Seasonal Holiday Attractions in Southern California – Theme Parks, Light Displays, Walkthroughs
Sawdust Art Festival’s Winter Fantasy
Laguna Beach
November 22 – December 22, 2024
It’s a magic holiday experience at the Sawdust Art Festival’s Winter Fantasy! Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from November 22 – December 22, enjoy vibrant artists’ village where creativity, community, and celebration meet. With 180+ artists showcasing their best work, it’s the perfect place to find that unique gift. Bring the kids to meet Santa, watch the tree lighting ceremony, enjoy live music, culinary treats and delight in flurries of snow at Winter Fantasy!
Capistrano Lights: Mission in Lights
Mission San Juan Capistrano
December 7-29, 2024
Celebrate the holidays at Orange County’s only Mission. Capistrano Lights: Mission in Lights returns this December with tree lighting, Dickens-era carolers, full-scale nativity, light features including a lighted halo grove, scented citrus grove and more – all are included with any Capistrano Lights ticket which also includes same day admission to the Mission.
The tradition also brings back Community Christmas Trees, Family Wreaths, and a harpist in the Serra Chapel. The Capistrano Lights audio tour will also be available throughout the entire month of December so guests can enjoy hearing the Gospel and the Night Before Christmas reading while learning more about Capistrano Lights evening offerings.
Christmas Nights
123 Farm | Cherry Valley
November 7 – December 23, 2024
Experience a display of a million lights lighting up lavender fields, olive groves, and historic buildings. Enjoy a tractor wagon ride around the property, visit the Christmas Village, holiday maze, and more.
Winter Frolic
Kidspace Children’s Museum | Pasadena
November 8 – January 5, 2025
Kidspace transforms into a fun Winter wonderland with cold-weather activities done the SoCal way! Enjoy Sock-Skating, riding trikes through a giant gingerbread house, building winter sculptures with “ice blocks”, and dressing up a snowman family.
Astra Lumina
South Coast Botanic Garden | Palos Verdes Peninsula
November 8 – January 31, 2025
Astra Lumina returns to Los Angeles for an enchanted night walk at South Coast Botanic Garden that invites visitors to discover the wonder of visiting stars. Set off across mysterious grounds to discover a celestial pathway of lustrous light, cosmic visions, and astral song. A multisensory immersive experience for all ages.
Christmas Around the World
Reagan Presidential Library | Simi Valley
November 9 – January 5, 2025
This special exhibit features 26 decorated trees representing the 26 countries that President Reagan visited while in office, as well as the White House Tree.
Dinosaur Nights in Lights
Cabazon Dinosaurs | Cabazon
Opens November 15, 2025
The Cabazon Dinosaurs are one of the most iconic roadside attractions. Santa Rex and the larger-than-life Apatosaurus (painted in bright red) are free for photo ops. Dinosaur Nights in Lights (tickets required) begin at dusk on Friday-Sunday nights and features glowing dinosaurs. Colorful Days of Dinosaurs are open daily. Santa will be available for free selfie photos on weekends.
Enchanted Forest of Light
Descanso Gardens | La Cañada Flintridge
November 17 – January 5, 2025
The gardens transforms into a realm of magic, mystery, and incandescence. Explore an entire town of magical “stained glass” houses, sparkling geometric installations, Flower Power on the Promenade, and lighting effects in the Ancient Forest.
Once Upon a Christmas
Once Upon an Island | Newport Beach
November 22 – December 24, 2024
The traditional Santa visit is transformed in an interactive, reimagined experience. Embark on a private journey through the North Pole, unlock enchanted doors, talk to Santa’s reindeer, build toys in Santa’s Workshop, and warm up by the cozy fireplace. Then, spend quality, personalized time with Santa where he knows all about your child and recalls their year of accomplishments and growth.
Winter Fest OC
OC Fair & Event Center | Costa Mesa
November 22 – January 5, 2025
This winter experiences features holiday decor and festive activities including snow play, ice tubing slide, entertainment, light show, ice skating, rides, food, drinks, and more.
Jingle Jets
USS Midway Museum | San Diego
November 22 – December 23, 2024
The iconic aircraft carrier will be decked out from bow to stern with hundreds of thousands of twinkling and shimmering lights. The Midway will be transformed from mighty warship with a winter wonderland with an aviation twist. Enjoy crafts, cookie decorating, letters to military, and a festive scavenger hunt.
Wild Lights
America’s Teaching Zoo | Moorpark
November 22 – December 23, 2024
A 45-minute guided stroll through the zoo featuring larger-than-life light installations of sparkling animals and wintery scenes. Enjoy interactive displays, pathways, photo ops, treats, music, and more. Note: This is not an animal-centered event. Some of the animals enjoy the lights and some sleep through the night.
Imaginarium: Holiday Magic
Fairplex | Pomona
November 22 – January 5, 2025
See one of the largest holiday light shows in Southern California. This enchanting walk-through experience features millions of lights, storybook characters, fantastical creatures, photo boxes, infinity mirror rooms, carnival rides, games, ice skating, and pictures with Santa. Plus, there are new immersive Activity Rooms including Laser Mazes, Glow in the Dark, Ball Pit, and more.
Duke’s Very Merry Village
Castle Park | Riverside
November 23 – January 5, 2025
Celebrate the season at Castle Park with festive decorations, holidays treats, and the Holiday Snow Show. New this year, is Duke’s Holiday Dance Party, Dinner with Santa, or take a ride on Duke’s Holiday Express. Upcoming special events include Noon Year’s Eve party and Three Kings Day celebration.
Winter Lights Holiday Musical & Lights
Discovery Cube OC | Santa Ana
November 23 – December 23, 2024
This holiday musical brings to life unique characters, including a science fairy and lovable robot fcrafted from a toaster. It’s a heartwarming story, with captivating music, and a theater filled with snow. The Winter Lights Festival also transforms the Cube into a dazzling winter wonderland with a holiday tunnel walkthrough, Brite Lites interactive, snowfall interactive, ice castle play structure, and more.
Festival of Lights
Mission Inn | Riverside
November 23 – January 6, 2025
Renowned for its breathtaking holiday light collection with over ten million dazzlings lights and festive spirit, the Mission Inn’s Festival of Lights is one the nation’s largest holiday light collections. The Grand Switch-On Ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, November 23rd at 5pm featuring dance performances and a star-studded concert lineup.
Science of Gingerbread
Discovery Cube | Santa Ana & Los Angeles
November 23 – January 8, 2025
Check out Southern California’s largest gingerbread competition with over 200 entries from beginner to professional builders. Fun activities include cookie decorating, design a virtual winter snowflake, Santa Claus visits, and see a gingerbread demonstration with a pastry chef. OC details here, LA details here.
Muzeo Express
Muzeo | Santa Ana
November 23 – January 19, 2025
Explore the enchanting Muzeo Express, a holiday tradition that transforms Muzeo into a winter wonderland with model train dioramas. Watch various train gauges chug along their tracks, through snow-covered villages, landscapes, tunnels and bridges.
Lektrik: A Festival of Lights
Raging Waters | San Dimas
November 27 – March 6, 2025
Raging Waters transforms into an immersive wonderland with over a million lights and larger-than life lanterns through miles of illuminated trails. Explore over 40 stunning lamp scenes crafted by 150 artisans using 120 tons of steel and 150,000 feet of silk. Plus, enjoy acrobatic performers, vendors, food, beverages, and more.
Holiday Road
King Gillette Ranch | Calabasas
November 28 – December 28, 2024
Get ready for holiday fun with an immersive walking trail of larger-than-life holiday displays, thousands of lights, a photo op with Santa. Enjoy a variety of food and beverages, capture holiday moments, join in the fun with interactive experiences or visit “Holiday Bar” for a seasonal cocktail to take with you on the trail!
Hikari: A Festival of Lights
Tanaka Farms | Irvine
November 29 – December 29, 2024
Grab a hot cocoa and take a cozy wagon ride around the festively lit farm that will take you to the Land of a Thousand Lanterns. Once off the wagon, wander through light displays, with photo opportunities throughout. Then visit the Festival Grounds to visit barnyard animals, grab food, and take advantage of lots of photo ops, games, crafts, meet Santa, and more holiday lights. All activities are priced individually.
Fire & Ice Festival
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort | Newport Beach
November 29 – January 5, 2024
The resort transforms their bayside oasis into a winter wonderland filled with scenic and unique festive lights. The bay features over 50 floating holiday decorations and Christmas trees. Don’t miss fire dancers, inflatables, photos with Santa, igloo bar, and more.
Christmas on the Farm
Underwood Family Farm | Moorpark
November 29 – December 24, 2024
Enjoy the holidays on the farm with animals, photo ops, wagon-rides, slides, pick your own fields, letters from Santa and more! Weekend visits have additional activities like holiday trains, feeding & petting animals, goat experience, duck racing, and holiday crafts.
Solvang Julefest
November 29 – January 5, 2025
Solvang’s Danish-style holiday celebration returns with festive events, lights, seasonal music, holiday shopping, and more. Special events include the Tree Lighting Ceremony (Dec 6), Solvang Julefest Parade (Dec 7), Copenhagen Countdown (Dec 31), and Christmas Tree Burn (Jan 10). Ongoing events include light and music show, city-wide Nisser Adventure, daylight tours, and more.
Winter Wonderland
El Dorado Frontier | Long Beach
November 30 – December 29, 2024
Step into a winter wonderland with festive train rides, sparkling lights, and magical snowfall. Activities include Santa meet and greet, Christmas train rides, live holiday music, hot cocoa, and lots more.
Nights of 1000 Lights
Sherman Library & Gardens | Corona del Mar
December 6-22, 2024
This year’s theme, “Celebrate 10 Years of Nights of 1000 Lights,” brings back beloved displays for a festive season of holiday magic. Stroll through dazzling gardens with Sherman’s grand Christmas tree, the magical light tunnel, a 3D conservatory, and a funky Crystal Disco Christmas—plus Santa, s’mores, and unique holiday shopping.
Aquarium Holidays
Aquarium of the Pacific | Long Beach
December 7-22, 2024
Celebrate the holiday SEAson with festive decorations, appearances by Santa Diver, a Kwanzaa display, and holiday shopping. Weekends include photo ops with Surfer Santa, and December 21 features Hanukkah storytelling.
Winter Wonders & Holiday Lights
Wild Wonders | Bonsall
December 15-31, 2024
Go on a special tour, sip on hot cocoa, and meet nocturnal animal ambassadors in the glow of holiday lights.
Theme Parks
A Very Furry Christmas Celebration
Sesame Place | San Diego
November 9 – January 5, 2025
Celebrate Christmas with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends. The park transforms into a one-of-a-kind Christmas wonderland with thousands of lights, rides, and festive decorations. Don’t miss the Furry Friends Christmas Dance Party, Christmas Cavalcade, and photo ops with Santa.
Holidays at Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Resort | Anaheim
November 15 – January 6, 2025
Experience the most magical time of the year with special holiday ride overlays, festive foods marketplace, World of Color – Season of Light nighttime spectacular, the Christmas Fantasy Parade, and the “Believe…in Holiday Magic” Fireworks Show.
Holiday Ticket Savings for Disney+ Subscribers: Buy 2 days, get 1 day free for visits November 18 – December 27, 2024. More details here.
Christmas Celebration
SeaWorld | San Diego
November 15 – January 5, 2025
See dazzling new Christmas shows, meet Santa and Rudolph, enjoy snowfall throughout, and don’t miss the Christmas parade. Fireworks show are scheduled for 12/14 and 12/31.
Knott’s Merry Farm
Knott’s Berry Farm | Buena Park
November 22 – January 5, 2025
The theme park transforms into a classic holiday festival with winter wonderland-inspired decor, landscapes of twinkling lights, holiday shows, and the return of the beloved ice show starring Snoopy, the Peanuts Gang, and a cast of world-class ice skaters.
Holidays at LEGOLAND
LEGOLAND | Carlsbad
November 23 – January 5, 2025
Rock around the giant LEGO tree to holiday tunes, sing and dance, take “elfies” with your favorite holiday LEGO characters, mail letters, meet LEGO Santa, and check out the 35-foot-tall LEGO Christmas Tree built from over 360,000 LEGO bricks.
Holiday in the Park
Six Flags Magic Mountain | Valencia
November 28 – January 5, 2025
See the park transform into a magical winter wonderland with over two million twinkling lights, festive eats, holiday music and entertainment, visits with Santa, and snowy nights.
Holidays at Universal Studios
Universal Studios | Hollywood
November 29 – January 6, 2024
Enjoy some colorful play in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, feel the excitement of Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, embrace your mischievous side with The Grinch during Grinchmas, and so much more. Special holiday treats, merchandise, and entertainment also available.
Wild Holidays
San Diego Zoo Safari Park | Escondido
November 29 – January 5, 2024
See the Safari Park in a whole new light! Go on an expedition and travel through places that glow, shine, and twinkle. Enjoy fanciful characters, musical entertainment, festive storytelling, and culinary treats.
Jungle Bells: Aurora
San Diego Zoo | San Diego
December 14 – January 5, 2025
Wander through a wonderland of twinkling lights, live entertainment, festive music, and views of wildlife. New this year are Holiday Light Treks, sparkling, interactive pathways filled with seasonal surprises.
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Categories: Blog
This post was written by Kidsguide
