Southern California Christmas 2026: Theme parks, lights and holiday events
Southern California’s holiday celebrations are back for 2026, with new Christmas shows at Knott’s Berry Farm, festive Minions at Universal Studios Hollywood, and fresh entertainment at SeaWorld San Diego and Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Beyond the theme parks, holiday light displays, seasonal pop-ups, Christmas markets and live performances offer plenty more ways to celebrate from Los Angeles to San Diego.
Explore all the ways to enjoy the holiday season in Southern Califnoria. Keep reading or use the Table of Contents below to jump to the holiday event you’re most interested in.
Major Theme Parks
All of the major theme parks in Southern California have special offerings during the holiday season. Here’s a look at what’s new for 2026 as well as some favorite offerings highlighted.
Disneyland Resort
- Dates: Nov. 13, 2026–Jan. 6, 2027
- 2026 highlights: New holiday outfits for Mickey and friends; the return of “World of Color – Season of Light.”
As the holidays return to Disneyland Resort, with it comes new holiday wardrobe for Mickey and his friends, as well as the return of World of Color – Season of Light which took a hiatus during last year’s holiday season.
A personal favorite of mine during the Disneyland Resort holiday season is Disney ¡Viva Navidad! performing in Disney California Adventure. This high-energy celebration of Latino holiday traditions, with a street party featuring live musicians, dancers, and José Carioca, Panchito, and Donald Duck in their fiesta best is a gem one shouldn’t miss.
You can read about it all in our Disneyland holidays 2026 guide. The holidays at Disneyland Resort runs between Nov. 13, 2026 through Jan. 6, 2027.
Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort
Universal Studios Hollywood
- Dates: Nov. 21, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027
- 2026 highlights: Debut of Illumination’s Merry Minions, featuring holiday character greetings, seasonal treats and decorations in Minion Land.
Returning favorites include Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, festive decorations in Super Nintendo World and Grinchmas, featuring a 65-foot Christmas tree. The Grinchmas tree lighting, complete with snowfall effects, remains one of my favorite holiday experiences in Southern California.
Photo by Samantha Davis-Friedman
Knott’s Berry Farm
- Dates: Nov. 20, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027
- 2026 highlights: New Snoopy ice-skating spectacular, returning live entertainment and Ghost Town snowfall.
Headlining Knott’s Merry Farm this year is the debut of “Snoopy’s Merry Christmas Follies,” an all-new ice-skating spectacular at the Walter Knott Theater. The production features a vocal quartet performing holiday classics, high-kicking Follies dancers, world-class ice skaters, and Snoopy and the Peanuts gang.
A personal favorite of mine, Home for the Holidays, returns to the Calico Mine Stage with live singing and dancing. The Calico Carolers will also perform throughout Ghost Town, with additional Latin music performances in Fiesta Village.
Families can visit Santa’s Christmas Cabin and experience the nightly Snow and Glow celebration, which brings simulated snowfall to Ghost Town. Seasonal food and merchandise will also be available.
Photo courtesy of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
Kids will find Santa Claus waiting for them in Santa’s Christmas Cabin. And the whole family won’t want to miss Knott’s Merry Farm’s epic “snowfall” when a Snow and Glow storm hits Ghost Town throughout the night.
Photo courtesy of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
Visit the Knott’s Berry Farm website for tickets and more information.
SeaWorld San Diego
- Dates: Nov. 13, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027
- 2026 highlights: Four new holiday experiences, including Baby Shark’s Christmas Adventure, Dolphin Island Christmas, Rock the Holiday Christmas Parade and North Pole Storytime.
Baby Shark’s Christmas Adventure takes families on an interactive journey to the North Pole, featuring familiar songs, characters and a holiday mission.
Photo courtesy of SeaWorld San Diego
Dolphin Island Christmas celebrates the holiday traditions of Hawaii and the Pacific Islands with new music, costumes and dolphin presentations. The show also introduces guests to Solstice, the park’s newest dolphin, celebrating her first Christmas.
The new Rock the Holiday Christmas Parade features Mrs. Claus, dancing elves, festive floats and upbeat holiday music. North Pole Storytime invites children to participate in a Christmas story led by the North Pole’s head librarian.
Photo courtesy of SeaWorld San Diego
Returning favorites include Rudolph’s Christmastown, “A Christmas Wish” fireworks and more than 1 million holiday lights.
Visit the SeaWorld San Diego website for more information.
Legoland California
- Dates: Nov. 21, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027
- 2026 highlights: New interactive Lego building experiences, a Yeti character, Brickmas (W)rap Battle and holiday customization options for Lego Galacticoaster.
At Reindeer Refuel, families can interact with Lego reindeer and build Magic Carrots to power their Christmas flight. Guests can also meet Yeti, a new holiday character, and help him beat the heat by building Lego snowflakes.
Photo courtesy of Legoland California
The new Gingerbread Station lets kids follow digital prompts to complete a festive recipe, activating lights, sounds and the scent of gingerbread. Meanwhile, Brickmas (W)rap Battle turns holiday gift wrapping into a musical competition featuring dancing, rapping and interactive challenges.
Inside the new Lego Galaxy land, guests can customize their Lego Galacticoaster Holiday Spaceship with festive elements. Returning favorites include Christmas Bricktacular Fireworks, the Nutcracker Marching Band, holiday Lego characters and a giant Lego Christmas tree.
Legoland California also celebrates Kids’ New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31, with an early countdown to 2027 and fireworks using Kids Standard Time.
Visit the Legoland California website for additional details.
Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Dates: Nov. 26, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027
- 2026 highlights: The largest Holiday in the Park entertainment lineup in park history, featuring new live shows, holiday activities and millions of Christmas lights.
The expanded entertainment lineup includes “Cool Yule Christmas,” a musical production featuring holiday songs and dancing at the Full Throttle Stage, which also hosts the evening tree lighting ceremony.
Photo courtesy of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
The GearWorks Theater will offer the show Tinker’s Toy Factory, where audiences visit Santa’s workshop, where hardworking elves race to prepare for the big night. The Bunny Bowl Amphitheater showcases a festive holiday music celebration starring beloved Looney Tunes characters in No Biz Like Snow Biz.
Guests can also meet Santa, decorate cookies, roast s’mores and enjoy seasonal food while exploring the park’s holiday light displays.
Photo courtesy of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
Visit the Six Flags website for tickets and more information.
Christmas and holiday events in Southern California
New York City Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” at Cosm Los Angeles
- Dates: Select showtimes now through Dec. 31, 2026
- Location: Cosm Los Angeles, 1252 District Drive, Inglewood, CA 90305
- 2026 highlights: Immersive presentation of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” in an 87-foot-diameter, 12K+ LED dome, featuring unique perspectives of the New York City Ballet production.
New York City Ballet and Cosm have partnered to bring George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” to Los Angeles in a whole new way this holiday season. Captured at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, the production has been specially adapted for Cosm’s Shared Reality venue.
The immersive experience offers never-before-seen perspectives of the beloved ballet, surrounding audiences with the full scale and wonder of the production. Highlights include the towering 41-foot Christmas tree, the enchanting Snow Scene and hundreds of dancers, musicians and young performers.
Photo courtesy of Cosm Los Angeles
Festive-themed food and beverages will also be available to complete the holiday experience.
Find showtimes and tickets on the Cosm Los Angeles website.
Mariah Carey’s Holiday Bar
- Dates: Nov. 19–Dec. 27, 2026
- Location: White Rabbit Sky Lounge at The Valorian, 8440 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
- 2026 highlights: Expanded Queen of Christmas tribute, interactive photo opportunities, festive cocktails and Mariah-inspired decor.
Mariah Carey’s Holiday Bar, in collaboration with Bucket Listers, returns to Los Angeles this holiday season. The singer behind “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is bringing her festive pop-up back with even more glamour and holiday cheer.
The Queen of Christmas-inspired winter wonderland features wall-to-wall Mariah-themed decor, interactive experiences, Santa’s sleigh photo opportunities and recreations of her album covers. Guests can also enjoy a lineup of Mariah-inspired cocktails, including drinks featuring her own Black Irish cream liqueur.
Photo courtesy of Bucket Listers
The experience is for guests ages 21 and older. Tickets are available through Bucket Listers.
Enchanted Forest of Light
- Dates: Nov. 22, 2026–Jan. 9, 2027
- Location: Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
- 2026 highlights: 10th anniversary celebration, new laser light show with snowfall finale and Giant Koi installation honoring the 60th anniversary of Descanso Gardens’ Japanese Gardens.
Enchanted Forest of Light returns to Descanso Gardens with a one-mile walking trail featuring interactive light installations throughout the gardens.
New this year, the Luminous Lawn hosts a laser light show ending with simulated snowfall, while Giant Koi makes a special appearance in the Garden of Good Fortune.
Returning favorites include the colorful Flower Power installation, the illuminated Ancient Forest and artist Tom Fruin’s stained-glass houses, which have moved to the Oak Grove. Seasonal food, drinks and special events, including a holiday market on select nights, round out the experience.
Photo by Kathryn Rapier
Learn more on the Descanso Gardens website.
Winter Fest OC
- Dates: Nov. 27, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027
- Location: OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
- 2026 highlights: All-new holiday light trail featuring the Peppermint Tunnel, Singing Forest, Aurora Snowfall Walk, Light Field, Grand Cove and Evergreen Tunnel.
Winter Fest OC, billed as Southern California’s largest winter festival, returns to the OC Fair & Event Center for its 12th year with enhanced attractions and immersive experiences. The grounds transform into a winter wonderland filled with dazzling lights, real snow, exhilarating attractions and live entertainment for guests of all ages.
The all-new holiday light trail offers plenty of festive photo opportunities. Guests can wander through the Peppermint Tunnel, Singing Forest and Aurora Snowfall Walk before exploring the Light Field, Grand Cove and Evergreen Tunnel.
The Grand Cove features towering trees illuminated in red and green, a festive plaza filled with ornaments, a real pine forest and a sparkling starfield.
Photo courtesy of Winterfest OC
Guests can also choose from add-on experiences, including the Bounce Land Pass, unlimited ice skating, Snowflake Summit Fast Pass and private fireside igloos.
Visit the Winter Fest OC website for tickets and additional information.
Yuletide Cinemaland
- Dates: Select nights Nov. 28–Dec. 23, 2026
- Location: Heritage Square Museum, 3545 Pasadena Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90031 (event entrance)
- 2026 highlights: Outdoor holiday movie double features, guided Victorian home tours, festive food, hot cocoa, themed cocktails and holiday activities.
Street Food Cinema and TIL Events are bringing Yuletide Cinemaland back to Los Angeles at the historic Heritage Square Museum. The Victorian grounds will transform into a twinkling winter wonderland filled with outdoor holiday movies, festive food, hot cocoa, merry-themed cocktails, guided home tours and more.
Photo courtesy of Street Food Cinema
Holiday movies are presented as double features, including “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” “Gremlins” and more.
The celebration also features a holiday market, live piano sing-alongs, Santa visits and festive photo opportunities.
Find the full schedule and tickets on the Street Food Cinema website.
Gilmore Girls Holidays
- Dates: Dec. 12, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027 (except Christmas Day)
- 2026 highlights: Expanded Stars Hollow experience, new sets, recreated locations from “Gilmore Girls” and appearances by Scott Patterson, who played Luke Danes.
Warner Bros. Studios Tour Hollywood is bringing back its Gilmore Girls Holidays offering with new additions for 2026. This reimagined celebration transforms the Warner Bros. backlot into the most expansive and immersive Gilmore Girls holiday fan experience ever created.
Gilmore Girls Holidays features an expanded footprint where the beloved series was filmed, all-new sets, exclusive shopping opportunities, and inspired culinary offerings.
Some of the new experiences for 2026 include a visit to Luke’s apartment recreated in its original soundstage, the Chilton School Graduation Courtyard, an expanded walkthrough of the Gilmore Estate, and Rory’s Basket Auction inspired by the beloved town tradition.
Guests can experience Gilmore Girls Holidays as a standalone experience or make it part of a Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood bundle.
“A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens performances
There are numerous stage productions of the classic Charles Dickens tale, “A Christmas Carol”, brought to life in Southern California. Some are very traditional and others tell the tale with a twist.
A Noise Within
- Dates: Nov. 28–Dec. 24, 2026
- Location: A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107
- 2026 highlights: All-new scenic design, props and costumes for “A Christmas Carol.”
A Noise Within brings new visual magic to a beloved holiday tradition this season as its acclaimed production of “A Christmas Carol” returns with an all-new scenic design, props and costumes. Uniquely faithful to the original text by Charles Dickens, every word in A Noise Within’s production comes from the novel, with no lines added or changed.
Dickens’ timeless story of redemption follows the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge as he is visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve, setting him on a remarkable journey of self-discovery, compassion and hope. Filled with music and merriment, A Noise Within’s production offers a theatrical feast of holiday cheer for audiences of all ages.
With its stirring original music, vivid storytelling and exuberant cast, “A Christmas Carol” at A Noise Within continues to capture the timeless magic of Dickens’ classic and the enduring hope that kindness can redeem us all.
Visit the A Noise Within website for a full schedule and more information.
Christmas Carol Goes Wrong
- Dates: Dec. 12, 2026 through Jan. 10, 2027
- Location: Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012
The multi-award winning company behind “The Play That Goes Wrong”, “Peter Pan Goes Wrong” and “The Comedy About Spies”, brings most of the original UK cast to perform in the North American premiere of “Christmas Carol Goes Wrong” presented by Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Prepare for a theatrical catastrophe like no other this Christmas.
“Christmas Carol Goes Wrong” brings tidings of chaos and joy as The Cornley Amateur Drama Society return and attempt to tackle the Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol”. The Cornley crew battle miscommunication, delays to their set, actors missing in action and a growing feud over who will play the lead. This disastrous take on the much loved classic Christmas story of Ebenezer Scrooge is a festive slice of pure escapism.
“Christmas Carol Goes Wrong” plays at the Ahmanson Theatre.
Even more holiday magic can be found at these two local experiences.
- Swiss Winter Village: Nov. 18, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027, at Santa Monica Pier. This Alpine-inspired holiday market features Swiss and local vendors, an ice rink, Santa Claus, raclette chalets, seasonal food, live entertainment and family activities. A second location is planned for Liberty Station in San Diego.
- Walt Disney Concert Hall: The Los Angeles venue celebrates the holidays with live-to-film performances of “Elf” and “Home Alone,” featuring the LA Phil performing the scores alongside the movies. Other offerings include Holiday Brass and Handel’s “Messiah.”
Jeff DePaoli is a live event producer and podcaster living in Los Angeles. He can be heard as the voice of Disney Trivia on Alexa as well as the host of shows on his DePodcast Network where he and his special guests share honest opinions about the entertainment industry, with rose-colored glasses removed.
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