Enjoy the festive wonders of Seaside with our holiday event guide. Whether Seaside is your everyday backdrop or your dream destination, our guide brings festive dreams to life.
Popular events during this season in the region include the enchanting Winter Wonderland at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, where joy and cheer fill the air with dazzling light displays. The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade offers a unique spectacle as beautifully decorated boats glisten on the water, creating a magical waterfront experience. And the Holiday Lights at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring an impressive array of holiday illuminations. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Seaside
- Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade (Newport Beach)
- Winter Wonderland at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (Santa Cruz)
- Mission Inn Festival of Lights (Riverside)
- Winter Fest OC (Costa Mesa)
- Farley’s Christmas Wonderland (Santa Cruz)
- Holiday Lights at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds (Watsonville)
- Entwined in Golden Gate Park (San Francisco)
- Cirque Dreams Holidaze (Riverside)
- Winter Lights in Santa Ana (Santa Ana)
- Winter on the Wharf (Santa Cruz)
See these and even more events listed below!
Seaside Holiday Light Displays
Holiday Lights at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
What to Expect:
Spectacular lighted displays with holiday carols.
Description:
Holiday Lights at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds features a 3/4 mile drive-through experience with millions of lights decorating tractors, trees, lawns, and buildings. Enjoy holiday carols from local radio stations while viewing community and family entries, including a Youth Designer awardee.
Where: Watsonville | More Info: Holiday Lights at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
Farley’s Christmas Wonderland
What to Expect:
Traditional walk-in Christmas display with fairy grotto and snow.
Description:
Farley’s Christmas Wonderland is a traditional walk-in Christmas display in Santa Cruz, featuring numerous Christmas trees, garlands, sleighs, an elf village, and a fairy grotto with waterfalls. The exhibit offers a unique experience with its detailed decorations and special nights with snow.
Where: Santa Cruz | More Info: Farley’s Christmas Wonderland
Holiday Tree Walk at Roaring Camp
What to Expect:
Holiday train ride through wintry redwoods.
Description:
Take a ride on the Redwood Forest Steam Train through wintry redwoods to Bear Mountain, sipping hot cider while greeting Santa Claus. Enjoy winter-themed activities in the town.
Where: Felton | More Info: Holiday Tree Walk at Roaring Camp
Holiday Lights Train at Roaring Camp
What to Expect:
Vintage train ride with holiday lights and live music.
Description:
The Holiday Lights Train at Roaring Camp features vintage excursion cars adorned with thousands of colorful lights, rolling through Santa Cruz city streets past homes. Live music by Steve Bennett plays holiday classics, and passengers can visit Santa Claus and his elves while sipping hot cider.
Where: Felton | More Info: Holiday Lights Train at Roaring Camp
Tree Lighting Ceremony - Downtown Santa Rosa
What to Expect:
Community-driven lighting ceremony with festive lights.
Description:
The Tree Lighting Ceremony in Downtown Santa Rosa is a cherished annual event where the community comes together to illuminate the city's central square with festive lights, creating a vibrant and joyful atmosphere.
Where: Santa Rosa | More Info: Tree Lighting Ceremony - Downtown Santa Rosa
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
What to Expect:
Decorated boats and kayaks in a festive holiday setting.
Description:
The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is a 116th annual 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 receiving special commemorative items and being eligible for awards. The event is hosted by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and offers various public viewing locations, including Marina Park, which is the largest public viewing area along the parade route.
Where: Newport Beach | More Info: Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
Mission Inn Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Nation's largest holiday light collection.
Description:
The Mission Inn Festival of Lights is a cherished annual tradition featuring over 500,000 visitors who marvel at millions of twinkling lights adorning the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. The event includes live entertainment, holiday performances, and festive decorations.
Where: Riverside | More Info: Mission Inn Festival of Lights
Filoli Holidays
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with historic house tours and garden light displays.
Description:
Filoli Holidays offers a festive celebration with beautifully decorated gardens, historic house tours, and various holiday activities. Enjoy daytime delights with warm drinks and lunch at the Quail Café, and evening experiences featuring immersive displays and live music.
Where: Woodside | More Info: Filoli Holidays
Fairy Winterland
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with twinkling lights and Santa Claus.
Description:
Fairy Winterland at Children's Fairyland in Oakland, California, features twinkling lights, festive music, wintertime stories, seasonal crafts, and a visit from Santa Claus. Enjoy hot cocoa and apple cider while exploring the park's holiday decorations and participating in activities like ornament making and candle dipping.
Where: Oakland | More Info: Fairy Winterland
Entwined in Golden Gate Park
What to Expect:
Interactive light installation with wind-moving tree and customizable lighting.
Description:
Entwined in Golden Gate Park is an immersive light installation featuring a 30-ft metal sculpted tree with a 25-ft canopy, offering ever-changing illumination and color. The installation includes six unique QR codes that allow attendees to control the tree's lighting patterns, creating an interactive and dynamic experience.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Entwined in Golden Gate Park
Seaside Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Movie with Santa “Elf” at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
What to Expect:
Holiday movie screening with fun holiday headbands and snacks.
Description:
Join Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for a holiday movie screening of "Elf" in the historic Cocoanut Grove Ballroom. Attendees are encouraged to wear holiday pajamas and receive a fun holiday headband. Snacks are available for purchase, and banquet chair seating is provided. Fun inflatable chairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Where: Santa Cruz | More Info: Movie with Santa “Elf” at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Holiday Night with Santa - Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden
What to Expect:
Santa photo opportunities and a ballet performance.
Description:
Join Gamble Garden for a holiday night filled with Santa photo opportunities, a ballet performance, holiday shopping, and cookies and cider.
Where: Palo Alto | More Info: Holiday Night with Santa - Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden
Cirque Dreams Holidaze
What to Expect:
Dazzling circus arts and original holiday music.
Description:
Cirque Dreams Holidaze is a dazzling holiday spectacular featuring a cast of colorful characters, original music, and breathtaking circus arts. This Broadway-style production combines contemporary circus arts with holiday classics, creating a whimsical and entertaining experience for all ages.
Where: Riverside | More Info: Cirque Dreams Holidaze
Seaside Other Holiday Activities
Winter Wonderland at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with beachside activities and festive decorations.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with select rides, attractions, festive decorations, and photos with Santa.
Where: Santa Cruz | More Info: Winter Wonderland at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Annieglass Holiday Ornament Making Workshop
What to Expect:
Create personalized, elegant holiday ornaments with gold and silver decorations.
Description:
Decorate 4 frosted glass holiday-shaped ornaments with gold and silver decorations. Take home your finished ornaments the same day. Stencils and inspiration are provided for tracing directly onto the glass.
Where: Santa Cruz | More Info: Annieglass Holiday Ornament Making Workshop
Winter on the Wharf
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with Santa's arrival by vintage fire engine and snow play area.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at the Santa Cruz Wharf with festive decorations, special events, and Santa's arrival by vintage fire engine. Enjoy holiday specials, take photos with Santa, and participate in activities like playing in the snow area with Elsa and Anna from Disney's Frozen.
Where: Santa Cruz | More Info: Winter on the Wharf
Breakfast with Santa at the Dream Inn
What to Expect:
Coastal breakfast with ocean views.
Description:
Join us for a delightful breakfast experience at the Dream Inn, where you can enjoy a delicious meal amidst the serene coastal views of Santa Cruz.
Where: Santa Cruz | More Info: Breakfast with Santa at the Dream Inn
Hometown Holidays - City of Redwood City
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with a parade, live entertainment, and snow.
Description:
Hometown Holidays in Redwood City is a festive celebration featuring a parade, live entertainment, children's carnival, snow, Santa Claus photos, and more. Enjoy complementary pictures with Santa, assorted vendors, and non-profits on Broadway, along with entertainment and vendors at Courthouse Square.
Where: Redwood City | More Info: Hometown Holidays - City of Redwood City
Winter Fest OC
What to Expect:
Unique blend of agriculture, entertainment, and educational experiences.
Description:
The OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, CA, offers a variety of events and activities, including a working farm, veterans museum, and live music. It is an ideal destination for field trips, educational enrichment, and family fun, with 157,000 square feet of venue rental space suitable for meetings, parties, corporate events, cultural festivals, trade shows, fundraising runs, and concerts.
Where: Costa Mesa | More Info: Winter Fest OC
Winter Lights in Santa Ana
What to Expect:
Outdoor ice skating in a festive holiday setting.
Description:
The Santa Ana Winter Village is a month-long celebration featuring ice skating, a holiday light show, food vendors, and more. Special events include a tree lighting ceremony, breakfast with Santa, Anaheim Ducks Day, and a toy giveaway by the Power of One Foundation.
Where: Santa Ana | More Info: Winter Lights in Santa Ana
Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round
What to Expect:
Antique carousel with hand-carved wooden animals.
Description:
Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round features an antique Herschell-Spillman carousel with hand-carved wooden animals, calliope music, and a wheelchair-accessible snack bar offering hot chocolate, hot dogs, and other treats. The carousel operates on weekends from 11 am to 5:30 pm and weekdays from 3 pm to 8:30 pm, with special hours during holidays.
Where: Berkeley | More Info: Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round
Tilden Park Steam Trains at Christmas
What to Expect:
Decorated steam trains with holiday lights and ornaments.
Description:
Tilden Park Steam Trains transform into a toddler-friendly holiday train during Winterfest, featuring decorated steam trains with twinkling lights, tiny snowflakes, and Christmas ornaments along the route. The trains run from 11 am to 7 pm on weekends, weather permitting, offering a festive experience under the towering redwoods.
Where: Berkeley | More Info: Tilden Park Steam Trains at Christmas
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Monterey (3 miles)
- Marina (6 miles)
- Salinas (12 miles)
- Watsonville (21 miles)
- Santa Cruz (27 miles)
- Hollister (30 miles)
- Gilroy (31 miles)
- Soledad (32 miles)
- Morgan Hill (38 miles)
- Los Gatos (43 miles)