Christmas Market OC 2026: The German-Style Holiday Market in Huntington Beach!
Christmas Market OC turns Huntington Beach's Old World Village into a German-style Christmas market from Sunday, November 15, 2026, through Sunday, January 3, 2027. Families can browse a cozy indoor European Christmas shop, snack on German treats in the Biergarten, meet Santa on weekend afternoons and catch a ride on the Village Train.
Old World Village has been Orange County's little slice of Bavaria since 1978, with painted half-timbered-style buildings, brick lanes and a beloved German deli and bakery. During the holidays, the whole village leans into Christmas, and the best part for families is that admission and parking are both free. Here is everything you need to plan your visit, from Santa dates to the live holiday music lineup.
Key Takeaways
When: Sunday, November 15, 2026–Sunday, January 3, 2027. The indoor market is open daily, and the outdoor Biergarten and food booths are open Wednesday through Sunday starting November 18.
Where: Old World Village, 7561 Center Ave. #49, Huntington Beach, CA 92647.
Admission: Free.
Parking: Free at Old World Village.
Santa: Free Meet & Greet from 2 to 5 p.m. on select Saturdays and Sundays, no tickets needed.
Best for: All ages. Guests under 21 must be with a parent.
Christmas Market OC 2026 Dates and Hours
The market has three parts with slightly different hours, so it helps to know which one you are heading to.
Indoor market (Festival Hall): November 15–January 3, daily. Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
Outdoor Biergarten and food booths: November 18–January 3, Wednesday–Sunday. Wednesday–Thursday, 4–9 p.m.; Friday, 4–10 p.m.; Saturday, noon–10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Old World European Deli, Bakery & Market Store: November 15–January 3, daily. Sunday–Wednesday, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; Thursday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
Holiday hours: The market is closed on Thanksgiving (November 26), Christmas Day (December 25) and New Year's Day (January 1). It opens early at 8 a.m. on December 21–23 and December 28–30, and closes at 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Hours can change, so check the Christmas Market OC hours page before you go.
What to Do at Christmas Market OC With Kids
Here are the experiences your family won't want to miss, with all the 2026 dates in one place.
Meet Santa at the Festival Hall
Santa's Meet & Greet takes place inside the Old World Festival Hall from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 15; Saturday and Sunday, November 28 and 29; and Saturdays and Sundays, December 5–6, 12–13 and 19–20. It is free, and no tickets are needed.
Parent Tip: Arrive close to 2 p.m. for a shorter line, then browse the indoor market while the kids are still glowing from their Santa chat.
Shop the European Christmas Village
Inside the Festival Hall, the European Christmas shopping village is filled with artisan vendors, handmade crafts, ornaments and seasonal gifts. It is a fun place to let kids pick out a special ornament for the tree or a small gift for a teacher.
Parent Tip: Give older kids a small holiday budget so they can choose a gift for a sibling on their own.
Ride the Village Train
The Village Train chugs through Old World Village on three days only: Sunday, November 15, from 3 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, December 12, from noon to 2:30 p.m.; and Sunday, December 13, from noon to 3 p.m.
Parent Tip: Pair the train with a Santa visit on November 15 or December 13, when both happen on the same afternoon.
Eat Like You're in Germany
Hungry? The outdoor food booths and Biergarten serve hearty German food, sweet treats and warm holiday drinks Wednesday through Sunday. The Old World European Deli, Bakery & Market Store is open every day, so you can grab European goodies even on Monday and Tuesday, when the outdoor booths are closed.
Parent Tip: Stop by the bakery on your way out for something sweet for the ride home.
Cheer On the Wiener Dog Races
Old World Village has been the home of the Wiener Dog Races for more than 30 years, and two races fall during the Christmas market: the Old World National Championship on Sunday, November 15, and the Wiener Wonderland Cup on Sunday, December 6, both from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets range from free to $18. See our Wiener Dog Race listing for details.
Parent Tip: Let each kid pick a pup to root for before the race starts. It makes the cheering twice as fun.
Watch the Nativity Play
On Sunday, December 20, from 5 to 8 p.m., Old World Village hosts a Nativity Play, a sweet way to share the story of Christmas with little ones in the village's charming setting.
Parent Tip: December evenings by the coast get chilly, so pack jackets and blankets for younger kids.
Free Live Holiday Music on the Garden Stage
The Biergarten's Garden Stage hosts free holiday shows Wednesday through Sunday. Guests under 21 must be with a parent, and a clear bag policy applies at live events.
Curtis Hoffmann: Saturdays 11 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m.–4 p.m. on November 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29; December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27; and January 2 and 3.
Country Christmas: Sundays, 4–6 p.m., on November 15, 22 and 29 and December 6, 13, 20 and 27.
Christmas with Elvis: Wednesdays, 5–8 p.m., on November 18 and 25 and December 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.
Biergarten Holiday Jazz Band: Fridays, 7–10 p.m., on November 20 and December 4, 11 and 18, plus November 27 (5–8 p.m.) and December 24 (11 a.m.–3 p.m.).
Steven Bejarano: Saturdays, 6–9 p.m., on November 21 and December 5, 12 and 26.
The Silk Button Butchers: Saturdays, 6–9 p.m., on November 28 and December 19.
Parent Tip: Daytime sets on Saturday and Sunday afternoons are the easiest fit for families with little ones.
Know Before You Go
Getting there: Take the 405 Freeway to Beach Boulevard. Old World Village is on Center Avenue, across from Costco and Bella Terra.
Parking: Free at Old World Village.
Admission: Free. You pay only for food, drinks and shopping.
Ages: Everyone is welcome. Guests under 21 must be with a parent.
Best time to go: Weekend afternoons have Santa and the most activity. Weekday mornings are calmer for strollers, but only the indoor market and deli are open until 4 p.m.
Plan ahead: Find dates and directions on our Christmas Market OC event listing and the Christmas Market OC website.
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Takeaway
Christmas Market OC is one of the easiest ways for Southern California families to get a taste of a German Christmas market without leaving home. With free admission, free parking, weekend Santa visits, the Village Train, the Wiener Dog Races and a Nativity Play, Old World Village packs a lot of holiday fun into one walkable spot.
Plan around the Santa and train dates, come hungry and check the hours page before you head out. Prost to the holidays!
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Christmas Market OC 2026?
Christmas Market OC runs from Sunday, November 15, 2026, through Sunday, January 3, 2027, at Old World Village in Huntington Beach. The indoor market is open daily, while the outdoor Biergarten and food booths are open Wednesday through Sunday starting November 18. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Is Christmas Market OC free?
Yes. Admission to Christmas Market OC is free, and so is parking at Old World Village. Santa's Meet & Greet is free with no tickets needed. You only pay for food, drinks and shopping, plus tickets for the Wiener Dog Races, which range from free to $18.
When can kids see Santa at Christmas Market OC?
Santa visits the Old World Festival Hall from 2 to 5 p.m. on November 15, 28 and 29 and December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20, 2026. The Meet & Greet is free and no tickets are needed, so you can simply line up when you arrive.
Where is Christmas Market OC?
Christmas Market OC is at Old World Village, 7561 Center Ave. #49, Huntington Beach, CA 92647. Take the 405 Freeway to Beach Boulevard. The village is on Center Avenue, across from Costco and Bella Terra, and parking is free.
Are there German food and drinks at Christmas Market OC?
Yes. The outdoor food booths and Biergarten serve hearty German food, sweet treats and warm holiday drinks Wednesday through Sunday, and the Old World European Deli, Bakery & Market Store is open every day of the market for European goodies to enjoy or take home.
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