California Events
Astra Lumina at South Coast Botanic Garden
Sunday, November 24, 2024
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
CATHEDRAL CITY: Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival November 22-24, 2024 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
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
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
CHICO: Christmas Preview November 24, 2024, 4-8 p.m. City Plaza 418 Main Street Chico, CA downtownchico.net 46th Annual Christmas Preview
DANA POINT: Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel Tree Lighting, November 24, 2024, 4-7 p.m. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Surfers Healing. Tickets are required for entry and add-ons are available for purchase, including our Sip & Savor and Location: One Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point, CA 92629 $39.19 eventbrite.com, ritzcarlton.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
ENCINITAS: Fall Street Fair November 24, 2024, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Beer Garden, Food, Bands, 450+ booths, a Kids Zone, a Dog Zone, dance troupes. Location: 101 North Coast Highway, Encinitas, CA. Free admission, encinitas101.com
FRESNO: IllumiNature November 26, 2024-January 31, 2025 at Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a special holiday event featuring lighted lantern displays that entertain and amaze! $, fresnochaffeezoo.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
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: Skating by the Bay November 22-December 31, 2024 at Custom House Plaza. $20 includes skate rental, iceskatingbythebay.com
NAPA: Gifts 'n Tyme Holiday Faire November 22-24, 2024 Location: Chardonnay Hall Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third Street, Napa, CA afterthegoldrushfestivals.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
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
PASADENA: Pasadena Doo Dah Parade November 24, 2024, 11 a.m. Pasadena Doo Dah Parade, A Rose of a Different Color The 45th annual parade returns to its Original Route in Old Pasadena: Raymond Avenue at Holly Street; right on Colorado Blvd. to Pasadena Ave.
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: 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 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
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
YOUNTVILLE: Yountville Tree Lighting Ceremony November 24, 2024 at Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington St. Yountville, CA Free, yountville.com
Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.