Best 2021 Holiday Activities and Events Near Santa Ana, CA

Holiday Activities and Events

Plaza Navideña: Kick off your holiday season at this annual community event! The Plaza Navideña takes place in the heart of downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, November 18, at Plaza Calle Cuatro. Gather with the Santa Ana community as we celebrate the upcoming holiday season with a tree-lighting ceremony, entertainment, and tasty treats! This event is completely free of charge, so gather your loved ones and embrace the local holiday spirit. 

Turkey Trot OC 5K 2021: 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 the Orange County Rescue Mission in Tustin! 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. There will be no day-of registration. Get ready now so you can be ready to run!

Hikari - A Festival of Lights: This is an annual event held at Tanaka Farms in Irvine, CA. The festival is open from 4:30 to 10:00 p.m. daily, from November 25 to December 30, minus holidays. The word “Hikari” means “shine” in Japanese, and the festival lives up to its name with over a million twinkling lights illuminating the farm. 

Visitors can take a cozy wagon ride around the festively lit farm that will take them to the “Land of a Thousand Lanterns.” After the wagon ride, visitors can wander through the light displays, with photo opportunities throughout. The festival grounds offer a variety of activities, such as games, arts and crafts, and mini ATVs. Visitors can also visit with the barnyard animals, grab some food from the Tanaka Grill, and meet Santa for a photo. The admission fee ranges from $15 to $35 per person, depending on the date of booking and age of the visitor. 

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 17, “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 at Knott’s Merry Farm by watching this teaser video!

Science of Gingerbread: Alright, it’s time to bring out your competitive side for Southern California’s largest gingerbread house contest! This competition will run from November 18 through December 3, 2023, so make sure you enter to compete. Anyone is welcome to compete, and family participation is encouraged. Check out this recent Instagram post to learn more, and contact the Discovery Cube Orange County for additional information!

Christmas Together 2023: Get into the true holiday spirit by giving back! On December 10, 2023, 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 30,000 toys, so come and be a part of this day to remember! 

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort: Where are our Disney lovers at? Here in Santa Ana, we are so lucky to live so close to Disneyland! During the holiday season, Disneyland is decked out with holiday decor and the holiday spirit! There is also the exciting opportunity to attend Disney Merriest Nites, a series of after-hours holiday celebrations at the park! Check out the website for more information about these fun events hosted by Mickey and his friends! Additional holiday festivities are also celebrated frequently throughout November and December, so be on the lookout for all that the Disney Park has to offer!

Holiday 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. For some new ideas of places to shop, here are a couple of shops to check out this holiday season!

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 21, in Huntington Beach.

MainPlace Mall: MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana, California, is a great place to do your holiday shopping. With over 180 retail stores—including JCPenney, Macy’s, and Nordstrom—you can find everything you need for your holiday shopping list. The mall also features a 24-Hour Fitness Super Sport, an Ashley Furniture HomeStore, Round 1 Bowling & Amusement, and a six-screen movie theater.



In addition to shopping, MainPlace Mall has fun holiday events going on. You can take photos with Santa from November 17 to December 24. There will also be a special Santa’s arrival celebration on Friday, November 18, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. If you’re looking for something to do with your furry friend, you can take pet photos with Santa on select Mondays from 4 to 7 p.m. For those who prefer a sensory-friendly environment, there will be a sensory-friendly Santa event on Sunday, December 3, from 10 to 11 a.m.

Safety During the Holiday Season

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 trees 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! From our entire team at Park Plaza, we wish you a happy holiday season!