This Sunday, December 13th Downtown Manhattan Beach explodes into a chestnut like fiery glow with its 27th Annual Holiday Fireworks show that celebrates December’s good tidings with a cornucopia of oohhhss and ahhhhs. What started in 1989 as an answer to the heavy swells of summer tourists that made a 4th of July fireworks show difficult, the annual holiday fireworks show has now certainly become a hallmark, community event for Manhattan Beach. Before the pyrotechnics ignite a starry night over Manhattan Beach Pier, other community sing-a longs and activities happen before the crescendo.
Around 4:00 p.m. live music from local band Hyperion Outfall will do their own rendition of a Dixieland Christmas jam and then the SKECHERS Snow Park & Sled Hill opens. Check out the official site of this year’s Manhattan Beach Holiday Fireworks for a complete schedule of events.
The main attraction blasts off at 7:00p.m. This is a very popular event and crowd size can swell up to 10,000… for good reason. Manhattan Beach, with the help of sponsors like SKECHERS, Belkin and others, put on one of the most spectacular firework shows west of Carson.
Bring blankets, a bottle of wine, some gloves, friends, family, and your baby stroller, this event is a blast and the fireworks show is always top notch. The Holiday Fireworks are expected to go forward, rain or shine on Sunday.
Below are a list of South Bay Events happening this weekend.
Last weekend’s line-up south of Hermosa Beach Pier (Photo by South Bay Events)
The Pine Tar Incident – Day One Bottle Release at El Segundo Brewing Co.: Friday, December 11th at NoonESBC gets up early in the am on Friday to bottle their latest brew for a fresh, Day One release. Their newest beer is a Black IPA called The Pine Tar Incident, likely an ode to the sticky resin that helps Major League players grip a bat, will be available in bottles and on tap at ESBC as well as various bottle shops and beverage stores throughout South Bay and beyond. According to ESBC’s newsletter, Pine Tar Incident characterisitics are: “Whiffs of pine and spruce lead you in to the glass, where you find bitter cocoa and candied oranges. Dry and lively, but with a creamy feel. A touch of roast permeates throughout, but the hop expression wins over in the end.” ESBC is located at 140 Main Street. www.elsegundobrewing.com
The 5th Annual Holiday Concert and Santa on the Pier: Saturday, December 12, 2015 – 3:00 – 5:00 PM Holiday celebrants fill the Redondo Beach Pier this Saturday afternoon from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. for a free, community event put together by the Redondo Beach Pier Association. Live holiday music by local band Retrofit will be staged at the end of the famed Redondo Beach Pier. Take a selfie with Surfin’ Santa! more info
24th King Harbor Boat Parade : Saturday, December 12, 2015 – 3:30 PM This Saturday, December 12th after the free Holiday Concert and Santa on Redondo Pier, the 24th Annual King Harbor Holiday Boat Parade hits the water at approximately 4:30p.m. King Harbor will sparkle with multicolored lights, as spectacular yachts, outrigger canoes and even SUPs (stand-up paddleboards) light the harbor in a glittering display of holiday splendor. Sponsored in part by the King Harbor Association, this year’s decorative theme is ‘Tropical Holidays’ and fitness trailblazer Denis Austin is the Grand Marshall. more info
Drunken Icons of Christmas at King Harbor Brewing Co.: Saturday, December 12, 2015 – 6:00 PM On Dec. 12, Redondo Beach’s King Harbor Brewing Co will host a night full of fantastic food, craft beer, and live music for their first annual “Drunken Icons of Christmas” party. Dress up as your favorite holiday character (Bad Santa, Uncle Eddy, the lamp from a Christmas Story), and come celebrate a fun night of food/drink. King Harbor Brewing Co’s tasting room is located at 2907 182nd St. in Redondo Beach. more info
Dickens Day Holiday Celebration at International Printing Museum: Saturday, December 12, 2015 – Sunday, December 13, 2015 – 10:00am-4:00pm Blimey! Print your own Christmas cards & gift tags on the museum’s victorian antique printing presses using type and images from that era…take mini-tours of the museum’s “working’ collection of antique presses and typesetting machines…meet up with Dickens characters like the pick-pocket Fagin or the wierd Miss Havisham or the jovial Mr. Micawber plus! International Printing Museum is located at 315 W. Torrance Blvd. in Carson. www.printmuseum.org
Alpine Village Christmas Faire: Saturday, December 12, 2015 – Sunday, December 13, 2015 – 4:00 – 8:00 PMChristmas Faire at Alpine Village harnesses the joy of a Bavarian style Christmas Fair by transforming itself into a winter wonderland for the next two weekends. Every Saturday and Sunday night from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM falling snow turns part of the village into a Snow Zone for kids as craft vendors throughout the village offer a selection of holiday gift items. From Alpine Village’s housemade batch of Gluhwein (mulled wine) at the Restaurant to hard-to-find European sweet treats, there are goodies to delight all guests. Alpine Village Christmas Faire is located at 833 W Torrance Blvd, Torrance. www.alpinevillagecenter.com
Join the Neighborhood Church Christmas Pageant: Sunday, December 13, 2015 – 5:30PM and 7:30PM The Annual Christmas Pageant at Neighborhood Church will be presented for the community at 6 and 8 pm. Prelude in the sanctuary with music begins at 5:30 and 7:30 pm. Participants take an outdoor pilgrimage, viewing nativity tableaux telling the story of the first Christmas ending at “The Manger” set in a cliff grotto overlooking the ocean. The event is free, though participants may bring canned goods to help stock local food pantries. The Church is located at 415 Paseo del Mar in Palos Verdes Estates. For more information, call 310-378-9353.
San Pedro City Ballet Presnts “The Nutcracker” at Warner Grand Theatre: Saturday, December 12 & Sunday December 13, 2015 San Pedro City Ballet, home of American Ballet Theatre superstar Misty Copeland, presents its 22nd annual production of The Nutcracker, with artistic direction by Cynthia and David Patrick Bradley. The performance will take place at the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro on Saturday December 12th (2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.) and Sunday December 13th (2:00 p.m.). The show features dance, magic, gorgeous sets and costumes, and is fun for the whole family. Tickets will be available at the theatre one hour prior to each performance. Warner Grad Theatre is located at 478 W. 6th Street in San Pedro.