Winter camping fun

Everyone knows about the annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, which has taken place every Jan. 1stfor nearly 120 years. But have you heard of the annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade? The parade take place on four consecutive days, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. from Dec. 16th to 20th, and features everything decorated kayaks, canoes and other small boats to multi-million dollar yachts with animated scenes and costumed carolers.

Or how about the annual Christmas Wonderland in Vacaville’s historic downtown? The Dec. 12th event features fine dining, songs, music and entertainment by local artists as well as a visit by Santa.

Camp-California.com can help you spot these and other special events throughout California during the holidays and beyond.

“We’re constantly adding more event listings to our website because we want people to use it to plan their weekend getaways and trips across the state,” said Debbie Sipe, executive director of the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.

And, as one might expect, Camp-California.com includes listings of campgrounds and RV parks that are conveniently located near the venues where special events take place.

“Several RV parks and resorts also offer their own activities and special events, both during the holidays and throughout the winter months,” Sipe said.

Consider these examples:

n Bakersfield RV Resort in Bakersfield: This park features holiday hay rides and Christmas caroling with Mr. and Mrs. Claus during the first three weekends of December. Then, on New Year’s Eve, the park will celebrate the arrival of 2010 with live music, complimentary appetizers, Louisiana-style gumbo and a champagne toast at midnight. This is in addition to a horseshoe tournament, bingo, golf putting and Wii tournaments, which will take place throughout New Year’s weekend. www.bakersfieldrvresort.com

n Campland on the Bay in San Diego: With the exception of Christmas Day, this park has a full slate of recreational activities every day this month, including beach volleyball, soccer, kickball, capture the flag, dodge ball and adult horseshoes. On Christmas Eve, the park will also offer a coloring contest for kids, while its New Year’s Eve activities include separate parties for adults and children, both of which are topped off by an 11:45 p.m. fireworks display on the bay. www.campland.com

n Manchester Beach KOA in Manchester: This park is hosting a New Year’s Eve pot luck gala. The park supplies the main entrée, champagne, party supplies, music and games while the guests bring their favorite side dish.n Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina in Newport Beach: This park has family friendly activities scheduled throughout December, including holiday crafts for kids, outdoor games, bunco and water aerobics. www.newportdunes.com

n The Springs at Borrego RV Resort in Borrego Springs: This park, located in the desert near Anza Borrego State Park, offers many activities throughout December, including water aerobics classes at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; campfire entertainment with hot dogs and s’mores every Tuesday at 5 p.m. and wine tastings and a social hour every Thursday at 5 p.m. Other special events include a traditional Lakota Medicine Wheel ceremony and a Winter Solstice Party with live music on Dec. 19th and a Christmas Day potluck dinner with a roasted ham provided by the park. The park is also planning a Karaoke New Year’s Eve party. www.springsatborrego.com

Camp-California.com can also help consumers spot fun activities and special events after the holidays, including the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, which will be held Jan. 10th and Feb. 14th; the Ventura Flea Market, which will feature more than 500 vendors at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, and the 18th annual Winter Wineland festival, which will take place Jan. 16th and 17th at Kendall-Jackson Winery in Fulton.