❄️ Dec 21 – Jan 1
Winter break 2026 in SoCal
Curated by Simir Shah
2026–27 winter break dates by district
| District | Off school | Back in class |
|---|---|---|
| LAUSD | Mon Dec 21, 2026 – Fri Jan 8, 2027 (three weeks) | Mon Jan 11 |
| San Diego Unified | Mon Dec 21, 2026 – Mon Jan 4, 2027 | Tue Jan 5 |
| Irvine Unified | Mon Dec 21, 2026 – Fri Jan 1, 2027 | Mon Jan 4 |
| Capistrano Unified | Mon Dec 21, 2026 – Fri Jan 1, 2027 (no school Fri Dec 18, pupil-free day) | Mon Jan 4 |
| Long Beach Unified | Mon Dec 21, 2026 – Fri Jan 1, 2027 | Mon Jan 4 |
| Riverside Unified | Mon Dec 21, 2026 – Fri Jan 1, 2027 (MS/HS also off Fri Dec 18) | Mon Jan 4 |
| Santa Barbara Unified | Mon Dec 21, 2026 – Tue Jan 5, 2027 | Wed Jan 6 |
From each district's official 2026–27 calendar (linked). Charter and private schools set their own dates.
Camps, holiday events & open on Christmas Day
17 spots across Southern California — add your zip or city to sort by what's closest to you
ENC Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary Winter Nature Camp
Modjeska Canyon · Winter camp
The Environmental Nature Center's second camp site, in Modjeska Canyon. Non-member registration opens Nov 4 at noon.
🗓️ Dec 21–23 & Dec 28–31, 2026 · 9am–1pm · ages 6–9
💵 Nature Adventure $225–$300; members 10% off
Environmental Nature Center Winter Nature Camp
Newport Beach · Winter camp
Outdoor nature camp with binoculars, microscopes and trail time. Member registration opened Oct 27; non-members can register from Nov 4 at noon.
🗓️ Dec 21–23 & Dec 28–31, 2026 · 9am–1pm (after-camp to 3pm, limited)
💵 Nature Adventure (ages 5–9) $225–$300; Little Naturalist $255–$340; members 10% off
Aquarium of the Pacific Winter Camp
Long Beach · Winter camp
Four half-days with Aquarium educators, including animal feeding, games and crafts. Half-day only, so plan for afternoon pickup at noon.
🗓️ Dec 28–31, 2026 · 8am–noon · ages 7–12
💵 $220; $200 for Aquarium members
LEGOLAND California on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
Carlsbad · Open Christmas Day
Christmas Bricktacular runs every day Dec 19–31, Christmas included, with LEGO Santa and a 35-ft LEGO tree. Check the park calendar for opening hours.
🗓️ Dec 24–25, 2026 (part of the Dec 19–31 Bricktacular run) · fireworks nightly Dec 19–31
💵 Regular park admission (Christmas Bricktacular included)
Wild Holidays at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Escondido · Winter break event
Light trails, music and storytelling after dark. Many habitats and the Africa Tram close before dark, so arrive in the afternoon to see animals first.
🗓️ Nov 28–29; Dec 18–23; Dec 26, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 · park open until 8pm
💵 Included with Safari Park admission or membership
Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round (Christmas vacation daily hours)
Los Angeles · Winter break event
The park's vintage carousel is normally open weekends only, but it runs every day over Christmas vacation.
🗓️ Daily over Christmas vacation · 11am–5pm (otherwise weekends only)
💵 See site
Santa Monica Pier on Christmas Day
Santa Monica
The pier is open every day including holidays. Pacific Park's ride hours change day to day, so check its hours page before promising the Ferris wheel.
🗓️ Dec 24–25, 2026 · pier open 6am–11pm every day of the year
Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo
San Diego · Winter break event
Evening lights, shows and holiday entertainment, all included with a day ticket. Jungle Bells runs on Christmas Day but not on Christmas Eve. Paid parking now applies at the Zoo, or use the free shuttle from Inspiration Point.
🗓️ Dec 19, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 (not Dec 24) · Zoo open until 8pm
💵 Included with Zoo admission or membership
San Diego Zoo on Christmas Day
San Diego · Open Christmas Day
Open on Christmas Day, with Jungle Bells running into the evening. The L.A. Zoo and Cabrillo National Monument are both closed Dec 25.
🗓️ Fri, Dec 25, 2026 · Jungle Bells evening hours until 8pm
💵 Regular Zoo admission
Skating by the Sea at Hotel del Coronado (open Christmas)
Coronado · Open Christmas Day
Beachfront ice rink open daily through winter break, Christmas included. Buy timed tickets online ahead, since on-site tickets are limited.
🗓️ Daily Dec 18, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 · 10am–10pm
💵 $45 general admission Dec 18–Jan 3 (90-minute session, skates included)
The Living Desert Winter ZooCamp
Palm Desert · Winter camp
Three-day zoo camp with animal encounters, nature exploration and crafts, run by the zoo's education staff.
🗓️ Dec 21–23 & Dec 28–30, 2026
💵 See site
WildLights at The Living Desert
Palm Desert · Winter break event
Zoo light show after hours. Free photos with Santa through Dec 24 and with the Grinch Dec 26–30. Daytime guests must leave by 5pm; WildLights entry starts at 6pm.
🗓️ Select nights Nov 24 – Dec 30, 2026 (incl. Dec 17–24 & 26–30) · 6–9pm
💵 $25 general; $23 members; $20 kids 3–17
Living Coast Discovery Center Winter Camp
Chula Vista · Winter camp
Wildlife camp at the nonprofit zoo and aquarium on the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Dates are posted as save-the-date, and registration details are still to come.
🗓️ Dec 21–23 & Dec 28–30, 2026
💵 See site
Joshua Tree National Park on Christmas Day
Twentynine Palms · Open Christmas Day
The park itself never closes, so a Christmas Day desert hike or picnic works. Holidays are among its busiest times, so arrive early for parking at popular trailheads.
🗓️ Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
💵 See site (park entrance fee)
Santa Barbara Zoo Winter Zoo Camp
Santa Barbara · Winter camp
Hands-on science, crafts, a guided zoo tour and an up-close animal encounter, with snacks and lunchtime included. Kids are grouped by age.
🗓️ Dec 21–24 & Dec 28–31, 2026 · ages 3–12 (no camp Dec 25 or Jan 1)
💵 Full day (9am–3pm) $425/week, $375 members; half day (9am–noon) $375/week, $325 members
MOXI Winter Break Camps
Santa Barbara · Winter camp
Three-day science camps at MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, on State Street. Each week has a different theme, so kids can do both.
🗓️ Dec 21–23, 2026 (Circuit Creatures) & Dec 28–30, 2026 (MOXI Scouts) · grades 1–3
💵 See site
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Winter Camps
Santa Barbara · Winter camp
Nature Adventures camps capped at 16 kids each; a camp needs 5 sign-ups to run. Registration opened Oct 2, so popular weeks may already be filling.
🗓️ Dec 21–23 & Dec 28–30, 2026
💵 See site (members get a camp discount)
Theme parks on Christmas Day:Disneyland, Universal, Knott's, Six Flags and SeaWorld hours weren't posted in a form we could verify, so they aren't listed as open here. Check each park's calendar. The L.A. Zoo and Cabrillo National Monument are closed Dec 25. For skating, see ice rinks.
Holiday markets & craft fairs
From a six-week German-style Christmas market in Huntington Beach to one-day craft fairs on piers and main streets. Many are free, and several have Santa, crafts or make-and-take stations.
11 spots across Southern California — add your zip or city to sort by what's closest to you
Patchwork Show Tustin
Tustin · Craft fair
Local makers and food trucks on the streets of Old Town Tustin (245 El Camino Real), with DIY craft stations and a vendor scavenger hunt kids can do for a prize basket.
🗓️ Sun, Nov 22, 2026 · 11am–5pm
💵 See site
Christmas Market at Old World Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach
German-style market with an indoor European shopping village. Santa meet-and-greets run Sat–Sun 2–5pm in Festival Hall; there is a village train on Dec 12–13 and carolers Saturdays Dec 5, 12 and 19 at 5pm.
🗓️ Nov 15, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 · open daily
Muckenthaler Holiday Festival
Fullerton
Free family day at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center (1201 W. Malvern Ave), with kids' art workshops, live music, food and an arts-and-crafts sale. Times aren't posted yet.
🗓️ Sun, Dec 13, 2026
Bell Holiday Village
Bell
City-run holiday village at the Bell Community Center (6250 Pine Ave) with activities for all ages. The city hasn't posted an activity list yet; call (323) 588-6211 for details.
🗓️ Sat, Dec 5, 2026 · 5–8pm
San Marcos Tree Lighting & Holiday Market
San Marcos
Craft and food vendors at the San Marcos Community Center. Santa photos run 1–5pm, children's crafts all afternoon, and Santa lights the tree at 6pm.
🗓️ Sat, Dec 5, 2026 · 1–7pm (tree lighting 6pm)
Unique Markets Los Angeles Holiday Market
Los Angeles · Holiday market
Indie designers, art, jewelry and pottery at Cooper Design Space in DTLA. The organizer bills this as its last market.
🗓️ Dec 12–13, 2026
💵 Tickets go on sale in November; see site
Renegade Craft Fair Los Angeles (Holiday)
Santa Monica
Large indie maker fair at Santa Monica Airport (3233 Donald Douglas Loop S), a good early start on holiday shopping. Entry is a suggested donation paid by QR code on site.
🗓️ Nov 7–8, 2026 · 10am–4pm
Makers Arcade Holiday Fair
San Diego · Craft fair
150+ local makers on Broadway Pier, with a kids' area, make-and-take wreath station and live music. On Sunday, stay on the pier to watch the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights from 5pm.
🗓️ Dec 12–13, 2026 · 10am–5pm
💵 $5 presale / $6 at the door; kids under 10 free
Holiday Market at Petco Park
San Diego · Holiday village
Ticketed holiday market run by the Padres at the ballpark. The 2026 dates weren't on the Padres page when we checked, so confirm there before you plan.
🗓️ Usually select dates in December in Gallagher Square; 2026 dates TBA
💵 See site
Winter Wonderland at Ventura Harbor Village
Ventura
The harbor becomes a coastal holiday village with Santa and Mrs. Claus, live reindeer, faux snowfall, roaming characters and harbor shops. The same morning, Santa Paddle takes to the water.
🗓️ Sun, Dec 13, 2026 · noon–4pm
Patchwork Show Ventura
Ventura · Craft fair
Handmade-goods street fair on Main Street at California Street in downtown Ventura, with DIY crafts and a scavenger hunt. Activity details go up on Patchwork's Instagram a few weeks before.
🗓️ Sun, Dec 6, 2026 · 11am–5pm
💵 See site
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Frequently asked questions
When is winter break 2026 for SoCal schools?
Irvine, Capistrano, Long Beach and Riverside Unified are off Dec 21, 2026–Jan 1, 2027. San Diego Unified is off through Jan 4, and Santa Barbara Unified through Jan 5. LAUSD gets three weeks: Dec 21, 2026–Jan 8, 2027, back Jan 11.
Is the San Diego Zoo open on Christmas Day?
Yes. Jungle Bells runs that day, with the Zoo open until 8pm. Jungle Bells skips Dec 24.
Is the L.A. Zoo open on Christmas?
No, the L.A. Zoo is closed Dec 25. Cabrillo National Monument is also closed Christmas Day.
Which winter camps run during the Christmas week?
The Santa Barbara Zoo runs Dec 21–24. ENC Nature Camp (Newport Beach and Tucker), the SB Museum of Natural History, MOXI, the Living Desert and Living Coast all run Dec 21–23. None meet on Dec 25.
What does the Aquarium of the Pacific winter camp cost?
$220, or $200 for members. It runs Dec 28–31, 2026, 8am–noon, for ages 7–12.
Is LEGOLAND open on Christmas Day?
Yes. Christmas Bricktacular runs daily Dec 19–31, including Dec 24 and 25, with fireworks each night.
Can we go ice skating on Christmas Day?
Yes. Skating by the Sea at Hotel del Coronado is open daily 10am–10pm from Dec 18 to Jan 3. Tickets are $45 and include skates.
Is the Santa Monica Pier open on Christmas?
Yes. The pier is open 6am–11pm every day of the year, though Pacific Park ride hours vary by day.
Is there a German-style Christmas market in Orange County?
Yes. The Christmas Market at Old World Huntington Beach runs daily Nov 15, 2026–Jan 3, 2027, with an indoor European shopping village and weekend Santa visits.
Which holiday markets are free?
Old World's Christmas Market lists no admission fee. The San Marcos Holiday Market, Bell Holiday Village, Ventura Harbor's Winter Wonderland and the Muckenthaler Holiday Festival are all free. Makers Arcade on Broadway Pier in San Diego is $5 presale or $6 at the door, and kids under 10 are free.