What to KnowHoliday Family FaireWill Geer Theatricum BotanicumDec. 13, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.Enjoy the faire from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a radio play, will start at 5 p.m.$20 general faire admission; $10 kids ages 5 to 15; kids 4 and under will be admitted free; enjoy a family ticket four-pack for $50 (two grown-ups and two kids); $25 add-on fee if you’d like to stay for “It’s a Wonderful Life”
Wintry tales, gingerbread-scented stories, the yarns that have yuletide cred: Some of the best-known and most beloved books of the holiday season feature forest settings, lovely locations rife with trees, animals, and a natural sort of enchantment.
We have plenty of wonderfully woodsy spots here in Southern California, but not all of them, or really any of them, feature magical, madrigal-filled festivities that feel as if they have both ye olde flair and a contemporary community feel.
But the Holiday Family Faire at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga fits this forest-y and festive theme, with a cameo from Mrs. Claus and her sleigh-driving honeybun, an artisan-filled marketplace, and the ethereal opportunity to enjoy both carols and centuries-old madrigals while sunlight dapples through various oaks.
So unhand your lute, weave some bright ribbons through your hair, and dance over to the outdoor theater Dec. 13 for six hours of sweet seasonal happenings in a sun-soft amphitheater.
Tickets are available on the site, but before you purchase? Decide if you’d like to stay on after the faire concludes for “It’s a Wonderful Life” by Joe Landry, presented as a radio play.
Beau Bridges, Joe Mantegna, Wendie Malick, Rory O’Malley, and Missi Pyle will assume the timeless roles of George Bailey and company, giving audience members the thrill of live theater that is bubbling over with heart, holiday spirit, and an abiding affection for all humankind.
Good to keep in mind? The ticket for “It’s a Wonderful Life” is an add-on to your faire admission, so be sure to purchase both if you’d like to attend the earlier event and the theatrical experience to follow.
And nope, you don’t actually have to weave ribbons through your hair or wear something merrily medieval; but if you’re seeking an outdoor expression of December joy, mayhaps you’ll find it at an alfresco gem that is synonymous with summertime Shakespeare performances.
Hark: We do hear Santa laughing, and madrigals playing, from the direction of Topanga now.