Welcome to your ultimate holiday guide for Lake Elsinore! Discover all the festive events and activities right here. Whether you're a familiar face in Lake Elsinore or a new visitor, our guide shows you the season's highlights.
This holiday season, the Mission Inn Festival of Lights lights up the community with dazzling displays and festive cheer. Visitors can stroll through enchanting pathways filled with over 5 million lights and enjoy live entertainment. Another must-see is Holiday Road, known for its whimsical decorations and interactive displays that engage visitors of all ages. And the Winterfest is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a winter wonderland experience with activities ranging from ice skating to holiday crafts. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Lake Elsinore
- Mission Inn Festival of Lights (Riverside)
- Winterfest
- Holiday Road (Calabasas)
- The Polar Express (Perris)
- Merry Farm (Buena Park)
- Winter Lights (Santa Ana)
- The Nutcracker Ballet Performance (San Bernardino)
- Festival of Winter (Fontana)
- A Christmas Carol (Temecula)
- Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico (Rancho Cucamonga)
See these and even more events listed below!
Lake Elsinore Holiday Light Displays
Holiday Road
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday experience with interactive installations and festive activities.
Description:
Holiday Road is a premier holiday event in Los Angeles featuring larger-than-life holiday installations, thousands of Christmas lights, Santa, Mrs. Claus, Elves, and countless candy canes. Guests can explore an immersive mile-long walking trail, enjoy interactive photo moments, and visit a festive souvenir shop. The event also includes premium holiday bars and top food trucks.
Where: Calabasas | More Info: Holiday Road
Mission Inn Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Nation's largest holiday light collection with over 4.5 million lights.
Description:
The Mission Inn Festival of Lights is a renowned holiday event featuring over 4.5 million twinkling lights, live entertainment, and festive activities.
Where: Riverside | More Info: Mission Inn Festival of Lights
Santa’s Electric Light Parade
What to Expect:
Twinkling lights and festive marchers along a parade route.
Description:
The Santa’s Electric Light Parade in Temecula features twinkling lights from decorated floats, holiday music from school marching bands, and festive marchers making their way down the parade route into Old Town Temecula.
Where: Temecula | More Info: Santa’s Electric Light Parade
Lake Elsinore Holiday Markets and Shopping
Menifee Hometown Holiday Festival
What to Expect:
Holiday shopping with community activities.
Description:
The Menifee Hometown Holiday Festival is a vibrant community event featuring over 60 vendors, food and drinks, a visit with Santa, an Ugly Sweater Contest, and a Charity Toy Drive.
Where: Menifee | More Info: Menifee Hometown Holiday Festival
It's Peachy Merry Everything Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Meet Frozen's Elsa and Anna at this family-friendly holiday shopping event.
Description:
Join It's Peachy for a holiday market at Promenade Temecula, featuring 55 local businesses, DJ music, photo ops, and special guests Elsa and Anna.
Where: Temecula | More Info: It's Peachy Merry Everything Holiday Market
Winterfest
What to Expect:
Holiday market with unique gifts and crafts.
Description:
Winterfest is a holiday celebration featuring a festive parade, holiday market, and family-friendly activities in Historic Downtown Lake Elsinore.
Where: Lake Elsinore | More Info: Winterfest
Christmas Crafts Village at Knott's Merry Farm
What to Expect:
Unique gift shopping with seasonal settings.
Description:
The Christmas Crafts Village at Knott's Merry Farm offers one-of-a-kind gift ideas and a variety of picturesque seasonal settings, providing a delightful shopping experience for all ages.
Where: Buena Park | More Info: Christmas Crafts Village at Knott's Merry Farm
Lake Elsinore Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Merry Farm
What to Expect:
Winter wonderland-inspired decorations and holiday activities for all ages.
Description:
Knott's Merry Farm transforms the entire park into a classic holiday festival with thousands of twinkling lights, themed garland, and picturesque seasonal settings. Enjoy Christmas shows, a beloved ice show starring the Peanuts Gang, and delectable holiday dining food.
Where: Buena Park | More Info: Merry Farm
Winter Lights
What to Expect:
Interactive science exhibits and original holiday music.
Description:
Winter Lights is a holiday musical spectacle at Discovery Cube Orange County, featuring an original story, captivating music, and interactive science exhibits. The show blends hope, resilience, and magic, set against the backdrop of the Aurora Borealis. It includes unique characters like a science fairy and a lovable robot, making it a perfect addition to any family's holiday traditions.
Where: Santa Ana | More Info: Winter Lights
Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico
What to Expect:
Celebrates Mexican traditions with mariachi and dance.
Description:
Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico is a vibrant show that weaves cherished Mexican traditions into a heartwarming story of the season. Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande bring the spirit of Posadas, the majesty of the Reyes Magos, and the thrill of breaking piñatas to life through joyous rhythms and colorful dance.
Where: Rancho Cucamonga | More Info: Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico
The Polar Express
What to Expect:
Interactive theatrical onboard entertainment with dancing chefs and caroling.
Description:
Relive the classic holiday story of The Polar Express on a real train, where passengers enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, and a reading of the book by Chris Van Allsburg. Santa and his helpers board the train to greet passengers and present each guest with the first gift of Christmas—a silver sleigh bell.
Where: Perris | More Info: The Polar Express
The Nutcracker Ballet Performance
What to Expect:
Elaborate sets and costumes in a classic holiday ballet.
Description:
Inland Dance Theatre presents The Nutcracker, a classic ballet featuring over 100 performers, including professional dancers and young artists, at the historic California Theatre in San Bernardino. The performance includes Tchaikovsky's iconic score and beloved characters like the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Mouse King.
Where: San Bernardino | More Info: The Nutcracker Ballet Performance
A Christmas Carol
What to Expect:
Classic tale of redemption with musical elements.
Description:
Ebenezer Scrooge, a prosperous curmudgeon, is forced to confront his selfish ways when three ghosts on Christmas Eve lead him through his Past, Present, and Future. Originally conceived by Charles Dickens, this holiday tradition features music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens.
Where: Temecula | More Info: A Christmas Carol
Lake Elsinore Other Holiday Activities
Festival of Winter
What to Expect:
Snow play and train rides in a festive atmosphere.
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 a Tot Lot for kids to experience snow for the first time.
Where: Fontana | More Info: Festival of Winter
The Festival of the Trees Holiday Fair
What to Expect:
Unique holiday tree displays and local artisan market.
Description:
The Festival of Trees Holiday Fair is a free family event featuring over 46 beautifully decorated holiday trees, 50 local craft vendors and artisans, delicious holiday treats, free kids' activities, local holiday dance performances, and Santa. Children can create holiday cards and crafts to take home and visit Santa for a photo.
Where: Riverside | More Info: The Festival of the Trees Holiday Fair
Trunk or Treat
What to Expect:
Spooky haunted maze and creative trunks filled with treats.
Description:
Join us at Lake Elsinore Diamond Stadium for an evening filled with thrills and chills. The stadium will transform into a Halloween-themed event with over 60 creatively spooky trunks brimming with treats and surprises. Navigate an eerie haunted maze, enjoy spine-tingling amusements, get crafty with Halloween-themed activities, and indulge in delicious eats from various food vendors.
Where: Lake Elsinore | More Info: Trunk or Treat
Veterans Day Observance Ceremony
What to Expect:
Honoring veterans with moving tributes and inspiring speeches.
Description:
The Veterans Day Observance Ceremony honors courageous men and women who have selflessly served to protect our freedoms. The event features moving tributes, inspiring speeches, and moments of reflection dedicated to those who have served our country with valor and dedication.
Where: Lake Elsinore | More Info: Veterans Day Observance Ceremony
Holiday Bike Tour
What to Expect:
Guided bike tour to see neighborhood holiday decorations.
Description:
Join a guided bike tour through Temecula's neighborhoods to admire dazzling holiday decorations. Participants must be confident bike riders and wear their coziest holiday sweaters.
Where: Temecula | More Info: Holiday Bike Tour
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Wildomar (5 miles)
- Perris (10 miles)
- Murrieta (10 miles)
- Menifee (11 miles)
- Temecula (16 miles)
- Rancho Santa Margarita (16 miles)
- Ladera Ranch (19 miles)
- Moreno Valley (19 miles)
- Corona (20 miles)
- Riverside (20 miles)
- Mission Viejo (20 miles)
- Fallbrook (21 miles)
- Lake Forest (21 miles)
- Hemet (21 miles)
- Norco (22 miles)
- San Juan Capistrano (22 miles)
- Laguna Hills (23 miles)
- San Jacinto (23 miles)
- Rubidoux (23 miles)
- San Clemente (23 miles)
- Aliso Viejo (24 miles)
- Laguna Niguel (24 miles)
- Eastvale (25 miles)
- Jurupa Valley (25 miles)
- Glen Avon (25 miles)
- Dana Point (25 miles)
- Loma Linda (27 miles)
- Beaumont (27 miles)
- North Tustin (28 miles)
- Laguna Beach (28 miles)
- Redlands (28 miles)
- Colton (28 miles)
- Bloomington (28 miles)
- Irvine (29 miles)
- Tustin (29 miles)
- Fontana (30 miles)
- Yucaipa (30 miles)
- Rialto (30 miles)
- San Bernardino (30 miles)
- Orange (31 miles)
- Banning (31 miles)
- Santa Ana (32 miles)
- Chino (32 miles)
- Yorba Linda (32 miles)
- Highland (33 miles)
- Vista (33 miles)
- Oceanside (33 miles)
- Ontario (33 miles)
- Chino Hills (33 miles)
- Rancho Cucamonga (34 miles)
- Costa Mesa (34 miles)
- Placentia (34 miles)
- Newport Beach (35 miles)
- Upland (35 miles)
- Montclair (35 miles)
- Carlsbad (35 miles)
- Anaheim (36 miles)
- Garden Grove (36 miles)
- Fountain Valley (36 miles)
- Pomona (36 miles)
- Fullerton (37 miles)
- Brea (37 miles)
- Claremont (37 miles)
- Diamond Bar (37 miles)
- San Marcos (37 miles)
- Huntington Beach (39 miles)
- La Verne (39 miles)
- Walnut (39 miles)
- Stanton (39 miles)
- Rowland Heights (39 miles)
- Westminster (40 miles)
- La Habra (40 miles)
- Escondido (40 miles)
- South San Jose Hills (41 miles)
- Buena Park (41 miles)
- San Dimas (41 miles)
- Cypress (42 miles)
- La Mirada (43 miles)
- Hacienda Heights (43 miles)
- La Puente (43 miles)
- Covina (44 miles)
- Encinitas (44 miles)
- Valinda (44 miles)
- Cerritos (44 miles)
- West Covina (45 miles)
- Glendora (45 miles)
- Seal Beach (45 miles)