CHRISTMAS EVENTS

Venetian holiday cruise

While the Huntington Beach Philharmonic’s Cruise of Lights is fun and beautiful, it doesn’t lend itself to the personal romantic experience. For more of a date-like trip to see the twinkling lights of Huntington Harbour homes, try a Sunset Gondola Cruise.

The gondolas can take up to six people on a cruise through the sparkling waterways and channels of the harbor.Sunset Gondola is at 16370 Pacific Coast Hwy. Tickets range from $77 for a trip for two to $133 for a six-person excursion.

For more information, call (562) 592-3295 or visit www.sunsetgondola.com.

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Playhouse Christmas show

The Huntington Beach Playhouse, 7111 Talbert Ave., will present “’Twas With a Twist,” a Christmas comedy musical.

The story follows a family who finds out that Santa Claus has been held up in Timbuktu. The family patriarch takes up the task of taking Santa’s place. The show also offers a traditional Christian telling of the birth of Jesus Christ.

The show is at 7 p.m. through Dec. 22 with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Tickets are $17 for general admission, $15 for seniors 60 and older and $7 for children under 12.

For more information, visit www.hbph.com or call (714) 375-0696.

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Children’s holiday music

Bella Terra will host two groups to perform holiday music in the Bella Terra Amphitheatre, 7777 Edinger Ave.

The Westminster High School Marching band will play instrumental seasonal tunes from 6 to 8 p.m., Dec. 20. The O.C. Children’s Song and Dance Group will add choreography to their musical selections from 6 to 8 p.m., Dec. 21 and 23.

At 7 p.m. there will also be a simulated snow shower in the amphitheater.

For more information, visit www.bellaterra-hb.com.

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Christmas services

?Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 9812 Hamilton Ave.: Japanese/English Christmas Eve service at 4 p.m. Family Candlelight service with the play “The Christmas Star” at 6 p.m. and another candlelight service at 8 p.m. (714) 962-5005.

?Seabreeze Church, 18162 Gothard St.: A children’s birthday party for Jesus, at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Christmas Eve Services at 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (714) 969-7622.

?Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church, 20444 Magnolia St.: Christmas Eve Services at 4, 6, 8, and 10 p.m. There will be a midnight Christmas Mass, as well as 9 and 11 a.m. Christmas Masses. (714) 962-3333.

?Saint Wilfrid Episcopal Church, 18631 Chapel Lane: Christmas Eve services are Perfectly Painless Pageant, Holy Eucharist and carols, 5 p.m. Holy Eucharist and Carols, 7 p.m. Choral Concert with organ and strings, 10:30 p.m. “Midnight Mass,” 11 p.m. Christmas day service at 10:30 a.m. (714) 962-7512.

?Beachcities Community Church, 9872 Hamilton Ave.: Christmas Eve Services at 5:30 and 7 p.m. (714) 698-0668.