Holiday Open House, Boat Parades, 12 Bars Of Christmas & The Manhattan Beach Fireworks
There’s a number of fun events from strolling through the shops of downtown Manhattan Beach searching for the ones serving adult beverages to a pub crawl of 12 bars in Hermosa Beach to the grand finale, the spectacular fireworks show over the Manhattan Beach Pier.
Here are the dates and deets of the top social and party events in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach.
• Downtown Manhattan Beach Holiday Stroll
Thursday, Nov 14 5-9 p.m.
A festive walk through the streets and shops of downtown Manhattan Beach. There are carolers singing in the street, actual reindeer in a petting “zoo” (and, at least one one occasion, in a high-end shop) and shops having sales. About half of them are serving wine or some other type of libation and a couple of places even bring in DJs.
This takes place on and around the corner of Manhattan Ave., and Manhattan Beach Blvd., just up from the pier. It starts with the lighting of the pier at 6 p.m.
It is also good to know that November is Navy Grog month at Rock ‘n Fish, which means those potent drinks are half priced ($7) all month. As a result, the bar at this restaurant just up from the pier is packed all night. After the stroll ends, many of the singles then head to one of the two dive bars in the area, Ercoles and Shellback Tavern.
Link: Holiday Open House Event Review
• Redondo Beach Riviera Village Holiday Stroll
Thursday, Nov 29 2-7:30 p.m.
Similar to what the Manhattan stroll, this is a walk through the shops of Riviera Village in Redondo Beach. Santa rides a “sleigh” here as part of a parade that starts at 6, and there’s more families and kids the stroll in Manhattan. Still, singles are poking around the shops for places serving alcohol. A good place to start is Zazous, which has the best sangria in the South Bay (Happy Hour till 7) and then go to Friends of the Vine.
• Hermosa Beach Holiday Tree Extravaganza
Sunday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
The highlight here is music on Pier Plaza. The lighting of a Christmas – or “holiday” – tree at the pier is at 6. To drink and party, you need to be in a bar.
• 12 Bars Of Christmas
Friday, Dec. 7
This is the 21st annual pub crawl through the bars on and around the Hermosa Beach Pier. Click the link below for full details.
Link: 12 Bars Of Christmas
• King Harbor Boat Parade
Saturday, Dec. 8, 5-8:30 p.m.
Put on by King Harbor Yacht Club, this involves about 30 boats going back and forth in the small channel parallel to the jetty in King Harbor Marina. While it pales in comparison to other boat parades around the country and even in Southern California – the Newport Boat Parade is the world’s largest – this is a good excuse to get out by the water before going to the bars and having drinks.
The best viewing locations are along the seawall between the Portofino and Joe’s Crab Shack in King Harbor, or on the pier next to Kincaid’s (which has Happy Hour until 6 and then again at 9).
Link: King Harbor Boat Parade Review
• Manhattan Beach Fireworks
Sunday, Dec. 9, 6-9 p.m.
This is biggest and best event of them all, a spectacular event that brings in thousands to the Manhattan Beach Pier. People sit on the sloped Manhattan Beach Blvd., on blankets and in beach chairs and line The Strand for blocks as a fantastic fireworks show takes place to music over the pier. There are house parties all up and down the beach and the bars – in particular Shellback Tavern – are packed.
As you might expect, this is an excellent event for singles.
Link: Manhattan Beach Holiday Fireworks Review
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