More holiday fun in store for Poway, Rancho Bernardo and 4S Ranch

The holidays have officially started in Poway, Rancho Bernardo and 4S Ranch. Here are some of your options.

If you are offering an event open to the community, email the details by 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 15 to ehimchak@pomeradonews.com.

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• The 4S Ranch Library is providing a holiday card, letter writing and gift wrap station during its operating hours through Wednesday, Dec. 24. (The library is closed on Sundays.)

There are cards, seasonal paper and writing templates to get people’s creativity flowing. There are also wrapping paper and bows for wrapping gifts. The library is at 10433 Reserve Drive. For details, call 858-673-4697.

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• A free holiday card making event will be held at the 4S Ranch Library, 10433 Reserve Drive, near its fireplace. Sessions will be offered from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15 and 22. Each session will feature a different design with all materials provided. For details, call 858-673-4697.

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• Bernardo Winery will hold its annual “Holiday Nights” festivities from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 11 to 14 and Dec. 17 to 21. There will be carolers, Miceli’s Polar Express train exhibit, food and beverages. There will be vendors selling a wide assortment of items and the winery’s village shops will also be open. Santa will not be at this event.

The winery is at 13330 Paseo del Verano Norte in Rancho Bernardo. All ages welcome. No pets allowed. No outside food or beverages. Carpooling is recommended. Bring cash as some vendors do not accept credit cards. Parking is free. For details, visit bernardowinery.com.

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• An admission-free “Maker’s Market” will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 at San Diego Oasis, 17170 Bernardo Center Dr. in Rancho Bernardo.

There will be food, drinks, live music and fun activities. Support local artists and small businesses while finding unique, handcrafted treasures at a curated collection of artisan booths. For details, call 858-240-2880.

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• Poway’s annual “Christmas in the Park” will be held from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 13 in Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Road.

There will be caroling, live music, visits with Santa, free children’s crafts, model train displays and more. Purchase holiday treats, finish your Christmas shopping at the craft boutique or board the Poway Midland Railroad for a night-time ride around the park.

The tree lighting ceremony will only be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12. To visit Santa, there will be a ticketing system with a ticket booth outside of Templars Hall in the Carriage Turn beginning at 3:30 p.m. when people will receive a designated return time to visit Santa. Tickets are $5.

Free shuttles to and from the event will be at Poway City Hall, 13325 Civic Center Drive, and the Poway Adult School, 13626 Twin Peaks Road. Shuttles will run throughout the event.

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• Take a free “Walk Through Bethlehem” where attendees will learn the true meaning of Christmas. There will be four sessions from  6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12; Saturday, Dec. 13, Sunday, Dec. 14 and Monday, Dec. 15 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 15750 Bernardo Heights Parkway in Rancho Bernardo.

The event will be held both indoors and outdoors, so dress accordingly. There will be hundreds of creches (nativity displays) from around the world, a live nativity with live animals and refreshments. The walk takes about 20-30 minutes. On-site and overflow parking is available. RSVP at tinyurl.com/Bethlehem-RB25.

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• The 36th annual Carols by Candlelight fundraiser for Rady Children’s Hospital will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 13 in the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road.

The headliners will be country singers Mark Wills, Andy Griggs, Anna Vaus and Poway Mayor Steve Vaus.

Tickets are $39-$99. Buy at CarolsByCandlelight.com.

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• Bernardo Winery will hold its annual “Breakfast with Santa” from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 13, 14 and 17-21. Youngsters can meet with Santa and have close-up animal encounters. In addition to breakfast, there will be face painting, balloon sculptures, cookies and ornament making.

Tickets are $80 for adults, $45 for children ages 2-12 and free for under age 2. Prices are all inclusive. Seating is limited. Tickets must be purchased in advance at bernardowinery.com. The winery is at 13330 Paseo del Verano Norte in Rancho Bernardo.

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• The annual “Holiday Carnival with Santa” hosted by the Rancho Bernardo Community Council will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 at Lifebridge Church, 17645 W. Bernardo Drive in Rancho Bernardo.

The free event will include visits with Santa, hot cocoa and cookies, face painting, balloon artists, a bounce house and inflatable slides, reindeer scavenger hunts, crafts, carnival games, a live nativity scene, live entertainment, vendors and a food truck.

In the spirit of giving, attendees are asked to consider donating canned or boxed foods for distribution, or new or gently-used pajamas for Leez PJ’s for Kids.

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• The Tremble Clefs, a Parkinson’s voice therapy and singing group, is hosting a free holiday party from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 in the San Rafael Catholic Church Parish Hall, 17252 Bernardo Center Drive in Rancho Bernardo. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.

The party will feature complimentary desserts from around the world, live and silent auctions, a talent show, raffles and a holiday sing-a-long.

Attendance is free, but attendees must register in advance at bit.ly/TCHoliday25. For details, call 760-420-0121.

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• The Poway Library will offer free gingerbread house decorating in three sessions: 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13; Sunday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 21. Participants will decorate a premade gingerbread house.

This activity is only open to families with children 17 years and younger. They are limited to one sign-up per family and only for one session. Sign-up is required at tinyurl.com/PowayGingerbread. The Poway Library is at 13137 Poway Road. For details, call 858-513-2900.

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• The San Diego Chorus will present “Glow Up: A Seasonal Celebration of Song” on Saturday, Dec. 13 in San Diego Oasis, 17170 Bernardo Center Drive in Rancho Bernardo. Doors open at 6 p.m. for a silent auction and homemade treats. The concert starts at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $31.75 for general admission and $47 for table seating (includes refreshments at the table). Buy at tinyurl.com/SDC-GlowUp25. Attendees are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy for children and teens in San Diego County.

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• Prodigy Dance Company will present its holiday showcase at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 in the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road. Tickets are $30-$40. Buy at powaycenter.com.

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• Chabad of Poway will offer a “Chanukah Train and Community Celebration” at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 in Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Road. Admission is free.

There will be train rides, latkes, doughnuts, a giant menorah lighting, gelt, dreidels, craft activities and festive music. RSVP at chabadpoway.com/train. For details, call 858-451-0455.

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• The jazz ensembles from Poway High and Twin Peaks Middle School will present their holiday jazz concert at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15 in the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road. Tickets will be sold at the door. For prices and details, email mcook@powayusd.com.

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• The orchestras from Poway High, Twin Peaks Middle School and Meadowbrook Middle School will present their combined holiday concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16 in the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road. Tickets will be sold at the door. For prices and details, email mcook@powayusd.com.

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• Aaron Ford of Poway will host its annual Toys for Tots Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 at the dealership, 12740 Poway Road. Needed are new, unwrapped gifts for children and teens.

There will be a special appearance by Santa, promotional vendors, giveaways, bounce houses, free food and a car show. The show is open to all makes and models of vehicles, including classic cars, trucks and off-road vehicles. It is free to enter a vehicle in the show, with load-in from 8 to 8:45 a.m. For details, call 858-748-1400.

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• The San Diego Music Academy will perform festive holiday music featuring its Chamber Music and Children’s Choir at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 in the Poway Library, 13137 Poway Road. For details, call 858-513-2900.

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• Southern California Ballet will present “The Nutcracker” in three shows at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road. The shows will be at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21.

There will be more than 100 local dancers along with professional guest artists from around the world. Tickets are $30-$70. Buy at powaycenter.com.

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• Celebrate the New Year early during a free “Noon Year’s Eve” event featuring a Ralph’s World concert at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31 in the Poway Library, 13137 Poway Road. For details, call 858-513-2900.