All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
Long Beach Turkey Trot | Granada Launch Ramp, Long Beach
November 26: Join this Thanksgiving day race for a good cause! Includes a Kids' Half-Mile Wingding Fun Run and adults 5K/10K.
Pacific Palisades Turkey Trot
November 26: The annual Palisades Development Turkey Trot is here once again! The holiday 5K & 10K, plus Pali Kids Runs will be held at Palisades Charter High School.
OC/Irvine Turkey Trot
November 26: Run up your appetite in Irvine! Join Turkey Trotters at OC's Turkey Trot at Irvine Valley College. One-mile Turkey Dash, Kid's Gobble Wobble, and 5K.
5K Turkey Trot | Rose Bowl, Pasadena
November 26: Join the annual Rose Bowl Turkey Trot! Runners, walkers, skippers, and jumpers alike can participate this year by running around the 5K recreational loop at America’s Stadium. Known for being a Pasadena family favorite and a Thanksgiving morning tradition.
Drumstick Dash LA | NoHo Arts District, North Hollywood
November 26: Run, jog, or walk a Thanksgiving 5K or 10K through the NoHo Arts District with DJs, giveaways, a costume contest, finisher medals, and more, all benefiting Hope the Mission.
Turkey Trot on the Ranch at Rancho Mission Viejo
November 26: The run features a 10K, 5K, and Little Gobbler’s 1K that takes participants through the pathways and walkways of the community of Rancho Mission Viejo.
A Gentle Thanksgiving | The Gentle Barn, Santa Clarita
November 26: Spend Thanksgiving morning with rescued turkeys at The Gentle Barn, feed them their favorite treats, enjoy seasonal desserts and games, and learn about these remarkable birds.
Winter Wonderland | El Dorado Frontier, Long Beach
Nov 26 - Dec 30: Celebrate Winter Wonderland at El Dorado Frontier with snow, holiday lights, Santa visits, festive music, rides, a special nighttime train experience, and more.
Harry Sutter Memorial Turkey Trot | Torrance
November 26: Run or walk a family-friendly 3-mile course at Torrance's annual Turkey Trot, plus enjoy a post-race prize drawing and commemorative T-shirts while supplies last.
Thanksgiving Lunch | Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
November 26: Gobble gobble with the Aquarium’s sea otters, puffins, and other animals for the annual Thanksgiving Feast. Meet over 12,000 animals from the world’s largest ocean, then savor a traditional spread to be served buffet style.
North Pole Limited | Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, Campo
Nov 27 - Dec 20: Climb aboard the North Pole Limited for a 90-minute holiday train ride with elves, sing-alongs, hot chocolate, cookies, and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Yeti’s Snow Play | Mountain High East Resort, Wrightwood
Opens Nov 27: Make it a snow day at Mountain High with tubing, sledding, snow play, Yeti meet-and-greets, and scenic chairlift rides up to 8,200 feet.
Anaheim Ballet’s Nutcracker | Grove of Anaheim
November 27-28: Experience Clara’s journey from a winter night to Candyland in Anaheim Ballet’s full-length Nutcracker, featuring a growing Christmas tree, waltzing flowers, and classic holiday magic.
Thanksgiving Turkey Bash | Lions Tigers & Bears, Alpine
November 27-28: Watch rescued big cats and bears enjoy their own Thanksgiving feast during a special guided visit at Lions Tigers & Bears.
Home Alone in Concert | Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles
November 27-28: Watch Home Alone on the big screen while John Williams' beloved holiday score is performed live at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Apple Butter Festival | Los Rios Rancho, Oak Glen
November 27-29: Celebrate the end of apple season with live music, pumpkin painting, coloring and kids crafts, cider tasting tour, autumn foliage carriage tours, and apple butter making. FREE!
Sleeping Beauty, Once Upon a Winter Dream | Helen Borgers Theatre, Long Beach
November 20 - December 6: See the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty come to life in a fully staged production exploring resilience, renewal, hope, and joy at Long Beach's Helen Borgers Theatre.
Christmas on the Farm | Underwood Family Farms, Moorpark
Nov 27 - Dec 24: Celebrate Christmas on the Farm with Santa visits, wagon rides, farm animals, holiday photo ops, trains, games, Christmas trees, and more.
North Pole Railway | Travel Town, Griffith Park, Los Angeles
Nov 27 - Dec 24: Board an authentic train car for a journey to the North Pole, then explore a transformed Travel Town filled with holiday lights, Santa visits, s'mores, festive activities, and more.
Scrooge! The Musical | Chance Theater, Anaheim
Nov 27 - Dec 27: Follow Ebenezer Scrooge on a musical Christmas Eve journey filled with ghosts, humor, memorable songs, and holiday spirit. Ages 4+.
Newport Beach Boat Parade & Holiday Lights Cruises in Newport Beach
Nov 27 - Jan 2, 2027: Experience Newport Harbor in full holiday décor aboard a decorated vessel on a 75-minute holiday lights cruise. View multi million dollar estates and vessels all decked out with thousands of lights.
Solvang Julefest | Solvang
Nov 27 - Jan 3: Experience the holidays Danish-style at Solvang Julefest with nightly light shows, a Nisser hunt, Santa visits, a tree lighting, parade, holiday markets, carolers, family activities, and more. FREE!
Fire & Lights Festival | Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort
Nov 27 - Jan 3: See more than 50 floating holiday light displays at Newport Dunes, plus fire dancers, Santa visits, giant inflatables, s'mores, and festive waterfront fun.
Friday Fun | Madrona Marsh Nature Center, Torrance
Every Friday: Explore nature with story time, crafts, science, and guided activities designed for preschoolers. FREE!
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live
NOVEMBER 27: With plenty of fan-favorite songs and exciting visual effects, this musical stage adventure welcomes audiences on a joyful, nostalgia-filled trip to Fraggle Rock. With lots of music, laughter and imagination, it’s an unforgettable live experience that will have Silly Creatures of all ages dancing in the aisles!
Lighting of the Bay & Fire & Lights Festival Opening Night | Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, Newport Beach
November 27: Watch Santa light more than 50 floating holiday displays on the bay, plus enjoy live music, crafts, train rides, inflatables, a fire dance performance, s'mores, Santa photos, and a movie on the beach. FREE!
Nightly Tree Lighting | Irvine Spectrum Center, Irvine
November 27 - January 3: See Irvine Spectrum Center's 75-foot Christmas tree sparkle during a dazzling nightly holiday light show in SunWheel Court. FREE!
Jingle Jets Holiday Lighting Celebration | USS Midway Museum, San Diego
Select nights Nov 27 - Dec 30: See the USS Midway decked out with more than a million lights, Santa, holiday model trains, interactive games, carolers, a talking Christmas tree, and more.
Luminaria Nights | California Botanic Garden, Claremont
December 4-19: Wander through glowing luminarias and illuminated gardens while enjoying live music, art installations, food, drinks, and festive nighttime scenery.
Elf in Concert | Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles
November 28-29: Watch Elf on the big screen accompanied by a live performance of the film's score by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
Yuletide Cinemaland | Heritage Square Museum, Los Angeles
Nov 28 - Dec 23: Celebrate the season with holiday movies under the stars, Victorian home tours, food trucks, vendors, Santa appearances, and festive photo ops at Heritage Square Museum.
Holiday Carnival | Norwalk Town Square, Norwalk
November 28: Watch Santa arrive by parachute, play in real snow, go sledding, ride ponies, meet Mrs. Claus, enjoy games, crafts, face painting, and more. FREE!
Zaferia Winterfest | Port City Tavern, Long Beach
November 28: Play in real snow, visit Santa, enjoy hot chocolate, face painting, holiday crafts, and more at Zaferia's WinterFest. FREE!
Santa’s Sleigh Day & Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony | Cerritos Civic Center, Cerritos
November 28: Welcome Santa to Cerritos and enjoy crafts, live performances, holiday music, storytime, Santa photos, hot cocoa, and the city's Christmas tree lighting. FREE!
Santa’s Sleigh Day and Christmas Tree Lighting | Cerritos Library, Cerritos
November 28: Welcome Santa and celebrate the season with holiday crafts, live performances, holiday music, and children's storytime. Pose for photos with Santa Claus and count down to the Christmas tree lighting.
Tree Lighting Ceremony | Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes
November 28: Welcome the holidays with carolers, seasonal treats, festive activities, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and Terranea Resort's annual tree lighting.
A Christmas Carol | Rose Center Theater, Westminster
November 29, December 4-6 & 18-20: See Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol come to life as a Broadway musical filled with festive music, dancing, and the timeless story of Scrooge's Christmas transformation.
Field Day | Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
November 29: Step onto the field at Dodger Stadium to hit from home plate, pitch in the bullpen, to
Holiday Carnival | Anaheim Town Square, Anaheim
November 29: Play in real snow, meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, and enjoy sledding, bounce houses, magic shows, face painting, balloon twisting, holiday crafts, and more at Anaheim Town Square.
Santa’s Arrival & Lighting Ceremony | Civic Center Plaza, Mission Viejo
November 29: Enjoy holiday crafts, games, a petting zoo, and live entertainment before Santa makes a grand entrance on a fire engine and lights Mission Viejo's holiday lights. FREE!
Hollywood Christmas Parade
November 29: The annual Hollywood Christmas parade will feature Hollywood celebrities, award-wining marching bands and dance groups from around the country, dazzling equestrians, larger-than-life character balloons, colorful floats and humorous specialty acts. The parade culminates with the appearance of the Jolly Old Elf himself, Santa Claus and his reindeer, ushering in the holiday season!
The Music of Hey Arnold! Live! | The Observatory, Santa Ana
November 29: Celebrate 30 years of Hey Arnold! with original composer Jim Lang and The PS 118 AllStars performing the show's iconic music live, plus special guest and series creator Craig Bartlett.
Make the Holidays Musical with Magic Steps Music!
NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 19: Celebrate the season with Magic Steps Music's holiday session! Designed for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, these interactive classes feature singing, dancing, and child-friendly instruments. Enjoy unlimited classes at indoor and outdoor locations throughout Orange County while celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, and winter through music.
LA County Tree Lighting | Jerry Moss Plaza
November 30: Celebrate the season with snow flurries, hot chocolate, art activities, a holiday market, and a performance by the Los Angeles Master Chorale before the L.A. County tree lighting. FREE!
Elf The Musical | Hollywood Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles
December 1-13: Buddy heads from the North Pole to New York City in Elf The Musical, a hilarious and heartwarming stage adaptation of the beloved holiday movie. Ages 5+.
Ocean Science Scholars | Birch Aquarium at Scripps, La Jolla
November 3 - December 15: Kids ages 6-10 explore kelp forests, amphibians, fish, tide pools, seabirds, marine debris, and more through hands-on aquarium activities on select Tuesdays.
Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration | Civic Center Green, Cypress
December 1: Celebrate the holidays with Santa and Mrs. Claus, train rides, school performances, games, crafts, hot chocolate, cookies, and more at Cypress Civic Center Green. FREE!
Christmas Tree Lighting & Treats with Santa | Civic Center Plaza, Rosemead
December 1: Celebrate Rosemead's Christmas Tree Lighting with holiday carols, Santa photos, treats, a train ride, snow slides, and crafts for kids.
Construction Christmas | Oma’s Family Farm, Lakeside
December 2-5 & 9-12: Celebrate Christmas on the farm with festive hands-on activities, real construction equipment, and tractor demonstrations at Oma's Family Farm.
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!
