This weekend offers a variety of holiday thrills, from roving Santas on Saturday to the traditional holiday fireworks show on Sunday evening.

"Santa Saturday" kicks off early on Saturday morning, December 9, with the California Great Santa Stroll benefiting Mychal's Learning Place. Hundreds of Santas will participate in a 5K fun run/walk/stroll from the Hermosa Beach Pier Plaza to the Manhattan Beach Pier and back. All ages and abilities welcome; four-legged friends welcome as well.

Next up, Santa himself (along with his sidekick, Rudolph) will make an appearance from noon to  2:00 p.m. at the corner of Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Manhattan Avenue. Stop by to snap a quick photo with the decorated pier in the background. 

And that's not all: Ten businesses will be giving out Becker's Bakery Cookies to anyone wearing something with Santa on it. The businesses include Bella Beach Kids, Go Gently Nation, Gum Tree, Health Nut, LAIRD Apparel, {pages} a bookstore, Right Tribe, Roundhouse Aquarium, Tabula Rasa Essentials, and Tacolicious.

Finally on Saturday, there will be strolling carolers from the Mira Costa Choir between noon and 2:00 p.m.

Sunday December 10 marks the traditional MB Holiday Fireworks show in Manhattan Beach, rain or shine. The festivities leading up to the fireworks take up most of the afternoon, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Manhattan Ave between 11th Street and Manhattan Beach Blvd. This year, there will be a special tribute to Pete Moffatt, the show's founder, who passed away earlier this year.

The multi-faceted celebration opens to the general public at 4:00 p.m. (Friendship Foundation attendees may enjoy the snow park starting at 3:00 p.m.) Festivities include a snow park, strolling carolers, photo ops with the Santa sled, live music from Mira Costa High School bands as well as Joe's Band, culminating in the fireworks show at 7:00 p.m., rain or shine. The snow park will feature two 50-foot sled runs and two snow play areas, as well as a snowman for family photos. For admission to the snow park, please bring food or unwrapped toy donations for the YMCA Adventure Guides charity.