SeeCalifornia.com

Oh you better watch out, don’t pout and don’t cry — why? Surfing Santa is coming to town. This weekend in Dana Point the annual Stand Up Paddle and Surfing Santa Competition (Nov.17-18, 2018) raises funds for Surfers Healing, a surf camp for children with autism.

Eye candy abounds throughout this November weekend with events such as Cathedral City’s Hot Air Balloon Festival, along with a Food Truck Mashup with the best food trucks from across the state of California.

Pasadena Doo Dah Parade, one of the world’s craziest and most colorful, includes floats and participants you gotta’ see to believe.

If the color orange is your thing, head for Auburn’s annual Mandarin Festival. Not only do the healthy fruits look enticing, but they smell so fragrant. Buy bags of locally grown mountain mandarins as a natural choice for your sinuses.

Gourds are delight when carved right. Gourd Festival in Yucca Valley amazes the most creative with original art made out of a fruit.

The awesome Fashion Island Tree Ceremony and lighting of what’s billed as the tallest holiday tree in the nation, doesn’t disappoint in a two day event so more can see it. Here’s a little secret: upon past inspections we’ve noticed that they used a real, cut tree and bore out limbs and branches, inserting artificial greenery and garland to keep it looking lively during Southern California’s dry, Santa Ana winds.

Finally, nothing beats an outdoor ice skating rink in California where you may see people gliding in shorts, tanks tops and even bikinis. This weekend the opening of Downtown on Ice at Pershing Square (Los Angeles,) and Ice Rink at Liberty Station (San Diego,) offer great settings and old-fashioned fun.