December in California brings cooler weather, holiday festivities, and plenty of seasonal attractions. From snowy mountains to sunny beaches, there are endless options for travelers enjoying the Golden State during this festive time of year. Here is an extensive guide on the top things to do in California in December.
Northern California
San Francisco
– Union Square & Market Street Holiday Decor – San Francisco goes all out with twinkling lights and elaborate decor throughout the downtown area. Ice skating rinks are also set up in Union Square and Embarcadero Center.
– SF Ballet Nutcracker – Since 1944, the San Francisco Ballet has put on a world-class production of The Nutcracker ballet set in San Francisco landmarks. Performances run throughout December at the War Memorial Opera House.
– Dickens Fair – The Cow Palace is transformed into a magical Dickensian village. Costumed performers bring Victorian London to life. Open weekends in December leading up to Christmas.
– Exploratorium Holiday Exhibits – The innovative Exploratorium science museum debuts hands-on holiday exhibits like a giant snowflake builder and evergreen tree DNA sequencing.
– Ferry Building Holiday Fair – The historic Ferry Building hosts a festive fair with local food vendors and holiday crafts for sale from Bay Area artists.
– Christmas at the Palace Hotel – The elegant Palace Hotel decorates its breathtaking stained glass dome tree and hosts special holiday teas during December.
– San Francisco Symphony Christmas Concerts – The SF Symphony performs a range of holiday classics including traditional sing-alongs of the “Messiah” and medleys of Christmas songs.
– Holiday Lights Cruise – Take a cruise around the Bay to see the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, and both shores lit up with colorful holiday lights. Cruises depart nightly.
Yosemite National Park
– Badger Pass Ski Area – Hit the slopes at California’s oldest downhill ski area located in Yosemite. Sledding hills and ice skating are also available.
– Yosemite Ski & Snowboard Area – This small ski resort on the edge of Yosemite offers beginner and intermediate runs. Lift tickets under $50.
– Winter Trails – Hike trails at the lower elevations or rent snowshoes for higher terrain. Easy winter hiking options include Cook’s Meadow Loop and Valley Loop.
– Bracebridge Holiday Dinner – Dine at the Ahwahnee Hotel’s Bracebridge Dinner, an elegant traditional Christmas feast inspired by Washington Irving’s stories of Squire Bracebridge.
– Holiday Decorations – Wander amid the festive lights, ribbons, and snowflake ornaments decorating Yosemite Valley and the historic Ahwahnee Hotel.
Lake Tahoe
– Skiing & Snowboarding – Lake Tahoe is renowned for its incredible ski resorts. Downhill options include Squaw Valley, Heavenly, Kirkwood, Northstar and many others.
– Ice Skating – Glide across an outdoor ice rink surrounded by snowy pines at Northstar, Heavenly or South Lake Tahoe. Public outdoor rinks are also at Truckee and Kings Beach.
– Tahoe Christmas & Snow Village – Stop at this cute village of miniature buildings all decorated for Christmas. Kids can meet Santa and do crafts.
– Snowmobiling – Explore the backcountry snow on an exciting snowmobile tour. Rentals and outfitters are available for beginners to experts.
– Holiday Shows – Catch a Christmas play or musical like “A Christmas Carol” at Sand Harbor or the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.
– Dining with a View – Enjoy panoramic lake views while dining at restaurants like Evan’s or Edgewood Bistro that overlook the water.
Sacramento
– ZooLights at Sacramento Zoo – The zoo is lit up with creative LED animal sculptures and light displays during this annual holiday event. Guests can watch ice carving demos.
– Old Sacramento Christmas Train Ride – Ride this historic train along the Sacramento River while enjoying onboard Christmas carols and hot cocoa.
– Fairytale Town Holiday Craft Faire – At this pedestrian-only holiday craft fair, shop gifts from local artisans while kids enjoy rides and live entertainment.
– Historic Folsom Christmas Events – Historic Folsom goes all out for Christmas with caroling, activities, craft fairs, and Santa meet-and-greets throughout December.
– Sacramento Ballet Nutcracker – For over 60 years, the Sacramento Ballet has performed the traditional Nutcracker production at the Community Center Theater around Christmas.
– Festival of Lights – California’s State Capitol is illuminated by over 200,000 glittering holiday lights during this festive annual event.
– Holiday River Cruises – Several cruises like Hornblower and Yuletide offer holiday cruises down the Sacramento River to see decorated riverfront homes.
Redwood Trees
– Avenue of the Giants – Drive this scenic route passing huge redwoods glowing with holiday lights and decorations at night. Stop for dazzling displays.
– Redwood Christmas Shows – North Coast Repertory Theatre in Eureka performs musical productions of beloved holiday classics like “White Christmas” and “A Christmas Carol.”
– Holiday Events at the Repertory Theatre – This theater in Santa Rosa puts on fun Christmas productions like “Santaland Diaries” along with a Dickens-style holiday fair.
– Christmas at the Mission – California’s historic Sonoma Mission is lit with thousands of lights during the annual “Christmas at the Mission” event held in December.
Central Coast
Monterey & Carmel
– Monterey Christmas Tree Lighting – Grab hot chocolate and cookies in downtown Monterey while enjoying live music and the annual Christmas tree lighting on Colton Hall lawn.
– Dennis the Menace Christmas Park – This cute park becomes a dazzling winter wonderland with mini Christmas trees and buildings all lit up. Open late November through December.
– Winter Wonderland Ice Rink – Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley transforms into a winter carnival with an outdoor ice skating rink, carolers, crafts, food, and wine.
– Carmel Mission Holiday Events – The historic Carmel Mission holds special events like candlelit concerts, holiday dinners and Las Posadas processions.
– Explore Inns and Hotels – Browse the charming inns and luxury hotels decorated to the nines for Christmas, like the La Playa Hotel courtyard and gardens.
– Holiday Performances – The indoor Golden Bough Theatre and outdoor Forest Theatre host festive concerts and musicals during the holiday season.
Big Sur
– Coast Gallery Big Sur Holiday Sale – Browse unique fine art gifts by local artists at this festive holiday art sale featuring gallery talks and refreshments.
– Big Sur River Inn Holiday Events – Enjoy Christmas dinners or holiday high teas in the lovely redwood lodge dining room at the River Inn.
– Henry Miller Memorial Library Concerts – This quirky bookstore and arts center hosts community holiday concerts in December. Check schedule for details.
– Hike Among the Redwoods – Hike cooler trails like Pfeiffer Falls and Partington Cove loop amid hushed, majestic redwood forests draped in fresh greenery.
– Visit Point Sur Lighthouse – Tour the beautifully restored Point Sur Lighthouse all decorated for the holidays. Available first Saturdays only.
Santa Barbara
– Santa Barbara Parade of Lights – Illuminated boats of all sizes parade across the harbor featuring creative holiday themes and designs. Held in late November and December.
– Stearns Wharf Winter Wonderland – The historic Stearns Wharf has a festive light display and ice rink during the holiday season. Vendors offer hot chocolate and churros.
– Museum Holiday Events – Museums like the MOXI, Natural History and Maritime all host special holiday programs and activities during December.
– Santa Barbara Zoo Lights – The zoo hosts a dazzling display with creative light arrangements like flamingos, polar bears and flowers all lit up. Live music on weekends.
– State Street Holiday Stroll – historic downtown State Street closes to traffic for a lively holiday open house event with music, refreshments, and specials at shops.
– Helena Avenue Holiday Walk – For one December weekend Helena Avenue is transformed into an enchanting Christmas forest with lights, performances, snow and visits with Santa.
– Hikes in the Santa Ynez Mountains – Trek along lower elevation trails like Tunnel Trail or Inspiration Point dressed in holiday greenery and seasonal wildflowers.
Southern California
Los Angeles
– The Grove Holiday – This popular shopping center near Beverly Hills goes all out with spectacular holiday decor and events like nightly snowfall and live music.
– Griffith Park Holiday Light Festival – Drive through twinkling holiday light displays along a 1.5 mile stretch of Crystal Springs Drive in Griffith Park.
– Natural History Museum Holiday Exhibits – Special hands-on holiday exhibits complement the regular galleries and dinosaur halls. New experiences each year.
– Los Angeles Ballet Nutcracker – This acclaimed ballet company stages annual performances of the timeless Nutcracker production at UCLA’s Royce Hall in December.
– Disney Concerts Hall Holiday Sing-Along – Enjoy a free community holiday sing-along concert at the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall led by a professional choir and organist.
– Christmas Boat Parade – Elaborately decorated boats bedecked with lights cruise from Marina del Rey to Venice Beach during this annual holiday tradition.
– El Capitan Theatre Christmas Movies – This grand historic theater in Hollywood has showings of classic Christmas movies throughout December like “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Palm Springs Area
– Palm Springs Festival of Lights – Palm Canyon Drive is illuminated by sparkling holiday light displays with nightly entertainment and activities during this free event.
– Living Desert Holiday Lights – This remarkable zoo and botanical garden hosts nightly Illuminations light shows synchronized to holiday music from November through December.
– Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Santa Visits – Ride this rotating tram car up a rugged mountainside then visit with Santa and his elves at the top. Photos available.
– La Quinta Resort Holiday Decor – The sprawling La Quinta Resort embraces the season with 41 festive holiday trees, Santa visits, gingerbread decorating for kids, and holiday dining.
– Agua Caliente Casino Concerts – The casinos in Palm Springs host a variety of holiday concerts and entertainment including tributes to Elvis, The Beach Boys and more.
– Annual Tamale Festival – At the Indio Tamale Festival sample tamales from all different restaurants while enjoying live entertainment and local artisan vendors.
San Diego
– December Nights in Balboa Park – Historic Balboa Park hosts this free two-day holiday festival with music, dance, Santa visits, holiday crafts and food/drink.
– Parade of Lights on San Diego Bay – Festively lit and decorated boats parade across the harbor for two December weekends set to holiday music. Prime viewing from harborfront hotels.
– Holiday Food & Gift Bazaar – Local artisan vendors sell unique jewelry, art, gifts and holiday foods in a lively bazaar located in Little Italy each weekend in December.
– Ice Skating in Del Mar – The beach town of Del Mar transforms into a winter wonderland with an outdoor ice rink on the fairgrounds from late November through December.
– SeaWorld Christmas Celebration – SeaWorld decks its Orcas stadium with a 50-foot tree and offers live shows with holiday themes along with festive food and drinks.
– Whale Watching Tours – Go whale watching to see the gray whale migration passing Southern California roundtrip between Alaska and Mexico. Peak is mid-December.
– Hotel Del Coronado Holiday Events – This iconic beach resort sparkles with holiday decor and hosts special holiday teas, brunch with Santa, cookie decorating and New Year’s parties.
Conclusion
December brings abundant holiday cheer across California with festive decorations, concerts, food and annual traditions. From snowy mountains to warm beaches, there are limitless ways to celebrate the season throughout the state. The cool but comfortable winter weather also invites exploration of the rich diversity of landscapes and cultural offerings California provides.
