by Christina Morgan Cree

Santa Cruz offers many wonderful ways to get in the holiday spirit this year. We may not have snow, but how many places can boast a Nutcracker ballet performed by trees? Victorian carriage rides, Holiday light trains, and Nutcracker ballets are just a few of the many fun activities going on this season.

Holiday Lights Train-Roaring Camp Railroads

Performances

Messiah Sing-a-long

Santa Cruz Stake choir plus guest organist James Welch will lead the audience in Handel’s Messiah at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Sunday December 15, 7:30 p.m. 220 Elk St. 831-706-7360

The Nutcracker, Agape Dance Academy

Saturday December 14 at 2 and 7 and Sunday December 15 at 1 and 4:30. Beautiful dancers and professional stunning costumes! $12 Child/Senior, $15 Adults.

MCT presents It’s a Wonderful Life

General Admission tickets are $20, Students and Seniors are $17, Youth 12 and under are $10.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.mctshows.org or www.brownpapertickets.com/event/507055.

The Nutcracker, Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre

The Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre presents the Nutcracker at the Civic Auditorium. This classic holiday show features a live orchestra.

Sweet Treat tickets are available for the Saturday and Sunday shows. These special tickets include photo opportunities with the nutcracker characters, and free cookies from Pacific Cookie Company prior to the performance.

Purchase tickets here.

December 20 – 22 Where: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz

Things to do

Family movie at the Del Mar

Come see the Wizard of Oz in 3D. Sat. December 14, 11a.m. — Second Harvest Food Bank Screening: Bring a non-perishable food donation & receive free admittance!

Other Screenings:

Sunday, December 15 at 11 a.m. and Thursday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m. (Regular Admission Prices)

Roaring Camp Railroads

Holiday Tree Walk

Ride the steam train to the top of Bear Mountain. At the summit, passengers sip hot cider as they view the tree-lined walk of beautifully decorated holiday trees.

The Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train

Roaring Camp Railroads Holiday lights trains

Depart from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in vintage train cars decorated with thousands of holiday lights. Sip hot spiced cider as you listen to holiday music, sing carols, and visit with Santa Claus.

Holiday Redwood Loop Walk: The Nutcracker

Listen to the Nutcracker Suite while walking the 1/2 mile famous old growth redwood loop in Big Basin. “We’ll listen to The Nutcracker Suite and imagine the forest performing the ballet.”

December 21, 1 p.m.

Santa’s Scavenger Hunt

Play along in this holiday scavenger hunt to help Santa find his reindeer. Scavenger Hunt maps are available at the Downtown Information Kiosk.

Find Santa’s reindeer and you’ll be entered into a drawing for some great prizes.

Ongoing through December 22

Victorian Carriage Rides in Downtown Santa Cruz

Experience the old fashioned charm of riding through downtown bundled up in a horse drawn carriage.

You can buy tickets online or at the Downtown information kiosk.

December 14 – 15 & 21 – 22

So why not escape the Valley cold and smog and enjoy Christmas in Santa Cruz!

Christina Morgan Cree is an enthusiastic Agatha Christie buff. She’s seen nearly every film adaptation and read almost every book. She lives in Santa Cruz with her three children and divides her time between fashion design, performing on stage and writing. Finding inspiration everywhere, she squeezes the most she can out of each day chasing ideas, over-analyzing everything and loving the people around her.