Celebrate the Holidays in Anaheim, CA!
We love living in Anaheim, especially around the holidays. There’s so much holiday cheer filling the city, with the streets lit up with decorations, holiday music pouring from downtown shops, and groups putting on holiday performances. There are so many great opportunities to have some fun and enjoy this special time of year!
Whether you live here or are just visiting for the holidays, you’ll have a great time. There are dozens of fun and festive things going on in Anaheim this year, and we’ve put together a list of the best activities in the area. Whether you’re looking for family fun, a romantic date activity, or a place to shop for unique gifts, Anaheim is the perfect place to be!
Activities
Shows and Performances
Shopping
Opportunities to Share
Safe Celebration
Activities
Disneyland is magical any time of the year, but especially during the holiday season. But there’s much more going on in and around Anaheim this year. Here are some great holiday activities.
Disney Festival of Holidays: Disney goes all out for the holidays! This multiholiday festival celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings’ Day. There’s music, dance, and interactive experiences for the whole family. Come experience the Disney Festival of Holidays and learn all about the various holiday celebrations around the world from November 11 to January 8.
Christmas Bingo: This unique mixture of bingo and comedy is fun for the whole family. Throughout the game, audience members answer fun holiday questions while hoping to be the first to scream out “BINGO” and win a fantastic prize. Stop by The Phantom Projects Theatre at La Habra Depot at 8 p.m. on December 9 to be part of this fun activity. Tickets are only $10–35!
Anaheim Tree Lighting Festival & Holiday Village: Join us for the 28th annual Anaheim Tree Lighting Festival. Come to the West Center Street Promenade on December 3 from 12:00 to 7:30 pm for a range of activities. Take photos with Santa, participate in the Candy Canine dog costume contest, and listen to a reading of The Night Before Christmas by Mr. and Mrs. Claus before the tree lighting!
Knott’s Merry Farm: From November 18 through January 8, Knott’s Berry Farm transforms into Knott’s Merry Farms, complete with holiday ice shows featuring the cast of Peanuts, a nightly tree-lighting ceremony, carolers, crafts, and falling snow. Indulge in the special sights, sounds, and smells of this special season and make memories at Knott’s Merry Farms.
Shows and Performances
Many say the best part of the holidays is the great music. Luckily for you, Anaheim has tons of amazing performances lined up for the 2022 season. There are classic concerts, religious concerts, operas, ballets, a-capella groups, and all sorts of other spectacular performances. Here are a few options for you to consider!
An Irish Christmas with Keith & Kristyn Getty: The hymn-writing legacy of the Gettys will go down in history as a significant moment in church music, and it is a rare opportunity to get The Getty ministry at Christmas time. Get tickets for $25–35 for the December 3 show!
The Nutcracker: The American Ballet Theatre’s more than 100 performers truly do justice to this classic, breathtaking performance. The set and costumes were created by Richard Hudson, a Tony Award winner, with choreography by Alexei Ratmansky, ABT artist in residence. Critics rave about this rendition of The Nutcracker, calling it a “colorful, cinematic creation filled with spectacle, humor and eye-popping costumes.” Don’t miss out on the rare opportunity to see such a great production of this classic ballet.
Nutcracker for Kids: On December 3, visions of sugarplums and beautiful ballerinas will dance in your head after seeing Tchaikovsky’s delightful Christmas ballet, performed in a condensed version created just for kids. This annual favorite finishes with a jolly visit from Santa Claus himself! In the lobby, enjoy pre- or post-concert fun with a coloring station, holiday craft, photo backdrop, and a ballet museum.
Shopping
The end of the year brings with it a host of great holiday fairs and shops. They’re the perfect place to find handmade gifts that your loved one will never suspect. Here are a few places in Anaheim you shouldn’t pass up!
Friday Night Street Market: If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind product or item, look no further! The Old World Arts & Crafts Show features the crafts and goods from some of the region’s best craftsmen. Expect to find custom-made jewelry, hand soap, baskets, clothing, ceramics, holiday decor, hand-sewn blankets and clothing, and so much more. You’ll have to take a look for yourself! Stop by anytime between 5 and 9:30 p.m. on Friday, December 30.
Downtown Disney District: Is there anyone that doesn’t love a good Disney souvenir? Shop for both the kids and adults in your life in the Downtown Disney District. You’ll find plenty of Disney swag, but you’ll also be able to shop for home decor, gadgets, and plenty of other options. As an added bonus, you’ll be able to stop for dinner at any one of the several restaurants located near the shops.
Opportunities to Share
One great thing about the holidays is the outpouring of support for those less fortunate. Here are a few great places and activities you can contribute to this year.
Christmas Together 2022: Families Together of Orange County puts on this amazing benefit event each year. Thousands of children are made happy each holiday season when they receive Christmas toys and get to enjoy carnival rides, raffles, games, and plenty of tasty food. It’s hard to make all of this happen for families in need, so please consider donating toys, games, food, or time to help make this amazing community event a success!
Holiday Social and Toys for Tots Drive: This dual-purpose event is the best way to enjoy yourself while helping others in need. This event takes place at The Twisted Vine in North County. Guests will enjoy hand-selected wine and paired hors d’oeuvres. Each guest is asked to bring an unwrapped gift for donation to Toys for Tots, an organization that helps children have something to open on Christmas morning. If you love wine and gourmet food and helping children, this is the perfect opportunity to do both!
Safe Celebration
Everyone loves a good candle this time of year, but up to 7,500 fires are started each year because of household candles. Be extra careful when lighting candles in your apartment, especially if placing them in your bedroom. Battery-powered candles can achieve the same ambiance without the added danger of an open flame. Whatever you do, never leave your holiday candles unattended during the day or overnight.
Christmas trees can be another fire hazard. If you’ve brought a real Christmas tree into your apartment during this holiday season, make sure you keep it watered so it isn’t quite as dangerous. Keep all open flames, especially candles, away from the branches and needles, and make sure you turn all holiday and strand lights off when you’re not at home or able to keep an eye on your tree. You never know when electrical issues might cause fires.
Make sure you save some time this year to pencil in some unique holiday activities! There’s plenty to do, from holiday ballets and concerts to Disney events and holiday markets. Round up some family and friends and start having fun!
From all of us at The Jackson Apartments in Anaheim, CA,
Happy Holidays!
Come On In
OPEN DAILY
9 AM–6 PM