Christmas in California

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California Theme Parks & Attractions OPEN ON CHRISTMAS DAY

SeeCalifornia.com verified this information on the venues' websites. However, they ultimately reserve the right to change their hours. It's best to call the business before going.

BEACHES: Open every day of the year. Hours and curfews vary by location. Free beach entertainment idea: light up a bonfire.

CASINOS: Almost all casinos are open Christmas Day. Here's a New Year's Celebration list.

ICE SKATING RINKS: Many of these rinks listed are open on Christmas Day. However, check special holiday hours and other conditions such as weather to confirm before you make plans.

ALPINE: Viejas Casino Resort Ice Rink

BRENTWOOD: Brentwood on Ice  3-9 p.m.

BURBANK: The Rink, Downtown Burbank

CORONADO: Skating by the Sea 

FOLSOM: Historic District Ice Rink

LONG BEACH: Queen Mary Ice Rink  

LONG BEACH: LA Kings Holiday Ice 

LOS ANGELES: Downtown on Ice Pershing Square 

LOS ANGELES: LA LIVE Ice Rink 

MAMMOTH LAKES: Holiday Ice Rink  

MARTINEZ: DC Solar Downtown Holiday Ice

MONTEREY: Ice Skating by the Bay 

MOUNT SHASTA: Siskiyou Ice Rink 

NAPA: Holiday on Ice

SACRAMENTO: Downtown Holiday Ice 

SAN DIEGO: Rady Children's Ice Rink at Liberty Station 

SAN FRANCISCO: Embarcadero Holiday Ice Rink 

SAN FRANCISCO: Union Square Ice Rink 

SAN FRANCISCO: Golden Gate Park Ice Rink 

SAN JOSE: Downtown Ice 

SAN MATEO: Holiday on Ice November 10, 2018 - January 13, 2019

SANTA CLARA: Holiday Ice 

SANTA CRUZ: Beach Boardwalk Ice 

SANTA MONICA: ICE 

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE: Heavenly Village Ice Rink 

TEMECULA: Temecula on Ice 

TWAIN HARTE: Long Barn Lodge Outdoor Rink 

UKIAH: Holiday on Ice 

VACAVILLE: Winter Wonderland Ice Rink 

VISALIA: Ice Skate Visalia 

WALNUT CREEK: Walnut Creek on Ice 

LIGHTS

ALTADENA: Christmas Tree Lane 

OXNARD: Oxnard Historic District Christmas Tree Lane

RIVERSIDE: Mission Inn

MOUNTAIN RESORTS: Ski lifts are open for Christmas. Check out local hours before you go.

MOVIE THEATERS

  • Most movie theaters are open on Christmas Day. Sources include fandango.com or your favorite theater nearby for times & tickets

THEME PARKS & ATTRACTIONS:

  • ANAHEIM: Disneyland opens at 8 a.m.-closes at 12 a.m. Midnight on Christmas. Disney's California Adventure is open 8 a.m.-10 p.m. 
  • BUENA PARK: Pirates Dinner Adventure: open 5 p.m. Christmas Show. piratesca.com
  • BUENA PARK: Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament 5 p.m. show Christmas Day.
  • CARLSBAD: Legoland open Christmas 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • CATALINA ISLAND: Catalina Express is open Christmas Day
  • COSTA MESA: OC Winterfest open Christmas Day 
  • HOLLYWOOD: Starline Tours Movie Star Homes open Christmas Day.
  • HOLLYWOOD: Madame Tussauds open Christmas  madametussauds.com
  • LONG BEACH: Queen Mary open Christmas Day
  • PALM SPRINGS: Aerial Tramway open Christmas   pstramway.com
    On December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020, Ride & Dine tickets (Tram admission and dinner at Pines Cafe) are sold beginning at 8 a.m. Dinner service is 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Combination tickets are $36 for adults and seniors, and $23.50 for children (ages 3-10). Peaks Restaurant serves their regular lunch and dinner menus along with a special prix fixe holiday menu beginning at 11 a.m. on December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Reservations are recommended and may be made by either calling 760-325-4537 or via Open Table on the Tram's website (www.pstramway.com/dining). The Tramway operates a special schedule from December 21, 2019 through January 5, 2020. The first tram up each day is at 8 a.m., the last tram up is at 8 p.m. and the last tram down is at 9:45 p.m.
  • SAN DIEGO: Christmas SeaWorld 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. seaworld.com
  • SAN FRANCISCO: Madame Tussauds open Christmas  madametussauds.com
  • SANTA CRUZ: Santa Cruz Boardwalk rides open Christmas Christmas Day
  • SANTA MONICA: Pacific Park all rides open on Christmas Day 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
  • UNIVERSAL CITY: Universal Studios Hollywood open 9 a.m.-10 p.m. on Christmas.
  • VALENCIA: Six Flags Magic Mountain open 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Christmas Day

TRAINS: Municipal train service may be limited on Christmas Day. Amtrak Trains are operating but may have special Christmas Day schedules.

ZOOS: San Diego Zoo is open. So is San Francisco Zoo.

  • SAN DIEGO: San Diego Zoo open December 25, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
    SAN DIEGO: San Diego Zoo Safari Park December 25 open 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • SAN FRANCISCO: San Francisco Zoo open Christmas Day 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Zoo is open 365 days a year.
    SANTA BARBARA: Santa Barbara Zoo is open Christmas Eve & Christmas Day 10 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.

STORES: Most chain grocery stores and pharmacies are open with limited hours. Most shopping centers and discount outlets are closed Christmas Day.

RESTAURANTS: Pickings are slim on Christmas Day. Marie Calendar's (varies per region), Buca di Beppo, Denny's, McDonald's (varies per management), Starbucks (varies per location), Applebee's and IHOP have some locations open. Check before going. Restaurants often have limited hours on Christmas Day.
Hornblower Cruise Dining Open: San Francisco, San Diego, Marina Del Rey and Newport Beach

SKI LIFTS: Open if there's snow

SPECIAL EVENTS OPEN

CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY

(subject to change)

BUENA PARK: Knott's Berry Farm closed on Christmas Day.
FAIRFIELD: Jelly Belly Factory Tours closed Christmas Day.
GILROY GARDENS: Closed Christmas Day. 
LA JOLLA: Birch Aquarium is closed Christmas Day.
LONG BEACH: Aquarium of the Pacific closed Christmas Day.
LOS ANGELES: The Getty Center is closed on Christmas Day.
LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Zoo is closed Christmas Day.
MONTEREY: Monterey Bay Aquarium closed Christmas Day.
OAKLAND: Oakland Zoo closed Christmas Day.
PALM DESERT: The Living Desert is closed.
SACRAMENTO: Sacramento Zoo closed
SAN FRANCISCO: Steinhart Aquarium closed December 25.
SAN FRANCISCO: Pier 39's Aquarium on the Bay is closed Christmas Day.
SAN MARINO: The Huntington Library & Gardens closed on Christmas Day.
SAN SIMEON: Hearst Castle is closed on Christmas Day.
VALLEJO: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom closed on Christmas Day.
YERMO: Calico Ghost Town closed Christmas Day

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.


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