"L.A. County Holiday Celebration" Recipe for a Happy Holiday December 24, 2008

The 49th Annual Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration, the country's largest multicultural holiday show, will be more than a feast for the eyes and ears. Food joins music and dance as a source of seasonal cheer as the 47 performing groups in the free, six-hour music and dance spectacular are introduced by L.A.'s top celebrity chefs.

The spirit of the season reigns at the event, which can be enjoyed FREE in-person at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center or at home via live telecast in HD on KCET. Parking at the Music Center is free. Reservations for tickets to the show or parking are not necessary. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. Patrons may come and go throughout the six hour performance. People waiting in line to get in can see the show on the JumboTron on the Music Center Plaza.

Holiday Celebration brings together dance companies, musical groups and choirs from across Los Angeles County on Christmas Eve to offer an artistic sampling of L.A.'s unique cultural diversity.

Highlights include four different takes on "The Nutcracker" commissioned just for the Holiday Celebration from Antics Performances (hip hop), Backhausdance (modern), blue13 dance company (Bollywood) and South Bay Ballet (traditional); Dengue Fever, a pop/psychedelic rock band that integrates Cambodian rhythms and lyrics; Grammy-nominated Lisa Haley and the Zydekats performing traditional and contemporary Americana/Cajun/Zydeco arrangements; TAIKOPROJECT blending traditional Japanese taiko drum beats with hip hop rhythms and moves; Louis Cruz Beltran and ensemble playing Latin jazz arrangements of traditional holiday songs; Royal Crown Revue bringing neo-swing sounds; and he world fusion ensemble Yeh Dede offering West African ceremonial music

The celebrity chef host roster includes Border Grill's Susan Feniger; The Food Dudes of the Food Network; Akasha Richmond of Culver City's Akasha; Kajsa Alger, executive chef of the soon-to-open Street; Chef Jeff Henderson of the Food Network's Chef Jeff Project; and Chef Lala, author of the just published "Best Loved Mexican Cooking with Chef Lala." The chefs will share holiday recipes from around the world via the show's web site, www.holidaycelebration.org, so the audience can prepare them at home during the LIVE broadcast of the Holiday Celebration on KCET.

Holiday Celebration attendees are invited to bring canned and packaged goods to the Music Center the day of the show to support the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank.

Complete program information will be available after December 10 at www.holidaycelebration.org and 213.972.3099.