The holidays are here and there’s no reason anyone has to sit around just waiting for Santa to drop down the chimney, because there are plenty of ways to get outside and celebrate the season.
Whether it’s taking a walk through spectacular lights shows, checking out a parade, or even sliding down an ice slide, here are 12 things you can do in the area to celebrate the holiday season.
Astra Lumina
When: Through Dec. 31
Where: South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd, Palos Verdes Estates
Information: astralumina.com/los-angeles
Astra Lumina returns with an interactive walk-through light display that takes over the 87-acre Botanical Garden. The show mixes lights and sounds with a celestial theme that feels like it brings the night skies within reach. There are nine immersive zones where people can see displays that show falling stars, lanterns and walk through brightly lit archways.
Belmont Shore Christmas Parade
When: 6 p.m. Dec. 6
Where: On Second Street starting at Livingston Drive in Long Beach’s Belmont Shore neighborhood.
Information: belmontshore.org/christmasparade
Wear your pajamas and be part of a world-record setting attempt because the theme for this long-running parade this year is Jingle Jammies. The goal is to set the world record for the most people in pajamas at an event or gathering. So organizers are encouraging all 30,000 expected attendees to wear pajamas, just make sure they’re warm PJs because it can get cold at night. Spectators will also see Lit Riderz bicycles, the SoCal Corgi club, marching bands, floats, and Santa along the parade route.
Dream Glow Lights Festival
When: Through Dec. 31
Where: Wild Rivers Waterpark, 10000 Great Park Blvd, Irvine
Information: dreamglowfestival.com
The new winter attraction transforms Wild Rivers into a holiday adventure that includes an area dubbed “The Realm of Dragons,” where people can try to survive a world of fire-breathing dragons and frost-covered beasts including the 20-foot tall Eastern Dragon. But it is a holiday event so expect to see a towering Christmas tree with lights, candy houses, gingerbread figures, tons of light displays and holiday themed food and drinks.
Enchanted Forest of Light
When: Through Jan. 4
Where: Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge
Information: descansogardens.org
The lush gardens light up at night during the park’s annual Enchanted Forest of Light. As people walk along the illuminated one-mile pathway through the woods they can expect to see geometric sculptures, stained-galls cottages, a bright flower garden and the Descanso Railroad lit up in holiday lights. New this year are Music and Mixology Nights on Dec. 10-11 featuring live performances by Yachty by Nature.
Festival of Lights
When: Through Jan. 6
Where: Mission Inn, 3649 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside
Information: missioninn.com
The Mission Inn has become a holiday staple thanks to the millions of dazzling lights that make up this elaborate holiday display. Make sure to take a ton of selfies as you walk through a self-guided tour and see giant nutcrackers, palm trees and pretty much everything around the inn wrapped in holiday lights.
Fontana Christmas Parade and Festival of Winter
When: 10 a.m. Dec. 13
Where: 8353 Sierra Ave., for tree lighting and Miller Park Amphitheater, 17002 Arrow Blvd., Fontana
Information: fontanaca.gov/387/Festival-of-Winter
The city’s celebration start at 10 a.m. at Sierra Avenue and Arrow Boulevard with a parade featuring floats and live music. Then it’s off to the Festival of Winter at Miller Park Amphitheater where people can go on rides, dance to live music, take pics with Santa, and even slide down a hill made of more than 40 tons of snow.
Grand Illuminations
When: Wednesday, Dec. 3-Jan. 4
Where: The Yard at Cal Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles
Information: downtownla.com
Large-scale kinetic and light structures, plus nightly animations will illuminate the plaza for the second annual event. Expect to see things like electric dandelions that stand 28 feet tall, as well as a 25-foot LED tree, illuminated walkways and live entertainment.
Holidays at the Cube
When: Dec. 6-Jan. 4
Where: Discovery Cube Los Angeles, 11800 Foothill Blvd., Sylmar, Discovery Cube Orange County, 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana
Information: discoverycube.org
Discovery Cube’s Orange and Los Angeles county locations are focusing on the young kids with celebrations that include sing-alongs, a sleigh that takes people on a ride through a gingerbread village and an indoor toboggan slide at the OC location. In LA kids can go down outdoor slides, ride bumper cars and take pictures with Santa.
Holiday Road
When: Select dates Nov. 28-Dec. 27
Where: King Gillette Ranch, 26800 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas
Information: holidayroadusa.com
Strolling along the paths at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas during the Holiday Road event is like walking into another world. Everything around you is lit up or wrapped in lights as people walk the one-mile trek through the North Pole, an Elf Village, Gingerbread Lane and Christmas Tree Forests. There are tunnels of lights and music that accompanies energetic light shows. And for the adults, there are a few bars along the way serving some naughty drinks.
Holidays Made Here
When: Dec. 18-Jan. 4
Where: Warner Bros Studios, 3400 Warner Blvd., Burbank
Information: wbstudiotour.com
It’s the 25th anniversary of the insanely popular show “Gilmore Girls,” and fans of the show don’t just have to watch re-runs, they can also spend the holidays in the fictional town of Stars Hollow thanks to the studio’s “Holidays Made Here” tour. The set will be a selfie lover’s dream because it will be decorated for the holidays as fans walk through Lorelai’s House, Luke’s Diner, and the Dragonfly Inn. There will be nightly light shows celebrating the anniversary and activities like cookie decorating, scavenger hunts, and caroling plus pop-up stores like Doose’s Market, Kim’s Antiques, and the Stars Hollow Bookstore.
Lighting of the Bay and Fire & Lights Festival
When: Nov. 28-Jan 4
Where: Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach
Information: newportdunes.com/fire-and-lights-festival
Don’t miss out as Santa makes an appearance on opening night. But if you miss opening night don’t worry because Santa will be back every Sunday. And when he’s not there there’s plenty to do at this long-running festival including chilling at an Igloo Bar, or watching fire dancer perform. Be sure to check out the holiday-themed inflatables like the Toboggan Tunnel, the Giant Snowzilla slide and the Gingerbread Slide.
Winter Fest OC
When: Nov. 28-Jan 4
Where: OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa
Information: winterfestoc.com
The Winter Fest OC pretty much transports people to another world where everything around you is all about the holidays. There’s ice skating, tubing down a 150-foot ice slide, snow and a 40-foot-tall Holiday Tree and the Holiday House. There are characters like Yowie the Yeti, Ice Princess, Jack Frost and Snowflake stilt walkers roaming around.