California Events
San Francisco Great Dickens Christmas Fair
November 26, 2024
Past events
ALPINE: Viejas Casino Resort Ice Rink November 3, 2023-January 7, 2024, 3-10 p.m. daily Viejas Casino & Resort invites the public to enjoy Southern California's largest outdoor ice rink throughout the season!
ARCADIA: Lightscape November 17, 2023-January 2, 2024 at Los Angeles County Arboretum. Reimagined this year with all new experiences, the magical holiday event includes professional lighting and musical scoring throughout the gardens. $33-39 + $20 parking, arboretum.org
ATWATER: Razzari Ice Skating Center November 17, 2023-January 8, 2024 in Old Town Atwater. Seasonal ice skating rink offers affordable holiday fun.
BAKERSFIELD: Holiday Lightasmic! November 25-December 30, 2023, evenings at CALM Zoo. Location: 10500 Alfred Harrell Highway Bakersfield, CA $, calmzoo.org
BRENTWOOD: Brentwood on Ice November 17, 2023-January 7, 2024 celebrates its 7th season in Contra Costa County.
CALABASAS: Holiday Road USA November 24-December 27, 2023, 5-10 p.m. King Gillette Ranch 26800 Mulholland Hwy Calabasas, CA 91302 $29.99-65, holidayroadusa.com
CARLSBAD: Legoland Holidays with LEGO brick 30-ft. tree, character meet & greet characters. Experience Holidays at LEGOLAND this season between Select days Kicking off November 18, 2023-January 7, 2024 Included with Daily Tickets
CHICO: Ice Rink in the Plaza November 19, 2023-January 14, 2024. Set in the heart of downtown Chico, skaters can shop, dine and 'dance on ice' at the holiday rink.
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
FELTON: Holiday Lights Train, Roaring Camp Railroads
FELTON: Holiday Tree Walk, November 24-26, December 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 2023. $, roaringcamp.com | Christmas walks
FOLSOM: Historic Folsom Ice Rink November 10, 2023-January 15, 2024 in Downtown Folsom, 2oo Wool Street (behind Chamber of Commerce), Folsom, CA $, historicfolsom.org
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: 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
FRESNO: Timeless Toys, Christmas at Kearney Mansion Museum Nov.24-Dec.31, 2023, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays $10, valleyhistory.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
HOLLYWOOD: Hollywood Christmas Parade includes celebrities and grand marshal with grand finale, Santa Claus! Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood, CA thehollywoodchristmasparade.org
INDIO: Coachella Valley Magic of Lights Drive Thru November 17-December 31, 2023, 5:30 p.m. at Empire Polo Club. Location: 81800 Avenue 51, Indio, CA. $, magicoflights.com
IRVINE: Irvine Spectrum Holiday Ice Rink November 3, 2023-January 1, 2024 Located at a shopping & dining destination, the rink is in the heart of it all where there's something for everyone!
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE: Enchanted Forest of Light November 19, 2023-January 7, 2024 features an after-dark, mile-long walkthrough of holiday lights in Descanso Gardens, a unique Southern California botanic garden of historical significance.
LEMOORE: Tree Lighting Ceremony November 26, 2023, 6 p.m. Downtown Lemoore Fox & D St. Lemoore, CA
LOS ALTOS: Los Altos Festival of Lights Parade November 26, 2023, 6 p.m. Downtown Los Altos losaltosparade.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.
LOS ANGELES: LA Zoo Lights, Animals Aglow November 17, 2023-January 7, 2024 at LA Zoo. Special holiday display seen only at night. Location: 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA, $, lazoo.org
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: 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.
MOUNT SHASTA: Siskiyou Ice Rink. If you're a local, you know that this is one fun hangout for winter entertainment.
NAPA: Ice Skating at Vista Colina November 17, 2023-January 7, 2024 at Meritage Resort, open to the public
NAPLES: Lighted Trees in the Bay, Nightly at Sunset, November 23, 2023-January 1, 2024. This annual tradition in not a ceremony per se, but more of an esthetic pleasure for the holidays, brought to the public by donors, volunteers and Long Beach City workers.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Holiday Show November 25, 2023-January 21, 2024 at El Portal Theatre. Includes four Eric Carle stories presented with a menagerie of over 75 magical puppets. Location: 5269 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood, CA. Dates: Fridays and Sundays 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m., 12 p.m. & 2 p.m. $30-up, hungrycaterpillarshow.com
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.
ONTARIO: Christmas on Euclid Street Nativity thru January 1, 2024.
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
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
RIVERSIDE: Mission Inn Festival of Lights November 18, 2023 - January 7, 2024. The National Historic Landmark dazzles with millions of holiday lights. Some say it is one of the best Christmas displays in the U.S. Free, missioninn.com
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
SACRAMENTO: Imaginarium November 17, 2023-January 7, 2024 at Cal Expo. Location: 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, CA. $21-27, imaginarium360.com
SACRAMENTO: Theatre of Lights November 22-December 24, 2023. Based on Clement Clarke Moore's classic Christmas poem 'Twas the night before Christmas, the half hour show is staged in Old Town Sacramento. Free, oldsacramento.com
SACRAMENTO: Downtown Holiday Ice November 8, 2023-January 15, 2024. The cool place to go, the Downtown Holiday Ice Rink combines a vibrant, urban scene with old-fashioned fun.
SALINAS: Parade of Lights Nov.26, 2023, an Old Town holiday tradition on the Sunday after Thanksgiving includes floats, equestrian units, bands and colorful lights.
SAN DIEGO: Rady Children's Ice Rink at Liberty Station November 16, 2023-January 7, 2024. A perfect San Diego setting combined with the glorious (mellow) winter weather makes for comfort & joy this holiday season.
SAN FRANCISCO: The Winter San Francisco Crystal Fair November 25-26, 2023 at San Francisco County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park. National, international and local California vendors have awe-inspiring gifts of minerals, gems, jewelry and services such as healers, psychics, and aura readers. Hours: Saturday 10-6; Sunday 10-4. Location: 1199 9th Avenue at Lincoln Way, San Francisco, CA. $14 (good for both days) 12 and under free with parent, crystalfair.com
SAN FRANCISCO: The Great Dickens Christmas Fair November 18-December 17, 2023, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Cow Palace. Step into another century to 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. $30-45, dickensfair.com
SAN FRANCISCO: Union Square Ice Rink November 1, 2023-January 15, 2024
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 LUIS OBISPO: Nature Nights November 17-December 30, 2023. at San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden. Location: 3450 Dairy Creek Rd. San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 $27, slobg.org
SAN MATEO: San Mateo on Ice November 10, 2023-January 7, 2024 Placed in the city's beloved Central Park, there's no better spot for ice skating to your heart's content.
SAN RAMON: Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Skating Rink November 10, 2023-January 7, 2024 at City Center Bishop Ranch $21 approx., citycenterbishopranch.com
SANTA CLARA: California's Great America Holiday Ice Rink November 25, 2022-January 1, 2023
SANTA MONICA: ICE November 1, 2023-January 15, 2024
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE: Heavenly Village Ice Rink November 1, 2023-March 31, 2024
VISALIA: Christmas on the Farm Ice Skating Rink November 25, 2023-January 7, 2024 at Vossler Farms. Food concessions, HoHoHoliday Hayrides, Candy Express Train Ride and Ice Skating on the farm makes for old-fashioned fun. $, vosslerfarms.com
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
WOODSIDE: Holidays at Filoli, November 18, 2023-January 7, 2024. See 20 miles of Holiday lights, food delights, shopping ops, and Santa visits at an historic 654-acre estate featuring a 54,000+ square-foot Georgian revival-style mansion, 16 acres of exquisite English Renaissance gardens, a 6.8-acre Gentleman's Orchard, and hundreds of acres of Natural Lands with 5 distinct ecosystems.YORBA LINDA: Messiah Sing Along Free Concert 10 a.m. 0r 12 p.m. seating at Nixon Library East Room. The Yorba Linda Arts Alliance Foundation's 19th annual concert with the famed Hallelujah Chorus is performed by a 50 member chorus and string orchestra conducted by David Walterman. Doors open ½ hour prior to each concert; seating is open, no reservations required. Location: 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, CA. Free admission to this event only - not free to view the Museum, messiahsing@aol.com or call: 714-349-2581
Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.