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"An Irish Christmas 2025": A Holiday Celebration Across California The holiday season in California will sparkle this December when "An Irish Christmas" returns with a brand-new tour. Produced by Kerry Irish Productions, this award-winning show blends the traditions of Ireland with the magic of Christmas, offering audiences a heartwarming evening of music, dance, and storytelling. With tour stops from Visalia to San Diego, "An Irish Christmas 2025" invites families and friends to celebrate the season together in an unforgettable way. What is "An Irish Christmas"? "An Irish Christmas" is more than a holiday concert. It is a living celebration of Ireland’s heritage, where cultural traditions are brought to life on stage. The show combines: Irish dance: intricate footwork, hard-shoe rhythms, and breathtaking choreography performed by champion dancers. Live music: traditional instruments including fiddle, uilleann pipes, flute, and accordion, performed by world-class musicians. Storytelling: timeless tales of Irish holiday customs like butter churning, the Straw Boys, and the Day of the Wren. Song: hauntingly beautiful harmonies that capture the joy and spirit of the season. Critics have described the production as “genuinely astonishing… electric!” and “an overwhelming success filled with glorious music, dance, and plenty of Irish soul.” Families who attend often make it part of their annual holiday tradition, returning year after year. Why See "An Irish Christmas" in 2025? 1. A Cultural Experience for All Ages This production brings Ireland to California stages, making it an enriching family event. Parents, children, and grandparents can all share the experience. Audience reviews highlight its multi-generational appeal, calling it “a great family show that leaves everyone breathless.” 2. Perfect for Holiday Traditions Attending a live show during December is one of the best ways to create lasting holiday memories. "An Irish Christmas" offers the warmth of community, the joy of music, and the excitement of world-class dance all in one evening. 3. A Critically Acclaimed Show The show has been featured on PBS and has sold out performing arts centers across the United States. Theater directors consistently describe it as one of the most beloved events of their seasons. Kerry Irish Productions Inc. on Facebook / Instagram

Oh, do we have a package in store for you! “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” and Sherry Vine has a holiday show skewering and destroying your favorite carols and pop songs. Sherry draws on many stories and experiences to create a deliciously filthy and side-splitting hilarious show. Come get your stockings stuffed with naughty humor, gorgeous costumes and bawdy banter. Nothing is sacred! Join Sherry Vine at Diversionary for the Challah-days, all gelt free! Diversionary Theatre: Website / Facebook / Instagram

Join us for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve with international drag superstar Varla Jean Merman! The evening will begin on our mainstage with a performance of Varla Jean’s "The Drowsy Chappell Roan." After the performance, we will head downstairs for a New Year’s Eve party in our Clark Cabaret & Bar – complete with a DJ, light bites, surprise performances, and a champagne toast at midnight. Plus, Varla Jean Merman will be on hand to help us countdown to 2026! $150 – Premium: Includes Premium Seat for The Drowsy Chappell Roan (front rows or center aisle), a VIP Meet & Greet with Varla Jean Merman, Reserved Seating in the Clark Cabaret & Bar for the after party, two drink tickets, and midnight champagne toast. $125 – Regular: Includes Regular Seat for The Drowsy Chappell Roan, access to the Clark Cabaret & Bar for the after party, one drink ticket, and midnight champagne toast. $100 – Access: Includes Access Seat for The Drowsy Chappell Roan (far side aisles), access to the Clark Cabaret & Bar for the after party, and midnight champagne toast. Diversionary Theatre: Website / Facebook / Instagram

The nonprofit Photographer’s Eye Collective in Escondido will host an auction of fine art photographs donated by artists from around the country for its annual fundraiser. On-line bidding opens on Nov. 24 at 4 p.m., and a live auction featuring a gala reception will take place on Dec. 6 at 5 p.m., at The Photographer's Eye Gallery. Bidding will close on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. Twenty-seven images are up for auction, and they can be seen on The Photographer’s Eye website. Information on each work and artist is viewable by clicking on the thumbnail for each image. Artists who have donated works for the fundraiser include Pulitzer Prize winner Don Bartletti; New Mexico artists Susan Ressler and Karen Hymer; San Diego underwater photographers Marie Tartar and Steve Eilenberg, and many more whose works have appeared at the gallery. Also donating works are artists Amy Caterina, Jacqueline Ramirez, Jodie Hulden, Judith Preston, Louise Russell, Melinda Finn, Suda House, Diana Bloomfield, Mitch Eckert, Dave Marsh, Brandy J Sebastian, Marek Matusz, Will Gibson, Lisa Brussell, Sandra Klein, Jacqueline Ramirez, Tom Vancisin, Jerry Takigawa, Robin North, Robert Younger, Grant Brittain, and The Photographer’s Eye director, Donna Cosentino. The gala reception will feature wines from Escondido’s Orfila Winery and appetizers by Red Tail Catering. There is no charge to attend the event. Free parking is available in front of and behind the gallery. Proceeds from the auction will help support the nonprofit gallery’s mission to foster the education and appreciation of photography. The seven-year-old Photographer’s Eye Gallery is a 501(c)(3); donations are tax deductible. Photographer’s Eye Collective on Facebook / Instagram

Join Vistal at InterContinental San Diego for an elegant Thanksgiving buffet dinner overlooking the San Diego Bay, complete with live music and coastal views. Savor a menu of coastal-inspired cuisine and refined holiday classics, featuring fresh seafood, seasonal salads, and expertly carved turkey with traditional accompaniments. Guests can also enjoy a curated selection of chef-driven entrées, elevated sides, and indulgent desserts to complete the evening. Reservations are available via OpenTable from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., priced at $125 for adults, $75 for children ages 5-12, and complimentary for kids under 4. Tickets include complimentary 3-hour parking. Vistal Bar + Restaurant on Instagram

"Hauntings of the Holiday - Christmas Ghost Stories" is inspired by the Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories on Christmas eve. We invite you to step back in time at the beautifully decorated Villa Montezuma for an afternoon of chilling tales. Expected stories inhabited by spectral visions, spirits, shadows and Christmas visitations by writers beyond Mr. Dickens.

Need ideas for your holiday baking this year? Get inspired at this fun baking demo with Chef Tommy of Big City Chefs! Space is limited, registration is recommended. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits. About Chef Tommy: Food has been my passion for as long as I can remember! I spent a lot of my childhood helping my mom in the kitchen experimenting with flavors and learning the magic of cooking. By age sixteen, I was working as a busser soaking in the energy of a busy restaurant. Instead of following my culinary dreams, I took a detour and instead went to college to study accounting. I received a Bachelor of Science and cruised through a successful five-year sales career. Despite my successes, I always felt I was meant for something more and decided to pursue my true calling in the restaurant world. I kicked things off as a server in Charleston, SC before moving to San Diego, where I worked my way up to General Manager at Knotty Barrel. Along the way, I enrolled at the Institute of Culinary Education and gained experience working at Michelin-starred Gramercy Tavern in NYC, Trust and as Sous Chef at Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill & Oysters. By December 2024, I was ready to break free from the traditional kitchen grind and launched my own personal chef and catering company. Now, I’m thrilled to be working with Big City Chefs offering catering, cooking classes and more! Whether you’re looking for an unforgettable meal or a hands-on cooking experience, I’m here to take you on a culinary adventure! Coronado Public Library on Facebook / Instagram

Experience a journey of solo flute pieces spanning different cultures and times with musician Pam Vliek Martchev. She will be featuring the flute, alto flute, and piccolo, as well as composers like Marin-Marais, Bozza, Karg-Elert, and more. Pam Vliek Martchev served as principal flute with the Boulder Philharmonic in Colorado for 10 seasons, and has been a guest principal flutist of the San Diego Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Santa Barbara Symphony, Reno Chamber Orchestra, California Chamber Orchestra, and Long Beach Opera. She has been featured on many chamber music series such as La Jolla Summerfest, Art of Elan, Jacaranda, Chamber Music Unbound in Mammoth, Blanco Performing Arts in Texas, the Tannahill Arts Festival in Scotland, Le Salon de Musique, Bruman at UCLA, Dilijan, and LACMA Sundays Live. She is currently a member of the woodwind quintet Presidio Winds. You may have heard her on movie soundtracks, CD recordings, television specials, and in the San Diego pit for broadway shows such as King and I, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, and My Fair Lady. A native of Long Island, NY, she began attending the Manhattan School of Music pre-college program at age 12, and continued another four years for her Bachelor of Music - her primary teachers were Harold Jones and Linda Chesis. During her student years, she won prizes in many competitions, was a soloist with the Long Island and Massapequa Philharmonic, and was featured on WQXR’s Young Artist Showcase. She has been a guest teacher at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC); University of Oregon, Eugene; University of Nevada, Reno; and Manhattan School of Music. Her students have auditioned successfully for conservatory degrees across the country, top prizes in national competitions including the NFA High School Soloist, the National Youth Orchestra, and CA All-Southern and All-State ensembles. She is a Haynes Artist, and is the flute professor at San Diego State University, Pt. Loma Nazarene University, the University of San Diego, and San Diego Summer Music Institute (SDSMI) Coronado Public Library on Facebook / Instagram

The evolving situation around the government shutdown and SNAP benefits has left many community members reeling. We look at how the uncertainty has impacted seniors experiencing food insecurity in San Diego.

Zest up your gift list this holiday season and support Escondido’s small businesses. Shop, eat, and explore downtown Escondido (Grand Avenue) to discover special treats, sales, and discounts, while collecting stamps in the EDBA’s popular Bingo Game. Bingo cards, and a map of participating businesses, can be picked up at Heritage Garden at the corner of North Juniper Street and Grand Avenue between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. where a host of activities will take place. The Holiday Trolley is also back this year (noon to 5 p.m.) to get shoppers around! A Tree Lighting will take place at the end of the day (approximately 5:15 p.m.) in Maple Street Plaza. This season’s Shop Small campaign will run from Small Business Saturday through the end of the year; its theme celebrates Escondido’s rich agricultural roots and citrus heritage, so add a little zest to your holidays — shop, dine, and celebrate local. For more information, please visit www.downtownescondido.com/small-business-saturday Escondido Downtown Business Association on Facebook