Find The Best Christmas Events in Southern California In 2026
Last Updated September 25, 2026. We check dates against official event organizers whenever possible.
Christmas in Southern California may not always come with snow, but the region offers plenty of ways to celebrate the season. From spectacular light displays and Christmas boat parades to holiday markets, theme parks, festive performances, and small-town celebrations, you’ll find Christmas events throughout Southern California from November into early January.
We’ve organized our Southern California Christmas guide differently this year to make planning easier.
Below, we’ll introduce you to holiday highlights in each region. Then follow the links to our individual county guides, where you’ll find our complete lists of Christmas events, including 2026 dates, locations, admission information, and links to event organizers.
Whether you’re planning a family outing, a Christmas date night, or a holiday weekend getaway, start here to find the part of Southern California you’d like to explore.
Planning Note: Holiday schedules can change. We check dates against event organizers whenever possible, but always verify details with the attraction or event before making a special trip.
Countdown to Christmas
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Southern California Christmas Events at a Glance
| Area | Christmas Highlights | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | L.A. Zoo Lights, Enchanted Forest of Light, Enchant Los Angeles, holiday performances | Big attractions & spectacular lights |
| Orange County | Disneyland Holidays, Knott’s Merry Farm, Winter Fest OC, Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade | Theme parks & family outings |
| Riverside County | Mission Inn Festival of Lights, Christmas Nights at 123 Farm, Polar Express | Lights & Inland Empire traditions |
| San Bernardino County | SkyPark at Santa’s Village, Wild Lights, Christmas on Euclid | Mountain Christmas experiences |
| San Diego County | Hotel del Coronado, Gaylord Pacific, December Nights, SeaWorld | Coastal Christmas & major attractions |
| Santa Barbara County | Solvang Julefest, Santa Barbara Parade of Lights, Buellton Winter Fest | Small towns & Central Coast charm |
| Ventura County | Christmas on the Farm, Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights, An American Christmas | Local traditions & family outings |
Los Angeles County Christmas Events 2026
Los Angeles County has one of Southern California’s widest selections of holiday events. You can walk through elaborate Christmas light displays, attend classic holiday performances, enjoy seasonal theme park celebrations or experience community traditions throughout the county.
Major 2026 attractions include Enchant Los Angeles at Santa Anita Park, L.A. Zoo Lights, Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens, and the Hollywood Christmas Parade. You’ll also find holiday concerts, ice skating, boat parades, Christmas theater, and cultural celebrations including Las Posadas.
We’ve gathered the dates, locations, costs, and additional Christmas activities in our dedicated guide.
🎄 Explore Our Complete List of Christmas Events in Los Angeles County🎄
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Orange County Christmas Events 2026
Orange County is especially strong for travelers seeking big, family-friendly Christmas experiences.
Disneyland Resort celebrates the holidays in Anaheim, while Knott’s Merry Farm brings Christmas entertainment and decorations to Buena Park. Other seasonal favorites include Winter Fest OC, Hikari Festival of Lights, the Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Train and the famous Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade.
Orange County also offers holiday performances, tree lightings, Christmas markets, and free community celebrations from Brea to Laguna Beach and San Juan Capistrano.
🎄 Explore Our Complete List of Christmas Events in Orange County🎄
Riverside County – Best Christmas Events 2026
Riverside County combines some of Southern California’s best-known Christmas light displays with hometown parades, train rides, and community celebrations.
The Mission Inn Festival of Lights is one of the county’s signature holiday traditions, while Christmas Nights at 123 Farm creates another immersive light experience. Families can also look for The Polar Express Train Ride in Perris, and communities including Palm Springs, Temecula, Norco, and Lake Elsinore host their own seasonal celebrations.
🎄 Check out our Complete List of Christmas Events in Riverside County🎄
San Bernardino County Christmas Events 2026
If your idea of Christmas includes mountains, pine trees and the possibility of actual winter weather, consider heading into San Bernardino County.
SkyPark at Santa’s Village provides one of Southern California’s most immersive Christmas settings in the San Bernardino Mountains, while Big Bear offers Wild Lights at the Alpine Zoo. Down the mountain, you’ll find Christmas on Euclid in Ontario, holiday performances and community celebrations throughout the county.
Calico Ghost Town even adds an Old West twist to the holiday season.
🎄 Explore Our Complete List of Christmas Events in San Bernardino County🎄
San Diego County Christmas Events 2026
Christmas in San Diego comes with a distinctly Southern California setting — beachfront ice skating, waterfront celebrations, theme parks and some of the region’s largest holiday attractions.
Hotel del Coronado celebrates the season beside the Pacific, while SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California offer major family-oriented holiday celebrations. Balboa Park’s December Nights remains a popular free tradition.
Newer experiences add even more choices, including the Christmas celebration at Gaylord Pacific Resort in Chula Vista. You’ll also find holiday markets, parades, Christmas shows, light displays and Santa train rides throughout the county.
🎄 Explore Our Complete List of Christmas Events in San Diego County🎄
Santa Barbara County Christmas Events 2026
Santa Barbara County offers a different style of Southern California Christmas — one built around coastal communities, historic towns, and the Santa Ynez Valley.
Solvang becomes one of California’s most festive Christmas destinations during Julefest, with weeks of holiday activities in the Danish-inspired village. Other highlights include the Santa Barbara Parade of Lights, holiday performances, downtown celebrations, and Buellton Winter Fest.
Communities including Santa Barbara, Goleta, Los Olivos, Lompoc and Santa Maria add their own local traditions throughout December.
🎄 Explore Our Complete List of Christmas Events in Santa Barbara County🎄
Christmas in Solvang
If you’re considering a holiday getaway rather than just an evening event, Solvang deserves special mention. Its Julefest celebration fills the village with seasonal decorations and Christmas activities over several weeks.
We have a separate guide devoted entirely to celebrating Julefest Christmas in Solvang if you’re considering making it a holiday road trip or overnight getaway.
Ventura County Christmas Events 2026
Ventura County offers everything from farm celebrations and neighborhood traditions to coastal Christmas events — and it’s also the part of Southern California we know best as local residents.
Families can celebrate Christmas on the Farm at Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark, while the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley presents its An American Christmas exhibit. Along the coast, holiday celebrations include illuminated boat parades at Channel Islands Harbor and Ventura Harbor.
You’ll also find Christmas markets, holiday performances, community parades and local celebrations throughout Camarillo, Ojai, Oxnard, Santa Paula, Thousand Oaks and Ventura.
🎄 Explore Our Complete List of Christmas Events in Ventura County🎄
How to Choose a Southern California Christmas Experience
With so many events across the region, start by deciding what kind of Christmas outing you want.
For spectacular Christmas lights: Consider Los Angeles County, Riverside County or San Diego County.
For theme parks: Orange County and San Diego County offer several of Southern California’s largest holiday celebrations.
For a Christmas town atmosphere: Head to Solvang in Santa Barbara County or into the San Bernardino Mountains.
For boat parades: Coastal celebrations in Newport Beach, Santa Barbara, San Diego and Ventura County bring Christmas lights onto the water.
For families with younger children: Look for Christmas trains, Santa visits, farm celebrations and daytime community festivals in our individual county guides.
For couples: Consider an evening light display, holiday performance, Christmas market or coastal celebration followed by dinner nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas in Southern California
Southern California’s best-known holiday experiences include major Christmas light displays, theme park celebrations, boat parades, holiday performances and seasonal events in destinations such as Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura. Use our county guides above to compare the latest events and 2026 dates.
You’ll find large-scale holiday light experiences throughout the region, including botanical gardens, zoos, resorts, historic destinations and walk-through attractions. Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties are particularly good places to start.
Solvang is one of Southern California’s most distinctive Christmas destinations, with its Danish-inspired Julefest celebration. Mountain communities including Big Bear Lake and the Lake Arrowhead area also offer a more traditional winter setting.
Many cities host free tree lightings, Christmas parades, holiday markets and community festivals. Some of the region’s boat parades can also be viewed for free. Check our individual county guides because free events and dates vary each year.
Many major holiday attractions begin in November, with the busiest event schedule running from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas. Some light displays and attractions continue into the first week of January.
Plan Your Southern California Holiday Season
You could spend the entire Christmas season exploring Southern California and still not experience every holiday celebration.
Use this guide as your starting point, then visit our individual county guides for current dates, ticket information and dozens of additional Christmas events near you.
We update our seasonal guides as new event information becomes available, so bookmark this page as you make your holiday plans.
We hope to see you at the places where we go.
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