All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
Santa Saves Christmas! Live Stage Show Drive-In – Ventura Fairgrounds
DECEMBER 19-20: Oh no! Santa's sleigh has run out of gas! Help Santa and his team fill the tank with holiday cheer or Christmas will be ruined. Snowy surprises, holiday sing-a-long songs, spectacular performances and more await you in this brand-new holiday adventure live on stage.
Sing-a-Long with Mrs. Claus at SOCO’s Holiday Storytime
SATURDAYS, NOVEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 19: Every Saturday, children and families are invited to join the holiday fun by taking part in a variety of festive activities — including music, shopping, and story time with Mrs. Claus. She'll read a seasonal children's book near the West entrance. One lucky attendee who RSVPs in advance will be entered to win a personalized copy of that day's featured storybook, with a note written by Mrs. Claus herself!
Holiday Express Train – Fillmore & Western Railway
WEEKENDS, NOVEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 20: Enjoy a fun scenic train ride on vintage train cars. Stop at Prancer's Christmas Farm for sleigh rides, Christmas lights, music, Santa, and more. Then visit the Loose Caboose to purchase produce, feed chickens, enjoy holiday displays, and more.
North Pole Express Train – Fillmore & Western Railway
WEEKENDS, NOVEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 20: The North Pole Express departs from Prancer's Christmas Farm (located in Santa Paula). Enjoy the farm then come onboard for a magical 1-hour evening train ride to the "North Pole." See Santa and wave at his elves and enjoy storytelling fun.
Winter Wonderland Fair Foodie Fest – Angel Stadium
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4-20: Enjoy free car entry to Winter Wonderland Fair Foodie Fest featuring Christmas lights, giant inflatable Santa, huge Christmas tree and more. Play Christmas carnival games from your car and enjoy Christmas-themed fair foods.
Santa’s “Stop, Wave and Go” in Mission Viejo
WEEKENDS, NOVEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 20: Santa is extremely excited for the holiday season and wants everyone to stay safe and healthy. This year, he has changed his plans and will be swinging into Mission Viejo for a nightly “Stop, Wave and Go”. Every Saturday and Sunday, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be outside the workshop waving as you safely drive by. Make sure to bring your “Letter to Santa” to drop off and one of his cheerful elves will collect it.
The Nutcracker: Short & Sweet – Irvine Barclay Theatre
DECEMBER 19-23: Festival Ballet Theatre invites you to a fun and safe way to celebrate the cherished holiday tradition of The Nutcracker. This bite-size version of the beloved ballet features many of your favorite characters portraying the full Nutcracker story on an outdoor stage adjacent to the Barclay. Enjoy this family-friendly event under an open-air audience tent. Each party will have a reserved pod that includes seating for up to five people, and will be socially distanced from other groups. $150-200.
Holiday Drive-In Movie Nights Under the Stars – Irvine Spectrum Center
NOVEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 27: Drive-in movie nights at Irvine Spectrum Center are back! Hang out (in your cars) for drive-in movie nights. Now featuring holiday movies to help you and your family celebrate the season safely. Admission, $60 per car. Includes a $20 Irvine Spectrum Center gift card to use toward dinner or snacks.
Weekend Wonderland at Ocean Institite
WEEKENDS, DECEMBER 12-27: Join in the Reindeer Games Lab to race reindeer and squid, learn about and make your own snow in The More You Snow Lab, build a miniature sand snowman in CA White Christmas Lab, and build your own holiday cards and chromatography ornaments in our Workshop.
🖥 Bowers Virtual Festival of Winter Holiday Celebrations
DECEMBER 27: This festival will feature the beautiful Mexican traditions of Las Posadas, a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph seeking refuge for the birth of the Baby Jesus, among other celebrations.
3-Day Rock Climbing Camp – Sender One in Santa Ana
NOVEMBER 23-25, DECEMBER 21-23 and 28-30: Looking for something fun and health-conscious to do for your child this season? Sign up for Sender One's 3-day rock climbing camp! Activities include rope climbing, bouldering, games, zip line, king swing, slackline, and Sender City.
Bionerds Winter Break Camps in Irvine
DECEMBER 21-23 and 28-30: Bionerds welcomes children Kindergarten-6th Grade to participate in fun, hands-on biology. Your child will learn vast biology topics from micorganisms to humans.
Lil Chef School – 3-day Winter Baking & Savory Camps
Lil Chefs will bake up some fun Holiday dishes while learning proper baking techniques as well as knife skills, how to follow a recipe and working as a team to complete each dish. Lil Chefs will get to enjoy what they make in class. Sign up for one day or one week.
El Dorado Nature Center Winter-Break Workshops – Registration Starts December 1
Workshops for ages 5-8 include Batty for Bats, Winter Wonders, Wildlife Workbench, By the Light of the Moon, Tasty Tree-ets and more. Registration begins December 1. Register early as workshops fill up fast.
Winter Break Skateboarding Camp – Skatedogs in Long Beach & Irvine
DECEMBER 21-23 and 28-31: Whether your kids (5-13, all levels) are just learning or ready to learn advanced tricks, this camp is right for them! They’ll make new friends, advance their skills, play games, and most importantly, have fun!
A Cabazon Dinosaurs Christmas – Roadside Attraction
NOVEMBER 6 - JANUARY 1: Celebrate Christmas in a big way! For the first time ever, Mr. Rex has put on his Santa suit and is ready for your family Christmas photo! Santa Claus and his Velociraptor pulling sleigh will be at the Cabazon Dinosaurs for family photos. Stroll through the Outdoor Dinosaur Trail and visit the Wafflesaurus Truck for treats on select days.
Holidays in Your Car – Ventura Fairgrounds
NOVEMBER 22 - JANUARY 2: Discover a symphony of sight and sound at one of Southern California's largest drive-thru holiday light spectaculars! Holidays in Your Car features more than one million LED lights, holograms, and projection mapping animated to classic holiday tunes.
Electric Noel – SilverLakes Park in Norco
DECEMBER 3 - JANUARY 3: Discover the neon glow this holiday season with Electric Noel, a high-tech Christmas drive-thru experience! Journey from Santa’s command center and the elf village, to Main Street and Mistletoe Lane - amongst many other magical, high-tech spectacles. The highly mechanized technology culminates with an automated surprise you won’t want to miss.
Hot Wheels Ultimate Drive-Thru – Toyota Arena in Ontario
DECEMBER 3 - JANUARY 10: Use code KGM10 for $10 off your ticket! Journey into a one-of-a-kind, contactless experience where the world of Hot Wheels comes to life right outside your windows! Drive through this larger than life showcase of everyone's favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks, specialty Monster Trucks, Garage of Legends vehicles, robots and more.
Happy Place: Drive-Thru Experience
NOVEMBER 20 - JANUARY 10: Happy Place - The Drive Thru features 18 larger-than-life experiences and interactive moments. Some highlights include the world's first giant piano you play with your car, a rainbow road, and a pulsating nightclub for your car.
Reflections at Descanso Gardens
NOVEMBER 14 - JANUARY 10: Enjoy art pieces in the garden, special seasonal plantings, self-guided activities, and a beautiful Wishing Tree created by artist Kaz Youkou Kitajima. Highlights include the Golden Grove, Floral Arches, Mirror Tree, Winter Plantings, and Deer Sculptures. Included with admission.
Birding Opportunity at Rancho Los Cerritos
JANUARY 14: Stroll through the grounds of the historic rancho and watch both resident birds and seasonal migrants. Family friendly!
STEM Fun at Rancho Los Cerritos with Shared Science
FEBRUARY 15: Shared Science will be onsite at Rancho Los Cerritos for a Long Beach History and STEM Education lesson. This is a student/parent visit. Students will explore how water moves and learn why water was so important on a working ranch as they do a hands-on activity with herbs in the garden. Students will also build and test a simple machine that moves water up an incline.
Construction Instruction Fun – Shared Science at Rancho Los Cerritos
JANUARY 18: Shared Science will be onsite at Rancho Los Cerritos for a Long Beach History STEM education lesson. This is a student/parent visit. A Rancho Los Cerritos docent will guide students in an adobe construction activity. Then, alongside a Shared Science instructor, students will create a LEGO robotics earthquake simulator platform, further exploring structural stability.
🖥 Shared Science Valentine’s Day E-Card using Scratch Coding
JANUARY 21: Fun coding intro to Scratch and make an e-card for Valentine's Day! For grades K-5.
🖥 Virtual Hour of Code: Beginning Python with Shared Science
JANUARY 12 & 26: Learn how, why, and when to write python code functions, the powerhouses of the cell! Instructor Burk will guide students (3rd grade +) through the codesters.com lesson as a zoom-along.
🖥 Virtual Whalefest Monterey 2021
JANUARY 26-29: Don’t miss the award-winning 11th Annual Whalefest Monterey, a free virtual video event available for viewing from anywhere around the world with something entertaining and educational for all ages, especially for ages 15 and up and families who love marine life.
Inside Out: Dissections at Ocean Institute
Learn about a squid’s internal and external anatomy in this outdoor, socially distanced dissection. After, participants will be able to observe animals at the ocean institute including swell sharks, variety of fish and a California spiny lobster. Each booking will receive their own individual squid to dissect.
Drive-In Movie Night Under the Stars – Irvine Spectrum Center
JANUARY 29 & 31: Admission is $60 per car and includes a $20 Irvine Spectrum Center gift card* to use toward dinner or snacks from one of their restaurants before the flick.
Hogs & Kisses – Tanaka Farms in Irvine
FEBRUARY 1-14: Visit Tanaka Farms' adorable and lovable piglets and sheep. Learn about these little farm cuties while touring the farm on a U-Pick Wagon Ride.
Museum of Dream Space – Beverly Hills
NOW OPEN - FEBRUARY 28: MODS is inspired by art design from Yayoi Kusama (famous of infinite rooms) and the development of digital art. The aim of MODS is to provide an immersive, magical and unique art appreciative experiences to the visitors.
Red Lantern Display at The District at Tustin Legacy
FEBRUARY 5-21: Bring your family for memorable group selfie at the Lunar New Year Photo Display under a sea of Red Chinese Lanterns in the Union Market Courtyard.
Glow in the Dark Pony Rides – Pony Time at Lakewood Equestrian Center
FEBRUARY 7: Join Pony Time after hours for a glow in the dark pony ride! Tickets will be available for purchase at the door starting at 5:15 pm. Last tickets will be sold at 6:15 pm. Ticket includes one glowing pony ride and a glow stick for the rider.
Lunar New Year Craft Kits – Santa Ana Library
FEBRUARY 8-12: Visit the library and receive a mystery craft grab bag and a special treats. Craft kids will be distributed at the Main and Newhope Library while supplies last. Limit one per child.
“Enchanted” – PCH Movies & Moonlight in Long Beach
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12: Celebrate Valentine's Day with 2nd & PCH and enjoy Disney's Enchanted. Movies are complimentary to the community; self-seating is available on a first come first serve basis. Seating will be limited due to social distancing. Feel free to bring your own lawn chairs and blankets.
Alice in Wonderland Valentine’s Day Tea Party – Play & Parties in Orange
FEBRUARY 13: Join Alice for a special Valentine's Day celebration full of sweet treats and fun games. Sessions at noon and 3 p.m. There are only 10 tickets per session.
Parent & Me Painting Class – Sherman Library & Gardens
FEBRUARY 13: Create your own nature journal and fill the first page with a flower! You will work together to observe the colors and qualities of a beautiful Camellia bloom from the garden and use simple watercolor techniques to create your own botanical portrait.
Electric Mile – A Drive-Thru Audiovisual Experience – Santa Anita Park
NOW - FEBRUARY 14: Journey through seven unique worlds of Insomniac's most iconic festivals and brands complete with music, lights, art, visual effects, installations, and more in a COVID-friendly environment. Electric Mile is an all ages, family-friendly affair, welcoming all from young to old.
Valentine’s Princess Photoshoot at Le Petite Princesse in Orange
FEBRUARY 14: Your princess will be getting a princess makeover and one-on-one time with Cinderella, Belle, and Aurora! Package includes princess dress up, glitter princess hairstyle, make up, meet and greet, and edited photographs emailed to you.
Rockin’ Tots Valentine’s Day Party at Rockin’ Jump OC
Sunday, February 14: Bring your little ones to jump and bounce for Valentine's Day! Enjoy arts and crafts, complimentary coffee and sweet treats, and a tattoo station. Price: $15, one child / $5 each for additional children. One parent jumps for free.
Valentine Picture Pony at Pony Time in Lakewood
FEBRUARY 6-7 and 13-14: Take a picture with a pony for Valentine's Day! Tickets for pictures are $6 and is available all day from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., no appointment needed.
Skateboard Education Series with Skatedogs in Huntington Beach & Long Beach
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15: Join Skatedogs on Presidents Day to learn about The History of Skateboarding. This skateboarding workshop is designed to help your child gain knowledge, find an appreciation, and develop a passion for skateboarding. Enjoy skateboarding lessons, games, and prizes.
Shared Science Workshop at Rancho Los Cerritos
FEBRUARY 15: Shared Science will be onsite at Rancho Los Cerritos for a Long Beach history and STEM lesson. Guided by an RLC educator, students will explore how water moves – both naturally and by design – around Rancho Los Cerritos and learn why water was so important on a working ranch while they do a hands-on activity with herbs in the garden.
Valentines Celebration Puppet Show – Pacific City in Huntington Beach
Tuesday, February 16: Join PC Grommets Kids Club for an outdoor Valentine's puppet show, story time, and take home craft. Pre-registration required.
🖥 Family Story Time & Collage Workshop – California African American Museum
FEBRUARY 17: CAAM is partnering with the Los Angeles Public Library to present a story time and workshop for families.
Explore the Marsh – Field Trip with Bionerds
FEBRUARY 21: Bionerds invites the public to join them on monthly field trips to different nature sites in Orange County. This month, take a field trip to the San Joaquin Marsh for students in K-8th grade. The trip includes a 1.5-hour guided tour of the marsh and Urban Forest. Plus, an organism scavenger hunt!
Sesame Parade of Lights Drive-Thru Experience – SeaWorld San Diego
SELECT DATES, JANUARY 15 - FEBRUARY 24: Journey through twinkling lights, dance to a lively Sesame Street soundtrack, and wave hi to your favorite furry friends. Venture under the illuminated SkyTower, drive under two different tunnels of lights, and cruise through Sesame Street Village.
🖥 Kids Virtual Cooking Classes – Chef Tech Cooking School
EVERY WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3-25: Kids can follow along each week from the comfort of their own kitchen! Chef Tech provides all ingredients available for pickup or delivery (within 10 miles).
February Camps, Parent Night Outs & Workshops at Lil’ Chef School
FEBRUARY 12, 13, 15 & 26: Fun mini-camps will be held when the kids are off school on February 12 and 15. Kids can enjoy a Parents Night Out with a Valentine theme, February 13 and 26.
Roar & Snore Safari – San Diego Safari Park
February 13-14, 19-20, and 26-27: Spend the night at the Safari Park with your family! Campers of all ages are invited to experience a relaxing evening after hours, enjoying the Roar & Snore campground. Families will get a chance to relax at camp, visit nearby animal areas at their leisure, and enjoy camp activities.
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!
