Skating by the Sea: The Hotel del Coronado gets in the ice skating game with an outdoor beachfront rink, frozen up just in time for the holiday season. Grab a scarf and mittens, rent a pair of skates for $5 and glide away during daily skating sessions, which run every afternoon from 2-5 p.m. and every evening from 6-9 p.m. Additional sessions happen on weekends and holidays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. From Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008 to Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009 all three skating sessions will be offered daily. Cost for a three-hour session is $20 for adults, $15 for children 10 and younger; a two-hour session is $15 for adults and $10 for children 10 and younger. A portion of skating proceeds will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1092.

Holiday of Lights: The Holiday of Lights at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is a spectacular drive-through light show and the largest holiday lighting display on the West Coast. This San Diego tradition contains more than 400 crowd-pleasing, family-oriented displays, accompanied by holiday tunes. The displays are organized into themes, which include: Candy Cane Lane, Toyland, San Diego County Fair, Treasures by the Lake, Del Mar Racetrack, the Twelve Days of Christmas and Elves at Play. Tickets are $14 per car for up to five people, and $19 per car for six people or more. The Holiday of Lights runs Sunday through Thursday from 5:30-10 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30-11 p.m. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1092.

GSDBA Holiday Cruise: Join the Greater San Diego Business Association aboard San Diego Harbor Excursion’s The Spirit of California for its annual Holiday Cruise. This cruise boards at Broadway Pier, at 5:30 p.m., and runs from 6-8 p.m. Tickets for members are $50, with $50 for first guest and $60 for each additional guest. Tickets for nonmembers are $60. Reservations and pre-payment are required. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1092.

Balboa Park December Nights 2008: San Diego’s favorite kick-off to the holiday season will take place for the 31st consecutive year on Friday, Dec. 5, from 5-10 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6, noon to 10 p.m. In the spirit of the holidays, participating Balboa Park museums open their doors free of charge from 5-9 p.m. both evenings. The largest free community festival in San Diego, December Nights is expected to attract more than 300,000 visitors over two days. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1092.

Tree Lighting and Winter Wonderland: The California Center for the Arts, Escondido will hold its Holiday Tree Lighting and Winter Wonderland, bringing fun for the entire family from 5-7 p.m. This free event features real snow for children to play in, a special appearance by Santa Claus, the lighting of the center’s Christmas tree, free cookies for all, and an interactive education activity for children. The event, generously sponsored by the Linden Root Dickinson Foundation, will also feature special appearances from the stars of Yo Ho Ho A Pirates Christmas. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1092.

‘WomanSong’: The San Diego Women’s Chorus presents its 21st annual holiday concert, “WomanSong.” This wide-ranging show of songs written by women composers from various time periods will take place at the Mission Hills United Church of Christ, at 7:30 p.m. SDWC will perform songs both classical and contemporary, while singing in English, German, and Latin. “WomanSong” will be a wonderfully deep program featuring joyful and powerful compositions of beautiful music written by women, particularly from time periods when women composers were rare and less celebrated. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for seniors, students, military, and groups of 10 or more. Children under age 12 are admitted for free. Audience members are also encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for SDWC’s collection to donate to Mama’s Pantry. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1092.

Fa la la la… Fabulous!: “American Idol” finalist Paris Bennett will guest star with the San Diego Men’s Chorus at the group’s 24th annual holiday show “Fa la la la… Fabulous!” Featuring traditional and non-traditional holiday fare – there’s going to be something for everyone. The SDMC will also welcome the fabulous MCC Celebration Choir for a finale you won’t forget! Jeff Gelder will host the performance at the Balboa Theatre in Horton Plaza at 8p.m. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1092.

Come Home for The Holidays!: Celebrating Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa and the upcoming New Year, The San Diego LGBT Community Center will host the seventh annual Come Home for the Holidays party from 5-8 p.m. The event brings the entire community together to celebrate the past year and look toward 2008. Food and entertainment will be provided. There will be a no-host bar, music and a candle-lighting ceremony. The event is co-hosted by a number of community agencies, including APICAP, Ebony Pride, Bienestar, the Imperial Court de San Diego and The Center, along with many others. The event is free, however, guests are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Imperial Court de San Diego’s Annual Toy Drive. The holiday party takes place at The Center. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1092.

‘Yo Ho Ho A Pirate’s Christmas’: It’s up to a seven-year-old girl named Eve to save Christmas for everyone. The fate of Christmas, Santa Claus and the citizens of the North Pole is in Eve’s hands after the jolly team behind Christmas is kidnapped by a bunch of directionally-challenged pirates. Young and old alike will be enthralled as the team of swashbuckling pirates interacts and makes the audience feel like part of the crew in between original songs. This charming new family musical will have young and old believing in the power of Christmas spirit and jolly pirates. Performances will take place at The California Center for the Arts, Escondido on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 4 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 and 5 p.m. Tickets are $25-$27 for adults; $22-$24 for seniors. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1092.

GrooveLily: GrooveLily defies the boundaries of rock, folk, jazz, and pop. Intelligent original songs with no shortage of wit connect lush musical textures and soaring vocals with the blazing six-string electric violin of Valerie Vigoda, the lightning-fingered piano of Brendan Milburn, and the joyful drums of Gene Lewin. With backgrounds in classical music, musical theater, jazz and rock, the three members of GrooveLily are making a new music that’s all their own. Plus, hear excerpts from their two critically acclaimed concert-musicals “Striking 12” and “Sleeping Beauty Wakes.” GrooveLily will take the stage at The California Center for the Arts, Escondido at 8 p.m. Tickets are $37 for adults; $34 for seniors. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1092.

Christmas on the Promenade: A snow-covered Winter Wonderland is just one of the highlights of San Diego’s newest holiday celebration, which runs Friday, Dec. 12, from 4–9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Christmas on the Promenade is a festival of food, music, shopping and holiday festivities at NTC Promenade, Liberty Station, Point Loma. This new holiday event will be a return to the true Christmas spirit, with all proceeds benefiting San Diego nonprofit organizations. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1092.

‘Holiday Toons’: The Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego will present “Holiday Toons” at the Birch North Park Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. This fun-filled and family-friendly concert features music made famous by some of your favorite cartoon characters, but presented with the flair that only GMCSD can provide. You will want to sing along to selections by Alvin and the Chipmunks, Elmer Fudd, Jack Frost, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – not to mention Santa Claus and his whole North Pole gang. There may even be a surprise appearance, but you will have to come to the concert to find out “Who.” “Holiday Toons” also features a newly-staged full production of Tomie dePaola’s award-winning children’s story, Oliver Button is a Sissy. This story, with its messages of love and acceptance, is a perfect part of the holiday season, and GMCSD is proud to present it. Tickets are $25-$50 with discounts for children, seniors, students, military, and groups. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone or in person. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1092.

‘Once Upon a December’: The Imperial Court de San Diego will present “Once Upon a December: A Magical Fairy Tale” at The Flame. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the show will start at 7 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the imperial Court de San Diego’s Toy Drive. The Flame is located at 3780 Park Blvd. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1092.

Masterpiece Messiah: Join The California Center for the Arts, Escondido in its annual tradition of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah.” Maestro Jung-Ho Pak and the San Diego Chamber Orchestra with Bach Collegium choir recreate the lush holiday sounds of centuries past. As an added feature this year, the Chamber Orchestra will also play a dramatic video featuring famous classic paintings to enhance and bring a modern element to their period performance. Masterpiece Messiah will take the stage at The California Center for the Arts, Escondido at 4 p.m. Tickets: $23-$35 for adults; $20-$32 for seniors For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1092.

37th Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights: Kicking off with a fireworks extravaganza at 5:30 p.m., this free, distinctly-California celebration features boats decorated for the holiday season that will sail from the east end of Shelter Island into the downtown waterfront and Coronado areas. This year’s parade theme is “Rock And Roll Around The Bay” with boats of all kinds judged for creative lighting, decorations and crowd-engaging fun. A highly anticipated event in the San Diego community, more than 100 vessels take to the water for the parade. Less crowded viewing areas include the north and south ends of the Embarcadero, the bayside pathway along Coronado and the waterfront park behind Seaport Village. Those planning to view the Parade of Lights from Harbor Island should arrive early as parking in the area is at a premium.

For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1092.