Your 2022 Guide to Celebrating the Holidays near Santa Ana, California
Pull out your festive sweaters and unpack your holiday decorations—the holiday season is finally here! Even though Santa Ana, California, might not be the place you think of for a white Christmas or for Jack Frost to nip at your nose, it’s still a winter wonderland with many wonderful things to do and see this time of year.
We are just as excited as you for the next few months of celebrating the holidays in Santa Ana. So, to help you out, we put together the ultimate guide to holiday shopping, activities, and performances near Santa Ana, California.
Activities
Shows and Performances
Shopping
Opportunities to Share
Safe Celebration
Activities
When it comes to holiday activities near Santa Ana, you will find fun events of all types for all ages. Here are some of the exciting holiday activities coming up near Santa Ana:
Anaheim Town Square Holiday Carnival: If you love Santa Clause and winter activities, this event will be the highlight of your holiday season. On November 27 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., friends and families can visit with Santa Claus as children tell him what they want for Christmas. Additionally, the carnival will offer real snow sledding, pony rides, games, and bounce houses. And to bring some friendly competition, there will be a cookie-decorating contest. Bring your loved ones—and your decorating skills—and get ready to have some fun!
Huntington Beach Winter Wonderland Event: This is another free event that will take place December 1–4. Come shop for crafts, seasonal decor, gourmet food and candies, clothing, accessories, and more.
Santa’s Village: In the mood to enjoy festive activities? Visit Santa’s Village at Irvine Park Railroad and partake in ice fishing, blizzard ball, Rudolph racers, and cookie decorating. The event is decorated with sparkling lights, making this the perfect place to take photos.
Christmas Together: The holidays are a season of giving. Families Together will be having their annual toy drive on December 18. The event is free and will include carnival rides and games, raffles, entertainment, a picture with Santa, and a variety of food options.
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade and Ring of Lights Cruise: The holidays are the most beautiful time of the year at Newport Bay! Lights glisten off the water as homeowners and businesses go all out in preparation for the Ring of Lights competition. But you don’t have to wait until then to enjoy this magical holiday experience. Newport Landing provides 75-minute cruises December 2–31, and Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade Cruises are offered December 14–18. This is a beautiful sight that you won’t want to miss!
Winter Village Tree Lighting: Don’t miss the tree lighting on December 10 in Santa Ana! Enjoy an outdoor ice skating rink, special performances, holiday vendors, yummy grub, and more! The tree lighting ceremony will begin at 5 p.m., so make sure to arrive early!
NYE at the Beach “Orange Country”: Ring in the new year at the Huntington Beach New Year’s Bar Crawl. With the purchase of one ticket, you will have access to over 10 bars and nightclubs throughout Huntington. Grab your friends, dress to impress, and celebrate new beginnings!
Winter Fest in Costa Mesa: Southern California’s largest winter festival is back! From November 25 to January 1, enjoy a variety of holiday activities with your family and friends. There will be ice skating, snow tubing, carnival rides, LED golf, and more!
Shows and Performances
What’s a holiday season without festive music? There will be a variety of unique holiday shows and performances taking place near Santa Ana this holiday season.
Anaheim Ballet’s Nutcracker: This classic will be performed at City National Grove of Anaheim on November 26 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $45. Follow Clara as she adventures through Candyland, meeting friends on the way. Experience a towering Christmas tree, waltzing flowers, and battling toy soldiers paired with beautiful music. This classical performance is the best way to start the holiday season.
Tis the Season!: The Pacific Chorale will set the mood for your holiday season. Their concert will include favorite seasonal selections as well as a special visitor from the North Pole! They will have two shows: one on December 18 at 5:00 p.m. and one on December 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Nutcracker for Kids: This 45-minute condensed version of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker is geared toward children ages five to 11. The show will be on December 3 at 10:00 a.m.
Handel’s Messiah: Enjoy the beautiful instruments and angelic voices that come together in a spectacular performance. The program will be on December 4 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets for this show and others are on sale now and can be purchased from the SCFTA website.
Shopping
First things first: To get in the spirit of the holiday season, you need to decorate! Santa Ana has a number of stores with holiday decorations, including The Wrapper, Shinoda Design Center, and World Market. You can also find Christmas trees at Pumpkin City or these local Christmas tree farms in Orange County:
The next step you want to knock out early is to purchase holiday gifts. No one likes the stress of last-minute holiday shopping. Near Santa Ana, Main Place Mall, The Market Place, and South Coast Plaza are all great shopping centers with tons of options for stores and dining, so you can make a day of it! Check the websites to see the stores and find holiday sales and specials that will be going on.
Safe Celebration
A word of caution when it comes to decorating: It’s important to be aware of common hazards, such as candles, Christmas trees, and holiday lights. Be careful when lighting candles, and never leave a candle unattended. To be safe, consider alternatives to candles, including battery-powered candles and reed diffusers. Real Christmas trees can also be a hazard when the pine needles dry out. Make sure to keep your tree watered, and keep it away from potential flames. Additionally, be sure to turn off holiday lights when you leave and keep them from touching anything that could burn or melt.
We’d love to see your holiday fun! If you decorate for the holidays or try out one of the activities above, post a photo on social media, tag us, and use #TisTheSeasonAtAMC.
From all of us at Villa Del Sur Apartments in Santa Ana, Happy Holidays!
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SATURDAY
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SUNDAY
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