Your Guide to Celebrating the Holidays in Anaheim, CA
It’s easy to see why the holiday season is so popular: Holiday lights and decorations line the streets, we spend more time with our loved ones, the spirit of giving surrounds us, and we get to enjoy delicious foods and desserts! It is also the special time of the year when different cultures from around the world come together to celebrate their favorite holidays. Whatever holiday you celebrate, this is the perfect time to find your favorite sweater, get together with the people you love, and enjoy some festive activities.
Whether you live in Anaheim or are visiting for the holiday season, there are plenty of festivities in this city that you are sure to enjoy while celebrating your favorite time of the year! From amusement park events and attractions to shows and performances and shopping, here are a few holiday activities in Anaheim that make it the best place to enjoy the festivities of the season:
Activities
Shows and Performances
Shopping
Opportunities to Share
Safe Celebration
Activities & Events
One of the most special aspects of living in or visiting Anaheim is how close it is to so many wonderful amusement parks and attractions—especially when they host unique holiday celebrations! These are a few of the most popular events near us.
Disney’s Festival of Holidays: From November 11 to January 8, in Disney California Adventure Park, you can pay tribute to and embrace a number of holiday celebrations with multicultural music, food, and entertainment. This festival is an opportunity to take in the sights of exciting entertainment celebrating some of our most cherished holidays: Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings’ Day. Celebrations also include ¡Viva Navidad!, which honors holiday traditions from Mexico and Brazil, and the Festival Foods Marketplace, which offers food and drink from diverse cultures and celebrations. Let’s not forget that the atmosphere of a fully decorated Disney park during the holiday season is a sight to behold.
Knott’s Merry Farm: Every winter, Knott’s Berry Farm transforms itself into Knott’s Merry Farm, a Christmas celebration filled with special attractions, live entertainment, Christmas crafts, food, holiday decorations, and even nightly snow! This celebration runs on select days from November 18 through January 8.
Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood: If you’re willing to branch out of the Anaheim area, Universal Studios also offers its own holiday celebrations, including Grinchmas and Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™. Enjoy holiday spectacles, décor, food and merchandise, and photo opportunities with your favorite characters—like the Grinch!
South Coast Botanic Garden’s Merry and Bright Event: At the Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes Peninsula, you can enjoy thousands of lights, food, drinks, and stunning views of the beach, waterfalls, bayou, and kelp forest. Running from November 25 to December 5, this year’s Merry and Bright event will even include interactive experiences and themed nights.
Eagle Hills Christmas Lights: Every year, this neighborhood is decorated with extravagant lights and decorations in honor of the holiday season. This is an excellent free activity that you can enjoy with loved ones of all ages. Make some hot cocoa, grab your favorite scarf and a camera, and walk or drive through this beautiful neighborhood! You are sure to feel the holiday spirit.
Shows and Performances
Considering the amazing music, stories, and decor surrounding this season, the holidays are the perfect time to enjoy festive and spectacular shows and performances. Plus, many of them are the perfect way to celebrate with loved ones of all ages. Everyone can enjoy these holiday activities and shows in Anaheim.
Anaheim Ballet’s Nutcracker: The Nutcracker ballet is a classic holiday performance, and you can see a local performance of it with the Symphony Irvine practically next door! This ballet follows the story of a girl named Clara and her nutcracker doll and their adventures through Candyland. Not only is this Anaheim Ballet’s 35th season of performing the Nutcracker, but they are also constantly updating the staging of it, making this year your only chance to see this specific production. The show will be performed on November 25 and 26. People of all ages will love this story!
Disney on Ice: Entertaining for grown-ups and magical for youth, the Disney on Ice event will make this holiday season one to remember. Be prepared to hear some of your favorite tunes from classic Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Aladdin, Elsa, and Simba. This event will definitely inspire some holiday spirit and endear you to whoever you surprise with tickets. This fantastic event will be in Anaheim’s Honda Center from December 15 to 19, with nine possible showtimes to choose from.
Shopping
Is there anything better than seeing a loved one’s face light up as they open a holiday gift you picked out for them? Whether you’re looking for unique seasonal decorations or a special gift to show someone how much you care, Anaheim is the perfect place to be!
Anaheim GardenWalk: If you’re looking for small businesses to support through the pandemic, Anaheim GardenWalk features a number of local stores. Located just minutes from Disneyland, this destination is a collection of restaurants, retail stores, a live concert venue, and nightlife. Between shops like Dara Beauty, Soccer Wearhouse, and Mystical Gifts and Souvenirs, you’ll be able to find unique and appropriate gifts for all of your loved ones.
Anaheim Packing District: The Anaheim Packing District is another great site for supporting small businesses this holiday season. From sustainable products and goods to delicious foods and merchandise, you can find meaningful gifts like gift cards, wine, and other tasty treats for your loved ones. Best of all, you won’t be able to find these gifts at just any shopping mall!
Opportunities to Share
If you’re looking for ways to give back to your loved ones and community, consider checking out these places.
Grandma’s House of Hope: Considering the holidays are the perfect time to give back, Grandma’s House of Hope is one of our favorite local nonprofit organizations. They are looking for volunteers to cook and deliver a meal for those in need. If you’re looking for a way to help people in your community, this is a great opportunity for your family, service group, or even business!
Volunteer with The Salvation Army: If you’ve been around long enough, you have probably seen the Salvation Army bell-ringers around Christmas time. Consider joining the chorus of bell-ringing to make a positive impact this holiday season. And believe it or not, rhythm is not required to be a bell-ringing volunteer! If you really don’t want to ring the bells, think about volunteering as a personal shopper for a family in need.
Safe Celebration
Above all, it’s important to stay safe while you celebrate the holidays. While everyone loves a cozy fire outside or a festive pine- or pumpkin-scented candle, be sure to closely monitor any fires and be safe while lighting candles in your apartment. The holidays are the most common time for home candle fires. In fact, according to the US Fire Administration, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Christmas Eve are the top three days of the year for home candle fires.
Christmas trees are also accountable for hundreds of fires every year. Shorts in electrical lights or the flames from candles can easily start a tree fire when it is dry and neglected. If you have a real Christmas tree in your apartment, don’t forget to water it so it doesn’t dry out. Stay safe and enjoy the holiday season to its fullest!
We hope you enjoy these amusement park events and attractions, activities, shows and performances, and shopping.
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 The Lincoln on Grand Apartments in Anaheim,
Happy Holidays!
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