What’s going on in and around Encinitas
These events and more will take place in and around Encinitas this week and beyond. For details, visit https://bit.ly/1Nedn4N
Encinitas Holiday Parade
Saturday, Dec. 5, 5:30 p.m.
Coast Hwy. 101 between D and J Streets. Free.
www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Nearly 100 entries with thousands of people on floats, cars, walking and in bands will comprise the annual event which kicks off the holiday season. Dress warmly. Free parking shuttles from Scripps Memorial Hospital and Ecke Sports Park starting at 4 p.m.
Rise and Shine Tuesdays
Tuesdays, Dec. 1-29, 8-10 a.m.
Coastal Roots Farm, 441 Saxony Road. Free.
www.leichtag.org/events/
Start your mornings like a farmer. Join a team of volunteers and harvest for donation to a local food pantry. Bring your own hat, sunscreen, water bottle, long pants, and closed-toed shoes. Tools and gloves provided. No RSVP required.
“Elephant World” Children’s Book Release Party
Friday, Dec. 4, 5-8 p.m.
Art N Soul on 101, 633 S Coast Hwy 101. Free.
https://artnsoulon101.com/
Bring the family and enjoy storytelling from the new book, plus live music by author Lee Coulter, refreshments and a silent auction of the book’s illustrations on canvas, to benefit the charity Ava’s Angels.
Heritage Tree Lighting at Moonlight Beach
Friday, Dec. 4, 5 p.m.
At the corner of 4th and C Streets. Free.
760-753-6041.
The city designated Heritage Tree, an 86-foot tall towering Norfolk Island pine tree, will be covered in LED lights for the holidays. It was planted in 1952 by John & Peter Danforth as a Mother’s Day gift for their mother Jane. This year a city grant has funded new LED lights, the Chamber of Commerce will pay for electricity, and decorating will be done under the leadership of resident Luis Ortiz.
Encinitas West African Dance
Friday, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m.
Dance North County, 535 Encinitas Blvd., #100. $15. 760-402-7229. www.facebook.com/EncinitasWestAfricanDance
The weekly dance class features talented guest instructors. This week, learn from Senegalese dancer, Baye Balla. Experience the fluid art of live drumming. All levels welcome, from beginning to advanced.
Encinitas Guitar Orchestra Concert
Friday, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 925 Balour Street. $12 suggested donation.
www.encinitasguitarorchestra.com/calendar--news.html
Experience San Diego’s largest guitar orchestra perform a program of Renaissance, Baroque and Celtic Folk music. The orchestra features 30 to 40 local amateur to professional guitarists playing as an orchestra. Peter Pupping, director.
Gingerbread Boy Puppet Show
Saturday, Dec. 5, 10:30 a.m.
Cardiff Library, 2081 Newcastle Avenue. Free. 760-753-4027. www.sdcl.org/locations_CD.html
Celebrate the holidays with the annual Puppet Show plus crafts. Everyone receives their own gingerbread cookie and we’ll have a visit from a special guest from the North Pole!
Healing Arts Class
Dec. 5, 11 a.m; and Dec. 8 and 22, 4 p.m. Scripps Hospital, Brain Injury Treatment Room, 354 Santa Fe Drive. Free. To register, call 760-633-6709 or email schwab.andrea@scrippshealth.org
For those recovering from brain injuries and/or neurological challenges. Enjoy self-expression through art, increase skills, improve eye/hand coordination and enjoy the warmth and support of facilitator, Kathy Harvey. Supplies provided.
Families Making History: Poinsettias & Pomanders
Every Saturday & Sunday, 12-4 p.m.
San Dieguito Heritage Museum, 450 Quail Gardens Drive. Free. 760-632-9711.
www.sdheritage.org/
In conjunction with the Heritage Center’s soon-to-open exhibit, “Paul Ecke Ranch, 100 Years of Blooming History,” this month we will be making poinsettia ornaments and old-fashioned pomanders, made from oranges and cloves, pretty enough to give as a gift or hang as a decoration.
Holiday T-shirt Screen-printing Workshop for Teens
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2 p.m. Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive. Free. 760-753-7376.
www.sdcl.org/locations_EN.html
Come and learn the process of screen-printing at a hands-on workshop led by local artist Dale McLeod. See your design come alive. T-shirts will be supplied or you can bring your own.
Garden of Lights
Dec. 5-23 & 26-30, 5-9 p.m.
San Diego Botanic Garden. 230 Quail Gardens Drive. $15, $10, $5, ages 0- 2 free.
www.sdbgarden.org/lights.htm
The Garden is transformed into a dazzling winter wonderland with over 100,000 sparkling lights for a magical holiday experience. With horse-drawn wagon rides, holiday crafts, marshmallow roasting, live entertainment, food, hot mulled wine (on select nights) and Santa.
Handel’s Messiah, Bach Collegium San Diego
Saturday, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m. Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 3459 Manchester, Cardiff. $10-$50. Tickets at the door or online at www.bachcollegiumsd.org/web/events.aspx
Handel’s beloved oratorio, Messiah, will feature a complete London version from the early 1750s performed by world-renowned singers and orchestra on instruments from Handel’s time. A holiday classic, featuring the Hallelujah Chorus.
I Spy Night Eyes Family Fun Day
Sunday, Dec. 6, 11:30 a.m-1:30 p.m. San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center, 2710 Manchester Ave. Free. www.sanelijo.org
Learn about animals that visit the lagoon after sunset. Peek inside the Eye Shine Box and discover how to recognize nighttime animals by the color of their eyes. Kids will create a nocturnal animal mask that glows in the dark.
Fiddle Jam Session
Sunday, Dec. 6, 12-3 p.m.
The Farm, 441 Saxony Road. Free.
https://tarbuton.wordpress.com/2015/11/13/israeli-bluegrass-scene-music-jam-126/
Listen to or bring an instrument and play Appalachian-style old-time tunes and/or Celtic style music on banjo, guitar, tenor guitar, mandolin, or upright bass. At noon, Avery Ellisman and Lynn Lewis will lecture on “Bluegrass and Old-Time Music in Israel.” Pot-Luck: bring a dish to share.
Kringle Mingle
Sunday, Dec. 6, 1-5 p.m. North Courtyard, Cardiff Town Center, 2031 San Elijo Avenue. Free. www.cardiff101.com/events/2015/12/6/kringle-mingle
Cardiff 101 MainStreet invites you to a special holiday celebration for the entire community. Enjoy live music, a kid’s DIY Craft Zone, professional Santa photo op, tree lighting, special discounts, and a Glogg Garden for adults to enjoy authentic Swedish spiced wine.
First Sunday Music Series:
Benedetti Trio
Sunday, Dec. 6, 2pm. Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive. Free. https://encinitaslibfriends.org/Events18.php
Family harmonies and creative arrangements are the hallmarks of the Benedetti Trio. Guitarist Fred Benedetti and his two vocalist daughters Regina and Julia cover a wide variety of musical genres from Otis Redding to Alicia Keys and Adele.
Coastal Communities Concert Band Holiday Concert
Sunday, Dec. 6, 2 p.m. Carlsbad Community Church, 3175 Harding Street, Carlsbad. $20, $15. 760-736-9900. www.meals-on-wheels.org/events/
The Encinitas-based 75 member band, conducted by Tom Cole, will perform festive holiday music to put you in the spirit, with guest soloist Michael Ruhl. Proceeds benefit Meals-on-Wheels.
North Coast Singers Winter Concert
Sunday, Dec. 6, 4 p.m. and Tuesday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m. San Dieguito United Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena. $12, $5, at the door.
Ring in the holidays with the beautiful voices of children and youth. The Dec. 6 performance features all 4 youth choirs; the Dec. 8 performance features the advanced ensembles along with special guests, the Palomar College Chamber Singers.