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!
Knott’s Taste of Merry Farm
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
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
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
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
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
‘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
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
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
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.
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Also Read: 2020 Best Holiday Events in Los Angeles & SoCal
Did we miss any fun events? Please comment below or contact us!
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CANCELLED & TBD 2020 Holiday Events in Orange County
Crystal Cove 23rd Annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Bazaar (TBD)
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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I’m so sad that everything is canceled this year…🥺
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 🙁
Are the events canceled?
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!