No matter what holiday you celebrate this time of year, there’s no greater gift to give than time well-spent with the ones you love. Our hope is that this year’s Hall-iday Guide will help you do just that. Within you’ll find key information for SoCal’s best holiday experiences that you can attend with friends & family, including festive events, dining locations, light shows and give-back opportunities! Cheers & Happy Hall-idays, from your friends at Idea Hall.
Lights, Lights & More Lights
- Capistrano Lights
December 4-30 | San Juan Capistrano
Experience the Mission at night, elaborately decorated with lights. Holiday programming begins at 4 p.m. and a special nightly tree lighting takes place at 5 p.m. Guests can take a self-guided stroll through the mission, enjoy live music from carolers, take selfies with Santa and kids can do holiday-themed crafts. 4-6 p.m. select nights Dec. 4-30 (The Mission is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily). Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. $14 for adults 18 and older; $9 for kids 5-and-older; $12 seniors 60-and-older Includes daytime admission to the Mission. - L.A. Zoo Lights
November 19th – January 9th | Los Angeles
Spend an evening at the L.A. Zoo on a self-guided path with glowing, animatronic animals, an illuminated pop-up storybook, a magical disco ball forest, giant glittering snowflakes and twinkling light tunnels. 6-10 p.m. on select nights Nov. 19-Jan. 9. L.A. Zoo, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles. $24-$22 adults; $16-$17 children ages 2-12; $15 L.A. Zoo Members; Children under two are admitted free. - Magic of Lights Drive-Thru Experience
November 19th – December 26th | Anaheim
The home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will be lit up as Magic of Lights takes over its parking lot with a big and bright drive-thru holiday experience that will feature dozens of displays, illuminated canopies and digital animation constructed with over two million individual twinkling LED lights. 5-10 p.m. nightly, Nov. 19-Dec. 26. Angel Stadium, 2000 E Gene Autry Way, Anaheim. $25-$45 per vehicle. - Christmas in Color
November 19th – January 2nd | San Dimas
A drive-thru experience with millions of holiday lights synchronized to festive music that has guests winding down a path filled with giant candy canes, snowmen and light tunnels. 5:30-10 p.m. nightly Nov. 19-Jan. 2. Raging Waters, 101 Raging Waters Drive, San Dimas. $40-$65 per vehicle. - Night of Lights OC
Wed – Sun, Now – January 2 | Costa Mesa
Night of Lights OC offers a mile of sparkling holiday cheer to drive through. More than 1 million lights make up the holiday scenery and there are characters and performers to delight guests as they cruise past. - The 113th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
December 3rd – January 2nd | Newport Beach
Watch beautifully decorated yachts, boats, kayaks and canoes sail along the harbor in the 113th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. This year’s parade theme is “Jingle on the Waves” and will be held Wednesday through Sunday, December 15-19, 2021. Proudly hosted by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce! - Newport Beach Holiday Lights Cruise
December 3rd – January 2nd | Newport Beach
Experience Newport Harbor in full holiday décor aboard a festive vessel for a holiday lights cruise or Christmas Boat Parade cruise. Daily cruises depart at 5:30PM, 7:00PM and 8:30PM. Tickets range from $32 for juniors to $36 for adults - The Huntington Harbour Boat Parade
December 11-12 | Huntington Beach
Huntington Harbour’s Boat Parade will shine bright on Dec. 11 and 12. Boats line up at 4:30 p.m., the parade starts at 5:15 p.m. The parade will be livestreamed from Admiralty Island at 6 p.m. on Dec. 11 on Facebook. The grand marshal is Casey McKeon. - The 45th annual Boat Parade of Lights
December 10-12 | Dana Point
The parade will be themed “Fiesta Holidays.” The Boat Parade of Lights starts at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 10 and 11 and 6 p.m. on Dec. 12. Free trolleys will run each night from 5:30 – 11 p.m., check the route online.
Festive Events
- Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Journey
November 10th – January 2nd | Pomona
The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Journey returns to Pomona Fairplex this holiday season and will be re-imagined as a 45-minute outdoor walk-thru experience with big and bright sets, costumed characters, snow flurries and lots of Christmas spirit. Guests will be shrunk down to elf-size and experience the story from an elf’s perspective. There are also treats for sale, a Christmas trolley and ice skating. 5-10 p.m. on select nights Nov. 10-Jan. 2. Fairplex Pomona, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. Tickets start at $19.95 for children ages 3-12 and $24.95 for adults. - Sing-a-Long with Mrs. Claus at SOCO’s Holiday Storytime!
December 4th, 11th & 18th | Costa Mesa
Ring in the Holiday Cheer with Mrs. Claus at SOCO + The OC Mix! Beginning Saturday, November 27 and continuing every Saturday leading up to Christmas, children and families are invited to celebrate the festive season with music, learning, shopping, and sweet treats.From 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Mrs. Claus herself will be reading classic holiday tales while gathered ‘round the tree, including The Polar Express, Turkey Claus, The Night Before Christmas, and What the Dinosaurs Did the Night Before Christmas. Then after the exciting tale, kids are invited to join a special sing-a-long with Mrs. Claus where she’ll play all of your favorite holiday tunes – and kids get their own take-home musical instruments! - Breakfast with Santa
December 17th | Aliso Viejo
December 17, 2021 | 9:00 am – 11:00 am
$15/person Come join us for Breakfast with Santa and have a holly jolly time with our Recreation Staff! We’ll eat breakfast, create festive crafts, ride a train, and listen to stories from Santa himself! Breakfast and craft supplies will be provided. Register by Tuesday, December 14. - Winterscape, The Festival of Trees
December 10–23 | San Juan Capistrano
The family-friendly festival aims to spread Holiday cheer to all its guests. Everybody is heartily welcomed to gather a merry group of friends or family and pay it a visit. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays see live music entertainment and all the day feature local food trucks, brews, wines, and spirits, and lots of fun and games including ice ckating, ice curling, table tennis, cornhole, and more. - Pirate’s Christmas Dinner Adventure
November 26th – January 2nd | Buena Park
Looking for some fun this holiday season? Celebrate Christmas with Pirates Dinner Adventure. Laugh and cheer as our pirate crew tries to steal Christmas. Will they succeed? Will Santa escape? Will the season be saved? Find out at this swashbuckling and Jolly Christmas spectacular! Located in Orange County, close to Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, Pirates Dinner Adventure is the place to be during the holidays! For more information about our Christmas shows — including showtimes and reservations – call us at: 866-439-2469. - Holly Jolly Hunt
November 26th – December 26th | Anywhere
Holly Jolly Hunt is a holiday scavenger hunt played using an app on your phone that brings your family and friends together for holiday cheer. During the scavenger hunt, you’ll seek out traditional, and even non-traditional items we all see this time of year. The app will give you points for each holiday item you find. You’ll also be given fun challenges to complete to get yourself in the holiday spirit, as well as holiday trivia that will get you points as well! See your score on the leaderboard compared to other teams. Start from any of our suggested starting locations on our website or start in a lively area with plenty of holiday decor to be seen! Come play Holly Jolly Hunt to create holiday memories you will not forget! - Holidayz at the Park
Now – January 2nd | Irvine
The Great Park has become a winterscape that will celebrate the season through Jan. 2. Holidayz at the Park features special decorations and family activities. Stroll the decorated Palm Court and visit the “Air Santa” plane or enjoy selfie stations at the Artists Studios. Grinch Day at Great Park will be Dec. 18 with drawing classes in the morning and a screening of the movie at 6 p.m. (registration is required ahead of time). - The Curtis Theatre Holiday Movie Screening
December 9-19 | Brea
The Curtis Theatre and STAGESthratre are presenting “It’s a Wonderful Life” as a live radio play. Tickets are $25-$30. - Tanaka Farms’ Hikari — A Festival of Lights
Now – December 31 | Irvine
The Festival is open daily from 4:30 to 10 p.m. through the end of the year, except holidays. There is a holiday wagon ride and the Gingerbread Forest. Visit with the farm animals, get a photo with Santa and experience the 30-acre working farm. Wagon tour costs $20-$25 and the Gingerbread Forest is $10-$15. The farm also has a Christmas tree lot and holiday market.
Cheery Atmospheres
- Miracle: A Christmas Cocktail Pop-Up Bar
November 26th – December 30th | Long Beach
Miracle is a Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bar that serves holiday cocktails in a festive setting. With kitschy holiday décor, professionally-developed cocktails and the nostalgic energy of the best office party you’ve ever been to, Miracle is sure to get even the grouchiest grinch in the holiday spirit. - Strong Water
Now – December 30th | Anaheim
We invite you to explore the wreck of the Clementine and its bizarre cargo, decked out with over-the-top holiday cheer to add some festive fun to your nautical cocktail experience! Perhaps you’ll develop your own theory about her mysterious voyage and the disappearance of all aboard. - Holidays At The Harbor
Now – Early January | Dana Point
Head down to Dana Point Harbor for a healthy dose of holiday cheer, including an annual holiday light display that will illuminate the Harbor November 17 – early January, the Boat Parade of Lights December 10-12, holiday shopping and carolers at the Harbor on December 16 and 23 from 4-7 pm. - Long Beach Trolley – Waterfront Tour of Lights
December 5-30 | Long Beach
Board a classic cable-car trolley for a waterfront tour that will showcase the best light displays around. The tour includes the famous floating Christmas trees of Alamitos Bay, and beautiful Naples Island! Your tour includes transportation aboard a classic cable car, a souvenir Santa hat and candy cane, holiday music and festive narration of the Waterfront aboard the cable car! Tickets range from $20 for children age 3-13 to $30 for adults. Children 2 & under are free!
Give-Back Opportunities
- Laura’s House – Holiday Giving Program
November 1st – December 15th
Laura’s House asks for your help supporting families who have survived domestic violence. The gifts will be distributed to their Counseling & Resource Center, Domestic Violence Advocacy Center, Emergency Shelter and Transitional Living Center clients. Please consider donating gift cards and unwrapped gifts through their Holiday Giving Program. - Project Hope Alliance – Stockings Full of Hope
Now – December 13th
Fill a stocking for PHA’s Stockings Full of Hope drive and bring joy to kids and teens experiencing homelessness in your community. Project Hope Alliance kindly asks that with every Stocking, you also include a $25 gift card or donation. These donations ensure that PHA provides 300 youth experiencing homelessness with holiday gifts this year. - Community Action Partnership OC – Hope for the Holidays
Ongoing
The Community Action Partnership OC seeks to end and prevent poverty by stabilizing, sustaining and empowering people with the resources they need when they need them. By forging strategic partnerships, they form a powerful force to improve our community. This holiday season, help spread some hope and cheer to make a difference in the life of someone in need. There are numerous ways to get involved, including adopting a family, sponsoring a family, providing holiday meals, donating to their toy drive and more! - Run for a Claus
December 11th | Irvine
Southern California’s most popular Holiday Run is BACK and for those of you not in SoCal, they still have the virtual option. It will feature a 5K and a 1-mile kids run/walk at the UC Irvine campus, and when registering, you have the option to donate toward the Salvation Army or Kids Run the OC Foundation. Santa Claus is expected to join in the fun and there will also be a costume contest. - The Annual K&A Community Holiday Brunch
December 24 | Anaheim
The annual brunch started by K&A Cafe and Catering returns to West Center Street Promenade in downtown Anaheim. There will be a brunch to feed families and anyone who might need some extra help during the holidays. In addition to food, there will be activities for families, entertainment and a visit from Santa Claus with gifts. The brunch will last from 9 a.m. to noon and there are a variety of ways to help out. - CureDuchenne
Ongoing
Support their commitment to improving the lives of everyone affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy through accelerating research to find the cure, improving care and empowering the Duchenne community. - Goodwill OC
Ongoing
Founded in 1924, Goodwill OC serves thousands of children and adults with disabilities or other barriers every year. When you shop or donate, you help people who are facing obstacles find and keep jobs. You provide purpose, pride, and dignity. - Cystinosis Research Foundation
Ongoing
CRF’s mission is to support bench, clinical and translational research to find better treatments and a cure for cystinosis, a rare and highly destructive genetic disease that affects 1 in 100,000-200,000 live births in the United States.