California Events
Astra Lumina at South Coast Botanic Garden
Monday, November 24, 2025
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/
Past events
AUBURN:
Mandarin Festival
November 22-24, 2024 at Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High St.
Auburn, CA
$7-12, mandarinfestival.com
OAKLEY: Oakley on Ice November 21, 2025-January 4, 2026 across from Oakley City Hall with parking at Main Street & Norcoss Lane. $, oakleyonice.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
CHICO: Chico Ice Rink in the Plaza returns for the 2025/2026 season running mid November through mid-January in City Plaza. $5-25, chicorec.gov/chico-ice-rink
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
CONCORD: Ice at the Veranda November 9, 2024-February 2025 at The Veranda shopping mall. Come glide on Ice at The Veranda with open-air shopping, dining and entertainment.
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
CASTRO VALLEY: Alameda Civic Ballet Nutcracker November 23-24, 2024, 2 p.m. at Castro Valley Center for the Arts, 19501 Redwood Road Castro Valley, CA $, alamedacivicballet.org
CHICO: Christmas Preview November 24, 2024, 4-8 p.m. City Plaza 418 Main Street Chico, CA downtownchico.net 46th Annual Christmas Preview
DANA POINT: Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel Tree Lighting, November 24, 2024, 4-7 p.m. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Surfers Healing. Tickets are required for entry and add-ons are available for purchase, including our Sip & Savor and Location: One Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point, CA 92629 $39.19 eventbrite.com, ritzcarlton.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
ENCINITAS: Fall Street Fair November 24, 2024, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Beer Garden, Food, Bands, 450+ booths, a Kids Zone, a Dog Zone, dance troupes. Location: 101 North Coast Highway, Encinitas, CA. Free admission, encinitas101.com
FRESNO: IllumiNature returning November 2025-January 2026 at Fresno Chaffee Zoo, is a special holiday event featuring lighted lantern displays that entertain and amaze! $, fresnochaffeezoo.org
HANFORD: Winter Wonderland Ice Skating returning November 2025-January 2026 at Civic Park, Downtown Hanford. Make it a date with family and friends for fun holiday ice skating. $, hanfordwinterwonderland.com
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
IRVINE: Irvine Spectrum Holiday Ice Rink November 2025-January 4, 2026 next to the Giant Wheel. Skating! Location: 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine, CA. $, irvinespectrumcenter.com
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
NAPA: Gifts 'n Tyme Holiday Faire November 22-24, 2024 Location: Chardonnay Hall Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third Street, Napa, CA afterthegoldrushfestivals.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
PALO ALTO: Winter Lodge Seasonal Ice Rink October 18, 2025-April 2026, is back with public skating sessions, lessons and more. $, winterlodge.com
PERRIS: Southern California Railway Polar Express November 20-December 31, 2025. Family adventure on a magical train ride complete with dancing chefs, caroling, cookies and cocoa, re-creates the classic children’s story. $49-56, socalrailway.org
PASADENA: Pasadena Doo Dah Parade November 24, 2024, 11 a.m. Pasadena Doo Dah Parade, A Rose of a Different Color The 45th annual parade returns to its Original Route in Old Pasadena: Raymond Avenue at Holly Street; right on Colorado Blvd. to Pasadena Ave.
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
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
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: The Great Dickens Christmas Fair November 22-December 21, 2025, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Cow Palace. Eat, drink and be merry at this huge Victorian party with characters you'll remember from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Guests are encouraged to come in costume. $33-up, dickensfair.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: 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
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
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.
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
YOUNTVILLE: Yountville Tree Lighting Ceremony November 24, 2024 at Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington St. Yountville, CA Free, yountville.com
Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.