SUPRISING SANTA SIGHTINGS
When in California, Santa’s inner rebel kicks in. He trades his traditional sleigh for more modern—yet still grand—entrances. While Rudolph and his pals get some needed time off, Santa gets to try other thrill rides, from surfing to parachuting.
Surfing Santas
Being from the North Pole, Santa enjoys spending a little time on the beach in California. Each year he arrives early to ride the waves at the Stand Up Paddle & Surfing Santa Competition. Located at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, surfers compete not only for the $1,500 grand prize, but also for best Santa costume. Proceeds benefit Surfers Healing, the original surf camp for children with autism.
The new Santa Paddle in Ventura Harbor Village (Dec. 8), starts in the Ventura Village bay and goes on to Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center and back, awarding prizes for most festive costume.
Flying Santas
Flying reindeer are cool of course, but sometimes Santa needs to kick it up a notch. In the desert, St. Nick arrives by vintage airplane for the Santa Fly-In (Dec. 8-9), located at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Instead of traditional toys, he brings the ultimate gift—real snow for kids to play in!
Railroading Santas
Visitors can take an adventurous train ride with Santa throughout the holidays across the Golden State. Children can enjoy different Polar Express-like experiences down in Southern California at Christmas in the Valley (Dec 7 & 8), the Christmas Train on the Irvine Park Railroad (Nov. 30-Dec. 23), the Fillmore & Western Railway Company holiday journeys, the Santa Train North Pole Limited (Nov. 30-Dec. 22), or Santa’s Workshop at the Orange Empire Railway Museum (Nov. 29-Dec. 16). Crafts, caroling and live entertainment are guaranteed!
Up in northern California, the Napa Valley Wine Train’s Santa Train (Nov. 19-Dec. 28) takes guests to “The North Pole” while parents enjoy wine and kids enjoy hot cocoa, freshly-baked cookies, games and sing-alongs. Sacramento’s Polar Express, the Niles Canyon Railway Train of Lights, the Roaring Camp Railroads and the Skunk Train in Willits offer similar festive train rides filled with storybook experiences and personal visits with Santa Claus himself.
Cruising Santas
In Tomales Bay, Nick’s Cove restaurant rolls out the red carpet as Santa arrives by water sleigh for the 8th Annual Open House (Dec. 2). Over in Ventura Village, visitors can enjoy a unique “sleigh” ride with Santa on California Sleigh Rides with Ventura Boar Rentals (Dec. 7-13 and Dec. 16-31), where guests board a boat and cruise the harbor to take in the twinkling holiday lights.
Santas on the Run
Stay healthy over the holidays with festive fitness events such as the 5-K Jingle Bell Run (Dec. 2) at Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills and the 11th Annual Santa to the Sea Half Marathon (Dec. 9) in Oxnard. Runners wear holiday costumes and tie jingle bells to their shoelaces while viewers wear Christmas sweaters in the spirit of spreading holiday cheer.
HEARTWARMING AGRITOURISM EVENTS
Chefs from all over the world settle in California to take advantage of more than 400 agricultural products produced on local farms and ranches. Celebrate the Golden State’s agricultural heritage by visiting with local farmers and ranchers at events like Santa Nights at Camarillo Ranch House (Dec. 5, 12, 19). Santa and his wife hold court in Adolfo Camarillo’s decked-out 1892 Queen Anne Victorian Mansion, while posing with kids for photos and serving holiday treats. The Camarillo Ranch Foundation will host special tours of the historic ranch home as well as the 1905 Red Barn—transformed into Santa’s Workshop.
During Holidays Along the Farm Trails (now through New Year’s Day) in Sonoma County, visitors can meet local farmers, learn to make unique gifts, and shop for world class wines and farm fresh ingredients for the holiday table. Select Sonoma County farms and producers of artisanal food, wine, beer and ciders will open their doors to guests and give a behind-the-scenes peek at how they pursue their passions.
FLOATING HOLIDAY PARADES
Take part in California’s nautical lifestyle by viewing one of the many festive holiday boat parades. Southern California is known for its long-running, annual events such as the 47th San Diego Bay Annual Parade of Lights (Dec. 9 and 16), 44th Annual Dana Point Boat Parade of Lights (Dec. 7), Marina Del Rey’s 56th Annual Holiday Boat Parade (Dec. 8), and the iconic Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade (Dec. 19-23), celebrating its 110th year! In Central California, get in the spirit of the season at Morro Bay Lighted Boat Parade (Dec. 1), Channel Island’s 53rd Annual Parade of Lights (Dec. 8), or Ventura Harbor Village’s 42nd Annual Parade of Lights and Fireworks (Dec. 14-15).
HISTORIC HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS WITH A CALIFORNIA TWIST
Enjoy the spirit of Christmases past at Victorian-style celebrations. The historic Cow Palace in San Francisco transforms into Dickens’ London for The Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday Party (Nov. 17-Dec. 23), where guests can explore twilight-lit streets with shops, pubs, stages and dance halls filled with more than 800 Victorian characters and the aromas of roasted chestnuts and hearty fare. The Victorian theme continues with the legendary Teddy Bear Tea at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco (Dec. 1-23), where kids and their beloved stuffed animals enjoy a glamorous tea service featuring the giant Ritz-Carlton Teddy Bear, holiday entertainment, hot chocolate, holiday confections and more.
Step back in time during the Paso Robles Annual Vine Street Victorian Showcase (Dec. 8), where residents on Vine Street exuberantly decorate their homes and open their doors and yards to create a series of festive house parties. You just might spot characters such as Ebenezer Scrooge, the Snow Queen, and Mr. & Mrs. Claus, while choruses carol, and visitors stroll along Vine. A week later, the Downtown Paso Robles’ Annual Teddy Bear Tea (Dec. 15) invites kids to bring their teddy bear for tea, stories, gingerbread cookie decorating, arts and crafts, and visits with lovable holiday characters.
HIGH SIERRA HOLIDAYS
Kick off a charming High Sierra holiday with Siskiyou's Annual Tree-Cutting Tradition, where generations of families come out to the National Forests the weekend following Thanksgiving to cut their own Christmas tree. Over in Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, the Merry Days & Holly Nights (Dec. 14-31) provides family favorites including professional theater, dance, music performances, sleigh rides with Santa, skiing with Jonny Moseley, train rides, ice carving demonstrations, farm to table dinners, Disco Tubing and Sunset Happy Hour at High Camp. Throughout December, Tenaya Lodge near Yosemite National Park offers a full lineup of Yuletide activities, including gingerbread house decorating workshops and competitions, ornament making, ice skating, caroling, dinner with Kris Kringle, snowshoe hikes, carriage rides, sledding and more.
THEME PARK WONDERLANDS
Theme park magic gets more potent during the holidays. Experience an exciting lineup of holiday fun at Disneyland Resort’s Christmas Cars Land, a Haunted Mansion Holiday and themed fireworks shows. Universal Studios Hollywood inspires Christmas cheer at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, and when Grinchmas™ returns (Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9 and 14 – 30). Christmas celebrations at Seaworld (Nov. 17–Jan. 6), Knotts Berry Farm (Nov. 16-Jan. 6), and LEGOLAND (Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22-31) feature seasonal treats, live shows, ongoing special activities and festive ceremonies.
For more ideas on celebrating the holidays in the Golden State, go to www.VisitCalifornia.com.