Professional Holiday Light Displays in Long Beach, California

The International City, as Long Beach, California, is lovingly called, is home to a plethora of beautiful professional holiday light displays that are sure to take your breath away.

Start out your holiday season by visiting the Rancho Los Cerritos at 4600 Virginia Road, Long Beach 90807. A historic site that has been turned into a public museum, it showcases the Spanish influence on the formation of the United States in general and Long Beach in particular. On Friday, December 7^th and Saturday December 8^th, 2007 interested visitors are invited to step back in time and marvel at a traditional holiday display as it would have been created in 1878 at a typical cattle ranch. Offering candlelight tours departing every 15 minutes beginning at 6:30 PM and ending at 8:30 PM, you experience Christmas on the frontier. Docents in period costumes guide you through the festively lit and decorated adobe home where handmade crafts, traditional greenery, and period specific holiday displays come to life. $10 admits everyone; $8 is the cost of admission for students and members of the historic home, while children under the age of 3 are welcomed for free.

A very special tree lighting ceremony will take place at Heartwell Park which is located between Clark Avenue and Bellflower Boulevard. This event takes place on December 8^th and begins at 4:30 PM. What makes the occasion so special is the fact that the Christmas tree itself, and several smaller versions, are located on several islands in the pond of the park and thus make for a spectacular display after dark. Visitors are encouraged to stick around and enjoy a free movie at the park - "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is on the schedule - and the kids will be glad to know that Santa Claus has announced his intention to appear as well. As an incentive to be early, the first 400 visitors will receive free popcorn and also cookies!