Santa's Villages & Christmas Villages Near LA: 2026 Guide
Updated: 1 day ago
Picture your kids walking through a forest of twinkle lights, sipping cocoa, and then spotting Santa in his cozy cabin. That wide-eyed moment is what Santa's villages near LA are all about, and Southern California has more of them than you might think, from a mountaintop Christmas park to German-style holiday markets and a lavender farm glowing with a million lights.
This guide focuses on places where families can walk into a Christmas village, visit Santa, and wander a holiday market in 2026. Anything not yet announced is marked TBA, so check back as the season gets closer. If you want a full holiday road trip instead, our guide to 23 magical Christmas towns in California covers tree lightings, parades, and snowy mountain towns.
Santa's Villages Near LA: 2026 at a Glance
SkyPark at Santa's Village, Skyforest: Holiday season begins November 7, 2026
Solvang Julefest Santa's Village: Select weekends, November 27, 2026–January 3, 2027
Santa's Cottage, Old Town Temecula: Weekends, November 28–December 20, 2026
123 Farm Christmas Nights, Cherry Valley: November 5, 2026–January 3, 2027 (select days)
Cambria Christmas Market: November 27–December 31, 2026 (select dates)
Christmas Market OC, Huntington Beach: Opens November 15, 2026
Winter Fest OC, Costa Mesa: November 27, 2026–January 3, 2027 (select dates)
What Is a Santa's Village or Christmas Village?
A Santa's village is a themed spot where Santa has a "home base," usually a decorated cabin, cottage, or workshop, surrounded by holiday activities for kids. A Christmas village is broader. Think walkable lanes of lights, holiday shops, food stalls, and music that make you feel like you stepped into a snow globe.
Some are full theme parks with rides. Others are seasonal markets or light festivals. A few are simply neighborhoods that go all out. We sorted them below so you can match the right one to your kids' ages, your budget, and how far you want to drive.
Santa's Villages in Southern California
SkyPark at Santa's Village
28950 State Highway 18
Skyforest, CA 92385
Holiday season begins Saturday, November 7, 2026
Open Thursday–Sunday, generally 10 a.m.–6 or 7 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day)
This is the original Santa's Village California families have loved for generations, tucked in the pines just minutes from Lake Arrowhead. During the holidays, Santa welcomes visitors in his cozy cabin, the "North Pole" stands right outside his door, and the park fills with rides, characters, live entertainment, and holiday shops.
Holiday-season day tickets are $79 for adults ages 18–64 and $69 for children ages 4–17 and seniors 65–74 ($89 and $79 on peak dates), and free for kids 3 and under and seniors 75 and older. Parking is $15 per vehicle, and every guest must sign a waiver. Pricing varies by date, so check the SkyPark ticket page before you go.
From November through January, the park offers a limited number of timed Santa reservations each day. Once they are gone, families wait in a standby line. You can also book Breakfast with Santa or Tea with Mrs. Claus for an extra-special add-on.
Parent tip: Head straight to an elf to reserve your Santa time when you arrive, then explore. Dress in warm layers, because mountain afternoons get cold fast. For more, read our full SkyPark at Santa's Village family guide.
Downtown Solvang
Solvang, CA 93463
Julefest: November 27, 2026–January 3, 2027
Santa's Village: Select Saturdays and Sundays
Solvang's Danish village already looks like a Christmas card, and during Julefest it adds a Santa's Village on select weekends with photo opportunities. The festival also features a nightly light and music show from 5 to 9 p.m., a Maker's Market on Wednesdays in December, and a village-wide hunt for hidden nisser, the mischievous Danish gnomes.
Parent tip: Check the Julefest calendar for Santa's weekend hours before you drive up, and plan a bakery stop for aebleskivers. Our Solvang Julefest 2026 guide has the full rundown.
Pennypickle's Workshop
42081 Main Street
Temecula, CA 92590
Santa's Arrival: Friday, November 27, 2026, 6–9 p.m.
Santa visits: Saturdays 10 a.m.–1 p.m. and Sundays 1–4 p.m., November 28–December 20, 2026
The City of Temecula welcomes Santa to his cozy cottage at Pennypickle's Workshop, Temecula's children's museum, on the Friday after Thanksgiving. After that, kids can drop by on weekends to share their wish lists.
Make it a full day by staying for Temecula's Christmas Tree Lighting at the Duck Pond on Monday, November 30, 2026, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., or Santa's Electric Light Parade in Old Town on Friday, December 4, 2026, at 7 p.m.
Parent tip: Weekend mornings tend to be the calmest time for little ones who need a slower Santa visit.
123 Farm at Highland Springs Ranch & Inn
10600 Highland Springs Avenue
Cherry Valley, CA 92223
November 5, 2026–January 3, 2027 (open select days)
Weekdays 5–10 p.m.; weekends 2–10 p.m.
More than a million lights wrap 123 Farm's lavender fields, olive grove, historic buildings, and a 1,000-year-old oak tree for Christmas Nights. Santa's Workshop offers free photos with Santa on scheduled days: November 13–15, 20–25, and 27–29, and December 4–6, 11–13, and 17–23, 2026.
Families can also try the Reindeer Run, a $20 shopping game where kids collect wrapped gifts from shops around the farm, or reserve a s'mores pit starting at $35 for 50 minutes. Organic hot cocoa and festive food are sold on site, and outside food and drinks are not allowed.
Parent tip: For general admission parking, the farm asks guests to navigate to 41267 Grand Avenue, Beaumont, CA 92223, and enter through the South Gate. Pets are not allowed, but friendly farm dogs roam the property.
Christmas Villages and Holiday Markets Near LA
Cambria Pines Lodge
2905 Burton Drive
Cambria, CA 93428
November 27–December 31, 2026 (select dates)
Gates open 5 p.m.; no entry after 8:30 p.m.
If you have ever dreamed of a European Christmas market without the plane ticket, Cambria comes close. About 3 million lights twinkle through the pines, and families can browse a German-inspired artisan market, visit Santa, ride a train, warm up at fire pits, and listen to live music.
Tickets start at $25, kids 5 and under are free, and most nights sell out, with tickets $10 higher at the door if any remain. Plan two to three hours to see everything.
Parent tip: It is about a four-hour drive from LA, so consider making it an overnight trip. Pair it with Solvang's Julefest on the way up for a two-village weekend.
Old World Village
7561 Center Avenue #49
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Indoor market: Sunday, November 15, 2026–Sunday, January 3, 2027, daily
Indoor market hours: Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
Outdoor food booths: November 18, 2026–January 3, 2027, 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.)
Huntington Beach's Old World Village turns into a German-style Christmas market each season, with an indoor European shopping village, a bakery and deli, and an outdoor Biergarten with food booths Wednesday through Sunday. It is a fun, walkable stop for ornament shopping and a pretzel break, especially with kids who enjoy browsing.
Santa meets families on weekends from 2 to 5 p.m., a village train runs on November 15 and December 12–13, and a Nativity Play takes place on December 20, 2026. On Sunday, November 15, and Sunday, December 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., don't miss the Wiener Dog Races. Parking at Old World Village is free.
Hours shift around Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day, and the organizers may adjust hours without notice, so check the hours page before you go.
Parent tip: Weekend evenings bring the most atmosphere. Weekday mornings are easier for strollers.
Event Deck, Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Wednesday, November 18, 2026–Sunday, January 3, 2027
Monday–Wednesday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Thursday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; December 24, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
This alpine-style Christmas village pops up on the Santa Monica Pier with cozy chalets, holiday treats and ice skating with an ocean view. It is a great pick for Westside families who want European Christmas market vibes close to home.
Entry-only tickets are $12.90 for adults and $8.90 for kids ages 4–12, and kids under 3 are free. Skating bundles start at $20.90.
Parent tip: Go at sunset for twinkle lights over the Pacific, then grab dinner on the pier.
OC Fair & Event Center
88 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
November 27, 2026–January 3, 2027 (open select dates)
Winter Fest OC builds a full holiday village at the OC fairgrounds. Admission includes meeting Santa, a snow play zone, a nightly tree lighting, a walk-through holiday light trail, and a holiday house light show. New for 2026, unlimited ice skating is available with select passes or as an add-on, and Polar Putt-Putt mini golf is now part of the Bounce Pass.
The event is cashless. Ticket prices vary by date and pass type, so compare options on the official site. Our Winter Fest OC 2026 guide breaks down the ice tubing and snow play.
Parent tip: The smallest rental skate is a child's size 8, which typically fits kids around age 3, and skate assists rent for $15.
The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, downtown Riverside
3649 Mission Inn Avenue
Riverside, CA 92501
Switch-On Ceremony: Saturday, November 21, 2026, 5 p.m.
Festival: November 22–December 31, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day)
Downtown Riverside becomes a walkable Christmas village for six weeks, with the historic Mission Inn wrapped in millions of lights, giant nutcrackers, and holiday vendors. An ice rink is open 5 to 10 p.m. nightly, and skating is $20 per skater, including rentals.
Parent tip: The Switch-On Ceremony draws huge crowds. For a calmer stroll, visit on a weeknight in early December.
Neighborhood Christmas Villages
East Acacia Avenue (1100 and 1200 blocks) and California Street (900 block)
El Segundo, CA 90245
For more than 75 years, El Segundo residents have transformed their homes into a walk-through Christmas village, paying for every light themselves. In 2025, the displays ran December 13–23, kicked off with Santa's arrival, welcomed visitors from 5 to 10 p.m., and closed streets to cars for safer walking.
2026 dates and times: To be announced. Watch the City of El Segundo for this year's plan.
Parent tip: Be a kind guest. Keep noise down, carry out trash, and leave by 10 p.m. when neighbors turn off their lights.
Christmas Villages Beyond California
Dreaming bigger? A few famous Christmas villages around the country are worth a bucket-list trip when your kids are old enough to enjoy the travel.
This Bavarian-style mountain village in Washington lights up with more than half a million lights. Christmastown festivities run November 27 through December 24, 2026, with the lights on from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily from Thanksgiving through the end of February.
Other beloved destinations, such as Santa Claus, Indiana, and Santa's Village in Jefferson, New Hampshire, publish their own holiday schedules each fall. Check their official sites for 2026 details before booking travel.
Tips for Visiting Santa's Villages With Kids
Reserve Santa early. SkyPark limits daily Santa reservations, and popular markets sell out on weekends.
Visit on weekdays. Many villages are calmest Monday through Thursday or in early November.
Dress for the location. Mountain villages get cold after dark, while coastal markets can be damp and breezy.
Prep your Santa talk. Help shy kids practice one or two wishes so the moment feels less overwhelming.
Bring cash-free payment. Winter Fest OC is cashless, and many vendors prefer cards.
Pack snacks and patience. Lines happen, even at the North Pole.
Want more Santa moments? See our list of places to take photos with Santa in and near Los Angeles, our roundup of 59 Christmas and holiday events for LA families, and our guide to the best places to see holiday lights in Los Angeles.
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Takeaway
Southern California's Santa's villages and Christmas villages give families a real dose of holiday magic without a flight to the North Pole. SkyPark at Santa's Village is the classic choice for a full day with Santa, while Cambria, Christmas Market OC, Winter Fest OC, and 123 Farm bring the lights, markets, and cocoa.
Choose one village that fits your kids' ages and bedtime, book any timed tickets early, and double-check official pages the week you go. Then let the kids lead the way to Santa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Santa's Village in California?
SkyPark at Santa's Village is at 28950 State Highway 18 in Skyforest, just minutes from Lake Arrowhead and about 1.5 to 2 hours from Los Angeles. Its 2026 holiday season begins November 7.
How much are SkyPark at Santa's Village tickets?
The park lists 2026 holiday-season day tickets at $79 for adults and $69 for children ages 4–17 and seniors 65–74 ($89 and $79 on peak dates), and free for kids 3 and under and seniors 75 and older. Parking is $15, and pricing can vary by date.
Is there a Christmas market near Los Angeles?
Yes. Christmas Market OC at Old World Village in Huntington Beach opens November 15, 2026, and the Cambria Christmas Market runs select dates from November 27 through December 31, 2026, with tickets from $25.
When do Santa visits start near LA in 2026?
SkyPark at Santa's Village begins its holiday season on November 7, 2026. Santa appears at 123 Farm's Santa's Workshop starting November 13, and Temecula welcomes Santa to his Old Town cottage on November 27, with weekend visits through December 20.
What is the difference between this guide and your Christmas towns guide?
This guide covers Santa's villages, Christmas villages, and holiday markets you can walk through. Our 23 Christmas towns near LA guide covers road-trip destinations, tree lightings, and parades across California.
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