Spotlight on SoCal | Events & Things To Do in Southern California

Southern California

What's Going On In SoCal

Festivals, fall harvests, film, food and live music from Los Angeles to San Diego, with Orange County at the heart. Search everything, including events that have already happened!

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263 events
Nov27Fri

Fire & Lights Festival at Newport Dunes

Nov 27, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027  ·  Thu to Sun, 4:00 to 9:00 PM
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, Newport Beach

Floating holiday lights on the bay, fire dancing Friday and Saturday evenings, s'mores fire pits, inflatable slides and Santa photos on Saturdays. Thursday through Sun...

HolidaysFreeKid-friendlyDetails →
Nov27Fri

Hikari: Festival of Lights

Nov 27 to Dec 27  ·  5:00 to 9:00 PM
Tanaka Farms, Irvine

A walk-through light festival on the farm grounds, open Wednesday through Sunday evenings, plus Dec 21 to 23. Closed Dec 24 and 25. Last admission is 7:30 PM, and park...

HolidaysKid-friendlyDetails →
Nov27Fri

Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Train

Nov 27 to Dec 23  ·  Weekdays 4 to 9 PM; weekends 10 AM to 9 PM
Irvine Regional Park, Orange

Holiday train rides through the park's decorated grounds. Reservations are required, and a vehicle entrance fee applies.

HolidaysKid-friendlyDetails →
Nov27Fri

WinterFest OC

Nov 27, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027  ·  Select dates and times
OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa

Ice tubing, outdoor skating, snow play, 30+ carnival rides, nightly tree lightings and holiday treats.

HolidaysKid-friendlyDetails →
Nov29Sun

Santa's Arrival & Christmas Tree Lighting

Sun, Nov 29  ·  Festival from 3:00 PM; Santa about 6:00 PM
Civic Center Plaza, Mission Viejo

Festival activities start in the afternoon, then Santa arrives by fire engine around 6:00 PM and the tree is lit. A shuttle runs from 3 to 7 PM.

HolidaysKid-friendlyDetails →
Dec3Thu

Brea Tree Lighting Ceremony

Thu, Dec 3  ·  6:30 to 9:00 PM
Brea Civic & Cultural Center, Brea

Brea's annual community tree lighting at the Civic & Cultural Center.

HolidaysKid-friendlyDetails →
Dec4Fri

Buena Park Christmas Tree Lighting

Fri, Dec 4  ·  5:00 to 8:00 PM; tree lighting 6:00 PM
Buena Park City Hall, Buena Park

Attractions and vendors open at 5:00 PM, the tree is lit at 6:00 PM, and the evening wraps at 8:00 PM.

HolidaysKid-friendlyDetails →
Dec4Fri

Laguna Beach Hospitality Night

Fri, Dec 4  ·  About 5:00 to 9:00 PM; tree lighting 6:10 PM
Peppertree Lot (Lot 2), Laguna Beach

Downtown Laguna Beach kicks off the season with Santa lighting the tree at 6:10 PM.

HolidaysKid-friendlyDetails →
Dec5Sat

Boat Rides with Santa

Dec 5 to 6  ·  10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Dana Wharf, Dana Point

Short harbor rides aboard the Dana Pride with Santa. Reservations required.

HolidaysAdults $10, kids $7Kid-friendlyDetails →
Dec5Sat

Breakfast with Santa (Westminster)

Sat, Dec 5  ·  9:00 to 10:30 AM
Community Services Building, Westminster

Pancake breakfast and photos with Santa. Pre-registration is required; no walk-ins.

Holidays$15 per personKid-friendlyDetails →
Dec5Sat

Crystal Cove 30th Annual Tree Lighting & Holiday Bazaar

Sat, Dec 5  ·  Bazaar 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM; tree lighting 3:00 to 5:30 PM
Crystal Cove State Park, Newport Beach

A holiday bazaar all day, Santa visits from 3:30 PM and the tree lighting program runs 3:00 to 5:30 PM at the historic cottages.

HolidaysKid-friendlyDetails →
Dec5Sat

Dana Point Tree Lighting

Sat, Dec 5  ·  Check the city for the time
La Plaza Park, Dana Point

Dana Point lights its holiday tree at La Plaza Park.

HolidaysKid-friendlyDetails →
Dec5Sat

Holiday on Main Street

Sat, Dec 5  ·  4:00 to 9:00 PM
Main Street, Yorba Linda

A free holiday evening on Yorba Linda's Main Street.

HolidaysFreeKid-friendlyDetails →
Dec5Sat

Illuminate Irvine

Dec 5
Great Park, Irvine

A City of Irvine holiday lighting celebration at the Great Park.

HolidaysKid-friendlyDetails →
Dec5Sat

La Habra Tamale Festival

Sat, Dec 5  ·  10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Euclid Street, between La Habra Blvd. and Bridenbecker Ave., La Habra

A free street festival of tamales, food and family fun along Euclid Street in La Habra.

Food & DrinkFreeKid-friendlyDetails →
Dec5Sat

Make It, Take It: DIY Winter Wreaths

Sat, Dec 5
Centennial Farm, Millennium Barn, Costa Mesa

Make a winter wreath at Centennial Farm. Ribbon and décor selection is limited, so feel free to bring your own.

Arts & FilmKid-friendlyDetails →
Dec5Sat

Puttin' on the Glitz

Sat, Dec 5  ·  4:00 to 9:00 PM
Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente

Holiday festivities along downtown San Clemente's Avenida Del Mar.

HolidaysKid-friendlyDetails →
Dec5Sat

Santa's Village by the Sea

Sat, Dec 5  ·  4:30 to 9:00 PM
San Clemente Community Center, San Clemente

A holiday evening with Santa at the San Clemente Community Center.

HolidaysKid-friendlyDetails →
Dec5Sat

Winter in the Grove

Sat, Dec 5  ·  3:00 to 7:00 PM
Village Green Park, Garden Grove

Garden Grove's holiday celebration at Village Green Park.

HolidaysKid-friendlyDetails →

Running all season

14 listings
SeasonMulti-week

Bob Baker Marionette Theater Hallowe'en Spooktacular

Select dates through Nov 8  ·  Select dates and times
Bob Baker Marionette Theater, Los Angeles

A family-friendly hour-long boo-sical revue with 100+ puppets and a Dia de los Muertos sequence. (Start date shown as September.)

Halloween & FallKid-friendlyDetails →
SeasonMulti-week

First Thursdays Art Walk

First Thursday of every month
Laguna Beach

On the first Thursday of each month, Laguna Beach galleries stay open late for a free, self-guided art walk.

Arts & FilmFreeDetails →

Running all season (14) →

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