California Events
Astra Lumina at South Coast Botanic Garden Nov.9-Dec.31, 2023
November 24, 2024
Past events
ALPINE: Alpine Holiday Tree Lighting & Festival November 24, 2023, 5-9 p.m. | Tree Lighting 5 p.m. Free, alpinechamber.com
DANVILLE: Lighting of the Old Oak Tree November 24, 2023, 5:15-8 p.m. Diablo Road, Old Oak Tree Hartz & Prospect Ave. Danville, CA danville.ca.gov
FORT BRAGG: Mendocino Botanical Garden Lights November 24-December 17, 2023, 5-7 p.m. Annual event featuring holiday-lit trees, animated shapes and themed designs created by Mendocino County's favorite garden. $10, gardenbythesea.org
FRESNO: Timeless Toys, Christmas at Kearney Mansion Museum Nov.24-Dec.31, 2023, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays $10, valleyhistory.org
GRASS VALLEY: Grass Valley Cornish Christmas Fridays November 24-December 23, 2023, 6-9 p.m. & Tree Lighting Ceremony 5 p.m. at 151 Mill St. Union Building steps in Downtown Grass Valley. Rekindle the spirit of an old-fashioned Christmas at this delightful holiday event. downtowngrassvalley.com
HANFORD: Christmas Parade Christmas Around the World Nov.24, 2023, 6 p.m. hanfordchamber.com
JACKSON: Main Street Holiday Open House Tree Lighting November 24 & 25, 2023, 6-9 p.m. Main Street Jackson, CA Free, amadorchamber.com
MAMMOTH LAKES: Holiday Ice Rink November 24, 2023-March 2024. Nothing says winter in the Sierra Nevada mountains better than an invigorating ice skating session after a day on the ski slopes.
MONTEREY: Cannery Row Tree Lighting November 24, 2023, 12-9 p.m. | Lighting at 5:45 p.m. Cannery Row Steinbeck Plaza Prescott Ave. Monterey, CA Free, canneryrow.com
MONTEREY: Ice Skating by the Bay November 24-December 31, 2023. There's no place more in the holiday spirit than Monterey Bay for this ice skating adventure surrounded by shops, dining, and the ever-close Pacific Ocean.
MT. SHASTA: Mount Shasta Hometown Holiday Light Parade November 24, 2023, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Winter Magic Festival Lights Parade 6 p.m. | Tree Lighting after parade
NAPA: Silverado Resort Tree Lighting Ceremony November 24, 2023, 6-7 p.m. Silverado Resort 1600 Atlas Peak Rd. Napa, CA 94558 silveradoresort.com
NEWPORT BEACH: Newport Dunes Fire & Ice Rink November 24, 2023-January 1, 2024
PLACERVILLE: Festival of Lights November 24, 2023, 4-7 p.m. Tree Lighting at approx. 6 p.m. Downtown Placerville Main Street Placerville, CA cityofplacerville.org
SACRAMENTO: Hmong New Year November 24-26, 2023 at Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd. Bands, Food & Merch Vendors, Volleyball Competition, Hmong Idol, Miss Hmong California Beauty Contest and more. Doors open at 8 a.m. calexpo.com | $, sacramentohmongnewyear.com
SAN FRANCISCO: Ghirardelli Square Tree Lighting November 24, 2023. Events includes musical entertainment. Location: San Francisco, CA. Free, public invited
SANTA CLARA: California's Great America Holiday Ice Rink November 24, 2023-December 31, 2023
SANTA ROSA: Winter Lights Tree Lighting November 24, 2023, 4-7 p.m. at Old Courthouse Square 50 Old Courthouse Square Santa Rosa, CA Free, downtownsantarosa.org/ winterlights
SARATOGA: Wine Stroll and Tree Lighting November 24, 2023, 6-8:30 p.m. at Blaney Plaza
OAKLAND: Oakland Zoo Glowfari, Wildly Illuminating Lantern Festival November 10, 2023-January 28, 2024, 5-9 p.m. $26 adults, advanced ticket purchase is required: oaklandzoo.org
OAK GLEN: Apple Butter Festival November
24-26, 2023 (must confirm)
Riley's at Los Rios Rancho
39611 Oak Glen Rd. #13, Yucaipa, CA Free admission, losriosrancho.com
Harvest Dinner & Dance
Pioneer families made a custom of gathering together in late fall to cook up
apple butter from the last apples of the season.
SAN LUIS OBISPO: Nature Nights November 17-December 31, 2023, 5-8 p.m., at San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden. Location: 3450 Dairy Creek Rd. San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 $27 general admission sold online, slobg.org
SANTA MARIA: Christmas in the Country Elks Drive-thru November 24 & 25; December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23 & 24, 2023 at Elks Unocal Event Center $60 per car, $75 VIP, elksrec.com
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE: Holiday Tree Lighting at 6:30 p.m. at The Shops at Heavenly. Free, public invited, theshopsatheavenly.com
SAN FRANCISCO: Union Square Ice Rink November 1, 2023-January 15, 2024
CORONADO: Skating by the Sea November 17, 2023-January 7, 2024 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
CONCORD: Ice at the Veranda November 3, 2023-February 14, 2024 at The Veranda shopping mall. Come glide on Ice at The Veranda, a newly reimagined mixed-use retail center with open-air shopping, dining and entertainment.
COSTA MESA: Winter Fest OC November 24, 2023-January 7, 2024 at Orange County Fair & Event Center. Snow, ice tubing, ice skating, rides, North Pole, fire pits and more. Location: 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA. $35-110, winterfestoc.com
ENCINITAS: Lightscape November 17, 2023-January 1, 2024, 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. $29-35, sdbg.org
LOS ANGELES: Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square November 16, 2023-January 7, 2024 Willy Bietak Productions is back at Pershing Square for ice entertainment during the holidays.
FRESNO: IllumiNature November 24-December 30, 2023 at Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a special holiday event featuring lighted lantern displays and a visit from a real reindeer! $, fresnochaffeezoo.org
HANFORD: Winter Wonderland Ice Skating November 18, 2023-January 7, 2024 at Civic Park, Downtown Hanford. Make it a date with the family and friends for fun holiday ice skating. $, hanfordwinterwonderland.com
MONTEREY: Skating by the Bay November 24-December 31, 2023 at Custom House Plaza. $, iceskatingbythebay.com
PARADISE: Paradise on Ice November 10, 2023-January 7, 2024 at Terry Ashe Park and Recreation Center is open for seasonal ice skating among towering trees of the Sierra Nevada foothills, $, paradiseprpd.com
POMONA: Imaginarium at Fairplex November 17, 2023-January 7, 2024. Over 5 million lights in colorful displays, life-size Chinese lanterns, holiday foods and Cirque performances stir the imagination in this all ages, limited engagement. Location: Fairplex, 1101 W McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA. $28-up, imaginarium360.com/fairplex/
REDDING: Garden of Lights November 17, 2023-January 7, 2024 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. $20-25, $20-25, reddinggardenoflights.org
SACRAMENTO: Imaginarium November 17, 2023-January 7, 2024 at Cal Expo. Location: 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, CA. $21-27, imaginarium360.com
PALOS VERDES PENINSULA: South Coast Botanic Garden Astra Lumina, An Enchanted Night Walk Amongst The Stars in Los Angeles, November 9-December 31, 2023. The limited engagement, multisensory immersive experience that holds a special connection to the stars above, brings special meaning to the holidays. $ tickets, southcoastbotanicgarden.org
SAN DIEGO: Liberty Station Tree Lighting November 24, 2023, 5-9 p.m. Live entertainment | Tree lighting | Rady Children's Ice Rink. libertystation.com | rchicerink.org
SAN JOSE: Downtown Ice is a seasonal holiday rink offering skating sessions, skate rentals and holiday festivities November 17, 2023-January 15, 2024.
SAN MATEO: IlluminOdyssey November 10, 2023-January 28, 2024 at CuriOdyssey, a zoo and learning center containing native, non-releasable animals such as river otter, bobcat, gray fox, snakes, birds, bugs and more. Location: 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo, CA. $26.64 approx., curiodyssey.org
SAN RAMON: Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Skating Rink November 10, 2023-January 7, 2024 at City Center Bishop Ranch $21 approx., citycenterbishopranch.com
SANTA MONICA: ICE November 1, 2023-January 15, 2024
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE: Heavenly Village Ice Rink November 1, 2023-March 31, 2024
WATSONVILLE: Santa Cruz Holiday Lights November 24-December 24, 2023, 5:30-9 p.m. at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Location: 2601 East Lake Ave Watsonville, CA 95076 $20, fairgrounds-foundation.org/ holiday-lights
Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.