Thanksgiving weekend with kids in Southern California 2026

Orange · Holiday opening

Ride through Irvine Regional Park to meet Santa. Reservations required; tickets go on sale online Nov 2, 2026 at 10 am. Holiday vehicle fee $7 likely applies on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

🗓️ Opens Fri Nov 27, 2026 (10 am–9 pm that day); weekends 10 am–9 pm; through Dec 23

💵 $22–$37 per ticket by time slot; under 24 months free; Santa's Village activity tickets $8; park entry $3–$7/vehicle (free after 6 pm)

Riverside

Minimum age 12. Minors must be with a parent, guardian or chaperone for the whole shift and need a signed release form.

🗓️ Ongoing; holiday-week schedule not posted

Riverside · Holiday opening

Part of the City of Riverside's Festival of Lights. Opening night is Black Friday.

🗓️ Opens Fri Nov 27, 2026; Thu–Sun through Dec 27

💵 $15 Thu/Fri/Sun, $20 Sat (and Dec 18–27); under 2 free; Family 4-Pack $50/$70; Riverside residents $13 Thu/Fri/Sun

Riverside

Already running over Thanksgiving weekend (open Fri–Sun Nov 27–29; closed Thu Nov 26 per City of Riverside). City page says festival runs through Dec 31; the hotel page says through Jan 3, 2027. Parking maps 'coming soon'; city suggests RTA transit.

🗓️ Switch-on Sat Nov 21, 2026, 5 pm; nightly Nov 22–Dec 31 (city) / hotel lists through Jan 3, 2027; CLOSED Thanksgiving Day

Santa Ana

Free hot Thanksgiving meal for any OC family plus games, pony rides and petting zoo. The page links a 'Volunteer on Thanksgiving Day' sign-up; volunteer minimum age not stated on the page.

🗓️ Thu Nov 26, 2026, 11 am–2 pm

Irvine

Shifts at the Distribution Center, Harvest Solutions Farm or Founders Farm. Minors need a youth registration, a printed Minor Volunteer Liability Release, and a chaperone who stays the whole shift. Minimum age is NOT stated on feedoc.org; confirm before listing. Note: the 'minimum age 12' FAQ that search engines surface belongs to Second Harvest of Silicon Valley (shfb.org), not OC.

🗓️ Ongoing; holiday-week schedule not posted

La Mirada · Other

Touring family stage show on Black Friday at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. A secondary listing says 3 pm, $30–$65; the venue page we read confirms only the date.

🗓️ Fri Nov 27, 2026

💵 Ticketed (prices on venue site)

Buena Park · Holiday opening

Lights, holiday shows, Santa and seasonal food at Knott's. Check park hours for Thanksgiving week.

🗓️ Nov 20, 2026–Jan 3, 2027 (regular park days)

💵 Included with Knott's Berry Farm park admission (food/merch extra)

Irvine · Holiday opening

Farm light walk with Santa's Hilltop Village (new). Stroller friendly. Closed Dec 24–25.

🗓️ Opens Fri Nov 27, 2026; Wed–Sun 5–9 pm through Dec 27 (last entry 7:30 pm)

💵 Adults $28 Wed/Thu, $33 Fri–Sun; kids 3–12 $18/$23; $12 parking Fri–Sun; games $3/ticket

Costa Mesa · Other

OC's long-running Dickens tradition opens Thanksgiving Saturday. Performance times are on the SCR ticket page.

🗓️ Nov 28–Dec 27, 2026; opens Sat Nov 28

💵 Ticketed (on sale now)

Costa Mesa · Holiday opening

At OC Fair & Event Center (88 Fair Dr). New for 2026: unlimited ice skating with select passes, Polar Putt-Putt in the Bounce Pass. Cashless. Skate assists $15.

🗓️ Opens Fri Nov 27, 2026; select dates through Jan 3, 2027

💵 Ticketed; ice skating and carnival wristbands are add-ons (2026 admission prices not captured)

Newport Beach

Santa flips the switch around 6 pm on 50+ floating light displays; holiday crafts, Santa photos, movie on the beach. 2026 date is on the Newport Dunes events calendar; detailed schedule/parking fee came from the 2025 event page, so treat those as last year's.

🗓️ Fri Nov 27, 2026, 4–9 pm; festival Thu–Sun evenings through Jan 3, 2027

Laguna Beach · Holiday market

Handmade holiday art market with five three-day weekends; Thanksgiving weekend is the second weekend. Admission prices not visible on the page we read; confirm before publishing.

🗓️ Fri–Sun 11 am–7 pm, Nov 20–Dec 20, 2026 (open Fri Nov 27–Sun Nov 29)

💵 Ticketed (2026 prices not captured; see Buy Tickets)

Long Beach · Holiday market

Patchwork's largest show at Marine Stadium: local makers, junior artists, live music, DIY crafting, food trucks; pet- and bike-friendly with bike valet. Hours not captured; 'free' is from the show's usual format and isn't stated in the text we read, so confirm.

🗓️ Sat Nov 28, 2026

💵 Admission not stated in text read (Patchwork shows are typically free); confirm

Los Angeles

Standard volunteer activities are for ages 14 and up, so this suits teens rather than young kids.

🗓️ Ongoing; holiday-week schedule not posted

Enchanted: Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens

La Cañada Flintridge · Holiday opening

Official page shows 'Nov. 22 – Jan. 9' and a 10th-anniversary season but no year on the dates, so ISO dates are left blank. New laser show with snowfall finale; Holiday Market Dec 2–6. A secondary source says it's closed Thanksgiving Day (Nov 26); not confirmed on the official page.

🗓️ Nov 22–Jan 9 (10th season); open Thanksgiving weekend

💵 Non-members adult $29–$52, child 2–12 $19–$37, under 2 free; Anytime tickets $85

Los Angeles · Other

One of the few big indoor outings open on Thanksgiving Day. Family Four Pack valid Nov 25–26 per the show's own post. 2026 hours not captured (hours page 404'd).

🗓️ Nov 20–29, 2026, including Thanksgiving Day

💵 Ticketed; 'Thanksgiving Family Four Pack' offered for Nov 25–26; prices rise Nov 20

L.A. Zoo Lights

Los Angeles (Griffith Park) · Holiday opening

Open Wed Nov 25 and Fri–Sun Nov 27–29 of Thanksgiving week. 2026 theme: plants, pollinators and nature. Box office 5:45–8:45 pm on event days.

🗓️ Select evenings Nov 20, 2026–Jan 10, 2027; CLOSED Thu Nov 26 and Mon Nov 30

💵 Tickets from $19; free parking

Los Angeles

Official site confirms Sunday, November 29th, 2026. Route runs along Hollywood Blvd; organizer recommends Metro B (Red) Line to Hollywood/Highland or Hollywood/Vine. Santa closes the parade. Street closures all afternoon.

🗓️ Sun Nov 29, 2026; start time not yet posted (2025 parade ran in the evening)

Temecula · Tree lighting

At the Temecula Duck Pond: music, hot chocolate, Santa. Falls one day after the Wed–Sun window; include as 'just after the weekend'.

🗓️ Mon Nov 30, 2026, 7–8:30 pm (the day after Thanksgiving weekend)

💵 Not listed

Temecula · Holiday opening

City of Temecula welcomes Santa in Old Town. Weekend Santa visits continue through Dec 20. Cost not listed, so 'free' is unconfirmed.

🗓️ Fri Nov 27, 2026, 6–9 pm; then Santa visits Sat 10 am–1 pm & Sun 1–4 pm, Nov 28–Dec 20

💵 Not listed (city community event)

Big Bear Lake

Hosted by the City of Big Bear Lake at Christmas Tree Corner (Village Dr & Pine Knot Ave). Santa and Mrs. Claus, live music, games. Official bigbear.com pages say Saturday, November 28th, 2026; some third-party summaries wrongly say Nov 27. Time not yet posted.

🗓️ Sat Nov 28, 2026; 2026 schedule TBA

Encinitas · Holiday opening

Fifth season with a mile-long illuminated trail and 20+ new installations. Tickets sold through Fever; all sales final.

🗓️ Nov 20, 2026–Jan 3, 2027 (evenings)

💵 Adults from $28, children from $18, 2 and under free; parking $15 advance / $20 on-site

Moorpark · Holiday opening

Farm animals, Christmas trees on the farm (Nov 27–Dec 20, 9:30 am–7:30 pm). Closed Thanksgiving Day.

🗓️ Opens Fri Nov 27, 2026; 9 am–5 pm through Dec 24 (farm closed Thanksgiving)

💵 Admission not yet posted for Christmas on the Farm (fall festival was $16 weekdays; under 2 and parking free)

Feeding San Diego: family volunteer shifts

San Diego (Sorrento Valley)

Age 6+ in the Distribution Center; 14+ at community food distributions; volunteers 15 and under need a chaperone over 18. Closed-toe shoes required.

🗓️ Ongoing; holiday-week schedule not posted

Fillmore · Tree lighting

Listed on the City of Fillmore community calendar at Central Park, 250 Central Ave (by City Hall). Cost not listed on the city calendar; treat 'free' as unconfirmed.

🗓️ Sun Nov 29, 2026, 5–8 pm

💵 Not listed on city calendar (likely free entry; confirm)

Santa Paula

2026 not yet posted by the Santa Paula Chamber or city. 2025 was the 75th annual, a nighttime parade of ~50 floats eastbound on Main St; contact santapaulaparades@hotmail.com. One aggregator (venturacountylocal.com) claims Sat Nov 28, 2026 at 10 am, which is unverified and conflicts with the night-parade tradition. Do not publish a date yet.

🗓️ 2026 NOT YET POSTED (2025: Fri Nov 28, 2025, 7–8:30 pm; 2024: Sat Nov 30)

Julian

2026 NOT YET POSTED on the Julian Chamber's own Country Christmas page (page has no 2026 date). sandiego.org lists Sat Nov 28, 2026 at Julian Town Square with music from noon, craft vendors, Santa ~6 pm. Confirm with chamber@julianca.com / 760-765-1857 before publishing a date.

🗓️ 2026 not yet posted by organizer; San Diego Tourism lists Sat Nov 28, 2026, noon–7 pm (2025: Sat Nov 29, noon–7 pm)

Liberty Station Tree Lighting & Holiday Festivities

San Diego (Point Loma)

Salute the Season main event: lighting of the 88-ft Norfolk pine, live entertainment, firetruck rides, The Grinch screening, Santa photos (downloadable gallery). North Promenade & Vesper Venue.

🗓️ Fri Nov 27, 2026, 5–9 pm

Oxnard

Anyone 12 and older can volunteer; under 16 must be with an adult. Warehouse at 4156 Southbank Rd, Oxnard. Geocoders could not resolve this address, so lat/lng are null.

🗓️ Ongoing; holiday-week schedule not posted

San Diego County Parks Green Friday

San Diego County (multiple parks)

County Parks' #OptOutside-style day after Thanksgiving. Free yoga at Waterfront Park, ranger-led programs, a Sat Nov 28 yoga class at Los Peñasquitos Ranch House, and bilingual Story Trails in 13 parks Nov 27–29. The page's 'Friday, Nov. 27' only matches 2026. Pin is Waterfront Park.

🗓️ Fri Nov 27–Sun Nov 29, 2026 (fee waiver on Fri Nov 27)

Coronado · Holiday opening

Beachfront ice rink that supports Make-A-Wish San Diego. Open every day of Thanksgiving week, including the holiday.

🗓️ Daily 10 am–10 pm Nov 21–29, 2026; season Nov 20, 2026–Jan 3, 2027

💵 $40–$45 general admission; $35 value sessions (before noon Nov 21–25 and Nov 29)

Solvang Julefest opening weekend

Solvang

Julefest starts Fri Nov 27 with nightly Light & Music Show (5, 6, 7, 8, 9 pm) and a citywide Nisser hunt. Carolers Sat Nov 28 5–8 pm; Santa's Village Sat/Sun noon–4 pm. The tree lighting is NOT this weekend (Fri Dec 4, 5:30 pm) and the parade is Sat Dec 5.

🗓️ Nov 27, 2026–Jan 3, 2027; opening weekend Fri Nov 27–Sun Nov 29