Business & Tech

Holiday Deals: Santa Photos, Caroling & Parking

Through Sunday, the merriment unfolds on Second Street, where there's free two-hour parking, the Wilson High band and Santa visits daily. Plus, other Long Beach holiday fun.

With the holiday season in full swing, there are a number of happenings that residents of Belmont Shore may find inviting, so Patch has rounded up a variety for you. But first, Santa. He will be on Second Street during the weekend and you can bring your own cameras for photos. 

For those looking for a traditional holiday play, , directed by Nicole Dominguez, will be performed Friday and Saturday night, as well as Sunday afternoon in Long Beach.

The Salvation Army will perform Christmas music in front of Chase Bank, located at 5200 East Second Street.

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Musical entertainment will also be provided through the weekend, as The Salvation Army will continue to perform on Saturday and Sunday, along with the International Peace Choir and Wilson High School Marching Band.

Starting at 7 p.m. Friday and lasting until 2 p.m. Sunday, there will be free two-hour parking (the Belmont Shore Business Assn. wants to give your wallet a break but advises that the limit will be enforced).

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And Santa Claus will be present on Second Street today through Sunday.

Elsewhere on Saturday, the will take place at noon, and will feature a number of food and dessert trucks parked up and down 4th Street. 

At the Marketplace Saturday, the “Free Photos With Santa” event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will also be caroling there from local choirs and performers.

On Saturday evening, there will be a free Christmas tree lighting and a free drive-in movie screening of "A Christmas Story," a modern-day classic from 1985, in the first annual event by Historic Old Pine Avenue (HOPA). A food drive will collect donations, as well.

The 58th annual Daisy Avenue Parade will feature marching bands, classic cars and neighborhood groups, will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday. Daisy Avenue, between Burnett Street and Pacific Coast Highway.

, a donation-based project aimed at assisting pet shelters and rescue groups across the country, will run through December 16.

And we will write more on this, but coming next weekend, of course, is the 65th annual Naples Holiday Boat Parade.

This year's theme is "TV Land Holidays." The "Big Boat Parade" starts at 6 p.m. "Little Boat Parade" starts at 6:30 p.m. Note that the streets in Naples close at 5 p.m. on parade night.

Along with the boat parade, there will be three groups of carolers walking around the Island and singing holiday songs by the bridges.  Most homes in Naples will be decorated by now for the holidays in accompaniment of the Boat Parade theme. (There's a local competition for best decorated house). Restaurants and businesses also will be decorated.

Later in the month of December, Metro Bus will provide free fare to those traveling between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m., December 24-25 and December 31-January 1. 

Lastly, the will continue to run through December 24, as nearly 30 Downtown Long Beach businesses will remain decorated for the holiday season.

Are we missing something? Tell us in comments.


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