Holiday festivities return to Poway and Rancho Bernardo
The holiday season will be a lot busier this year in contrast to the pandemic-forced cancellations of last year.
While several annual events are still on hiatus, there are a number of opportunities over the coming weeks to participate in winter holiday activities. Whether celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas or just the winter holiday season there are many religious and secular activities.
Here is an assortment of local activities. To get your activity included, email the details to ehimchak@pomeradonews.com by 9 a.m. Monday. Include activity title and brief description, location, time, date, cost and contact information.
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• Poway OnStage presents “The Nutcracker” virtual field trip with the Southern California Ballet now through Jan. 15. The ballet company will perform narrated show excerpts of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet and provide extension activities in movement, pantomime and costume design.
The virtual field trip is geared toward first through fifth grade students. It is free for all San Diego County schools. For the link, go to powayonstage.org/event/scb-nutcracker.
There will also be in-person outreach performances on Thursday, Dec. 16 at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 14598 Espola Road. As of press time the only show not sold out was at 9:15 a.m., with $5 for San Diego school groups, individuals with disabilities and senior groups. For tickets, go to southerncaliforniaballet.org/nutcracker-outreach.
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• Temple Adat Shalom is hosting “Chanukkah Chappening” at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3. There will be a latke dinner, songs, blessings, crafts and more. Attendees are to bring their masks and menorah. Temple Adat Shalom is at 15905 Pomerado Road in Poway.
RSVP by Thursday, Dec. 1 at tinyurl.com/TAS-Dec3. For questions, call 858-451-1200.
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• This is the last weekend to catch PowPAC’s holiday comedy “Dashing Through the Snow.” It can be seen at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5 in the theater at 13250 Poway Road.
The show contains mature content and is recommended for ages 12 and up. Audience members must provide proof they are fully vaccinated (14 days since final dose) against COVID-19 or negative test results from a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance. Masks are also required.
Tickets are $22 for adults and $20 for seniors (60-plus), students and active duty military. Groups (10 or more) are $18 per person. Purchase at PowPAC.org or call 858-679-8085.
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• Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church is sponsoring a drive-thru “Angel Tree” toy drive for military children from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 in the church’s upper parking lot, 17010 Pomerado Road.
The following items are needed for children up to age 12: toys, board games, sports balls, puzzles, arts and crafts, baby wipes and gift cards. Donors are welcome to decorate gift bags for their items. Indicate boy or girl and age range on the bag.
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• The Seven Oaks “Holiday Craft Fair” will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 at the Seven Oaks Community Center, 16789 Bernardo Oaks Drive in Rancho Bernardo.
All items for sale are handcrafted. They include jewelry, plants, quilts, holiday decorations, aprons and much more. Open to the public, but no pets please. For details, call Dianne McGovern at 858-705-6068. COVID-19 protocols will be in place.
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• “Dance to the Holidays!” can be seen one night only at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 in the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 14598 Espola Road. This Poway OnStage performance will feature “Dancing with the Stars” celebrity pros Keo Motsepe and Anna Trebunskaya. They will be joined by finalists from “So You Think You Can Dance,” “American Idol,” “The Voice” and “America’s Got Talent.”
Tickets are $45 to $75 for adults; $38 to $64 for seniors (ages 65-plus), active duty military and students (ages 13 to 21); and $28 to $38 for youths (ages 12 and under). There is also a $9 handling and facilities restoration fee added to each ticket. Purchase at PowayOnStage.org or call 858-668-4798.
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• Temple Adat Shalom is hosting “Menorah Madness” at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 5. Mosad Shalom students of all ages will reenact the miracle of Hanukkah in craft, song and menorah lighting. Temple Adat Shalom is at 15905 Pomerado Road in Poway.
RSVP at tinyurl.com/TAS-Dec5. For questions, call 858-451-1200.
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• Rancho Bernardo Community Church’s music and arts ministry will lead a celebration of Christ’s birth through reflective advent anthems and festive Christmas carols at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5. The concert will feature Vivaldi’s masterwork, “Gloria,” presented by the Chancel Choir.
The church is at 17010 Pomerado Road. A free-will offering will be taken.
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• Chabad of Poway is holding a celebration at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5 for the eighth night of Hanukkah. It will be in Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Road.
There will be train rides, a menorah lighting, refreshments, children’s crafts, dreidel giveaways and more for family activities. Register at tinyurl.com/Chabad-Dec5.
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• The Poway High School choirs will present their annual “Winter Concert” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7 in the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road. It will feature traditional and contemporary holiday favorites.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for children, seniors and military. Buy at powaychoir.com. Masks required for all audience members.
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• The Rancho Bernardo High School Dance Program is presenting its “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8; Thursday, Dec. 9 and Friday, Dec. 10 in the RBHS Performing Arts Center, 13010 Paseo Lucido. It will feature the Tour de Force, junior varsity, intermediate dance, Universal Movement, B-Boys, Dance Buddies and MTDF groups
Tickets are $8 for the Dec. 8 show, $10 for Dec. 9 and $12 for Dec. 10. Buy at the door. Masks required for audience members.
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• The Bernardo Heights Middle School choir will present its “Winter Concert” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8 in the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for children. Buy at tinyurl.com/BHMS-Dec2021. Masks required for audience members.
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• The Poway Chamber of Commerce will hold it annual “Holiday Mixer” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 at Hampton Inn & Suites, 14068 Stowe Drive in Poway.
Admission is free for Poway Chamber members and $25 for guests and non-members. Advance registration is required. Register at poway.com or 858-748-0016.
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• The Church at Rancho Bernardo is holding a Christmas event for area women. “Greenhouse Christmas Edition” will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10 at the church, 11740 Bernardo Plaza Court. It will feature music by Garden Music, guest speaker Toni Collier and catered desserts by Le Parfait Paris.
Come in your holiday finest. Moms can bring their teenage daughters. Cost: $10 per person. Register at thechurchrb.org/greenhouse.
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• The 16th annual Toys for Tots drive organized by Delkin Devices will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 at the Poway Walmart, 13425 Community Road. The family-friendly event will accept new, unwrapped toys and cash donations. Marines will be on site. It is sponsored by Delkin Devices, WakeWorld, Kahoots and Chuck Hall Aviation.
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• The City of Poway’s annual “Christmas in the Park” is returning to Old Poway Park. The admission-free event will be held from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 in the park at 14134 Midland Road. The tree lighting ceremony starts at 5:15 p.m., followed by Santa’s arrival by train.
Other events will include caroling, live music, horse-drawn hayrides and night-time rides around the park on the Poway Midland Railroad. There will also be free craft activities, a model train display, visits with Santa and a craft boutique. Some activities, like the train ride and gingerbread decorating, have a nominal fee.
The event is sponsored by the City of Poway and the Old Poway Park Action Committee.
Free shuttles will be available from the parking lots at Poway City Hall, 13325 Civic Center Drive, and Poway Adult School, 13626 Twin Peaks Road. Shuttles will run throughout the event, starting at 3 p.m. with the last trip from Old Poway Park at 9 p.m.
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• The Rancho Bernardo Community Council is holding a “Holiday Giving Carnival” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12 in Rancho Bernardo Community Park by the gazebo, 18448 W. Bernardo Drive.
The free event will feature carnival games with lots of candy, face painting, a personal visit and photo opportunity with Santa and several food trucks.
There will also be an opportunity for the public to support any of five charitable causes by donating items during the event. Donate new, unwrapped toys and games for the Polinsky Children’s Center; new or very gently used pajamas for children in need through the Leez PJ’s for Kids drive; canned and dry goods plus personal hygiene items for Interfaith Community Services; new and gently-used dog items for Beagles & Buddies Rescue; and new or gently used cat items for Dirty Little Paws Cat Rescue.
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• Join Temple Adat Shalom Cantor Lori Frank for the virtual presentation “How the Jews Recreated Christmas.” It will be a 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12 via Zoom.
Frank will explain how Jewish composers such as Irving Berlin, Johnny Marks and Mel Torme wrote many of the most successful popular Christmas songs of the 20th century and transformed Christmas into a white, wintery and profitable secular consumer holiday.
For the Zoom link, register at adatshalom.com.
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• The jazz bands at Poway High School and Twin Peaks Middle School will perform their “Winter Concert” at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13 in the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road.
Tickets (price not announced) will be sold at the door. Masks required for audience members.
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• The Rancho Bernardo High School choirs will present their annual “Holiday Concert” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14 and Wednesday, Dec. 15 in the RBHS Performing Arts Center, 13010 Paseo Lucido.
Tickets are $10 at the door. Masks are required for audience members.
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• Poway High School’s orchestra will perform its “Winter Concert” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14 in the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road.
Tickets (price not announced) will be sold at the door. Masks required for audience members.
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• “Breakfast with Santa” will be held at Bernardo Winery, 13330 Paseo del Verano Norte, Rancho Bernardo from 9 a.m. to noon daily Dec. 15 to 19. Children can meet with Santa in a relaxed setting, enjoy breakfast (served 9 to 10:30 a.m.) and get up close with some animals from Wild Wonders. There will also be face painting, cookie decorating, ornament making and more. Mimosas are available for adults.
Cost: $50 for adults, $30 for ages 2 to 12 and free for children under 2. Seating is limited. Tickets only sold in advance. For details, go to BernardoWinery.com or call 858-487-1866.
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• “Holiday Nights” returns to Bernardo Winery with activities offered each evening from 5 to 9 p.m. from Dec. 15 to 19 at the winery, 13330 Paseo del Verano Norte, Rancho Bernardo. The Tasting Room, The Kitchen Restaurant, Manzanita Coffee and Village Shops will be open late for holiday shopping. There will also be several food vendors.
The winery will be decorated with twinkle lights and seasonal décor. The Kaleidoscope Carolers will be strolling, there will be a Holiday Shopping Village featuring the works of local artisans and crafters and Miceli’s Polar Express train exhibit will be available for viewing in the gazebo.
Santa will not be at Holiday Nights. Admission and parking are free. No pets or outside food and beverages. Bring cash since some vendors do not accept credit cards. For details, call 858-487-1866 or go to BernardoWinery.com.
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• ToshWerks will lead a free holiday craft activity for teens and adults at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16 in the Rancho Bernardo Library’s community room, 17110 Bernardo Center Drive. Learn how to make holiday/winter-themed soaps, perfect for gift-giving. This activity is for ages 13 and up.
Space is limited. Registration is required at tinyurl.com/RB-holiday-soap.
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• The Southern California Ballet will present “The Nutcracker” with more than 100 dancers joined by professional guest artists in the principal roles. Shows are 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17 plus 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18 in the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road.
Tickets are $19 to $48, with child, student, senior, military and group discounts available. Buy at SouthernCaliforniaBallet.org or 858-748-0505. Masks will be required for all audience members regardless of vaccination status, except for medical exemption (with proof) or children under age 2.
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• California Ballet School will present Maxine Mahon’s “The Nutcracker” at 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8 and 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9 at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road. It will also feature dancers from the California Ballet Company.
Tickets are $30 to $85. Buy at tinyurl.com/CBNutcracker22 or 858-748-0505. Audience members need to be ages 3 and up.
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