![\"img\"](\"http:\/\/www.seecalifornia.com\/images\/theatli.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Pictured is Sacramento’s annual Theatre of Lights<\/a> which takes place in Old Town Sac through Dec.24th. The free, outdoor performing arts show includes the recitation of Clement Clarke Moore’s classic Christmas poem, ‘Twas the night before Christmas. It is one of the hundreds (or thousands) of performing arts events that people can experience in the days just before Christmas.<\/p>\n When approx. one week remains till Christmas, it’s a time to relax and look forward to upcoming vacation days for California’s city parks & rec event planners. Their tree lighting ceremonies took place from mid-November to the 2nd week in December, as did their holiday parades, boutiques and winter festivals (with a few exceptions.)\u00a0Holiday ice rinks also launched during this period, though many stick around through January. The majority of seasonal ice rinks are not produced by cities and their staff.<\/p>\n Boat parades are mostly finished by now. However, the oldest, best known parade, Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade<\/a>, takes place the week before Christmas and goes on for five days.<\/p>\n You can also count on performing arts events such as Nutcracker Ballets, holiday-themed concerts and lights displays in the days before Christmas.<\/p>\n Special concerts and dance performances include:<\/strong><\/p>\n A Chanticleer Christmas,<\/a><\/p>\n Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Concert<\/p>\n An Irish Christmas<\/a><\/p>\n David Benoit Christmas Tribute to Charlie Brown<\/p>\n The Bracebridge Dinner<\/a><\/p>\n Irish Christmas in America<\/a><\/p>\n Nutcracker Ballet just before December 25:<\/strong><\/p>\n Alameda<\/a><\/p>\n Costa Mesa<\/a><\/p>\n Downey<\/a><\/p>\n Irvine <\/a><\/p>\n Long Beach<\/a><\/p>\n Los Angeles<\/a><\/p>\n Montclair<\/a><\/p>\n Moorpark<\/a><\/p>\n Oakland<\/a><\/p>\n Riverside<\/a><\/p>\n San Diego <\/a><\/p>\n Sacramento<\/a><\/p>\n San Jose<\/a><\/p>\n San Mateo<\/a><\/p>\n Sebastopol<\/a><\/p>\n