There’s an original musical that is bringing crowds into the theaters for the month of December and trying to bring back the old time jazz and live stage performance to the big screen.
La La Land stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as two star cross lovers who are drawn together by their own unique passion. Gosling a struggling jazz pianist whose ultimate dream is to bring back the iconic jazz scene to a new age audience. He encounters Stone, a ambitious actress whose current repertoire is a series of rejections, but as they keep running into each other, a spark is ignited in each of them as they fall passionately in love, giving them extra passion to drive their dream, but is the love enough to hold their relationship when their dreams begin to become reality or will they be pulled apart by distance to achieve what they really want in life.
Set in traditional Hollywood, La La Land is the journey of one couple through an entire year and how fast life, love and work moves in the Los Angeles timeline. At just over two hours, it’s the perfect movie to end the old year and ring in the new year with hope.
La La Land came out in theaters December 9th, 2016 and has already brought in over 27 million in revenues at the box office and has received seven Golden Globe Nominees for best director, cast nominees for Miss Stone, Mr Gosling and J.K Simmons as well as writer, score and song. The Golden Globes are set to air on Sunday January 8, 2017.
The Snowflake festival was a way of bringing out the community of Tarzana to the Cultural Center for a Sunday afternoon of fun and games for the children while parents could do some holiday shopping in the park. The festival lasted from 10-4 and provided, arts and crafts, face painting and even snow in California.
The annual Snowflake festival in Tarzana, Calif, invited families to a day of fun at the center on Sunday Dec. 3, 2016
Children could race down man made snow hills on sleds for just two tickets.
Or sip hot chocolate and snacks while enjoying the sun.
And of course Santa welcomed kids to have their pictures taken in his photo area.
And kids got creative with finger paints and a pickup truck.
A tutoring group offered its services for children who may need help in school.
And still more arts and crafts were available for kids to create masterpieces.
At just a dollar a ticket there were several activities to keep kids entertained while parents shopped.
Including a giant space ship bounce house that held their attention for hours.
There were various hand made jewelry gift sets
And at Ruth’s treasures, there were gifts for all ages featuring a variety of popular characters.
On Saturday Dec. 3, 2016, the city of Santa Barbara trolley service loaned out two of their trolleys to a local elementary school in Carpenteria where residents could board the trolley and go on a 45 minute tour of house decorated for the holiday season.
The Santa Barbara Trolley runs from Dec 9-23 and for more information visit the official website.
S0me of the views that can be seen from the trolley are below.
This year’s Julefest on December 2, 2016. It’s theme, “Celebrating Together”, was co-hosted by Tracy Farhang, executive director of the Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau and Alan Satchwell, worship leader at the Santa Inez Valley Presbyterian Church. They welcomed hundreds of visitors and residents to the iconic Hans Christian Anderson Park for a night of hot chocolate, pictures with Santa and performances by local musicians and dancers who entertained as they waited for the tree to be lit in the center of the park.
The Grand marshals for this year’s festivities were the Neilson Family, a familiar whose heritage goes back 105 years as being one of the founding settlers in the Danish Village.
the annual yulefest in Solvang, CA.
The stage was set as music filled the Hans Christian Anderson Park beginning at 5 p.m on Dec. 3 for a holiday tradition.
The Valley Ensemble directed by Stephanie Douglas played classic holiday tunes for a full 30 minute set.
Christmas lights illuminated the main street through the villiage.
the stage also was decked out with lights for the occasion.
At 6:50 the tree was lit up with ballerinas dancing around it gracefully.
Music Performance included ballet and tap dancing courtesy of the Fossmall dancers, musical performances by the Santa Ines Valley Jazz Band as well as the Valley Wind Ensemble and an extra special performance by World renown Violinist Maurice Skahill and resident pianist, Leta Wright. Watch the video for a sample of the performances below.
And the fun didn’t stop because Santa’s village was open all weekend Dec 2-4 and is open select weekends up to Christmas free of charge, as well as the annual Winterfest Parade which commenced Saturday Dec 3, 2016 around the edge of the Danish Village of Solvang.
The Winterfest parade commenced at 11 am down Mission Drive in Solvang, CA and went around the outer edges of the danish village.
Floats including this viking ship reminded crowds of the heretage of the village.
And the Solvang trolley allowed people and up close look while being pulled down the road in a horse drawn trolley.
Solvang, as one of the oldest danish areas is also very much dog friendly as one of the dog boarding places marched its four legged friends proudly in the parade.
one of the local bands, carried tunes down the parade route.
The annual Christmas Nativity Pageant shared the message while letting people know about the upcoming free performances next Saturday in the outdoor theater.
This year’s theme for the parade and yulefest is “Celebrating together”.
Local radio stations, were also decked out for the holiday season.
Motorcycles carried the message and brought in the big guy.
This year’s Danish Maid Natylia Neilson and the Neilson Family who recieved the ultimate honor of grand marshall rode in style in the Winterfest parade.
And of course Santa Claus himself welcomed the holiday season officially culminating the end of the parade.
Solvang is known worldwide as the third most popular Christmas destination.
On Sunday November 27, the Christmas Season rolls into Hollywood with the 85th annual Hollywood Christmas Parade down Hollywood Blvd beginning at 6 p.m and brought in the season by bringing in the big guy himself, Santa Claus.
There were thousands of spectators that came out to experience the towering balloons including, characters like the Cat in the Hat, The Grinch, Garfield and much more.
Various movie cars also entertained crowds as they rolled down a red carpet in front of the Hollywood Pantages where the grand stand was set up and various celebrities from shows including ABC’s Blackish, Fresh Of The boat, as well as soap stars from the three longest running soap operas, Young and the Restless, Bold and The Beautiful and Days of our Lives cruised into Hollywood in style.
The Hollywood Christmas Parade will broadcast on national prime time tv beginning at 8 P.M on Friday Dec. 16 with a 2- hour special premiere on the CW.
