If you think Thanksgiving was tough to plan, Friday may present a bigger challenge.You have Black Friday shopping and sales, and #optoutside activities to consider. And it's the official kickoff to the Christmas/Hanukkah season too. Holiday lights, ice-skating rinks, real reindeer and a 1,300-pound gingerbread house are among the holiday happenings in Southern California that open Friday.Here are eight places where you can start the celebrations with your family in tow. 1. Festival of Lights at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside This is the granddaddy of all holiday light shows. The extravagant show that started in 1992 has become a full-on community event with decorations and an ice rink extending to Main Street.The 4 million twinkling lights are to be switched on at 5 p.m. Friday, illuminating the huge Spanish Revival-style hotel and downtown buildings. Fireworks follow the first night of the Festival of Lights, which continues through Jan. 3.Info: Mission Inn Hotel & Spa2.

L.A. Zoo Lights at the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens in Griffith Park The zoo opens at night during the holidays to showcase glittering tunnels of light as well as light sculptures and 3-D projections of monkeys, elephants, a 150-foot coiled snake and more.Lights are set to go on at 6 p.m. Friday and remain through Jan. 3. $13 to $16 for adults and $11 to $14 for children 2 to 12 years old.VIP nights include a Happy Hour cocktail party on Dec. 10 ($75 per person) and a Family New Year's Eve celebration with a DJ dance party and crafts for kids ($65 for adults and $35 for children).Info: Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens3. Reindeer Romp at the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens Four reindeer will appear Friday in the zoo's Eucalyptus Grove to give that North Pole feel.Kids and their parents can see them and occasionally Santa Claus (check the website for dates) starting Friday at Reindeer Village from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Jan. 3. Crafting workshops and photo ops will be available.

The village is included with zoo admission, $20 for adults and $15 for children 2 to 12.4. Mrs. Claus' Life-Sized Gingerbread House at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live New this year amid L.A. Live's decorations is this gingerbread house made of 1,300 pounds of cookie dough.Furnishings such as picture frames and chocolate Santas are made of sweets too.It will be open Monday through Dec. 31, and Santa will appear for photos from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 19.Info: JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live5. Personal Wearable Air Purifier ReviewsThe Hollywood Christmas ParadeTire And Wheels San Diego It's the 84th year for the parade, whose grand marshals this year are magicians Penn & Teller.The parade, which starts at 5 p.m. Sunday, will honor boxer Oscar de la Hoya with a humanitarian award for his charity work.Best Bathroom Scale For Accuracy

Marching bands and equestrian units share the route with celebrities, Grumpy Cat and elected officials too.6. Walk of the Inns in Palm SpringsThis is a self-guided walking tour around neighborhoods between Ramon Road and Tahquitz Canyon Way from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 10.You can tour decorations at Casa Cody, Old Ranch Inn, Calla Lily and other hotels. Grab a fee map to the inns and flashlights at the Palm Springs Art Museum to start you on your way.Info: Walking Tour of the Inns7. Festival of Lights Parade in Palm Springs Skateboard mogul Tony Hawk leads this parade as grand marshal from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 5.You'll see lighted floats, huge holiday balloons as well as Santa and reindeer.It starts at North Indian Canyon Drive; arrive early to get a good spot as thousands of people turn out each year to watch.Info: Festival of Lights Parade8. Wild Lights at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm DesertThe 1,200-acre zoo and preserve gets decked out with holiday lights, a light tunnel, rides on a camel and on a carousel, and a trackless train ride.

Wild Lights is open 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. selected evenings through Dec. 31; tickets cost $10 for adults and $8 for children.Info: The Living Desert Zoo and GardensPer tradition, the Redmond Chamber of Commerce & CVB will celebrate the holiday season by hosting a slew of family friendly and festive events, with a colorfully decorated downtown Redmond serving as the ideal backdrop for such holiday revelry. From the Starlight Parade, Community Tree Lighting and the Holiday Village Market to the Giving Tree, the Downtown Holiday Open House and the Gingerbread House Contest, hardly a weekend will go by from Thanksgiving through Christmas when a holiday event won’t entice you to Redmond and surrounding areas, downtown corridor for the parades, shopping and giving, to Eagle Crest resort for a spectacular show of lights. Get out your holiday calendars and start planning. You and your family are going to be busy starting new holiday traditions!Saturdays, Dec. 5 & 12 • 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Centennial Park, Redmond

Find original gifts for the hard-to-buy-for friend, family member or co-worker at Redmond’s Holiday Village Market, presented by the Redmond Chamber of Commerce & CVB. Held on four days throughout the holiday season, the Holiday Village Market features vendors selling local arts, crafts and artisan goods from old-world-styled kiosks and vendor spaces within Redmond Centennial Park. For more information, visit our Holiday Village Market page or call the Redmond Chamber at 541-923-5191. Saturday, Nov. 28, 5 p.m. Downtown Redmond Based on the theme “We Need a Little Christmas,” more than 75 colorfully lighted entries and floats will venture down 6th Street in downtown Redmond (from Dogwood to Forest avenues) for the annual Redmond Starlight Christmas Parade, on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 5 p.m. The Starlight Parade is sponsored by St. Charles Redmond and brought to you by the Redmond Chamber of Commerce & CVB. Following the parade, Redmond’s community Christmas tree lighting will take place in Centennial Park.

The evening will include food, drink, music from The Bridge Church choir, and a visit from Santa. For more information, including an application for free parade entry, visit our Starlight Parade page or call the Redmond Chamber at 541-923-5191. Beginning Friday, Nov. 27 Green Plow Coffee Roasters, Redmond Beginning on Froday, Nov. 27, those wishing to help make Christmas a little brighter for Redmond-area children and teens can pick a tag (or multiple tags) from the Giving Tree, located at Green Plow Coffee Roasters (436 SW 6th St.) in downtown Redmond. A Redmond Chamber of Commerce tradition, the Giving Tree serves to assist approximately 150 children and 75 families by providing a conduit through which the citizens and neighbors can help provide gifts, clothing, shoes, etc., to those less fortunate. Gifts for the Giving Tree are due by Monday, Dec. 14. For more information, contact the Redmond Chamber of Commerce at 541-923-5191. Friday, Nov. 27 - Wed., through Dec. 24 Outside Green Plow Coffee Roasters, Redmond

Santa’s Mailbox, a connection to the North Pole for children wishing to pass along their wish lists to jolly old St. Nick, will be placed outside of Green Plow Coffee Roasters (436 SW 6th St.) in downtown Redmond – near the base of Redmond’s archway. Letters will be accepted from Friday, Nov. 27 through Christmas Eve. The Redmond Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the Santa’s Mailbox program, will collect the letters, some of which may be published in the Redmond Spokesman. All letters will be posted on the Redmond Chamber’s Facebook site. Saturday, Dec. 5, Noon – 4 p.m. Downtown Redmond Downtown Redmond businesses will be abuzz with the holiday spirit, offering refreshments, music, special events and a downtown Charm Stroll on Saturday, Dec. 5, Noon-4 p.m. during the Downtown Holiday Open House. Among the many holiday adventures, visit with Santa at the Redmond Antique Mall (535 SW 6th St.) and listen to Mrs. Claus read children stories at Paulina Springs Books (422 SW 6th St.) throughout the day.

Also, pick up a Charm Stroll Passport at Redmond Antiques Mall (for a small donation for Girl Scout Giving Bags) that will allow participants to collect free holiday charms throughout downtown. For more information, contact the Redmond Chamber at 541-923-5191. Starting Saturday, December 5 Downtown Redmond Businesses The Redmond Downtown Association, with the help of the Redmond Chamber of Commerce & CVB, invite you to participate in Redmond's third annual Gingerbread House Contest. Back by popular demand, this fun and festive contest is meant for families, businesses and kids of all ages.  It is a wonderful tradition for families everywhere, and a great way for you to showcase your creativity, humor and love for the Christmas season. Entries will be judged within three categories: adult, children and professional/business. For more information, or to obtain an entry form, contact organizer Lara Chan at 541-526-1626 or the Redmond Chamber of Commerce at 541-923-5191. Starting Friday, Nov. 20, Through March 1, 2016 Downtown Redmond Plaza, Across from Centennial Park