Lightscape; Ice Rinks; Lights At The Lakes: SoCal Weekend: Holidays are back! There are many family-friendly events that allow you and your children to see festive lights, meet Santa Claus, go through immersive installations, and even board a train to the North Pole.
These events take place at mission gardens, botanical gardens, farms, and even movie studios all around the region. All events tickets should be booked online in advance. Some events are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as well as New Year’s Eve.
Here are 15 family-friendly holiday events.
L.A. L.A. ZOO LIGHTS returns this holiday season with thousands of LED lights lighting the park. (Photo by Jamie Pham
Astra Lumina Los Angeles
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The South Coast Botanic Garden has taken people to the ocean, rivers, and forests for the past two years with GLOW (Garden Lights & Ocean Waters). Astra Lumina is the new way the Garden takes people to the stars this year. From 6-10 p.m. on Dec. 8 to Jan. 15, the illuminated nightwalk experience will be available. It uses projections, soundscape, and scenography to create a celestial world with stars and cosmic views. A number of these areas will allow people to see falling stars, hear a cosmic chorus and see lanterns. South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula. Tickets for children aged 4-12 years are $20, $24 for seniors and students, and $29 for the general admission. All tickets can be purchased at southcoastbotanicgarden.org.
Capistrano Lights
The Mission lights up the Mission at night to celebrate the holidays. This includes light decorations, nightly tree lighting and music by the Dickens-era Christmas Carolers. There will also be photos with Santa Claus and crafts for children. On select nights from December 3-30, the festivities begin at 4 p.m. Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. Tickets range from $9 to $20. All tickets can be purchased at missionjc.com.
Christmas Train Irvine Park Railroad
Choo choo! Take a train ride through Irvine Regional Park and see Santa Claus. The annual Christmas Train of Irvine Park Railroad is back from Nov. 25 to Dec. 23. The train will transport passengers along a route decorated with holiday lights from the North Pole to Santa Claus. After taking photos with Santa, the train will return passengers to Santa’s Village. Children can play carnival games, jump on bounce houses and decorate cookies. On weekdays, the train runs from 4-9 p.m. and on weekends, it runs between 10 a.m.-4: p.m. Irvine Park Railroad, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange. Tickets for the trail range from $20 to $35. All tickets are available at irvineparkrailroad.com.
Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens
This holiday display of lights will make Descanso Gardens even more magical. A one-mile walk through the park’s illuminated areas is part of the nighttime experience. The popular displays that will be back this year are the stained glass greetings by Tom Fruin in the Rose Garden, as well as geometric installations on the Main Lawn and special lighting effects within the Ancient Forest. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge. The hours are from 5:30-10 p.m. every day, but they are closed on Nov. 24, Dec.24-25 and Nov.24-25. General admission tickets cost $34-$40 and members $2228 respectively. Tickets are available at descansogardens.org.
Festival of Lights
The Mission Inn has one of the best holiday displays. Buildings, giant nutcrackers, and everything else around it are covered in lights. This self-guided, free walk-thru is available from Nov. 25 through Jan. 6, with lights turning on at 7 every night. Free admission. For more information and reservations, visit missioninn.com.
Hikari is a Festival of Lights
Tanaka Farms turns on the light switch when the sun sets for the annual wagon ride through Tanaka Farms during the Hikari festival (Nov. 25-Dec.30). The wagon ride will take riders to the Land of Lanterns. Here they can get off to wander through light displays, before going to the Festival Grounds. There, people can meet barnyard animals and play games, as well as Santa Claus for a photo. Hikari Festival is open from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Tanaka Farms at 5380 3/4 University Drive in Irvine. Tickets range from $20 to $30. Tickets can be purchased at tanakafarms.com/hikari.
Holidays Made Easy
Warner Bros. Studios is able to make movies, but they can also create holiday memories. This is especially true for “Gilmore Girls’ fans who are enthralled by the Holidays Made Here walking tour. This tour, which is included in all Studio Tours, will take guests to Midwest Street Backlot. It appears as Stars Hollow on the “Gilmore Girls”. This set will make for a great selfie opportunity. It will also be decorated for holidays. Gilmore Girls holiday merchandise will be available at Stars Hollow’s pop-up shops. The tour will include holiday-themed trivia, behind-the scenes stories and more about the movie studio. Tours will depart at 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. every day, except Dec. 25, when they will be closed. Warner Bros Studio Tour, 3400 Warner Blvd., Burbank. The tours cost $69-$299. Tickets can be purchased at wbstudiotour.com.
Holiday Road
Enjoy a holiday stroll along this one-mile trail will take you through the North Pole, a Christmas tree forest, and Gingerbread Lane. This path is lined with colorful, fragrant gingerbread houses. On select nights between Nov. 25 and Dec. 30, the Holiday Road event will take place at King Gillette Ranch, Calabasas. It starts at 5-10 p.m. You can take tons of photos and also get last-minute stocking stuffers at the gift shop. Enjoy a drink at the Holiday Bar, or eat at one of the many food trucks on-site each night. King Gillette Ranch at 26800 W. Mulholland Hwy in Calabasas. Tickets for various timeslots are available at holidayroadusa.com from $29.99 to $44.99
Illuminate Silverlakes
On select nights between Nov. 25 and Dec. 30, this holiday light show will be held at the SilverLakes Equestrian and Sports Park, Norco. To reach magical destinations such as a forest of electric Christmas trees, visitors can walk through an illuminated tunnel. The show includes music, lights, and even a surprise snowfall. The Toyland area is also available, where you will find giant Nutcrackers guarding the entrance and displaying large presents. Open 6-10 p.m. SilverLakes Sports Complex, 5555 Hamner Ave., Norco. Tickets available at illuminate.holiday for $48 and $34 respectively
L.A. L.A. Zoo Lights
For this annual tradition, the Zoo lights up at night with lantern sculptures of animals and light tunnels throughout the Zoo. Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and some glowing merchandise, from 6-10 p.m. on Nov. 18 to Jan. 22. L.A. Zoo, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles. $34-$39 adults; $27-$32 children ages 2-12. All tickets can be purchased at Lazoo.org.
Lightscape LA Arboretum
Lightscape is a spectacular light and music installation that will transform some of the park’s trails. The holiday display will run through January 8th and features several light installations, music, and special effects that transform a portion of the property into an illuminated landscape. The Winter Cathedral is one of the installations. It is a light tunnel that looks like an arched window made of over 100,000 LED globes. The Fire Garden is another installation that uses fire as its main component. Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden are located at 301 N. Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia. The event will open at 5 p.m. and end at 10 p.m. on Nov. 11-Jan. 8. Tickets are available at Arboretum.org starting at $37 and $18 respectively for adults and children 3-12 years old.
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
The 114th Annual Boat Parade will feature about 100 decorated yachts, canoes and sailboats cruising down the harbor in a nightly display floating holiday spirit. It starts at 6:30 p.m. December 14-18. The parade starts from Lido Isle, and ends at 9 pm. Marina Park is one of the most popular viewing areas. 1600 W. Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach. Information at christmasboatparade.com.
Santa’s Village in Skypark
Skypark turns up the holiday spirit with the Santa’s Village attraction. It’s the best time of year at Skypark. Celebrations include breakfast with Santa and tea with Mrs. Claus, ice skating, as well as holiday characters dancing their way up Candy Cane Lane towards the Village. There will also be light shows to holiday music. The Village hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.n on weekends. Weekends. Santa’s Village at Skypark 28950 California 18, Skyforest Tickets are $69 for adults and $59 for children and can be purchased at skyparksantasvillage.com.
Winterfest at OC Fair & Events Center
Due to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, it was made a drive-thru event. However, the Winter Fest OC has returned as an in-person event. The fairgrounds will be transformed into a winter wonderland on select dates between Nov. 25 and Jan. 1. There are more than a million lights, large holiday decorations, and immersive areas such as the North Pole, an Ice rink, and a 150-foot-long ice tubing slide. A snowboard simulator, carnival games, and Santa Claus will all be available to take photos. OC Fair & Events Center is located at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa. $30 for adults, $25 for children. Tickets available at the gate. $19.95 for adults; $14.95 online for children. winterfestoc.com.
Winterlit Santa Monica
Santa Monica will celebrate the holidays throughout the Promenade, and in nearby areas during the Winterlit holiday celebration. After a two-year absence, the 8,000-square foot rink at the corner of Arizona Avenue and Fifth Street reopened on November 10. Through January 16, the rink will be open daily from noon-10:30 p.m. Admission and rental of skates are $20. Skate rental and admission cost $20. Third Street Promenade, 1351 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, downtownsm.com/iceAtSantaMonica.
