The Holiday Season is officially upon us. The City of West Hollywood is ready with the debut of this year’s official WeHo holiday card and special programing throughout the month of December
As part of the holiday celebration, the street pole banner decorations are up and this year’s commemorative WeHo Holiday Card has been unveiled featuring original artwork created and donated by the artist Shag (Josh Agle). A poem entitled Homecoming inside the WeHo Holiday Card was specifically penned for the season by West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Charles Flowers.
The poem and a digital image of the card are available on the City’s website at www.weho.org/community/arts-and-culture/holiday-programming-2019, and can be downloaded here. Printed cards are available at West Hollywood City Hall, the West Hollywood Library, and Plummer Park. Street pole banners featuring the holiday artwork may be seen on Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood.
Holiday City events this year include:
On Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 12 p.m., the City of West Hollywood and the Avanti Art Center’s student dancers will present a special performance of The Nutcracker at Plummer Park’s Fiesta Hall, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard. Suggested donation is $10. For more information, call (310) 980-3171.
On Saturday, December 14, 2019 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. the City of West Hollywood will present the Holiday Jazz Quartet Quintet as part of its 2019‐20 Winter Sounds free indoor concert series. This holiday concert will take place at the City of West Hollywood’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room at the West Hollywood Library, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. It will feature vibraphonist Nick Mancini and his quintet who will perform a special holiday jazz concert. Admission is free and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, music samples, and parking information, please visit www.weho.org/wintersounds.
On Saturday, December 28, 2019 at 11 a.m., children are invited to bring their parents and guardians and join the City of West Hollywood at the West Hollywood Library for a special holiday Drag Queen Story Hour at the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. Draq Queen Story Hour is exactly what it sounds like: glittering, magical drag queens capturing the imagination, playfulness, and gender fluidity of childhood, while giving kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. At Drag Queen Story Hour, children are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people present as they wish — a world where dress up is real. Drag Queen Story Hour is for children of all ages. No registration necessary and admission is free. For more information, please visit www.colapublib.org/libs/whollywood.
On Tuesday, December 31, 2019 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. on January 1, 2020, #BOOM!, West Hollywood’s premiere alcohol and drug‐free New Year’s Eve event, will bring hundreds of people together for a fabulous celebration, complete with a DJ, dancing, food, and alcohol‐free midnight toast. #BOOM! will take place at the West Hollywood Park Auditorium, located at 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard. This year’s theme is “Icons.” People are encouraged to dress up as their favorite icon, or their interpretation of an Icon, to win prizes throughout the night. Admission is free. Attendees must be 18 years or over to enter and capacity is limited. For more information and to RSVP, please visit www.eventbrite.com/e/boom-2020-an-alcohol-and-drug-free-extravaganza-tickets-79270106021.
In addition to holiday programming, the City of West Hollywood will also be conducting its 29th Annual West Hollywood Toy and Food Drive. The City of West Hollywood and the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station will partner to help give back to people in need this holiday season. The West Hollywood Toy and Food Drive provides families in our community with a holiday meal — as well as two toys for every child in the family. The City will be accepting donations from Monday, December 2, 2019 until Friday, December 20, 2019 with the goal of providing up to 900 families with meals and gifts. For the past three decades, the generous contributions of local businesses and individuals have helped provide more than 7,300 local families with food and gifts in the spirit of the holiday season. New unwrapped toys are needed, as well as new clothing, store coupons, and discount cards. For more information about the Holiday Drive please contact Bonnie Smith at [email protected] Monetary donations can be made online at www.weho.org/holidaydrive or at the cashier’s window at West Hollywood City Hall, located at 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard. A donation of $65 will help one family, but every donation, no matter how small, counts. Gift and Food Drive donations can be dropped off at City Hall or at the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, located at 780 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
For more information about the City’s holiday card or about the City of West Hollywood’s Arts programming, please visit www.weho.org/arts or contact Mike Che at (323) 848-6377 or at [email protected]