Get Out and Enjoy Holiday Activities in Anaheim
With perfect temperatures, sunny skies, and a slate of holiday-themed events, it’s not hard to believe it’s the most wonderful time of the year in Southern California!
You’ll find all kinds of holiday activities in Anaheim, from festivals to tree lightings and shopping to special performances. Our area has everything you need to enjoy a magical holiday season, so keep reading to find out how you can fill your calendar this holiday season.
Catch a Performance
If you’re looking for entertainment-related holiday activities in Anaheim, you won’t be disappointed.
The Nutcracker: Watch Anaheim Ballet perform The Nutcracker, with music provided by Symphony Irvine. The full-length ballet features everything you know and love about The Nutcracker—Clara, menacing mice, the prince-turned-Nutcracker, brave soldiers, waltzing flowers, and more. It also includes updated staging to keep the performance fresh year after year.
If you want to catch the Anaheim Ballet performance, you only have three chances this year: at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 24, or at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 25, at City National Grove of Anaheim.
Chris Isaak: It’s Almost Christmas Tour: If you’re looking for a special performance this holiday season, then check out Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling artist Christ Isaak in his “It’s Almost Christmas” tour. This family-friendly, interactive show features tracks from Isaak’s newly released Everybody Knows It’s Christmas album. Enjoy Isaak’s supreme showmanship and Christmas originals with his talented bandmates this holiday season! The show is at 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 10, at City National Grove of Anaheim.
A Christmas Story, The Musical: You don’t need to scour the TV listings this year or search for a bootleg copy of this Christmas classic on YouTube. Instead, watch it live! Join young Ralphie Parker as he schemes his way to his Christmas wish. Nominated for three 2013 Tony awards, the show features incredible holiday num
See a Tree Lighting
Kick off your holiday season right with a traditional tree lighting ceremony and festival.
Anaheim: On Saturday, December 4, Center Street Promenade will kick off the holiday season with its 29th Annual Nutcracker Christmas Tree Lighting and Nutcracker Holiday Village. The full-day event features shopping opportunities with local vendors, the Candy Canine Dog Costume Contest, and photos with Santa. The activities culminate with the tree-lighting ceremony.
Placentia: Our neighboring city hosts its Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, November 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. This event includes pictures with Santa, performances, and, of course, a magical tree lighting.
Garden Grove: You won’t want to miss Garden Grove’s annual Winter in the Grove on Saturday, December 2, at Village Green Park. From 3 to 7 p.m., this event features sliding on fresh snow and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Then it ends with the GGCF Tree Lighting Spectacular.
Take a Light Tour
If tree-lighting ceremonies aren’t your thing, but you love Christmas lights, you can find plenty of lit-up houses around the area. So hop in your car and enjoy a Christmas-light tour.
Anaheim Historic Colony Light Show: Watch the lights dance to the music at this award-winning Christmas light show.
Fullerton Light Show: Another winner, some call this the best display in all of Orange County. The lights are choreographed to 15 songs, and the show runs from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.
Lights on Symphony Street: This homeowner has thousands of computer-controlled lights that dance to Christmas music at 1816 N. Symphony Street in Anaheim.
Lights in the Canyon: Catch another synchronized Christmas light show at 8382 E. Quiet Canyon Court in Anaheim.
Christmas Train: Don’t miss your chance to ride Irvine Park Railroad’s annual Christmas Train! The train travels through the historic Irvine Regional Park before dropping off passengers at the North Pole to meet Santa. The train station also transforms into Santa’s Village during the holidays with special activities, including a moon bounce, cookie decorating, ice fishing, carnival games, Rudolph Racers, a blizzard ball, a craft corner, and food options galore. The park is open from 4 to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, November 24 through December 30.
Catch Holiday Activities in Anaheim and Beyond
There are even more than Christmas trees, lights, and performances this holiday season in Anaheim.
Breakfast with Santa: On November 25, Naples Ristorante in Downtown Disney begins hosting its annual Breakfast with Santa. Attendees get to meet Santa, receive a stuffed animal, take home a tasty treat, and more. Guests 10 and younger also receive a custom stocking! During the family-style breakfast, you’ll be entertained by Christmas carolers and drink hot cocoa (or mimosas if you’re over 21). Tickets for adults are $110, and children are $50. Kids two and younger are free.
Christmas Together: Bring an unwrapped gift for a child in need or volunteer at the 19th Annual Christmas Together celebration! This event will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center on December 10.
Muzeo Express: This annual exhibit features holiday model trains, including Thomas the Tank, Radiator Springs, the Polar Express, and more. Watch the Muzeo website for more information, including dates and featured activities during the exhibition.
Fullerton Snow Day: Every year, Fullerton dumps snow into Brea Dam Park, 1700 N. Harbor Boulevard, for a day of sledding, snowman-building, snowball fights, and more! It also includes sled runs, crafts, games, and a snow-play area. Food trucks will be on site for snacks and lunch if you get hungry from all the snow play. And don’t forget to wear warm clothes and gloves!
Holiday Festival: On December 17, head to the Muckenthaler Cultural Center at 1201 W. Malvern Avenue in Fullerton. This festival features live music, art workshops for kids, family-friendly activities, and an arts and crafts sale. The event goes from 12 to 4 p.m.
Living Nativity: For a more religious holiday season celebration, you can check out a live nativity at Village Bible Church in Garden Grove. Visitors can walk through Bethlehem and also watch a reenactment of the first Christmas. The live nativity will be open from 4 to 9 p.m. December 16–17.
Do Some Shopping
Online shopping makes it easier to check off all the items on your Christmas list, but there’s nothing like in-person shopping during the holiday season. So check out these seasonal markets for holiday activities in Anaheim and our neighboring cities.
Fullerton Winter Market: Every year, the Downtown Fullerton Plaza hosts a winter market on Wilshire Avenue between Pomona and Harbor. There will be free pictures with Santa, vendors with unique gifts, a beer and wine garden, food trucks, face painting, and live music and performances. The best part of the event, though, is that it collects donations for the Spark of Love Toy Drive, hosted by Toys for Tots and the Fullerton Fire Department.
The 52nd Annual Golden Candy Caneland and Craft Fair: The City of Buena Park Community Services Department will put on its annual day of fun at the Ehlers Event Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 9. Participants can enjoy games, snow slides, a petting zoo, an ice rink, food and craft booths, and a visit from Santa!
Celebrate Safely
While you’re out enjoying holiday activities in Anaheim, don’t forget about safety in your apartment.
Holiday-scented candles can help you get into the holiday spirit, but they can also be dangerous. If you decide to light a candle, please do it responsibly: Keep them at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn, and never leave them unattended.
Also, consider your tree. Replace light strings if the cord is broken or worn, use lights listed by a qualified testing lab, never use lit candles on a tree, and turn off the lights before going to bed or leaving.
If you’re looking for holiday activities in Anaheim, you won’t be disappointed. There are festivals, tree lighting ceremonies, performances, incredible home light displays, and so much more! So from all of us at Pacific Palms Apartment Homes, we wish you a safe, happy, and magical holiday season!
