By Bruce Piekarsa
Social Media Editor
The holiday season is approaching—here are a few worthy winter activities to fill the month of December.
Enchant – Santa Anita Park
Festive lights illuminate the skies, glittering in the eyes of passerby as they navigate a maze in search of gears for Santa’s Magical Timepiece. The magical atmosphere transports them into a winter wonderland where Santa greets children with his helping elves. The holiday spirit is brought to life at Santa Anita Park’s Christmas event, Enchant, from Nov. 21-Dec. 28.
Besides their award-winning light maze, Enchant features activities such as a shopping village, visit with Santa, Ferris wheel, ice skating and much more. The all-inclusive event makes it a suitable place for family and friends.
All details and information are available online on the Enchant website. The starting price ranges from $10-43.
Old Pasadena
Cheeks flushed, skaters stumble towards the rink. Hand in hand, they glide through and dance on the gleaming ice.
Admission to the Pasadena Ice Skating Center is $16, with rental skates $4; however on Thursdays from 7:30-9:00 p.m., it’s $16 in total for both admission and rentals.
Across the street from the ice skating center is The Paseo, a place to take photos, hang out and wind down. What makes this a great stop during the holiday season is the towering Christmas tree in the center of the square.
Within walking distance is One Colorado, an outdoor shopping and dining area that combines historic buildings with shops such as ALO and Rothy’s. The mall has many food options, with restaurants and cafes to suit your taste.
Movies
Lights dim and the faint glow of the theater screen brightens, filling the room with anticipation. Voices hush and viewers hold their breath, excited for the awaited movie to begin.
“Wicked: For Good,” “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” are just a few of the many movies coming out before the holiday season—catch them in theaters over the break and enter the sequels to your favorite stories.
Collectible popcorn buckets for each movie makes the theaters more enticing. Specific movies have additional limited items, such as plushies and vinyl from “Wicked: For Good.”
At AMC’s Santa Anita location, tickets range from $20-28. Similarly, the Regal Edwards Alhambra Renaissance tickets range from $15-26. Be sure to check showtimes for discounted tickets.