Your favorite Holiday activities for past years, NOT this year ;)

[Kittyblue]

Our little local zoo always does an amazing holiday light walk through experience. It's my favorite thing to do here around Christmas time. There's hot cocoa, kettle corn, a train ride, and Santa!

 

[low-key]

We always have a few things, I believe they were cancelled

 

[disneychrista]

Not much going on in my area. Most things have been cancelled.

 

[HiStitch626]

In Santa Fe, there’s an old street in town that’s been there for hundreds of years, much of it is art galleries now but people still live there also. Every Christmas Eve locals and visitors walk up and down Canyon Road to admire the Farolitos, Luminarias, and twinkle lights. Often people are festively dressed, there’s lots of carol singing, and vendors sell hot cider and hot chocolate. I would guess that they won’t do it this year, but hopefully it will be back next year!

 

[Kittyblue]

We always have a few things, I believe they were cancelled

Not much going on in my area. Most things have been cancelled.

Sorry guys, I changed the thread title to be more clear. Otherwise every post would be like yours this year

 

[disneychrista]

My town does a truckers light parade. I used to tell my daughters' it was "our town's" version of the Main Street Electrical Parade.

 

[Yoshi]

Going to Hersheypark for Christmas Candylane. The whole park is decorated with lights, there are reindeer to see, shows and many rides open. There is also an hour long drive through near the park, Sweet Lights that is very well done. Both are open this year but I don't feel comfortable going (and it's not worth it to me with almost 2 hour drive just for Sweet Lights without the park) with cases setting new records in PA almost every day.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

That sounds like a lot of fun, Kittyblue! I know friends from church have gone to the Zoo lights at the LA Zoo. I've never done that but maybe post pandemic will check it out. I

For me, it'd be caroling, volunteering at Christmas tree lot at church. and Christmas Eve worship.

 

[Kittyblue]

That sounds like a lot of fun, Kittyblue! I know friends from church have gone to the Zoo lights at the LA Zoo. I've never done that but maybe post pandemic will check it out. I

For me, it'd be caroling, volunteering at Christmas tree lot at church. and Christmas Eve worship.

I've been to the one at the LA zoo one year and it was nice. Our local zoo is a much smaller native animal zoo.

 

[ronandannette]

For us it's Christmas parties - lots and lots of Christmas parties!! I have a couple of fancy work-related ones, there's a big dinner and program at church, my BFF hosts an epic huge open house and DH and I usually do a couple of smaller sit-down dinner parties at our house, including New Year's Eve.

Absolutely none of these things are happening this year. With the unpredictability of the restrictions both work and church have already announced there will be no events and as for personal stuff, I just don't have the heart to make plans that might have to be cancelled.

 

[AlohaNow]

Denver runs a great Christkindl Market downtown every year. A couple of the vendors are from overseas and come back year after year to sell their wares. It's really fun, and really yummy! (Can you say stollen?) Everyone is typically packed, and I mean packed, into the dining tent. There is live music and a dance floor and it's just a great time. This year they moved the market to a much larger park area and it will be capacity controlled, though reservations are not available, so we won't even try for a Friday or Saturday night. It will have a different vibe for sure, but at least we can get our annual mug. I'll miss making instant friends with whoever you happen to sit down next to in the tent!

 

[ronandannette]

I just had the most hilarious thought...maybe this year the only thing that will be left to us is the Festivus Airing of the Grievances. In 2020 that's going to be a loooooong list.

 

[ronandannette]

That sounds like a lot of fun, Kittyblue! I know friends from church have gone to the Zoo lights at the LA Zoo. I've never done that but maybe post pandemic will check it out. I

For me, it'd be caroling, volunteering at Christmas tree lot at church. and Christmas Eve worship.

Oh, I don't even want to think about whether or not we'll be able to have church on Christmas Eve. One thing's for sure though, even with none of the festive trappings, in our hearts, our joy will be full.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

The usual celebrations: in addition to church events, Candlelight Processional at Disneyland, Handel's Messiah at Disney Hall, maybe a few other holiday concerts at Disney Hall or other venues, "White Christmas" and "It's a Wonderful Life" on the big screen at a retro theater, as many nights at Disneyland as we can fit on the schedule (hot chocolate on Main Street watching the holiday fireworks and the "snow" afterward) -- so many things that we'll miss very much this year. And we were going to try to add one or two light festivals at local botanical gardens, too. Oh well, next year's schedule will just be extra busy!
And @ronandannette is absolutely right, an empty calendar doesn't diminish our joy in any way. If this year's empty calendar makes our hearts more full of love and gratitude, it will be one of the best holidays ever.

 

[chickapin parterre]

I just had the most hilarious thought...maybe this year the only thing that will be left to us is the Festivus Airing of the Grievances. In 2020 that's going to be a loooooong list.

BEST POST OF THE WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this was the best I could find to celebrate the climax of Festivus

 

[chickapin parterre]

Well...we are lucky here on the Mexico border.....the events are going on....but it is all drive thru or tailgate....which is 2020 short...stay in your car, distance parking, pull out lawn chairs and hope that the car next door didn't bring their dog

 

[Kitty 34]

Playing lots of games with family members, laughing and having a great time. Really going to miss that.

 

[elphaba91]

Carols by Candlelight - It is a wonderful televised concert held every year here in Melbourne. It usually has about 25,000 attendees with millions more watching at home. It is held at an outdoor bandshell theatre; most people sit on picnic rugs and beach chairs on the lawn, but there is some reserved seating up the front. As it gets dark everyone lights candles and waves them around and it is just the most beautiful sight. We have gone for 7 years now, 5 sitting in the seats (I said I was going to splurge one time!).

Sadly they have made the decision to not have any audience this year. It is pretty tough as our numbers are so good and 36 hours later there will be at least 25,000 people at the cricket and the same venue will also be hosting concerts the following month.

 

[travelmomof3]

Going to see A Christmas Carol live at the theatre

 

[MIGrandma]

As our big family Christmas is always a week or two before the actual day, DH and I usually head up north (across the Mackinaw Bridge) for a couple nights in a hotel, and have Christmas Day dinner at the casino in Sault Ste. Marie. It’s always our gift to each other, a little getaway and time with each other.

This year is a bit different. No big family gathering, and DH and I have a hotel reservation in St. Ignace for the 28th and 29th of December. Then on the 30th we go to a condo on Mackinac Island for a month. REALLY looking forward to time on the island during the winter. It’s a bucket list thing for me.