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Last updated: November 11, 2024

Create a perfect holiday itinerary with our guide for Pasadena. Find all the best festive events and activities. Whether Pasadena is your backyard or a new adventure, our guide reveals the top holiday events.

Explore the enchanting Hollywood Christmas Parade, a vibrant procession filled with floats, performances, and celebrity appearances, illuminating the streets with holiday spirit. You can also experience the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, where beautifully decorated boats create a breathtaking display along the waterfront. And the LA Zoo Lights is something you definitely don't want to miss, transforming the zoo into a dazzling array of lights and festive installations. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!

Contact information and details below.

Pasadena Holiday Light Displays

What to Expect:

Spectacularly decorated boats and homes in a festive holiday setting.

Description:

The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade & Holiday Lights Cruises feature beautifully decorated yachts, boats, kayaks, and canoes sailing through Newport Harbor. The event includes a waterfront decorating competition, special fireworks displays, and various public viewing locations. Residents and visitors can enjoy the festivities from multiple vantage points along the harbor.

Where: Newport Beach | More Info: Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade & Holiday Lights Cruises

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What to Expect:

Nature-focused holiday celebration with interactive wildlife-inspired lantern displays.

Description:

LA Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow is an immersive holiday celebration featuring dazzling lantern sculptures of animals, blooming flowers, and towering trees. The event includes interactive displays, festive photo opportunities, and seasonal treats. It offers various special experiences such as sensory-inclusive evenings and all-ages Pride Nights.

Where: Los Angeles | More Info: LA Zoo Lights

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What to Expect:

Drive-through holiday lights display with life-sized animated characters.

Description:

Magic of Lights is a drive-through holiday lights experience featuring over two million sparkling lights, including displays like the 32-foot-tall animated Mattel’s Waving Christmas Barbie and life-sized dinosaurs in Prehistoric Christmas. The event offers a variety of festive scenes and characters, making it a memorable holiday experience for all ages.

Where: Los Angeles | More Info: Magic of Lights

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What to Expect:

A stunning outdoor art installation featuring massive light displays within a peaceful garden setting.

Description:

This spectacular outdoor light display transforms the landscape into a vibrant canvas of illumination. Visitors can stroll through beautifully curated pathways adorned with thousands of lights, each installation designed to mesmerize and delight. The event features various artistic themes, creating a sensory experience that showcases the beauty of light in nature.

Where: Arcadia | More Info: Lightscape

Event Organizer?

Pasadena Holiday Markets and Shopping

What to Expect:

Live music performances and holiday activities with Santa.

Description:

Holidayfest on South Lake Avenue in Pasadena offers a day of shopping, dining, and holiday activities. Guests can enjoy in-store promotions, photos with Santa, and live music performances. The event encourages community members to support local businesses by purchasing items and submitting receipts for a chance to win prizes.

Where: Pasadena | More Info: Holidayfest - City of Pasadena

Event Organizer?

Pasadena Holiday Shows and Entertainment

What to Expect:

Live music and holiday activities along South Lake Avenue.

Description:

South Lake Avenue Holidayfest is a family-friendly event featuring live music, holiday activities, in-store promotions, and a raffle with prizes. Guests can enjoy free Santa photos, cookie decorating, ornament making, and more.

Where: Pasadena | More Info: South Lake Avenue Holidayfest

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What to Expect:

Iconic parade featuring legendary celebrities and charitable mission.

Description:

The Hollywood Christmas Parade is a cherished tradition that brings the Hollywood community together with dazzling floats, marching bands, and performances, while also supporting charitable causes like Toys for Tots.

Where: Hollywood | More Info: Hollywood Christmas Parade

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What to Expect:

Traditional Mexican music and dance performance.

Description:

Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico is a vibrant show that weaves cherished Mexican traditions into a rich cultural tapestry. Named after the beloved Andalusian Christmas Carol, this event features Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cullar and Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande, celebrating the holiday season with every note and dance step.

Where: Rancho Cucamonga | More Info: Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico

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What to Expect:

Community-driven holiday celebration with diverse entries.

Description:

The Laguna Niguel Holiday Parade is a festive community event featuring entries from various groups, including cars, marching bands, and more. It takes place on Crown Valley Parkway and includes a visit from Santa Claus.

Where: Laguna Niguel | More Info: Laguna Niguel Holiday Parade

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What to Expect:

World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.

Description:

The Nutcracker Ballet at Downey Theatre features Tchaikovsky's timeless score, telling the story of a young girl's special Christmas. The event includes a fun-filled family party with dancing, magic, and dolls that come to life. Clara receives a special gift, the Nutcracker, and dreams of an epic battle between mice and toys. She embarks on a magical journey to the Kingdom of Sweets, where she dances with her Prince and meets the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy.

Where: Downey | More Info: The Nutcracker - Downey Theatre

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What to Expect:

A community-focused event featuring local artists and various performances.

Description:

This event showcases a diverse range of performances, crafts, and culinary delights that celebrate the season. Local artists and artisans exhibit their work, providing a platform for community engagement and creativity. A blend of music, dance, and interactive activities fills the venue, inviting guests to immerse themselves in the spirit of the holidays.

Where: Pasadena | More Info: Holiday Variety

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Pasadena Other Holiday Activities

What to Expect:

Snow play and Tot Lot for kids.

Description:

The Festival of Winter at Miller Park Amphitheater features train rides, live entertainment, photo opportunities with Santa, and a variety of vendors and activity booths. It includes snow play and a Tot Lot where children can experience snow for the first time.

Where: Fontana | More Info: Festival of Winter

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What to Expect:

Immersive light and sound show with a celestial theme.

Description:

Astra Lumina is an immersive night walk experience that uses light, scenography, original soundscape, and projection to spark emotion and plunge visitors into an imaginative world. The event invites stargazers to set off across the garden's celestial pathway to encounter the wonder of the stars and embrace their own human light.

Where: Palos Verdes Peninsula | More Info: Astra Lumina

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What to Expect:

Interactive holiday activities with festive lights and decorations.

Description:

Santa's Village at Irvine Park Railroad offers a variety of activities including ice fishing, cookie decorating, and Rudolph Racers. The village 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 reservations are required for the Christmas Train to see Santa, visitors can still enjoy the festive decorations and activities in Santa's Village without a reservation.

Where: Irvine | More Info: Santa's Village - Irvine Park Railroad

Event Organizer?

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