Winter Christmas Events In Orange County

The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to embrace the Christmas spirit than by attending fun and festive events! From beautiful light displays to holiday fun, winter events offer a perfect opportunity to create cherished memories with family and friends. There’s so many amazing events from holiday lights, tree lighting ceremonies, ice skating, holiday festivities, and Santa Claus sightings around Orange County. Keep reading for some fun events to add holiday magic to the season!

Aliso Viejo All is Bright Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting Ceremony

Kick off the holiday season with some holiday fun in Aliso Viejo! Head over to the Aliso Viejo town center and enjoy the train rides, ornament making, aerial performances, visit Santa Claus, and enjoy other holiday events as the city lights the 22-foot tree.

Date: The annual tree lighting ceremony will be held on December 5, 2024, from 5 pm – 8 pm.

Corona Del Mar Christmas Walk

Another classic holiday festival, the Corona Del Mar Christmas Walk is an annual holiday event that features live local bands, a chance to meet and take photos with Santa Claus, holiday shopping, a beer and wine garden, children’s activities, and holiday crafts, unique fun holiday gift vendors, and local merchant and restaurant promotions. This is one of the best winter holiday events, and I look forward to it each year!

Date: December 8, 2024, from 10 am- 2 pm.

Location: Corona Del Mar Village 2855 E. Coast Highway Corona Del Mar

Costa Mesa Winter Fest OC

This is the one holiday event in Orange County that I look forward to each and every year! This definitely brings holiday magic to the season families. The Winter Fest is held at the OC Fair Event Center, and it’s always packed with so many fun things to do!

Attendees can participate in carnival games, face painting, a Festival of light displays, an outdoor ice skating rink, live holiday music and entertainment, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony every night, a holiday parade, and of course, photos with Santa Claus! There are also snowboard simulators, bounce houses, and a giant rocking horse that the kids will love!

One of the best parts is that they serve holiday treats and hot chocolate throughout the event. Just a heads up, it can get busy on Friday and Saturday Nights, so plan ahead! Prices for the event are $25 each for kids, while adults are $30. There is also a $10 parking fee.

Date: November 22, 2024 – January 5, 2025

Thu-Fri: 4 pm – 10 pm
Sat-Sun: 12 pm – 10 pm

Location: OC Fair Event Center – 88 Fair Drive Costa Mesa, Ca. 92626

Dana Point Holidays At The Harbor

Holidays at the Harbor is always a fun event for the whole family! The city decorates the Dana Point Harbor with beautiful Christmas lighting and decorations that will definitely get you into the holiday spirit. There is so much fun, including live holiday music, photos with Santa Claus, a boat parade, a Menorah gathering. Plus, they have a boat ride with Santa! So fun!

What makes this event even better is that the local pet rescue groups will be hosting Santa Paws pet photos in the Clock Courtyard for a small donation, and all proceeds go to the rescues. It is so fun to take family photos with all the cute dogs!

Date: November 13, 2024 – January 12, 2025

Location: Dana Point Harbor

Irvine Tanaka Farms Christmas Tree Farm, Holiday Lighting, and Hikari Festival of Lights

You can come to the Tanaka Farms starting November 29th, 2024 to see the 30-acre farm all lit up for the holiday season. Once there, you can even load up on your holiday decor and purchase your Christmas tree, wreath, garland, and other decorations to help get you into the holiday spirit.

Another fun thing to do is to purchase a wagon ride to the Land of Thousand Lanterns. Plus, you can visit the Gingerbread Forest (with your general admission). Another perk to this event is the meet and greet with none other than Santa! Bring your camera to take photos with Santa Claus, and enjoy fun holiday kids crafts, and live holiday music.

Tanaka farms goes all out with their holiday lights, holiday music, holiday market, and holiday entertainment for the Christmas season! This is definitely an event you should add to your list!

Date: November 29, 2024 – December 29, 2024

Festival of Lights: 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Christmas Tree Farm Hours: Sun-Sat 9 am – 5 pm

Location: 5380 3/4 University Drive Irvine, Ca. 92612

Irvine Holidayz At The Park

Orange County Great Park will transform into a winter wonderland for the entire Christmas season from December 7, 2024, to December 29, 2024. Bring the family to Great Park and enjoy the beautiful Palm court holiday lights display. You can also take family photos next to the giant holiday-decorated airplane with the Grinch, or next to holiday-themed backdrops near the Artist Studios!

Guests can take advantage of holiday-themed activities (there are varying fees based on age). Plus, on December 10, 2024, they will hold a Pajama Party Movie Night where you can enjoy a holiday-themed movie from the comfort of your own car. Please note: this is only open to residents of Irvine because of limited space.

Date: December 7, 2024 – December 29, 2024

Hours: Dusk to 9:30 pm

Location: 8000 Great Park Blvd. Irvine, Ca. 92618

Laguna Beach Sawdust Festival Winter Fantasy

Come visit this 3-acre art village in Laguna Beach that is transformed into a winter wonderland during the Christmas season! The art village has beautiful holiday decorations, holiday lights, falling snow, Santa Claus, live holiday music, and plenty of holiday entertainment.

They also have art demos and holiday craft boutiques that sell unique Christmas decorations, and you can find fun holiday gifts and festive crafts.

Date: November 22, 2024 – December 22, 2024

Hours: 10 am – 7 pm

Location: 935 Laguna Canyon Rd. Laguna Beach, Ca. 92651

Lake Forest Light Of The World Saddleback Church

Come enjoy a walk through Saddleback Church’s Lake Forest campus and see how they turn it into different holiday-themed lands! This is such a cool event, and I love that every land is illuminated with so many holiday lights. The light displays are truly a sight to see!

Guests can enjoy hot chocolate while they listen to holiday music and take in the annual holiday light display. The venue also has food available for purchase.

Date: December 7, 2024

Hours: Mon-Thurs 6 pm-10 pm, Fri-Sun 7 pm- 10 pm

Location: 1 Saddleback Parkway, Lake Forest, Ca. 92630

Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade and Ring of Lights

The Newport Beach Christmas Boat parade has been an annual tradition for over 100 years, and is one of the best holiday traditions that Orange County has to offer! The Bayfront residents go all out and decorate their homes with amazing and extravagant holiday lights. An added bonus is that the residents also decorate their boats for the parade! So much fun for everyone!

The parade is held between December 18-22 2024, and it’s truly amazing to see all the boats turn into festive floating holiday lights. There is also a competition for the best-decorated boat. It is by far one of the most popular events in Orange County during the holiday season!

Date: Nightly cruises from November 29, 2024 – January 1, 2025

Hours: 6:30 pm – 10 pm

Location: 309 Palm St Ste. A Newport Beach, Ca. 92661

Orange Irvine Park Christmas Train

The historic Irvine Regional Park transforms the park into the North Pole during the holiday season, where families can take train rides to the North Pole and meet Santa Claus! The family can also enjoy Santa’s village, where there’s so many festive holiday events. Guests can take advantage of bounce houses, carnival games, cookie decorating, ice fishing, blizzard ball, Rudolph racers, and holiday crafts. You can also meet Santa Clause and Mrs. Claus, and listen in for story time with Mrs. Claus!

Food and hot chocolate are available for purchase. Please note that all activities require a ticket, and train rides need to be purchased in advance online.

Date: November 29, 2024 – December 23, 2024

Hours: Weekdays 4 pm – 9 pm & Weekends 10 am – 9 pm

Location: 1 Irvine Park Rd, Orange, Ca. 92869

Prices: Activity Ticket – $6

Parking: Weekdays $3, Weekends $5, and Holidays $7

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Howard Chung

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Your Orange County

Winter Christmas Events In Orange County

Table of Contents

Aliso Viejo All is Bright Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting Ceremony

Corona Del Mar Christmas Walk

Costa Mesa Winter Fest OC

Dana Point Holidays At The Harbor

Irvine Tanaka Farms Christmas Tree Farm, Holiday Lighting, and Hikari Festival of Lights

Irvine Holidayz At The Park

Laguna Beach Sawdust Festival Winter Fantasy

Lake Forest Light Of The World Saddleback Church

Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade and Ring of Lights

Orange Irvine Park Christmas Train

Subscribe to Our Weekly Events Newsletter

Howard Chung

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