California Travel Tips
Christmas at the California Missions
Published on: December 12, 2013
All the California missions we’ve surveyed are actually closed (to the tour-taking public) on Christmas day. However, there are events leading up to the religious holiday, and for parishioners or those coming to worship on Christmas, you’ll find services and mass at many of the 21 missions in California. Here’s last year’s list of events–just check websites for current info.
2013 Christmas in the California Missions
- CALIFORNIA MISSION CHRISTMAS GIFTS: Visit the mission websites for gift buying ideas such as the ceramic nun sold at Mission San Luis Rey (middle photo above) in Oceanside, CA.
- CARMEL – Midnight mass for Christmas celebration (2nd photo from left)
- FREMONT – Mission San Jose Concerts Saturday, December 14, 2013, 8 p.m. and December 15 at 4 p.m. with Mission Peak Chamber Singers celebrating Christmas at the Mission “The Season of Song” – Hannukah songs, Christmas secular and sacred songs accompanied by harp, guitar, marimba and piano. Adults $12, Student/Senior $10. Tickets at chambersingers.org
- LOMPOC – Mission La Purisima Concepcion daily tours except Christmas. operated by California State Parks
- OCEANSIDE – Mission San Luis Rey is doing a New Year’s Eve retreat. Dec. 31, 2013 -Jan. 1, 2014 sanluisrey.org
- SAN DIEGO – Mission San Diego Mission features San Diego de Alcala Choir with the Classic Brass at 37th Annual Candlelight Musical Meditation Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, December 22, 2013, 7:30 p.m. Free will offerings accepted. missionsandiego.com
- SAN FRANCISCO – Tickets now on sale for the Mission Dolores Basilica Choir’s 22nd Annual Candlelight Christmas Concert on December 15, 2013 featuring Ariel Ramirez’s Navidad Nuestra. missiondolores.org
- SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – The Great Stone Church Nativity Scene on display (left photo) missionsjc.com
- SAN JUAN BAUTISTA – sanjuanbautistaca.com December 21 ~ Saturday Winter Solstice at The Mission at approximately 6:00am. 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 hosts concerts, Las Posadas, a Concert in the Church Dec. 14, 2013 at 8 p.m., and Christmas eve & Christmas Day mass. missionsanluisobispo.org
- VENTURA – Mission San Buenaventura Christmas Mass sanbuenaventuramission.org
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