific Beach/ Mission Beach • T.O.D.D.L.E.R.S. (Together Opportunities to Discover and Develop Literacy, Enrichment and Recreation Skills), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Pacific Beach Recreation Center, 1405 Diamond St., parent and toddler fun. Free. For information, call Bill at (619) 920-1032