Can't wait for the holiday joy in Altadena? Dive into our guide for the best festive events! For Altadena inhabitants and visitors alike, this guide highlights the season's best events and activities.
One highlight of the holiday season is the Mission Inn Festival of Lights, where dazzling displays transform the iconic hotel into a winter wonderland. Another enchanting experience is the LA Zoo Lights, featuring spectacular light installations that uniquely showcase the zoo's layout. And the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is something you definitely don't want to miss, with beautifully decorated boats sailing through picturesque local waterways. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Altadena
- Mission Inn Festival of Lights (Riverside)
- Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade (Newport Beach)
- LA Zoo Lights, Animals Aglow (Los Angeles)
- Imaginarium at Fairplex (Pomona)
- Santa Ana Winter Village (Santa Ana)
- South Coast Botanic Garden Astra Lumina (Palos Verdes Peninsula)
- Festival of Winter (Fontana)
- Holidays at the Harbor, Dana Point (Dana Point)
- Coachella Valley Magic of Lights Drive Thru (Indio)
- Teddy Bear Tea at The Langham Huntington Hotel (Pasadena)
See these and even more events listed below!
Altadena Holiday Light Displays
Mission Inn Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Nation's largest holiday light collection with live entertainment.
Description:
The Mission Inn Festival of Lights is a cherished annual tradition featuring millions of twinkling lights, live entertainment, and holiday-themed decorations, attracting over 500,000 visitors each year.
Where: Riverside | More Info: Mission Inn Festival of Lights
LA Zoo Lights, Animals Aglow
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting with interactive light displays.
Description:
LA Zoo Lights, Animals Aglow is a nature-focused holiday celebration featuring dazzling new lantern sculptures of animals among blooming flowers, towering trees, and glowing rivers. This immersive landscape includes all-new wonders like the magical Holiday Forest with majestic pine trees and snow-loving animals, as well as spectacular holiday photo spots and the return of Santa himself.
Where: Los Angeles | More Info: LA Zoo Lights, Animals Aglow
South Coast Botanic Garden Astra Lumina
What to Expect:
Immersive light and sound experience in a botanical garden setting.
Description:
Astra Lumina at South Coast Botanic Garden is an immersive night walk experience using light, scenography, original soundscape, and projection to create an imaginative journey through the garden's celestial pathway, inviting visitors to encounter the wonder of the stars and embrace their own human light.
Where: Palos Verdes Peninsula | More Info: South Coast Botanic Garden Astra Lumina
Imaginarium at Fairplex
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday light show with interactive exhibits.
Description:
Imaginarium at Fairplex features 1.5 miles of holiday lights, a free 3x daily circus, Christmas trees, illuminated stars, and balloon drops. It includes nightly synchronized music and light shows, infinity mirror rooms, game experiences, and life-like interactive creatures.
Where: Pomona | More Info: Imaginarium at Fairplex
Coachella Valley Magic of Lights Drive Thru
What to Expect:
Dazzling drive-through holiday lights experience with life-sized dinosaurs and iconic characters.
Description:
Coachella Valley Magic of Lights Drive Thru features over a mile of spectacular light displays, including life-sized dinosaurs and a towering display of the legendary BIGFOOT Monster Truck, all created with over two million sparkling lights.
Where: Indio | More Info: Coachella Valley Magic of Lights Drive Thru
Folsom Zoo Wild Nights, Holiday Lights
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
The Folsom Zoo's Wild Nights and Holiday Lights event features festive lighting and activities in a zoo setting, creating a unique holiday experience.
Where: Folsom | More Info: Folsom Zoo Wild Nights, Holiday Lights
Holidays at the Harbor, Dana Point
What to Expect:
Annual holiday light display in Dana Point Harbor.
Description:
Holidays at the Harbor in Dana Point features holiday lights displayed annually from November 13 to January 12, creating a festive atmosphere in the harbor.
Where: Dana Point | More Info: Holidays at the Harbor, Dana Point
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
What to Expect:
Spectacularly decorated boats and homes along a 14-mile harbor route.
Description:
The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is a festive event featuring beautifully decorated yachts, boats, kayaks, and canoes sailing through Newport Harbor. The parade includes a waterfront decorating competition called the Ring of Lights, with participants eligible for awards. The event offers various public viewing locations, including Marina Park, which provides optimal viewing and family-friendly activities.
Where: Newport Beach | More Info: Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
Altadena Holiday Markets and Shopping
Little Italy Mercato
What to Expect:
Year-round market with a diverse array of local produce and artisan goods.
Description:
The Little Italy Mercato is a bustling farmers' market in San Diego, offering farm fresh produce, artisan foods, and local crafts every Saturday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM and every Wednesday from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Shop for a variety of items including produce, eggs, meat, fish, nuts, and more from California farmers and local foodmakers.
Where: San Diego | More Info: Little Italy Mercato
Altadena Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico
What to Expect:
Traditional Mexican music and dance celebrating the holiday season.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season with Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico, featuring Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande. This vibrant show weaves cherished Mexican traditions into a heartwarming story of the season, capturing the spirit of Posadas, the majesty of the Reyes Magos, and the thrill of breaking piñatas.
Where: Rancho Cucamonga | More Info: Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico
Altadena Other Holiday Activities
Teddy Bear Tea at The Langham Huntington Hotel
What to Expect:
Intimate tea service with teddy bear decor.
Description:
Teddy Bear Tea at The Langham Huntington Hotel offers a charming setting where guests can indulge in delightful tea and sweet treats while surrounded by plush teddy bears.
Where: Pasadena | More Info: Teddy Bear Tea at The Langham Huntington Hotel
Festival of Winter
What to Expect:
Snow play and train rides.
Description:
The Festival of Winter at Miller Park Amphitheater features train rides, rides and attractions, live entertainment, photo opportunities with Santa, and a variety of vendors and activity booths. It also includes snow play and the chance to sled down over 40 tons of fresh snow.
Where: Fontana | More Info: Festival of Winter
Santa Ana Winter Village
What to Expect:
Outdoor ice skating in Southern California.
Description:
The Santa Ana Winter Village is a month-long celebration featuring ice skating, a holiday light show, food vendors, and special events like a toy giveaway and breakfast with Santa.
Where: Santa Ana | More Info: Santa Ana Winter Village
Riverside Ice Skating at Hanford Winter Wonderland
What to Expect:
Seasonal ice skating in a downtown setting.
Description:
Hanford Winter Wonderland offers seasonal ice skating sessions at Civic Park in Downtown Hanford. The rink provides a fun and family-friendly environment for holiday skating.
Where: Hanford | More Info: Riverside Ice Skating at Hanford Winter Wonderland
IllumiNature at Fresno Chaffee Zoo
What to Expect:
Private zoo tour with holiday treats before IllumiNature event.
Description:
Join an Educator for a private outdoor tour of the Fresno Chaffee Zoo before the IllumiNature event starts. Enjoy a holiday treat and hot chocolate beverage from the Kudu Café, then experience the IllumiNature event.
Where: Fresno | More Info: IllumiNature at Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Skating by the Bay
What to Expect:
Exclusive scheduling opportunities for special events and parties.
Description:
Ice Skating by the Bay offers a seasonal ice skating rink in Custom House Plaza, Monterey, where skaters can enjoy the scenic coastline. The rink is open daily, with adjusted hours during certain dates. Admission includes adults at $15 and children under 12 at $13, with a skate rental fee of $5. Season passes are available.
Where: Monterey | More Info: Skating by the Bay
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Pasadena (3 miles)
- La Canada Flintridge (3 miles)
- South Pasadena (5 miles)
- Arcadia (6 miles)
- Alhambra (7 miles)
- San Gabriel (7 miles)
- Temple City (7 miles)
- Glendale (8 miles)
- Monrovia (8 miles)
- Rosemead (8 miles)
- Monterey Park (9 miles)
- Duarte (9 miles)
- Tujunga (10 miles)
- Burbank (10 miles)
- El Monte (10 miles)
- Silver Lake (11 miles)
- South El Monte (11 miles)
- Echo Park (11 miles)
- Los Angeles (11 miles)
- Boyle Heights (12 miles)
- East Los Angeles (12 miles)
- Baldwin Park (12 miles)
- Montebello (13 miles)
- Hollywood (13 miles)
- Universal City (13 miles)
- Koreatown (13 miles)
- West Puente Valley (13 miles)
- Azusa (13 miles)
- West Covina (14 miles)
- North Hollywood (14 miles)
- Maywood (14 miles)
- Pico Rivera (14 miles)
- Valinda (15 miles)
- West Hollywood (15 miles)
- Bell (15 miles)
- West Whittier-Los Nietos (15 miles)
- Huntington Park (15 miles)
- Covina (15 miles)
- Studio City (15 miles)
- Bell Gardens (16 miles)
- Whittier (16 miles)
- Glendora (16 miles)
- La Puente (16 miles)
- Cudahy (16 miles)
- Hacienda Heights (16 miles)
- Florence-Graham (17 miles)
- South Gate (17 miles)
- Downey (17 miles)
- Beverly Hills (17 miles)
- South Whittier (17 miles)
- South San Jose Hills (18 miles)
- Van Nuys (18 miles)
- Valley Glen (18 miles)
- Sherman Oaks (18 miles)
- Lynwood (19 miles)
- San Fernando (19 miles)
- Culver City (19 miles)
- Walnut (19 miles)
- San Dimas (19 miles)
- Rowland Heights (20 miles)
- Westmont (20 miles)
- La Mirada (20 miles)
- Norwalk (20 miles)
- Willowbrook (20 miles)
- Inglewood (20 miles)
- North Hills (20 miles)
- La Habra (21 miles)
- Paramount (21 miles)
- Compton (21 miles)
- Encino (21 miles)
- Bellflower (21 miles)
- Diamond Bar (21 miles)
- Lennox (22 miles)
- La Verne (22 miles)
- Hawthorne (23 miles)
- Brea (23 miles)
- Gardena (23 miles)
- Cerritos (23 miles)
- Lakewood (23 miles)
- Venice (23 miles)
- Northridge (23 miles)
- Buena Park (24 miles)
- Pomona (24 miles)
- Santa Monica (24 miles)
- Claremont (24 miles)
- Lawndale (24 miles)
- Fullerton (25 miles)
- Chino Hills (25 miles)
- Canyon Country (25 miles)
- Carson (26 miles)
- Cypress (26 miles)
- Montclair (26 miles)
- Manhattan Beach (26 miles)
- Placentia (27 miles)
- Canoga Park (27 miles)
- Palmdale (27 miles)
- West Carson (27 miles)
- Woodland Hills (27 miles)
- Torrance (27 miles)
- Chatsworth (27 miles)
- Santa Clarita (27 miles)
- Anaheim (27 miles)
- Yorba Linda (28 miles)
- Redondo Beach (28 miles)
- Stanton (28 miles)
- Chino (28 miles)
- Upland (28 miles)
- Ontario (29 miles)
- Calabasas (29 miles)
- West Hills (29 miles)
- Long Beach (29 miles)
- Lomita (29 miles)
- Westminster (31 miles)
- Garden Grove (31 miles)
- Seal Beach (31 miles)
- Rancho Cucamonga (31 miles)
- Orange (32 miles)
- Valencia (32 miles)
- San Pedro (33 miles)
- Rancho Palos Verdes (34 miles)
- Santa Ana (34 miles)
- Fountain Valley (35 miles)
- Agoura (35 miles)
- Lancaster (35 miles)
- North Tustin (35 miles)
- Tustin (35 miles)
- Eastvale (36 miles)
- Agoura Hills (37 miles)
- Huntington Beach (37 miles)
- Simi Valley (38 miles)
- Jurupa Valley (38 miles)
- Norco (38 miles)
- Corona (39 miles)
- Glen Avon (39 miles)
- Costa Mesa (40 miles)
- Irvine (40 miles)
- Fontana (40 miles)
- Thousand Oaks (40 miles)
- Newport Beach (41 miles)
- Bloomington (43 miles)
- Moorpark (43 miles)
- Rubidoux (44 miles)
- Rialto (44 miles)