California Events
Tournament of Roses held on Jan.1, 2024 in Pasadena, CA
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS & BEACHES: 65+ First Day Hikes!
ALPINE:
Viejas Casino Resort
Ice Rink open 3-10 p.m.
Viejas Casino & Resort invites the public to enjoy Southern California's
largest outdoor ice rink
ANAHEIM: Disneyland Festival of Holidays November 15, 2024-January 6, 2025. Christmas Fantasy Parade is back along with Haunted Mansion's Nightmare Before Christmas, It's a Small World Christmas-themed ride, festive costumes, towering Christmas trees for photos, great fan merchandise, gifts, and candy and sweets decorated like Mickey Mouse. Location: 1313 S. Harbor Blvd. Anaheim, CA. $Tickets, disneyland.com
ATWATER: Razzari Ice Skating Center November 15, 2024-January 5, 2025 in Old Town Atwater. Seasonal ice skating rink offers affordable holiday fun.
AVALON: Polar Plunge January 1, 2025, 7:30 a.m. swim & 11:30 a.m. Polar Plunge from Middle Beach. Free admission event, public invited. Just show up! Join the City of Avalon & the Catalina Swim Club for a New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim at 7:30am at Casino Dive Park, Intermediate to Advanced Swimmers, approximately 1 mile, and Polar Bear Plunge at 11:30am, Middle Beach, family fun - just plunge or swim the pier with us. Hot chocolate & light refreshments served. Please contact the City of Avalon Recreation Department for more details. (310) 510-0220 for info.
AVILA BEACH: Avila Beach Polar Bear Plunge. Meet on the South side of the Avila Beach pier at 11:30 a.m. for pictures and encouragement from fellow plungers for the 12 p.m. event. Free, visitavilabeach.com
BAKERSFIELD: Polar Bear Plunge at January 1, 2025, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. McMurtrey Aquatic Center Pool. Location: 1325 Q Street, Bakersfield, CA. Registration required: $30-35, bakersfieldcity.us
CAYUCOS: Carlin Soule Memorial Polar Bear Dip January 1, 2025 Festivities begins at 9:30 a.m. but official event is at Noon. Location: Cayucos Pier cayucoschamber.com
BRENTWOOD: Brentwood on Ice November 22, 2024-January 5, 2025 across from City Hall on 2nd Street celebrates its 8th season in Contra Costa County. $17, brentwoodonice.com
BUENA PARK: Knott's Berry Farm Christmas November 22, 2024-January 5, 2025. Enjoy Christmas Crafts Village, Snoopy's Night Before Christmas Ice Show, Santa's Christmas Cabin photos, Home for the Holidays musical production and seasonal foods, plus all the great rides in one awesome day & night. Location: 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, CA. $60-up, knotts.com
CARLSBAD: Holidays at Legoland California November 23, 2024-January 5, 2025 | Fireworks on December 7, 14, and 21- 30, 2024. Meet Lego characters, see the Lego Christmas Tree made of 360,000 Lego & Duplo bricks, life-size Lego reindeer & Santa, hear the Brass Band, and enjoy the fun. Location: One Legoland Drive Carlsbad, CA $79-94, legoland.com/california
CHICO: Chico Ice Rink in the Plaza November 15, 2024-January 12, 2025 in City Plaza features events like Ugly Sweater, Barbie, Adult Skate and Silent Disco. $5-25, chicorec.gov/chico-ice-rink
CORONADO: Skating by the Sea November 21, 2024-January 5, 2025 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 November 22, 2024-January 5, 2025 at Orange County Fair & Event Center. Snow, ice tubing, ice skating, rides, fire pits and more. Location: 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA. $35-110, winterfestoc.com
ENCINITAS: Lightscape November 15, 2024-January 5, 2025, 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. $26-35, sdbg.org
HANFORD: Winter Wonderland Ice Skating November 23, 2024- January 12, 2025 at Civic Park, Downtown Hanford. Make it a date with the family and friends for fun holiday ice skating. $, hanfordwinterwonderland.com
IRVINE: Irvine Spectrum Holiday Ice Rink November 1, 2024-January 5, 2025 next to the Giant Wheel. Skating, shopping and dining all in one place! Location: 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine, CA. $25, irvinespectrumcenter.com
HUNTINGTON BEACH: Huntington Beach Surf City Splash January 1, 2025 more info $, Noon, hbsurfrider.org
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE: Enchanted Forest of Light November 17, 2024-January 5, 2025 features an after-dark, mile-long walkthrough of holiday lights in Descanso Gardens, a unique Southern California botanic garden that's magical during the day, and mesmerizing at night. $22, descansogardens.org
LOS ANGELES: LA Zoo Lights, Animals Aglow November 15, 2024-January 5, 2025, 6-10 p.m. at Los Angeles Zoo. Special holiday display seen only at night with lit lantern sculptures of animals among blooming flowers, glowing rivers, and a magical Holiday Forest with majestic pine trees and the return of Santa himself. Location: 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA, $29-35, lazoo.org
LOS ANGELES: Pershing Square Holiday Ice Skating Rink November 21, 2024-January 12, 2025. Sharpen your blades and skills or just go to chill with themed events and great music. $25, holidayicerinkdowntownla.com
PASADENA: Tournament of Roses Rose Parade, free to see and Rose Bowl Game $seating, sharpseating.com
PASADENA: Tournament of Roses Float Fest (post Parade viewing) January 1, 2025, 1:30-5 p.m. at Rose Bowl Stadium. Ride free shuttles from Pasadena City College. Location: Sierra Madre and Washington Boulevards, Pasadena, CA. $25, sharpseating.com
OAKLAND: Oakland Zoo Glowfari November 8, 2024-January 6, 2025, 5-9 p.m. 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
PETALUMA: Chanukah on Ice Wednesday, January 1, 2025, 4-6 p.m. at LUMA Ice. Light up the full menorah together with the Chabad Jewish Center of Petaluma. Location: Petaluma Fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma, CA. Free, $20 to skate, lumaice.com | Menorah
POMONA: Imaginarium at Fairplex November 22, 2024-January 5, 2025. Over 5 million lights in colorful displays, 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 22, 2024-January 5, 2025 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, reddinggardenoflights.org
RIVERSIDE: Mission Inn Festival of Lights November 23, 2024 - January 6, 2025. The National Historic Landmark dazzles with millions of holiday lights in Christmas displays called one of the best in the U.S. Free, missioninn.com
SAN FRANCISCO: Union Square Ice Rink November 6, 2024-January 20, 2025. Themed days and special events add to the fun.
SACRAMENTO: Imaginarium November 22, 2024-January 5, 2025 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 DIEGO: SeaWorld San Diego Christmas Celebration November 15, 2024-January 5, 2025, 10 a.m. daily, including Christmas and New Year's Day! . Rudolph's Christmas Town with the Red-Nosed Reindeer, music-activated Tunnel of Lights, The Christmas Shoppe, Donner & Blitzen's Laser Light Show and optional Christmas Nights at a low price! Location: 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego, CA. $Tickets, seaworld.com
SAN DIEGO: San Diego International Auto Show December 28-January 1, 2025 at San Diego Convention Center. See cars that are yet to be releases! Hours: Saturday, December 28, 2024: 10am - 9pm; Sunday, December 29, 2024: 10am - 9pm; Monday, December 30, 2024: 10am - 9pm; Tuesday, December 31, 2024: 10am - 6pm; Wednesday, January 1, 2025: 10am - 6pm. Location: 111 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA. $, sdautoshow.com
SAN DIEGO: Jungle Bells Aurora at San Diego Zoo December 12, 2024-January 4, 2025 includes light shows, reindeer games, brass band music, jugglers & acrobats, and forest pathways through holiday, lighted trees to visit polar bears, arctic foxes and reindeer. $74 ticket, approx. sandiegozoo.org
SAN FRANCISCO: San Francisco Polar Bear Skate more info
SAN JOSE: Christmas in the Park November 29, 2024-January 1, 2025, 12-10 p.m. daily. The two-acre park features a holiday fantasy with over 40 musical and animated exhibits, glimmering lights and a 65-foot illuminated Christmas Tree. This free attraction for the child in all of us is a holiday tradition beloved by all. Location: Plaza De Cesar Chavez, 194 S. Market St., San Jose, CA. Free, christmasinthepark.com
SAN FRANCISCO: Bill Graham Menorah Lighting December 25, 2024-January 1, 2025 at Union Square San Francisco, CA. billgrahammenorah.org
SAN JOSE: Holiday Lights Drive Thru November 21, 2024-January 1, 2025, 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 November 15, 2024-January 20, 2025 in Circle of Palms Plaza on Market Street. $21, 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 PEDRO: Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears Plunge, free, public invited
SAN MATEO: San Mateo on Ice November 15, 2024-January 12, 2025 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! $21 approx., onicerinks.com
SAN RAMON: Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Skating Rink November 8, 2024-January 5, 2025 at City Center Bishop Ranch. Many special events include Elsa, Santa Claus, Barbie and Kristi's skating clinic. $26, citycenterbishopranch.com
SANTA CLARA: Great America WinterFest November 29, 2024-January 5, 2025. Ice Skate in front of the iconic Carousel Columbia and marvel at spectacular live shows. More than 60 rides and holiday attractions. Location: 237 W to Great America Parkway. $ tickets
SANTA MONICA: Hanukkah in Santa Monica December 25, 2024-January 1, 2025 on the 1200 Block of Third Street Promenade. Menorah lightings at sundown invites community members to enjoy a festive celebration of lights. Each evening hosted by a different local congregation, honoring this long-standing tradition. Free, iceatsantamonica.com/events
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE: Heavenly Village Ice Rink November 1, 2024-March 31, 2025
UKIAH: Ukiah on Ice December 2, 2024-January 12, 2025 next to Alex R. Thomas Plaza on School Street. Seasonal holiday ice rink open daily for holiday fun! Location: 310 S. State St., Ukiah, CA. $12, cityofukiah.com/ukiahonice
UNIVERSAL CITY: Universal Studios Hollywood Christmas November 29, 2024-January 6, 2025 showcases the holiday makeover of three major attractions: Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Grinchmas with costumes, colors and decor. The thrills remain true to form! $95-up, tickets
VALENCIA: Six Flags Magic Mountain Holiday in the Park, November 28, 2024-January 5, 2025, 5 p.m. rocks each night with 2 million lights in 7 themed areas featuring dance, music & light shows, cocktail bars, holiday sweets, s'more fire pits & Santa Claus. Location: 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, CA. $49-75, sixflags.com/magicmountain
VALLEJO: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Holiday in the Park November 29, 2024-January 5, 2025, 12-7 p.m. most days. Special holiday guests, entertainment, foods, rides & attractions like Arctic Penguins. Location: 1001 Fairgrounds Dr. Vallejo, CA 94589 $35-39, sixflags.com/discoverykingdom
WALNUT CREEK: Walnut Creek on Ice November 22, 2024-January 12, 2025. Skate 90 minutes for $20, ice skate rental included or $20 Ice Slide. Location: Civic Park, Walnut Creek, CA. walnutcreekonice.com
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
Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.