All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
Boat Parade of Lights: “Carol of the Boats” | Dana Point Harbor
December 12-14: Join Dana Point Harbor for their annual Boat Parade of Lights, this year's theme is "Carol of the Boats."
Annual Christmas Parade | City of Compton
December 13: See The Game lead Compton’s 70th annual parade, then enjoy a toy drive, bounce houses, and a Jon B performance at the community celebration that follows. FREE!
Candy Caneland & Craft Faire | Ehlers Event Center, Buena Park
December 13: Play in real snow, enjoy petting zo, shop over 100 craft vendors, and meet Santa at Buena Park’s Candy Caneland & Craft Faire. FREE!
Holiday Spectacular at Anaheim Hills Festival
December 13: Enjoy crafts for the kids, face painting, and pictures with Santa in Anaheim Hills! FREE!
Holiday Posada | MOLAA, Long Beach
December 13: Make piñatas, enjoy cultural performances, and join the joyful Posada procession at AJUA’s festive holiday celebration.
Posada Navideña | Paramount Swap Meet
December 13-14: Enjoy free train rides, holiday treats, Santa photos, and a chance to win a 65" TV during this lively weekend Posada.
Holiday Concert on the Pier | Redondo Beach
December 13: Enjoy this free community event featuring: live holiday music, crafts, holiday photos, and more.
Tamalfest | W. 4th Street, Santa Ana
December 13: Sample tamales from 15 local restaurants, enjoy live entertainment, and celebrate DTSA’s biggest food festival of the year. FREE!
Daisy Parade in Long Beach
December 13: The Daisy Lane Parade began in 1953. The neighborhood decorates the grass meridian on Daisy Avenue. Catch this neighborhood parade at 5pm.
Shoreline Yacht Club’s Christmas Boat Parade | Long Beach
December 13: Enjoy a boat parade with scenic views of the Long Beach waterfront. The viewing party held at Shoreline Village gives guests an ideal vantage point to take in the parade, marina and city lights with DJ, balloon twisters, holiday music, and snow at Shoreline Village.
Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade
December 13: Watch the harbor glow with themed boats, a brilliant light show, and Marina del Rey’s two-hour illuminated parade.
Sunsets with Santa in San Clemente
December 14 & 20: Come take pictures with Santa Claus on the San Clemente Pier! Photographer will not be provided; please bring your own camera. Santa's sleigh departs for the North Pole promptly at 5:00 pm, so please plan your visit accordingly. FREE!
El Segundo Holiday Parade
December 14: Watch performers, floats, marching bands, antique cars, and St. Nick parade through the street during the El Segundo Holiday Parade!
Chanukah Celebration | The Original Farmers Market, LA
December 14: Watch a menorah carved from ice, enjoy kids’ crafts and performances, and gather for a festive community menorah lighting. FREE!
Christmas Boat Parade & Ring of Lights in Newport Beach
December 17-21: Watch beautifully decorated yachts, boats, kayaks, and canoes sail along the harbor. View the parade from over 50 locations including Marina Park and Balboa Village Fun Zone.
Winter Wonderland & Holiday Marketplace | Ventura Harbor Village
December 20: Meet Santa by the sea, play in faux snow, and explore a festive holiday marketplace with live reindeer and cheerful entertainment.
North Pole Express | Orange County Model Engineers, Costa Mesa
December 20-21: Ride the North Pole Express, meet Santa and the Grinch, and enjoy free miniature train rides all day at Goathill Junction.
Free Miniature Train Rides at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa
THIRD WEEKEND OF EVERY MONTH: The Orange County Model Engineers offer public ride days every third full weekend of each month. To ride the trains, children must be able to walk and be at least 31" tall. A typical trip takes about 12 minutes and covers two loops of the park.
Holiday Snow Land | Balearic Park, Costa Mesa
December 20: Balearic Park turns into a winter wonderland with over 40 tons of snow. This time-honored tradition hosts over 1,000 people annually. FREE!
Breakfast With Santa by OC Autism Foundation | Atlantis Play Center, Garden Grove
December 20: Enjoy food, crafts, toys, and inclusive holiday fun with Sensory Santa at a festive pajama-party event.
Naples Island Annual Boat Parade in Long Beach
December 20: Twinkling lights decorate the boats that cruise the canals of Naples. Hundreds of homes and boats are festively decorated throughout the season. FREE!
Holiday Festival | The Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton
December 21: Enjoy live music, art workshops, and a festive makers market at this family-friendly holiday celebration. FREE!
Annual LA County Holiday Celebration | Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
December 24: Watch a diverse group of L.A.-based artists and community groups showcase their talent, artistry and traditions on The Music Center’s iconic Dorothy Chandler Pavilion stage. The three-hour live production features instrumental music, choral music and dance performances. FREE!
Fullerton First Night 2026 | Downtown Fullerton Plaza
December 31: Enjoy live music, family activities, and a fireworks finale as Fullerton rings in 2026 at its annual First Night celebration. FREE!
N.Y.E. | Gloria Molina Grand Park, LA
December 31: Ring in 2026 with live music, art installations, and a midnight 3D projection show at LA’s biggest free NYE celebration. FREE!
Family Science Sunday | Marine Mammal Care Center, San Pedro
Sundays: Hands-on marine science workshops let kids explore rescue techniques, ocean animals, dissections, climate science, and more at this free MMCC family program. FREE!
Friday Fun | Madrona Marsh Nature Center, Torrance
Every Friday: Explore nature with story time, crafts, science, and guided activities designed for preschoolers. FREE!
Movie Night: Elio | Garfield Community Center, Santa Ana
January 9: Relax with snacks and a teen-only screening of Elio at the library. FREE!
Movies Under the Stars | Kelly Park, Compton
January 9: Watch an inspiring outdoor movie, enjoy free pizza, and celebrate community at this family-friendly film night. FREE!
Astronomy Night | Columbia Space Memorial Center, Downey
January 9: Each month, expert guest speakers dive into fascinating astronomy topics, sharing their knowledge and passion for the universe. After the talks, explore the night sky with our telescopes and witness celestial objects up close. FREE!
Storytime Adventures | Lakeshore Learning (Multiple Locations)
January 10 & 24: Make story-themed crafts, explore hands-on activities, and spark imagination at this free walk-in event for little learners. FREE!
SNOW Much Fun! | Rivian Laguna
January 10: Make snowy creations while learning how heat, ice, and salt work together in this kid-friendly winter science workshop. FREE!
Silk Road Day | USC Pacific Asia Museum & SoCal Children’s Museum
January 11: Explore hands-on art, culture, and music during a free family day celebrating the Silk Road across two Pasadena museums. FREE!
Lunar New Year Festival | Torrance Cultural Arts Center
January 11: Celebrate Lunar New Year with lion dances, food vendors, cosplay, and family fun at this all-day cultural festival. FREE!
Oshogatsu Family Festival | Japanese American National Museum, LA
January 11: Make mochi, see candy art demonstrations, craft Year-of-the-Horse keepsakes, and enjoy a day of cultural performances at this free New Year festival. FREE!
Lights of Korea: Jinju Silk Lanterns | Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles
Jan 15 - Feb 28: Explore luminous Jinju silk lanterns inspired by Korean heritage and the iconic twelve-panel skirt. FREE!
Westerly School Community Tour | Long Beach
January 15: Tour the Westerly campus and experience their learning spaced during the school day!
Wild Tales | Upper Newport Bay, Newport Beach
Every Friday: Wild tales is offered every Friday and include an outdoor story time in the newly-renovated amphitheater, an age-appropriate hike, and a craft project in the classroom. FREE!
Lunar New Year in Rancho Cucamonga
January 17-18: Enjoy a day of cultural celebration with lion dances, martial arts performances and more! The event features foods from local vendors and carnival rides. Check out the Artisan Marketplace and where local artisans showcase their crafts.
MLK Day Parade & Celebration | Gardena
January 17: Celebrate Dr. King with a lively community parade and festival featuring bands, entertainment, booths, and food trucks. FREE!
OCSA Connects Community Arts Festival | OCSA Campus, Santa Ana
January 17: This free, annual community festival, hosted on the campus of Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), offers arts-minded children a full day of play! Kids (ages 5-11) and their families are invited to come take part in arts play areas and experiences while enjoying live performances by OCSA's talented students.
Martin Luther King Jr. Parade | Long Beach
Saturday, January 17: The parade kicks off at the intersection of MLK and Anaheim St., followed by a park celebration with performances, kid zone, food and merchandize vendors, and more. FREE!
Family Fest: Lunar New Year | The Wallis, Beverly Hills
January 17: Enjoy lion and dragon dances, martial arts demos, and hands-on crafts celebrating the Year of the Horse. FREE!
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration | Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Culver City
January 17: Celebrate MLK’s legacy with live performances, community exhibits, and a day of service-focused activities. FREE!
MLK Jr. Concert | Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles
January 17: Don't miss the return of the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles—the largest Black majority orchestra in the nation—performing their MLK Jr. tribute concert.
Dancing in the Light: Healing with the Arts | Debbie Allen Dance Academy, LA
January 18: Take free dance classes, enjoy an aerial demo, and join a live sculpture talk at Debbie Allen Dance Academy’s MLK community celebration. FREE!
Kidical Mass Bike Ride | Bixby Knolls
January 18: Kidical Mass returns! Join us as we celebrate what “community” looks like and enjoy a fun neighborhood bike ride this Sunday, January 18.
LA Kites and Friends | Long Beach
January 18: Watch kites fill the sky and join a casual community fly-day with LA Kits and Friends. FREE!
CAAM Scavenger Hunt: King Day | California African American Museum, LA
January 18: Hunt for clues through CAAM’s galleries in a King Day–themed scavenger challenge, with prizes for the first teams to complete their boards. FREE!
King Day 2026 | California African American Museum, LA
January 19: Honor Dr. King through music, hands-on art, and a community book drive at this daylong celebration of service and reflection. FREE!
Disclaimer: The Kidsguide team does their best to keep event details accurate at the time of posting, but information can change without notice! Be sure to double-check with the event organizer before heading out. Kidsguide is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or changes on our calendar—we’re just here to help you find the fun!
