Time To Celebrate: Our Top 10 Holiday Events in SoCal
With nearly 365 days of warm sunshine, the Golden State is a haven for those escaping from the snow when winter rolls around. Whether you have out of town guests looking for a good time or a large family reunion, check out our top 10 SoCal destinations to bring a little festive cheer for any age!
1. Holidays at the Disneyland Resort
Run Time: November 9, 2018 – January 6, 2019
Disneyland is always known to be “The Happiest Place on Earth” and the park gets extra magical once the Christmas decorations come to play! Amidst all the glowing lights, boughs of holly, and colorful ornaments, Disney fanatics will love seeing all their favorite characters dressed up in their holiday best from head to toe. Even beloved attractions such as It’s a Small World, the Haunted Mansion, and Sleeping Beauty’s Castle get a dazzling winter wonderland makeover.
California Adventure right next door is also participating in the holiday cheer as the park honors the state’s diversity through the Festival of Holidays. Enjoy the sounds of bustling mariachi band, dance Bollywood style to celebrate Diwali, and even feast on holiday themed food with a Disney twist. We can’t wait to get our hands on the Gingerbread Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich and the Churro Bites with Eggnog Gelato!
2. Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens
Run Time: 5:30 PM – 10 PM, November 18, 2018 – January 6, 2019 (Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas)
Walk through an illuminated archway, take a selfie under the stars, and immerse yourself in the great outdoors in this beloved Los Angeles institution! While Descanso Gardens serves a year-round botanical garden, it transforms into a Technicolor holiday spectacle even the youngest attendees will love. Families, friends, and even couples make the trek out to La Canada Flintridge, CA to witness the garden’s themed displays as well as its interactive areas. Switch up the colors at the Lightwave Lake, make trees sing with the Symphony of Oaks, or meander through thousands of light up tulips in the Flower Power installation.
Plan carefully however since this is a hugely popular event amongst locals and tourists alike! We recommend purchasing tickets ahead of time, arriving early, and bring an umbrella in case it rains.
3. The 110th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
Run Time: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM, Monday, December 19 – Friday, December 23, 2018
Love the open seas? Well head down to the coast and watch decked out boats, yachts, kayaks, and canoes cruise around the Newport Harbor in one show-shopping spectacle! Hosted by the Commodores Club and the Newport Beach City Council, this annual wintertime tradition celebrates the local community’s seafaring days while celebrating participants’ creative entries. Among some of the awards people can receive upon participation include “Best Animation,” “Best Sail Boat,” and “Best Humor & Originality”.
Attendance is free throughout the area, but parking can be especially difficult during this time-honored parade. Make sure to arrive early or if you’re feeling extra fancy, opt in at any of the participating Dine & Watch restaurant locations for one unforgettable dinner and a show!
4. 106.7 KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas
Run Time: Saturday, December 8 – Sunday, December 9, 2018
If you’re getting tired of hearing Christmas carols blaring all over the place, well we have one (or dare we say two) jam-packed live shows just for you! The Forum at Inglewood, CA will be the venue for the 29th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas concert series and is hosted by LA’s very own KROQ radio station. Whether you got a rocker soul or if you’re an indie darling, each night is catered for fans of a wide range of genres.
December 8th brings on the grungy ‘90s band Smashing Pumpkins as the headliners for night one of Almost Acoustic Christmas and also features Thirty Seconds to Mars, Third Eye Blind, Greta Van Fleet, Bad Religion, AFI, The Interrupters, AJR, and Badflower as the other acts. Night two on December 9th has British indie rock group Florence + The Machine as the headliner with Death Cab fore Cutie, Bastille, Mike Shinoda, Billie Eilish, Young the Giant, CHVRCHES, Mike Posner, and lovelytheband rounding up the lineup.
5. Knott’s Merry Farm at Knott’s Berry Farm
Run Time: November 16, 2018 – January 6, 2019
Who says snow doesn’t exist in southern California? Known for its rollercoasters as well as the home of Snoopy and the Peanuts gang, Knott’s Berry Farm brings a little frosty magic among the palm trees and rustic Old West architecture. Kids, as well as the kids at heart, will be awestruck with the amusement park’s nightly Christmas tree lighting complete with a scattering of fresh snow straight from the sky!
Soak up the sun during the day while speeding through Montezooma’s Revenge, make it drop on Supreme Scream, or gather the kids to watch the Merriest Christmas Show Ever with none other than Charlie Brown.
Run Time: Sunset to 10 PM, Sunday, December 1 - Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Downtown LA’s Grand Park is known to be a beloved urban oasis right in the heart of the bustling metropolis. For the month of December however, the park gets transformed into neon playground dotted with 19 light-up installations spanning throughout the 12-acre property. This free event was started as a way for local artists to contribute their latest pieces centralized around the principle of light bringing people together. What better way to celebrate the night than with an interactive array of lights, colors, touch, and sound?
Among some of the anticipated pieces being featured include “The Net (Neon Network)” by H+ Creative, “The Wave Pendulum” by Two Bit Circus, and “A Spark of Light” by Aphidoidea, which allows attendees to walk inside the installation and change the colors in the piece with touch sensors.
7. Winter Fantasy at the Sawdust Art & Craft Festival
Run Time: 10 AM – 7 PM, November 17, 18, 23, 24, and 25th / December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16th
During the winter season, Laguna Beach’s very own Sawdust Art & Craft Festival gets a North Pole-inspired makeover that’ll certainly make St. Nick feel right at home! The 3-acre outdoor village features 182 local artists, makers, and musicians doing everything from live art demos, concerts, and everything in between. Arts and craft classes, puppet shows, magic acts, and even photo-ops with Santa complete with falling snow will also be at Winter Fantasy so feel free to bring the kids along for the ride.
Stumped on what to give your loved ones for the holidays? No need to stress! At the Sawdust Art & Craft Festival, you can find a one-of-a-kind gift that will please even the most discerning tastes. Treat someone to a glass lantern, a handcrafted piece of jewelry, or even take a spin at the pottery wheel to make your very own vase.
8. The 36th Annual Production of “The Nutcracker” by the Long Beach Ballet
Run Time: First Weekend starts on December 15, 2018 at 2:00 PM / 7:30 PM and December 16, 2018 at 2 PM. Second Weekend starts on December 21, 2018 at 7:30 PM, December 22, 2018 at 2:00 PM / 7:30 PM, and December 23, 2018 at 2:00 PM
Do you have visions of sugar plum fairies dancing in your head? Well take your friends and family to the theater and witness a cherished Christmastime classic complete with a touch of Hollywood magic! The Long Beach Ballet’s rendition of “The Nutcracker” brings the Tchaikovsky production to the stage in a mesmerizing display of classical dance, whimsical costumes, and jaw-dropping stage sets guaranteed to sweep anyone off their feet. Beloved characters such as Clara, the Toy Soldiers, and the princely Nutcracker gracefully perform wondrous spins and leaps that’ll delight the imagination and leave the audience wanting more.
Since this is a high-demand show, make sure to purchase tickets a week in advance to ensure that your party will get the best seat in the house!
9. The Science of Gingerbread at the DiscoveryCube Orange County
Run Time: November 17, 2018 – January 6, 2019
It’s not truly Christmas unless there’s a gingerbread house made for the season! Aspiring bakers and cookie enthusiasts of any age will have a blast learning about how this wintertime treat comes to life at the DiscoveryCube’s special exhibition. Heat, math, engineering, and a little bit of science are some of the key components when it comes to creating gingerbread as well as your favorite holiday sweets. Your children can even create their very own candy car and race it against their friends in the Gingerbread Derby!
If you’re feeling extra ambitious, you can even create your own gingerbread house to win some amazing prizes! Among some of the competition categories include “Grand Engineers Award,” “Best Holiday Theme,” and “Best Youth 5 and Under” to name a few. Hurry, entries must be submitted between November 17 to December 2, 2018 in order to qualify.
10. The 26th Annual Festival of Lights at The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
Run Time: November 23, 2018 – January 6, 2019
Enjoy a slice of California history and immerse yourself in a wintry stroll through charming downtown Riverside! Titled “Best Public Lights Display in the Nation” by USA today, this free six-week long extravaganza is hosted by the AAA-Four Diamond rated hotel and is known to be an annual gift to the community from property owners Duane and Kelly Roberts. Things kick off with a bang on the 23rd with the famous “Switch-On” Ceremony, in which the opulent hotel is illuminated instantly with 5 million holiday lights as well as a fireworks show.
Some of the other festive offerings present also include photo-ops from Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides, delicious holiday treats, and a wide array of decorated Christmas trees made by local organizations.
