From Los Angeles to San Diego, here are all of the boat parades, holiday light experiences, and more events in Southern California this December to get you into the holiday spirit! You don’t want to miss a minute of this festive fun.
Orange County Events:
Santa Day at the First Team HB South Office
Saturday, December 4th
8M-4PM
Every year our First Team Huntington Beach South Office hosts a Santa Day extravaganza so that the community can get a free picture with Santa. Drop by for your free pic and if you’re able, bring an unwrapped toy donation.
Newport Beach Boat Parade
Wednesday, Dec. 15th – Sunday, Dec. 19th
Parade begins 6:30PM
www.christmasboatparade.com
Huntington Harbour Boat Parade
Saturday, Dec. 11th – Sunday, Dec. 12th
Parade begins 5:15PM
www.hhboatparade.org
A classic Southern California way to enjoy the holidays, don’t miss the Huntington Harbour Boat Parade this year! The theme will be “American Dream, Rock the Harbor”.
Nights of 1,000 Lights
Select Nights December 10th – 22nd
6PM – 9PM
thesherman.org
You can stroll through Sherman Gardens safely this holiday season and experience a dazzling display of lights and entertainment. The garden’s installation includes a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and the Disco Inferno, where you can strut down a technicolor light tunnel! Add your wish to the wishing tree, and discover surprises throughout the Gardens. Make sure to secure your ticket before all evening strolls are sold out.
Knott’s Merry Farm
November 9th – January 2nd
10AM – 6PM
www.knotts.com
Tanaka Farms Hikari Christmas Light Experience
November 26th – January 30th, 2021
4:30PM – 10PM
https://www.tanakafarms.com/hikari
Hikari means shine in Japanese, and this holiday season Tanaka Farms is shining with over a mile of twinkling lights! As you drive through our 30-acre farm, you will see farm-themed lighting from trees, to scarecrows, tractors…even our sugarcane got the holiday light treatment! Plus, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we have a very special visit from Santa, himself. The loop lasts about 30 to 45 minutes, depending on how fast you drive.
Los Angeles Events:
Santa’s Speedway
Friday, Nov. 26th – Sunday, Jan. 2nd
5:30PM – 10PM
www.santasspeedway.com
An event that lets you celebrate while in the safety of your own vehicle, the Irwindale Speedway has been transformed into a magical display of lights and attractions including a record-setting Christmas Tree of lights towering over 110 feet. Entry is $59 per Car Load (maximum 8 people) for an amazing experience of light on a real NASCAR racetrack. Tickets must be purchased online for weekend dates and remember to secure them ASAP for your magical drive.
The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey
Friday, Nov. 5th – Sunday, Jan. 2nd
5pm – 7:15 pm drive through start times
elfontheshelfjourney.com
Prepare to be swept away in an immersive drive-thru experience like no other! The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey is an original story brought to life by world-class artists from theater, TV, and film, including scenic design by Emmy Award® winner David Korins (Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, The 2019 Oscars), original music composed by Emmy Award® nominee Curtis Moore (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), and lighting design by Broadway lighting designer David Weiner (Romeo and Juliet, Outside Lands Festival).
Holiday Road
Friday, Dec. 3rd – Friday, Dec. 31st
5PM – 10PM
www.holidayroadusa.com
This year the Holiday Road switches from a drive-through experience to a 2/3-mile walking trail. From the same creatives that brought you Nights of the Jack, the festive decor includes a treetop canopy of icicle lights, a Christmas village, freestanding oversized decorations, and archways of lights.
South Coast Botanical Garden’s Glow
Saturday Nov. 20 – Saturday, Jan. 22nd
5:30PM – 8:30PM Nightly
southcoastbotanicgarden.org
A visually stunning art installation at the South Coast Botanical Gardens will transform the lush oasis into an oceanic experience for the Garden Lights & Ocean Waters theme using thousands of lights designed by California Outdoor Lighting. The walk is set to an artistically curated soundtrack featuring a little something for everyone, including original music created for GLOW by Jerzy, as well as Baja surf music, Train and Vivaldi.
LA County Holiday Celebration
Friday, December 24th
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
www.musiccenter.org
Inland Empire Events
Light It Up Moreno Valley
Friday, November 12th – Sunday, January 2nd
5:30PM-11:30 PM
www.lightitupmoval.com
If you’re looking for the #1 light show within the Inland Empire, this is it. Completely synchronized to all the classic holiday songs, the drive through experience is guaranteed to lighten up your night! Tickets are sold per cars (up to 8 people) for $25 or $30 depending on the night or $30-$35 at the drive-up gate.
Festival of Lights in Riverside
Friday, November 27th – Wednesday, January 6th
4:30 PM
riversideca.gov
Enjoy the Festival of Lights featuring 5 million lights adorning the Mission Inn, as well as 200 characters around the building.
Temecula on Ice
Thursday, December 9th- Sunday, January 2nd
10AM – 9:30PM (Sunday-Thursday)
10AM -11PM (Friday & Saturday)
Temeculaca.gov
Sponsored by the Temecula Valley Auto Mall, Temecula on Ice returns this year with a state-of-the-art ice rink, rental skates, Bobby skating aid, and a radio station playing the best holiday jams. For an extra special experience, come for the Official Grand Opening on Friday, December 13th.
Desert Hot Springs Parade of Lights
Saturday, December 11th
Begins at 5:45PM
www.cityofdhs.org/holiday
For the Parade of Lights and Holiday Festival, residents decorate themed floats to parade through town and this year’s theme for be Storybook Christmas. The party includes tons of free fun including carnival rides, pictures with Santa, face painting, and cotton candy, plus live music and food vendors to enjoy.
New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade
Friday, December 31
7PM — 9PM
www.bigbearmountainresort.com
San Diego Events
Holidays at LEGOLAND®
Saturday, Nov. 20th– Sunday, Jan. 2nd
10 AM – 4 PM
www.legoland.com
Your favorite holiday characters Santa, the Toy Solider and Gingerbread Man are back and ready for socially distanced meet-and-greets. Head over to Fun Town where there’s a 30-foot, fully decorated LEGO® Christmas tree with over 400 LEGO ornaments. And as the day winds down, the tree gets a-twinklin’ to holiday tunes at the Holiday Light Show.
Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights
Saturday, December 11th
8AM – 5PM
oceansideyc.net
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
Sunday, December 12th – Sunday, December 19th
5:30PM
sdparadeoflights.org
San Diego Holiday Half Marathon
Saturday, December 18th
5:15AM Bus Pick-Up
www.sandiegoholidayhalf.com
Enchanted Village Holiday Experience
December 17th – December 22nd
5-8PM
www.enchantedvillage.org
Experience 8-acres of brilliantly lit trees, magical cottages, light tunnels, live entertainers, hundreds of giant candy canes, over 200,000 lights, interactive displays and other festive decorations.
