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October 31, 2020 · 4 Comments

2020 Christmas and Holiday Events for Families in Orange County

The Fall is jam packed with so many events in Orange County! You might be wondering which holiday events are open for Christmas 2020? Or what are the best kid-friendly fun events near me? We’ve got them for you! Despite Coronavirus and all that comes with distancing and quarantine, we’ve still got whole list great holiday events for kids and families in Orange County! Food events, Christmas lights, drive-thru experiences, drive-in movies, boat parades, snow and more! We’ve hunted down the best Holiday events in OC in 2020, and please let us know if there are more fun events we need to add to our list!

Best OC Holiday Events for Kids in 2020

We’ll keep updating the list as we get more info in! Please help us, and drop a comment or contact us with fun things to do with kids or holiday events that should be on our list!

Also Read: 2020 Halloween Events for Kids and Families in OC
2020 Best of Family Friendly Holiday Event List for Orange County!
Best 2020 Holiday Event List for Orange County!

Knott’s Taste of Merry Farm

Orange County holiday events 2020 includes Knotts Berry Farm Taste of Merry Farm. We have the whole list of great holiday events for kids and families in Orange County! Food events, Christmas lights, drive-thru experiences, drive-in movies, boat parades, snow and more!
Taste of Merry Farm offers Christmas lights, holiday decor and food.

The Christmas spirit shines bright this year at Knott’s Taste of Merry Farm, a seasonal holiday food event. The family-friendly event features enchanted holiday décor, thousands of twinkling lights, miles of festive garland, a variety of picturesque holiday settings, and the tastiest holiday foods around.

Adult tasting cards (12+) are $40 and Junior tasting cards (3-11) are $20.


Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade and Holiday Lights

The Newport Beach Christmas parade is one of the 2020 Holiday events in Los Angeles and Southern California for kids and Los Angeles - fun things to do for families from Christmas lights to drive-through experiences, we've got the mega list of open holiday events in LA and SoCal.
The Newport Beach Christmas Parade 2020 is a FREE event and can be viewed from the shores – see the parade map.

Watch a floating parade of beautifully decorated yachts, boats, kayaks and canoes sail along the harbor in the 112th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. The event runs Wednesday through Sunday, December 16-20, 2020. The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade Route runs through Newport Harbor, and can be viewed from almost any place on the shore FREE of cost. Allows plenty of extra time for parking, it’s TRICKY!

If you aren’t familiar with the area or wish to venture out on a boat yourself to see the parade and all the lighted homes on the water, you can try Newport Landing – please note they run light tours AND Parade tours, so if you want parade make sure you select “Christmas Parade.”


Winterfest Orange County

Orange County holiday events 2020 includes Winterfest OC. We have the whole list of great holiday events for kids and families in Orange County! Food events, Christmas lights, drive-thru experiences, drive-in movies, boat parades, snow, ice tubing and more!
Winterfest 2020 offers Orange County lots of holiday activities including ice skating, ice tubing, snow play and Christmas tree lightings.

Winter wonderland of fun featuring ice tubing down an 9 lane, 150 foot mountain of real ice, massive snow play and slide area with fresh snow blown in daily, ice skating on SoCal’s largest outdoor ice rink, nightly Christmas tree lighting celebration with a parade of the Winter Fest OC characters, fireworks and snow flurries, plus a must-see experience with Santa and his reindeer flying over the fairgrounds through Christmas Eve during the nightly Christmas tree celebration.

Ticket for #winterfestoc start at $8.


Holidays at Legoland

Favorite holiday LEGO characters Santa, the Toy Soldier and Gingerbread Man are back for socially distanced meet-and-greets at the Holidays at LEGOLAND retail and dining event. Find a a 30-foot, fully decorated LEGO® Christmas tree with over 400 LEGO ornaments in Fun Town, eat seasonal treats, build lego ornaments and catch live carolers and a Holiday Light Show. Make sure you catch a pic with the lifesize LEGO Santa in his sleigh.

Tickets start $15; $10 for Members.


Huntington Harbour Boat Parade

Orange County holiday events 2020 includes the Huntington Beach Boat Parade. We have the whole list of great holiday fun for kids and families in Orange County! Food events, Christmas lights, drive-thru experiences, drive-in movies, boat parades, snow, tubing and more!
The Huntington Beach Boat Parade 2020 is FREE.

The 58th Annual Huntington Harbour Boat Parade, an entirely volunteer effort, will be held in the evenings of December 12th and 13th.

Please note public viewing areas at the beaches fill up quickly with very limited parking. One of the best ways to see it is to be in it by entering your boat! Note: The Cruise of Lights has been cancelled.


Tanaka Farms Hikari Festival of Lights Drive-Through Holiday Light Experience

Hikari at Tanaka Farms is one of the many 2020 Holiday events in Los Angeles and Southern California for kids and Los Angeles - fun things to do for families from Christmas lights to drive-through experiences, we've got the mega list of open holiday events in LA, OC and SoCal.

Tanaka Farms Presents Hikari – A Festival of Lights drive through event. Be dazzled by farm-themed lighting from trees, to scarecrows, tractors…even our sugarcane got the holiday light treatment! Plus, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we have a very special visit from Santa, himself!

$49 per vehicle on weekdays; $59 per vehicle on weekends


Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Train 2020

Irvine Park Railroad's Christmas Train is one of the 2020 Holiday events in Los Angeles and Southern California for kids and Los Angeles - fun things to do for families from Christmas lights to drive-through experiences, we've got the mega list of open holiday events in LA and SoCal.

‘Tis the season for Irvine Park Railroad’s annual Christmas Train. Ride the “magical” train to the North Pole where Mr. and Mrs. Claus will greet passengers (from a distance).

2020 Christmas Train Tickets Go on Sale November 2nd and start at $17 per person.


Holiday Movie Nights 2020 at The Hilton Long Beach

2020 Holiday events in Los Angeles and Southern California for kids and Los Angeles - fun things to do for families from Christmas lights to drive-through experiences, we've got the mega list of open holiday events in LA and SoCal.

Enjoy delicious food and a wonderful line up of outdoor Christmas movies at Holiday Movie Nights at the Hilton Long Beach. Apple Cider, Hot Cocoa and S’mores Kits available for purchase, as well as a Full Bar and Restaurant menu.

Hilton Long Beach Outdoor Holiday Movie Schedule:
  • Tuesday 11/03 -Coco
  • Thursday 11/05-Up
  • Tuesday 11/10-The Pursuit of Happyness
  • Thursday 11/12-St.Vincent
  • Tuesday 11/17-The Santa Clause (1994)
  • Thursday 11/19-Klaus (2019)
  • Tuesday 11/24-Mrs.Doubtfire
  • Tuesday 12/01-How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
  • Thursday 12/03-Home Alone
  • Tuesday 12/08-Jingle All The Way
  • Thursday 12/10-Elf

Admission is $10 (food and drink not included).


Nightly Tree Lighting at the Irvine Spectrum

Catch Irvine Spectrum's choreographed light show every 30 minutes from 5pm-11pm in Giant Wheel Court. We have all the fun things to do with kids in Orange County for the Holidays in 2020 on beautifuldayblog.com including snow tubing, boat parades, christmas lights, and drive-thru experiences.
Irvine Spectrum’s Nightly Tree Lighting and Choreographed Holiday Lights Show is open in 2020.

Beginning November 29, the beautiful 75-foot Christmas Tree at the Irvine Spectrum will come to life every night through December 24 with a choreographed light show every 30 minutes from 5pm-11pm in the Giant Wheel Court.

Free.


Newport Dunes’ Lighting of the Bay

Free to view Christmas Lights display in Orange County for 2020. We have all the fun things to do with kids in Orange County for the Holidays in 2020 on beautifuldayblog.com including snow tubing, boat parades, christmas lights, and drive-thru experiences.

The bay at Newport Dunes will be illuminated each evening at dusk from Friday, November 27, 2020, through Friday, January 1, 2021. Newport Dunes’ more than 40 electric Christmas trees and holiday decorations can be viewed from the car or by strolling around the beachfront walking path.

No fee to enter Newport Dunes, but there is a $10 parking fee. Limited street parking may be available.

Pin or Share this so you can refer to it later:
2020 Orange County Holiday Events for Kids
Also Read: 2020 Best Holiday Events in Los Angeles & SoCal

Did we miss any fun events? Please comment below or contact us!


Looking Ahead: Jurassic Quest Coming to Costa Mesa in Feb 2021!

CANCELLED & TBD 2020 Holiday Events in Orange County

Crystal Cove 23rd Annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Bazaar (TBD)

Crystal Cove Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Crystal Cove is transformed into a holiday wonderland with vintage ornaments, twinkling lights, and a beautiful, majestic tree on the beach. The first Saturday in December is the Annual Crystal Cove Tree Lighting & Holiday Bazaar complete with Santa arriving via a lifeguard vehicle to greet the crowd.

As Santa and strolling carolers join the event, complimentary hot chocolate, apple cider and home- baked goodies will be provided by The Beachcomber Café. The tree lighting ceremony begins at dusk.


Christmas at the Zoo TBD


Sawdust Art Festival’s Winter Fantasy Cancelled

Shop handcrafted gifts of art, enjoy food and experiences at the Sawdust Art Festival’s Winter Fantasy during the holidays. The event features three live entertainment stages, photos with Santa, winter themed art glasses, glassblowing demonstrations, a petting zoo, puppet shows, falling snow, carolers, 7 cafes for dining and more.

Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for kids.


Let us know what events we should add to our Holiday event list in the comments!


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Filed Under: Family & Lifestyle, Holidays, Orange County

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Elena says

    November 9, 2020 at 9:16 pm

    I’m so sad that everything is canceled this year…🥺

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 10, 2020 at 9:42 pm

      Yes, me too! We’ve taken our kids on the Polar Express train for the last 5 years and this year will probably be their last year believing and I’m so sad we don’t get to do it our final time 🙁

      Reply
  2. Ingrid says

    December 19, 2020 at 10:48 pm

    Are the events canceled?

    Reply
    • admin says

      December 22, 2020 at 2:07 pm

      Yes, I’m not aware of cancelled events- they are all outdoors, mainly drive through or distanced – and I believe they are all still running. I would call before you go to double check, but I think they are all still open!

      Reply

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