Santa's Village at Irvine Park Railroad
Visitors can wander through thousands of sparkling Christmas lights and festive decorations featuring multiple free photo scenes. Activities include cookie decorating, creating ornament keepsakes at Craft Corner, ice fishing, moon bounce jumping, and carnival games where every player wins a prize. A full-service snack bar at the train station offers hot and cold food, hot chocolate, and coffee.
What to Expect
Free-admission holiday village with festive activities, games, and photo scenes.
Event Details
Ages
All ages
Timed Entry
No
Organizer
Irvine Park Railroad
Food & Drink
A full-service snack bar at the train station serves hot and cold food, and hot chocolate and coffee are available.
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families with young children
Vibe
Festive and playful
Energy Level
Moderate
Budget
Free
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
Moderate
Location
Know Before You Go
- Tickets: Free entry for all guests; no reservations required. Activity tickets are $8 each or a book of 15 is $100 (a $20 saving). Activities use different numbers of tickets: Mini Digger is 2 tickets per ride; Moon Bounce, Cookie Decorating, Rudolph Racers, and Craft Corner are 1 ticket per person; Ice Fishing is 2 tickets per person; Carnival Games and Blizzard Ball are 1 ticket for a small prize or 2 for a large prize; Bank-a-ball is 1 ticket for a small prize or 2 for a large prize. Food prices vary by item. Picture Scenes are free. Irvine Regional Park charges $3 per vehicle weekdays, $5 weekends, and $7 holidays; parking is free after 6:00 pm. Activity tickets cannot be used for the Christmas Train or Train of Lights.
- Hours: November 27: 10:00 am–9:00 pm; weekdays: 4:00 pm–9:00 pm; weekends: 10:00 am–9:00 pm; extended hours December 14–30: 10:00 am–9:00 pm.
- Parking: Parking is free after 6:00 pm.
- Pets: Dogs are not allowed inside Santa’s Village. Dogs are allowed in other areas of Irvine Regional Park and must be kept on a 6-foot leash.
Tips & Advice
- Buy a book of 15 activity tickets if your family plans to do several activities, since it saves money over buying single tickets.
- Book Christmas Train tickets online well ahead if your kids want to see Santa, because the train is the only way to visit him and tickets sell out.
- Come in the evening if you want to skip the park's vehicle entrance fee, since parking at Irvine Regional Park becomes free later in the day.
- Check ages before buying activity tickets, because Mini Digger is for ages 5 and up and Rudolph Racers is only for ages 5 to 7.
- Dress warmly, bring a camera for the free picture scenes, and arrive early to help avoid the crowds.
Special Events & Promotions
- A book of 15 activity tickets costs less than buying 15 single tickets.
- From December 14 through 30, the Village opens in the morning every day, not just on weekends.
- Christmas Train (through December 23): tickets bought in advance online cover a ride to the North Pole to visit Santa and get a photo.
- Train of Lights (December 26–30): tickets bought in advance online cover a ride through thousands of lights on a 1-mile loop.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we need a reservation for Santa's Village?
No. Walk in and buy activity tickets when you arrive. Reservations are only needed for the Christmas Train and the Train of Lights.
Can we meet Santa at the Village?
Only if you ride the Christmas Train, which needs tickets bought online in advance. The train drops you at the North Pole, where children visit Santa and have their photo taken.
What activities are there?
There's Ice Fishing, Blizzard Ball, Rudolph Racers, Mini Digger, Moon Bounce, carnival games, Bank-a-ball, cookie decorating and ornament making at Craft Corner. Every player wins a prize at the games, and the picture scenes are free.
Are there age limits on activities?
Mini Digger is for ages 5 and up, and Rudolph Racers is for ages 5 to 7.
Where's the food?
A full-service snack bar at the train station serves hot and cold food, plus hot chocolate and coffee. Picnic benches around the station are reserved for snack bar customers.
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Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.