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Apr 01, 2022

The Best Ways to Spend the Holiday Season in Lakewood, California

The Best Ways to Spend the Holiday Season in Lakewood, California

The holidays are fast approaching, and here in Lakewood, California, there is a lot to look forward to. With Lakewood’s nearby beaches, aquariums, places to shop, and more, your holiday season is sure to be unforgettable. 

Mark your calendars and gather your loved ones! The activities and events during this time of year are ones that you don’t want to miss out on. Here are the best ways to celebrate the holiday season in Lakewood, California, this year!

Activities

Thanksgiving Dinner and Gratitude

Shopping

Opportunities to Share

Safe Celebration

Activities

Here are some of the exciting activities and events coming to Lakewood and the surrounding areas this holiday season:

Surf City Winter Wonderland : Experience Huntington Beach like never before. During the Surf City Winter Wonderland, guests can ice skate with unobstructed views of the pier, sand, and sea. This is truly an experience that will be incredible and memorable. The event will run from November 18, 2022, to January 8, 2023. Keep an eye on the website for more information about tickets and pricing as the event gets closer.

Aquarium Holidays : Looking for a holiday activity that will be fun and memorable, especially for kids? The Aquarium of the Pacific is the perfect place to go this year! At Aquarium Holidays, you’ll see festive decorations, do some holiday shopping, and even get to see the Santa Diver and aquarium characters in their holiday outfits. Photo opportunities will be available, so you can document this experience and remember it for years to come.

During Aquarium Holidays, there will also be Hanukkah storytelling with opportunities to play dreidel, as well as a Kwanzaa celebration. The Aquarium’s holiday celebration runs December 3–23 and has so many fun things to do for people of all ages and backgrounds, so make sure you don’t miss out!

Lakewood City Tree Lighting : Gather together with your Lakewood community at this special event. Enjoy the excitement of the 24-foot-tall tree lighting along with a sing-along, food trucks, games, and face painting. There will even be a special Southern California version of a snow flurry! This event is a special way to celebrate the holiday with the local community here in Lakewood on Friday, December 2.

Breakfast with Santa : This is a great opportunity for families with kids to make great memories together. Breakfast with Santa will include a pancake breakfast, a bounce house, holiday music, arts and crafts, and, of course, a classic photo op with Santa! Make sure to register early as space is limited.

Long Beach Christmas Lights : The lights along Long Beach, especially Naples Island, are some of the most beautiful light displays around! Hundreds of lights light up the waterfront, making it a magical holiday experience! Be sure to take time between early December and Christmas to walk around and enjoy these amazing light displays.

Thanksgiving dinner and gratitude

When we think of Thanksgiving day, we often think of the movie-perfect table setting full of a peaceful family and perfect, delicious food. As nice as this picture is, Thanksgiving can often be full of stress, overbaked casseroles, and family drama. To help avoid some of these not-so-perfect Thanksgiving experiences, here are some tips to help the day go more smoothly.

The Honey Baked Ham Company : Here in Lakewood, there are some great places you can go to make your Thanksgiving dinner much more simple and enjoyable. The Honey Baked Ham Company in Lakewood is a great option for those who would like to leave the ham cooking process for the experts: These have been cooking the perfect ham since 1957 , so you know the key component of your Thanksgiving meal is in good hands when you leave it to them.

Mimi’s Cafe : Another Thanksgiving Dinner option here in Lakewood is Mimi’s Cafe . At Mimi’s, you can order an entire Thanksgiving meal (or just the side dishes), making Thanksgiving dinner as stress- and hassle-free as you can get. The meal feeds up to 10 people and comes prepared with simple heating instructions so it will be ready to go for this special day. Order your meal online for a Thanksgiving you’ll enjoy!

Express Gratitude: Did you know that gratitude is associated with happiness ? That’s right! Giving thanks can make you a happier person. During this coming Thanksgiving holiday, don’t get too distracted by the food, shopping, and things to do, and make sure you take time to give thanks.

A great time to focus on gratitude would be during your Thanksgiving meal. To make this a fun activity for the whole family, The Spruce has written a list of Thanksgiving gratitude activities: Check out their article for lots of great ideas. This is a great way for us all to remember the things we have to be thankful for.

Shopping

Lakewood has many great places to go for your holiday shopping! Here are some of the markets, pop-up shops, and shopping centers to go shop for the holidays.

Sugar Plum Christmas Arts & Crafts Festival : The Sugar Plum Festival is full of seasonal arts and crafts as well as gifts, accessories, jewelry, collectibles, and more! The festival will only run December 1–4, so don’t miss it! Come and see the amazing talents and creations of the local community at this beautiful holiday festival! 

Lakewood Center : The Lakewood Center covers all of your essential holiday shopping needs. Located close to home, you’ll find something for everyone here! So shop ‘til you drop this season. And, after your day of shopping comes to a close, stop by one of the many restaurants located at the mall! 

The Better Half Boutique : Take a drive out to Long Beach to stop by this small, charming boutique. Here you’ll find unique gifts, home decor, party supplies, candles, and more. You can also purchase personalized gifts like cutting boards and wall hangings. The shop is owned by a mother/daughter team and has a fun and inviting atmosphere. You may find some of your best holiday gifts at this adorable boutique!

Opportunities to Share

At this time of year when we have so much to be thankful for, it is a great time to serve others who may be less fortunate. According to VolunteerMatch , volunteering during the holidays is fantastic because you can bring a warm meal to an individual or family, spread holiday cheer, try something new, make it a family activity, build relationships, better appreciate what you have, and more. 

As a family, take time to find opportunities to serve around you. Click here to view a brochure of local community groups to serve in this holiday season and all year round.

Safe Celebration

During the holiday season, lighting a candle makes your home feel so cozy and smell so good. It is important, however, to be aware of the ways to keep your home and family safe while burning candles. Here are seven tips for candle safety provided by Frakenmuth Insurance:

  1. Trim the wick.
  2. To light it, use a long match or long lighter.
  3. Then, dispose of the match properly.
  4. Keep the candle in your sight.
  5. Pick the perfect spot to enjoy the scent.
  6. Don’t burn for more than four hours.
  7. Extinguish appropriately.

Another safety concern during the holiday season is Christmas trees. If you have brought a real Christmas tree into your apartment, be sure to keep it watered so the tree doesn’t become dry. Also, make sure to keep any kind of flame away from your tree and turn off the lights when you’re away from home. Following these simple tips will reduce the risk of household fire incidents and help to keep your holiday season safe and special!

Lakewood, California, is a wonderful place to call home during the holidays. With plenty of local activities, shopping destinations, and options for Thanksgiving dinner and service, you’re sure to have a fun and safe time. If you are looking for a place to call home in Lakewood, Park Del Amo could be the perfect place for you! Book a tour with us and see all that we have to offer.

We’d love to see your holiday fun! If you decorate for the holidays or try out one of the activities above, post a photo on social media, tag us , and use #TisTheSeasonAtAMC.

From all of us at Park Del Amo Apartments in Lakewood, CA,
Happy Holidays!

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4905 Castana Avenue,  Lakewood, CA 90712

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