CALIFORNIA: Christmas in the Missions

The religious aspect of Christmas is often forgotten as people get wrapped up in commercialism. Experience the holidays in a unique manner that only California missions can offer. Also see nativities presented by churches.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO Capistrano Lights December  Mission San Juan Capistrano
Historic Mission Grounds
(949) 234-1300
$tickets, missionsjc.com
Celebrate the holidays at Mission San Juan Capistrano with nightly tree lighting, holiday music throughout the Mission, crafts for kids, visits with St. Nicholas, Christmas shopping at the Mission Store, and more. Don't miss it!

CARMEL: Carmel Mission I Cantori Concerts December
Carmel Mission Basilica
3080 Rio Road
Carmel, CA
carmelmission.org
Join Carmel Mission Choir and Lectors in An Advent Celebration

FREMONT: Mission San Jose Las Posadas 
Mission San Jose Museum
43300 Mission Blvd.
Fremont, CA
msjchamber.org | missionsanjose.org
 Mission San Jose and Fremont Cultural Arts provides an opportunity for families to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Each evening at 6 p.m. we will meet on the front porch of the to process while singing Christmas carols to a local business or site within two blocks of the Mission. A family is selected to carry the beautifully hand-carved statue of Mary and Joseph. Once inside the host business or site, Fremont Cultural Arts Council has arranged for a short musical program and then we will enjoy light refreshments courtesy of our host. Wear warm clothing and bring a flashlight to read the music sheets as we process. No-cost celebration during the Christmas season. 

JOLON: December 24, 4:30 p.m. Mission San Antonio Celebrates with Song, then Mass
Mission San Antonio de Padua
End of Mission Road
Jolon, CA 93928
missionsanantonio.net
There will be NO Mass celebrated on Christmas Day and the Mission will be closed so that the staff can celebrate Christmas with their families.

LOMPOC: Mission La Purisima Concepcion Founding Day Remembrance
La Purisima Mission State Historic Park
2295 Purisima Road
Lompoc, CA 93436
lapurisimamission.org
A mass at noon celebrates the founding of the mission. The public is invited to attend.  Concert $  tickets sold on eventbrite.com
Over 500 luminaries lead the way to an evening of candlelight and music observing the  anniversary of the founding of La Purisima Mission in 1787. Enjoy the musical performance by the Santa Ynez Valley Master Chorale in the setting of the historic church by candlelight. After the performance, guests are invited to La Sala to enjoy fellowship and refreshments. Attendance is limited to 6 years or older.
Las Posadas December 15, 2019, 2-4 p.m. Las Posadas. Join costumed docents as they lead the Las Posadas procession through the mission grounds with songs in Spanish and English. This tradition dates back over 400 years in Mexico and reenacts the biblical journey of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter in Bethlehem.

OCEANSIDE: Mission San Luis Rey Serra Center
Annual Christmas Concert December 6, 2024, 7 p.m.
Mission San Luis Rey
4050 Mission Ave
Oceanside, CA 92057
$, sanluisrey.org
Christmas Concert at beautiful, historical Mission San Luis Rey features an evening of traditional holiday music performed by the 60 person San Luis Rey Chorale. Following the concert  there will be a dessert reception in the Sacred Garden surrounded by thousands of twinkling lights. 

SAN DIEGO: 48th Annual Candlelight Musical Meditation December 21-22, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
Mission San Diego de Alcalá
10818 San Diego Mission Road
San Diego, CA 92108
Free will offering, missionsandiego.org
 The Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala presents The Mission Basilica Choir in a presentation of Lessons and Carols featuring Scripture readings and music of the Season. Mission Basilica Choir is joined by orchestral strings, woodwinds, and percussion, performed in the Mission Church. No reserved seating. Admission is free. A free-will offering will be collected to help defray expenses.

SAN FRANCISCO: Mission Dolores Basilica Choir Candlelight Concert December 15, 2024, 5 p.m.
Mission Dolores Basilica
3321 16th Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
$23-35, missiondolores.org
Be part of a San Francisco Christmas tradition as the Mission Dolores Basilic follows the concert.
Annual Mission Dolores Basilica Candlelight Christmas Concert  in the beautiful setting of the historic Mission Dolores Basilica, features the Basilica Choir performing Christmas Classics, sacred and secular music under the baton of Jerome Lenk, Musical Director, accompanied by a full orchestra.

SAN GABRIEL: San Gabriel Mission Posadas
San Gabriel Mission
428 S. Mission Dr.
San Gabriel, CA
parish.sangabrielmissionchurch.org

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA:  Mission San Juan Bautista
406 2nd St.
sanjuanbautistaca.com | oldmissionsjb.org
Holiday at the Mission Winter Concert
Oriana Chorale Holiday Choir Home for the Holidays First Street near the Mission. Santa Claus will be at the Community Hall, 10 San Jose Street, starting at 6 p.m. The annual bonfire is a tribute to the Hayden Family. During the depression era, the Haden Family pooled their money to help buy candies, toys and oranges for the community children. They erected a bonfire to bring together the people in town, and celebrated with games and songs while keeping warm. Sponsored by the San Juan Bautista Service Club.
Winter Solstice at The Mission December 21 6 a.m.
Be at the Mission church at sunrise to witness a spectacular sunrise light coming through the window, lining up with the alter, then the isle, ending at the Tabernacle.

SAN LUIS OBISPO: Mission San Luis Obispo Holiday Choral Concert At The Mission 
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
751 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA
$30-40, vocalarts.org | missionsanluisobispo.org
A Star in the Night Concert features  classical music, contemporary songs, and traditional carols.

SAN MIGUEL: Mission San Miguel
missionsanmiguel.org

SANTA BARBARA: Mission by Candlelight 
Mission Santa Barbara
2201 Laguna Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 682-4151
$30, age 21+ only, santabarbaraparish.org | santabarbaramission.org
Decked out for Christmas and illuminated by candles and luminarias, stroll through the museum on a self-guided tour while sipping beer & wine, nibbling on cheese  and chatting with the Franciscan Friars in the peace and beauty of the church, exquisitely decorated and set aglow by candlelight.
At the Presidio there's an annual Las Posadas.

SANTA CLARA: Mission Santa Clara 
Mission Santa Clara
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95050
$35-79, cityboxoffice.com

SOLVANG: Mission Santa Ines
1760 Mission Drive, P.O. Box 408
Solvang, CA 93464
Phone: (805) 688-4815
missionsantaines.org
Christmas Handbell Concert 
Las Posadas December 15-23

SONOMA: Sonoma Mission State Historic Park Christmas at the Park 
363 3rd Street West
Sonoma, California
Free admission, $ for holiday sing-along, parks.ca.gov
 

VENTURA: Mission San Buenaventura Advent-Christmas at San Buenaventura Mission.
San Buenaventura Mission
211 East Main Street
Ventura, CA 93001-2691
sanbuenaventuramission.org
Tree Lighting in Figueroa Plaza 
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 
Mariachi traditional songs are played at 5 a.m. in O'Brien Hall followed by Mass at 5:30 a.m. Then menudo breakfast in the Parish Center Auditorium. At 6 p.m. in the Mission Church, Aztec dancers pay tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe and a procession is held on Main Street from the Mission to Palm Street to Juniper Serra Way and O'Brien Hall. Mass includes a dramatized representation of the apparition at Tepeyac Hill in Mexico. The evening concludes with pan dulce and chocolate in the Parish Center Auditorium.

VENTURA: Mission San Buenaventura Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 5 a.m. Mariachi traditional songs are played at 5 a.m. in O'Brien Hall followed by Mass at 5:30 a.m. Then menudo breakfast in the Parish Center Auditorium. At 6 p.m. in the Mission Church, Aztec dancers pay tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe and a procession is held on Main Street from the Mission to Palm Street to Juniper Serra Way and O'Brien Hall. Mass includes a dramatized representation of the apparition at Tepeyac Hill in Mexico. The evening concludes with pan dulce and chocolate in the Parish. Location: 211 East Main Street  sanbuenaventuramission.org

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.