It is finally winter! It’s time to get your sweaters and hot cocoa and get ready for the season! Personally, winter is my favorite season, and Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. Living in Southern California, the heat can be unbearable, so the cold weather is a nice break from that. There are also many fun activities available to get into the holiday spirit, or if you just want to enjoy the winter, there are activities for that too.
Beginning with winter activities, ice skating is so much fun, and you can do it with any group of people. The Cube is an ice skating rink located in Valencia, and it is open all year round! Admission is $14, and if you would like skate rentals, it will be $19 in total.
If your family likes to travel, why not go to the snow? Take advantage of the cold weather, and go skiing, sledding, or even build a snowman! Visiting the snow is a perfect all-day activity that can be spent with friends and family.
If you are looking to escape the cold but still want to get into the winter spirit, there are many things you can do at home. Take this season as a chance to bake fresh cookies, specifically gingerbread cookies. If you do not feel like baking, buy a gingerbread house and compete with your loved ones to see who can build the best one! You can also stay warm by making hot chocolate and watching a movie underneath a blanket. There are endless holiday films and classic Christmas movies that would work great for a movie night!
Speaking of the holidays, let’s move on to activities centered around festivity. If you celebrate Christmas, one of the best parts of the holiday is the presents. However, it can be overwhelming having the pressure of buying so many gifts for so many people. Instead of worrying, participate in Secret Santa! Everyone who is a part of Secret Santa will be given a name, usually written on a piece of paper and picked out of a bowl or hat, and that is who they will need to buy a present for. No one will know who picked their name until the gifts are exchanged.
Another popular gift game is White Elephant, in which everyone brings a present, and people go one at a time to choose a present from the selection. Be careful because, if it goes around to someone’s turn, they can steal your gift! Each game may have its own set of rules, but the great thing is that everyone will go home with a surprising gift.
You can also treat yourself and buy an advent calendar. Many brands have already released their advent calendars for the year, and you can open one box every day for a surprise until it is finally Christmas. Plus, it is never truly Christmas without the music. There are so many festive songs you can play as you open your advent calendar and decorate your house!
For events on a larger scale, look at the Discover Los Angeles calendar. One of the events mentioned is Enchant LA in Santa Anita Park. This event has already begun and will last until Dec 28. from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Take this time to enjoy the ice skating rink, snow slide, food, and the largest light maze in the world! There are countless other things on the calendar to do every day. Some activities include watching a screening of “Elf” or A Sleighful of Songs, which is a show consisting of popular holiday music. The College of the Canyons is also performing The Nutcracker, so make sure to check that out for a fun live performance!
Regardless of what you decide to do this month, make sure to spend it with the people you care about. Happy Holidays!
