All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
Holly Berry Tea | Heritage Museum of Orange County, Santa Ana
December 5: Enjoy a traditional Victorian holiday tea inside the historic Kellogg House with scones, sweet and savory bites, fine teas, and festive décor. Ages 8+.
Santa’s Winter Wonderland | Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles
December 5: Play in the snow, meet Santa, make holiday crafts, enjoy a Candyland bounce house and slide, live music, festive treats, and more at the Autry.
Santa’s Arrival Celebration | Lido Marina Village, Newport Beach
December 5: Watch Santa arrive by boat, then listen to live music from the Holiday Belles. Sip gourmet hot chocolate, decorate cookies, and pose for photos with holiday characters.
Holiday Celebration | The District at Tustin Legacy, Tustin
December 5: Celebrate the holidays with Santa photos, crafts, music, a festive train, and more family fun at The District at Tustin Legacy. FREE!
Victorian Christmas | Banning Museum, Wilmington
December 5: Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, Saint Nick, family crafts, cookies and cider, holiday shopping, and an A Christmas Carol-themed tour of the Banning Mansion. FREE!
La Pastorela: A Mexican Christmastime Tradition | Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum
December 5: See the La Pastorela Christmas play put on by the CSUDH Teatro Department. Kick off the Christmas festivities with oriejas and champurrado as you watch the play in the museum's historic veranda.
Jolly Holiday | Promenade at Downey
December 5: Kick-off the holiday season with kid's activities, music, restaurant booth, photo opportunities, Santa and the Grinch, magical snowfall, and more. FREE!
Winter in the Grove | Village Green Park, Garden Grove
December 5: Play in 50 tons of snow with nine unlimited snow slides, plus Santa and Mrs. Claus, crafts, carnival games, entertainment, holiday shopping, and a tree lighting. FREE!
Winter Wonderland | City Hall, Gardena
December 5: Enjoy snow play, crafts, shopping, and more at Gardena’s Winter Wonderland. FREE!
Illuminate Irvine at Great Park Palm Court Arts Complex
December 5: Ring in the season with winter-wonderland inspired activities and holiday music classics. The evening culminates with the lighting of the Holiday Tree and Palm Court Arts Complex. FREE!
Winter Wonderland | Montebello City Hall
December 5: Enjoy snow slides, ice skating, Santa photos, live entertainment, a holiday market, and the tree lighting at Montebello's Winter Wonderland. FREE!
Christmas Tree Lane Lighting Ceremony & Winterfest | Altadena
December 5: Shop Winterfest, enjoy live entertainment and kids' activities, meet Santa, and watch nearly a mile of towering trees illuminate with more than 20,000 lights on Christmas Tree Lane. FREE!
Winter Wonderland | St. Isidore Historical Plaza, Los Alamitos
December 5: Kick off the holidays with with free snow play and ice skating! Enjoy for musical entertainment, snow sledding, tree lighting, and Santa's Village. FREE!
Tree Lighting Celebration | Historic Town Center Park, San Juan Capistrano
December 5: Celebrate the holidays with a tree lighting, Santa photos, train rides, a puppet show, bounce houses, s'mores, kids activities, live entertainment, and more. FREE!
Holiday on Main | Main Street, Yorba Linda
December 5: Celebrate Holiday on Main with a Christmas tree lighting, petting zoo, live holiday performances, local makers, and festive shopping. FREE!
Tree Lighting | Laguna Niguel
December 5: Celebrate the holidays with Santa, cookie decorating, crafts, games, live entertainment, and Laguna Niguel's Christmas tree lighting. FREE!
Holiday Boat Parade Sail | LA Maritime Institute, San Pedro
December 5: Experience the LA Harbor Holiday Boat Parade from the water aboard a tall ship and sail alongside festively decorated boats through the harbor.
Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting Ceremony | Pico Rivera City Hall, Pico Rivera
December 5: Celebrate the holidays with snow, festive family fun, and Pico Rivera's annual tree lighting ceremony.
Belmont Shore Christmas Parade | Belmont Shore, Long Beach
December 5: Light up Belmont Shore for a nighttime Christmas parade featuring more than 100 entries, marching bands, festive floats, colorful costumes, and Santa Claus. FREE!
Mayor’s Tree Lighting | Burbank City Hall, Burbank
December 5: Enjoy live performances, a visit from Santa, and the lighting of the City Hall tree at Burbank's annual Mayor's Tree Lighting. FREE!
L.A. Harbor Holiday Afloat Parade | Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro & Wilmington
December 5: Watch illuminated boats cruise through the Port of Los Angeles during the annual L.A. Harbor Holiday Afloat Parade, with waterfront viewing in San Pedro and Wilmington. FREE!
Sensory-Friendly Sunday | Children’s Museum, La Habra
May 3: Explore the museum with reduced noise, dim lighting, and a calm, sensory-friendly environment.
Christmas Market & Tree Lighting | Old Towne Orange, Orange
December 6: Explore a festive Christmas market with local vendors, seasonal treats, live entertainment, and activities before the lighting of Orange's Christmas tree. FREE!
Corona del Mar Christmas Walk | Corona del Mar
December 6: Stroll through Corona del Mar Village for live music, Santa visits, children's activities, vendors, street performers, local shopping, and a new hop-on, hop-off trolley. FREE!
Nutcracker Holiday Village & Tree Lighting | Downtown Anaheim
December 6: Ring in the holidays with Tuba Christmas, Santa and Mrs. Claus, crafts, shopping, festive treats, live entertainment, and Anaheim's Nutcracker Holiday Tree Lighting. FREE!
Long Beach Christmas Tree Lighting | Terrace Theater Plaza, Long Beach
December 7: Celebrate the holidays with a 67-foot Christmas tree, 500,000+ lights, Santa, free train rides, live performances, falling snow, and a fireworks finale in Downtown Long Beach. FREE with required ticket!
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.
Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan | Various Southern California Locations
December 9-13: Catch the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan at stops throughout Southern California for festive activities, interactive experiences, product sampling, and more holiday fun.
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.
Kids Club | The Grove, Los Angeles
June 3–24: Enjoy weekly kids shows with music, puppets, and storytelling at AMC theaters.
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.
American Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker | Segerstrom Center, Costa Mesa
December 10-24: Celebrating its 11th season at Segerstrom Center, SoCal’s favorite holiday tradition returns with American Ballet Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of The Nutcracker. American Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker is one of the great joys of the holiday season. Make a memory with your loved ones!
Holiday Lights | Heritage Hill Historical Park, Lake Forest
December 11-13: Wander through twinkling holiday lights and festive photo opportunities during special evening hours at Heritage Hill Historical Park. FREE!
Winter Fest | Woodbridge Village Center, Irvine
December 11: Enjoy retro caroling, hot cocoa, classic candy canes, ornament decorating, and sweet surprises at Winter Fest in Irvine.
Friday Fun | Madrona Marsh Nature Center, Torrance
Every Friday: Explore nature with story time, crafts, science, and guided activities designed for preschoolers. 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.
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.
Lowe’s Kids Workshops
MyLowe’s Rewards Kids Workshops are free, hands-on DIY experiences designed just for kids. Feb 21: Birdhouse / Mar 21: Lawn Mower / Apr 18: Terrarium / May 16: Garden Basket / Jun 13: Trophy Cup / Jul 18: Mini Toy Box / Sep 12: Haunted House / Oct 17: Firefighting Plane / Nov 14: Holiday Engine / Dec 12: Holiday Trolley Car / Jan 16, 2027: Winter Play Lodge
Sensory Friendly Saturdays | GRAMMY Museum, LA
2nd Saturdays: Explore the GRAMMY Museum in a calmer, sensory-friendly environment with softer lighting and reduced noise levels.
Apollo Lighting | Columbia Memorial Space Center, Downey
December 12: Join the Columbia Memorial Space Center for a day of festive wonder and exploration!
Peninsula Parade of Lights | Rolling Hills Estates
December 12: Ring in the holidays with festive floats, marching bands, community groups, and Santa at the Peninsula Parade of Lights in Rolling Hills Estates. FREE!
$5 Play Day | The Children’s Museum at La Habra
February - December: The Children's Museum at La Habra hosts its first $5 Play Day with full access to all exhibits. Ride the carousel, explore the Dino Garden, and hop aboard the historic train car.
Artist-at-Work: Serigraphy | Getty Center, Los Angeles
November 8 & 22 & December 13: Meet artist Alfonso Aceve and watch the art of silkscreen printing come to life during bilingual, drop-in family demonstrations at the Getty Center. FREE!
The Nutcracker | Downey Theatre, Downey
December 13: See World Ballet Company's The Nutcracker come to life with 40 professional dancers, dazzling costumes, hand-painted sets, and timeless holiday music at the Downey Theatre.
Antique Aircraft Display Days at Fullerton Airport
2nd Sunday of the Month: Owners of classic aircrafts are invited to display their aircrafts and visitors are invited to view the displays. FREE!
Santa at the Museum | Lomita Railroad Museum, Lomita
December 13: Visit Santa at the Lomita Railroad Museum and enjoy kids crafts, hot chocolate, face painting, balloon animals, and the new Santa's Village.
Discovery Days | Centennial Farm, Costa Mesa
September 30, 2026 – June 1, 2027: Explore the farm on an unguided tour, plant a radish seed to take home, and learn about chicks, rabbits, and seasonal crops. Visit pigs, goats, sheep, cattle, and poultry along the way.
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.
Kids Club | The Grove, Los Angeles
June 3–24: Enjoy weekly kids shows with music, puppets, and storytelling at AMC theaters.
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.
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!
