FESTIVITY: Magic made in California

With its endless coastline, the third American state is the land of a thousand opportunities. Mountains covered in snow to the East and hot sand to the south-west, amazing celebrations in San Francisco and the magic of Hollywood, Christmas reveals the many facets of California.

With a temperature of 15° C, the surroundings of Los Angeles and San Diego promise pleasant holidays. Unmissable, some events such as the beautiful Newport Beach's Christmas Boat Parade, which announces its 109th edition, light up the festive season. Between 13th and 17th December, the most luxurious yachts, lined by thousands of lights, parade along Newport Beach. Not far from the splendor of Orange County, in late November, Riverside opens the dance of its 25nd Festival of Lights, where more than 4 million of lights make the whole city sparkle for 6 weeks, until the 6th January. The magic of Christmas is present at the appointment, accompanied by its skating rink and its fireworks. The high point of these celebrations under the California sun is the Surfing Santa, the joyful moment when Santa arrives surfing on the beach of San Diego.

It is well known that every American extravaganza takes place in Hollywood, even more so at the dawn of the New Year. Departing from the Boulevard, the 86th Christmas Hollywood Parade, that takes place on November 26th, is just like the famous studios: spectacular. Concerts, parades of super-heroes and movie stars, all of Hollywood is present for the occasion. Meanwhile, in an atmosphere of bells and shiny garlands, the Disney California Adventure Park offers the chance to live a Christmas worthy of the most beautiful fairy tales.

Festive and fond of all kinds of conventions, America is also the mother of the Santa Claus Convention. Created in 1994 by the Cacophony Society, this event has conquered the world. Capitola and San Francisco, the two strongholds of the famous SantaCon are preparing to welcome thousands of Santa Clauses and Mothers Christmas, on December 9th. Even in the case of a cold winter in San Francisco, there is no doubt that this great meeting is able to bring the city to the boiling point.

While Southern California is for lovers of great celebration, purists attached to a tradition covered with snow and Jacquard, are never left disappointed. In the province of Santa Barbara, the small Danish town of Solvang takes on a party atmosphere. Even if temperatures remain mild, you almost expect to find Santa Claus sitting next to the Little Mermaid (Ed. A copy of the statue in Copenhagen). In the East and in the great national parks of the Sierra Nevada, as the Sequoia National Park, Yosemite National Park or on the shores of Lake Tahoe, winter takes hold of Christmas. Here, snowball fights, ice-skating, sleigh riding or shaping snowmen are the activities that warm up the festive season.

Translated by Dafne Inzaina – Meretdemeures.com (December 2017).