The holiday season is a special time in Southern California. To help you plan an unforgettable holiday, we’ve rounded up a few events in the southern California area. Here are some fun events for you to add to your holiday calendar.
Chino Hills Holiday Home Tour and Reception
Get inspired as you tour three lovely homes that are lavishly decked out for the holidays. Along with all the beautiful homes, this event will also have live music, wine, and hors d’oeuvres to enjoy. Proceeds from your admission ticket will benefit the Chino Hills Community Foundation.
Chino Hills Boat Parade
Chino Hills is home to a unique, light-hearted tradition of holiday boats on parade. At this event boat owners parade their vessels on a land route. The boats are all decorated with lights for the holidays to the delight of parade goers.
Mission Inn Festival of Lights
The Mission Inn Festival of Lights in Riverside is one of the holiday highlights in southern California. This festival began 19 years ago and today the entire Mission Inn is decorated with nearly three million lights. This spectacular event is free to attend and one tip is to make sure to get there early to find parking.
Victoria Gardens Christmas
This beautiful open-air mall in Rancho Cucamonga transforms into a winter wonderland for the holidays. From a magical snowfall on weekend evenings throughout December to Christmas carolers and photos with Santa – you can find everything to meet your holiday wishes at Victoria Gardens.
Thoroughbred Holiday Lights
Thoroughbred Street in Rancho Cucamonga is a quarter-mile stretch of homes that are all decorated with holiday lights. Each home features a unique theme and there are sweet treats for sale along the way including hot chocolate, donuts, and churros. This is a free drive-through only holiday light show that begins in early December.
Candlelight Lights at the Nixon Library
A full and festive evening awaits at the President Nixon Library, which will feature live music, three scenic model train layouts zipping around miniature towns and cities, and a gingerbread house designed to look like President Nixon’s childhood home. After signing a special holiday card to our overseas military, visitors can have their photo taken with Santa in the Nixon Oval Office.
Los Posadas at Olvera Street
The holidays are packed with memorable events in and around the big city, venture to Los Angeles for a one of a kind experience. Olvera Street, is the onetime street market that served the city’s first settlers. Today it is a living museum, and the holidays are a special time for this popular spot. Celebrate in true tradition during Los Posadas, every evening from Dec. 16-24, featuring a nightly procession that reenacts the journey to Bethlehem, along with food, lighting and festive music.
Theme Park Holidays
‘Tis the season for embracing your inner child, the area’s theme parks deliver some unforgettable holiday experiences. Knott’s Merry Farm Holiday Festival has a nightly tree-lighting ceremony, carolers, a live Snow and Glow show (with nightly falling snow!), and a Christmas Crafts Village.
Meanwhile, in Hollywood, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios is going into full celebration mode. The streets of Hogsmeade will be decked out with boughs and bows, with nightly “snowfall” along the cobbled streets, along with other special events to make your holidays truly magical.
For the ultimate in holiday enchantment, Disneyland pulls out all the stops with tree lightings, parades, fireworks and special holiday lighting displays throughout the park.
