Best 2022 Holiday Activities and Events Near Santa Ana, CA
It’s that time of year again! The air is cooling down (well, by Southern California standards), the yummy seasonal smells and flavors are all around us, and all of the fun holiday activities are coming up! The excitement and cheer that accompany the holiday season are unlike anything else!
Here in Santa Ana, California, we are surrounded by countless holiday activities and events! Orange county is flooded with things to do during this special time of year! If you want to make the most of your holiday season this year, you are in luck! Here are the best holiday activities and events in Santa Ana and the surrounding areas.
Activities
Shows and Performances
Shopping
Opportunities to Share
Safe Celebration
Activities
Belmont Shore Christmas Parade: Kick off your holiday season at this annual community event! The parade takes place in Long Beach on Saturday, December 3, at Belmont Shore. Gather with the community as we celebrate the upcoming holiday season. This event is completely free of charge, so gather your loved ones and embrace the local holiday spirit.
Swedish Christmas Fair: For an event that is a little different from the norm and that will give you a Christmas experience from a different culture, check out the Swedish Christmas Fair. This fair is put on by the Swedish Women’s Education Association and is a unique and memorable holiday activity! Come and experience this cultural holiday event, only on Sunday, November 20, in Huntington Beach.
Turkey Trot OC 5K 2022: Don’t let the overeating from your Thanksgiving feast get the best of you! Come join the eighth annual Turkey Trot Orange County 5K located at 5500 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92618! This is a great way to get out, enjoy some fresh air, get some good Thanksgiving Day exercise, and spend time together as friends and family. Make sure to register ahead of time using this link between October 1 and November 24 at 9:59 am. There will be an increase in price after November 24. Get ready now so you can be ready to run!
Hikari – A Festival of Lights: The Hikari Festival of Lights is guaranteed to be a beautiful and memorable experience for you and your family! In Japanese, Hikari means “shine,” a fitting name for this festival that shines with over a million twinkling lights! Take a walk through the amazing “Gingerbread Forest” filled with music, food, art, photo opportunities, a chance to meet Santa, and, of course, lots of lights! You can also go for a ride on the “Holiday Wagon!” The Hikari Festival is truly spectacular and something that you won’t want to miss! The 2022 season will begin on November 25.
Orange County Christmas Experience: Head over to Liberty Baptist Church in Newport Beach for this two-day-only activity! There will be a petting zoo, live music, and a Christmas musical to enjoy. This activity will be a paradise for holiday lovers and musical lovers alike!
Knott’s Merry Farm: We all know how fun Knott’s Berry Farm can be, but by throwing in a little holiday magic, there is so much more to enjoy! Beginning November 18, “Knott’s Merry Farm” will fill the park with holiday lights, decor, food, treats, activities, and more. This experience will be fun for the whole family and will fill your holiday season with happy, magical memories. Take a sneak peek of Knott’s Merry Farm by watching this teaser video!
Gingerbread Spice and Everything Nice: Bring your family and friends to celebrate this Christmas season at The Richard Nixon Library & Museum on Monday, November 28, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be photos with Santa, a hot cocoa creation station, a sing-along with carolers, and much more. You can buy your tickets here!
Breakfast with Santa: Let’s be honest: Seeing kids light up when they get to talk to Santa is about as cute as it gets. This year, the city of Tustin is hosting a breakfast with Santa! At this activity, not only can your kids meet Santa, but they can spend the whole morning with him! The breakfast will take place all day on December 3. Take a look at Tustin City’s website for additional information as this event comes closer.
Christmas Together 2022: Get into the true holiday spirit by giving back! On December 18, gather together with the families of Orange County in this incredible, large-scale toy drive! By participating in Christmas Together, families will also join in a fun celebration, including games, food, entertainment, and more. This year, the goal is to collect 20,000 toys, so come and be a part of this day to remember!
Shows and Performances
A Magical Cirque Christmas: Have you ever seen a real-deal cirque performance in person? If you haven’t, you are missing out! Lucky for you, some of the world’s greatest performers are coming to a city near you—and in holiday style! Come and experience the awe of these breathtaking cirque performers in A Magical Cirque Christmas! There will be performances from November 25 to 27, so mark your calendar for this incredible experience!
The Nutcracker: Enjoy the Christmas classic and everyone’s favorite musical The Nutcracker on December 9 to 18. There is a limited number of exclusive seats, so order your ticket here today. Whatever traditions and beliefs you hold about the holiday season, you’ll feel the magic and peace of this special time of year while listening and watching The Nutcracker this holiday season!
Christmas, Shining Bright concert: Don’t miss out on the ever-so-popular St. John Neumann Parish Choir Christmas Concert. This phenomenal concert will be held on Friday, December 16, at 7:30 pm. You can purchase your tickets here!
Shopping
There’s something so exciting about getting gifts for your loved ones! The hardest part is waiting to see their reaction when you give it to them! Here in Santa Ana, there are many great places to shop. Here are a couple of shops to check out this holiday season!
Marine Mammal Care Center Holiday Boutique: This boutique and event are hosted by the Marine Mammal Care Center. On December 4, stop by and get some great holiday shopping done while also participating in crafts, Santa pictures, and more! Come participate in this fun shopping event and learn more about this amazing care center!
Tanaka Farms Christmas Tree Farm and Holiday Market: Have you ever experienced the charm of a tree farm during the holiday season? Well, it is truly magical and an experience that you need to try this year! At Tanaka Farms, not only can you purchase the perfect Christmas tree, but you can purchase wreaths, poinsettias, garlands, holiday banners, holiday decor, and much more! Be sure to check out the beautiful Tanaka Farms for your holiday shopping needs! More tour dates will be available soon here!
Opportunities to Share
Receiving gifts is great, but the true meaning of the holiday season is giving to others. If you have the means or the time during this special time of year, consider giving to those less fortunate so they too can feel the joy of this winter season. Here are some great volunteer opportunities in Santa Ana, CA.
Christmas Together 2022: Get into the true holiday spirit by giving back! On December 18, gather together with the families of Orange County in this incredible, large-scale toy drive! By participating in Christmas Together, families will also join in a fun celebration, including games, food, entertainment, and more. This year, the goal is to collect 20,000 toys, so come and be a part of this day to remember!
Operation Santa Claus: Unfortunately, thousands of children in Orange County won’t be having a very merry Christmas without our help. This holiday season, donate toys and gifts to children and families in need. Last year, Operation Santa Claus distributed over 19,000 toys and gifts, bringing happiness and hope to our most vulnerable children in Orange County who wouldn’t have otherwise had much at all.
Volunteer with The Salvation Army: Whether you like to get out and interact with the community or work behind the scenes, the Salvation Army is the perfect place to volunteer. Dress up as Santa Claus and help collect donations with the jolly ring of your bell. If a red jumpsuit isn’t your style, you could help pick out gifts for kids or be a personal shopper for a family in need.
Safe Celebration
We all love the warmth and smells that candles bring into our homes, especially during the holiday season! However, it is important to note that, on average, 21 house fires are started from candles every day! To avoid this, be careful when and where candles are lit, and be sure to keep them supervised at all times. You could also consider using electric candles and wall plug-in scents to create the same atmosphere in a safer way.
Christmas trees can also create a potential fire hazard. Make sure you keep your live Christmas tree watered to avoid it becoming dry and easier to catch on fire. Also, make sure it is nowhere near an open flame and that you keep the lights off when you are not at home. Additional Christmas tree safety tips can be found on HuffPost’s website. Following these candle and Christmas tree safety tips will help you to have a safe and happy holiday season!
In Santa Ana, CA, there are endless opportunities to have fun and make memories throughout the holiday season and year-round! If you are looking for a place in Santa Ana to call home, our apartments at Park Plaza could be the perfect place for you!
We’d love to see your holiday fun! If you decorate for the holidays or try out one of the activities above, post a photo on social media, tag us, and use #TisTheSeasonAtAMC.
From all of us at Park Plaza Apartments in Santa Ana, Happy Holidays!
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