All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
Lil’ Chef – December Events
DECEMBER 5, 12 & 19: Kids will have a blast making Gingerbread Cookies, cakes with white snow buttercream frosting with chocolate Twix candied Christmas trees, plus a Cookie Exchange along with Parent's Night Out Gingerbread House decorating.
Home Alone in Concert | Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA
December 5-7: Watch the full Home Alone movie with its iconic score performed live by a full orchestra.
The Return of Peppermint Prince | Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa
December 5-14: Join OCC Theatre for a Christmas melodrama featuring songs, sing-alongs, ice cream treats, audience interaction, and a visit from Santa at each performance.
Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile | Kirk Douglas Theatre, LA
Dec 5 - Jan 4, 2026: Follow a sneaky jungle crocodile on a silly, puppet-filled musical adventure perfect for ages 3 and up.
Wild Tales at Upper Newport Bay in 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!
French Holiday Bazaar | International School of Los Angeles, Burbank
December 5: Enjoy artisan shopping, festive foods, and handmade gifts at this French-inspired holiday bazaar. FREE!
Black Friday Holiday Party | California African American Museum, Los Angeles
December 5: Enjoy music, festive treats, art-making stations, and after-hours access to exhibitions during this holiday party at CAAM. 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.
Family Hike at Black Star Canyon | Irvine Ranch Open Space
March–April (Saturdays): Take a guided 3–4 mile family hike along a flat canyon trail with wildlife spotting and interpretive stops. Registration may be required.
Holidays by the Sea in San Pedro
December 6: Festivities include snow play, crafts, live entertainment like San Pedro Ballet & marionettes, a Christmas Tree lighting in front of the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, and holiday boat parade. FREE!
Holiday Junior Aviator’s Day & Santa Fly-In | Planes of Fame Air Museum, Chino
December 6: See Santa land in a vintage biplane, watch a P-38 Lightning take flight, and explore hands-on aviation workshops during this all-day holiday adventure.
Cars & Creations By The Sea | Huntington Beach State Park
December 6: Browse vendors, see the car show, meet Santa and a blue pup character, and check out the dog adoption area at this beachside community event.
A Victorian Celebration | LA Arboretum
December 6-7 & 13-14: Shop a Victorian marketplace, meet Santa, enjoy dancers and carolers, and explore festive crafts inside the Arboretum’s historic holiday setting.
Holiday Express Train | Metrolink Stations
December 6-21: Start with crafts and treats at the station, then ride a sparkly holiday train with carolers, characters, and Santa onboard.
A Very Sherman Holiday | Sherman Library & Gardens, Corona del Mar
December 6-7: Enjoy handcrafted shopping, Santa photos, festive treats, live music, and Sherman holiday traditions during this new daytime celebration at Sherman Library & Gardens.
All About Santa | Santa Monica Playhouse
December 6-14: Help save the North Pole in a lively, interactive musical filled with elves, villains, inventions, and holiday cheer.
Aquarium Holidays at Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach
December 6-21: Aquarium Holidays features festive décor, photo ops, Kwanzaa display, and meet Surfer Santa on the weekends!
A Snow White Christmas – A Holiday Spectacular at Laguna Playhouse
DECEMBER 6-28 - Selected dates. This season, experience the joy of A Snow White Christmas, a magical panto from the Lythgoe Family! With pop hits from Lady Gaga to Bruno Mars, hilarious audience interaction, and dazzling dancing, it’s a festive treat for all ages. Cheer for Snow White, and boo the wicked Queen in a show bursting with non-stop laughs, sparkle, slapstick, and singalong fun.
King Tide Watch | Roundhouse Aquarium, Manhattan Beach
December 6: Observe one of the year’s highest tides, take photos for a community science project, and learn about coastal changes during this King Tide Watch. FREE!
Santa’s Big Day at Citadel Outlets
December 6: Get ready for a day filled with festive cheer and joyful celebrations at Citadel Outlets' Santa's Big Day Event. It's the perfect way to kick off the holiday season and create unforgettable memories with family and friends. FREE-ish!
Power of the Arts Festival | Discovery Cube Los Angeles
December 6-7: Build festive crafts, explore interactive exhibits, and catch a live concert from Tom Kenny of SpongeBob fame.
Civil War Christmas | Drum Barracks, Wilmington
December 6: Walk through the museum, enjoy educational displays, horse-drawn trolley ride, soldier camp, children's craft, holiday decorations, and more. FREE!
Western Wonderland Holiday Extravaganza | The Autry, LA
December 6: Build snowmen, bounce through holiday playlands, craft ornaments, and meet Santa during this snowy Western celebration.
Montana Avenue Holiday Walk | Montana Avenue, Santa Monica
December 6: Race between Santa photos, train rides, live jazz, character meet-and-greets, and a brand-new tree lighting. FREE!
Holiday Bash with Santa & Gingerbread Girl | SteelCraft, Long Beach
December 6: Meet Santa, make crafts, enjoy live music, and experience surprise snow at SteelCraft’s Holiday Bash. FREE!
Musique Sur La Mer-ry Holiday Concert | Shoreline Village, Long Beach
December 6: Hear live holiday music from local youth orchestras and mariachi performers at a cheerful waterfront concert. FREE!
Christmas at the Beach | Beach City Provisions, Bolsa Chica
December 6: Watch Santa ride in on a jet ski, roast s’mores, enter a beach cleanup raffle, and enjoy a festive movie at sunset. FREE!
Chili Holiday in La Mirada
December 6: Enjoy chili, cookies, and hot drinks plus fun holiday activities including the tree lighting ceremony, photos with Santa, live entertainment, snow sledding, and holiday train ride. FREE!
Long Beach International Tamales Festival
December 7: Try regional tamales, enjoy live music and dance, visit the mercado, and stop by the Kids Zone during this cultural food festival.
Events at Long Beach Public Libraries
Ongoing: Explore free events at Long Beach Public Libraries, including storytimes, workshops, book clubs, and hands-on activities for all ages!
Ubefestmas | Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
December 7: Snack, shop, and stroll through 70+ vendors at this free, ube-themed outdoor festival. FREE!
Breakfast with Santa | Paséa Hotel & Spa, Huntington Beach
December 7, 14, 20. 21: Enjoy a festive brunch buffet, craft stations, and cheerful Santa visits by the ocean.
Getty Drawing Day
October 26 - December 7: Sketch costumed models, explore figure drawing, and learn from guest artists—materials and guidance provided.
Community Day at Back Bay Science Center in Newport Beach
Sundays: Tour labs, touch sea creatures, wander the trails, and watch animal feeding during this free drop-in open house. FREE!
Hug & Groom Horses with Free Rein Foundation
FIRST SUNDAYS: Come learn, hug and groom rescue and therapy horses. You may meet playful mustangs, a feisty thoroughbred, or a big white mule.
International Winter Holidays | Bowers Museum, Santa Ana
December 6: Celebrate Hanukkah, Las Posadas, and Kwanzaa with cultural activities, The Nutcracker, mariachi and klezmer music, art making, face painting, and treats. FREE!
Santa’s Jingle Jam | Various Parks, Gardena
December 7, 10, 16: Santa's Jingle Jam visits three Gardena parks with festive activities, treats, Santa photos, raffles, games, and holiday fun.
Disney On Ice: Let’s Dance! | Honda Center, Anaheim
December 11-15: Dance with Mickey, relive your favorite Disney stories on ice, and join a festive sing-along preshow during this high-energy family show.
A Very Tamale Holiday | Old Town Placentia
December 11: Celebrate with live music, tasty tamales, a snowy North Pole Playground, and a festive tree lighting at this lively Placentia tradition. FREE!
Lil’ Chef – December Events
DECEMBER 5, 12 & 19: Kids will have a blast making Gingerbread Cookies, cakes with white snow buttercream frosting with chocolate Twix candied Christmas trees, plus a Cookie Exchange along with Parent's Night Out Gingerbread House decorating.
Wild Tales at Upper Newport Bay in 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!
Cowboy Christmas | Barnyard Buddies, Lakewood
December 12: Make crafts, meet farm animals, and snap photos with Santa at this festive Western-style holiday night.
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.
Family Hike at Black Star Canyon | Irvine Ranch Open Space
March–April (Saturdays): Take a guided 3–4 mile family hike along a flat canyon trail with wildlife spotting and interpretive stops. Registration may be required.
Surfing Santa Competition in Dana Point
December 13: The annual Surfing Santa & Stand Up Paddle Board Contest was developed in 2010 to benefit Surfers Healing, the original surf camp for children with autism. A one-day event where contestants dress like Santa or other holiday-inspired characters and battle it out in the waves of Salt Creek Beach.
Long Beach Ballet Presents The Nutcracker
Dec 13-14 & 20-21: This production boasts a full symphony orchestra, a flying sleigh, a real live horse, on-stage pyrotechnics, and a cast of over 200.
A Victorian Celebration | LA Arboretum
December 6-7 & 13-14: Shop a Victorian marketplace, meet Santa, enjoy dancers and carolers, and explore festive crafts inside the Arboretum’s historic holiday setting.
Rail Giants Train Museum in Pomona
2nd Weekends: Climb aboard historic locomotives and explore rail history at RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona.
Holiday Express Train | Metrolink Stations
December 6-21: Start with crafts and treats at the station, then ride a sparkly holiday train with carolers, characters, and Santa onboard.
Making Scents of the Ancient World: Pylos Perfume Workshop at the Getty Center
September 21 - January 10: In this free, drop-in, perfume-making workshop, you can create your own perfume inspired by an ancient recipe from Pylos, in southern Greece.
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!
