HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS.

Byline: - Nicole Sunkes

AMUSEMENT PARKS 

Aquarium of the Pacific offers Shark Lagoon Night and Gift Store Open for Last-Minute Holiday Shoppers, 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 24 (free after 6 p.m.) at the aquarium, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. [phone]. www.aquariumofpacific.org.

Universal Studios illuminates the holiday season with ``A Universal Christmas,'' with nightly tree-lighting ceremonies featuring characters such as Shrek and SpongeBob SquarePants, through Jan. 2. Universal CityWalk presents its annual outdoor ice-skating rink, open through Jan. 2. [phone]. www.universalstudioshollywood.com.

LIGHTS AND PARADES

Griffith Park Holiday Light Festival, 5 to 10 p.m. nightly through Dec. 30 (free). Crystal Springs Drive in the southwest portion of Griffith Park. [phone]. www.laparks.org.

EVENTS, ACTIVITIES, EXHIBITS

Downtown on Ice, outdoor ice-skating rink. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, through Jan. 17 ($6 for a one-hour session; $2 for skate rental). In addition to ice skating, there will be a free concert series and other special events, including a winter holiday festival and live preview performance of ``Disney on Ice.'' Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., Los Angeles. [phone] or [phone]. www.laparks.org.

Free Holiday Activities at The Grove, including Santa's Cottage daily and Christmas carolers performing every weekend during normal business hours, through Jan. 1 at The Grove, 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles. [phone]. www.thegrovela.com.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library presents Christmas Around the World, with 30 trees decorated to represent cultures and traditions from countries that President Reagan visited while in office, through Jan. 2 ($2 to $7) at 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. [phone]. www.reaganlibrary.net.

12 Dames of Christmas, a holiday exhibit consisting of Christmas trees paying homage to screen legends such as Judy Garland, Katharine Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe, through Jan. 2 ($12 to $15). Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. The Hollywood Museum, in the Max Factor Building, 1660 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood. [phone]. www.thehollywoodmuseum.com.

Los Angeles Zoo offers Reindeer Romp, with reindeer living in Santa's toy workshop, musical entertainment and Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa crafts. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Jan. 2 (free with paid zoo admission of $5 to $10) at the zoo, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles. [phone]. www.lazoo.org.

Travel Town Museum offers a train ride to visit Santa Claus and his house. Trains run 5 to 8 p.m., through Dec. 23 ($6) at 5200 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles. [phone] or [phone].

PERFORMANCES

Towne Street Theatre Christmas Show, a fun-filled political spoof on everything Christmas. For private and company parties. For bookings call [phone]. e-mail: info(at)townestreet.org.

The Nutcracker, performed by dancers from the Farmers Market offers holiday music performances: Mariachi Sol De America Christmas, noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 24 (free) at the corner of Third Street and Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles. [phone].

L.A. County Holiday Celebration, with host Henry Winkler and performances from the Yuval Ron Ensemble, Orphean Circus, American Chinese Dance Association, the Jazz Tap Ensemble and more. 3 to 9 p.m. Dec. 24 (free) at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. [phone]. www.holidaycelebration.org.

HELP FOR THE NEEDY

Five Acres, a child and family services agency, is having a food and toy drive for the holidays. Bring unwrapped food and unwrapped toys and gifts to 760 W. Mountain View St., Altadena. [phone], Ext. 244.

Starbucks Holiday Angels Joy Drive, through Dec. 25. Drop off new, unwrapped books and toys at any Starbucks location. Gifts collected will be delivered to local hospitals such as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Mattel Children's Hospital. Customers can also make a financial donation at www.starbucks.com or www.slsb.org.

SALES

California Heritage Museum offers California Christmas, an art sale of landscape paintings benefiting the museum. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, through Jan. 9, at 2612 Main St., Santa Monica. [phone].

NEW YEAR'S EVE

Akbar: Celebrate the bar's eighth anniversary with free champagne at midnight. No cover charge. Doors open at 5 p.m. 4356 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake. [phone].

Author! Author! - An Evening With Sholom Aleichem, a musical. 6 p.m. ($35) and 9:30 p.m. ($45). Buffet dinner, champagne, favors, hats and New Year's surprises included) at the Santa Monica Playhouse, 12111 Fourth St., Santa Monica. [phone], Ext. 1. www.santamonicaplayhouse.com.

Bigfoot Lodge: DJ Grimm spins music at this log cabin-style bar. Doors open at 5 p.m. ($10) 3172 Los Feliz Blvd., Echo Park. [phone].

The Buddy Holly ``Rave On'' Review, a dance-a-thon to the tunes of Buddy Holly and the Crickets. 8:30 p.m. ($45) at the Madrid Theatre, 21622 Sherman Way, Canoga Park. [phone]. www.madridtheatre.org.

Cabrillo Beach House will have a DJ spinning dance tunes, snacks, coffee and dessert. 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. ($35) at 3800 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro. [phone]. The next morning, Jan. 1, take your first plunge of the year - into the Pacific Ocean. 11:30 a.m. (free). [phone]. www.laparks.org.

Claude Pepper Senior Center offers casino games (with play money), food and beverages, entertainment and party favors. Noon to 5 p.m. ($25) at 1762 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles. [phone]. www.laparks.org.

The Cowboy Palace Saloon presents a party with a buffet dinner, party favors, complimentary champagne, and music by Rick Robledo and the Working Cowboy Band ($29/person, $50/couples) at 21633 Devonshire St., Chatsworth. [phone]. www.cowboypalace.com.

EM Bistro presents jazz artist Corky Hale in the inauguration of her new jazz club at the bistro, featuring a dinner party with the Corky Hale Trio and special guests, 6 p.m. for the a la carte menu and 9 p.m. for the prix fixe menu including champagne and an open bar ($250 per couple for the 9 p.m. jazz concert and holiday menu). 8256 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. Reservations recommended, [phone].

The Groundling Theatre presents a New Year's Eve Alumni Show, with sketches and improv. 9 p.m. ($75) at 7307 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. [phone], Ext. 37.

L.A. Connection, comedy show with Kent Skov and the Mad Movies' Veteran All-Stars. 8 p.m. ($15) and 10 p.m. ($20) at 13442 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. [phone]. www.laconnectioncomedy.com.

LegoLand California offers a Kids' New Year's Eve bash, featuring a Lego Brick drop. Festivities begin at 3 p.m., brick drop is at 6 p.m. ($37.95 for children 3 to 12 and seniors over 60, $44.95 for adults; parking is $8) at the park, 1 Lego Drive, Carlsbad. [phone]. www.legoland.com.

Little Temple: DJs Medusa, Rashida and 4th Avenue Jones will provide the beats. Free champagne at midnight. Doors open at 9 p.m. ($20) at 4519 Santa Monica Blvd., Silver Lake. [phone].

Pink Martini at the Walt Disney Concert Hall: The Los Angeles Philharmonic presents Pink Martini, an Oregon group that will play a variety of music, from Cuban rumba to classical chamber. 7 and 10:30 p.m. ($50 to $125) at 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. [phone].

Polar Bear Swim at Hansen Dam Swim Lake: Take the plunge at 8 a.m. Jan. 1 at 11798 Foothills Blvd., Lake View Terrace. [phone]. www.laparks.org.

Queen Mary: Parties on the boat, snacks, party favors and a midnight fireworks show. The Hotel Queen Mary also offers a deluxe package, which includes an overnight stay for two, a bottle of champagne, two tickets to the party, a pre-party reception, dinner and a New Year's Day champagne brunch. ($99 for party, $745 for deluxe package) at 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach. [phone].

Together As One: Techno, trance and hip-hop music, an indoor fireworks show, food and drinks, and a vendor village. VIP admission gets you a separate entrance to the event, open vodka bar (21 and older, and VIP), a backstage pass and a private VIP area. 8 p.m. ($40 to $75) at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, 3939 S. Figueroa Blvd., Los Angeles. [phone], [phone], [phone]. www.newyearsevela.com.