DISNEY LIVE! MICKEY'S MUSIC FESTIVAL coming to Southern California Sept. 13, 14, 19-21

Dance and sing-along to Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival

By Annie Rivera

Mickey Mouse and his friends, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy will perform together for Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival for the first time in Long Beach, Calif., at the Terrace Theater (300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach) for a two-day concert on Saturday, September 13 at 1 and 4pm and Sunday, September 14 at 1 and 4pm; and at the Dolby Theatre (6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood) for a three-day concert on Friday, September 19 at 4:30pm, Saturday, September 20 at 10:30am, 1:30pm and 4:30pm, Sunday, September 21 at 1:30pm and 4:30pm. Tickets start at $25.

The band of musical geniuses will perform magical remixes of rock, pop, hip-hop, jazz, country, reggae and other stylish arrangements to the blockbuster movie Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story.

Joining Mickey and friends is an all-star lineup of more than 25 Disney characters and dance ensemble including Wisconsin native, Kristin Dargo, a backup performer who began with Disney Live! in Japan more than five years ago. “Everyday is a new opportunity to bring joy to families,” said Dargo. “We form a bond with the audience and because of that we are able to bring laughter and smiles to so many faces. This musically-driven and interactive show has something for everyone.”

Disney Live! Mickey’s Musical Festival begins with a state-of-the-art video projection followed by a big welcome by Mickey himself as he takes us on a journey through a new world of hip-hop beats, frenzied acrobatics, Aladdin’s flying carpet and a magical tour with Jasmine and Genie. Next, audiences will jam to reggae while visiting Ariel and Sebastian in an underwater groove session. For country enthusiasts, dance and clap along with Woody, Buzz and Jessie while learning a high-stomping rodeo-style boogie.

LONG BEACH:

WHEN: Saturday, September 13 (1 and 4 PM) and Sunday, September 14 (1 and 4 PM)

WHERE: Long Beach Terrace Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802

HOLLYWOOD:

WHEN: Friday, September 19 (4:30 PM), Saturday, September 20 (10:30 AM, 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM) and Sunday, September 21 (1:30 PM and 4:30 PM).

WHERE: Hollywood Dolby Theatre, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028

TICKETS - Ticket start at $25. Order by phone (562) 436-3636, or visit www.ticketmaster.com

America’s Family Pet Expo Celebrates 25 Year Anniversary Returning to OC Fair & Events Center April 25-27

Orange County residents can enjoy a “petstravaganza” weekend full of favorite furry, scaled or feathered friends at the 25^th Anniversary of America’s Family Pet Expo at the OC Fair & Events Center (88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626) from April 25 to 27.

There will be no shortage of fun actions to include the crowd-pleasing, wet-and-wild canine competition Splash Dog; Repticon for reptile enthusiasts; show-stopping Wiener Dog Races featuring a plethora of eager and speedy Daschunds.

New this year is the high energy “Extreme Canine Dog Stunt Show” featuring border collies, cattle dogs, terriers and mutts, among others, as they flaunt high jumping stunts, jump rope tricks and agility acts.

Also returning to the Expo is Dog Training with Renee where show guests can learn from renowned Certified Professional Dog Trainer Renee Jones on how to train their four-legged friends using basic and complex commands.

Learn how K9 Officers and their pup-partners serve and protect our community at the Police and Protection Dog Demonstrations.

Cat lovers can delight in the TICA Cat Show & Presentations while bird-watchers and owners can soar into The Birdman of Las Vegas show.

“As we celebrate our 25^th Anniversary,” said Doug Poindexter, President of the World Pet Association, producers of the America’s Family Pet Expo, “there is something for everyone from The Great American Petting Zoo to Tickled Pink Face Painting. We are proud to showcase exciting events and highlight our Pet Adoption program.”

General Admission is $13; seniors 60 and over are $11. Children ages 6 to 12 are $8, FREE for children 5 years and under. Active and retired military are FREE with ID.

Show hours: Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 7pm, and Sunday 10am to 6pm.

Parking is $7.

Kindly leave all pets at home.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.PetExpoOC.org.

Monster Jam Returns to Angel Stadium for More Engine-Roaring, Car-Crushing Thrilling Monster Truck Action January 25 and February 8

By Annie Rivera

Zombie is one of many monster trucks showcased in Monster Jam

Returning to Anaheim has more meaning this year than ever before for Grave Digger driver Carl Van Horn. It means “redemption.” Two years ago the Elizabeth City, North Carolina native, stepped foot onto Angel Stadium for the first time with high hopes of wowing the crowd with 90-seconds of his own choreographed high-flying and rip-roaring routine during the Freestyle event, but midway through his spotlight, he crashed and did not finish.

After a two-year, long-awaited return to Southern California, Van Horn raced his way into the Championship on January 11 defeating Time Fly’s in the finale to bring home the trophy for Team Grave Digger.

“I felt I owed it to the City of Anaheim,” said Van Horn, “and wanted to make up for the crash in 2012.” While Van Horn fell short of the Freestyle event this year, racing and winning in the championship round more than made up for his defeat two years ago. “I did it for the crowd. They expected big things and big crashes and I was happy to deliver.”

Monster Jam fans can enjoy the high-flying, car-crushing explosive event of demolition, speed and powerful stunts with the world’s best monster trucks and drivers like GRAVE DIGGER and MAX-D along with other monster trucks like EL TORO LOCO, CAPTAIN’S CURSE, EL DIABLO, SON-UVA DIGGER, METAL MULISHA, MONSTER MUTT, LUCAS OIL CRUSADER, TEAM HOT WHEELS FIRESTORM, IRON MAN, MONSTER ENERGY, MOHAWK WARRIOR, CAPTAIN USA, TROPICAL THUNDER, SHOCKER, DEVASTATOR, DESTROYER, TITAN, NITRO HORNET, DOUBLE TROUBLE, OBSESSION, TIME FLY’S, KING KRUNCH and more. Returning to Anaheim after four years is BATMAN featuring veteran driver John Seasock.

Fans can access the Party in the Pits pre-show experience to view their favorite trucks up-close, meet the star drivers for autographs and take photos.

Upcoming show dates are Saturday, January 25 and Saturday, February 8 at Angel Stadium (2000 Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, CA 92806) at 7 p.m. Party in the Pits is open from 3 to 5:30 p.m. prior to each event. Exclusive VIP Early Access to Pit Party begins at 2 p.m. for Total Access Pass holders.

Tickets start from $25 for Adults; Kids (ages 2 to 12) are $10. Pit Party passes are an additional $10 each and a very limited number of Total Access Pass fan packages are available for $75 each at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000 or in-person at the Angel Stadium box office. More information can be found at www.MonsterJam.com, Facebook and YouTube.