California Events
Saturday, November 22, 2025
ALPINE: Viejas Casino Resort Ice Rink November 7, 2025-January 4, 2026, 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/
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
ARCADIA: Enchant Christmas November 21-December 28, 2025 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!
BIG BEAR LAKE: Big Bear Alpine Zoo Wild Lights November 6, 2025-January 4, 2026, 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
CARMEL: City of Carmel Craft Fairs November 22, 2025, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in 4 locations: Sunset Center North Lot, San Carlos & 9th Street; All Saints Episcopal Church, Delores & 9th Street / Lincoln & 7th Street; Church of the Wayfarer, Lincoln & 7th Street; Carmel Woman's Club, San Carlos & 9th Street. Crafts, vendors, art, food for sale and more. Free admission, ci.carmel.ca.us
CASTRO VALLEY: Alameda Civic Ballet Nutcracker November 22-23, 2025, at Castro Valley Center for the Arts, 19501 Redwood Road Castro Valley, CA $, alamedacivicballet.org
CATHEDRAL CITY: Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival November 21-23, 2025. Tethered Balloon Rides 100 feet into air $ Hot Air Balloon Breakfast and Pilot Race Parade Balloon Launch Classic Car Show. cchotairballoonfest.com
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 28, 2025-January 4, 2026 (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
ENCINITAS: Lightscape November 14, 2025-January 4, 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
FALLBROOK: International Holiday Show November 1, 2025 through January 10, 2026 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
FOLSOM: Folsom Ice Rink November 8, 2025-January 19, 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/
FRESNO: Christmas at Kearney - Beyond Santa: Delivering Holiday Magic at Kearney Mansion Museum November 21, 2025-January 4, 2026, Fri-Sun. Location: 7160 W. Kearney Blvd., Fresno, CA. $12, valleyhistory.org
HERMOSA BEACH: Hermosa for the Holidays November 21-23, 2025 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.23, 2025. Location: Manhattan Ave., Downtown Hermosa Beach CA. Free, hbchamber.net
LAGUNA BEACH: Sawdust Festival Winter Fantasy November 21-December 21, 2025, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. every Friday through Sunday rain or shine! 175 award-winning artists, sculptors, jewelers and designers sell their works in the beautiful Laguna Canyon venue. Location: 935 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach, CA. $, sawdustartfestival.org
LA VERNE: Cruisin Holiday Car Show and Toy Drive 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in Downtown La Verne. The event includes the community’s participation in the “CHiPs for Kids” Toy Drive, which benefits children for the holidays. Attendees are encouraged to donate a new, $10 unwrapped toy at the event. For more information please contact event promoter Craig Hoelzel at (714) 671-5833 or City Hall at (909) 596-8706. Free Event for all ages! cruisinlaverne.com
LOS ANGELES: Pershing Square Holiday Ice Skating Rink returns November 20, 2025-January 11, 2026. 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 28, 2025-January 10, 2026, 5 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Location: 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. $27 general admission, lalive.com
MONTEREY: Skating by the Bay November 21, 2025-January 4, 2026 at Custom House Plaza. $21.10 includes skate rental, iceskatingbythebay.com
MORENO VALLEY: Electric Light Festival Drive-thru November 8-December 31, 2025, 5:30-10:30 p.m. at Moreno Valley Mall. Over a million dazzling lights! Location: 22631 Town Circle, Moreno Valley, CA. $, electriclightfestival.com
MONTEREY: Del Monte Shopping Center Tree Lighting November 22, 2025, 5-7 p.m. Del Monte Shopping Center Highway 1 at Munras Ave. Monterey, CA shopdelmonte.com
MT. SHASTA: Siskiyou Ice Rink November 15, 2025-February 22, 2026 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 is open to public November 25, 2025-January 4, 2026. $21.42 sessions, meritageresort.com
NAPA: Gifts 'n Tyme Holiday Faire November 21-23, 2025. Location: Chardonnay Hall Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third Street, Napa, CA
OAKLAND: Oakland Zoo Glowfari November 7, 2025-January 25, 2026, 4:30-9 p.m. 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
PALOS VERDES PENINSULA: Astra Lumina, An Enchanted Night Walk Amongst The Stars at South Coast Botanic Garden November 6-December 31, 2025, 5-10 p.m. Celestial, multisensory experience features out-of-this-world light sculptures in 9 themed areas. $30-65, astralumina.com
PASADENA: Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet at Pasadena Civic Auditorium November 22, 2025, 7 p.m., Tickets: nutcracker.com
PICO RIVERA: Holiday Festival Tree Lighting November 22, 2025, 5-9 p.m. Lighting of the Holiday Tree takes place 6-6:30 p.m. Pico Rivera - City Hall 6615 Passons Boulevard Pico Rivera, CA FREE, fees for the Holiday activities, cash only, pico-rivera.org
PLEASANT HILL: Light Up the Night and Tree Lighting November 22, 2025, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Activities, crafts, music, performances, and the annual lighting of the holiday tree! New this year! Free, phillca.gov
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
ROSEMEAD: Holiday Craft Fair, November 22, 2025, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Garvey Community Center. Vendor opportunities. Location: 9108 Garvey Ave., Rosemead, CA. Free admission, cityofrosemead.org
ROSEVILLE:
Mandarin Festival
November 21-23, 2025 at The Grounds,
700 Event Center Drive,
Roseville, CA.
$8-14 admission + $15 parking, mandarinfestival.com
SACRAMENTO: Imaginarium November 21, 2025-January 4, 2026 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 DIEGO: Rady Children's Ice Rink November 20, 2025-January 4, 2026, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily (except holidays) at Liberty Station. Have fun while skating fees support cancer program for kids. $25 includes skate rentals, rchicerink.org
SAN FRANCISCO: Union Square Ice Rink November 5, 2025-January 19, 2026. Themed days and special events add to the fun. $22 session includes skate rental.
SAN JOSE: Blinky's Holiday Lights Drive Thru November 21-December 31, 2025, 5 p.m. at Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. More than one mile of magical scenes and displays synced to favorite holiday tunes. $25-31, approx., christmasinthepark.com
SAN JOSE: Downtown Ice November 26, 2025-January 2026 in the iconic Circle of Palms Plaza on Market Street. $, sjdowntownice.com
SAN MATEO: IlluminOdyssey November 15, 2025-January 25, 2026 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 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 ANA: Navidena Tree Lighting Saturday, November 22, 2025, 5-8 p.m. Plaza Calle Cuatro In the heart of Downtown Santa Ana, this free community event kicks off the holiday season. Location: Downtown Santa Ana, CA Free, santa-ana.org
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
SACRAMENTO: Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink November 5, 2025-January 19, 2026 at the Square on 7th & K Street. A tradition for over 30 years, the affordable holiday attraction only charges $15, skate rental included! godowntownsac.com
SANTA MONICA: ICE November 7, 2025-January 19, 2026 at 5th & Arizona. 8,000 square feet of skating ice, including a kids zone for little ones. $22 admission & skate rental, iceatsantamonica.com
SANTA MONICA: West Edge Design Fair November 20-22, 2025 at Santa Monica Airport. Location: The Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Ave., Santa Monica, CA. $25 General admission, $150 all access pass, westedgedesignfair.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.
TEMECULA: Peltzer Ice Rink November 10, 2025-Janaury 19, 2026 at Peltzer Farm & Winery. Location: 39925 Calle Contento, Temecula, CA. $23.05 for 75 minute skate session, rental skates included, peltzerfarms.com
TEMECULA: The Nutcracker presented by Inland Valley Classical Ballet Theatre November 21-23, 2025 at Old Town Temecula Community Theater. Location: 42051 Main Street Temecula, CA 92590. $39-47, tickets.temeculatheater.org
WOODSIDE: Filoli Holiday Lights November 22, 2025-January 11, 2026, 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.