Celebrating the Holidays in the Harbor Area

Two significant holiday events in the Harbor Area will take place on Dec. 3, and residents can potentially participate in both. Winter Wonderland Park is set for the morning and afternoon at Wilmington Waterfront Park. Later that evening, the Afloat Parade is celebrating its 53rd anniversary.

The Wilmington Winter Wonderland started at Bayview Park about five years ago. The Port of Los Angeles would truck in 20 tons of snow and make little hills for children, mostly younger than 12, to play in.

Later that same day is the 59th annual Los Angeles Harbor Holiday Afloat Parade, where Councilman Joe Buscaino will preside as grand marshall for the last time. He, along with the judges will be presiding over the event from the deck of the USS Iowa, which will be celebrating its first year in the parade.

The Los Angeles harbor communities of San Pedro and Wilmington will celebrate the parade on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 5 p.m., along the LA Waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles.

Sponsored by the port, the Afloat Parade starts in the East Basin near Banning’s Landing Community Center in Wilmington and takes approximately 90 minutes to cover the entire parade route through the Port of Los Angeles Main Channel. Officials and community leaders will take part in the parade as judges or passengers on as many as 60 participating vessels of all shapes and sizes, from tugboats to tall ships.

Spectators may view the procession from several points along the LA Waterfront, including:

Banning’s Landing Community Center, 100 E. Water St., Wilmington

Cruise Ship Promenade, Harbor Boulevard and Swinford Street, San Pedro

Battleship IOWA, 250 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro

Downtown Harbor, 504 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro

Ports O’ Call Village, 1100 Nagoya Way, San Pedro

22nd Street Landing, 141 W. 22nd St., San Pedro

SS Lane Victory, 3600 Miner St., San Pedro

Holiday Harbor – Cabrillo Marina, 285 Whalers Walk, San Pedro

Banning Museum’s Victorian Christmas

In what has become an annual tradition in Wilmington, the Banning Museum will be transporting guests back in time to the Victorian period between the late 19th and early 20th centuries to the era of horse and buggy, big hoop skirts and gentlemanly manners.

Visitors will be treated to period entertainment, tours of the museum decorated in holiday splendor, refreshments, a children’s craft, a chance to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus; a blacksmith demonstration; a horse-drawn trolley ride between The Banning Museum and Drum Barracks Civil War Museum; and as a special treat, Jolly St. Nick will pose for photos with the children.

The community is invited to welcome in the holiday season at the Banning Museum’s Annual Victorian Christmas Celebration and Open House from 12  to 4 p.m.  on Dec. 3, at The Banning Museum, 401 E. “M” Street, Wilmington.

Details: 310-548-2005; 

www.thebanningmuseum.org

Venue: The Banning Museum, 401 E. M St., Wilmington

42nd Annual Spirit of San Pedro Holiday Parade

The Annual Spirit of San Pedro Holiday Parade will happen Dec. 4. Each year, this festive tradition brings families, little leagues, scouts, students, high school bands, equestrian units and volunteers to downtown San Pedro to celebrate the holiday season and this community. 

Parade route: Start at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue, turn right on 6th Street. End at 6th and Palos Verdes streets. Make sure to avoid a ticket by not parking on the street.

Time: 1 to 3 p.m., Dec. 4

Cost: Free

Details: sanpedrochamber.com

Location: Pacific Avenue to downtown San Pedro