Winter in LA, 2003
 
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Home

Movie Costume Study

Lord of the Rings Costume

King Kong Costumes

Costume Exhibits

Future Fashion Design

Halloween Events in LA

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Costuming for the Winter Holidays

for Los Angeles (and beyond) 2003

Check out the current event year <here>

The winter holidays season - Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Solstice and beyond  - is a time of family gatherings, crafts, celebrations and admit it... shopping.  Often places re-make themselves into an old-fashioned world or create a picturesque fantasy to help with the mood. 

Many places add the wonderful ambiance of Yuletide costumes to their holiday events.  Here is a highlight of some of Los Angeles's events.

Whether you dress up or just want to go to watch costumed folks in Los Angles and celebrate. (Check Other Sources for hints on how to find more events.)

bulletThe Romance of Dance though the ages
bulletStreet Fairs, Museums and Celebrations
bulletAmusement Park Makeovers as Winter Wonderlands
bulletShop 'till  you drop - pre and post
bulletOther Sources for Holiday news and events
bulletCheck out more events on our standard event page

The Romance of Dance though the Ages

Historic dace can be the highlight of the entire holiday season.  In costume, it certainly is the most romantic.

Most of these dances require tickets be purchased in advance and most require at least, an attempt at the costume of the period.  There are other dances throughout the year where you can learn.

Social Daunce Irregulars Victorian Grand Winter Ball

bulletPasadena Scottish Rite Hall
bulletInfo: http://www.lahacal.org/sdi.html , tickets $25, may be purchased on line.
bulletWinter Ball, November 22, 2003
bulletTo add to the ambiance, we suggest, but do not insist that our patrons wear the formal attire or military uniforms (any nation) of the 19th Century

Annual St. Nicholas Christmas Ball - A gift from the past

"Many hours of dancing to some of the best music of the 19th century.
An elegant 5-course dinner, served European style. A Victorian-flavored party, beautifully costumed (and beautiful) people, and wonderful music."

bullet

Info: http://agiftfromthepast.org/ .  $60. Sunday, December 7, 2003.  Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The dances begin at 4:30 p.m. and run until 11:30 p.m.  Tickets in advance only.

Victorian era evening costume required.

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Museums, Street Fairs and Celebrations

A Southern California Christmas - Homestead Museum

See visions of Christmas past.  "Featuring photographs and ephemera from various area archives, we chronicle how Christmas was celebrated in the Southland
from the late 19th through mid 20th centuries"

The highlight of the season will be Sunday, December 8th where there is music, theatrical performances, merchants, food, family activities and tours.

bulletInfo: http://www.homesteadmuseum.org/calendar/xmas.htm
bulletSaturday and Sundays, Nov 29, 2003 - Jan 13, 2004

More Homestead Museum events at http://www.homesteadmuseum.org/calendar/index.htm

Lamplight tours at Heritage Square

During this living history presentation, visitors step back in time to a holiday evening during three different eras in Southern California history.  Tours are by advance reservation only. It does sell out.  Children at selected times only.  No tickets will be sold at the door.

bulletInfo: http://heritagesquare.org/events.html
bulletDecember 6, 7, 13, 14, 2003, after 4 pm.
bulletTicket prices are $17 for members and $20.00 for nonmembers.

Victorian Christmas - Banning House Museum

A Homemade Christmas - Connecting Past and Present.

bulletInfo: http://www.banningmuseum.org/events/victorian.htm
bulletDecember 6-7, 2003. 11 to 4, $3 donation

The Lanterman Holliday Tea

bulletA holiday tea for parents and their children
bulletinfo: http://www.lahacal.org/1918/tea.html , tickets $25 for adults, $5 for children
bulletLanterman House in La Canada/Flintridge
bulletSunday, Dec 7, 2003 1-3pm

The Fools' Guild Carnival of Venice

New Year's Eve Ball.  "Enter the enchanting Venetian World, sprinkled with a bit of Brazilian Carnival and peppered to taste with New Orleans Mardi Gras."  $25 price includes dinner buffets, live commedia show with DJ and dancing, midnight toast.  Costume Parade.  At Griffith Park Camp.

bulletInfo: http://www.circussanctuary.com .
bullet$25 , 7:30 , December 31, 2003
bulletEnter north into the part from Riverside/Crystal Sprigs.  Enter north into Griffin Park at the 3rd stop sign, turn right onto Griffith Part Drive, Go 0.9 miles, turn left onto Camp Dr. Go to the top, park.

Victorian 12 Night Progressive Dinner

Progressive Dinner in the Heritage Square Historic District, Riverside.  Horse drawn carriages take guests to 3 vintage homes decorated in holiday splendor. Delicious gourmet food, elegant but fun. Live music and carolers. Victorian dress encouraged. Fundraiser for Old Riverside Foundation historic preservation group.

bulletInfo: Sheila Cocco: d.cocco@pe.net  or call (909) 683-2725
bulletTickets $80 pp. for sale at Ana's Florist 1735 Spruce St. Ste. J, Riverside
bulletFri. Jan 9, 7 pm & Sat. Jan 10, 6:30 & 7:30 pm 2004

 

Ships in Costume!

There are a couple of holiday spectacular in the Harbor.  The boats will be all decked out in their best lighting.  Dress on the crews will vary.

bulletMarina del Rey Boat Parade, one of the largest boat parade on the west coast
bulletDecember 13th, 2003 -  Burton Chance Part and Fisherman's village
bulletInfo: (310) 670-7130
bulletParade of 1000 Lights
bulletDecember 6, 2003 -  Shoreline Village, Long Beach
bulletInfo: (562) 435-4093
bulletNaples Boat Parade, one of the longest running boat parades in So Cal.
bulletDecember 13,2003 - Canals in Naples Island, Long Beach
bulletInfo: (562) 570-5333

Citywalk on Ice, Winter Wonderland Outdoor Skating Ring

Ok... not actually costumes, but Californians and ice skating wear is a costume for Angelenos... and is loads of fun.  More than ice skating.  Includes holiday-themed concerts and refreshments.

bulletInfo: 818/622-SKATE  http://www.citywalkhollywood.com/calendar_events.html?template=ush_citywalk_events_detail.html&calendar=ush_citywalk_events&eventid=20
bulletNovember 22- January 6, 2004, open even day, most days until 11, Friday and Saturday until 1
bullet$7 plus skate rental, family packages, may rent the ring for private functions.

More Local City Street Fairs and Local Celebrations

I'm not going to try and catch these.  Some communities with get elaborate during Yuletide, others leave it to the malls, while even others will quietly celebrate.   Check your local paper for special events.  (If you think your group merits singling out, contact us.)

bulletLos Angeles Almanac list a lot of family friendly activities for December  including parades, tree lightings, street fairs and  museum days.

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Amusement Park Makeovers as Winter Wonderlands

Most of Southern Californian's theme parts will do a holiday makeup this December.  If you're a regular to the parts, you know it's always fun to see the twist on the costumes.  This is the only time of the year, the characters outfits are specially designed to help get you in the mood.  Though 90 degree days do seem incongruous with the characters' winter wonderland dress!  Here I'm only going to highlight the biggest costume changes.

Disneyland

Disneyland always remakes their amusement parks into a winter wonderland.  Many of the costumed characters change costumes representing the season.  Victorian Dress is a theme for many of the characters, street bands and singers.  The stage shows, remade for the holidays, show some of the most magical revisions of the costumes of the entire year.  I is well worth the crowds to enjoy.

Haunted Mansion Holiday  is also billed as When Holidays Collide.  Disneyland has remade over their famous Haunted Mansion in the style of "Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas".  The somber New Orleans styled house has been redecorated as Jack Skellington and the other residents of his world descending for some delightful twists on the mix of Christmas and Halloween. Runs though January 6th only.

bulletInfo: www.Disneyland.com.  Runs  though January 6th only.  Included with regular admission.

Knots Christmas Craft Festival

Giant Victorian-era crafts fair in the western Ghost town inside the park  Snoopy Ice show  and the rollercoasters for a bit more

bulletInfo: http://www.knotts.com/
bulletSpecial reduced prices. $6 for adults and $5 for children - includes  special vendors
bulletNov 27 - Dec 24, 2003

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Shop 'till  you drop - pre and post

Stats Floral

bulletThe famous after-Christmas sale for Costumers looking for shinny bits!
bulletCheck out the whole story <here>.

 

AlterYears
bulletBuilding your own historic costume for the holiday?  Want something beyond the patterns you can find in the fabric stores?
bulletThis store in San Gabriel specializes in historical patterns (and books).
bulletAlso carry a number of hard to find costume accessories including hoop skirts, gloves, spats, top hats, corsets and boning.
bulletTheir web site ( www.AlterYears.com ) has a few examples of their patterns, but they have many more in store.
bullet8960 E. Huntington Dr., San Gabriel, 626-614-9400 (Located behind the North Woods Inn in Clearman's Village - Huntington Drive and Rosemead Blvd.)
bulletSpecial sale: 20% - Sunday December 15, 2002.  In store purchases only.

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Other Sources for Holiday news and events

Use search engines for events around Los Angeles. Note: no search engines have everything, so dig for info.

bulletCheck out DigitalCity.com.  
bulletLos Angeles Almanac list a lot of family friendly activities for December  including street fairs and  museum days.
bulletWant to check out more costuming around this site:
bulletCostume Links
bulletGeneral Events

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If a search engine brought you to this page, you may want to prowl the rest of the Alley Cat Scratch site.  Most of it is about  costumes and resources for them... so if you like dress-up,  come play with da Cat.

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Please contact us at daCat@AlleyCatScratch.com with any corrections or if you have an item to be added to this page.  

This page last updated 06/03/10