AVALON, Calif. (November 12, 2025) — Catalina Museum for Art & History invites guests to celebrate the holiday season with festive programming throughout December, including the museum’s annual First Fridays: Holiday Sip & Shop on Friday, December 5, and a free Holiday Concert featuring the Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Choir on Saturday, December 13.
Kicking off the month, the museum’s First Fridays: Holiday Sip & Shop event will take place on Friday, December 5, from 5–7 p.m. Attendees can enjoy complimentary champagne and cider while exploring the museum’s galleries, digital theater and open-air plazas. For one evening only, all items in the museum store will be 25% off, with museum members receiving an additional 15% discount. The storewide sale continues through December, but the exclusive 25% discount is available only during the event. Guests will also find special sale tables with a variety of unique treasures, ranging from centerpieces and décor to $1 and $5 items (member discounts do not apply to these tables). The event offers the perfect opportunity to pick up holiday gifts while supporting the museum’s mission.
On Saturday, December 13, the holiday festivities continue with an evening of live entertainment and music from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Guests are invited to arrive early for a special performance by Comic Ventriloquist Joe Gandelman from 5–6 p.m. in the Education Center, featuring a lively cast of puppet characters and plenty of audience interaction. The celebration continues with the free Holiday Concert with the Loyola Marymount University Choir from 6:30–7:30 p.m. in the Schreiner Family Plaza, an Avalon tradition that fills the plaza with festive cheer and classic holiday melodies. Guests can enjoy a holiday dessert bar along with seasonal refreshments available for purchase, including a specialty cocktail, warm coffee, tea, hot chocolate and tamales.
Patrons Society Members are invited to an exclusive meet-and-greet from 5:30–6 p.m. in the Schreiner Family Plaza with LMU choir conductor Dr. Benjamin Johns, Special Assistant to the Vice President John Flaherty, and Bryant Alexander, PhD, Dean and Professor of the College of Communication and Fine Arts at LMU. Soup and warm bread will be provided, along with light appetizers and drinks.
Both events are open to the public, and registration is encouraged at CatalinaMuseum.org/calendar. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays. For more information about the Catalina Museum for Art & History, visit CatalinaMuseum.org. To stay connected, follow the museum’s social media platforms @CatalinaMuseum on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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About Catalina Museum for Art & History
The Catalina Museum for Art & History offers the best in art and history exhibitions, music and dance performances, lectures by guest speakers from all over the world and the finest in silent, documentary and international film. The museum is located in the heart of Avalon at 217 Metropole Avenue. For more information, the museum may be reached by phone at 310-510-2414 or at its website: CatalinaMuseum.org.
About The Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Choruses
The Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Choruses represent a tradition of artistic excellence with a history that goes back more than 50 years. As stewards of the LMU global vision, the choruses sit in a wonderful position to fully participate in enlivening their creative spirits by participating in performances locally, nationally and abroad. Under the direction of T.J. Harper, DMA, this tradition continues to be enriched through the participation of a diverse group of LMU students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members from the greater Los Angeles area. The chorus members are committed to serving the greater good through inclusive performance projects that engage and educate their audiences and surrounding communities.
