California Events
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ALTADENA: Altadena Elves' Faire November 23, 2024, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Pasadena Waldorf School 209 E. Mariposa St. Altadena, CA 91001 pasadenawaldorf.org
ATASCADERO: Pumpkin Smash, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Charles Paddock Zoo. A fantastic schedule of events surrounding the theme Thanksgiving, animals & pumpkins. Charles Paddock Zoo! Location: 9100 Morro Road Atascadero, CA 93422. $13 zoo admission, charlespaddockzoo.org
ATWATER: Razzari Ice Skating Center November 15, 2024-January 5, 2025 in Old Town Atwater. Seasonal ice skating rink offers affordable holiday fun.
ATWATER: Castle Air Museum Christmas Tree Lighting! November 23, 2024, 6-8 p.m. Location: 5050 Santa Fe Drive, Atwater, CA Free, castleairmuseum.org
AUBURN:
Mandarin Festival
November 22-24, 2024 at Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High St.
Auburn, CA
$7-12, mandarinfestival.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
CARMEL: City of Carmel Craft Fairs November 23, 2024, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in 4 locations: Sunset Center North Lot, San Carlos & 8th Street; All Saints Episcopal Church, Delores & 9th Street / Lincoln & 9th Street; Church of the Wayfarer, Lincoln & 7th Street; Carmel Woman's Club, San Carlos & 9th Street. Crafts, vendors, art, food for sale and more. Free admission, ci.carmel.ca.us
CASTRO VALLEY: Alameda Civic Ballet Nutcracker November 23-24, 2024, 2 p.m. at Castro Valley Center for the Arts, 19501 Redwood Road Castro Valley, CA $, alamedacivicballet.org
CATHEDRAL CITY: Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival November 22-24, 2024. LeAnn Rimes headline concert on Nov.23, 20224. Tethered Balloon Rides 100 feet into air $ Hot Air Balloon Breakfast and Pilot Race Parade Balloon Launch Classic Car Show $, hotairballoonfest.com
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
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.
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
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. $26-34 general admission, sdbg.org
FOLSOM: Historic Folsom Ice Rink November 8, 2024-January 20, 2025 in Downtown Folsom, 2oo Wool Street (behind Chamber of Commerce), Folsom, CA $, historicfolsom.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
HERMOSA BEACH: Hermosa for the Holidays November 22-24, 2024 in Downtown Hermosa. Shop local artisans and retailers, hop on carnival rides and inflatables at Pier Plaza, head for Santa and listen to community concert at the tree lighting ceremony on Nov.24. Location: Manhattan Ave., Downtown Hermosa Beach CA. Free, hbchamber.net
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
LA VERNE: Cruisin Holiday Car Show and Toy Drive 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in Downtown La Verne. The event includes the community’s participation in the “CHiPs for Kids” Toy Drive, which benefits children for the holidays. Attendees are encouraged to donate a new, $10 unwrapped toy at the event. For more information please contact event promoter Craig Hoelzel at (714) 671-5833 or City Hall at (909) 596-8706. Free Event for all ages! cruisinlaverne.com
LONG BEACH: Dreamstate Southern California November 22-23, 2024, at Queen Mary. Trance music festival. Tickets start at $175 per day approx., socal.dreamstateusa.com
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
MONTEREY: Del Monte Shopping Center Tree Lighting November 23, 2024, 5-7 p.m. Del Monte Shopping Center Highway 1 at Munras Ave. Monterey, CA shopdelmonte.com
NAPA: Meritage Resort Tree Lighting Ceremony November 23, 2024, 4-7 p.m. Meritage Resort 875 Bordeaux Way, Napa, CA meritageresort.com
NAPA: Gifts 'n Tyme Holiday Faire November 22-24, 2024 Location: Chardonnay Hall Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third Street, Napa, CA afterthegoldrushfestivals.com
NAPLES: Lighted Trees in the Bay, Nightly at Sunset, November 28, 2024-January 1, 2025. 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.
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
ONTARIO: Christmas on Euclid Street Nativity thru January 1, 2025.
PALOS VERDES PENINSULA: Astra Lumina, An Enchanted Night Walk Amongst The Stars at South Coast Botanic Garden November 9-December 15, 2024, 5-10 p.m. Celestial, multisensory experience features out-of-this-world light sculptures. $35-65, southcoastbotanicgarden.org
PERRIS: Southern California Railway Polar Express November 20-December 31, 2024. Family adventure on a magical train ride complete with dancing chefs, caroling, cookies and cocoa, re-creates the classic children’s story. $84.25 general admission, socalrailway.org
PICO RIVERA: Holiday Festival Tree Lighting November 23, 2024, 5-9 p.m. Lighting of the Holiday Tree takes place 6-6:30 p.m. Pico Rivera - City Hall 6615 Passons Boulevard Pico Rivera, CA FREE, fees for the Holiday activities, cash only, pico-rivera.org
PLEASANT HILL: Light Up the Night and Tree Lighting November 23, 2024, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Activities, crafts, music, performances, and the annual lighting of the holiday tree! New this year! Close out the festival with the Sacred Fire Dancers on Crescent Drive. Free, phillca.gov
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
ROSEVILLE: Mountain Mandarin Festival November 22-24, 2024 At the Grounds. Mountain Mandarin Festival Recipe Contest, 15 local mandarin orange growers, 20 food vendors, Mandarin Cocktails & bar, Kids Zone and 4 stages of entertainment. Location: 700 Event Center Drive, Roseville, CA $6-12, mandarinfestival.com
SACRAMENTO: Theatre of Lights November 27-December 24, 2024 performed from a balcony overlooking the the streets of Old Town. Based on Clement Clarke Moore's classic Christmas poem 'Twas the night before Christmas. Free, oldsacramento.com
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 FRANCISCO: The Great Dickens Christmas Fair November 23-December 22, 2024, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Cow Palace. 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. $33-up, dickensfair.com
SAN FRANCISCO: Union Square Ice Rink November 6, 2024-January 20, 2025. Themed days and special events add to the fun.
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 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 ANA: Navidena Tree Lighting Saturday, November 23, 2024, 5-8 p.m. Plaza Calle Cuatro In the heart of Downtown Santa Ana, this free community event kicks off the holiday season. Location: Downtown Santa Ana, CA Free, santa-ana.org
SANTA BARBARA: ZooLights November 13, 2024-January 12, 2025, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Santa Barbara Zoo. Walk through the Zoo to see thousands of handcrafted silk-covered lanterns aglow with more than 50,000 LED bulbs, showcasing animal and nature scenes depicting wild places from around the world. Location: 500 Niños Drive, Santa Barbara, CA. $21-35 sbzoo.org
SANTA MONICA: ICE November 8, 2024-January 20, 2025 at 5th & Arizona. DJs spin tunes on Wed., Classical Music Sunday sessions. $22 includes skate rental for hour session, iceatsantamonica.com
SEAL BEACH: Seal Beach Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony November 23, 2024, 4-7 p.m. Eisenhower Park Ocean Ave. & Main Street Seal Beach, CA Free, sealbeachca.gov
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE: Heavenly Village Ice Rink November 1, 2024-March 31, 2025
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.