All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
Santa’s Workshop | Civic Center, Mission Viejo
December 2-20: Visit Santa and Mrs. Claus for festive photos and explore Santa's Village in Mission Viejo on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. FREE!
The Music of Hey Arnold! Live! | The Belasco, Los Angeles
December 2: 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.
Free Day at The Huntington Library
EVERY FIRST THURSDAY: The first Thursday of every month is Free Day. Admission is free of charge with advance reservation.
Merry & Bright Nights | Sherman Library & Gardens, Corona del Mar
December 3-22: Wander through twinkling gardens with Santa, holiday crafts, a Wishing Tree, model trains, festive food, photo ops, and a holiday dance party.
Grand Illuminations Opening Celebration | The Yard at Cal Plaza, Los Angeles
December 3: See DTLA glow with interactive light installations, a holiday market, live entertainment, and a community countdown and tree lighting at Cal Plaza. FREE!
Joy Around the World: Festival of Holidays & Tree Lighting | El Segundo
December 3: Celebrate winter holidays from around the world with a tree lighting, Santa, gift giveaway, crafts, food, live performances, and more in El Segundo. FREE!
Cool Yule Celebration | Pacific City, Huntington Beach
December 3: Celebrate the holidays at Pacific City with Santa, a tree lighting, crafts, cookie decorating, s'mores, hot cocoa, live entertainment, and festive photo ops. FREE!
Holiday Snow Village | Barnes Park, Monterey Park
December 3: Play in the snow, go sledding, take pictures with Santa, ride a trackless train, make holiday crafts, and more at Monterey Park's Holiday Snow Village. Snow activities require registration. FREE!
Cal Heights Tree Lighting | California Heights, Long Beach
December 3: Play in 10 tons of real snow, meet Santa, hear local school choirs, and enjoy family activities, treats, character photos, and a 20-foot tree lighting in Cal Heights. FREE!
All Is Bright Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting | Aliso Viejo Town Center, Aliso Viejo
December 3: Welcome Santa and celebrate the season with a 22-foot tree lighting, train rides, face painting, community performances, magical snowfall, crafts, and festive photo ops. FREE!
Holiday Tree Lighting Sled-tacular | Town Plaza, Culver City
December 3: Play and sled in 50 tons of real snow, enjoy carnival games, meet Santa, and watch 250 local students perform during Downtown Culver City's holiday tree lighting. FREE!
Holiday Stroll | Riviera Village, Redondo Beach
December 3: Meet Santa and the Grinch, ride the carousel, shop the Jolly Maker's Market, and enjoy festive activities and photo ops at Riviera Village's Holiday Stroll. FREE!
Christmas Tree Lighting | Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos
December 3: Enjoy holiday games, cookie decorating, live performances, hot chocolate, tacos, and a Christmas tree lighting at the Joint Forces Training Base. Civilians welcome. FREE!
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony | City Hall, Glendale
December 3: Celebrate with special holiday performances, Santa, and the lighting of Glendale's City Hall tree. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Cram-A-Classic Toy Drive.
Tree Lighting Ceremony | Civic & Cultural Center, Brea
December 3: Celebrate the season with Brea's annual tree lighting, live music and entertainment, a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and free selfies with Santa. FREE!
Tree Lighting Ceremony & Winter Festival | Ken Dyda Civic Center, Rancho Palos Verdes
December 4-5: Play and sled in real snow, enjoy crafts, cocoa, s'mores, carolers, guided night hikes, and the lighting of a Christmas tree and Menorah at Rancho Palos Verdes' winter celebration. FREE!
Christmas Car Wash | Carwood Express Car Wash, Downey
December 4-23: Drive through a festive Christmas Car Wash with holiday characters, interactive fun, a car wash, and a photo op with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Rancho Voices: A Holiday Celebration | Rancho Los Alamitos, Long Beach
December 4-5: Step back in time for a 1920s-inspired holiday celebration with a decorated Ranch House, historical stories, crafts, refreshments, and a holiday market.
December Nights | Balboa Park, San Diego
December 4-5: San Diego's December Nights returns to Balboa Park with festive lights, live entertainment, cultural performances, family activities, museum experiences, food, and headliner Clay Aiken. FREE!
Candlelight Walk at Heritage Hill Historical Park in Lake Forest
December 4-6: Stroll through decorated historic grounds, enjoy live music and kids' crafts, visit Santa, and snap festive holiday photos. FREE!
Taste of Japan Winter Wonderland | STC Rowland Legacy, Rowland Heights
December 4-6: Enjoy Japanese street food, cultural performances, cosplay, shopping, holiday fun, and a special live sumo experience on Saturday and Sunday. FREE!
Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas at Chance Theater in Anaheim
December 4-27: Ooh, la la! This year, Nancy is especially excited. After selling some of her old gowns and accessories, she has enough money to buy a brand-new sparkly tree topper. But when things don’t turn out the way Nancy planned, does Christmas still stand a chance of being splendiferous?
Breakfast with Santa | Newport Coast Community Center, Newport Beach
December 4: Your little ones will be treated to a tasty breakfast along with crafts, train rides, a bouncer, and of course, a photo with Santa!
Friday Fun | Madrona Marsh Nature Center, Torrance
Every Friday: Explore nature with story time, crafts, science, and guided activities designed for preschoolers. FREE!
Tree Lighting Ceremony | The Centre, Lakewood
December 4: Celebrate Lakewood's tree lighting with falling snow, Santa visits, carnival games, holiday music, costumed characters, festive photo ops, and food trucks. FREE!
Rick’s Tree Lighting Grand Illumination | Rick’s Drive-In, Whittier
December 4: Celebrate the holiday season at Rick's Tree Lighting Grand Illumination in Whittier.
Christmas Tree Lighting | Buena Park City Hall, Buena Park
December 4: Celebrate the holidays with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, a Santa train, letters to Santa, photo ops, food vendors, and the lighting of Buena Park's Christmas tree. FREE!
Winter Wonderland & Holiday Tree Lighting | Artesia Park, Artesia
December 4: Celebrate the holidays with a tree lighting, free snow play, kids' performances, Santa photos, craft vendors, food trucks, and winter fun at Artesia Park. FREE!
Tree Lighting | Laguna Hills Community Center
December 4: Kick off the holiday season with an evening of festive lights, carolers, refreshments, crafts, and a visit from Santa. FREE!
Christmas Tree Lighting & Holiday Stroll | Old Town Tustin
December 4: Visit the Dreamers Market, see stage performances, stop by the Snow Village, and take photos with Santa during Tustin’s annual tree lighting. FREE!
Let It Snow | West Covina City Hall, West Covina
December 4: Play in the snow and celebrate the season with holiday festivities, entertainment, and family fun at West Covina City Hall. FREE!
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.
Seal Beach Christmas Parade | Main Street, Seal Beach
December 4: Celebrate the holidays at the 48th Annual Seal Beach Christmas Parade as it travels down Main Street from the pier to PCH.
Merry-Achi Christmas | Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
December 4-6: Celebrate the season with vibrant mariachi music and beloved Christmas classics at this festive Mexican holiday concert.
The Nutcracker | Irvine Barclay Theatre
December 5-24: A cherished holiday classic, perfect for all ages. Festival Ballet Theatre’s family-friendly breathtaking production features superb colorful scenery and dazzling costumes, which make this age-old tradition sparkle like new. Create holiday memories for your family by sharing the magic of The Nutcracker.
Holidayfest! | South Lake Avenue, Pasadena
December 5: Enjoy photos with Santa, holiday crafts, cookie decorating, an artisan market, live music, shopping, and family activities along South Lake Avenue. FREE!
The Nutcracker for Kids | Segerstrom Concert Hall, Costa Mesa
December 5: Introduce kids to the magic of The Nutcracker with Pacific Symphony, ballet dancers, narration, and festive pre-concert activities. Ages 5+.
Santa’s Village by the Sea | Downtown San Clemente
December 5: Celebrate at Santa's Village by the Sea with Snow Hill, Santa visits, a tree lighting, crafts, games, live entertainment, and a holiday street fair.
Tree Lighting | Fountain Valley Recreation Center & Sports Park, Fountain Valley
December 5: Celebrate the holidays with a tree lighting, snow zone, pictures with Santa, carnival games, community performances, food, and more in Fountain Valley. FREE!
Boat Ride with Santa | Dana Wharf, Dana Point
December 5-6: Take a boat ride with Santa this holiday season around Dana Point Harbor! Tickets are $6 per person.
Holiday Family Overnight | Battleship IOWA, San Pedro
December 5-6: Spend a festive night aboard the Battleship IOWA with dinner, holiday activities, the waterfront holiday boat parade, an overnight stay in real sailor bunks, and breakfast the next morning.
Edward Scissorhands in Concert | The Soraya, Northridge
December 5–6: Watch Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands on screen while a live orchestra performs Danny Elfman's score. Follow Edward and Kim in a modern fairy tale about love, friendship, family, and fitting in.
Teddy Bear Christmas Tea | Casa Romantica, San Clemente
December 5-6: Enjoy a festive Teddy Bear Christmas Tea with seasonal treats, cocoa and cider, live holiday music, Christmas carols, and a special storytime with Mrs. Claus.
A Christmas Carol | Long Beach Playhouse
December 5-20: In this quick-paced, highly theatrical retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic tale, the ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Future show Ebenezer Scrooge the poverty of his material wealth and the blessings that come with generosity.
Aladdin & Yasmin’s Winter Wish | Laguna Playhouse
December 5-27: A festive show with Aladdin, Princess Yasmin, the Genie, and Wishee Washee packed with pop hits, comedy, dancing, magic, and audience participation.
Science of Gingerbread | Discovery Cube Los Angeles, Sylmar
Dec 5 - Jan 10: See more than 200 gingerbread creations showcasing building, engineering, and creativity at Discovery Cube Los Angeles.
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.
Snow Festival & Breakfast with Santa | Arcadia Community Center
December 5: Enjoy free snow play, crafts, games, and a ticketed Breakfast with Santa at Arcadia’s Snow Festival. FREE!
Skate with Santa | Irvine Spectrum
December 5: Enjoy an enchanting morning and skate with Santa!
30th Annual Tree Lighting & Holiday Market | Crystal Cove State Park, Newport Beach
December 5: Celebrate the holidays by the coast with Crystal Cove's Holiday Market, handcrafted gifts, photos with Santa, and the 30th annual Christmas tree lighting. 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!
