California Events
Monday, December 28, 2026
CASTRO VALLEY: Christmas Village Ice Rink November 27, 2026-January 3, 2027 at 3 Crosses, East Bay's largest, seasonal outdoor rink, featuring food trucks, bounce houses, family activities and joyful holiday treats! Location: 20600 John Drive, Castro Valley, CA. $, 3crosseschristmasvillage.com
Past events
ALAMEDA: Christmas Tree Lane returns December 1-31. An annual favorite holiday tradition for 85 years, is a community gift to the public. Free to see and experience.
ALPINE: Viejas Casino Resort Ice Rink November 6, 2026-January 10, 2027, 3-10 p.m. daily at Viejas Casino & Resort. Southern California's largest outdoor ice rink. Location: 5003 Willows Road, Alpine, California $20-25 approx. for 90 minute session rental skates included, viejasoutletcenter.com/skating-rink/
ANAHEIM: Disneyland Festival of Holidays. Christmas Fantasy Parade is back along with Haunted Mansion's Nightmare Before Christmas, and It's a Small World holiday transformation. Location: 1313 S. Harbor Blvd. Anaheim, CA. $Tickets, disneyland.com
ARCADIA: Enchant Christmas November 20-December 27, 2026 at Santa Anita Park / Racetrack. Holiday attraction includes "World's Largest Christmas Maze," ice slides, ice skating rink, Santa Village, Marketplace shops and foods & beverages. $29-up!
ATWATER: The Rink at Castle ice skating November 20, 2026-January 2027, has a new location: 3450 D Street, Atwater, CA. $, therinkatcastle.com
BAKERSFIELD: CALM Zoo Holiday Lights November 28, 2026-January 2, 2027. Stroll through millions of lights in holiday-themed lands featuring over 200 displays. $, calmholidaylights.org
BIG BEAR LAKE: Alpine Zoo Wild Lights November 12, 2026-January 4, 2027, 5-9 p.m. Wed-Sun. New event shines one million holiday lights on the treasured zoo where injured wildlife is cared for. $20, bigbearzoo.org
BRIDGEPORT: Bridgeport Winter Ice Rink late November-March. Free admission (bring your own skates) and enjoy! Location: US 395 and Hwy 182, Bridgeport, CA. Free, monocounty.org
BUENA PARK: Knott's Berry Farm Christmas. Enjoy Christmas Crafts Village, Snoopy's Night Before Christmas Ice Show, Santa's Christmas Cabin photos, Home for the Holidays musical production and seasonal foods, plus all the great rides in one awesome day & night. Location: 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, CA. $, sixflags.com/knotts
CARLSBAD: Holidays at Legoland California. Meet Lego characters, see the Lego Christmas Tree made of 360,000 Lego & Duplo bricks, life-size Lego reindeer & Santa, hear the Brass Band, and enjoy the fun. Location: One Legoland Drive Carlsbad, CA $, legoland.com/california
CHICO: Chico Ice Rink November 12, 2026-January 17, 2027 in Downtown Chico Plaza. $15, chicorec.gov/chico-ice-rink
COARSEGOLD: Winter Wonderland Ice Rink, November 21, 2026-January 10, 2027, 12-10 p.m. (closed Mondays & Tuesdays) at Chukchansi Gold Resort Casino. Seasonal outdoor ice skating, all ages. $, chukchansigold.com
CONCORD: Ice at the Veranda November 6, 2026-February 14, 2027 at The Veranda shopping mall. Come glide on Ice at the Veranda, shoptheveranda.com
CORONADO: Skating by the Sea November 20, 2026-January 3, 2027 at Hotel del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave. is one of the most scenic seaside ice skating rinks in the U.S. Public invited. $, hoteldel.com
COSTA MESA: Winter Fest OC returns November 27, 2026-January 3, 2027 (Thursday-Sunday) at Orange County Fair & Event Center. Snow, ice tubing, ice skating, rides, fire pits and more. Location: 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA. $, winterfestoc.com
ESCONDIDO: Wild Holidays at San Diego Safari Park. Festive decorations, incredible light displays and holiday entertainment await. Location: 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA. $, sdzsafaripark.org
FOLSOM: Folsom Ice Rink November 7, 2026-January 18, 2027 in Historic Downtown Folsom . Come have fun at the circular, 7,000-square-foot rink with REAL ice. Enjoy fire pits, Santa's Cottage and more! $, historicfolsom.org/ice-rink/
FRESNO: Christmas at Kearney November 20, 2026-January 3, 2026, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays $12, valleyhistory.org
GILROY: North Pole Nights November 21-December 31, 2026 at Gilroy Gardens theme park includes Ice Skating, Santa's Workshop, Train, Lighting Displays, stage shows and more. $65-80, gilroygardens.org
RIVERSIDE: Mission Inn Festival of Lights. The National Historic Landmark dazzles with millions of holiday lights in Christmas displays called one of the best in the U.S. Free, missioninn.com
HOLLYWOOD: Los Angeles Ballet - The Nutcracker with Los Angeles Ballet Orchestra at Dolby Theatre. Location: 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA. $, losangelesballet.org
HANFORD: Winter Wonderland Ice Skating November 21, 2026-January 10, 2027 at Civic Park, Downtown Hanford. Make it a date with family and friends for fun holiday ice skating. $, hanfordwinterwonderland.com
IRVINE: Dream Glow Lights Festival November 5-Dcember 30, 2026 at Wild Rivers Waterpark. West Coast debut of the newest lights spectacular for the holidays! Location: 10000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine, CA. $37-53, dreamglowfestival.com
IRVINE: Irvine Spectrum Holiday Ice Rink next to the Giant Wheel November 6, 2026 through Christmas holiday. Skating! Location: 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine, CA. $24-27 general admission, irvinespectrumcenter.com
INDIO: Coachella Valley Magic of Lights Drive Thru November 20, 2026-January 2, 2027 at Empire Polo Club. Holiday scenes and characters of the season using the latest LED technology and digital animations. Location: 81800 Avenue 51, Indio, CA. $, magicoflights.com
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE: Enchanted Forest of Light November 22, 2026-January 9, 2027 features an after-dark, mile-long walkthrough of holiday lights in Descanso Gardens, a unique Southern California botanic garden that's magical during the day, and mesmerizing at night. $27-45, descansogardens.org
LOS ANGELES: LA Zoo Lights, Animals Aglow, 6-10 p.m. at Los Angeles Zoo. Nighttime display with lit lantern sculptures of animals among blooming flowers, glowing rivers, and a magical Holiday Forest with majestic pine trees and the return of Santa himself. Location: 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA, $25-35, lazoo.org
LOS ANGELES: Pershing Square Holiday Ice Skating Rink . Sharpen your blades and skills or just go to chill with themed events and great music. $, holidayicerinkdowntownla.com
LOS ANGELES: LA Kings Holiday Ice at LA Live November 27 2026-January 3, 2027, 5 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Location: 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. $27 general admission, lalive.com
LOS GATOS: Fantasy of Lights Drive Through. Extremely popular drive-through holiday display at Vasona Lake Park sells quickly. $30/car with online sales only, parks.sccgov.org
MONTEREY: Skating by the Bay at Custom House Plaza. $21.10 includes skate rental, iceskatingbythebay.com
MT. SHASTA: Siskiyou Ice Rink November 14, 2026-February 21, 2027 in Shastice Park is an ice skater's dream at 85 feet wide and 200 feet long. $15 sessions, skate rental included, msrec.org
NAPA: Meritage Ice Skating Rink November 19, 2026-January 3, 2027 invites the public to come skate! $, 90-minute skate sessions; cabins and firepits also available for rent, meritageresort.com
OAKLAND: Fairy Winterland December 13-14, 20-21 & 27-28, 2025, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Children's Fairyland. Snow Queen, Black Santa and many more surprises. $22 general admission, fairyland.org
OAKLAND: Fairy Winterland December 13-14, 20-21 & 27-28, 2025, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Children's Fairyland. Snow Queen, Black Santa and many more surprises. $22 general admission, fairyland.org
OAKLAND: Temple Hill Days of Christmas. A beacon for spectacular holiday lights, Christmas concerts, theatrical performances, nativity and creche presentations on panoramic Temple Hill. Free, templehill.org
OAKLAND: Oakland Zoo Glowfari November 6, 2026-January 31, 2027. The Wildly Illuminating Lantern Festival features wading wildlife along Africa's Nile River, ancient Egyptian structures, dinosaurs, barnyard animals and Avian Odyssey train ride. Advanced ticket purchase required: $26-41, oaklandzoo.org
OLYMPIC VALLEY: Everline Winter Ice Skating Rink November 27, 2026-March 28, 2027, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at Everline Resort. Location: 400 Squaw Creek Road, Olympic Valley, CA.$30 approx. includes skate rental and 60 minutes of ice skating, everlineresort.com
OLYMPIC VALLEY: Everline Resort Winter Ice Skating Rink November 28, 2025-March 28, 2026, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. With direct lift service to Palisades Tahoe, site of the historic 1960 Winter Olympics, Everline Resort's ice skating rink adds to the fun. The resort offers snowshoe rentals, as well, plus perks to locals. Location: Everline Resort at Squaw Creek, 400 Squaw Creek Road, Olympic Valley, CA. $30 includes skate rental and 60 minutes of ice skating, everlineresort.com
ONTARIO: Disney on Ice "Let's Dance" December 25-28, 2025 at Toyota Arena. Mickey Mouse is rocking the DJ table, Asha's on a journey to save the Kingdom of Rosas and Ariel is grooving under the sea - some of the magic moments of Disney. Location: 4000 Ontario Center Parkway, Ontario, CA. $, disneyonice.com
PALO ALTO: Winter Lodge Seasonal Ice Rink October 16, 2026-April 11, 2027, is back with public skating sessions, lessons and more. $20 session, $6 skate rental, winterlodge.com
PASADENA: Tournament of Roses Decorating Places on View December 28, 2025, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Visitors can see the floats being decorated at 2 locations before the parade. Locations: Rosemont Pavilion, 700 Seco Street, Pasadena, CA or Brookside Pavilion, Lot I, South Side of Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA. $ (age 5 & under free), sharpseating.com
PERRIS: Southern California Railway Polar Express. Family adventure on a magical train ride complete with dancing chefs, caroling, cookies and cocoa, re-creates the classic children’s story. $49-up, socalrailway.org
PETALUMA: Luma Ice to be announced 2026-2027 at Petaluma Fairgrounds. Ice rink attraction includes REAL ice skating, themed days and great entertainment. Location: 175 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma, CA. $20 includes skate rental, lumaice.com
SAN DIEGO: Jungle Bells at San Diego Zoo includes light shows, reindeer games, brass band music, jugglers & acrobats, and forest pathways through holiday, lighted trees to visit polar bears, arctic foxes and reindeer. $ ticket, approx. sandiegozoo.org
SAN DIEGO: San Diego International Auto Show January 1-4, 2026 at San Diego Convention Center. See cars that are yet to be releases! Location: 111 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA. $, sdautoshow.com
SAN DIEGO: SeaWorld San Diego Christmas Celebration , 10 a.m. daily. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, musical Tunnel of Lights, themed rides and all new Baby Shark's Christmas Adventure to the North Pole, plus shopping, food and fun for all ages. Location: 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego, CA. $Tickets, seaworld.com
SAN FRANCISCO: Japanese Bell Ringing Ceremony on December 28, 2025, 1 p.m. A 2100-lb., sixteenth-century Japanese bronze bell from a temple in Japan is struck 108 times with a log for 108 mortal desires (bonno) of passions and delusions humans need to be rid of from the previous year so they can begin the New year right. Asian Art Museum San Francisco, TICKETS: asianart.org
SAN FRANCISCO: San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker at War Memorial Opera House. Helgi Tomasson's Nutcracker with Artistic Director Tamara Rojo and accompaniment by SF Ballet Orchestra. Location: 301 Van Ness Ave. San Francisco, CA $49-395, approx., sfballet.org
SAN JOSE: Christmas in the Park, 12-10 p.m. daily. The two-acre park features a holiday fantasy with over 40 musical and animated exhibits, glimmering lights and a 65-foot illuminated Christmas Tree. This free attraction for the child in all of us is a holiday tradition beloved by all. Location: Plaza De Cesar Chavez, 194 S. Market St., San Jose, CA. Free, christmasinthepark.com
SAN JOSE: Downtown Ice in the iconic Circle of Palms Plaza on Market Street. $, sjdowntownice.com
SAN MATEO: IlluminOdyssey at CuriOdyssey, a zoo and learning center containing native, non-releasable animals such as river otter, bobcat, gray fox and more. Location: 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo, CA. $, curiodyssey.org
SAN MATEO: San Mateo on Ice in Central Park November 13, 2026-January 10, 2027. Largest outdoor ice rink in the Bay Area features 11,000 square feet of REAL ice to skate on in sunny San Mateo - so nice! $20.33-24.61, onicerinks.com
SAN RAMON: Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Skating Rink November 6, 2026-January 3, 2027 at City Center Bishop Ranch. Many special events include Elsa, Santa Claus, Barbie and Kristi's skating clinic. $16 week day - $25.55 weekend, citycenterbishopranch.com
SACRAMENTO: Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink at the Square on 7th & K Street runs November 4, 2026-January 18, 2027. $, godowntownsac.com
SANTA ANA: The Science of Gingerbread with award-winning gingerbread house creations on display and hands-on learning about how gingerbread is made at Discovery Cube.
SAN JOSE: San Jose Holiday Lights November 13, 2026-January 1, 2027, 4:30-10:30 p.m. in Downtown San Jose. Illuminated, giant lanterns fill the city block with Christmas themed areas, a jungle, a garden and a mermaid's underwater fantasy. Location: 330 W. San Carlos Street, San Jose, CA. $25-29, sanjoseholidaylights.com
SANTA MONICA: ICE through January 18, 2027 2026-2027 Season at 5th & Arizona. 8,000 square feet of skating ice, including a kids zone for little ones. $24.05, frostonfifth.com
SAUSALITO: Sausalito Gingerbread House Tour December 8-31, 2026 features nearly 20 unique displays in a walking tour. Free to see, sausalito.org/gingerbread-house-tour
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE: Heavenly Village Ice Rink November 1, 2026-March 31, 2027, subject to change. Ice Skating at the outdoor rink at The Shops at Heavenly Village features central location near shopping, dining and skiing.
TEMECULA: Peltzer Ice Rink November 19, 2026-January 18, 2026 at Peltzer Farm & Winery features 8,400 square feet of real ice skating space! Location: 39925 Calle Contento, Temecula, CA. $23.17 for 75 minute skate session, rental skates included, peltzerfarms.com
TWAIN HARTE / LONG BARN: The Long Barn Lodge Ice Skating November 2025 mid-March 2026. Tucked in the Sierra Nevada mountains at around 5,000 feet elevation, Long Barn Lodge has the only ice skating rink in the area. Location: 25957 Long Barn Rd., Long Barn, CA facebook.com/ thelongbarnlodge $15, skate rental is $5. Closed Monday & Tuesday
UKIAH: Ukiah on Ice next to Alex R. Thomas Plaza on School Street. Seasonal holiday ice rink open daily for holiday fun! Location: 310 S. State St., Ukiah, CA. $12, cityofukiah.com/ukiahonice
UNIVERSAL CITY: Universal Studios Hollywood Christmas, showcasing the holiday makeover of three major attractions: Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Grinchmas with costumes, colors and decor. The thrills remain true to form! $95-up, tickets
VALENCIA: Six Flags Magic Mountain Holiday in the Park, 5 p.m. rocks each night with 2 million lights in 7 themed areas featuring dance, music & light shows, cocktail bars, holiday sweets, s'more fire pits & Santa Claus. Location: 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, CA. $49-75, sixflags.com/magicmountain
VALLEJO: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom WinterFest , 12-7 p.m. most days. Special holiday guests, entertainment, foods, rides & attractions like Arctic Penguins. Location: 1001 Fairgrounds Dr. Vallejo, CA 94589 $35-39, sixflags.com/discoverykingdom
WALNUT CREEK: Walnut Creek on Ice November 20, 2026-January 18, 2027. Enjoy 90 minute ice skating sessions, ice skate rental included or Ice Slide. Location: Civic Park, Walnut Creek, CA. walnutcreekonice.com
WOODSIDE: Filoli Holiday Lights , 4-9 p.m. Georgian revival-style mansion's 16 acres of exquisite English Renaissance gardens are transformed into a radiant wonderland of light and color at the historic 654-acre estate (seen in Falcon Crest). $49-55, filoli.org
Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.