California Events
Saturday, November 22, 2025
CORONADO: Skating by the Sea November 21, 2025-January 4, 2026 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 2025-January 2026 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
ENCINITAS: Lightscape November 2025-January 2026, 5-8:30 p.m. at San Diego Botanic Garden includes over one million lights in artistic installations along a one-mile, easily walkable garden path. $, sdbg.org
ESCONDIDO: Wild Holidays November 28, 2025-January 4, 2026 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, 2025-January 2026 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/
LOS ANGELES: Pershing Square Holiday Ice Skating Rink returns mid-November 2025-January 2026. Sharpen your blades and skills or just go to chill with themed events and great music. $, holidayicerinkdowntownla.com
MONTEREY: Skating by the Bay to be announced: November-December 31, 2025 at Custom House Plaza. $20 includes skate rental, iceskatingbythebay.com
OAKLAND: Oakland Zoo Glowfari November-January, information coming in Fall 2025! 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 adult, oaklandzoo.org
REDDING: Garden of Lights November 21, 2025-January 4, 2026 at McConnell Arboretum. Walk on the world-famous Sundial Bridge to the the Arboretum where over one million animated lights are on display select nights. $, reddinggardenoflights.org
SAN MATEO: IlluminOdyssey November 16, 2024-January 26, 2025 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
SACRAMENTO: Imaginarium Information to be announced for 2025-2026 season at Cal Expo. Some exciting, new twists at the largest holiday light show in Northern California! Location: 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, CA. $25-up, imaginarium360.com
SAN FRANCISCO: Union Square Ice Rink November 6, 2024-January 20, 2025. Themed days and special events add to the fun.
SAN JOSE: Blinky's Holiday Lights Drive Thru November 28, 2025-January 1, 2026, 5-11 p.m. in History Park San Jose. More than one mile of magical scenes and displays synced to favorite holiday tunes. $25-31, approx., christmasinthepark.com
SAN JOSE: Downtown Ice Information to be announced about November 2025-January 2026 season in Circle of Palms Plaza on Market Street. $, sjdowntownice.com
SAN MATEO: San Mateo on Ice November 14, 2025-January 11, 2026 in Central Park. Largest outdoor ice rink in the Bay Area features 11,000 square feet of REAL ice to skate on in sunny San Mateo - nice! $, onicerinks.com
SAN RAMON: Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Skating Rink November 7, 2025-January 4, 2026 at City Center Bishop Ranch. Many special events include Elsa, Santa Claus, Barbie and Kristi's skating clinic. $26, citycenterbishopranch.com
SANTA BARBARA: ZooLights November 12, 2025-January 11, 2026, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Santa Barbara Zoo. See thousands of handcrafted silk-covered lanterns aglow with more than 50,000 LED bulbs, depicting wild places and animals from around the globe. Location: 500 Niños Drive, Santa Barbara, CA. $21-35, sbzoo.org
SANTA MONICA: ICE mid-November 2025-January 2026 at 5th & Arizona. Details coming soon! $, iceatsantamonica.com
SEAL BEACH: Seal Beach Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony November 22, 2025, 4-7 p.m. Eisenhower Park Ocean Ave. & Main Street Seal Beach, CA Free, sealbeachca.gov
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE: Heavenly Village Ice Rink November 1, 2025-March 31, 2026, subject to change. Ice Skating at the outdoor rink at The Shops at Heavenly Village features central location near shopping, dining and skiing.
Past events
ALPINE:
Alpine Holiday Tree Lighting & Festival
November 22, 2024, 6-9 p.m. | Tree Lighting 5 p.m.
Free, alpinechamber.com
AUBURN:
Mandarin Festival
November 22-24, 2024 at Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High St.
Auburn, CA
$7-12, mandarinfestival.com
CATHEDRAL CITY: Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival November 22-24, 2024 Tethered Balloon Rides 100 feet into air $ Hot Air Balloon Breakfast and Pilot Race Parade Balloon Launch Classic Car Show. hotairballoonfest.com
FALLBROOK: International Holiday Show November 22, 2024-January 7, 2025 at Fallbrook Art Center. Unique, affordable artful gifts in a variety of mediums including woodworking, glass, textile art, jewelry, greeting cards, ceramics, gourd art, ornaments, and more - all handcrafted by regional artists and artisans. Location: 103 S. Main Ave., Fallbrook, CA. Free, fallbrookartcenter.org
GLENDORA: Tree Lighting & Holiday Stroll November 22, 2024, 6-9 p.m. Downtown Glendora Village Bus Plaza in the Village. Glendora, CA cityofglendora.org
HERMOSA BEACH: Hermosa for the Holidays November 22-24, 2024 in Downtown Hermosa. Shop local artisans and retailers, hop on carnival rides and inflatables at Pier Plaza, head for Santa and listen to community concert at the tree lighting ceremony on Nov.24. Location: Manhattan Ave., Downtown Hermosa Beach CA. Free, hbchamber.net
LAGUNA BEACH: Sawdust Festival Winter Fantasy November 22-December 22, 2024, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. every Friday through Sunday rain or shine! 175 talented artists, sculptors, jewelers and more present their works in a festive & shaded outdoor venue. Location: 935 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach, CA. $12, sawdustartfestival.org
LONG BEACH: Dreamstate Southern California November 22-23, 2024, at Queen Mary. Trance music festival. Tickets start at $175 per day approx., socal.dreamstateusa.com
MORRO BAY: Holiday Shop, Sip and Stroll, 5-8 p.m. Downtown check in by Giant Chess Board. Wine, beer, cider, spirits, nonalcoholic & food! Each General Admission Ticket gets you access and a map to locations, a wine glass and a tote bag! $25 pre-sale, morrochamber.org
NAPA: Gifts 'n Tyme Holiday Faire November 22-24, 2024 Location: Chardonnay Hall Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third Street, Napa, CA afterthegoldrushfestivals.com
NEWPORT BEACH: Fashion Island Christmas Tree Lighting November 22-December 29, 2024, 5:30-8 p.m. at Atrium Court nightly. Witness the Nights of Coastal Lights. Free, shopfashionisland.com
ORANGE: Orange Jack & Jill Guild Holiday Home Tour November 22, 2024, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. See three exceptional Lemon Heights and Orange Park Acres homes to benefit CHOC Children's Hospital. $65 | holiday homes
ROSEVILLE: Mountain Mandarin Festival November 22-24, 2024 At the Grounds. Mountain Mandarin Festival Recipe Contest, 15 local mandarin orange growers, 20 food vendors, Mandarin Cocktails & bar, Kids Zone and 4 stages of entertainment. Location: 700 Event Center Drive, Roseville, CA $6-12, mandarinfestival.com
SANTEE: Santee Tree Lighting Ceremony November 22, 2024, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tree Lighting Ceremony 6:15 p.m. Santee Trolley Square 9884 Mission Gorge Road Santee, CA Free, cityofsanteeca.gov
THOUSAND OAKS: Westlake Promenade Tree Lighting 4-8 p.m. Ceremony with Pacific Festival Ballet Nutcracker performance. Enjoy a whimsical holiday show, the arrival of Santa and a firework finale. Pre-show festivities include strolling entertainment and a curated Holiday Market. Location: 140 Pr0menade Way, Thousand Oaks, CA. Free, shoppromenade.com
WOODSIDE: Holidays at Filoli November 16, 2024-January 12, 2025. Georgian revival-style mansion with 16 acres of exquisite English Renaissance gardens at an historic 654-acre estate (as seen in Falcon Crest show) is all decked out with 20 miles of Holiday lights, food delights, Santa visits and add-on experiences like firepit nights. $41-45, filoli.org
Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.