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Celebrate the Holidays at Mingei’s Family Sunday!

December 15, 2012 By

Mingei International Museum, located within Balboa Park, in San Diego, conducts a fun Family Sunday from Noon-4pm the third Sunday of each month. Mingei’s Family Sunday offers discount admission, of only $5 per family, or $3 for individuals. Attendees can explore the museum’s colorful exhibitions of folk art, craft and design, win a prize for completing a treasure hunt as well as participate in other activities such as storytelling and hands-on projects.

girlscoutCelebrate the holidays with the music of the season. Join the Mingei on Sunday, December 16th, for a special holiday performance by the Girls Scouts Glee Chorus (1:30pm), while designing and decorating your own handmade bell inspired by the Museum’s new exhibition MAKE YOUR OWN KIND OF MUSIC.

We’ve truly enjoyed the Family Sunday’s we’ve attended, and you can’t beat $5 for the family! It’s a great deal, and they always have fun art activities for the littles. Perhaps we’ll see you there!

Website: Family Sunday at Mingei
Twitter: @MingeiMuseum
Facebook: Mingei on Facebook


www.dickblick.com

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Not a sponsored post. We’ve enjoyed attending Family Sunday at Mingei, and we’re happy to share the info regarding the event with our readers. Our opinions are our own.

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Knotts Merry Farm Sparkles During the Holiday Season!

December 12, 2012 By

merryfarmdecorDuring the holiday season Knott’s Berry Farm is transformed into Knott’s Merry Farm with beautiful holiday decor, delicious treats, special seasonal shows, and and much more! We went to Knott’s to check it out ourselves, and had a great time! Some of the fun of Merry Farm includes is as follows:

“It’s Christmas, Snoopy” Ice Show
This ice skating show is spectacular! The kids, my husband, and I were all impressed by the performance. The skaters were incredible, and just as good as those you’d see in a professional ice skating performance at a large ice arena. We highly recommend you see it! The show is running December 1-2, 8-9, 15-18, 20-24, 26-31, and January 1, 3-6, 2013.

“A Peanuts Holiday Parade”
The Peanuts Holiday Parade includes seven themed floats featuring the Peanuts Gang. We missed the parade during our visit, but plan to see it on our next visit, later this month. I’m a huge Peanuts fan!

merryfarmsantaKnott’s Christmas Craft Village
Here you”ll find strolling carolers, dozens of artisans selling unique treasures, and beautiful Victorian decor. The kids loved some of the wooden toys, knitted hats, and other potential holiday gifts we saw in this area. The Christmas Craft Village is where we saw Santa, who’s available for pictures daily (additional fee), until December 24th.

Bird Cage Theatre Productions
If you enjoy live theatre, or want to introduce your kids to it, head over to the Bird Cage Theatre to see a live performance of Charges Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, or O’Henry’s “A Gift of Magi”. We enjoyed “A Gift of Magi”, which ran approximately 25 minutes.

Elf Mountain
Get a peek at Santa’s Elves getting ready for the big day when you go on Timber Mountain Log Ride!

knottstreeSnoopy’s Magical Nights of Lights
Be sure to walk through Camp Snoopy after dark to experience hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights set to a festive holiday soundtrack. We spent a few hours here, and loved it!

Winter Wonderland
Catch Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, and JT perform on a wintery wonderland stage at Camp Snoopy!

Calico Christmas Tree Lighting
The Peanuts gang deck the halls in a fun-filled musical show as part of the nightly Christmas Tree Lighting. If you miss the show, be sure to check out the beautiful 45′ tree once it’s lit. It’s beautiful!

merryfarmcandyWhile we were at Knott’s we sampled a few of the stuffed churros, Canadian Maple Syrup Lollipops, decorated gingerbread cookies, and ate a delicious meal at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. The churros were absolutely delicious, the lollipops (which are a holiday treat there for Merry Farm), the kids gobbled up their gingerbread, and our meals at the restaurant were all delicious! My personal favorite were the biscuits from Mrs. Knott’s restaurant. Melt in your mouth delicious!

We also enjoyed going on many rides, strolling through the shops decorated in beautiful holiday decor, seeing Snoopy Santa in the park, and all that makes Knott’s so much fun. Merry Farm is happening now through January 6th, 2013.

Right now, through January 13th, 2013, Knott’s 2013 Season Passes are just $66.99, with NO blackout dates, and include one visit in 2012! This is an awesome deal, and could make great holiday gifts. You can find more info about Merry Farm HERE, and more about the Season Passes HERE. Perhaps we’ll see you there!

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Disclosure: We were invited to attend a Media Day at Knott’s to experience Merry Farm. We were not asked to write a formal review, but we had a wonderful time, and wanted to share info about it with our readers, as we believe many would also enjoy Merry Farm with their families. Our opinions are our own. Many thanks to Knott’s, LaLa Castro, and Giga Savvy.

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Holiday Season Safety Tips From Radio Disney and UL

December 1, 2012 By

christmastreeRadio Disney and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) have teamed up to promote safety during this holiday season and together they’ve come up with many great ideas for families to incorporate into this special time of year. Below are some great tips they’ve shared with us, which we’d like to pass on to you for a SAFE and happy holiday season!

• Water your Christmas tree daily.
• Blow out unattended candles.
• Always make sure your holiday lights and decorations bear the UL Mark of Safety.
• Only plug in one plug per outlet.
• When online shopping, be aware of what personal information you are providing.
• Always log off a website before you close your browser.
• Stay at least 3 feet away from portable heaters.
• Keep stairways and pathways free of clutter.
• Remind your kids to dial 9-1-1 in emergencies.
• Make sure your home has a UL listed Carbon Monoxide alarm, UL listed Fire Extinguishers and a home escape plan.

radiodisney

About Radio Disney
Radio Disney is the #1, 24-hour radio network devoted to kids, tweens and families. Kids help pick the music that is played and are encouraged to interact via a toll-free phone line to the Radio Disney studio. The network’s current playlist, driven by listener requests and representing major record labels, includes recording artists Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, One Direction, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Cody Simpson, Mindless Behavior and Adele. The network is available on 31 owned terrestrial radio stations and is also available via RadioDisney.com, Sirius XM satellite radio on channel 79, iTunes Radio Tuner, mobile phones, the Radio Disney iPhone and Android Apps, and the Radio Disney Facebook page.

About Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
UL is a premier global safety science company with more than 100 years of proven history. Employing nearly 10,000 professionals in 46 countries, UL is evolving the future of safety with five distinct business units – Product Safety, Environment, Life & Health, Verification and Knowledge Services – to meet the expanding needs of customers and the global public. For more information on UL’s family of companies and network of 95 laboratory, testing, and certification facilities, go to UL.com.

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Sunny and Angel Save Christmas!

November 16, 2012 By

Celebrate the holidays with a fun family event at Helen Woodward Animal Center, Sunny and Angel Save Christmas! Take a special tour of the Animal Center, interact with barn animals, listen to holiday story time about Sunny and Angel, the two miracle twin foals born at the Animal Center, enjoy delicious treats, hands-on crafts, meet and have a picture taken with Santa, and receive a personalized letter and gift. We attended the event last year, and look forward to going again this year as well.

Sunny and Angel Save Christmas is happening the following weekends:

sunnyangel_2012Saturday, December
[Read more...]

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Family Friendly Holiday Festivities in San Diego

October 7, 2012 By

The holidays are a special time of year, and a perfect time to get out and about with the family. San Diego is filled with lots of fun activities during the holidays. Below are a some festive events and places that have special seasonal activities that are sure to help you get in the spirit!

hoteldelholidaysHoliday Festival…A Family Celebration at the Hotel Del Coronado
The Hotel Del Coronado is having a special event, “Holiday Festival…A Famiy Celebration” from 4pm-7pm on Wednesday, November 28th. Have a visit with St. Nick and his elves, enjoy holiday games, ice skate on their beautiful beach front rink, enjoy fireworks at 6:15pm, and more! No reservations required. Skating by the Sea pricing and further details available at www.hoteldel.com.

Balboa Park December Nights
The 35th Annual Balboa Park December Nights is from 5pm-10pm on December 7th, and from Noon-10pm on Saturday, December 8th. This free community event includes entertainment, free entry to participating Balboa Park museums from 5pm-9pm, food for purchase, and more! This has been a family tradition since I was a young child, and we look forward to it each year. I highly recommend arriving early, and visiting the House of Pacific Relations Cottages. Here you’ll find international foods and have the opportunity to tour each of the neat cottages. More information is available at www.balboapark.org.

sunnyangelgridSunny and Angel Save Christmas
Celebrate the holidays with a fun family event, Sunny and Angel Save Christmas, at Helen Woodward Animal Center! Take a special tour of the Animal Center, interact with barn animals, listen to holiday story time about Sunny and Angel, the two miracle twin foals born at the Animal Center, enjoy delicious treats, hands-on crafts, meet and have a picture taken with Santa, and receive a personalized letter and gift. Proceeds from the event to help support the Animal Center. Sunny and Angel Save Christmas is happening select times and days in December, with advance reservation. More info available at www.animalcenter.org

sdpetparadeLet it Snow ~ A Digital Holiday Show at the FleetLet it Snow, is a new animated holiday digital show at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, in Balboa
Park. The show features seasonal sights and festive classics from Frank Sinatra and Chuck Berry to Burl Ives and Brenda Lee. Immersed in delightful animation and a full-dome giant-screen setting. Let it Snow runs through Sunday, January 6, 2013. More info at www.rhfleet.org.

Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade
The Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade is happening on Sunday, December 9th. Come downtown and see hundreds of pets dressed up in fun costumes, many in holiday attire, parading around the streets. The event commences at Gaslamp Hilton Park at the corner of 4th Ave. And K St. at 3pm. We attended this event last year, and the kids loved it! More info, and entry form at www.gaslamp.org

Garden of Lights at San Diego Botanic Garden
San Diego Botanic Garden, located in Encinitas, is holding their annual Garden of Lights nightly, from 5pm-9pm December 8th-23rd and December 26th-30th. Enjoy more than 100,000 sparkling lights as you stroll through the garden, take a wagon ride pulled by beautiful Belgian draft horses, make s’mores, enjoy live music, and more! This is one of our favorite events! More details available at www.sdbgarden.org.

seaworldholidaysSeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration
Enjoy SeaWorld as they transform the grounds into a Winter Wonderland with Snow World, Santa’s Cottage, Santa’s Reindeers In Training, Breakfast with Shamu and Santa, seasonal treats, beautiful holiday decor and more! Snow World will be open daily 11/17-1/5/13. More info available at www.seaworld.com.

San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
The 41st Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights is happening from 5:30pm-9pm on Sunday, December 9th, and Sunday, December 16th. This free, festive event, includes 80 boats decorated with lights, and fireworks. The parade begins at Shelter Island, and passes by Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, Seaport Village, and ends at the Coronado Ferry Landing. Embarcadero Park, next to Seaport Village, is a great place to watch the event. Pack your blankets and lawn chairs and make your way down early to find a nice spot to sit and enjoy the parade. More info available at www.sdparadeoflights.org.

Holiday Snow Days & Wintery Nights at LEGOLAND
Enjoy holiday entertainment, build a snowman with LEGO® accessories, holiday treats, extended hours on certain nights, view the World’s Largest LEGO® Christmas tree and more during Snow Days & Wintery Nights at LEGOLAND California. Holiday Snow Days is open daily from 11/23-12/31, and Wintery Nights are select evenings through 12/30. More info available at www.legoland.com.

junglebellsJungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo
Visit the San Diego Zoo as they transform the already beautiful grounds with incredible twinkling light displays, yummy treats, animal encounters, music, extended hours, and more! Jungle Bells runs from 12/15-1/6, except 12/24. More info at www.sandiegozoo.org.

Del Mar Holiday of Lights
The Del Mar Holiday of Lights begins November 23rd on the Del Mar Racetrack. The event runs from 5:30pm-10:00pm Sunday-Thursday, and 5:30pm-10:30pm Friday-Saturday and includes thousands of lights, many of which are on fun animated displays. A Holiday Hayride is available from 5:30pm-9:30pm on November 23rd, November 30th, December 7th & December 14th. We love driving through the Holiday of Lights! More info available at www.holidayoflights.com.

There’s so much to do in San Diego during this festive season! Perhaps we’ll see you at one or more of these fun places or events! Happy holidays!

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Sand Castle Snowman Is A True Work of Art!

December 17, 2011 By

sandcastlesnowmanToday we came across an incredible work of art, in the form of a sand castle snowman. While visiting the Hotel del Coronado, we saw a crowd gathering on the beach. Curious as to what there was to see, we walked across the sand, and saw the masterpiece. The details on this sand castle were incredible, and it was obvious the artist, otherwise known as The Sand Castle Man has a true passion for his work. Not only did he make and display his incredible art for all to enjoy, but he also played holiday music to go along with it, to make viewing the Sand Castle Snowman a true holiday experience.

If you want to see the Sand Castle Snowman for yourself, head over to beach with the beautiful white sand, directly across from the Hotel del Coronado. Who knows how long the masterpiece will hold up, but it’s already been there a week, so there’s a good chance The Sand Castle Man will take care to keep it together past Christmas. Perhaps we’ll see you there!

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Winter Fantasy at the Sawdust Brings Joy To The Season!

December 3, 2011 By

winterfantasyOne our favorite holiday events in the OC is Winter Fantasy at the Sawdust Art & Craft Festival. It’s a super fun, family-friendly event, held in the canyon area of Laguna Beach. The festival runs weekends, until December 9, 2012.

Here you’ll find Santa, ready for visits, a festive environment, and more. They have art projects for kids for a very small fee, classes, and free entertainment. Our kids love coming here!

The festival is held in a eucalyptus grove, and consists of many different artists, displaying (and making) art of many different mediums.
The setting is very unique, and the best way to describe it is that it is truly majestic. Each artist designs his/her own booth, and some are true art forms of their own. There’s a stream, a neat deck, and a very cool working water wheel. Be sure to bring your camera!

The Festival is working with Toys For Tots again this year, and is offering FREE admission on Sundays (11/18/12, 11/25/12, 12/2/12, & 12/9/12) when you bring a new, unwrapped toy for a child (newborn to age 17). One admission per toy donated per person per day. This is a great way to go to the Festival, and help a child who may otherwise not receive a gift for the holidays. Click HERE, and go to the Special Events tab for more info.

Aside from the great offered for sale, they also sell food and beverages onsite. Check out our images from Winter Fantasy below. It’s a fun place to get into the holiday spirit. Perhaps we’ll see you there!

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Sunny & Angel Save Christmas at the Animal Center!

November 30, 2011 By

A new magical holiday tradition for the family, Sunny and Angel Save Christmas, is beginning this year at Helen Woodward Animal Center. On December 3rd, 4th, 10th and 11th from 10am-2pm, children are invited to experience the magical story of when Sunny and Angel, the miracle twin foals born at the Center, help Santa Claus save Christmas when two of his reindeer are injured.

Children will meet Santa, take a tour of the Center in all its holiday glory, plus receive a personalized letter, a gift and a photo with Santa! Reservations are required as slots will fill up fast. For information and registration, call 858-756-4117 ext. 318 or visit www.animalcenter.org. Perhaps we’ll see you there!

Pricing:
sunnyangelxmas$20 for children
$8 for adults

Location:
Helen Woodward Animal Center
6461 El Apajo Road
Rancho Santa Fe, CA

Dates:
December 3rd, 4th, 10th, & 11th

Time:
10am-2pm (Shows are every 30 minutes.)

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Tony Hawk To Light LEGO® Christmas Tree at LEGOLAND® CA!

November 28, 2011 By

tonyhawktree_legolandLEGOLAND® California is proud to announce local skateboarding legend Tony Hawk as this year’s special guest to light the world’s largest LEGO® Christmas tree at the family theme park’s ninth annual Tree Lighting Ceremony honoring the Tony Hawk Foundation.

Hawk, father of four and life-long Ambassador Pass Member to LEGOLAND, launched the Tony Hawk Foundation in 2002 with the goal to increase the number of safe, legal skate parks for youth in low-income communities across the U.S. To date, the Tony Hawk Foundation has helped fund 493 public skateboard parks in these communities, which now service 3.5-million youth annually.

In honor of Hawk’s efforts to help youth nationwide, Master Model Builders at LEGOLAND California are adding new ornaments to the LEGO tree this year: 50 blue, red and yellow skateboards, each made of more than 250 LEGO bricks, will hang from the LEGOLAND California tree.

After the 30-foot-tall LEGO tree is lit, fireworks light up the sky and snow showers Park guests from above kicking off LEGOLAND California’s month-long Holiday Snow Days presented by Western Dental. During Holiday Snow Days, Fun Town will be transformed into a magical, winter wonderland where the weather forecast calls for real snow every day and guests can build snowmen using LEGO carrots and other fun LEGO elements, throw snowballs at LEGO themed targets and play with large, soft LEGO bricks in the snow. Holiday Snow Days runs Nov. 19 – Jan. 2.

tonyhawk_legolandcaWHEN: Monday, November 28, 2011
5pm – Tree Lighting Ceremony begins

WHERE: LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad

DETAILS: Tony Hawk and his children helping Santa pull the switch that lights the world’s largest LEGO Christmas tree; a special check presentation to the Tony Hawk Foundation; a performance from Jingle Jammers plus snow and fireworks bursting into the sky above Fun Town.

More than 245,000 forest green DUPLO® bricks click together to create this one-of-a-kind holiday tree at LEGOLAND California. Adorned with nearly 400 LEGO ornaments including colorful bulbs and 1,000 lights, this LEGO brick tree towers over Fun Town in the 128-acre family theme park in Carlsbad.

The Tony Hawk Foundation seeks to foster lasting improvements in society, with an emphasis on supporting and empowering youth. Through special events, grants, and technical assistance, the Foundation supports recreational programs with a focus on the creation of public skateboard parks in low-income communities. The Foundation favors programs that clearly demonstrate that funds received will produce tangible, ongoing, positive results.

Images of LEGO® Tree & Tony Hawk courtesy of LEGOLAND® California.

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