Everything you need for the holidays in South Gate is in our comprehensive guide. Discover all the top festive events. From South Gate old-timers to fresh faces, our guide illuminates the path to holiday cheer.
One standout event is the 91st Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, which features spectacular floats and celebrity appearances, bringing the holiday spirit to life along the streets of Hollywood. The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade showcases stunningly decorated boats lighting up the harbor, offering a unique twist to the traditional festive celebrations. And the Holidays at LEGOLAND® is something you definitely don't want to miss, with whimsical decorations and family-friendly attractions. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around South Gate
- 91st Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade (Hollywood)
- Holidays at LEGOLAND® (Carlsbad)
- Knott's Merry Farm (Buena Park)
- Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade (Newport Beach)
- Holiday in the Park (Valencia)
- LA Zoo Lights (Los Angeles)
- Magic of Lights (Los Angeles)
- Holiday Road (Calabasas)
- Festival of Lights (Riverside)
- The Polar Express Train Ride (Perris)
See these and even more events listed below!
South Gate 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. The event includes an immersive mile-long walking trail, interactive photo moments, a festive souvenir shop, premium holiday bars, and top food trucks.
Where: Calabasas | More Info: Holiday Road
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
What to Expect:
Spectacularly decorated boats and kayaks in a festive harbor setting.
Description:
The 116th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade features beautifully decorated yachts, boats, kayaks, and canoes sailing through Newport Harbor. The event, hosted by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, includes a waterfront decorating competition and special commemorative items for participants. It offers optimal viewing from various public spots, including Marina Park, with free admission.
Where: Newport Beach | More Info: Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
LA Zoo Lights
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting with interactive wildlife-inspired lantern displays.
Description:
Explore an immersive landscape filled with dazzling new lantern sculptures of animals among blooming flowers, towering trees, and glowing rivers. This nature-focused holiday celebration features all-new wonders, including a 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
Magic of Lights
What to Expect:
Drive-through holiday lights spectacle with life-sized dinosaurs and iconic characters.
Description:
Magic of Lights is a dazzling drive-through holiday lights experience featuring over a mile of spectacular light displays, including larger-than-life sparkling Holiday Barbie, supersized Bigfoot Monster Truck, and life-sized dinosaurs in Prehistoric Christmas. The event brings to life your favorite holiday scenes and characters with the latest LED technology and digital animations.
Where: Los Angeles | More Info: Magic of Lights
Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Nation's largest holiday light collection with animated figures and festive decorations.
Description:
The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa's Festival of Lights is a cherished annual tradition featuring over 5 million lights, 200 animated figures, and festive decorations. It attracts over 500,000 visitors each year and is voted "Best Public Lights Display" by USA Today.
Where: Riverside | More Info: Festival of Lights
South Gate Holiday Markets and Shopping
Holidayfest
What to Expect:
Live raffle with prizes from local businesses.
Description:
Holidayfest is a community-driven event on South Lake Avenue in Pasadena, where participants can shop, dine, and win prizes by submitting receipts from local businesses. The event features family-friendly activities, live music, and holiday promotions.
Where: Pasadena | More Info: Holidayfest
South Gate Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Holidays at LEGOLAND®
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with LEGO-themed activities and characters.
Description:
Holidays at LEGOLAND features holiday-themed activities, including meeting LEGO Santa and friends, seasonal shows, and interactive LEGO build zones.
Where: Carlsbad | More Info: Holidays at LEGOLAND®
Holiday in the Park
What to Expect:
Spectacular light display with seasonal entertainment.
Description:
Six Flags Magic Mountain transforms into a vibrant winter spectacle with millions of lights, seasonal entertainment, and delicious eats.
Where: Valencia | More Info: Holiday in the Park
Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico
What to Expect:
Rich cultural tapestry of Mexican Christmas traditions.
Description:
Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande present Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico, a vibrant show weaving cherished Mexican traditions into a heartwarming story of the season. The event features the joyous rhythms of mariachi and colorful Mexican dance, 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
Knott's Merry Farm
What to Expect:
Christmas celebration with live shows and festive dining.
Description:
Knott's Merry Farm is a holiday celebration featuring winter wonderland-inspired decorations, thousands of twinkling lights, and miles of themed garland. Enjoy Christmas shows, a magical Snow and Glow experience, and delectable holiday dining food. Visit Santa's Christmas Cabin and experience the nightly Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
Where: Buena Park | More Info: Knott's Merry Farm
91st Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Iconic parade with legendary celebrities and charitable mission.
Description:
The 91st Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade is a star-studded event featuring legendary celebrities, dazzling floats, marching bands, and performances that create unforgettable memories. It also carries a profound charitable mission, collecting toys and donations for underprivileged children.
Where: Hollywood | More Info: 91st Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade
The Polar Express Train Ride
What to Expect:
Interactive onboard entertainment with Santa and his helpers.
Description:
Relive the classic holiday story of The Polar Express on a real train ride, featuring hot chocolate, cookies, and a reading of the book by Chris Van Allsburg. Santa and his helpers will greet passengers and present each guest with a silver sleigh bell.
Where: Perris | More Info: The Polar Express Train Ride
Holiday Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Live music and Santa's grand entrance in a red convertible T-Bird.
Description:
The Holiday Tree Lighting at City Center Bishop Ranch features live music from the Monte Vista High School Band and SideNote a cappella singers, a performance of The Nutcracker by Diablo Ballet, and Santa's arrival in a red convertible T-Bird. The event includes visits with Santa and roaming entertainers like jugglers and stilt walkers.
Where: San Ramon | More Info: Holiday Tree Lighting
South Gate Other Holiday Activities
Festival of Winter
What to Expect:
Snow play and train rides for all ages.
Description:
The Festival of Winter at Miller Park features train rides, attractions, live entertainment, photo opportunities with Santa, and a variety of vendors and activity booths. It also includes snow play and a Tot Lot where children can experience snow for the first time.
Where: Fontana | More Info: Festival of Winter
Holidays on Main Street
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday celebration with local artisans and family activities.
Description:
Holidays on Main Street is a community-driven event featuring family-friendly activities like a petting zoo, face painting, and live music. Over 70 vendors offer artisan shopping, and a holiday drink lounge features craft beers and wines. The event includes a Choo Choo train ride, balloon twisting, and ornament making.
Where: Yorba Linda | More Info: Holidays on Main Street
Christmas Train
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday experience with Santa Claus.
Description:
Take a scenic ride through historic Irvine Regional Park to meet Santa Claus and enjoy colorful Christmas lights and decorations.
Where: Irvine | More Info: Christmas Train
Santa's Village
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday activities with festive lighting.
Description:
Santa's Village offers a variety of festive activities including ice fishing, cookie decorating, and Rudolph Racers. The event is filled with thousands of sparkling Christmas lights and offers many photo opportunities. Food and snacks are available, along with hot chocolate and coffee. Although Christmas Train tickets are required to see Santa, visitors can still enjoy the lights and decorations without a reservation.
Where: Irvine | More Info: Santa's Village
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Cudahy (2 miles)
- Lynwood (2 miles)
- Huntington Park (2 miles)
- Florence-Graham (2 miles)
- Bell (2 miles)
- Maywood (3 miles)
- Bell Gardens (4 miles)
- Willowbrook (4 miles)
- Compton (4 miles)
- Downey (5 miles)
- Westmont (5 miles)
- East Los Angeles (5 miles)
- Paramount (5 miles)
- Boyle Heights (5 miles)
- Pico Rivera (7 miles)
- Los Angeles (7 miles)
- Montebello (7 miles)
- Gardena (7 miles)
- Bellflower (7 miles)
- Inglewood (8 miles)
- Lennox (8 miles)
- Lakewood (8 miles)
- Norwalk (8 miles)
- West Whittier-Los Nietos (8 miles)
- Hawthorne (8 miles)
- Koreatown (9 miles)
- Echo Park (9 miles)
- Monterey Park (9 miles)
- Lawndale (9 miles)
- Carson (9 miles)
- Silver Lake (10 miles)
- South Whittier (10 miles)
- West Carson (10 miles)
- Whittier (10 miles)
- Cerritos (11 miles)
- Alhambra (11 miles)
- Torrance (11 miles)
- San Gabriel (12 miles)
- Culver City (12 miles)
- South El Monte (12 miles)
- South Pasadena (12 miles)
- La Mirada (12 miles)
- Rosemead (12 miles)
- Hollywood (12 miles)
- Manhattan Beach (12 miles)
- Redondo Beach (12 miles)
- West Hollywood (13 miles)
- Lomita (13 miles)
- Long Beach (13 miles)
- El Monte (13 miles)
- Glendale (13 miles)
- Beverly Hills (14 miles)
- Buena Park (14 miles)
- Temple City (14 miles)
- Cypress (14 miles)
- Pasadena (14 miles)
- Hacienda Heights (14 miles)
- Venice (14 miles)
- Universal City (15 miles)
- La Habra (15 miles)
- West Puente Valley (15 miles)
- La Puente (16 miles)
- San Pedro (16 miles)
- Seal Beach (16 miles)
- Arcadia (16 miles)
- Stanton (16 miles)
- Burbank (17 miles)
- Valinda (17 miles)
- Santa Monica (17 miles)
- Altadena (17 miles)
- La Canada Flintridge (17 miles)
- Baldwin Park (17 miles)
- Studio City (17 miles)
- Fullerton (17 miles)
- West Covina (18 miles)
- Rowland Heights (18 miles)
- Rancho Palos Verdes (18 miles)
- North Hollywood (18 miles)
- Westminster (18 miles)
- South San Jose Hills (18 miles)
- Brea (18 miles)
- Monrovia (18 miles)
- Duarte (19 miles)
- Anaheim (19 miles)
- Sherman Oaks (19 miles)
- Garden Grove (20 miles)
- Walnut (20 miles)
- Placentia (20 miles)
- Covina (21 miles)
- Van Nuys (21 miles)
- Tujunga (21 miles)
- Valley Glen (21 miles)
- Azusa (21 miles)
- Encino (22 miles)
- Fountain Valley (23 miles)
- Yorba Linda (23 miles)
- Glendora (23 miles)
- Diamond Bar (24 miles)
- Orange (24 miles)
- Huntington Beach (24 miles)
- Santa Ana (24 miles)
- North Hills (25 miles)
- San Dimas (25 miles)
- San Fernando (26 miles)
- Chino Hills (26 miles)
- Tustin (26 miles)
- Northridge (27 miles)
- Woodland Hills (27 miles)
- Pomona (27 miles)
- North Tustin (27 miles)
- La Verne (27 miles)
- Costa Mesa (27 miles)
- Canoga Park (28 miles)
- Calabasas (28 miles)
- Newport Beach (28 miles)
- Irvine (30 miles)
- Claremont (30 miles)
- West Hills (30 miles)
- Chino (30 miles)
- Chatsworth (31 miles)
- Montclair (31 miles)
- Agoura (33 miles)
- Ontario (33 miles)
- Upland (34 miles)
- Agoura Hills (35 miles)
- Santa Clarita (36 miles)
- Canyon Country (36 miles)
- Lake Forest (37 miles)
- Rancho Cucamonga (37 miles)
- Eastvale (37 miles)
- Laguna Hills (37 miles)
- Corona (37 miles)
- Laguna Beach (38 miles)
- Norco (38 miles)
- Aliso Viejo (39 miles)
- Thousand Oaks (39 miles)
- Simi Valley (39 miles)
- Mission Viejo (40 miles)
- Jurupa Valley (40 miles)
- Valencia (41 miles)
- Rancho Santa Margarita (41 miles)
- Laguna Niguel (42 miles)
- Glen Avon (42 miles)
- Ladera Ranch (42 miles)
- Palmdale (44 miles)
- San Juan Capistrano (44 miles)
- Moorpark (45 miles)
- Dana Point (45 miles)