39 glittering holiday displays in Southern California

Ontario’s Christmas on Euclid experience began in 1922, when the fire department decorated a tree in the old city hall park with 125 colored electric lights, 2,200 feet of decorations and 900 square feet of cotton batting “for a snow effect,” according to a history on the event’s website. The event grew with merchant-promoted holiday extravaganzas such as the time in 1930 when Santa dropped from an airplane and landed on the roof of a bank to toss numbered slips into the crowd. (Those lucky enough to grab a slip could collect a prize donated by a local retailer.)

In 1958, the Christmas on Euclid Avenue Committee, sponsored by the Assn. of Commerce and Industry (later renamed the Ontario Chamber of Commerce), embarked on holiday programs “that would bring back a traditional respect, and meaning for the celebration of Christmas,” including the construction of 12 illuminated scenes depicting the nativity and life of Jesus with life-sized wood figures carved by Mexican immigrant sculptor Rudolph Vargas.

Today, the holiday celebration includes a blend of old and the new, with the 12 historic nativity scenes, which visitors can experience through an online history, and more modern light shows such as the annual Holiday Light Parade, tree lighting ceremony and drone show at Ontario Town Square on Dec. 6, which includes cookie decorating and visits with Santa.

Date: The historic nativity scenes are on display from Nov. 27 through Jan. 1 along Euclid Avenue. The Holiday Light Parade & Tree Lighting is Dec. 6 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. A menorah procession is scheduled for Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Ontario Town Square.

Admission: Free.