Winter might be 70-something and sunny in southern California, but that doesn’t mean we won’t take every opportunity to celebrate the Christmas cheer. We’ve found seasonal wonders all across the state that will give you those warm, fuzzy feelings. If you’re in the mood to celebrate, there are plenty of wonderful things to do in California this December. Disneyland Festival of Holidays Price: General admission ticket When: November 8, 2019 - January 6, 2020 Location: Disneyland California Why You Should Go: You can watch amazing light shows, parades, and all of your favorite costumed characters celebrate the holiday season. The entire park becomes a winter wonderland. View this post on Instagram Exactly 1 month from today, my Hubby and I will be at my favorite place on Earth (without the boys) during my favorite time of the year to celebrate what would have been our daughter Gia Marie’s 3rd birthday. We haven’t taken a trip by ourselves since our Honeymoon over 5 years ago. Thank you to our friends that contributed to our trip to allow us to at least get 1 day of fun. And thank you to my parents who will bravely be taking care of our boys. #disneylandchristmas #disneyland #dreamsdocometrue #wishescometrue #birthdaywishes #giamarie #happybirthdayinheaven #happybirthdaytomydaughter #iloveyou #imissyou #bewithme #thankyoulord #blessed #godisourstrength #merrychristmas #disneychristmas #disneydreams #happy3rdbirthdaymyprincess A post shared by Gizelle Morales "Gigi" (@gmartistry) on Nov 3, 2019 at 5:54pm PST Website Newport Beach Boat Parade Price: Free to view; $20 for Christmas boat cruise. When: December 18 - 22; See event site for full hours Location: 309 Palm St, Newport Beach, CA 92661 Why You Should Go: You and your friends can sip hot chocolate and watch a spectacular light display on the water. View this post on Instagram Join @stevelodge_oc, our friends, family and me for the 109th Newport Beach Boat Parade on Wednesday, December 13th. It’s a holiday spectacle of lights that you won’t want to miss and I’m this years Grand Marshal! Now that deserves a #woohoo www.christmasboatparade.com #MyBoatParadeNB A post shared by Vicki Gunvalson (@vickigunvalson) on Dec 12, 2017 at 11:04am PST Website Winter Fest OC Price: Adult ticket prices begin at $12 per person. When: December 19, 2019 - January 5, 2020 Location: OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, California Why You Should Go: You can walk through the world’s largest Christmas ornament and enjoy holiday festivities in Orange County’s massive winter wonderland celebration. View this post on Instagram who says Christmas is over?! 👯❤🎄 A post shared by Laura Mormann (@lauramormann) on Dec 30, 2016 at 8:03pm PST Website Skating by the Sea Price: $30 - $35 per person When: November 22, 2019 - January 5, 2020 Location: Hotel Del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118 Why You Should Go: You can go ice skating while watching the sunset. Nuff said. View this post on Instagram If you’re indecisive like me, ice-skating at the beach during sunset is definitely the way to go 🌴❄️ swipe to see our awesome skating skills 🥇⛸ @martinez12 makes it look easy 🙄 #skatingbythesea #teamworkmakesthedreamwork A post shared by C O C O (@hello.coco) on Dec 17, 2018 at 4:58pm PST Website Cambria German Christmas Market Price: $10 to $25 a person When: November 29 - December 23 from 5 pm to 9 pm Location: Cambria Pines Lodge, 2905 Burton Dr, Cambria, CA 93428 Why You Should Go: You can experience what Germany is like in the winter. The markets are full of magical sights, goodies, and Christmas cheer. View this post on Instagram Guess what?! There are only 100 DAYS until the Cambria Christmas Market opens. Make sure you're ready and buy your tickets early. Most nights sell out and tickets raise in price at the door! Get yours at the link in the bio today. ⠀ A post shared by Cambria Christmas Market (@cambriachristmasmarket) on Aug 21, 2019 at 12:08pm PDT Website Mission Inn Festival of Lights Price: Free admission When: November 29 - December 31 Location: 3649 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501 Why You Should Go: You can explore an old historic hotel and downtown Riverside decked out in millions of twinkling Christmas lights. There’s fireworks, live music, rides, entertainment, Santa Clause, and so much more! View this post on Instagram This is for my East Coasters who haven’t seen of the splendor that is the Festival of Lights at the mission Inn in downtown Riverside. #homefortheholidays #socal #inlandempire A post shared by Anya Lam (@anyalam) on Jan 5, 2018 at 10:27am PST Website LA Zoo Lights Price: $21.95 per adult When: November 15, 2019 - January 5, 2020. The box office is open from 6 pm to 9 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Location: 5333 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027 Why You Should Go: This 60-90 minute self-guided walking tour takes you through beautiful creative light displays, and the whole zoo is alive with Christmas cheer. View this post on Instagram ‘Twas the night before New Year and all through the town, the lights were a dazzle and I had not a frown. 🎄🦒❄️🎁 . . . . . #lazoolights #lazoo #christmasinla #newyear #newyearseve #nyela #nye #lazoolights2018 #christmaslights A post shared by Heather Mann (@heathamann) on Dec 31, 2018 at 11:07am PST Website December Nights Price: Free admission When: Friday, December 6th from 3 pm to 11 pm and Saturday, December 7th from noon to 11 pm Location: Balboa Park, San Diego, CA Why You Should Go: You can come and enjoy San Diego’s largest Christmas festival. There are beautiful lights, delicious food, and goodies from all around the world, and plenty of places to take super-fun, Instagrammable pics. View this post on Instagram I know Christmas is over and all, but I’m just getting into the Holiday spirit. You can find me bopping to some Christmas classics until New Years ✨🎄🎶 #imwaybehindonposts #talented #theresstillnye #christmas #holiday #balboapark A post shared by Nicolette! (@butterflies07) on Dec 26, 2018 at 6:07pm PST Website Queen Mary Christmas Price: Admission starts at $29 per adult When: November 29 - January 1Location: 1126 Queens Highway Long Beach, CA 90802 Why You Should Go: You can explore a frosty North Pole village aboard a historic cruise liner, go ice skating, see Santa, and more! View this post on Instagram 💂🏻♀️👨🏽🍳🍪🎄 “Marie, the Gingerbread, hurry up!” A post shared by 𝔸𝕟𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕨 ℙ𝕦𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕖 (@andrew_puente) on Dec 16, 2018 at 10:27am PST Website Sawdust Winter Fantasy Price: $8 per adult for admission When: Weekends and Black Friday: November 23, 24, 29 & 30 December 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 20, 21 & 22 Location: Sawdust Art Festival, Laguna Beach, California Why You Should Go: You can explore an adorable Christmas pop-up with over 180 artists, handmade goods, treats, and live music. View this post on Instagram Winter Fantasy opens in 3 weeks! Shop gifts of art and enjoy live music, holiday entertainment, glassblowing and other demos, winter themed workshops, family festivities and more! 🎅❄️☃️✨ . Who’s ready to celebrate the holidays with us?!! . . . . . 📷 @wlovefrombella @maryebarajas @bebeandmommyblog @uniformlydressed #sawdustartfestival #sawdustwinterfantasy #lagunabeach A post shared by Sawdust Art Festival (@sawdustartfestival) on Nov 4, 2019 at 8:33am PST Website Moonlight Forest LA Arboretum Price: $28 per adult When: November 9, 2019 - January 12, 2020; Wednesday - Sunday 5:30 pm to 10 pm Location: 301 N Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007 Why You Should Go: A fantasy light display transforms this garden into a magical winter wonderland. View this post on Instagram Happy birthday baby shark...I mean sister. I love you! 💙 A post shared by Alexa Romero (@always.alexa) on Nov 17, 2018 at 11:27pm PST Website Enchanted Forest Descanso Gardens Price: General admission tickets start at $28 and vary by night and time. When: 1418 Descanso Dr, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011 Location: November 17 to January 5. Why You Should Go: You can walk through a field of technicolor tulips on a light-up pathway. The entire event looks like something out of a storybook! View this post on Instagram wish I could plant you and grow a whole field of y'all A post shared by ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀P H I - L E (@lephiphile) on Jan 8, 2017 at 11:06pm PST Website Wild Lights The Living Desert Price: $14 for general admission When: Select nights from 6 - 9 pm (see full dates here) Location: Why You Should Go: You can see over 1 million twinkling lights, enjoy holiday festivities, see live animals, and more. View this post on Instagram Wild about you ❣️🎄 A post shared by Kendall (@kendalldaniels4) on Dec 24, 2016 at 9:32pm PST Website Christmas In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Price: General admission When: November 16 - January 5 Location: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608 Why You Should Go: What’s better than exploring the magical Wizarding World than during Christmas? All of the shops and Hogwarts are covered in snow! It’s truly wonderful. View this post on Instagram somehow captured Hogwarts amongst the stars ✨ (honestly one of my fav pictures I’ve taken so far) A post shared by @ amaandaplease on Nov 2, 2019 at 8:17pm PDT Website Knott’s Merry Farm Price: Tickets start at $53 per person When: November 22 - January 5 Location: 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620 Why You Should Go: The entire park transforms into a snowy land to celebrate the holidays. Think live entertainment, a Christmas crafts village, and nightly snow in Ghost Town. View this post on Instagram I’m dreaming of a ___________? 🧡🌬❄️ A post shared by Babyspice✌️ (@karissa_yates) on Dec 14, 2018 at 8:06pm PST Website Magic of Lights Price: $20 per car When: November 16 - December 31 Location: Auto Club Speedway9300 Cherry Ave Fontana, CA 92335 Why You Should Go: You can take a scenic drive through tunnels of dazzling Christmas lights. View this post on Instagram Nothing better than driving in style 😎🚘🎄 Don’t miss your chance to see the lights! Visit www.magicoflights.com to purchase tickets 📸: @bmwnyc #magicoflights A post shared by Magic of Lights (@themagicoflights) on Dec 14, 2018 at 6:38am PST Website
