Orange County Winter Holiday Events 2026

Celebrate the 2026 holiday season with winter events throughout Orange County, including tree lightings, visits with Santa, holiday festivals, boat parades, ice skating, light displays, performances and more. From longtime community traditions to major attractions, use this guide to find holiday events happening across OC.

2026 events are updated as organizers announce dates. Events without confirmed dates are clearly marked below rather than carrying forward older schedules.

2026 Orange County Holiday Events at a Glance

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort: November 13, 2026–January 6, 2027
Winter Fest OC: November 27, 2026–January 3, 2027 on select dates
Newport Dunes Lighting of the Bay + Fire & Lights Festival: November 27, 2026–January 3, 2027 (festival Thu–Sun 4–9 pm; lights nightly at dusk)
Brea Tree Lighting: December 3, 2026
Garden Grove Winter in the Grove: December 5, 2026
Laguna Niguel Holiday Parade: 2026 parade confirmed; full event details should be checked with the city as the date approaches
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade: December 16-20, 2026
Knott's Merry Farm: November 20, 2026–January 3, 2027
Dana Point Boat Parade: December 11-13, 2026
Huntington Harbour Boat Parade: December 12-13, 2026
Dana Point Holidays at the Harbor: Happy Harbor Days lights November 12, 2026–January 10, 2027; other side events TBA

More Orange County Holiday Guides

Holiday Runs

Holiday-themed runs are also scheduled around Orange County. Confirmed 2026 events include the Jingle Bell Run at Angel Stadium on December 5 and Santa Claus for a Cause 5K/10K at Bolsa Chica on December 12. See our Orange County 5Ks & Fun Runs guide for registration information and additional seasonal races.

Major Orange County Holiday Events

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort

Dates: November 13, 2026–January 6, 2027
Location: Disneyland Resort, Anaheim

Disneyland Resort's regular holiday season returns with seasonal décor, entertainment, festive food, holiday attraction overlays and Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure. This replaces the outdated “Disney Merriest Nites” wording; Merriest Nites should not be presented as a current 2026 event unless Disney specifically announces its return.

Knott's Merry Farm

Dates: November 20, 2026–January 3, 2027
Location: Knott's Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park

Knott's Merry Farm is an annual holiday celebration with seasonal décor, entertainment and Peanuts characters. Check Knott's Berry Farm for daily hours and ticket details.

Winter Fest OC

Dates: November 27, 2026–January 3, 2027 on select dates
Location: OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

Winter Fest OC returns with holiday lights, Santa, snow play, tubing, live entertainment and other seasonal attractions. Ice skating is offered in 2026 as an add-on or with select admission passes. See the dedicated Winter Fest OC guide for current tickets and hours.

Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade & Ring of Lights

Dates: December 16-20, 2026
Location: Newport Harbor

The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is one of Orange County's signature holiday traditions. The 118th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is scheduled for December 16-20, 2026. Check the official parade site and our dedicated guide for route, viewing and schedule details.

Holiday Events by City

Jump to: Aliso Viejo · Anaheim · Brea · Buena Park · Costa Mesa · Dana Point · Fullerton · Garden Grove · Huntington Beach · Irvine · Laguna Area · Mission Viejo · Newport Beach · Orange · San Clemente · San Juan Capistrano · Santa Ana · Tustin · Villa Park · Yorba Linda

Aliso Viejo

2026 dates not yet announced. Aliso Viejo traditionally hosts the All Is Bright Celebration & Tree Lighting and other family holiday programs. Check the City of Aliso Viejo for confirmed 2026 dates.

Anaheim

Confirmed: Holidays at the Disneyland Resort runs November 13, 2026–January 6, 2027. Other Anaheim holiday events, including Downtown Anaheim's tree lighting, Anaheim Hills Festival programming, Disney On Ice and shopping-center events, should be checked individually for 2026 dates rather than carrying forward 2025 schedules.

Brea

Brea Tree Lighting Ceremony: Thursday, December 3, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Location: Brea Civic & Cultural Center, 1 Civic Center Circle

The city has confirmed its 2026 tree lighting with performances, a visit from Santa, shopping and the lighting of the holiday tree. Other Brea Downtown, Brea Mall and Curtis Theatre holiday dates should be checked as they are announced.

Buena Park

Knott's Merry Farm: November 20, 2026–January 3, 2027. Buena Park's city tree lighting, Candy Caneland & Craft Faire and Pirates Dinner Adventure holiday programming also need current 2026 dates before being listed as confirmed.

Costa Mesa

Winter Fest OC: November 27, 2026–January 3, 2027 on select dates. Other recurring Costa Mesa events such as South Coast Plaza's tree lighting, Segerstrom holiday performances, Snoopy House and Holiday Snowland should be checked for 2026 schedules before attending.

Dana Point

Dana Point Boat Parade of Lights: December 11-13, 2026 (theme: Harboritaville). Happy Harbor Days lights run November 12, 2026–January 10, 2027; other Holidays at the Harbor side events and Santa programming remain TBA for 2026; use the Dana Point Boat Parade guide and official city/harbor calendars for confirmed 2026 dates.

Fullerton

The City of Fullerton has 2026 holiday programming planned, including its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, but the final public event date was not clearly posted in the sources reviewed. Check the city's current events calendar before relying on previous-year dates. The Fullerton Winter Market and Muckenthaler holiday programs should likewise be verified for 2026.

Garden Grove

Winter in the Grove: Saturday, December 5, 2026
Location: Village Green Park

The City of Garden Grove has Winter in the Grove on its 2026 schedule. Check the city for complete hours and activity details as the event approaches.

Huntington Beach

Huntington Harbour Boat Parade: December 12-13, 2026. Cruise of Lights runs December 19–23, 2026 (5:30 / 6:30 / 7:30 pm). Other HB traditions include downtown holiday programming, hotel events, Pacific City and Bella Terra. Use the Huntington Harbour guide and organizer calendars for current dates rather than the old 2025 schedule.

Irvine

Illuminate Irvine: Saturday, December 5, 2026 | 3:00–7:00 PM
Location: Great Park

The City of Irvine kicks off Holidayz at the Park with Illuminate Irvine, featuring the Holiday Tree and Palm Court lighting, winter activities, holiday shopping and live performances. The Palm Court Light Display begins December 5 and is scheduled daily from dusk–9:00 PM during the holiday season. Irvine Spectrum skating, Tanaka Farms seasonal events and other Irvine holiday programs should be checked individually for current dates.

Hikari: The old 2024 date has been removed. A separate 2026 Hikari schedule was not confirmed in the sources reviewed, so check Tanaka Farms and our Hikari guide for an official announcement.

Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills & Laguna Niguel

Laguna Niguel Holiday Parade: The city has opened 2026 parade entries, confirming the parade's return. Check the city parade page for the final 2026 date and event details.

Laguna Beach Hospitality Night, Sawdust Winter Fantasy, Laguna Hills holiday events and Laguna Niguel's tree lighting are recurring holiday traditions, but current dates should be verified individually as they are announced.

Mission Viejo

Santa's Arrival & Christmas Tree Lighting: Sunday, November 29, 2026

The 2026 calendar confirms Mission Viejo's Christmas tree lighting and Santa arrival for November 29. Event hours and the complete program should be checked with the city as details are released. Santa's Workshop, community Chanukah programming and other holiday activities should also be checked for current dates.

Newport Beach

Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade: December 16-20, 2026. Newport Dunes 36th Lighting of the Bay + Fire & Lights Festival: Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027; lights nightly at dusk; festival Thu–Sun 4–9 pm (closed Dec 24, Dec 25, Dec 31). Details: Lighting of the Bay. Other recurring traditions include Crystal Cove's tree lighting, Fashion Island holiday displays, Balboa Bay Resort events, and seasonal programs at Lido Marina Village.

The previous Night of 1000 Lights entry has been removed from the active event list because Sherman Library replaced it in 2025 with a different holiday program; any 2026 event should be listed under its current name only after confirmation.

Orange

2026 dates not yet announced. Popular Orange holiday traditions include the Irvine Park Christmas Train, Orange Tree Lighting Ceremony, Christmas at the OC Zoo and Chapman University Winterfest. Check the linked dedicated guides and official organizers as 2026 dates are released.

San Clemente

2026 dates not yet announced. San Clemente typically celebrates with the Outlets at San Clemente tree lighting, Santa's Village by the Sea, Sunsets with Santa and holiday events at Casa Romantica. Do not rely on the former 2025 dates; check current city and venue calendars.

San Juan Capistrano

Capistrano Lights: Select days December 18–30, 2026
Location: Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Old Mission Road

Capistrano Lights returns with a holiday tree lighting, Dickens-era carolers, a full-scale nativity, lighted halo grove, scented citrus garden, dancing swallows, community Christmas trees and a 6:15 PM digital projection. Check the Mission's current calendar for the exact operating days, hours and admission details.

Santa Ana

2026 dates not yet announced. Santa Ana holiday programming may include Plaza Navideña, Santa Ana Zoo events, Discovery Cube holiday activities, Bowers Museum programs and MainPlace Mall events. Old 2025 dates have been removed rather than presented as current.

Tustin

2026 dates not yet announced. Tustin's recurring holiday events include the Old Town Tree Lighting & Holiday Stroll, Breakfast with Santa and holiday programming at The Market Place and The District.

Villa Park

Santa Tour by Fire Engine: December 5, 2026 | 7:45 AM–5:10 PM
Christmas Tree Lighting: December 5, 2026 | 6:00–7:00 PM
Chanukah Celebration: December 10, 2026 | 6:30–7:30 PM
Dry Land Boat Parade: December 13, 2026 | 5:00–6:00 PM

Villa Park's 2026 holiday schedule includes four confirmed community traditions. Check the Villa Park Community Services Foundation and dedicated VillaPark.co event pages for locations, routes and event-day details.

Yorba Linda

2026 dates not yet announced. Yorba Linda typically hosts Breakfast with Santa, Holiday on Main Street, Holidays on the Paseo and seasonal events at the Nixon Library. Check the city, library and Nixon Foundation calendars for confirmed 2026 information.

Hanukkah & Menorah Lighting Events

Orange County communities regularly host menorah lightings and Chanukah celebrations in places such as Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, San Clemente, Seal Beach, Tustin, Villa Park and Yorba Linda. Because local event schedules are still being announced, check the sponsoring Chabad, synagogue, city or shopping center before attending. Confirmed events will be added as organizers publish their 2026 dates.

Other Winter Holiday Celebrations

This guide is heavily focused on Christmas-season events because those make up the majority of publicly announced Orange County winter programming. We also include Hanukkah events as they are confirmed. If meaningful public Kwanzaa or other winter holiday events are announced locally, they can be added here rather than including generic or unverified listings.

Orange County Holiday Event FAQs

What are the biggest holiday events in Orange County?

Major seasonal attractions include Holidays at the Disneyland Resort, Knott's Merry Farm, Winter Fest OC and the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, along with city tree lightings and harbor events throughout the county.

Where can you see Christmas lights in Orange County?

Neighborhood displays, harbor lights, theme parks and ticketed attractions all offer holiday lighting. See our Christmas Lights in Orange County guide for dedicated coverage.

Where can kids see Santa in Orange County?

Santa appearances are common at city tree lightings, shopping centers, theme parks, Irvine Park Railroad and special holiday festivals. Check each organizer because reservations are sometimes required.

Are there free holiday events in Orange County?

Yes. Many city tree lightings, community festivals, menorah lightings and neighborhood events are free, while theme parks, ice skating and large attractions generally require admission.

Where can you go ice skating during the holidays?

Seasonal rinks operate at several Orange County destinations. See our Holiday Ice Skating guide for current rink locations and dates.

What holiday boat parades are in Orange County?

Orange County's best-known boat parades include Newport Beach, Dana Point and Huntington Harbour. See our Holiday Boat Parades guide for the current schedules.