If you’re a fan of the Christmas holidays, the events are mostly coming to a wrap today. So grab your fun while you can get it. The Tree Lightings are kaput, the Parades are all but finished, and San Diego and Newport Beach close out the Boat Parades with fireworks displays on Sunday, December 18, 2011, a full week before Christmas.

What’s left?

• Shopping
• Ski season – best yet to come!
• Rent a boat or take a cruise, always good times!
• Travel & vacations – hotel rates soon hit rock bottom
• Visit a theme park – holiday decorations through Christmas / New Year
• Ice skating rinks through New Year
• Nutcracker Ballets through December 24
• Plan your Christmas Dinner
• New Year’s Eve plans

After that, it’s a long haul till any holiday comes along. Valentine’s Day isn’t much of one, and Easter does provide the hope of summer sunshine, but that’s a full 15 weeks away! We’ll do our best to keep you informed about the fun festivals and events happening in California so you don’t hit the skids as we enter 2012. We’re already picking out some favorite festivals to include in a round-up of things to see & do in California, and there’s some wacky stuff to brighten your spirits! So stay tuned~

Here’s whats on the plate in the California Calendar of Events 

• ALAMEDA – The Nutcracker, Civic Festival Ballet. alamedacivicballet.org
• BERKELEY – A Chanticleer Christmas. chanticleer.org or call 415-392-4400.
• CANOGA PARK – California Dance Academy Nutcracker, madridtheatre.com.
• CLAREMONT – The Nutcracker, Inland Pacific Ballet. TheBestNutcracker.com
• COLUMBIA – A Miner’s Christmas, Columbia State Historic Park at (209) 588-9128.
• FERNDALE – Christmas Lighted Tractor Parade. victorianferndale.com
• HUNTINGTON BEACH – Cruise of Lights   cruiseoflights.org
• LA MIRADA – Moscow Ballet Great Russian Nutcracker. nutcracker.com
• LEUCADIA – Farmers Market. leucadia101.com
• LIVERMORE – Nutcracker Ballet, Livermore Valley Dance Theatre. livermoreperformingarts.org
• LONG BEACH – The Nutcracker, Long Beach Ballet. ticketmaster.com
• MISSION VIEJO – Nutcracker Ballet,  Laguna Dance Theatre. lagunadancetheater.com
• MOUNTAIN VIEW – Winter Fairy Tale,  Bayer Ballet Company – bayerballetacademy.com
• NEWPORT BEACH – Christmas Boat Parade runs nightly through December 18, 2011. christmasboatparade.com
• PARADISE – Nutcracker Ballet  northerncaliforniaballet.com
• REDWOOD CITY – Nutcracker Ballet,   Peninsula Ballet Theatre
• SACRAMENTO – The Nutcracker  sacballet.org
• SAN DIEGO – Nutcracker Ballet,   californiaballet.org
• SAN FRANCISCO – Great Dickens Christmas Fair through December 18, 2011 dickensfair.com
• SAN FRANCISCO – Beach Blanket Babylon's Seasonal Extravaganza, through  beachblanketbabylon.com
• SAN JOSE – The Nutcracker, balletsj.org
• SANTA BARBARA – The Nutcracker, ballet. granadasb.org
• SANTA BARBARA – La Pastorela (A Shepherd’s Play) at 2 & 7 p.m. El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park, 123 East Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara, CA
• SANTA MONICA – ICE Skating Rink. iceatsantamonica.com
• THOUSAND OAKS – Nutcracker Ballet. Ticketmaster.com
• YORBA LINDA – The Patrick- Green- Orozco Annual Family Christmas Concert. nixonfoundation.org
• YOUNTVILLE – The Nutcracker, lincolntheater.com