You can stroll through ALL the lights at Dana Point Harbor for free. If you can, support the Harbor businesses when you go! We love the M-F 4pm-7pm Happy Hour menu on the patio at Harpoon Henry's. Or try Coffee Importers Scoop Deck for coffee or cocoa and desserts like ice cream and incredible baked goods.

COST: Free.

You'll definitely want to read this one, because it's a bit hard to navigate if you've never been. You'll have to park across the street in the Los Trancos parking lot and make your way down to beach via shuttle or walking. See the blog post for the tree lighting date!

COST: Parking is $5/hour to $15 per day on Mon-Thursday. Or use your CA State Parks Annual Pass for free access (you can check one out at the library for free). Fri-Sun and holiday rates can go up to $20/day. If you choose to take the shuttle it is $2 per person each way for adults -- kids under 12 free with a paying adult.

This one is a favorite, but it has gotten more and more popular over the years. It happens 2 weekends in December. The first weekend is called the "Candlelight Walk" and it has entertainment and vendors. The second weekend is called "Holiday Lights" and it's got the same beautiful lights, but not the entertainment or vendors.

COST: Free.

FREE! Holidayz at the Park in Irvine is an outdoor light display with fun free photo opportunities.

I knew about the outdoor part, but did you know there is a Pop-Up of INDOOR photo backdrops??? I counted about 7 indoors and there are tons of opportunities with the lights outdoors!

Inside the Pop-Up are super friendly staff and volunteers who will help your little one write letters to Santa and put them in one of the red mailboxes. They are also available to take family photos so everyone can be in the picture! We had so much fun discovering this festive spot with friendly helpers!

COST: FREE. And the carousel is now free, as well.

PARKING: FREE (park near the carousel at Great Park).

PARK ADDRESS: 8000 Great Park Blvd, Irvine (but this address is really general - you will want to park near the carousel and Great Park balloon).

HOURS: Outside lights on display each night. Holidayz Pop-Up photo ops open WEEKENDS only from 5pm-9pm on Fridays and 1pm to 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays. So cute - and not crowded at all when we went on a Friday at 5:15pm!

TIP: Look up on the Hangar roof to see a sleigh and reindeer!

This is absolutely a must-see for my family every year.

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort is featuring a Fire & Lights Festival (no ice rink this year). Runs Nov 29th-Jan 5th. The Fire & Lights Festival is free admission and open to the public. Concessions, some activities, and holiday trees will be an additional cost. 

COST: FREE - Go see the lighted trees floating on the bay. Least busy nights will be Mondays & Tuesdays - because the festival isn’t happening then, but the bay will be lit up. Park for under 30 minutes and it’s free. (30 minutes to 2 hours is $10). NOT FREE: Concessions, some activities, and holiday trees will be an additional cost. 

This is another one that has gotten popular. I was shocked being there at night last year with the Christmas Train crowds after dark. It is FREE to go to Santa's Village. I have seen the strategy of going around 4pm on weekdays!

Santa's Village Hours: Weekdays 4pm-9pm and Weekends 10am-9pm.

COST: Free to get into the village, but it does cost $3, $5, or $7 for parking at Irvine Regional Park. Free parking if you go to the park after 6pm.

The Snoopy House at Costa Mesa City Hall has a themed light display, but also free nightly events. Only runs Dec 13th-20th. Thanks to Jill at @popsicleblog for her info on the event! It has been a family tradition for her and her kids over the years.

NIGHTS OF COASTAL LIGHTS at Fashion Island in Newport Beach happens nightly every half hour from 5:30pm-8pm in the Neiman Marcus - Bloomingdale’s Courtyard.

We were there on a Monday night and there were only a few families there enjoying the early shows. My dad was at The District with us and then also there on this night - he called this one “like The District, but bigger.”

He’s right, too. This one has smoke and snowfall effects, plus at least 4 or 5 songs. The kids just LOVED it!

It’s a FREE nightly experience running November 22nd through December 29th.

I also loved the Santa house here and on the same night only had one family in line. We took selfies with my sis, my dad, and me from outside. I heard from a reader that they love the Santa here.

PARKING: I would park outside the Barnes & Noble and go in through The Atrium. Bear to your left, walk past the escalator, and you will end up outside at the Koi Pond. The Santa House is just past the pond and then you will see the 90 foot tree beyond that. If you wait on the grassy turf area and look at the tree just before the hour or half hour, the show will start and the kids will be surprised by the music and snowfall!

FOOD: There’s a food court on the bottom floor of The Atrium if you want to grab dinner while you are there.

TRY THIS: Drive by Rogers Gardens on your way home because all the pine trees lining the property are glowing in gold and green lights!

COST: Free.

A HOLIDAY TRADITION for our family! We started this 2 holiday seasons and it was just as fun and MELLOW and NOT CROWDED this time around! For 2024, their Instagram says: "The District invites you to celebrate the magic of the season with a nightly holiday light show and decorations, running from Saturday, November 23 through Wednesday, January 1, which will transform the center into a winter wonderland each evening with dazzling light displays perfect for the season."

Thanks to The District Tustin for this festive show that’s fun for all ages. In 2023, it ran every half hour from 5pm to 11pm nightly in the AMC Courtyard. ONE SONG each half hour so you can get there a little before 5pm and get the 5pm, 5:30pm, and 6pm shows! [No one invited us for this experience - we paid our own way and I thought up these options just for you!]

We like going M-F because Bar Louie has Happy Hour from 4pm-7pm and you can sit on their patio to enjoy yummy food (50% off select Bar Bites and Flatbreads) and watch the FREE light shows.

OR you can get a pizza from Sal’s Pizzeria and hang out at the outdoor tables.

OR go for dessert only and grab a huge serving of Dolce Gelato (the same popular shop in Laguna Beach is here, but parking is easier - especially if you show up before 5pm)!

I love the simplicity of this tradition and there are tons of other restaurants right here to choose from! But those 3 options I mentioned are the ones that allow you to eat WHILE enjoying the show.

You can also add in an afternoon movie that gets out before the light show starts!

We didn’t rush and just enjoyed our time. Our server and the food were both excellent. They even turned down the outside restaurant music a notch for us early birds so we could hear the show. And turned on the patio heater for the grandparents. So nice of them!

The District has other photo and seating options throughout the area with giant walk-inside ornaments.

PARKING: We like to go in off Tustin Ranch Road and park outside the theater as close as we can to the entrance.

COST: Free.

I bet you know what I'm going to say here! But I have made a list of things that are meaningful and memorable with links to gifts of experiences!

This is everything you need to know about gifts of experiences. Send this post and the one above (#8) to your loved ones and let them choose the experience! It can be a surprise and they can feel like they are gifting you with something you can use all year!

I have never seen this list ANYWHERE else and it doesn't get much traffic because no one even knows to search for it. But what if you could go play somewhere and do your gift shopping at the gift shop that benefits the nonprofit while getting some unique items for your loved ones? I am always adding more places to the list, but don't forget these little shops!