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The Green Grump in the Park
The deliciously grumpy Grinch rides again in Balboa Park, stealing scenes and causing chortles in the Old Globe Theatre’s 10th-anniversary production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, on the main stage November 25–December 30. 619-234-5623; theoldglobe.org.
Singing and the Rain
Cirque Éloize’s Rain showers visual spectacle and magic on the circus art form, December 4-9 at the Civic Theatre downtown. Later in the month, Broadway/San Diego gifts us again with Disney’s High School Musical, in which a shared love for song shakes up the status quo, December 26-30. 619-570-1100; broadwaysd.com.
Northern Lights
Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas sparkles in holiday splendor December 7-9, 13-23 and 26-30, when Garden of Lights (760-436-3036; qbgardens.org) illuminates the grounds. More than 100,000 twinkling lights cast a cozy glow for horse-drawn carriage rides, marshmallow roasts and visits with Santa. Tickets are $10 for adults ($6 for members); $7 for seniors; and $3 for kids 3-12 . . . The Wild Animal Park in Escondido stages its perennially popular Festival of Lights (760-796-5621; sandiegozoo.org) December 7-23 and 26-30, featuring a park full of holiday lights and activities. Don’t miss the 52-foot-tall lighted train, 6-foot-high toy soldiers, the cartwheeling gingerbread man and the singing frog tree. And let’s not forget all those nocturnal wild animals.
Catching the Espresso Express
Triple Espresso, perking up audiences with its zany humor for more than a decade, winds down its run at the Horton Grand Theatre with a few last cups of caffeinated cheer. San Diego’s longest-running show pours it on in the Gas lamp through February 17. 619-234-9583; tripleespresso.com.
Piece of the Pi
What happens when math and popularity collide? Calculating Moxie Theatre adds to its season the West Coast premiere of the off-Broadway hit Victoria Martin: Math Team Queen, November 25–December 16 at downtown’s Lyceum Theatre. 619-544-1000; moxietheatre.com.
Candid Camera
A visual artist captures “the transient and thrilling energy of public life” in “Public Privacy: Wendy Richmond’s Surreptitious Cellphone,” at the Museum of Photographic Arts through January 6. Richmond has arranged more than 60 silent, 15-second cellphone videos of people going about their everyday business into a series of visual grids. Says curator Carol McCusker: “From the soulful to the comedic, they are sociologically riveting portraits of our private lives lived publicly.” 619-238-7559; mopa.org.
Double Your Playgoing Pleasure
Lamb’s Players Theatre dives into the holiday spirit with its yearly duo of December offerings: The annual Festival of Christmas offers a new play, Christmas on My Mind, November 30–December 29 at the Coronado company’s resident theater. Down Orange Avenue a few blocks, An American Christmas celebrates the season with food and music, December 10-30 at the Hotel del Coronado. 619-437-0600; lambsplayers.org.
Mythic Proportions
Four exhibits at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum explore the themes of ritual, myth, spirituality and tradition. Through January 27, “Rituality” showcases contemporary works from local artists alongside artifacts from Africa, Native North America and the Pacific Islands; “Niki de Saint Phalle: A Spiritual Path” explores the relationship between spirituality and religion; painter Teresa Villegas’ “La Loteria: An Exploration of Mexico” centers on the Mexican game of chance; and Brad Burkhart muses on modern myths in “The Poetics of Myth,” a series of bas-relief, terra-cotta panels. 760-839-4120; artcenter.org.
Sand, not Snow
For a holiday celebration SoCal style, don’t miss Deck the Palms at Seaport Village December 2, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. You’ll find a tropical twist on Christmas traditions——think life-sized sandmen instead of snowmen, calypso-inspired holiday tunes and decorated palm trees in lieu of Douglas firs. Santa rides a surfboard, not a sleigh, to this appearance, and attendees take an irreverent turn at the Fruitcake Chuck-n-Hurl. 619-235-4014; seaportvillage.com.
Snowflakes Fell on San Diego
Find a veritable winter wonderland at NTC Promenade at Liberty Station. The family-friendly event features breakfast and photos with Santa, Holiday Marketplace, live music, theater and dance entertainment, holiday eats and treats and a kids’ zone with a petting zoo and art projects. Meander down Christmas Tree Lane and marvel at the elaborately decorated trees, and take a sled ride down the snow hill. Fees for rides and games benefit Kids Included Together, a nonprofit that supports programs for children with and without disabilities. December 7, 4-9 p.m.; December 8, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. 858-225-5687; christmasonthepromenade.com.
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