The best things to do in Orange County in winter happen at night and on the water. Two harbors stage boat parades, and the theme parks switch to holiday mode. A snow festival takes over the fairgrounds, and the year’s biggest ballet run fills Costa Mesa. Here is when each one happens and how to plan around the crowds.
The county’s signature winter tradition happens on the water. Both big parades run for several nights, which gives you some flexibility.
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade runs for five nights in mid-December. Decorated boats start looping through Newport Harbor around 6:30 p.m. each night. Viewing spots along Balboa Island and the peninsula fill early, and nearby streets jam on parade nights. A group that wants a waterfront restaurant table should reserve well ahead.
Dana Point Harbor lights and parade. Happy Harbor Days in Dana Point Harbor keeps holiday lights glowing from mid-November into early January. That long run makes it the easiest lights outing to fit into a busy month. The harbor’s Boat Parade of Lights follows over a mid-December weekend, also starting at 6:30 p.m.
If you want lights without the parade crowds, an evening loop through neighborhood displays works well. A chauffeured evening among the best neighborhood displays follows exactly that plan, with the chauffeur handling stops and timing.
Disneyland Resort. Holidays at the Disneyland Resort run from mid-November to early January. Highlights include A Christmas Fantasy Parade, holiday fireworks, Haunted Mansion Holiday and “it’s a small world” Holiday. Across the esplanade, Disney California Adventure hosts the Disney Festival of Holidays.
Holiday evenings rank among the park’s busiest, and the walk from the parking structures adds up after a long day. Families staying off-property often book rides to and from the park gates for that reason. The chauffeur drops them near the entrance and waits when the fireworks end.
Knott’s Merry Farm. Knott’s Merry Farm runs from late November into early January. Expect parkwide lights, a holiday musical revue, an ice show with the Peanuts gang and the Christmas Crafts Village. It suits families who want a smaller, more nostalgic take on theme park holidays.
Winter Fest OC takes over the OC Fair Event Center in Costa Mesa from late November into early January. The festival offers a snow play zone, an ice tubing hill, a holiday light trail and a synchronized light show. Nightly tree lightings, live bands and visits with Santa round it out. Winter Fest opens on select dates only, so check its calendar before you go.
American Ballet Theatre and Pacific Symphony perform The Nutcracker at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in December. It ranks among the county’s dressiest holiday nights out. Evening performances let out just as the surrounding Costa Mesa streets get busy, so plan the ride home before the curtain rises.
Not every winter plan needs a ticket. Nick’s Laguna Beach on South Coast Highway suits a relaxed dinner. A cool, clear evening on the coast is one of the season’s underrated pleasures.
For a full day out, Temecula Valley wine country sits inland in Riverside County. The Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association lists its member wineries and tasting rooms. If you are torn between regions, a comparison of Temecula, Santa Ynez and Paso Robles helps narrow the choice. When someone in the group wants real snow, Big Bear offers skiing and snowboarding as the classic mountain day trip.
The busiest winter events share one problem: everyone arrives at once. Parade nights crowd the harbor streets, and theme park structures fill on holiday weekends. Winter Fest and Segerstrom evenings end with a rush to the exits.
For a group, one shared vehicle solves most of it. A dozen coworkers heading to the boat parade fit in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, so nobody circles for parking. A youth team or a family reunion of 25 can share a mini coach and leave together. For four or five friends at The Nutcracker, a Cadillac Escalade does the same job.
Winter in Orange County rewards early planners. Waterfront tables for parade nights and Nutcracker seats go first, often weeks ahead. Theme park holiday weekends fill next, followed by Winter Fest dates. Settle the tickets in October or early November, then plan the ride around each evening’s end time.
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