* Send DATEBOOK items to the Huntington...

* Send DATEBOOK items to the Huntington Beach Independent, 18682

Beach Blvd., Suite 160, Huntington Beach, CA 92648; fax to (714)

965-7174; call (714) 965-7176 or e-mail hbindy@latimes.com.

Submissions must be received two weeks before publication.

TODAY

The 41st annual Cruise of Lights, a narrated cruise through the

waterways of Huntington Harbour featuring lighted homes and

decorations, will be sponsored by the Huntington Harbour Philharmonic

Committee. Cruises start at about 5, 6, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. through

Dec. 23. Guests can park in the Huntington Harbour Mall lot at the

corner of Algonquin Street and Saybrook Lane and ride designated

buses that travel a short distance to the boat launch area. Upon

arrival, guests will board boats that depart for 45-minute cruises.

Tickets can be purchased in advance over the phone. Information:

(714) 840-7542 or https://www.cruiseoflights.org

Holiday on Ice public ice skating at the Pier Plaza Ice Rink will

offer a unique Surf City version of the Rockefeller Center Ice Rink.

Overlooking the Huntington Beach Pier and beaches, the 80-by-40-foot

rink is at Pier Plaza, Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street. The

rink will open between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. daily and 90-minute

sessions cost $10 for adults and $7 for children. Skate rentals are

$3.50 per skater. Season passes cost $110. The rink will be open

through Jan. 11. Skating lessons, classes and party rentals are

available. The rink holds 80 skaters. Information: (800) 975-1885 or

https://www.meetmeatthe icerink.com

The Nutcracker Ballet, as presented in its original, full-length

version, will be held at Golden West College Mainstage Theater. The

show, which runs through Dec. 24, will be performed on Friday,

Saturday and Dec. 23 at 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. and

Dec. 24 at 1 p.m. The theater is at 15744 Goldenwest St. Tickets cost

$13 for general admission, $12 for Golden West College students and

$11 for groups, seniors and children under 12. Information: (714)

895-8150.

“Selected, Preferred, Chosen” is an exhibition that will feature

works by artists selected from the annual “Centered on the Center”

exhibition. The show will run through Sunday and is at the Huntington

Beach Art Center Gallery at 538 Main St. The gallery is open Friday

and Saturday from noon to 6 p.m., Thursday from noon to 8 p.m. and

Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Information: (714)

374-1650.

The Pier Plaza Art A-Faire, held at the outdoor Pier Plaza

adjacent to the Huntington Beach Pier, features more than 50 vendors

selling unique, handmade gifts and crafts. The fair will be open from

10 a.m. to sunset and will run through Tuesday. Admission is free.

Information: (714) 536-2213 or (714) 846-5509.

Bring your teddy bear, wear your PJs and listen to stories with

Miss Mary-Pat at Special December Family Evening Storytime. The

activity will be held at Tabby Storytime Theater in Central Library,

7111 Talbert Ave., and will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Information: (714) 375-5107.

FRIDAY

Dwyer Middle School will host “The Nazarene, A Christmas Musical,”

written by Moses Toth, at 7 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20. The musical,

produced by Seaside Community Church, tells the story of Joseph and

Mary and the birth of Jesus. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for

children 12 and under. There will also be a 2 p.m. show on Dec. 20.

Information: (714) 949-654-4295.

SATURDAY

The film “Gremlins” will be screened at the Huntington Beach

Central Library Theater, at 7111 Talbert Ave. The movie starts at 10

p.m. Tickets are $5 each. Information: (714) 842-4481

SUNDAY

The Pier Plaza Art A-Faire, held at the outdoor Pier Plaza

adjacent to the Huntington Beach Pier, features more than 50 vendors

selling unique, handmade gifts and crafts. The fair will be open from

10 a.m. to sunset and will run through Tuesday. Admission is free.

Information: (714) 536-2213 or (714) 846-5509.

DEC. 27

The Pier Plaza Art A-Faire , held at the outdoor Pier Plaza next

to the Huntington Beach Pier, will feature more than 50 vendors

selling unique, handmade gifts and crafts. The Art A-Faire will be

open from 10 a.m. to sunset, and will continue through Dec. 28.

Admission is free. Information: (714) 536-2213 or (714) 846-5509.

DEC. 31

The Huntington Beach Council on Aging will host its annual New

Year’s Eve Ballroom Dance at the Michael E. Rodgers Seniors’ Center

from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The evening will include live big band

music from the Jerry Holton Trio, a buffet dinner, beverages, dessert

and the “Grand Countdown Toast.” Tickets are available for $25. The

center is at 1706 Orange Ave. Information: (714) 536-9387.

Club 2004 will present The Boogie Knights, a gala party and dinner

with party hats, favors, dancing, a spectacular Balloon Drop at

midnight, two drink tickets per person and live music from the band

Boogie Knights. Dinner includes carving and pasta stations, grilled

seafood, creative salads and an extravagant dessert buffet. The party

will take place at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa,

21500 Pacific Coast Highway. The dinner and party go from 8 p.m. to 1

a.m. The party only is from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Advance party and dinner

tickets are $150 per person and the door price is $175. Party only: $99 per person, $125 at the door. Information: (714) 845-4638.

The New Year’s Eve Ballroom Dance will feature a buffet dinner,

countdown toast, raffle prizes and dancing to the music of the Jerry

Holton Trio. The dancing takes place at the Rodgers Seniors’ Center,

1706 Orange Ave. The event begins at 8:30 p.m. and closes at 1 a.m.

Admission is $5. Information: (714) 536-9387.

The New Year’s Eve Dinner Celebration with a four-course meal

served in the Palm Court Restaurant will feature music, champagne and

the best dining on the coast. Courses include Lobster Corn Chowder,

Goat Cheese Salad, choice of Pan-Seared Halibut, Basil-Roasted Beef

Sirloin or Roasted Chicken Breast, plus a Chocolate Celebration. The

celebration will be held at the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, 21100

Pacific Coast Highway. Guests will be seated at 7 p.m. The cost is

$65 plus tax and gratuities. Reservations are recommended.

Information: (714) 960-7873, ext. 2211.

New Year’s Eve Bash with Rod & C. Funk features a free champagne

toast and party favors at midnight. The bash will be at Hurricane’s

Bar and Grill, 200 Main St., and will start at 8 p.m. The cost is $15

per person and is for those 21 and over only. Information: (714)

374-0500.

ONGOING

CHILDREN/LIBRARY

The Main Street Library Branch will accept book donations for the

Friends of Library book sales during normal library hours, 10 a.m. to

7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, at 525

Main St. (714) 375-5071.

Huntington Beach Central Library will host Books Art Storytime

every Saturday from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Children 5 through 9 are invited

to enjoy stories and related crafts at the library, at 7111 Talbert

Ave. Information: (714) 375-5107.

Saturday Sunrise Car

Cruisers, billed as the best free car show in the world, is a

15-year tradition that brings classic and hot rod car collectors,

known as the Donut Derelicts, to the parking lot near 9025 Adams

Ave., every Saturday from 6 to 9 a.m. Admission is free. Information:

Rodding Around at (714) 963-2928. https://www. river-road.net/oldcars.

The Huntington Beach Library’s popular Sandcastle story time

series is shown at 10:30 a.m. Saturdays on Time Warner Cable Channel

6. (714) 375-5107.

The Huntington Beach Children’s Library presents Folktale Story

Time, for kindergartners through fourth-graders, starting at 3 p.m.

Thursdays at 7111 Talbert Ave. Information: (714) 375-5107.

Enjoy stories, activities

and fun at a story time held from 11 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the

children’s section of Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 7777 Edinger Ave.

Pajamarama is held from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays and at 11 a.m.

Saturdays. (714) 897-8781.

The Huntington Beach

Library presents Laptime Storytime at 10 and 11 a.m. Tuesdays and

at 10 a.m. Saturdays at 7111 Talbert Ave. for children 18 months to 3

years old. The library’s Preschool Storytime for children 3 to 5 are

held at 10 and 11 a.m. Fridays. (714) 842-4481.

The Main Street Library presents a story time at 3 p.m. Fridays at

525 Main St. The library’s Preschool Storytime will be 10 and 11 a.m.

Wednesdays. (714) 375-5071.

The Tumble-N-Kids program

is offering gymnastics classes for children ages 10 months to 12

years old. Classes run for eight weeks. Three new classes have been

added: Teeny Tumblers, Tumble-N-Yoga and Kiddycise. Classes are held

at Murdy Community Center, 7000 Norma Drive, (714) 960-8895; Edison

Center, 21377 Magnolia St., (714) 960-8870; and City Gym and Pool,

1600 Palm Ave., (714) 960-8884. Class descriptions can be found in

the winter Sands publication. Information: Dayle Lusk, (714)

842-3586.

DANCE

Pacific Dance Center, 9596 Hamilton Ave., holds swing dance

classes at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 7 p.m. Saturdays. (714) 964-3354

or sign up at dance.netfirms.com.

FARMERS MARKETS/SWAP MEETS

The Craft Fair and Farmers Market are held from 1 p.m. to dusk

Fridays at Pier Plaza. Information: Craft Fair (714) 846-5509 and Farmers Market (714) 573-0374.

FITNESS

The Vibe Tribe offers free yoga sessions to new students at 12:15

p.m. Wednesdays, 6:45 p.m. Thursdays, and 5:15 p.m. Fridays at 301

Main St., Suite 109. Information: (714) 536-4988.

The Sierra Club’s Orange County Sierra Singles holds a

moderate-paced four-mile walk around Mile Square Park at 6 p.m. on

Wednesdays. The group meets in the parking lot at Brookhurst Street

and Heil Avenue behind the basketball courts. Information: (714)

963-6345.

The Comprehensive Martial Arts and Wellness Center offers free

introductory tai chi chuan classes at 9 a.m. Saturdays at 17308 Beach

Blvd. (714) 841-7129.

HOBBIES/RECREATION

Huntington Beach Disc

Golf Tournaments are held the first Saturday of each month in

beautiful Central Park. Enjoy one of the nation’s first 18-hole

(basket) disc courses for two-round tournaments held the at

Goldenwest Street entrance of the park across the street from the

Huntington Beach Public Library and Cultural Center. Information:

(714) 425-9931.

Surf Academy has designed boys only “Kanaka” and girls only

“Wahine” camps and welcomes all children ages 7 to 17. The camp takes

place north of the Huntington Beach Pier, between Lifeguard towers 8

and 10, and run through the end of August. For more information and

to register, log on to www.surfacademy.com or call 714-960-8884.