The Science of Gingerbread
Discovery Cube
Orange County: 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA 92705
Los Angeles: 11800 Foothill Blvd., Sylmar, CA 91342
Get ready to step into a winter wonderland with the largest gingerbread competition in SoCal. Running until Jan. 1, The Science of Gingerbread exhibit is a fun filled holiday event at the Discovery Cube — a nonprofit children’s museum with locations in the OC and LA. Decorate holiday cookies, take part in the Winter Weather Workshop and so many other great holiday activities The best part, you can meet and take a picture with Santa Claus.
Winter Fest OC
OC Fair & Event Center
88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Winter Fest OC transforms the OC Fair & Event Center into SoCal’s largest winter experience. With oversized holiday decor, over 1 million lights and endless opportunities for memory-making experiences. Also running until the New Year, enjoy the magic of the holiday season with activities including: The North Pole Journey, ice skating under the stars, 150-foot-long ice-tubing slides, a snowboard simulator, carnival thrills, food and drinks and so much more.
Snow N Glow Holiday Festival
Ventura: 10 West Harbour Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001
Del Mar: 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA 92014
Gather your family and friends and get ready to make some holiday memories at the Snow N Glow Holiday Festival in Ventura and Del Mar! This winter paradise is an expansive family-friendly space covered in 1 million glowing lights and snow. This is the perfect winter playground for kids and adults alike. Enjoy the festive atmosphere, have some fun in the snow tubing and play area, take a stroll through the immersive light-trail, rent a private igloo and enjoy some tasty festival classics such as s’mores and hot chocolate.
Festival of Lights
Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
3649 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside, CA 92501
Head down to The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa for their annual Festival of Lights. A gift for the community since 1992, this event attracts over 500-thousand visitors, and is one of the nation’s largest holiday light collections! Riverside’s stunningly beautiful Mission Inn is bathed in over 4.5 million lights, which is an absolutely breathtaking scene, which also includes animated holiday characters, an ice skating rink, visits with Santa and his live reindeer, horse-drawn carriage rides, live entertainment, free workshops and an arts market to get your holiday shopping done! This festival runs until Jan. 6.
Enchanted: Forest of Light
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
Enchanted: Forest of Light returns to Descanso Gardens until Jan. 8. This interactive nighttime experience is unlike anything else in Los Angeles, featuring a one-mile walk through unique lighting experiences in some of the most beloved areas of Descanso Gardens. This botanical garden masterfully mixes hands-on art installations with atmospheric, luminescent forests, all against a background of lit up trees and shimmery sound effects. Enchanted is a rain or shine event, and tickets must be purchased in advance.
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