Celebrate the festive season in Thousand Oaks with our ultimate holiday guide. From Thousand Oaks old-timers to fresh faces, our guide illuminates the path to holiday cheer.
One attraction that captures the spirit of the season is the Mission Inn Festival of Lights, where dazzling displays and festive activities invite families to explore the magic of the holidays. The Nutcracker, a beloved classic, enchants audiences with its beautiful choreography and timeless music. And the Holiday Road is something you definitely don’t want to miss, offering an immersive experience filled with whimsical displays and seasonal delights. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Thousand Oaks
- Mission Inn Festival of Lights (Riverside)
- Holiday Road (Calabasas)
- The Nutcracker
- Merry Farm (Buena Park)
- Cirque Dreams Holidaze (Riverside)
- Nights of the Jack (Calabasas)
- Wild Lights and Ocean Nights (Moorpark)
- John Denver’s Rocky Mountain Christmas (Anaheim)
- Festival of Trees
- Festival of Winter (Fontana)
See these and even more events listed below!
Thousand Oaks Holiday Light Displays
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, with millions of twinkling lights adorning the hotel’s facade and grounds, creating a captivating spectacle.
Where: Riverside | More Info: Mission Inn Festival of Lights
Holiday Road
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday installations and interactive walking trail.
Description:
Holiday Road is an immersive holiday event featuring larger-than-life installations, thousands of Christmas lights, Santa, Mrs. Claus, Elves, and countless candy canes. The event includes an interactive walking trail, festive souvenir shops, premium holiday bars, and top food trucks.
Where: Calabasas | More Info: Holiday Road
Wild Lights and Ocean Nights
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
Explore the Moorpark College Teaching Zoo transformed into a luminous display of light and interactive attractions, featuring illuminated jungle and dark garden, Santa's Workshop, and Ira the Lion under his expanded canopy lights.
Where: Moorpark | More Info: Wild Lights and Ocean Nights
Thousand Oaks Holiday Shows and Entertainment
John Denver’s Rocky Mountain Christmas
What to Expect:
Tribute performance to John Denver's music and holiday classics.
Description:
Rick Schuler, America's Top John Denver Tribute, performs an intimate holiday show featuring all your favorite Denver hits and heartwarming inspirational carols, taking audiences back to the '70s with John Denver's music.
Where: Anaheim | More Info: John Denver’s Rocky Mountain Christmas
Cirque Dreams Holidaze
What to Expect:
Dazzling circus arts and Broadway-style production.
Description:
Cirque Dreams Holidaze is a spectacular holiday show featuring a seasoned troupe of 30 performers from over 12 countries. The show combines contemporary circus arts with Broadway-style production, transforming Christmas ornaments and characters into dazzling acts. With an original musical score and intricate costumes, this event celebrates the holiday season with imagination and whimsical joy.
Where: Riverside | More Info: Cirque Dreams Holidaze
Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico
What to Expect:
Rich cultural tapestry of Mexican Christmas traditions.
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
The Nutcracker
What to Expect:
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
Description:
Pacific Festival Ballet presents The Nutcracker, a timeless holiday tradition featuring elegant ballet, intricate sets, and festive music.
Where: Thousand Oaks | More Info: The Nutcracker
Night in Bethlehem
What to Expect:
Live musical nativity with cultural interactive elements.
Description:
Night in Bethlehem is a live nativity event celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The event features three areas: an outdoor interactive town where visitors can learn about the culture, an outdoor live musical nativity show, and an indoor reception area with live music and refreshments. Spanish translation is available at every show, and interpreters are available starting at 7 PM for the 8 PM show each night.
Where: Thousand Oaks | More Info: Night in Bethlehem
Merry Farm
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with world-class ice skaters and unique dining options.
Description:
Knott's Merry Farm transforms the entire park into a classic holiday festival with thousands of twinkling lights, themed garland, and jumbo snowflakes. Enjoy Christmas shows like Home for the Holidays and the beloved ice show starring Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang. Savor delectable holiday dining food and explore the Christmas Crafts Village.
Where: Buena Park | More Info: Merry Farm
Thousand Oaks Other Holiday Activities
Festival of Winter
What to Expect:
Snow sledding and interactive activities for all ages.
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 sledding and a Tot Lot for kids to experience snow for the first time.
Where: Fontana | More Info: Festival of Winter
Santa to the Sea
What to Expect:
Flat and fast course supporting local charities.
Description:
The Santa to the Sea is a nonprofit running event that supports local charities and children's programs. It includes a half marathon, quarter marathon, 5K run, and 1K kids fun run. The event takes place in Oxnard, California, and features a flat and fast course that runs through historic areas and ends at the beach.
Where: Oxnard | More Info: Santa to the Sea
Holly Trolley, The Holiday Tour
What to Expect:
Guided tour of Gingerbread Exhibit and holiday lights.
Description:
Embark on a 50-minute guided tour aboard a grand double-decker trolley through Heritage Square's Gingerbread Exhibit and Oxnard's Historic District's spectacular holiday light displays. Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies as you explore the festive decorations.
Where: Oxnard | More Info: Holly Trolley, The Holiday Tour
Festival of Trees
What to Expect:
Community-driven charity event with decorated trees and wreaths.
Description:
The Festival of Trees is a community event featuring beautifully decorated trees and wreaths, handmade gifts, and sweet treats. It benefits cancer patients and their families by raising funds for living expenses in Ventura County.
Where: Thousand Oaks | More Info: Festival of Trees
Nights of the Jack
What to Expect:
Immersive walking trail with hand-carved jack-o'-lanterns and live pumpkin carvings.
Description:
Explore a 1-mile trail at King Gillette Ranch illuminated by thousands of hand-carved jack-o'-lanterns, featuring live pumpkin carvings, a souvenir shop, and the Spookeasy bar with seasonal cocktails.
Where: Calabasas | More Info: Nights of the Jack
Reign of Terror
What to Expect:
Immersive, fear-filled experience with custom animatronics and new effects.
Description:
Reign of Terror is the largest indoor, professional walk-through haunted house in Southern California, featuring over 142 custom rooms across 11 interconnected haunt themed sections. The attraction includes a new 11th section, Forest of Fear, and offers special events like Lights ON and Lights OUT. It covers an enormous 32,000 square feet of floor space, packed with terrifying scenes, living and mechanical monstrous characters, and spectacular special effects.
Where: Thousand Oaks | More Info: Reign of Terror
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Agoura Hills (4 miles)
- Agoura (6 miles)
- Simi Valley (8 miles)
- Moorpark (8 miles)
- West Hills (11 miles)
- Calabasas (11 miles)
- Camarillo (12 miles)
- Woodland Hills (13 miles)
- Canoga Park (14 miles)
- Chatsworth (15 miles)
- Northridge (18 miles)
- Santa Paula (18 miles)
- Encino (19 miles)
- Oxnard (19 miles)
- Port Hueneme (21 miles)
- North Hills (21 miles)
- Valley Glen (22 miles)
- Van Nuys (22 miles)
- Sherman Oaks (22 miles)
- Santa Monica (22 miles)
- Santa Clarita (23 miles)
- Valencia (23 miles)
- San Fernando (24 miles)
- Venice (25 miles)
- Studio City (25 miles)
- Beverly Hills (26 miles)
- North Hollywood (26 miles)
- Ventura (27 miles)
- Canyon Country (27 miles)
- Culver City (27 miles)
- Universal City (28 miles)
- West Hollywood (28 miles)
- Hollywood (30 miles)
- Burbank (30 miles)
- Inglewood (31 miles)
- Manhattan Beach (31 miles)
- Koreatown (32 miles)
- Tujunga (32 miles)
- Lennox (32 miles)
- Hawthorne (33 miles)
- Silver Lake (33 miles)
- Glendale (33 miles)
- Echo Park (34 miles)
- Lawndale (34 miles)
- Redondo Beach (34 miles)
- Westmont (34 miles)
- Los Angeles (35 miles)
- Gardena (36 miles)
- Torrance (37 miles)
- Florence-Graham (37 miles)
- La Canada Flintridge (37 miles)
- Boyle Heights (37 miles)
- Huntington Park (37 miles)
- Willowbrook (38 miles)
- South Gate (39 miles)
- Rancho Palos Verdes (39 miles)
- East Los Angeles (39 miles)
- Maywood (39 miles)
- West Carson (39 miles)
- South Pasadena (39 miles)
- Lynwood (40 miles)
- Carson (40 miles)
- Bell (40 miles)
- Pasadena (40 miles)
- Lomita (40 miles)
- Cudahy (40 miles)
- Compton (40 miles)
- Altadena (40 miles)
- Alhambra (41 miles)
- Monterey Park (42 miles)
- Bell Gardens (42 miles)
- San Gabriel (42 miles)
- San Pedro (43 miles)
- Montebello (43 miles)
- Downey (43 miles)
- Paramount (43 miles)
- Rosemead (44 miles)
- Pico Rivera (44 miles)
- Temple City (45 miles)