Font Resize
It's the most wonderful time of the year to make memories by going to performances of seasonal ballet, concerts and plays. Here is a partial list of area Christmas theme and other holiday events:
Griffith Park Holiday Train Ride and Visit With Santa: Rides are scheduled 5-8 p.m. Dec. 21-23. Tickets $7; photos with Santa Claus $5. Check website for rain cancellations. 5200 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles. 818-881- 2586; 323-662-9678. www.griffithparktrainrides.com
California Sleigh Rides in Ventura Harbor: Cruise the harbor to see boats and homes decorated for Christmas, 6-7:30 and 8-9:30 p.m. nightly in December. Cost $20; $10 children. Reservations required. 1575 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura. 805-642-7753. www.californiasleighrides.com
A Snow White Christmas: Lythgoe Family Productions presents a traditional British panto, 7 p.m. Dec. 21. Show runs 7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday through Dec. 30. Tickets $22-$100. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave. 626-921-1161. www.pasadenaplayhouse.org
Christmas 101 -- Martha and Rufus Wainwright: 8 p.m. Dec. 21. Tickets $20-$60; add $101 for post-show gala. Royce Hall at UCLA, 340 Royce Drive. 310-825-2101. www.cap.ucla.edu
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy -- A Swingin' Christmas: 8 p.m. Dec. 21. Tickets $38-$98.50. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. 323-850-2000. www.laphil.com
A Christmas Carol: Glendale Centre Theatre Company presents a play based on the Charles Dickens story, 8 p.m. Dec. 21; 3 and 8 p.m. Dec. 22; 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 23; 2 p.m. Dec. 24. Tickets $16-$28. 324 N. Orange St. 818-244-8481. 
White Christmas: Canyon Theatre Guild presents a play inspired by the 1954 film with songs by Irving Berlin, 8 p.m. Dec. 21; 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 22. Tickets $15-$17. 24242 Main St., Newhall. 661-799-2702. www.canyontheatre.org
Christmas My Way: The songs that Frank Sinatra made famous interpreted by four singers, 8 p.m. Dec. 21. Show runs 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 30; 4 and 9 p.m. Dec. 31. Tickets $35-$60; New Year's Eve $60-$75 for 4 p.m. show and $100-$120 for 9 p.m. show. El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. 818-508-4200. www.elportaltheatre.com
Santasia -- A Holiday Comedy: Sentiment and snarky comedy about the holidays, 8 p.m. Dec. 21-22; 2-7 p.m. Dec. 23; 8 p.m. Dec. 24. Age 18 and older. Tickets $24 online; $35. Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. 818-990-2324. www.santasia.com
The Groundlings Holiday Show: 8 Dec. 21; 8 and 10 p.m. Dec. 22. Admission $20. Age 16 and over. 7307 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. 323-934-4747. www.groundlings.com
For the Record -- Holiday Songs from John Hughes Films: Rotating ensemble of actors and singers, 8 p.m. Dec. 21. Show runs 8 p.m. Thursday-Sunday through Dec. 30. Tickets $20; $40 reserved. Reservations recommended. Indicate if you have under age 21 in your party when making reservations. Rockwell: Table & Stage, 1714 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles. 323-661- 6163. www.rockwell-la.com
A Mulholland Christmas Carol: Bill Robens' musical, inspired by the characters in the story by Charles Dickens, about bringing water to Los Angeles, 8 p.m. Dec. 21-22; 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 23. Tickets $30; $25 seniors and students. Theatre of NOTE, 1517 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood. 323-856-8611. www.theatreofnote.com
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol: A Noise Within presents a play adapted by Geoff Elliott, 8 p.m. Dec. 21; 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 22; 2 p.m. Dec. 23. Tickets $40-$52. 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. 626-356-3100. www.anoisewithin.org
Santa's reindeer at Malibu Country Mart: Visit the reindeer, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 22. Photos with Santa Claus, noon-3 p.m. 3835 Cross Creek Road. 310-456-7300. www.malibucountrymart.com
Holiday Sing-Along at Walt Disney Concert Hall: The Angeles Chorale and spoken word by Julie Andrews, 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 22. Tickets $33.50-$87. 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. 323-850-2000. www.laphil.com
Trolls Stole the North Pole: A Christmas musical for families by Nick Pierone and Art Shulman, 3 p.m. Dec. 22-23; 3 p.m. Dec. 26-28. Secret Rose Theatre, 11246 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood. 323-822-7898. www.secretrose.com
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church -- Holly Jolly Christmas Concert: Christmas favorites from jazz to pop styles, 6 p.m. Dec. 22. Tickets $25-$98. Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. 818-243- 2539. www.alextheatre.org; www.ihmcsocal.org
Los Angeles Ballet -- The Nutcracker: The Tchaikovsky ballet, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22 and 2 p.m. Dec. 23. Tickets $21-$95. Valley Performing Arts Center at Cal State Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St. 818-677-3000. www.losangelesballet.org
Los Angeles Master Chorale -- Handel's Messiah: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22. Tickets $39-$129. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. 213-972-7282. www.lamc.org
L.A. Pierce Symphonic Winds Gala Holiday Concert: Music and sing along, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 23. Reception follows. Tickets $25. Scherr Forum Theatre at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. 805-449-2700. www.toaks.org; www.lawinds.org
Enlightenment Chamber Musicians 'Essential Baroque for Holidays': Program includes Handel, Telemann and Vivaldi, 4 p.m. Dec. 23. Free. Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church of Pasadena, 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd., 818-566-1056.
Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration: Choirs, dance companies and music ensembles perform, 3-6 p.m. Dec. 24. Doors open, 2:30 p.m. Free. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. 213-972-3099. www.holidaycelebration.org
Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood: Celebrity readings from Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," tree lighting, characters from the story and playground of snow, through Dec. 31. Check website for celebrity reading dates. Park hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Tickets $80.99; $72.99 for under 48 inches. 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. 800-864-8377. www.universalstudioshollywood.com
Idina Menzel -- New Year's Eve: The Tony Award winner performs, 7 and 10:30 p.m. Dec. 31. Party for both sets of ticket holders, 8:30-10:15 p.m. Tickets $68-$191.00. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. 323-850-2000. www.laphil.com
The Midnight Circus New Year's Eve party: Goddess Fitness and Repertory East Playhouse present the event, 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Dec. 31. Tickets $125 couples. Reservations required. Dress code is formal cocktail using black, silver or white. Goddess Fitness, 26635 Valley Center Drive, Santa Clarita. 661-288-0000. www.repeastplayhouse.org
New Year's Eve Spectacular at The Groundlings Theatre: Ring in the new year with laughs, 10 p.m. Dec. 31. Doors open, 9 p.m. Admission $100. 7307 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. 323-934-4747. www.groundlings.com
Mail listings to: Holiday Calendar, P.O. Box 4200, Woodland Hills, CA 91365-4200. Fax 818-713-0058. Holly.Andres@dailynews.com
