Kid Time | SoCal Savvy Mom

Dec 4
2014

December Nights at Balboa Park

December Nights at Balboa Park is a fun family event and it is free for the whole family to enjoy. There will be dancers, carolers, and other live entertainment throughout the event. Friday December 5th the event will run from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. and on Saturday December 6th from noon to 11 p.m.

A wonderful part of the December Nights is participating Balboa Park museums open their doors free of charge from 5-9 pm both evenings! Yes, the museums will be open for free for all to enter and explore on both nights. Some of the museums included are the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego Air & Space Museum, San Diego Automotive Museum, San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum, San Diego History Center, San Diego Museum of Man, The San Diego Museum of Art, theNAT: San Diego Natural History Museum, and more. This year more than 350,000 visitors are expected to experience the joy of San Diego’s largest free community festival. Those who attend will participate in a truly multicultural experience, enjoying food, music and entertainment from around the world.

Revelers can watch top-notch musical and dance performances, enjoy delicious and diverse food choices and help spread a heavy dose of holiday cheer. Some of the more well-known traditions include food from around the globe at the International Christmas Festival at the House of Pacific Relations Cottages; the annual Santa Lucia Procession at the Plaza de California; unique gift shopping at the museum stores and with the artisans of Spanish Village; and musical and dance presentations from the San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, Del Cerro Baptist’s Christmas Story Tree, and more.

Getting there:

With more than 350,000 people attending December Nights and extremely limited parking at Balboa Park, it is encouraged to use the FREE off-site shuttles or take public transportation. Avoid the 163 southbound during the hours of 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., as this highway will be very congested. Use alternate routes to get to the Park and the shuttle stops. FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE – The December Nights Shuttles at PETCO Park and City College run on Friday from 3:00-midnight and on Saturday from 11:30 until midnight in all locations. The last shuttle leaves all sites at 8:00 pm so plan to arrive at shuttle location BEFORE 7pm! The last shuttle from the park is at 11:45pm.

PETCO Park Shuttle at Park Blvd. and Imperial Ave: There are more than 2,000 parking spaces in this area. Parking is $5 per vehicle. Shuttle takes less than 10 minutes and drops off at 6th & Laurel Streets. To get to PETCO use I-5 and exit at Imperial Ave.
City College Lots between 16th and “B and C” Streets: Parking is free and there are more than 1,000 parking spaces. This year a SECOND lot has been added. Shuttle drops off at 6th & Laurel Streets. The Park is approximately 1/4 mile from City College, so walking is an option. To get to the City College lots use I-5 and exit at “B” Street.

Dec 2
2014

California Booster & Carseat Safety Info

by Nicole Connerley

This weekend my co blogger Robyn and I were talking about booster seats. How long do children have to be in a booster sea? Is it until they are 8 years old? Is it after they weigh 85 pounds or a specific height? So we looked it up and were amazed at what we didn’t know! First did you know children under 8 HAVE TO BE IN A BOOSTER SEAT? Say what? My son is probably the smallest in his class weight and height so he is still in a booster seat at 8, and probably will be until 5th grade at this point. I’m only 5’2 so the chances of my child reaching 4’9 anytime soon are not very likely. Below are the most important information from the California Department of public health.

Booster Seats

Children under 8 years old must be in a booster seat in the back seat.
Children 8 years and older, who are 4’9 or taller may use vehicle seat belt only if it fits properly with the lap low on the hips, touching the upper thighs, and the shoulder belt crossing the center of the chest.
If children are not tall enough for proper belt fit, they must ride in a booster or car seat.

Car Seats

Children are required to be in a rear facing car seat until age one, it is recommended that children remain rear facing until age two.
Rear facing is the safest way to ride for children until age two.
Keep children with front-facing car seat with harness until they reach the height or weight limit.
Chest clip in harness car seat should be at armpit level.
Car seats should not move more than an inch from side to side.

Important Facts to Remember

Children are safest in the back seat until age 13.
Never put shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back.
It is against the law to leave a child under the age of seven in a car, without supervision of someone 12 years or older if: keys are in the ignition, the car is running or the child is at risk.
Look before you lock always look to see there is not a child in the backseat before you lock the doors.
Children are most at risk of backovers and frontovers when vehicles are backing out of driveways, know the blind spots of your vehicle.

Everyone in the car must be properly buckled up. For every child under 16 in the car who is not properly secured there is a $475 fine AND a point on your driving record.

Dec 1
2014

Encinitas Holiday Parade is coming!

by Nicole Connerley

The Encinitas Holiday Parade is one of our families favorite holiday tradition! If you have attended the parade in the past then I don’t need to tell you about the tens of thousands of people who come out every year for this special celebration. There will be floats and bands galore at the 2014 Encinitas Holiday Parade. The parade rolls along Coast Highway 101 on Saturday, December 6th.

This year’s theme is “Droppin’ In for the Holidays,” celebrating Encinitas’ reputation as THE mecca for Action Sports. I can say this from personal experience as my husband works in the action sports industry and their office is in Encinitas. Expect to see plenty of big name surfers, skateboarders, snowboarders and more and terrific representations of the action sports lifestyle on the many floats and entries in the parade.

2014 Parade Grand Marshals John and Pete Najjar, owners of Cardiff Seaside Market, will lead almost 100 parade entries along the Parade route. The City honors the Najjars for their long-time service to our community.

The parade begins at 5:30 PM. It is preceded by a 5:00 PM tree lighting ceremony a the Lumberyard (near Starbucks coffee).

Parade entries, which will include floats, marching bands and children’s groups among other things, will travel south along South Coast Highway 101 beginning at the corner of “D” Street and finishing at “J” Street.

Join us and cheer as the nearly 100 parade floats and entries make their way down the Parade route on Historic Coast Highway 101.

Nov 30
2014

Holiday at the Rancho – Carlsbad 12/6/14

by Nicole Connerley

Christmas is just around the corner and Leo Carrillo Rancho wants to celebrate with you! It turns into a winter wonderland enhanced with lights and holiday décor and a snow hill during Holiday at the Rancho. Have fun with kids decorating holiday cookies, creating crafts, enjoy holiday entertainment and pony rides. The kids won’t want to miss the face painting or an outdoor movie. The most important of the night is a visit from Santa!

Admission is $8 per person at the door; children 3 years old and younger are FREE. Save $2 by purchasing your admission by 4 p.m., Fri., Dec. 5. Food, beverages, merchandise, and pony rides will be available for an additional cost.

Once you purchase tickets online, your name will be on the pre-sale list at the event. The event date is Saturday, December 6th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Parking is available at Carrillo Elementary School with entry to the ranch through the school campus. You will see signs directing you through the school.

Please be advised activities may be modified or cancelled due to inclement weather. This event is put on by the city of Carlsbad, for more information visit their website here.

Nov 20
2014

Encinitas Fall Festival Street Fair

by Nicole Connerley

The Encinitas Fall Festival has fun for the whole family, and you will not want to miss it! With 450+ booths to visit, plus dozens of unique downtown Encinitas retailers, here’s a perfect opportunity to get a head start on your holiday shopping.

Enjoy music in The Lumberyard Courtyard and dance, music and demonstrations at the Community Stage next to Ace Hardware. The Kids Zone offers fun and activities for the young ones. The VCA North Coast Animal Hospital Dog Zone gives your dog a break from walking and shopping. Electra Bicycle is sponsoring Bike Valets at D and J Streets.

The street fair will be held on Sunday, November 23, 2014 from 9 am – 4 pm.

Of course, you will have many choices for food and drink from food vendors and all of the downtown restaurants.

For information on Parking and Transit at the Fall Festival click here.

2014 Fall Festival Entertainment – Semisi & FulaBula 11:00 am-1:00 pm & Bayou Brothers 1:30 pm-3:30 pm

2014 Fall Festival Dog Zone – Sponsored by VCA Animal Hospital, the Dog Zone features an artificial turf dog park, an agility course and a variety of pet-centric exhibitors. It will be located in The Lumberyard parking lot at I Street.

2014 Fall Festival Kids Zone – The Kids Zone will have an obstacle course, a bounce house and many other kids’ activities and attractions. It will be situated in The Lumberyard’s H Street parking lot and will be open throughout the festival.

Nov 17
2014

12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Oceanside

by Nicole Connerley

We are so excited to share with you the “12 Days of Christmas” including giveaways and rewards for “buying local” with the California Welcome Center of Oceanside! Whether you are visiting Oceanside or live here stop by the welcome center (located at 928 N Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054) anytime between now and December 18th to enter to win.

oceanside sunset While at the welcome center check out the local gift section, there are tons of cute and unique gifts from local merchants, also all purchases will receive a 12% discount! The items included are a limited edition custom T-shirt by Surf Ride that features the Oceanside Pier and celebrates Surf Ride’s 40^thanniversary, beach-inspired, custom jewelry by Oh Yeah and Coola’s Hang Ten brand of natural sunscreen. Don’t miss Surf Ride’s annual black friday sale for HUGE savings on all the surf brands you love!

I have lived in Oceanside for ten years and this week was my very first time visiting the California Welcome Center Oceanside. I am happy I took the time to stop by to see all they have to offer. Tons and tons of local attraction information, maps, guides, visitor to do list and so much more! The welcome center is also a convenient spot to purchase discount tickets, coupons and maps to area attractions. The Oceanside Welcome Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the help of the wonderful volunteers.

Don’t forget to enter to win one of 12 gift certificates for your favorite local restaurants and attractions while at the Oceanside Welcome Center!

Upcoming Holiday Events in Oceanside

Thursday, December 4 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Oceanside will kick off the holiday season with a grand Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at Regal Center Plaza at 401 Mission Ave. in downtown Oceanside. This family-friendly event will be filled with activities for the whole family. Children can visit with Santa Claus, create a craft, enjoy the zip-line, tree climb, bounce houses, and games or take a ride to the pier in the horse-drawn carriage. After the tree lighting ceremony, visitors can head over to the Sunset Market for all their holiday gift needs, plus music, and a children’s activity area.

Friday, December 5 from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. 4^th Annual Christmas Concert at Mission San Luis Rey – The historic church at Mission San Luis Rey is a majestic, spiritual setting for listening to traditional Christmas carols. Holiday carols are performed by Premier Brass and singers from the San Diego Opera Chorus. The concert will be followed by a delicious dessert reception in the Sacred Garden surrounded by thousands of holiday lights. Tickets range in price from $40 to $60 per person and proceeds benefit preservation and maintenance of the church. Register online by clicking here or call (760)757-3651, ext. 161. The mission is located at 4050 Mission Ave., Oceanside

Saturday, December 6 from 10:00 a.m. & 12:00 p.m. Coaster Holiday Express – Families can take a ride on a magical holiday train with Santa, Mrs. Claus and friends on Saturday, December 6. North County Transit District’s Coaster Holiday Express is a specially decorated train ride that features photo opportunities with Santa and classic carol singing for children of all ages. Each 65-minute Holiday COASTER Express ride travels non-stop and roundtrip from Oceanside to Solana Beach. The ride is recommended for families with children between the ages of 3 and 10.

Last year we had so much fun taking our son on the Coaster Holiday Express! It is only $8 per person this year with departure times of 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. from the Oceanside transit center. Please note tickets are not available day of and it will SELL OUT AND FAST! Tickets may be purchased beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 12th in person at a transit center or online here.

Saturday, December 13th from 7:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Parade of Lights at Oceanside Harbor is a fun tradition that residents and visitors look forward to all year. On Saturday, December 13 from 7-9 p.m., fishing boats, sail boats, yachts, kayaks and dinghies will dress up in holiday swag and circle the Oceanside Harbor to enchant onlookers. Many of the boats feature people dressed up like Santa waving to the crowd.

Each Thursday in December from 5-9 p.m., Oceanside’s weekly Sunset Market is transformed into a Holiday Gift Market with hundreds of unusual and exotic gift ideas from around the world. The Certified Farmers Market section features farm fresh produce and floral items plus a myriad of gourmet food items to take home for holiday parties. Strolling carolers add to the merriment. Kids are delighted by pony rides, face painters and a jump house. Sunset Market is located in downtown Oceanside at Pier View Way. Markets will be closed on Thaksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. For information, contact MainStreet Oceanside at (760) 754-4512 or click here.